Step by step one day at a time

There is a question that has echoed through the halls of eternity from time immemorial. It is a question that echoes in the hearts of every man, woman, and child. As humans, we become aware of it at certain points in our lives. The initial realization of it can cause an instant internal change, and trigger an immediate response. Or it initiates a journey that takes us deeper into ourselves and we are forced to confront what we believe and why we believe it.

Over time, life happens and the things that we have held as heart knowledge convert back to being head knowledge. At this point, we hear the question again, but this time it is softer. But like a loud forceful whisper, it reverberates and cuts to the depths of our soul. This question can bring the strongest of men to their knees. Yet over the centuries it has caused men of wisdom, and women of knowledge to search through the writings of old in an attempt to give an answer. I recently watched the movie “God’s not dead 2,” and this question was the over-arching theme of the movie. It affected me in such a way that I heard this question ring out over all the voices that are trying to get my attention at this point in my life.

I have been a believer in Christ for many years. Sometimes I have followed “all in,” and at other times I have strayed farther away from what it means to be a follower of Christ. I never doubted my faith in God. I have questioned it many times, but just because you question your faith does not mean you lost it. I believe that through questioning and making our faith in God our own it becomes more organic. It grows as a result of our struggles and wrestling with it.

Who do you say that I am? This is the question that every human must answer whether in life or a forced realization of the answer after they die. It cuts to the heart of more than just identity it speaks about ownership. As a believer in Christ, I have testified, professed and spoken about Christ as King, Lord, and Ruler of my life. These terms are contrary to the Western world and we interpret them in a different context than those in the ancient world.

Being in seminary has been an eye-opening experience because as I learn more about the bible the more I realize how little I actually know. How much you perceive to know is different from how much you do. Regardless of how many hours or years you study it you will never know everything about it, but I digress. I am learning to see God from a different perspective other than just the lens of the church. Back to answering the question.

My answer to the question is a simple one. Jesus, You are the Christ the Son of the Living God. I can have no other answer than that one. I have seen and experienced too much to answer any other way. I know I am beloved by the King, and the more I learn about Him the more I fall in love with Him anew. My prayer is that everything that was once heart knowledge, but through life has become head knowledge goes back to being heart knowledge again. I pray that I burn with a passion that is viral so that everyone I come into contact with or interact with knows it.

I leave you with the following prayer.

“Abba! I know, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I confess my shortcomings and my sins. I believe that you sent your only Son to die for my sins, and to stand in my place. I believe that you raised Him from the dead and that He sits at Your right hand since His work is done. I believe that He is coming again to rule and to reign in the coming future. Jesus, I believe that you are the Christ the Son of the Living God. I ask you to be Lord of my life. I thank you for Your sacrifice on the cross. Holy Spirit I ask that you guide me in wisdom and open my eyes as I read Your word. Help me to burn with a passion for You. Help me to be a light in the world that repels darkness. Help me to see the world and humanity as You see them. Help me to love without condition, to serve without expectation, and to walk in Your light. Let your grace cover my missteps, Your Light guide my steps, and Your love flows out of me like a river.

In Jesus name, I pray. Amen

What would your reaction be if you had plans that you wanted to do, but then a couple of weeks before you get things set in motion, God says No! This is exactly what happened to a plan that a friend and I were about to follow through on. My reasons for moving out to Ohio were for a change of scenery and a slower pace of life, to get a fresh start, to marry my best friend, and finally because I knew that this was where God wanted me to be. I knew back in 2007 that I was suppose to move out here, but I was not in a position to do it.

A couple of weeks before I moved out here I felt God close the door on my plan to marry my best friend. There is a difference between loving someone, and being “in love” with someone. I will always love her, but I was not in love with her. We have maintained a close friendship over the years, and are closer now than we have ever been. I will always stand by her side, and I know she will do the same for me. Our friendship has evolved into the familial type bonds of a brother and sister. So, it would have been weird to go through with the marriage.

I am going to be honest, but I was taken aback by it mainly because we had invested over 10 years of love, dating, and friendship into it. In the end though, God knows what He is doing.

Jer. 29:11 ^“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This verse is used a lot, but it fits this situation. Whenever God changes our plans, even though we do not know the outcome, He know what he is doing.

Now, you may be scratching your heads, and asking “What does all this mean?”

1. It means you have to align your life to what God’s Will is for it

P.U.S.H– You have to Pray Until Something Happens. You have to be consistent, insistent, and persistent in your prayer life.

2. Lean on Him even when you do not know what else to do

You have to have faith, and know that God answers the prayers of His children “IN HIS TIME” Just because your prayer is not answered immediately does not mean that it was not heard, nor does it mean that God does not care.

3. Put forth some effort by not sitting around twiddling your thumbs

God sees your heart, and He knows what your motives are before you even do it. He will honor your effort and hard work even if you do not see the rewards immediately. I am preaching to the choir with my next statement. DO stuff for others without expecting any thing in return. Bless people by the same measure that you have been blessed.

So, a lot has happened during the last 4 months since my last post. I had a lot going on back in April. I was in the middle of finishing my degree, searching for a new job, making plans to move out to Akron, Ohio, and trying to get back on track where I needed to be spiritually. My writing and blog took a seat on the back burner because I was not able to give them the attention that they deserved since they are both important to me.  As of right now I will be graduating in December 2014 with a degree in Liberal Studies, I am a guitar string winder for SIT Guitar String in Akron, OH, and I will be in a one bedroom apartment by the end of October. I knew I was suppose to move out to Akron, Oh a few years ago, but I was not in a good state of mind to make a big move like that.

LIFE:

I moved out here, and God has provided me with a full time job, a roof over my head, and a easy commute. He has led me to a church where it feels at home and like family. Making the move out here was not an easy decision to make, but I know that this is where I am suppose to be. Before I found my current job I was a maintenance man for a H.U.D living community called Friendship Village for people with Special Needs and who are M.R.D.D. 

I am still single, but I have a deeper bond with my best friend than I have had before. I will always love her, but I could not love her the way that she needs to be loved. She is like a sister to me now… so it would have been kind of weird and she agrees. She knows that I will always have her back, and that any man she decides to marry has to realize that it is a package deal…LOL!

SCHOOL:

I am currently taking my final class of my degree program. I was originally a Bible and Theology major with 12 classes left. I found out that if I switched to Liberal Studies I would only have 1 class and an assessment to take; so I took the second option and will be graduating in a few months. I do plan on getting a M. Div. soon, but I will wait a couple of years before that. I have thought about going back for a second degree to hone my writing skills, and take some formal writing classes as well.

All in all I am glad that I moved to Akron. I have a peace about it, and I am going to keep trusting that God will provide what I need as He has done in the past. He is my Rock, Provider, Counselor, and Peace. Was it hard to move out hear? You better believe it, but God has a reason for me being out here. In His time He will reveal that purpose. 

Future Post:

I am going to try and post at least three times a week. I have a writer friend who has been giving me some pointer on both my blogging and writing as well.

Hey Ladies and Gentleman,

I just wanted to get your input on how the blog looks since using the new Mayer theme? I am planning on doing a Mon., Wed., and Fri., posting schedule. Mondays would be about my writing journey, and how things are going as far as getting name recognition and so on. Wednesdays would be Photo day from somewhere in DC. Fridays would be a Q and A type blog. You all can send questions and I will pick a couple to answer.

Let me know what you think in the comments sention below.

Peace,

Josh

This is a rant against facebook.
SO facebook is being a real pain the the you know what. It sucks because unless you have 29 likes you can not see your page stats or activity. This blows because there is only so much that you can do with a page. Your stats and activity numbers help you with how to better promote your page. Anyways check it out at http://www.facebook.com/samaelandtheguardians

Granted after all is said and done at least the page is up and running.