My head slightly dizzy, my forehead warm with fever, one nostril dry and burning while the other be clogged, I marched through the snow to get some firewood behind the garage. It lit up nice, though wet, with some kindling (aka Kroger brand cola boxes).
I sat and let my feet warm up, thinking about stories I enjoy: The Lord of the Rings, The Narnia Chronicles, The Walking Dead, etc. You know, dorky stuff. I realized what all good stories have in common! In fact, all stories in general. The ending would not have happened the way it did if what happened before did not happen at all.
Frodo would not have been around to destroy the ring had he not been adopted by Bilbo (remember Frodo was the only one around who had the will power to resist the ring's evil!).
The Wardrobe would not have been if the Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer had not been around their creepy magician uncle Andrew (remember Digory Kirke becomes Professor Kirke!).
Rick Grimes would not have survived the initial zombie apocalypse in the hospital if his gunshot wound did not put him into a coma!
You would not be where you are if you had not gone through what you went through. Catch my drift?
God authors real life, we play our roles. Fortunately for us, we can see the end of the story--and the beginning! Go read your Genesis then John then some Revelation and be thankful that it is out of your control... and in His.
7/19/10
Not Satisfied
Things seem hopeless at times for life on Earth. Granted this life is temporal, I still feel utterly disgusted with how things play out: Family, my past, my present, my future, old friends, old enemies, need I say more?
We hope out of our teenage years invincible. I knew what I wanted and I was gonna get it. And although I am getting it, I still do not feel satisfied. I am afraid these "commodities" we have as middle class Americans are not commodities at all.
I figure it that in the 1800's there was more biblical morality, less stress, less promiscuity, and less dissatisfaction. I can honestly say that right now I would not mind if I were in a small one room cabin with no electricity (although running water would still be great). I could see myself smiling with a wife and a kid or seven while walking back from the fields knowing dinner was ready and the children were ready for their nightly Bible story. I would go to sleep not wondering how to pay to fill up the car with gas, because we would be self-sufficient.
I know, though, that I could live in my fantasy world and still be as miserable as I feel right now. The key to contentment is not fulfilling fantasies, but fulfilling our purpose as humans: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I know why I feel unhappy and sinful and slothful. I will not blame anyone but myself. If God picked me up and dropped me in my deepest fantasy world right NOW, after the initial shock and fun of it all slipped away I would remember that I am still a fallen person--still self-centered.
So what do I do? Read more of the Bible? Pray more? Call my pastor? Go to the homeless mission and volunteer? Call Oprah? Live more for God and others than myself? I suppose the last one and all else will work out... but I resonate with Paul in Romans 7 and 8. My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.
God, help us to be content where we are and serve You regardless. Help us to see the beauty even in the urban decay of rinky Anderson, Indiana. Help us to realize You created us cheerfully and wonderfully knowing Your will for us.... and help us fulfill it. Forgive us for all our sins we daily commit in word, thought, and deed. Forgive us for our selfishness, our discontentment, our hatred of Your holy laws, and our disregard for Christ's work of salvation He so lovingly worked out for us. Help us to fight for what is right, and wage war against out sinful inclinations. Help us to protect the weak, be with the widows and orphans, and to be wise with what we have, no matter how much or little we have. May Your name and all You stand for be glorified in our lives. May Your kingdom come soon.
We hope out of our teenage years invincible. I knew what I wanted and I was gonna get it. And although I am getting it, I still do not feel satisfied. I am afraid these "commodities" we have as middle class Americans are not commodities at all.
I figure it that in the 1800's there was more biblical morality, less stress, less promiscuity, and less dissatisfaction. I can honestly say that right now I would not mind if I were in a small one room cabin with no electricity (although running water would still be great). I could see myself smiling with a wife and a kid or seven while walking back from the fields knowing dinner was ready and the children were ready for their nightly Bible story. I would go to sleep not wondering how to pay to fill up the car with gas, because we would be self-sufficient.
I know, though, that I could live in my fantasy world and still be as miserable as I feel right now. The key to contentment is not fulfilling fantasies, but fulfilling our purpose as humans: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I know why I feel unhappy and sinful and slothful. I will not blame anyone but myself. If God picked me up and dropped me in my deepest fantasy world right NOW, after the initial shock and fun of it all slipped away I would remember that I am still a fallen person--still self-centered.
So what do I do? Read more of the Bible? Pray more? Call my pastor? Go to the homeless mission and volunteer? Call Oprah? Live more for God and others than myself? I suppose the last one and all else will work out... but I resonate with Paul in Romans 7 and 8. My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.
God, help us to be content where we are and serve You regardless. Help us to see the beauty even in the urban decay of rinky Anderson, Indiana. Help us to realize You created us cheerfully and wonderfully knowing Your will for us.... and help us fulfill it. Forgive us for all our sins we daily commit in word, thought, and deed. Forgive us for our selfishness, our discontentment, our hatred of Your holy laws, and our disregard for Christ's work of salvation He so lovingly worked out for us. Help us to fight for what is right, and wage war against out sinful inclinations. Help us to protect the weak, be with the widows and orphans, and to be wise with what we have, no matter how much or little we have. May Your name and all You stand for be glorified in our lives. May Your kingdom come soon.
7/13/10
A Day of Frustration, Excitement, Embarrassment, and Whatnot
Excitement: I found out we have a GT Xpress Cooker 101. The magical-est cooking instrument known to man.
Whatnot: Annie bought me a dark chocolate candy bar, a pair of goggles, and gave me to rest of her chocolate ice cream! What a gal ^-^
Frustration: I know of a guy in a position where he is to be caring and supportive, however he consistently lets my family down. I wish they would move on to another place.
Embarrassment: Well, I have a co-worker who claims to be a follower of Christ. He knows the answers to questions like, "What is your favorite verse?" and "What church do you go to?" yet I notice things he does that in my feeble eyes a Christian ought not to do... in fact a handful of things. Anyways, today while washing dishes, he says out of the blue, "Billy, do you read your Bible everyday?"
"Oh, uh well, not every single day, you know. Like, mm... I mean a miss a day or so every once in a while. Uh..." I stammered back in response.
"Boy, aren't you glad Jesus doesn't say, 'Mm, I don't feel like taking care of all them people today." He states back.
Now whether or not he is perfect or even a Christian does not matter. Whether or not he was regurgitating lines he had heard from his grandmother or preacher does not matter. What does matter is my abuse of God's grace, and I reckon you are in the same boat with me. Quick! Let's paddle!
It has been a long time since I physically felt my cheeks become warm with blushing. I was embarrassed, all right. I was the young Bible college student who preaches ever so often and is careful to try to be a good guy, but I do not read my Bible every day!
Now, is daily Bible reading a necessity for salvation? Of course not. But is daily Bible reading helpful, meaningful, educational, faith-building, and honoring to our Lord and Savior? Yep. And is it quite likely an unbeliever and worldly person be turned off to our holy faith if they were to find out we do not bother to pick up our Holy Scriptures which we claim we would die for the things written therein? Yep.
So, without further ado, I am heading to Bible Gateway now! You should do the same.
Whatnot: Annie bought me a dark chocolate candy bar, a pair of goggles, and gave me to rest of her chocolate ice cream! What a gal ^-^
Frustration: I know of a guy in a position where he is to be caring and supportive, however he consistently lets my family down. I wish they would move on to another place.
Embarrassment: Well, I have a co-worker who claims to be a follower of Christ. He knows the answers to questions like, "What is your favorite verse?" and "What church do you go to?" yet I notice things he does that in my feeble eyes a Christian ought not to do... in fact a handful of things. Anyways, today while washing dishes, he says out of the blue, "Billy, do you read your Bible everyday?"
"Oh, uh well, not every single day, you know. Like, mm... I mean a miss a day or so every once in a while. Uh..." I stammered back in response.
"Boy, aren't you glad Jesus doesn't say, 'Mm, I don't feel like taking care of all them people today." He states back.
Now whether or not he is perfect or even a Christian does not matter. Whether or not he was regurgitating lines he had heard from his grandmother or preacher does not matter. What does matter is my abuse of God's grace, and I reckon you are in the same boat with me. Quick! Let's paddle!
It has been a long time since I physically felt my cheeks become warm with blushing. I was embarrassed, all right. I was the young Bible college student who preaches ever so often and is careful to try to be a good guy, but I do not read my Bible every day!
Now, is daily Bible reading a necessity for salvation? Of course not. But is daily Bible reading helpful, meaningful, educational, faith-building, and honoring to our Lord and Savior? Yep. And is it quite likely an unbeliever and worldly person be turned off to our holy faith if they were to find out we do not bother to pick up our Holy Scriptures which we claim we would die for the things written therein? Yep.
So, without further ado, I am heading to Bible Gateway now! You should do the same.
6/8/10
Deuteronomy 6:5
Deuteronomy 6:5 “You should love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Oh, that we might serve Him in this manner. Does He not deserve it? God does not need our love, though! He is fully self-existing and all powerful… yet He wants our love. Grasping this will not make our love of Him forced! Rather, it allows me to fall down and give Him what He wants, not only because I want to love Him, but because I need to love and be loved by Him. Without that, there is no hope to be found for us, neither in this life nor the next.
Oh, that we might serve Him in this manner. Does He not deserve it? God does not need our love, though! He is fully self-existing and all powerful… yet He wants our love. Grasping this will not make our love of Him forced! Rather, it allows me to fall down and give Him what He wants, not only because I want to love Him, but because I need to love and be loved by Him. Without that, there is no hope to be found for us, neither in this life nor the next.
5/28/10
Psalm 1:3
Psalm 1:3 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law, he meditates day and night… And in whatever he does, he prospers.”
Real prosperity is not reaping earthly riches and vain possessions. True “prosperity gospel” is delighting in the law of our God and meditating on it all the time. Earthly prosperity may be nice, but when our entire focus is on pleasing Christ by abiding by His laws, we truly prosper. What is the law of the Lord? “Love the LORD your God…and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40). By following these and the other commandments declared in the Scriptures, we will fulfill our purpose and He will bless us. The Gospel of Christ can be tough and often bloody and full of heartache; rarely is it full of vain earthly riches. So, would you rather prosper your soul or your flesh? If you want to prosper both, love the law of God, and do not expect a bed of roses every day.
Real prosperity is not reaping earthly riches and vain possessions. True “prosperity gospel” is delighting in the law of our God and meditating on it all the time. Earthly prosperity may be nice, but when our entire focus is on pleasing Christ by abiding by His laws, we truly prosper. What is the law of the Lord? “Love the LORD your God…and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40). By following these and the other commandments declared in the Scriptures, we will fulfill our purpose and He will bless us. The Gospel of Christ can be tough and often bloody and full of heartache; rarely is it full of vain earthly riches. So, would you rather prosper your soul or your flesh? If you want to prosper both, love the law of God, and do not expect a bed of roses every day.
5/19/10
Ps 1:1
Psalm 1:1 “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…”
I wish I could go back throughout my life and take back the times I compromised my relationship with Christ to follow a wicked man’s counsel. Reflection over one’s life can prove sorrowful with many regrets. True, some unsaved folk will have great advice for us in this world, but we must stay attuned to the Holy Spirit as to when to follow this advice and when to reject it. “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:22) Is it safe to trust in the counsel of fools? Surely not, rather, first go to the Maker of all things, who contains all wisdom ad knowledge, and “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). So, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,” (James 1:5) instead of walking in the counsel of the wicked.
I wish I could go back throughout my life and take back the times I compromised my relationship with Christ to follow a wicked man’s counsel. Reflection over one’s life can prove sorrowful with many regrets. True, some unsaved folk will have great advice for us in this world, but we must stay attuned to the Holy Spirit as to when to follow this advice and when to reject it. “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:22) Is it safe to trust in the counsel of fools? Surely not, rather, first go to the Maker of all things, who contains all wisdom ad knowledge, and “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). So, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,” (James 1:5) instead of walking in the counsel of the wicked.
4/27/10
A Great Woman
"Leave your orphans behind, I will keep them alive;And let your widows trust in Me." -Jeremiah 49:10-11
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." -James 1:27
This past semester I have been living with an elderly widow. She is quite capable, even to the point of insisting in her mowing her own yard--roughly three acres. When I moved in, the plan was for me to cook and provide my own food. She simply would not have that plan much longer after the week I moved in, insisting that she would provide some of my meals. She enjoys going to the Senior Center and other like places to hear some old country music live, and does not have a complete week without going to Sunday service at First Marion Baptist. Her nights are not complete without a call from her daughter and with utmost diligence going through her lengthy prayer list.
Lavene had tragedies plague her life in the past decade. A mother, husband, and two sons passed away. I am sure much more tragedy struck, but I do not know many details. She has been living alone in a small country town in Southern Indiana for some time. About this time last year, she agreed to let me stay with her while I commuted to Bible college in Louisville.
Her husband served and faught in WWII. He was a part of the Battle of the Bulge and Victory for Europe (VE) Day. He fell victim to some mental issues, but had indeed accepted Christ shortly before His death. Lavene's sons seem to be in the same boat as their father. One summer day, with tears in her deep, dark eyes, Lavene lamented that she should have done more to bring her family to Christ. That was not hardly it. She followed with one of the most touching things I have ever heard in my entire life:
"I always tell my friends that God gave us all talents, but I started to think I don't have any talents. But then I though, "Well I love people, so maybe loving people is my talent."
-Lavene Lemaster
2/8/10
Blood Soaked -or- From Adam to All
From Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses
To who knows whence and where it goest
God's grace spread through Jesus, and then
To the disciples, and then all men.
Somewhere along the way that grace reached me
While I was afar sinning, lost at sea.
Until that light shone and my mind's eye was awakened
And the Lord my heart captured, and my sin was taken.
My sin was not covered by the good works I hath done,
But rather my sin was blotted out and burnt up by the Son.
Thus my hands will raise, and my tongue will dance!
May I spread this Good News whenever I've the chance.
Hath thou known that He created man from dust?
Hath thou known that His love He did thrust?
Hath thou known worlds spun at His word spoken?
What price wilt thou pay to obtain this buried token?
I was shocked to notice that He struggled this for me:
Bloody, beaten, disregarded, heart ruptured, hanging on the tree.
How do I reply to such a sight? With each sin I pound the nails in tight
With each sin I pound the nails in tight, my sin reflecting my malice and spite.
The Love that saved humankind from an earth-drowning flood,
The Love that turns a seed into a flower bud,
The Love that noticed thee and raised thee from the mud,
Didst hang there for you, soaked in blood.
Copyright © Billy James Edwards
To who knows whence and where it goest
God's grace spread through Jesus, and then
To the disciples, and then all men.
Somewhere along the way that grace reached me
While I was afar sinning, lost at sea.
Until that light shone and my mind's eye was awakened
And the Lord my heart captured, and my sin was taken.
My sin was not covered by the good works I hath done,
But rather my sin was blotted out and burnt up by the Son.
Thus my hands will raise, and my tongue will dance!
May I spread this Good News whenever I've the chance.
Hath thou known that He created man from dust?
Hath thou known that His love He did thrust?
Hath thou known worlds spun at His word spoken?
What price wilt thou pay to obtain this buried token?
I was shocked to notice that He struggled this for me:
Bloody, beaten, disregarded, heart ruptured, hanging on the tree.
How do I reply to such a sight? With each sin I pound the nails in tight
With each sin I pound the nails in tight, my sin reflecting my malice and spite.
The Love that saved humankind from an earth-drowning flood,
The Love that turns a seed into a flower bud,
The Love that noticed thee and raised thee from the mud,
Didst hang there for you, soaked in blood.
Copyright © Billy James Edwards
1/5/10
What I Am Missing Out On
God truly has given me all I need for life and happiness, and I am sure that all these are from Him... even the bad things. Afterall, if it weren't for the bad, how would I know just how good the good stuff is? Since the Fall of Man, it is impossible to know the extent of good without knowing the extent of bad. Why do we suffer trials? To know that there is always a solution. Always.
Unfortunately, I create my own trials, which seem unecessary to me. What is worse is that I lose sight of what I have right in front of me. Life, the ability to move and breath and see and smell and touch, and a wonderful girl who loves me, and many more. I have been missing out on life because I lose sight of my blessings.
Unfortunately, I create my own trials, which seem unecessary to me. What is worse is that I lose sight of what I have right in front of me. Life, the ability to move and breath and see and smell and touch, and a wonderful girl who loves me, and many more. I have been missing out on life because I lose sight of my blessings.
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