The Desire For Fresh Fire | 12.31.12

As I was getting caught up on some work earlier this morning, the phrase "fresh fire" dropped in my spirit.  In times past, I heard this phrase but never really paid any mind to it.  I guess, at the time, it didn't arrest my attention enough for me to ponder its meaning.  However, with all the peculiar things that have been happening in my life lately, it did this time.  Initially, my thoughts were, "How can an element like fire, which has existed as long as air and water, be fresh?"  That REALLY stumped me.  And then the Holy Spirit says, "It's fresh with each igniting."  Hmmm, the fire that is freshly ignited...

The Need For Motivation - Part 2 | 12.30.12

In discussing the initial post on this topic with friends, the idea arose of faith being something deep within that brings out the best in us.  Let's also add to that faith's ability to ignite our own capabilities to take the necessary corresponding action that will manifest the potential outcomes we believe will become reality.  Faith represents the course of action we take following our receipt of inspiration; and by reason of the choices and decisions we make, it's a definite indication of what we trust will manifest our desired outcomes.  But somewhere between being inspired and walking by faith, there lies motivation.  Between us receiving the vision and carrying it out there is an engagement of our "want to" to our "will to" once we've discovered the "why do".

To Like Or To Love | 12.29.12

A couple of days ago, I ended up in a conversation about the trials of trying to like difficult people.  We've all encountered those individuals who, for one reason or another, make it really hard for us to dwell peaceably with them.  Whether they be in our families, workplaces or the various organizations in which we're involved, there's always THAT SOMEONE whom we find ourselves going to GOD in prayer about because they repeatedly rub us the wrong way.  Well in that conversation, I shared what my own experiences have taught me; and it's my prayer that these life lessons are helpful to others, like myself, who are endeavoring to be those walking epistles read of men, both glorifying the Father above and pointing lost men to His amazing grace.

The Need For Motivation | 12.27.12

After reading a friend of mine's Facebook status update on yesterday, I started thinking about the need for motivation from others.  In pondering the word "motivation," my mind interestingly enough gravitated towards the word "motive".  Quite intrigued by this, I began to wonder, "Why would I need someone else to provide me a motive for doing anything?"  As a born again believer in whom the Holy Spirit resides, I most certainly do not lack inspiration because my growing sensitivity to the Spirit and how He communicates frequently triggers ideas and visions.  And yes, I'm extremely grateful for this because I have come a long way in that regard.  But back to this motivation thing...  Why is motive such a difficult thing to generate for ourselves?

Trusting In GOD's Presence | 12.26.12

No matter what we face in life, we can trust in GOD's presence.  Make no mistake about it: GOD is always with us, but we can never be confident in this thing if we fail to trust in His presence.  In fact, it was spoken by Moses in Deuteronomy 31:6 to all Israel that the LORD "will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  (Hebrews 13:5 quotes this passage in a way more familiar to our hearing: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.")  Herein, though, lies the reality check: simply accepting the fact that GOD is present is not enough when our faith is under fire.  When the will of GOD for our lives leads us through the valley of the shadow of death, we require more than the mere acceptance of GOD's presence...  We must pursue an immutable awareness of GOD's presence, an awareness so strong that nothing we face can make us doubt His presence being with us.  And as much as we may hate to acknowledge this, for our awareness of His presence to become that strong, it generally takes us encountering situations wherein only a manifestation of GOD's presence can get us through.