Yesterday we discussed finding a Scripture to have your heart be encouraged in relationship with our Father God. Today, I'm standing with Edward looking at Discs for sale at the USA Master's Disc Golf Tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Master's is filled with professional men, artistic men, blue collar men, men who survived cancer, men with sons - this is a group of Very Serious athletic men who complain if they shoot a 58 on 18 holes with 35 mph winds. If you can throw a disc the size of a salad plate 425 feet with a flick - you just might be = Athletic. This is the fastest growing sport in the world. And these men are competing with some real intensity.
So the young seller of discs has not cottoned on the fact - these men are not really interested in rap music. But I'm standing there politely and the music is usually hard to understand. But very nicely, the rapper explains things happen twice, they happen twice. Suddenly I can hear the lyrics, so I stop to listen, and the grumpy guy standing next to me glares at me, but we are both listening to the music suddenly. And they lyrics suddenly say, "We all have an urgency, an urgency to Find God."
The grumpy disc golfer and I are both in amazement and stand frozen. Until the wind completely knocks over his cart and we speak without any comment on the music that we will go home and think about.
Does God get thanks? Is His job without thanks? Do we have urgency to know God - our Creator. Opening up a conversation about that is difficult.
And if we open up the conversation with. "Are the Baptists saved? What about Mormons? Catholics? Gays?" We are really dealing with not God's Salvation - where He wants to Save all people - but a way to snipe God and put Him in our Tupperware box marked "Is God fair? What about my own personal sufferings?"
Suffering - Huh - What is it Good for? Well, frankly, that depends. Upon what? What we intend to do with our sufferings. Are we going to pretend not to suffer and internally implode? Or run from the problems like they can be evaded. Or say it's the Good Ship Lollipop.
All of Scripture is about problem solving and prayer. Got a problem? Chances are very good - there are several to twenty good solutions. With the subtitle ones being worn out and very frayed.
If you apply the same conversation to people - they will a) be pleased b) be be be very bored c) might tolerate you.
Same with Scripture and problem solving. There is "Flee the devil" = "Problem Solved!"
There is ... "be real nice all the time and people will think you are a moron." Except, who really used that philosophy well in the Bible? I know the Scriptures and can't honestly say sweet is philosophy. Love is far different than sweet. Love says I will make sure the gates of hell won't prevail against you. Love says count on this like a Rock. Love says you sure are damn wrong. Next time don't try to walk on water. Sit down and have breakfast.
Is there an urgency to knowing God...
Absolutely not. Especially, if you have no problems.
If you do, and you are willing to stand before Your Maker... the Father of all of Creation.
With a little humility.
With some gratitude.
With some real expression of sorrow for what we all can do. And didn't do. And should have done.
Giving some sincere heart and honesty - you Will be received.
If you are willing to put some Thomas Jefferson effort into many pages of letters written to you,
you will discover, "Truth that sparkles like a diamond."
You will find, in these Letters, like minded people. In messy situations, seeking for something - solutions.
The old fashioned kind - the kind that require faith, time, patience and Him first.
The kind that you have to jut your jaw out to find. To be determined to find endurance, character and finally a hope that will be rewarded with "anticipated solutions."
Our Father God is like us. We are made in His image. He wants to be Thanked. Appreciated. Loved. And He wants us to expect the best in Him. If we secretly feel we are less than worthy, we might just be right! He tends to deal with that gently, when approached honestly and to say - "Help me, Please."
know the Scriptures
or the power of God. ...
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
Got questions? "It is written!"