I've often wondered why it is that when considering foreign aide, food, water... we tend to send the same supplies over and over again to the same people. Not that it isn't ever warranted, but in many cases the causation of the food/water shortages are never addressed. Political complications of the masses aside, I think of a small tribal group that has suffered from starvation and thirst again and again. For all the aide we could provide, I have sometimes posited the question as to why we don't look into moving the tribe to a location where the resources could be sustained. Then I think of our Creator and my past (and future) positions in which I am starving because I won't go to the place where provisions await. Whether a change in physical location, mental or spiritual focus, or any combination thereof. The difference between myself and the tribe: I have no excuse. The tribe may be unaware of the means with which they could communicate their needs to us, or that we even exist.
I know my Creator exists, provides, and is ALWAYS faithful to do so. I have no excuse not to change my location, my mind, or my heart. If I choose not to, then I am choosing myself and "my" world over my Creator.
Moving and changing is painful when you consider the world around you and its response, resistance, and resentment. It's glorious when you fix your eyes, ears, mind and heart on the Creator that has gone before you and set your path. Give thanks, be joyful, keep your eyes on the Creator, and don't let anyone (us included) distract you.
Our words and actions are nothing if they don't emanate the love of our Creator.
A story/joke/ modern day parable told hundreds of ways:
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A terrible storm came into a town and local officials sent out an emergency warning that the riverbanks would soon overflow and flood the nearby homes. They ordered everyone in the town to evacuate immediately.
A faithful Christian man heard the warning and decided to stay, saying to himself, “I will trust God and if I am in danger, then God will send a divine miracle to save me.”
The neighbors came by his house and said to him, “We’re leaving and there is room for you in our car, please come with us!” But the man declined. “I have faith that God will save me.”
As the man stood on his porch watching the water rise up the steps, a man in a canoe paddled by and called to him, “Hurry and come into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No thanks, God will save me.”
The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat came by and saw him at the window. “We will come up and rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”
The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.
A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. A rescue officer came down the ladder and pleaded with the man, "Grab my hand and I will pull you up!" But the man still refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”
Shortly after, the house broke up and the floodwaters swept the man away and he drowned.
When in Heaven, the man stood before God and asked, “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”
And God said, “Son, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for?”
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If you are aware of the potential situation, you've already been warned. Don't wait for the car, canoe, helicopter, or rapture. Act now.
I know my Creator exists, provides, and is ALWAYS faithful to do so. I have no excuse not to change my location, my mind, or my heart. If I choose not to, then I am choosing myself and "my" world over my Creator.
Moving and changing is painful when you consider the world around you and its response, resistance, and resentment. It's glorious when you fix your eyes, ears, mind and heart on the Creator that has gone before you and set your path. Give thanks, be joyful, keep your eyes on the Creator, and don't let anyone (us included) distract you.
Our words and actions are nothing if they don't emanate the love of our Creator.
A story/joke/ modern day parable told hundreds of ways:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A terrible storm came into a town and local officials sent out an emergency warning that the riverbanks would soon overflow and flood the nearby homes. They ordered everyone in the town to evacuate immediately.
A faithful Christian man heard the warning and decided to stay, saying to himself, “I will trust God and if I am in danger, then God will send a divine miracle to save me.”
The neighbors came by his house and said to him, “We’re leaving and there is room for you in our car, please come with us!” But the man declined. “I have faith that God will save me.”
As the man stood on his porch watching the water rise up the steps, a man in a canoe paddled by and called to him, “Hurry and come into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No thanks, God will save me.”
The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat came by and saw him at the window. “We will come up and rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”
The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.
A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. A rescue officer came down the ladder and pleaded with the man, "Grab my hand and I will pull you up!" But the man still refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”
Shortly after, the house broke up and the floodwaters swept the man away and he drowned.
When in Heaven, the man stood before God and asked, “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”
And God said, “Son, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for?”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are aware of the potential situation, you've already been warned. Don't wait for the car, canoe, helicopter, or rapture. Act now.