Away In a Book...

If you are like me and enjoy reading, you probably know how you can easily get entangled into a book. It becomes almost as life, and reality disappears into thin air. Whenever life is hard, you can simply run to your bookshelf and find something to get lost in.

Is this the way it was supposed to be? Or are we here for something more? Pain is a reality. However, we don't like to feel it. Suffering is all around us, but we don't want it to have a part in our lives. Yet this is not the way it was supposed to be.

In Romans, Paul says that he counts his sufferings not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us!* Can we too, endure suffering, hardship and pain? Instead of trying to get reality and God out of our lives, can we not call out to our loving Father who will help us endure all the hardships we face? If HE is truly in our lives, will HE not give us a song through the trial? If we are humble, will He not give us the grace through the thorns?

He is able to satisfy our needs, why do we need to escape them? We are to count it joy when we face trials and temptations of many kinds. Can we not face them with HIM by our side? Filled with His Holy Spirit?

Why is it, that we so easily run to our comforts? Are we truly trying to please Him and glorify Him in everything?

We can only find our satisfaction in HIM. Even though we may turn to books, movies, and other pleasures, they will never satisfy. Only He can satisfy. Why do we not turn to Him?

Even though we may go to church and know the right doctrine like the back of our hand, that does not help us to live a Holy Life for Him. If we live by the flesh and go to church on Sundays, tell me how that would make us different from anyone else. It wouldn't make us any different from anyone in the world. We simply have our ears tickled, thinking we are on our way to heaven.

Every day we get up, eat, go to work (or school), eat, work some more, eat, and go to bed. On Sundays, we may go to church, but the rest of our week is a routine. Where is the point in our lives? Perhaps we don't even have any points to our lives. Are we just living to eat, sleep, and have fun? No, we are created for so much more!

There is, in fact, a way out of this. However, many do not want to find out about this life, few there will be to find this way. It is different, it is difficult, it is dangerous. Nevertheless, it brings the most joy to your life. It is a joy that is not goosh.

"My life has meaning only when I glorify God." {Joni E. T}

Put away your books, movies, and pleasures for a moment, talk with your Father. He longs to hear your voice. Talk with Him often. Prayer is the core of my day. Without it, my day will fall apart - crumble - break. If I do not speak with the Love of my soul every day, and learn to make Him the ONLY one in my life, my life is not worth living. If I do not glorify Him in what I do, nothing seems right. Like I have said, many a time before:

 He is my everything. 

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His Presence

Even in amidst the hardship, or even doing things you would rather not be doing, the Lord is near you. However, you may not be near Him. As you go throughout your day, you may say, “I don’t feel the Father near me.”

Nevertheless, He will never leave you – you might leave Him. You may not be in His presence. For, in His presence there is fullness of Joy and at His right hand are Pleasures forever more.* 

Can you be at peace and be full of joy, even when you are doing a yucky job? When you are doing God's will, but it just isn't the easiest thing to do? Are you in His Presence? 

Delight yourself in Him. Draw near to Him - He will draw near to you. 

Several weeks ago, I was cleaning at my Uncles. It was not the easiest job, rather it was difficult. The Father reminded me of the verse in Psalms about being in His presence. I was delighted in Him. 

Earlier that day, I had been reading something from a book called, "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. It was an encouragement to my soul, and exactly what I needed for that day.

"Be willing to fight for this precious time with ME. Fight your own desires to stay in bed or to do your own will. Resist and the evil one will flee. Be humble and God your Father will come near you."

"Father, throughout my day, I want to be in Your presence. Show me where to go. What to say. Purify my heart and cleanse me from withing. You are all I need. Amen."

*Psalms 16:11

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The Rich Man and Lazurus

"'He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ””

Luke 16:31 NIV

What a parable Jesus told here in Luke 16. It is convicting to see how this man (the rich man) is wealthy and has many clothes and delightful food. So do many of us. And if we don't get what we want, aren't we usually grumpy? Aren't we usually upset?
The poor man, Lazarus' life is different. He doesn't have much in this life, so it seems from the outside. However, on the inside, his heart must have been pure and upright.
Just think: many people can have an appearance of righteousness, but on the inside, they are totally empty. Or, they can have a life that doesn't look like much, but on the inside, the Father is within them, helping them through each trial they face, preparing them for His Kingdom.
If we are friends of this world, the rich man's life would be welcoming and we would have many friends because of our wealth.
If we are friends of God, most likely, we are not going to be very popular.
What path will we choose? Lazarus's life was not easy, rather, it was difficult! Are we ready to serve God, no matter what the cost?
Another thing I noticed was the last verse when Father Abraham says that even if someone rises from the dead they will not believe. It is true. Jesus rose from the dead, and many still do not believe. Why would they if their life is so pleasant right now? Why would they if they receive everything they want when they want? Why would they want to even consider thinking about the afterlife? Their fulfillment is in the here and now.
Yet—in God's own time, He can lead them to repentance— if they choose to follow Him.

Let us be aware of these trials and know that we must undergo suffering for a little while, yet it is not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us! Praise God for His marvelous works!

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