Breakfast With Sammy and God

This morning God decided to show me something very interesting. This time it wasn't actually during my prayer time but rather while I was eating my breakfast. This just goes to show that God is able to speak to us as long as we are receptive to it. 

3:30 AM and I just finished making my migas (Hispanic dish with eggs and corn tortillas), I thought they smelled delicious and apparently so did lil' Sammy, one of our Boston Terriers. I blessed my migas and began to eat as Sammy began to beg for just a taste. I could my wife's voice in my head, "Don't give the dogs corn tortillas, they're not good for them." I don't know why corn tortillas are bad for them but I tend to do what she says (men pay attention to that, very important - lol).  Sammy looked so pitiful and just sat there begging for me to share. As I sat there I know that God began to speak to to me deep within my spirit and it was awesome.

It went something like this,"You see how Sam wants some of your breakfast and how he would just eat it up if you put it right in front of him?" Within me I said,"Yup, he sure would." The Holy Spirit continued, "But you know that this food isn't good for him, right?" I could begin to see where this was going, "Uh huh...right, I know it's not good for him and I do know that he would just scarf it down if he was given the chance." Again the internal conversation continued with the Holy Spirit, "This is how you are sometimes when you ask  for things. You want it so badly but I know better. I know that if you are given things at the wrong time it could do more harm than good. Just keep that in mind, and trust that I really do know best for you." Right after this Isaiah 55:8-9 exploded in my spirit which says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.For as the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

This was so cool that God used my dog to speak to me (sort of) but the word of God does say that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). I truly believe God took advantage of this opportunity to speak to me on a level that was just perfect in giving me more perspective on something. God cares so much for us that He will use every opportunity to speak to us; even through a begging and pitiful Boston Terrier named Sammy. As of recently I have begun my days asking the God to give me the Holy Spirit to allow me to hear the promptings from Him throughout the day. I want to hear God in everything not just during the 20-30 minutes I set aside in the morning for "Prayer Time". I am so thankful that this prayer is faithfully being answered.

I pray this encourages you.

Take care & God Bless

-E

I have the Holy Spirit...I think?

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread[d] from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” - Luke 11:9-13 (NKJV)

Today I came across Luke 11 and read where Jesus was talking to the disciples about some very well-known portions of scripture. I had been here in Luke 11 countless times before and thought, "Yup this the scripture we all go to when we need something....ask and it will be given...Or when we need to hear from God....knock and it'll be opened, Yup I am Super-Christian because I know this, right?" As I arrived to Luke 11:12, I began to slow down and at verse 13 I was stopped dead in my tracks. Jesus said, "How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him," (emphasis mine). As I began to mull that over it was hitting me like a ton of bricks. Then I asked myself the question, "Had I ever asked God in prayer for the Holy Spirit?" I couldn't remember or could pinpoint a time that I specifically asked God for the Holy Spirit.

Now don't get me wrong, I know that God has put his favor and his anointing on me for His service but how had I overlooked this very basic teaching? Recently I have been dealing with some things of my past that just seem to creep up now and then. I don't think much of it, pray, and refocus my thoughts on an encouraging portion of scripture and go about my business. This would generally be the end of it, but lately it has been more and more difficult to do this. After today's revelation I believe that I had been missing a very important key to the battle; The Holy Spirit. 

I truly believe that God's grace has been more than sufficient for me and He has shown me ways to combat the tactics of the enemy. However, there are specific, biblical areas in which the Holy Spirit is needed. Some translations call the Holy Spirit our "Helper" and with these elevated attacks on my mind I most definitely was in need of help. I immediately went before God in prayer and began to specifically ask Him to "give me the Holy Spirit" (Luke 11:13) and to have him be the Helper I need (John 14:26). Immediately I felt a peace come over me as well as a confidence that wasn't there before. This confidence was not in myself but was in the fact of knowing that I now had a new secret weapon in Spiritual Arsenal. 

Now to all you veteran Christians out there, you may be thinking that this in no way could apply to you but ask yourself the very same question I did, "Have I specifically asked God to give me the Holy Spirit?" You see we all love the "ask-and-you-shall-receive" scripture when we need a job, a promotion, a spouse, healing, but what about when we need something that we didn't realize we needed. Maybe you've hit a patch in life where things just seem to be an uphill battle and attacks are coming left and right, well, have you asked for help from the one called our Helper....have you? 

Take Care & God Bless,

-E

Choices

Today during my prayer time with God there a reoccurring word that kept coming up...choice, or choices. We all struggle and deal with things and we think our own personal things are the toughest compared to anyone else. The one dealing with a drug addiction feels their issue is much more intense then the one dealing with a porn addiction. Truth of the matter is they both are equally tough to deal with for the one that struggles with that issue. The reason being is it all boils down to a single solitary choice.

God in all His sovereignty has give us all volition or free-will. So everyone asks, "Why am I dealing with this?" or, "Why does God let these terrible things happen." That is not the right question to ask. The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heave and will forgive their sin and heal their land." There is a contingency to this blessing. There is a lot of "ifs" and "thens" and the most shocking part is this word is for the "people who are called by my (God's) name," aka The Church. Is the church of today doing all it can to see this come to pass? Recent events show there is definitely room for improvement.

So then there we go, let's blame the church, that's the answer. But no, it's not. We all want to blame someone or something for everything. I'm addicted to drugs because I come from broken home, or I sleep around because my Dad walked out on me, the list can go on and on forever. But what it all comes down to is a choice. We all make the choice to do right or do wrong. There is a two-fold issue here I believe; First, is the church really pressing in to 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Two, are we as individuals making right (Godly) decisions? Think about that for a bit. This question begs for some deep thought and some deep self-reflection.

Take care & God Bless,

-E

A Fallen World

In light of today's events that took place in Connecticut, I needed to get alone with God and just allow Him some time to speak to me on a few different levels. I just asked Him, "Why...How...what purpose or what good can come of this?" Needless to say these are just a few of the very same questions that many other Americans asked as the news came across every major media and social media outlet just a few hours ago. 

Honestly, this is tough one to swallow and I really don't claim to have any "easy answers" for this. I just know that we do live in a fallen world. A world that has, for the most part, turned its back on God. But it seems almost systematic that when these types of events happen our focus, if even for a very brief moment, shifts to God either for the good or bad.

As I sat in my car, Friday afternoon, on my lunch break after hearing the news I couldn't swallow the lump in my throat and didn't even know what to feel. I was shocked, angry, and just saddened that someone could be so far gone that an innocent child's life was expendable to their cause. I began to sob and wonder how this could even begin to make sense for the parents. Then I began to think even how much more difficult for the parents that lost a child today and do not have the hope of knowing Christ and know that someday they will see their child again. That thought, I believe, is nearly unbearable. I closed my eyes and began to let the Holy Spirit minister to me. What I received was an overwhelming response that I know I just wasn't ready for.

"My ways are not your ways (Isaiah 55:8). Do you think for one moment that any of these precious children at this very moment are not with me right now? You see it as a life lost and Yes, there on earth there is pain and it will be extremely difficult for the families affected. These children are completely safe in my arms now. I have seen every possibility for them, and I know what is best. It is your job to pray and intercede for their families and friends and trust that I am still God. You know I didn't cause this or want this to happen, so why did your thoughts go there? I see all and on that day all will be revealed until then just believe, trust, pray and I will handle the rest. The time is short, very short."

So since all I can do is pray and trust that God can and will make good come of this. This is my prayer... 

"Lord, I come to you now completely broken and at a loss for the right words to say. I know that you can make all things new but the pain this world is capable of inflicting, at times, seems unbearable. I ask Father, that you would be with every single life that was directly and indirectly impacted by this tragedy. Let the peace that passes all understanding invade the hearts of everyone involved today. Help us Lord, PLEASE, help us to focus our eyes to you and understand that you did not cause this but that You can begin the healing from this even now. I ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen"

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 

Psalm 34:18 

Take Care & God Bless,

-E

Help me

So this morning during my quiet time with God I have to admit it was a bit tough sifting through the clutter in my mind and focusing on Him. Like I said God has had me in a place of "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps 46:10) and I've been here for a while. This can be a very challenging place to be because I see from experience that the enemy releases a bombardment of attacks in these times trying to knock us over. 

When I finally was able to clear my earthly thoughts and focus on God and all His goodness He clearly spoke in my spirit Hebrews 13:5b, "I will never leave you or abandon you." Even now this soothes my soul. You see in the midst of the jobs we have, and the serving, the holiday hustle and bustle, and just life in general, it's especially easy to wonder where God is in the middle of all that. I had begin to wonder that myself. This led to some very real and honest time with God in conversation this morning. None of the "Oh Heavenly...thou....thee....forth..." ramblings (aka Church lingo); but a real, and authentic cry from a deep place I didn't even really know was there. And this prayer sounded more like this..."Help me...PLEASE...HELP ME...I don't know what I'm supposed to do next and I feel like you're not even there." This is where I heard Him tell me "I will never leave you or abandon you." It overwhelmed me and comforted me at the same time and it helped me realize something that I had forgotten.

I've seen from talking with others around me that we all feel this and probably more often then we'd care to admit. But why? Why are we so scared to show our weaknesses? Let's just take off the fake-Christian mask and be real for a change. We all deal with things but we like to make it look like we have it all together but up to this point in my life God has shown me time and time again that it's our weakness that His strength is made perfect (2 Cor 12:9). it's our own selfish pride that hinders us from asking for prayer, asking for help, or from being honest with ourselves and God during our prayer time.

Today take some time to be real with yourself and God and just lay it all out there for what it is. Fact of the matter is we're all a mess, we're broken, bruised, dirty and God loves us through all that. This kind of love is able to reach into your deepest wounds and heal them, but God is a gentleman and He will not force himself on you. He waits for you to invite Him into your pain, into your sorrow, into the real you. I can hear Him calling out to you men out there, "I can take that pride from you my Son. You don't need to act like that with your wife." And He's waiting for you women saying, "Sweetheart, come here...I will not hurt you like he did, but you have to let me in." 

The point is that God desires for us to be honest and real with Him as well is ourselves. I find that when I let go of all the Church lingo, put away the "prayer checklist", and just lay it all out there I tend to have more authentic and meaningful times with God.  I pray this encourages you somehow today.

Take Care & God Bless,

-E