Here are some things I think that keep people coming back for more.

1. They give people what they want. As with any good site serve’n up content google is an all you can eat buffet rich in information. Usually brought to you in this order.

1. I. Relevancy
2. II. Highest Bidder
3. III. Popularity

It’s does get annoying sometimes of all the high bidders in the un-organic results at the very top of the list. But at least google is keeping them relevant and I think people make an exception because of this and don’t mark it against google. A lot of times when a site is popular it ranks higher and sometimes it is because this site may be an authority on the subject you are searching on and more then likely is very useful. But not always the case.

2. It’s so easy. type in whatever you’re thinking (and if you communicate like a normal human being) you will more then likely find what your looking for. “Georgia Weather…” , “how to build a website…” , “Why’s my pee orange?”. No offense to those of you googlely challenged.

3. They are more then a search engine They really do a good job of linking their products seamlessly into their search engine with out negatively affecting what they do best. They become a part of your life with out you realizing. Google maps… gmail… google hosted code… and any other app or service you use that is owned or run by google. I think this goes back to Relevancy providing OPTIONAL side products that are relevant to people.

There’s a lot to learn from google (not that they know it all). Some of the applicable items are:

• Firstly providing something of HIGH relevance to the person while at the same time not letting your high bidders crap up your site.
• Making your products and site so easy to use that people are able feel natural or effortless to access what they came to get from you.
• Providing optional RELEVANT products or services that they don’t feel like they HAVE to be a part of… by not shoving it in their face and telling them they need it… especially when it irrelevant.

A lot of this applies to life to not just building websites. ( ;

But just as it is important to be ready for negative things and prepared to encounter them. It is also extremely important to be proactive and even more ready to the the things the Lord has called you. This is why this temptation has fallen upon you in the first place to distract you from what you were made to do… Have a relationship with your Creator, your God.

Ephesians 2: 1-10
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I am starting to see I should approach each project the same and really think out the time and worst case scenarios before I make a commitment. I could end up eating a lot of hours as I have on a recent project. There is a difference between being competitive and just plain out cheap and quoting a low price in order to get the job. We will definitely learn our lessons on these types of commitments and the importance of considering what we are going to have to sacrifice.

This makes me think of a verse that has to do with really thinking about the price of be a Christ Follower.

Luke 14:28-30
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’”

Jesus is sharing that people will have to pay a great price in order to follow him and it’s not going to be “fair” but it will be worth it. The sacrifice is not doing what you want to do any more, but dying to yourself and really surrendering your will to God.

A lot of times as a Christ follower we want the heaven and blessing part but are not willing to suffer the persecution nor are we willing to surrender our will to God’s will. It is important to consider and think about the price and the reward. Some may feel discouraged at first but if you think deeper the reward of Jesus is more than worth it. True followers take the persecution and will surrendering part but it is only by His spirit that we are able to stand firm and reap the benefits.

These were pretty intense to consume all at once so I switched to mountain dew and eventually diet mountain dew in order to not consume as many calories drinking several of these a day. (I know to some of you this may not seem like much at all but it is the beginning of something bigger.) I am not consuming crazy amounts of caffeine daily but I am noticing how my body is becoming dependent upon it and just like any other drug that can affect the body it has severe affects.

I don’t think people realize how serious it is and they take it lightly because it is socially acceptable to consume large amounts of caffeine especially if you are a working person. I wanted to research addictions and I found this page which was helpful. I do not feel I am at a point where I have become solely dependent upon caffeine but I see my habits leading me down that road and not towards Christ.

It’s clear that I have been becoming dependent on flesh and a substance rather than dependent on God and only he can rescue me from such things so that I might be dependent upon him instead where I will not feel like I have to overwork myself and carry heavy loads.

Galatians 5:24-25 – And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Caffeine Addiction Site

This is a video fom the site above this guy is very serious and he didn’t really realize it until he sat down and reflected.

Watch a video on caffeine addiction

So I have been learning more about who I am, my Identity. I am learning that I am not the bad things that people may think or say about me nor am I good things that people say or think about me. I may display those qualities from time to time but in no way does that limit or define me to only those qualities. I have knew this for a while but I am starting to have a better grasp on it. For example if someone says “you are a mean person”, that is not who you are but you may be tempted to think “am I a mean person? ” or if enough people say it in your life time you may be tempted to think and eventually agree that “you are a mean person.” Then there is the other side when we hear nice thing from people about our selves. Wow you are a nice person, or you are really artsy or some compliment upon your abilities. All of sudden we start trying to do more of what we got the compliment on and slowly we let this compliment define us.

Let say one day you stop being artsy or you don’t feel like being nice or that ability everyone has been complimenting you on is absent and you can’t do what you used to be able to do… where has your identity gone? It is no where to be found. My friend Clarence spoke about this the other day and I agree with him that my identity can’t be wrapped up in what I can accomplish or what I can not accomplish because at some point I will not have an Identity if these temporary little things are all that is defining me.

So where do I find my Identity? I go to the one who created me. My Identity is not my feelings and emotions, thoughts and mind, or personality which are a part of my soul . God already tells me who I am in his word. He lets me know the truth about me, that when all these things that I thought I was are gone there is a me that is even deeper a me that He knows, a me that was dead but he brought back to life. My spirit, the core of me who he created originally. It’s important to figure out who you really are and not let yourself get defined by the good and bad things in this world, but instead by the one who has already defined you

I realized for a while now that I have been very comfortable but in a bad way. I like where I am, not really seeing any problems here or there and like the Pink Floyd song says “I am comfortably NUMB”. But this isn’t good because I want to live a life that is fresh daily…not stale, stagnant, and moldy. What caused me to get in this condition as I searched It was revealed to me that I have been letting my desires rule me in a sense. If I feel like it I do it… and If I don’t feel like it and I have to do it then I have a very poor attitude.

I started trying to exercise a while ago to address some of the consequences of my condition, comfort. It did not work because I was modifying my behavior not my belief and perspective… and that belief is that if something is not horrible then why is there need for improvement.

What really was being attacked was my personal relationship with God, Jesus. I felt like I was alright and that there was no need for growth and so I had become stagnant and absent of any zeal or enthusiasm for the relationship and life in general. I had/have a desire to increase Our relationship but it was being drowned out by my other desires.

So I have decided to go on a journey, one that I have not been on before one which the sole purpose is to seek God. Not that he will meet me because of my efforts but I will be denying a majority of my desires because I am serious and it is not something I am entering into lightly at all. the purpose of going on this journey is to be transformed, changed, a new person, a deeper relationship… though I know this doesn’t happen by my efforts… it is something I desire the utmost. Now that I have off of school I don’t have an excuse and I wont let myself take an excuse not to go.

I have been comfortable way to long and to any one who has gotten comfortable in a worldly way, it’s time to get uncomfortable in order to grow.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. (hebrew 12: 7-10)

here is a direct quote about Daniel… “They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

Obviously I am not like Daniel.. and my peers aren’t jealous and trying to bring charges against me… but my point is he was beyond reproach (they couldn’t find anything to accuse him of), he was trustworthy (He said he would do something and he did it which helped him develop this rep), He had integrity (he was neither corrupt or negligent) and Most of all he Trusted God! The man had Integrity and it began with God. He was promoted and had high ranking and that was because of God too!

When people look at me I’m confident they are seeing a very distorted version of whom I claim to be and what I claim to believe. When I take a look at my words, actions, and motives my conscience confirms what or who I am living for, what’s really in my heart. Lord fill me with your Spirit, Love, and Truth.

Many times I find myself sharing about web-design or giving advice on things that I am passionate about or have mini passions about like mac books or drinking coffee black or some pet peeves ; I can be pretty zealous when I talk about them too. I was cut to the core when I realized that I am an evangelist… for myself… for the web… for things thats could be gone tomorrow. Here I am selling all of these things to people, mini passions daily, and they are definitely buying it. So the type of evangelism you do shows where your heart is or isn’t. passion…

Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. NEW PASSION…

This hits me between the eyes..!CONVICTION!. If you could invert this passage I feel like I have been doing that. I’m very thankful I have a Father who cares and treasures my relationship with Him and he has made it possible for me to come back. thanks God, thanks Jesus, Thanks Holy Spirit. NEW PASSION..

I was listening to Ravi in the car (with my new Granny smith green ipod nano courtesy of my father in-law.) Driving my friend John home. On the way back Ravi spoke of how people don’t know how to be alone any more, alone with God, having time to think and really listen. When ever you are doing something if you have to have a radio on or the tv on just for background noise you may be one who doesn’t know how to be alone any more. When he said this it really stuck with me because I have been trying to come before the Lord in a secluded area just to seek Him and I really am thinking I have forgotten how to be alone without some type of electronic or entertainment.  We are talking just God, me, and the floor.  I was reading in Luke today and I came upon this after Jesus was around a crowd and healing etc… “However, he made a practice of withdrawing to remote places in order to pray.” (Luke 5:16 JNTP)

In other words ‘Jesus was consistent in taking himself out of interaction with people and the man made things of the world, and bringing himself in to a place where nobody else was or was likely to come, so that he could talk to The Father.’(RAL)  Wow I really do need to withdraw!  Sometimes I go into my closet but that isn’t enough, I hear my e-mail calling to me.  “Check me!’ My Cell phone Rings “Important Call!” My Electronics battle for my attention.  No they don’t I am just setting my self up for easy distraction, I am almost asking for distraction.  Please!!! entertain my mind I can’t sit still and quiet for even a moment without some type of entertainment or stimulation! If this is A.D.D. I think we all have it.  Sounds like a self discipline issue that the world has contributed to that can not be resolved by a pill.

I really want to seek the Lord and today I am going to find a secluded place in the wilderness until I am self disciplined enough for my closet. You may say I don’t have any secluded place near me!  Oh really, how hard are you looking or is it that you have to put effort into finding a secluded place outside of man made things.  C’mon You and I both know one is coming to mind plus If you aren’t as easily distracted as I am maybe you can just lock your self in your closet.  either way Meet God there.  Go! Leave your phone in your car! Be still and listen to HIM

The Lord says “Desist, and learn that I am God, Supreme over the nations, Supreme over the earth.” (Psalm  46:10 JNTP) In webster Desist is to cease to proceed or act, and synonym for desist is to “stop” Stop what? stop your day, stop your busyness, stop your self and think about God and His Truth and Speak to Him.

I went over to my father in-laws house tonight, he really is an interesting man. There is some crazy stuff going on with that side of the family right now and my wife is really handling it well, I admire her faith and trust. Having another child on the way I know we need to start saving up for our own place, It’s tough though finding the right job and all, especially when you are trying to step out on faith, a lot more trusting than the “I can do it!” attitude. After talking with my wife for quite some time I was laying in bed thinking of  purpose and such, what it is to really do what I am created to do.

Laying there thinking what to do with this life, I am thinking about what Jesus was telling to his disciples, those he was leading in the way of life.  How they all lost faith in the end before his death, he knew it, and he loved them still. (Falling away)   He was very clear in his instructions to the disciples what they were to do.  I find myself asking am I doing what He has asked of me, Am I living out of compassion for others, but most importantly am I putting God first in everything, mind, heart, soul. (2 things)

Honestly how can all this technology, preoccupations, and nonsense really be coming between me and my Creator. Do I really know Him? am I really seeking Him with all my being? Do I really want to have a personal relationship with my God?  If I am honest, my actions say “no” my heart say yes.  Why this division? this battle,I see this division, a choice?, Will  you take time to consider this for yourself?   Ignorantly we stumble along crossroads, a professing christian with a choice still, Christ chose me a long time ago might I inform you. But again I am still having the option to allow the holy spirit to move or to ignore and turn away.  (Still a struggle)

Sometimes when I turn away I’m not sure I do it with truly considering what I am doing, these are extremely serious instances, the Garden?  It is clear to me that I want to choose God but what are my actions saying? Am I divided? Am I truly thinking about the choices I am making or am I just mal-functioning, existing, lazy short-cuts, making choices by whatever I feel at the moment or what I feel will benefit?

My Creator, My God, My Father is waiting…Arms wide open…waiting for me to turn to Him. Embrace Him.  Let go of these frustrations, feeble plans, and things and just run into His arms…that is comforting and encouraging. (Prodigal Son)   It is because of the blood of Jesus, because God’s Son paid a debt I could not pay, so I am Free and I have a restored relationship with my God, my Creator, my Father.

Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place. (Proverbs 16:3) MSG

Do you ever try hard at something and work your little tail off to find out there was an easier way, better, and or more efficient way or end result.  Many times I struggle with submitting to the Lord my plans.  I start off thinking about what I am going to do, sometimes formulate a plan in my head then give it my best shot, some times I skip the planning part and go straight for the give it my best shot.  It never fails I learn a lot while giving it my best shot but many time I feel I the strive to accomplish something that I thought was necessary, cool, or important.  It wasn’t necessarily top priority to God, do you ever get consumed with a task even if it is something simple.

Next thing you know your on to the next thing, then on to the next thing; without even thinking of God or really acknowledging your Creator and asking him what the best way or thing that should be done is. Like right now… I must be real in this moment…I am thanking God that he has revealed to me this truth that he wants me to succeed, but his plan has the right, best, and most fulfilling outcome.  I am aware of his presence even as I write and it is so much better when I remember he is here even now, I can actually feel Him and sense Him near me.  Not in the way you sense someone is near the is walking by, a more intimate near, an in my heart type of near, which overflows and I feel it in my mind and in my body, and sense it in my surroundings.

I am so thankful that my creator is so personal, he knows me by name, he has made plans to give me a hope and a future, plans to prosper me.  He has prepared good things for me to do today and forever.  He IS taking care of me and He IS near to me… and I hope that you are experiencing his nearness too right now ( :

Lord thank you so much that you have given me the gift of your self, as a Father, as your son Jesus, and as the Holy spirit.  I know I make my own plans but I really want to stop because your plans are so awesome because your love for me is immeasurable.  Thank you so much what a blessings It is to have you as my Father, my Friend, and my Counselor.  I love you, your son, richard.

Have you ever neglected a relationship and it caused a wierd tension, which resulted in a feeling that gives the hint something was wrong and it is painful.

Well, I have been neglecting my relationship with the Lord, “Doing my own thing” as many call it. I have fallen victim to busyness and when that left me empty I quickly ran to selfishness and neither of these satisfy. I am now at a place of honesty and much more sensitive because the Lord has showed me my pride and revealed to me that I am in need of being humbled. I do desire to be humble and completely humble. I feel like I have wasted so much time but all things work to the good of those who love Him. The Lord has used that time I feel like I wasted to teach me of His patience, His kindness and His Grace and Mercy and that I am not as “mighty” as I thought I was. I am reminded that I am always in need of His precious salvation. I must pause for a moment of gratitude.

He is my Father and I am His Son because he has forgiven me through His Only Begotten Son, Jesus. He restores our relationship so that I can live the Blessed life that he intended me to live, a life that will not end but will last forever. His Glory does not fade. He will never leave me and I never have to leave his presence.

5″And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9″This, then, is how you should pray: ” ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.[a]‘ 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Break Down Verse by Verse

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. “

When I read this the Holy Spirit shows me that a hypocrite does receive what he wants and that is acknowledgement, to be seen, that is the reward he asks for and he receives it and only it. His Utmost Priority is not to speak with God but to be seen as if speaking to God, It comes down to an image thing which the Lord has interestingly enough been teaching me about lately as well. It is one thing to appear to be and another to be. Many times but not all times, when one tries to make an appearance it is because he is not and he wants to prove in some way that he is. It is the condition of his heart that determines this, his desire, his motive, purpose, and reason. Truth or Vanity. This Hypocrite may have had much pride and was concerned with status.

6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

It is the man who does it in secret because his heart has been transformed, His heart is seeking the Lord and desires to have a relationship with the Lord. This is the man that Jesus says the father rewards. He does what he does for God not for man: does it for The Creator not the creation. His Father not the crowd. It is done in secret not out of embarassment but out of intimacy and importance. Seek the Spritual unseen Father not the things of this world but Him who has plans for you and wants to use you to do great things. When we seek Him whole heartedly and get alone with Him on purpose than He will reward me…you.

7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

The Lord knows you better than you know yourself, He knows what you are going through. You do not need lengthy lofty speeches to express to God. Simply speak in your Father. He is listening, He wants to comfort you but I needn’t use a multitude of words. There isn’t need to explain to God he knows, He Knows.

The pupil is the variable-sized, black circular opening in the center of the iris that regulates the amount of light that enters the eye. It appears black because most of the light entering the pupil is absorbed by the tissues inside the eye.

Proverbs 7:1-5 My son, keep my words, store up my commands with you. Obey my commands, and live; guard my teaching like the pupil of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister”; call understanding you kinswoman; so that they can keep you from unknown women, from loose women with their seductive talk

When I thought about how I protect my eye, I thought about throwing my arms up, covering my eyes with my hands, blinking. I thought that it is a natural action to want to protect my pupil, that which monitors the amount of light that gets into my eye ball. If I didn’t not protect it as I have, I might be blind right now or have a distorted vision. We are told to protect God’s teaching in a similar way, when someone or something tries to poke our eye out, which we see reality with, we block it, similary when some one tries to contradict the Lords teaching or stand firm against it we must shield the blow, the hit, the attack. Though if you allow the hit, and let your guard down you will surely be taken over by a lie and blinded, but it is the Lord who gives sight and restores sight, and we should ask him to reveal to us if we are blinded by lies or if we are in need of healing, because we have strayed from His teaching, from Him who gives us site. And if we are seeing clearly he gives discernment, and would allow us to be alert if He is willing.

The Lord’s teaching is how we see reality, reality how Gods sees it and if we are to let lies/false teachings come into our vision, our view of reality will be distorted, or gone. We will be then relying on lies to get around because we aren’t seeing things as they Truly are.

Lord please reveal to me if anything has distorted or blinded me, and if it has I know you are the Almighty and if you are willing, will you please heal me that I may guard your teaching, and obey it. Amen.

Proverbs 6:20-23 “My son, obey your father’s command, and don’t abandon your mother’s teaching Bind them always on your heart, tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you wake up, they will talk with you. For the mitzvah is a lamp, Torah is light, and reproofs that discipline are the way to life

Psalm 119:143-144 Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but your mitzvot are my delight. Your instruction is righteous forever; give me understanding, and I will live

(Mitzvah is the jewish word for command, Mitzvot is it’s plural version) (Torah literally means teaching but is usually translated as Law)

I have been in great distress lately having many due dates with my school as well as trying to be a blessing as a husband and a father, while trying to keep up with middle school ministry and other roles things I do. Through the Lord I felt successful for a while but recently I have not been submitting as much and I have seen that this is when I sin, Satin may attack me and I let it slide, something will irritate me and I will handle it my own way instead of submitting to the Lord Jesus in every instance of the day.

I grow sometimes numb and miserable not knowing why, then I realize I have been in robot mode doing my own worldly thing and the Lord reveals to me, He blesses me with repentance away from sin, he rebukes me but encourages me in His Command, His Law, His Way Of righteousness that He has plotted out for me. I have been troubled not so much feeling alone but growing tired of the burden of this life, sometimes I try to take back the burden I once surrendered and I drain my self trying to take on the world solo. I know that I can do nothing and the Lord as been patient with me, I realize that it is only in him that I can do anything, but at the same time this isn’t enough. It is a good start but I must apply this and truly rely on him not just know the truth but walk in the truth, apply the truth, become the truth by letting it be lived out through me and submitting to the Father.

Jesus tells us not to call anyone father but the FATHER in HEAVEN, and though the first two proverbs can be taken literally and will benefit when taken literally as applying to your worldly parents, but we also know God’s Word speaks to us on several levels. I am looking at the spiritual meaning to these first two verses, He is our “spiritual father” the Church our “mother.” We are to obey the Father, God’sCommand as well as His son Jesus because Jesus and the Father are One and also One with the Holy Spirit.

But we are also not to forget the things that we have learned in the world from the Lord, we are to use them while first most keeping His commands “My son, obey your father’s command, and don’t abandon your mother’s teaching” So Apply our Father, God’s Word and what he Commands us in our personal relationship with him, but at the same time we don’t abandon what we have learned from the Bride of Christ, our mother, The Church, Christ’s body for if we are Christ’s Bride then we are one with Him and He with us. By applying this word we will benefit greatly and will know th e Lords Guidance, Protection, and Company. He will lead you in a way that is truly living, many think they are living but are not, for Christ is life, and unless you know Christ and His Commands, speak of Christ and His Commands, act of Christ and His Commands you have not been truly living.

Lord please allow me to do your will and not my own, I desire a heart that will be submissive to You and not to the flesh, Lord I ask you to remind me each day that You are my Heavenly Father, and that I would hear you and not forget. I ask Lord that you would use the things That I have learned and am learning in the world for Your Glory. You are The One, the one who my heart desires to please, I delight in the Law of Your Word, I delight in the Son who was perfect from birth, I delight in the day He’s returning to earth. Hallelujah. Amen.

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

This seems to be a weakness of mine, being considerate, and treating my wife w/ respect as the weaker partner. I tend to treat my wife conditionaly upon how she behaves and acts, instead of submitting to the Lord and letting Him pour His unconditioinal love through me. She is an equal heir with me of the Gift of Gods Grace and of Life, and Him allowing us to enter into His Kingdom and Glory, a sister/ sibling, a companion, she is loved the same by the Lord, Receives the Same Grace, Is not favored above or below me in the Lords eyes, but the Lord Loves us both unmeasurably, and unmeasurably the same.

We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves, and this encompasses submitting burdens/weaknesses of each other, the weaker partner we should submit to the Lord when we discover weakness and He is Strong in them. For it is the Lord who heals and enstrengthens not man. How can a broken pot fix itself or a House make itself more sturdy? (It is the builder, the Lord who heals and strengthens as he chooses)

It is not my witty mind or my righteous and high thought (that I am tempted to think I’ve achieved somtimes), that the Lord’s love is some how “achieved.” It is not by my “better” way which I can be tempted to think is the only way, the right way, and the good way all the time. If I allow my self to believe this I am deceived. For Jesus is The Way and in Him is the answer, cause, and reason for what is to be thought, said, and lived out.

I should hold my wife in the esteem that She is a child of The Most High and is unconditionally and imeasurably precious to Him, (just as I am) By treating her unfairly and lowly my actions display that I do not know this truth and therefore praying in deception my prayers are hindered, If I really knew the Truth and really believed in the Truth that she is my sister, my sibling, my equal heir (receiving the exact same inhertiance from God, unmeasurable) then my actions would be likewise and my prayers in Truth will be upright. I long for my mind to be renewed by the Truh Jesus, Please give me eyes that see my Wife as an equal heir and may my actions display that to her and may her heart receive the Truth of the Truth acting through me. Amen.

There are many in the world that do not believe that Jesus Christ came to earth in a body, let alone even has come at all. A person that does not believe in the Truth is the antichrist, meaning not for Christ, but against. We should be aware of this and watchout so that we are not swayed by lies and that we hold to the Truth that has been given to us and not expand or take away from it. If we are to stray from the teaching of Christ we can not, and will not have fellowship with the Father and the Son.

But if we stick strictly to the Teaching of Christ alone, we will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son. There is only one Teacher. If someone is antichrist and teaches contradicting the truth they should not be encouraged nor welcomed, by encouraging or welcoming them you are supporting evil and are a partner in the evil work. I think back looking for times when I supported in someway those who were not of Christ’s purpose, through promoting drugs, or sexual acts and things, and various other sinful acts and teachings, all which are hollow in the end and lead to death ultimately.

It is important to acknowledge false teachers for what they are, for if you let them remain, you might also be taken by their false teachings and deception. It is important to address this imediately with God, your conscience, others, and even possibly the false teacher. The truth will prevail, but the evil has been deceiving men for a long time by seeming to be good, or seeming to be true. There is that which is True and that which seemse to be true to the blind man, but to those who the Lord has given sight see plainly the pathway to destruction vs. The Way. May those who see, see, and those who are blind be led to His mercy so that they might be granted repentance and forgiveness by Him who is the Giver of all Good Things.

As i read this, i think about how i have treated my co-workers at the church… As co-workers not as brothers and sisters. Then i realized that the first place i thought about was work, maybe because brothers and sisters was plural and i my mind went immediately to larger group. But I realized my world i compartmentalized, not to mention i don’t treat my brothers and sisters around me as brothers and sisters.“Love each other as brothers and sisters”

Above this the verse speaks of being one minded with other Christians “All Christians” and sympathizing with them. I look up sympathize in the dictionary and find according to Webster it means 1.to be in keeping, accord, or harmony. 2.to react or respond in sympathy 3.to share in suffering or grief with a friend in trouble.

Then Peter talks about not retaliating or insulting because you are insulted, and he says not to do that, but rather pay people back with blessings, God has called us to do that, I realize that My world has been upside down I have been treating my wife unfairly, and those I am around as co-workers(instead of LOVING as brothers and sisters) I have been unsympathetic (instead of sympathizing) as far as like mindedness i’m not sure but i am sure i haven’t been like minded very much when i should be.

The Scriptures say… If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the lord turns his face against those who do evil.

as i read this i think and remember that i am incapable of doing that which is right on my own, I can’t, my “good deeds are like filthy rags” (trying to wipe my sin off to make me look better.) I have been relying upon my own righteousness instead of the Father God and Lord Jesus’. He has cleansed me and given me a new heart and the Holy Spirit to live in me, all this it seems i know but i stray so easily and get distracted by the wind and storm, all the things and busy-ness that is going on around me my busy-ness and not the Lords will and work. I know that the Lord will complete the good work he started in me, I believe this. I ask Him for the strength to repent from how i was living because i can not repent and turn away from the past unless the Lord strengthens me to do so. I am willing to be willing. Lord if You are willing allow me to turn from this to Your Truth.