Poser, Hoser, or just plain real

I've been going into some deep thought here lately. No, not what colored frosting do I want on the donuts I get from the truck stop. Although, that is a very viable question. Not even if I tipped the nice waitress enough on that last meal. Being the son of a former waitress, I'd better have.
No, the things I've been thinking about lately have a bit more of an eternal outcome to consider. You see, just when I think I'm really starting to get it. You know, understanding God and all that I'm supposed to do and all. I mean, I'm really praying, and reading my bible, and I really think I'm beginning to hear something. Starting to feel empowered to fulfill all that I know I should be doing as a Christ follower. For me that means; being as good a provider as I can be. Being a good husband to my wife. You know, nice and all. being a good dad to my son's, and a good example to those in my work place. Witnessing when I get the chance and all that.
Well, just then seems to be when I blow it the most!  I don't get it. Here, I'll put it his way. It's like when I think I'm driving around in my shiny Western Star, runnin on the best roads, and only the best no touch freight. When in reality, I got this one stack Mack with a window in the back and I get to finger print the whole load.

 But then as I open the Word of God, I start to read of someone else that had the same stuff going on as I do. Today I'm reading out of the book of Romans chapter 7, verses 14 through 25.

    14For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
      21I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Now that you read it, let me tell you about who this is talking. This is St. Paul. You know, Paul the apostle? His name used to be Saul. You might have heard of him. He's the one, that while on the way to go and imprison, track down and maybe even kill him some of those folks that believed that this Jesus fellow was the Messiah, he got knocked down off oh his high horse on the way to Damascus. And here is the best part. His life would never be the same again. He went on to spread the Good News of Jesus to all the known world. And is a writer of many of the New testament letters. There's more about him, but I'll save that for another time. I just wanted to give you an idea, if you didn't know him.

The point is, he is having the same problem I am. How can that be? He not only was a very devout man of God, but he had a vision of Christ that left him blind for days. He heard His voice. His life was so changed that he went from hunting Christians, to being one of the to the max! Yet here in these verses, he shows us his flaws. His regular guy side. You see, he was. A regular guy, I mean. He was a man. Nothing more. But wait. There was something that made him different. He was totally sold out. No going back. No "well maybe if this doesn't work out, I'll just set up a "tents while you wait" business". (Quotes were mine, for fun......No he really didn't say that!).
So if he was so sold out, how come he is dealing with the same stuff I do? I mean, as you can see here, he must have blown it from time to time. I mean I am a Christ follower too. But I don't think I could match the spiritual level as Paul. But actually, I can.
The same Holy Spirit that lived in him, lives in me. So why then do I blow it? The same reason Paul did. Even though I'm sure I've got it all together, I have this sin nature. I'm selfish, I want my own way, I don't like it when other people want their own way at my expense. And on and on it goes.

"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Because of the work He has already done, I can be free to live a life for Him who released me from my chains of sin and shame. Of thinking I'm better than others while living a life that would so displease Him.
Transparent time here.  I can't stand hypocrisy in any form. Yet just the other day I found myself being the king of all hypocrites. I want to live a godly life and be Jesus to my family first, then the world. But here I am, hungry? Yes. Tired? Yes. Feeling like nobody wants to help me complete a rather difficult task? You bet.
 " The things I don't want to do, I do". Like it says, " So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin." How can I overcome this? With Christ! " I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me". Then I can say, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!", and know that I know, it's gonna be okay. Again, It's a matter of getting right with Father God.

You gonna tell Him your sorry for blowing it? Then to the ones you messed up on or with? Then the bible says that, " He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleans us from all unrighteous".
Dude that rocks!
That's like taken your incredibly cool looking ride through a Blue beacon, then sitting in the back row with a can of Mothers and a fleece rag until every rim, and fuel tank is so shiny you can see the cracks in your teeth in them! Yeah, That's what I'm talking about! Only that ride is you. And it's not just on the outside, but inside as well.
So, when and if you blow it, don't lay around in guilt thinking your such a scumbag. You've got no way of fixing things. Your right, you can't, and you are. Don't look back, look up. That's where your help comes from.
Be strong, Be courageous. 

"Shorthaul"

Troubled by trouble?

I started out this morning making breakfast for my family. It’s what I do every Sunday. Don’t know how it started, it’s just what I do. So here I am making pancakes when it hits me. Open up the gates and let the King of glory come in. Well that was a little different, I thought. So I did. Open up the gates I mean. And the King of Glory DID come in! Who is this King Of Glory?! I’ll tell you who He is. He is my loving King that wants to spend time with me. The King that knows all, I said All of my sins, and loves me anyway. I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.

But then there are a lot of things I don’t get. Things like why we’re astounded when trouble comes our way. 

Today I'm in 1 Peter 4. Let me start around verse 7;

  ⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen

. 

Without grumbling? Instead, what ever we speak it should be as the very words of God. You ever notice how spiritual us church goers can look on Sunday, and how much we can complain about our jobs, boss's, and whatever else on Monday? Yeah, so do those around you that you've been wondering why they don't buy your "christian" message. You see, if your sold out to Christ, " they will, ( the people that don't know God ),

see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven". Likewise, if your not, they see that too. 

But here is where this "Christian walk" thing starts to get a bit harder. Verse 12 ans on;

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And,    “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
   what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”^[a]
 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

How you doin with that one? Yep me too! Not so good. But remember that nothing can separate us from His love. So there is hope. we can repent for our bad behavior. Ask for forgiveness. Then, keep on truckin.
Look at verse 17 again. Do you see that? " Judgment is going to begin with those of us that proclaim Christ as or Lord and Savior.
How sad and scarey is that? vs. 18, cause if it's hard for the righteous to be saved, then what about the ungodly or sinner?
Pilgrim, you were put here for a purpose. God has a plan to use you where you work everyday. Every dock you hit. Every forklift operator you talk to. Every traveler, dispatcher, cop, or waitress you come in contact with needs you to live out your Christ likeness in front of them. So don't be troubled by trouble. Thank God that He trust's you enough to use you during the trial. He is our faithful Creator, He loves you so much. As much as those that are still lost in their way. He wants to use you as His hands and feet to reach them. Humble yourself in the trial, and watch Him raise you up.
Be strong, be courageous,

"Shorthaul"