Obedience

	This Praying without ceasing has not been an easy task, and sometimes I really think Im crazy for ever saying i would try. I still have hope that its possible and today my mom sent me this devotion that was really cool. I mean I love dogs more than most things and so it has to be good. Love love Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." Genesis 41:39-40 My two dogs love to run free. Whenever I go for a run, I'll open up the gate and they both come running to the car. Like little kids, they fight for the front seat, (though usually the weimaraner gets it over the retriever). Those dogs know that I'm about to drive them to an open canyon where they can run free, and they love it. But when I take them for walks, it's a different story. I'll open up the gate, and as soon as they see the leash, they're both perfectly still. No excitement, no fighting to see who's first -- they don't like the leash. But without a leash, they'd run way out ahead of me, or out into the street, and get themselves into all kinds of trouble. Without a leash, they would never walk close to me. Sometimes the Lord allows us to experience pain and suffering so that we'll learn to walk closer to Him. Like a leash, trials teach us obedience. Joseph was a man who knew pain and suffering. He had been abandoned by his family, shunned and almost killed by his brothers, rejected by his boss, abandoned by his friends, and forgotten by his enemies. At the age of 17, he found himself in a foreign land where he didn't know one person, and didn't speak the language. He'd been abused, imprisoned, and mocked. By age 30, he very likely could have been a bitter, hardened criminal. But he wasn't. Not by a long shot. Thirteen years after being abandoned by his brothers, Joseph had developed such a close relationship with God that he held no grudges or bitterness. In fact, he had such wisdom from God that Pharaoh appointed him the most powerful man in all of Egypt. At age 30, he sat at the most powerful place on the planet, and was able to rule millions of people with wisdom. I'm sure Joseph must have wondered many times, while sitting in a dark jail cell, "Why God?" Have you ever found yourself asking God that question? "Why am I suffering like this?" I sure have. But God doesn't give us the big picture, because it would require no faith on our part. Had God told Joseph that He was going to make him the ruler of the most powerful, most advanced nation in the world, Joseph would not have developed such a tender heart, and would not have learned to rely on God. He would have sat waiting for a paycheck, an entitlement that was "due" him. Instead, he learned obedience and acquired wisdom, both of which would equip him for the daunting tasks that lay ahead of him. You see, when we suffer trials, God is at work. Romans 8:28 says that "in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Sometimes it will take thirteen years to see what God has been doing all along, but like Joseph, we must learn obedience through the suffering. When we get to the end of our lives, myself included, we're going to kick ourselves that we didn't spend more time with the Lord. We're going to wish we'd spent more time praying, serving, learning from His Word, and fellowshipping with Him. Today, whatever your circumstances, learn to walk closely with God. Mike MacIntosh

Thank you Lord for Pain

-Numbness can occur when sustained pressure has been applied over a nerve - inhibiting/stimulating its function. (wikipedia)

I wish I was Numb sometimes, simply because I just don't want to hurt or feel pain. I guess this is common to us humans, and it is more of an epidemic now as we battle these Drug issues today. Its especially hard when we can just ask our Doc for something to wash away the pain I may have in my back and he just writes out a permission slip and signs.
I have a friend that had a wife and has 2 kids, he lived your normal life. Long story very short he had bad things happen to him and now he is in a vegetable state of mind for reasons I cant really explain. His wife left him because of this, and he hardly understands the fact that he has a boy and a little girl. Do I really want to be numb?
I have a dream of having a baby one day. To see my nephew Gunnar born was one of the happiest days and experiences of my life. I cried, I laughed and thanked God for such a beautiful miracle. I cannot imagine having a baby of my own. Do I wanna be numb?
I think the Devil uses paresthesias to his advantage at times. I am no where near God when I feel numb. Its a blessing how God created numbness for when our arm gets cut off, or like when my brother Josh died I felt numb for quite a while. I really believe sometimes its Gods Grace, especially when dealing with death our bodies that God created tend to go through the numb phase of Grief and I know its for a good reason, but what a perversion it has become. To see friends abuse this feeling, and to give everything they have in their lives up just to feel it is a scary thought.

I battle depression and I would lie if I said I didn't want pain. Its something I never understood until I went through it. Just like everything else in this life, and now I think the experience is freedom! Man if I was the first to go through these problems, I really don't think I could have made it through them. You see, God used so many people in my life that has had worse experiences than me, or that have made worse decisions than me, but more importantly they all made it through and were able in allowing God through their forgiven heart to save mine. Thank you for allowing those people to suffer. Thank you for my sufferings, because the pain in my past through Christ Jesus has been made Joy. It has Made me who I am and it has brought me closer to Jesus. It has freed me from my ignorance, pride, and negativeness towards others. It has taught me how to Pray. I have learned how weak I really am as a human, and how powerful God is as my Father. I have learned not to Judge, but to be humbled by others experiences.
Through the power of my Savior I have already won this fight. You see, when we go through hell we come out stronger than ever. Satan thinks he wins these battles and he very well might sometimes, but not our battles, because in the midst of shit and tears we are being made into bigger, and sharper swords. I love how God can turn the worst possible thing in our life into the best thing that ever happened in our life. Of course my God is going to take a negative and make it a positive.



“Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to the tremendous difficulties” CH Spurgeon



I dare you to except the pain of growing. Going through life was never promised to be easy, but by the Glory of God, and the freedom in Jesus, removing the weight of this world has never been easier :-)

-Removing the pressure will typically result in gradual relief of these paresthesias, often described as a "pins and needles" feeling. (wikipedia)

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

God Bless, and I love you.
Jared

A Birdcage Religion

A Birdcage Religion

so slowly i'm losing
who i've sworn to be.
a promise in pencil
that years have made so hard to read.
i've spent my life building walls
brick by brick and bruise by bruise...
a birdcage religion that whispered me to sleep.

but time is spinning silk
that coils ruthlessly;
with the devil's patience,
it binds my hands so quietly
that soon it becomes a part of me.

so soften these edges and straighten out my tie.
and help me remember
the hope that i have compromised.

please be a broken record for me.
..................................................................................................
Sleeping At Last
Storyboards

Please go listen to it or just buy the dang record!

Grace

Stand and be yourself, if we do not except the Grace of God then we do not share it. Its by the Grace of God we are here today, forgiven, free, and have eternal life with our Savior in heaven. The Love of God is mesmerizing, how stupid am I to listen to satan and ignore this Love that fills my heart day in day out. Its daily choices we have, and its daily we have to choose to Stand and except Grace. The work we do without Gods Grace is impossible and almost unbearable at times without allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our heart and void with our Father and His daily gift of Love, joy, mercy, forgiveness, Grace feels like it Gods breath filling my lungs, it is communication with our Father drawing us closer and it is not only internal but eternal. Its a never ending PEACE! What a gift I have gladly received by my perfect Dad, its a gift I do not deserve. Much like the gift of Jesus. Its a gift we have to except, receive and be grateful for. So stand up friends! Live, here and now, responsible, honorable, and God-fearing lives. And also... "See to it that no one misses the grace of God..." Hebrews 12:15

Titus 2:11-12 (Phi) For the grace of God, which can save every man, has now been shown for all men, and it teaches us to have no more to do with godlessness or the desires of this world but to live, here and now, responsible, honorable, and God-fearing lives.

So be strong, and remember that in continuous prayer we present a problem to Satan. An impenetrable cloud will be among you, Hold Fast.

Love,

JARED

"I have ovecome the world"

When I see a "life is good" sticker on a car, I want to stop and go up to the person driving and ask them what world are they living in, because I want to move and experience the good life with them. I just wonder how many people have put that sticker on their car and removed it shortly after because they had to be at a high point in life to buy it and put it on their $30,000 car. I'm sorry if you have this sticker and if it stands for something I don't know about, or means something to you. I am so blessed and definitely love certain aspects of my life, but I just wish it would stay true as long as it was on my car.

Its comforting to hear my Mom or Dad tell me not to worry, and that everything is going to be alright. I'm not quite sure how I could get through some days without hearing that from them, its like an automatic peace phrase for me no matter if it is in person, over the phone, or written. It also reminds me that things could always be worse deep in my mind. Its when I look at LIFE and the BIG picture that I get overwhelmed and think too much, and sometimes hearing its going to be fine does not seem to calm the beast of worry in my head. Why is it that hearing this from God so many times in the bible, I still seem to worry? Maybe I haven't been looking at the small things in life as much as I really need to. Like watching my wife snore at night, I'm just glad she is breathing. Or how I remembered how to tie my shoes today, I'm just glad I have shoes. Or walking in my home and seeing how happy my dog is to see me again, I'm just happy to be loved. Man, isn't it just sad how we forget that we are so blessed, and to worry about tomorrow and what we will eat or wear. I forget that the sun rises everyday, and gravity keeps my feet on the ground, and oxygen fills my lungs, and I have have never ever controlled any of these things in my life, and I doubt that you have either. Even though I know a couple of people think they hung the moon, but I think they have to be 3 sheets in the wind to think of themselves so highly.

I want to share this scripture.

Matthew 6:31-33
Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?"' or "What will we wear for clothing?" For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Wow, the only way I can ever live without worry is to know that there is more to it than this life, and the One that I serve can actually make me a promise that I have reason to rest in peace.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33.

Love,
Jared

Polamalu

I am exhausted by my sinful nature. Things have been good lately. Its hard for me when I feel fine, its the time I am a stale believer. This gravity is a strong force and it is seemingly pulling me down with it these days. Thats why I am writing on here I guess.

One of my favorite football players is Troy Polamalu and I didnt even know he was a believer until recently. But I found this short interview of him and he talks about Prayer. Really cool stuff to see, and very encouraging. Watch it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScKhG3RB1qY

I love you guys, and I hope you will keep your chins up during these winter days!
JARED

Journey of Love, and Faith

This is from The Screwtape Letters, by: CS Lewis
It is a letter that Screwtape (mentor) wrote to his young predecessor "wormwood", who is the demon in charge of this "Patient/human". The patient took a walk to an old mill that had sentimental value, and memories of his family from years ago. Wormwood allowed him to walk alone for a bit, and the patient ended up recollecting memories and at some point began to pray on this walk. This is what Screwtape is telling Wormwood in his letter, to teach him to never allow this to happen again for these reasons.

"As you have ought to have known, the asphyxiating cloud which prevented your attacking the patient on his walk back from the old mill, is a well known phenomenon. It is the Enemy's (God) most barbarous weapon, and generally appears when He is directly present to the patient under certain modes not yet fully classified. Some humans are permanently surrounded by it and therefore inaccessible to us"

Very interesting, even though this is CS Lewis' take on what happens in spiritual warfare I have a feeling it could possibly be just like this. As the patient began praying, screwtape mentions this phenomenon, as Gods most barbarous weapon. PRAYER. Just the image of this gives me chills to think about. To their eyes, we have a thick haze, or fog around us that they cannot penetrate. Its the power of God through prayer! Now that has to make you feel like praying if you haven't already started. I love the end when he mentions that some humans are permanently surrounded by this and it makes us inaccessible. They don't understand Love. They don't understand Gods Love for us and the freedom he has given us out of Love. There are certain things that they do not have a clue about, because only God does and he shares some of that with us. Prayer is a weapon, and prayer is so much more than a weapon, but prayer is communicating with our Father, a way to experience Him first hand, his Love, Grace, and Joy just to name a few. Its to listen, and to talk, to learn, and sometimes cry out to God when we are in need of his warming embrace.

Spurgeon wrote:
Yes, my Lord, I long, I pant to feel Thy love flaming like a furnace within me. Come Thou Thyself and excite the ardour of my spirit.

"For every drop of crimson blood
Thus shed to make me live,
O wherefore, wherefore have not I
A thousand lives to give?"
Why should I despair of loving Jesus with a love as strong as death? He deserves it: I desire it. The martyrs felt such love, and they were but flesh and blood, then why not I? They mourned their weakness, and yet out of weakness were made strong. Grace gave them all their unflinching constancy—there is the same grace for me. Jesus, lover of my soul, shed abroad such love, even Thy love in my heart, this evening.

Humans, Faith is a big word if you really think about it, and look through the many scriptures that speak of it. Its big because its just huge! Faith is a huge part of our walk and every breath. When I am spending time with God and losing my pride, I certainly acquire more faith every time I pray. But then again, I use faith all of the time, but not faith in God all of the time. I still tend to have faith in myself, or faith in other things to help me get by. Its a stone I am climbing up slowly, and I will reach the top in having full and complete Faith in my Father.
If I was thrown in a Lions den tonight, you better believe I would be on my knees praying harder than ever. I would be asking the lions to just be my friend, and maybe if you let me out I can set up a nice big litter box outside my room for you and you could even sleep on my nice king size bed if you'd like. I'm putting my faith in the Lions! The difference here is, that Daniel didn't, he put his faith in the Lord.

Today is a good day. I am Loved to no end by my Father. I shall certainly rejoice and be very Glad in it.

Isaiah 41:10
Love Jared