It is hard to say no to anyone regarding something that is within your authority to condone yet outside of the command you’ve been given. The Commandment that demonstrates the Christian understanding was stated by Jesus. Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength, as you love no other. The last five words of that commandment are crucial in the process and simplicity of saying NO.

We are saved by Grace. Was Adam? Adam had something that none of us had, a choice to obey God and never experience the wages of Sin. Yes, in grace we may be obedient being born again, then why too do we sin understanding fully the absence of Grace and the price/impact of sin upon us all? Why do we crave regret which is what each of us should feel when we fall from the mercy and grace given? Can we tell no one NO?

Will you tell someone NO when you know that it will cost you your: Land, Job, friendship or loving mate? It was nearly impossible to say NO to Eve the woman of his own rib. Should he have? Of course. The entire path of human history may have been transformed if he had. Not to make it the central question here but do you think he was supposed to give in to her? I mean God’s Plan is clearly based upon the foreknowledge of that failure.

Does it take practice saying NO to people before you can hope to master its effect at one specific important moment? There’s a good question that all of us will answer but will never invite. Is this why Christian men are perceived boring, because they must spend the bulk of their lives telling people NO and subsequently/consequently losing the material, emotional and rewards of this life because they cannot play along with the world to obey God?

That truly is the worldly perspective. For from the new creature, born again mind of a Saint, saying NO is a willingness to lose the carnal but a joyous clarity of the results of accepting the Spiritual. See denial of self doesn’t make you boring if in so doing we achieve things that are outside of our capability/authority unless we say NO to Sinful Opportunities.

The greatest difficulty is that it requires us to do so to those we love and do not wish to hurt as we demand obedience to our First Love, God. You see the greatest problem. Most relationships that are not equally yoked are going to require a constant comparison between the love your; Mate, Friends and Colleagues receive versus God.

However, I cannot tell God NO and simply march on into my own expectations having made that decision. Telling my mate NO may cause Arguments, maybe not many if we are equally in love with God as our First Love, but it may cause conflict. I cannot be disobedient to my Mate as We are not in a Creator, Created relationship.

But most relationships in the modern world come with an unspoken threat of affection/intimacy removal if obedience is not observed. Being in this position for a Christian is the worst type of captivity for there is only One Head of the Church. Only One Sovereign God. Only One Creator and neither of us are Him.

Do I have compassion for those who have to say NO to their mate, their kids, Their Boss? Absolutely, but I also have wisdom enough to recommend that you practice for those times that you will be required to honor God first and disappoint these people in your Life. However the greatest advice I can give is God’s, don’t be unequally yoked with a Non Christian for we do not have the same perspective regarding our first love.

To them there is no one above them and that is a conflict that can be totally avoided in choosing someone born again by God’s Holy Spirit. A person with the same goals, objectives and observance of God’s Commands and Will that resides in your own heart. Is it easy to tell your Mate NO even when you are both Christian? NO, but the fight/explanation of why you are saying NO should rapidly arrive at mutual understanding.

If you do say NO and your mate balks or removes affection, Then the problem isn’t just one of leadership, it is the concept of God’s Sovereignty. If that is the case you will either cave to the pressure and stop saying NO or you will say NO one too many times and the person who is Christian by name only will leave to find someone that will. In Jesus’ name Christianity isn’t hard it’s impossible, thank God nothing is impossible through Christ.

Father God may I rest here with you a while? I am so blessed by everything that has happened this year, joyful, sharpening and refreshing. Thank you for every single soul sent my way. I know that the investment of Your Word and Love will return a bounty beyond expectation. May it and You be magnified throughout the coming year, in trials, truth and triumph.

Forgive those times I trespassed against You and those that You bid me love. I am so sorry for each millimeter astray. Make of me the man of Your intention. I surrender again and again as I pick up this Cross knowing that the beating Christ took for me and the Death He willingly entered has more than paid the price for my redemption.

Thank you for the gathering of saints and all things that are destined to remain in Your Presence for Eternity. May we be ever joyful about the promise of that Everlasting life spent with You and the works that are predetermined for even now. Let us serve in distinction and humility these last days before Your Rule and Reign.

I am so grateful for the laughter and the smiles You allow me to collect in memory to be taken with me to where You are waiting. It is an amazing thing, overwhelming in fact to think that God waits for me, when I have so poorly waited upon You. What an absolute blessing and reminder of this gift in my unworthiness.

Lord we feel the dwindling of time and thus the focused energy upon the last efforts of our Ambassadorship. Let us never fear yet understand that the threats are not against us in our person but against the power and efforts we will inevitably complete in support Your Perfect Will for those we are fortunate to meet.

I am filled up, though sadness lingers in the cloakroom of my shelter silence. For mankind must choose and though many will choose well many will make the decision to sit on fence or worse yet choose against Your Gift of salvation and redemption. It is for those unwise souls that my heart weeps.

In a Faith that demands denial of self it is perhaps irony or obstruction of God’s Will to allow individualism to drive daily regimen. Me wanting something doesn’t make it right or the best choice on the list of those things which are good for mankind. There must be an Objective Truth. Praise God there is. HIM. In Jesus’ name.

How do I fit in with the Body of Christ if it is always about the list of my wants, desires and likes? That’s right they are diametrically opposed ways of living. This story was very seldom about me, my history, successes, imposed will or list of things I want to see happen forcing all to comply. It is about denying those and following God.

Strangely that threatens those who adhere to a doctrine of obtaining or attaining the plateaus of self doctrine. We would think that we are not narcissistic, therefore giving in to the needs of the many over the me would be simple. However, we see that often it is the single largest obstacle to unity in the Body of Christ.

Strong willed people force a disservice to this unity, by driving, controlling or steering the current and the mission statement toward a reflection of personal mandate or philosophical simile. That to be honest has always been the root of my failures ironically rooted in a relentless pursuit of personal success, blinded by its implication.

Met a fellow yesterday who was certain that he didn’t know the answer as evidenced in the peace absent in his life, yet he was absolutely determined that no one could offer any rational suggestion that would impact the situation to alternate outcome. I was so sad for him never availing himself of the miracle and majesty of God’s Spirit.

Perhaps, me simply knowing that it is not always (in fact seldom) about me and more about a respectful, spirit filled blend of ideas and efforts that produce unity of passion and thought. This leads primarily to the healthy search for a directing voice other than or combined with my own perspective list of pursuits.

However the true affected outcome is an alignment to serve the only will outside my own that has the perspective and wisdom beyond the constraints of time and space, the objective Will of God. Only through voluntary surrender to God’s understanding and direction has the sting of losing my own focus simply dissolved in healthy fashion.

I am simply overjoyed when I walk with God. Unlike those who appear to be resisting peace I don’t wonder what is next simply venture forward awaiting the joy of guaranteed mystery. Unlike self rule God always astounds and amazes and leads me away from conflict or trouble that I consistently pursue with passion and disregard.

All Power lost they will go. Oh, do Lord send me those who do not crave my restraint or Dominion. Thank you for their departure for I will never surrender to anyone but you ever again. Even saying that Lord I must acknowledge my cry for you to support that courage in the moments when even Love or the reasonable facsimile is again used to sway my vow.

Isn’t it a desperate ideal that this world may still coax us to allegiance to the sparkling and swirling promise of carnal achievement. It has to hurt. That is the only way to escape being enslaved by the pretty things of mind and the Quest to find this temporary life rewarding. For their is nothing further from the truth than the deceptive promises of dreams, dreams of escaping the pains of youth.

Strength is only found in retreat, ever pushing forward after conquest is a self fulfilling lie. Truth may not be mastered only accepted as it is revealed and used as guiding comparison of discerning hope of all that is experienced thenceforth. May I walk away from the spicy or sugary regard of child hood. Being alone though never pleasant is where I met the Savior.

May He provide those who know true love and are not stuck in the offering of falsehood. Those who truly love never leave, as they never left Paul even when he was doomed to execution by Empire. I must regard and suspect that same end in not giving or surrendering to the agents of untruth, the Children of Disobedience for they cannot know the Truth.

I pray for them as their quest is truly an abomination an idea I learned from Stephen. They try and dedicate themselves to mastering the trail without ascension. Caught in the loop of their own desire to achieve greatness, a quest that may only end in misery without surrender of self. Lord may I eschew the things of me and mine, accepting that which is found in You.

The script or litany of installed fears paralyze us into lack of courage, the dog has lost its fight. Where there is true: learning, love or God’s hidden treasure we ought stand, wait or struggle for as long as He allows. Most often the will to give up is the greatest enemy against which we walk away from ordained wrestling.

This truth is one from which most will escape. These times demand/dictate the opportunities, Divinely Preordained, for us to step forward and meet the impossible where it seeks to erect seemingly insurmountable edifice or mountain. What are we here for if not to express to this world that nothing is impossible with God Almighty.

I have been taught by God’s enemies to give up. Everything around me says run away, it’s too hard, it is beyond your scope or that investment will simply deplete your reserve. The real things in life the one’s that have the opportunity of going with you to heaven are the experiences that this world blessingly uses to transform you through: love, pain, joy and hope.

From how many blessings have I run after conditioning by this world which says this is it, get it while you’re here as when this ends it ends? Life eternal requires a new thinking and perspective. This is not my end. This is simply the stairway to the beginning that includes this iteration infused into the glorified life as I receive entry into the realm of the impossible.

Remaining unpoisoned by the world may often appear as if everything that is distasteful or difficult must be bad for the Spirit. The opposite is true. Just because something is hard or will require me to suffer the transformative pains associated with growth does not mean that contains the taints of this world. Yes, sin must be run from in the midst of every experience.

If everything were to be totally avoided then the courageous would never take the battle field of discussion, ideas or resistance of all that is fowl. We must learn how to fight for the good things found in this world and if we preemptively decide to avoid or run from the unpleasant those things and mysteries planted within these experiences won’t be found.

Be surprised, confident and expect the miracles that are about to be sent you. Find joy in everything, good, bad or just plain boring. For these are the moments that truly count in the retelling of your existence. I can honestly say right now we will speak of how well you clung to God’s promises and believed in victory before it was even seen.

God knew you before the Womb. There is nothing in this life for which He has not accounted. It may seem a random string of events to you, at least that is what the fear salesman would have you believe. Yet, even he knows that you are destined for glory at the foot of the Light of the World. It will all resolve in peace and new songs.

Have you yet seen the purpose in service to man and the King? Has your design been revealed even in the most basic thought that you are even now beginning to unravel clues and visions of your grand purpose? Oh, what wonders God has placed within your making. A set of character and gifts meant for the specific reason of His achieved Glory.

What then do you fear without a death facing you? What then is the sleep that frightens men so? Why is everyone afraid of something that you will never experience? Who else may say that the Lamb of God has gone to prepare a place for them and taken nearly two thousand years in its making as God only took Six Days to create this world?

Are you ready to forget it all and remember the person you are to become, the person you were truly designed to become? What dreams await you in God’s presence? What works are you yet to see complete in this life for the coming Kingdom of God? What will His voice sound like ringing in your head or soft and quiet as it is even now?

Are there roads or just walking through sky, walls and mountains? What will it feel like to never no pain again? Will you try to remember this life as it fades into indifference or will you strive to forget choosing the abundant everlasting life before you. What will be the nature of each day as there is no longer night or sun or stars or evil?

How big my tears and smiles.

Father God let me rejoice in all things even or especially in those that require me to grow beyond the pain of loss, disappointment or surrender of my quest for fulfillment of idea or dream. What then is the cause of dance or song in trial, tribulation or recovery?

It is to the peace absent this world that I look. Frustrations uprooted as bushes meant for flame. The song of rocks, trees and the cattle march knowing that from Maker they came to return the same. Are there words designed for this Divine relationship and expression?

Thank you Lord for taking from me those things designed for other purpose or position. Thank you Father for provision of those elements, friendship and family equipping us for the completion of righteous task of your naming. What is my new name and those beside me?

Go fourth to live the dream decided by the Mind and built by the Hand of God Almighty. For there is no other worthy road. There is no other understanding but that which is received by listening to the shepherd of this mighty Flock. Who made us to be so powerful in promise?

There is no courage or frustration outside this discussion with Eternal. For those that I chose not are meant to make the journey at my side, a decision not of reason or complexity, but the simplicity of response to Divine Direction. Who will hear or has heard the similar song?

In this is found the lack of worry, loss or mourning for the souls departed or divided by each mountain pass or valley. For in construct there will be a gathering of like souls even those chosen for another path yet trodden on sunny plateau. Do they walk without or against Him?

No for this is His dream not my own and in that founding there will be great joy at the final realization of return. Therefore, I regret not the choice of mystery and surrender. For in the loss of my own scripting I find Eternal Planning resolved. Who then wrote the end to come?

Mistakes are opportunities to learn. Mistakes are not judged by my good or bad intentions for they are by nature attempts of misunderstanding. When I intend to love and don’t there is one of two causes from which my intention does little to separate responsibility. Either I wanted to love and did not yet possess the alignment with God’s will in doing so instead offering them my emotional, carnal expectation or judgment or I do not know God’s Love and therefore cannot offer it.

When we approach interactions with new people the chance to make these mistakes are inevitably present. Upon making the mistake we have the chance at correction. Not making that correction at first opportunity identifies this mistake as true carnal intention, no longer just misunderstanding. Love being the commanded objective of God’s Will we have then consciously or unconsciously departed from that perfect will entering into our own objectives and outcomes.

When two Christians come together to create union as one before God it must be done in clarity of Love being the only objective. Both parties cannot go into the ordained union with reliance upon making mistakes over and again. They must have a shared commitment before God to eschew the chance to make mistakes as they no longer have that coverage from accountability as they KNOW that God’s Will is ALWAYS the guiding objective. When one parties outside of commitment tells the other they do not love them and leaves there never was that shared commitment.

Having ventured into this obvious misalignment with God’s Will, either of the people must make a declaration of repentance and if there is shared value in continuing the relationship it must be based upon REAL and HONEST Commitment to right the relationship to one of Godliness in Commitment. If the other party disagrees, now there being clearly no more Mistakes available the relationship must be ceased if there is no agreement to COMMIT.

All of our relationships when considering unequal yoking as outcome must face this reality. God is not asking us to marry the children of disobedience but has commanded us to marry those of consistent faith and alignment with His Will. Proceeding where commitment or lack of relationship with God is present or available is in itself disobedient. Do we truly believe that now we are born of the seed of Heaven no longer stuck in Adam’s Sin having been delivered by redemption in Christ Jesus that we are FREE from God’s Commands regarding the commitments we make to each other?

Obvious.

It. It is about honor and truth beyond those conveyances that achieve personal objectives. A path chosen for me not of my own doing. A place designated for acquisition for purposes beyond my own planning or conception. It is about the glory of a God who withstood all the mockery of His Creation to bring about the unity of understanding. It is a gathering of all those like souls to a harvest for permanent separation of the evil and the good. It may only be done by the careful threshing of each corpus to reveal the fruit whether golden, cankerous green or black. It is about removing any lies told by self or powers seeking usurpation of that which God has wrought. It is about eternity and how to reach it. It is.

It is because I am. Things created may not proclaim incorporation within the verb to be unless I am. I am is always first. They would have you regurgitate nonsensical adherence to the things that sound untrue when said, simply by nature they are false. Nothing does not create everything, nothing cannot create, even the wicked must first BE in order to influence anything it must become part of everything. The mere statement of the origin, being I AM is the factual basis for Creation. Everything created something and nothing cannot be part of the something that Everything created. Separate Light. What is the sum of its parts?

It is the nature that drives a man to do impossible things for reasons beyond himself, Reasons that ordain and predispose the things that will be, simply because I am. Free will is the choice given to follow the things of nothing as a man finds his influence and power over that which has been created. It does not govern but convinces itself of authority derived in nothing. It does not breathe life into anything for it is of the nothing that cannot extend what it never had, eternity. It does not reach beyond the horizons of self, limited by manipulation of parts over which it has no authority other than to consume, exhausting the carbon of creation. It seeks taxes over the carbon fibers of creation to feed its hunger to exhaust.

It is not the threshing floor but chooses by Grace to see itself separated and revealed to its disparate parts for the purpose of revelation itself. Because I am deems it necessary to transverse the doorways and paths to eternity. We must face the revelation of the it to reach the next sanctification of AM. It is what I AM told me to be true and transcends the absolute limits of my own comprehension. Therefore I AM stuck in the parameters of choices that are only available to me because Everything decided they are necessary as avenues to departure from this iteration. I AM provided what May BE, not because I want to be part of the maybes as conclusion but because the only choice I ever had was agreement/disagreement with the everything to become something of the Everything or return to the nothing from which I AM adapted me to be part of the Grand Puzzle of His Creation.

Three taps on a shoulder and closed eye embrace of freshening fealty. Never questioned that which is right by sight and path. We are seldom seen in captured moments thinking of all those beautiful spring blossoms in the sprawling fields below our quiet perch. We ate then tendered resignation for the view of yonder mountain, bidding it slumber in stone and sky. One Perfect road.

Leather pouch held up high, holding my rested chin. Small comforts this pipe of blackberry, raisin and sage reminding the desert it is not alone. The soft aroma mixed with dirt cooling peacefully from the raging Sun of yesterday’s battle. In brush and moor I lay passion to side hoping to make the soft ground my home for the hours to recover. Even the stars cannot hold my focus.

Moving swiftly after dousing fires of morning’s warmth we run for the boundary of hell and forgiveness. Hoping that somehow logic overcomes fate and order replaces chaos. Time to think and forget again, suppressing gravity’s mounting force to bring our hearts in the bridle of fear’s budget. We have not yet lost but absent intervention of source beyond our making, we are doomed.

Forced to learn quickly or falter we arrange the tools around our feet knowing that in coming moments there will be no time to assemble our rage and precision. Raining down upon the seconds we once ran through dress rehearsal we move silent, swift as if time and sound were partners. Leaning to the left a rock dislodges tumbling toward the edge of sound and water. We forget how to breathe.

What and whose destiny awaits? Will we be left in blindness of eye or mind only to resolve the puzzles so deeply rooted in our misunderstanding? What dreams shall pass the trance of nights spent waking, with inerrant tender? Smudged tattoos of bloat and ash beneath each eye we are reminded of our heart of darkness. Arising to see the shared shame of concluding too swiftly.