Ten Parts

¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø¸”"”"¤„¤º°°º¤ø ø¤º°¨¨¨°º¤ø ¸„ º°¨¨°º¤ø ¸„ø¤º°¨¨°……….When you travel with Jesus, you look really stupid sometimes. Let me take you on a scenario of thought…let’s just say that God has a ten-part plan for your life, but he can’t give you the whole ten parts at once. Not only would it be overwhelming but it would defeat His purpose of total concentration on each and every part. (When he gave the promised land to the children of Israel, it was certainly flowing with milk and honey, but there were giants on the land that had to be conquered, ONE group at a time.) So, He gives you part one, but you don’t know this is just part one, you don’t know but what this is the ultimate divine purpose for your life. You don’t know that there are nine more parts coming. So you go after it with all your heart thinking that THIS is your place appointed. After a while you realize that it is obviously not THE ultimate plan for your life. It gives you joy, but doesn’t render you the complete fulfillment, fullness of accomplishment or success that you felt it should. So, you finish part one, you’re faithful. You do everything that God has shown you to do. When you come to the end of part one, you’re crying out to God to give you direction and you understand that there must be more. But all your family and friends can see is the grand escapade that what looks like to them, has failed.

 
Then, God gives you part two. You don’t know its part two; you think that it is THE place appointed…that part one was just in preparation for this main purpose. So you pursue part two with all your heart. You work it and drive for it and push to achieve success. And you tell everyone, “Oh, I had to go through part one to prepare me for what I am really supposed to do!” …and it is!…but you don’t know that there are eight more parts. You may not have much money, you WILL look disconnected, you won’t look like you’ve got it all together. You are faithful to fulfill and walk in part two. You work hard, you pour your heart and soul into it, but as you reach the fulfillment of part two, you realize that it is not THE complete divine purpose for your life either. So, you start seeking God about your direction…again. If God had only told you up front that your divine purpose would involve ten parts, you wouldn’t look so ridiculous, but then, that wouldn’t require a walk of faith! So your family and friends are saying, “Really?? I thought the first thing led you to this and now this has flopped too!! None of you know that there is eight more parts!! So, by the time you get to part 6 or 7, you are going to look REALLY ridiculous!! And you travel through each of those parts, most of the time looking like you don’t know what you are doing!!  Most of the time with people saying… “you know, if they’d get a real job”… “what’s wrong with them?”… “if they would quit running off on tangents they would be ok”…“if they would get in the flow of the system, they would have success”… “if they would just create the right vibrations”…“if they would just think the right thoughts”…“if they would just say the right words”… They don’t know that you have purposely, willfully placed every ounce of your being…mind, soul, body, spirit, emotions, will, heart…into the hands of almighty God and that you have made a solid, firm decision to walk in a path that is designed by Him. (But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. 1 Corinthians 1:27) NOBODY knows there’s eight more parts.

 
So, you travel the third part…the fourth part…then by the fifth part, maybe the sixth part, all of a sudden, you begin to get the picture, but you can’t explain it to anybody because now they won’t believe you for sure! They don’t understand what you are doing…they don’t understand your actions, your words, your motivations, your seeming detachment from reality, because you’ve fully chosen not to live in the Matrix…not to just “shut up and consume”…not to just get a job and punch a clock. You’ve chosen to live in the true reality which is your full place appointed in the spiritual kingdom of God, no matter how difficult the journey. Everything in this Matrix we call the earth that shames the name of Jesus or allows the enemy even one ounce of space in someone’s life, is appalling to you! …and you can see it because you have chosen not to walk comfortably in this Matrix. (And the disciples came, and said unto Him, why do you speak unto them in parables?…because they seeing, see not, and, hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand…For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed. Matthew 13:10-11 ). You see, there is nothing special about anyone, save that they CHOOSE to open their eyes and ears. But when we become at ease in Zion (Matrix) we render ourselves blind and deaf to reality. We believe the lies, and live and move just as if the lies were truth. We let the media, pharmaceutical industry and religion dictate our path. As you travel past part three, part four, part five, part six, you begin to realize that there is a FAR bigger picture taking place here. All of a sudden, you start “looking” for the next part!! You have reached a point that it doesn’t matter now what folks are thinking and saying; it ONLY matters that you “LIVE” through each part with passion, dedication and faithfulness. Now you know that part six is not the goal, neither is part seven, or even part eight! Suddenly, there is a giant puzzle before you. You see the absolute necessity of each part and how the whole will never be accomplished without the full understanding and commitment of each, individual part. But the world can’t see your puzzle, only you can!! You now know that the whole puzzle is your place appointed and were it not for the full dedication and development of each piece, your place appointed would not be complete. You can try to describe it to others, but the only ones who will be ok with you are those who just simply trust your Godly wisdom and integrity. They really can’t see the magnitude of your place appointed. And to those who don’t know you well, you will look really foolish and irresponsible. “Oh, this is their seventh venture…and they’ve all failed!”… “what’s wrong with them?”…“They need to get their head out of the sand and straighten up!”…“when are they going to learn?”…“when are they going to wise up and get with the program?” Anyone who willfully lives in the Matrix cannot see things of the spirit. They think the Matix is the real world so they have no need to seek another world. They just need to get a job, go to church on Sunday, and eat out on the weekend. Those things are not wrong unless they represent a life of rote. This world is guilty of judging people by how “blessed” they appear to be. If God has blessed them with this world’s goods, then they must be doing something right; if they have no money, bills piling up, family problems, tough times, then they must not be where they should be with God. We think this because of the abominable modern day teachings of prosperity teachers…false teachers and false prophets. There is a reason that God put the story of the rich man and Lazarus in the Bible…(Luke 16)

 
19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent . 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

 
Only those who live by the spirit can even remotely catch a glimpse of what’s going on in your life! No one wants to go with you because you don’t look like you have life together.

 
Then…one day…that old ugly cocoon begins to split and something begins to emerge…still not beautiful. As the moth emerges, it is very vulnerable, at one point hanging upside down, vulnerable to any bird, or animal that might see it. The Lord will have to protect that moth in its vulnerable, unorthodox journey for that moth to actually reach the point of becoming a beautiful butterfly; otherwise it could be destroyed in a moment. And, as the famous story goes that we all have heard, were it not for the struggle, the butterfly would never become the beautiful display it was meant to be. Just like us, without the struggle, we will never be beautiful, and in fact, we will die without even knowing we are dead. We will march to the beat of the Matrix, thinking all the time that we are crossing all our t’s and dotting all our i’s, when, in fact, we are walking dead men. Matters not how much money you have, in fact, the more money you have, the easier it is to buy your way out of the necessary struggle and become a void, bland, and empty soul on an unrewarding journey….all the while living what you think is a rewarding life because you have all the toys. When all the pieces of the puzzle are in place, then the beautiful wings will appear, but even then many won’t see them because they don’t have the eyes to see, and especially because nothing up to that point gives anyone any hope for your progress, development or success. But to those who have eyes to see, you will be more beautiful and more successful than most people they know. Lazarus looked horrible in this physical realm, but in the spirit, he was fully colored with a staggering wing span.

 
So, ultimately, there is only one thing that matters…do you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Is your one day just like all your other days? Do you get up and do the same thing every day that you did the day before? Do you actively seek God’s complete plan for your life? Does God give you direction but you are afraid?…afraid of what people will think…afraid of rocking your boat…afraid of losing a portion of that comfort zone? Other than your security of a comfort zone, do you have any adventures or journeys that bring new joy and enlightenment into your life? I beg you…don’t be among the walking dead! Seek God’s FULL plan for your life. After all, this 80 to 100 years we spend in this Matrix is nothing compared to eternity. Those who live this life without seeking for and allowing Christ to be formed in them will never fly; they will spend eternity drowning in all the vices, excuses and lusts that they chose to walk in here…and they will never die. You have the choice.

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I will rise again!

Wow, can’t believe it’s been 6 months since I have posted to my blog! Sometimes life just doesn’t allow for things that you find commonplace in other settings of life. Reading back over my last post, I find that my battles today have taken on a somewhat different form, but are still there nonetheless. I have made great strides walking into a new place of rest in the middle of the storm. It doesn’t come easy, but it does come if we keep seeking. I am thankful today for the knowing that every day of my life is for a positive purpose in my shaping, both good and bad days. I learn something from every one and I take a few more steps toward that mark of the prize of the high calling…that Christ is truly formed in me. My joy is beginning to rise again. These last two years have been the toughest of my life, but that’s o.k., because the wisdom I have gained from them is embedded deep within my soul. I have reached a point that now I can begin putting my thoughts and inspirations on paper, so I hope by this time next year I will have some powerful volumes of wisdom to share with the world. I am thankful for true family, true friends and the ever-present love of the Father. Please pray with me for three little girls in my life. There is a prayer chain at 3:30 every afternoon that lifts them up, please join us if you can. Blessings to you as you travel your journey. I pray great wisdom and insight for you as well. ~Rita

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Christmas Eve…

Christmas Eve…can you believe it?  Where has the year gone?  My refection of 2010 leaves me with much difficulty and pain…the worst I can ever remember.  BUT, as I have always said, and truly believe, painful times are the most wisdom granting (if you will allow them to be).  For it’s through our pain that we dig deeper into who we are, who we have been and who we want to become.  It’s through our pain that we find out more of who God is.  I don’t want to just see the acts of God..I want to know the ways of God…that only comes by crying out to Him and sitting at His feet.  It can come no other way.  It’s one thing to read about the three Hebrew Children in the fiery furnace; it’s quite another thing to stand in one of your own.  You gain knowledge by reading; you gain wisdom by experiencing.  Again, I want to know the ways of God, not just read about His acts.  This is why the mighty men of God were mighty men of God…because they walked through hell to gain heaven.  Abraham was the wealthiest man on earth but not because he said all the right words or thought all the right thoughts.  It was because he was in right standing with God and loved him so much that he was willing to take the life of his own son (as God had done) if that was what God required of him.  As he raised the knife, the angel stopped him.  It was all a test…to see if Abraham loved God with all his heart.

What do you love with all your heart?  Money, family, position, prestige, your goals, etc?

I find it intriguing that our world has evolved into a “Happy Holidays” celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Many can’t say Merry Christmas but we wouldn’t have the celebration if that tiny baby were not born in the first place.  It really is ridiculous that anyone with reasoning ability would take someone else’s birthday and say it can no longer be your birthday; I’m going to make it my celebration.  I am going to take all your well-wishes from everyone, all your presents and all your joy and I’m going to use it for my own celebration and gain.

It’s mind boggling that if it had not been for the birth of that tiny baby, the very stores that won’t say Merry Christmas do the majority of their yearly income in the 6 weeks of this blessed time.  Be warned, Jesus will not be one of your idols; you cannot use Him for your own benefit.  The enemy will deceive you into thinking you can, but there are plenty of examples in the Word to show that God’s wrath is every bit as big as His love.  Folks just don’t want to talk about that side of Him; it messes up their fabricated, worldly love message, which is deceptive and empty.

Do you feel empty today, even though there are tons of packages under your tree?  Do you feel something is truly missing but you don’t know what it is?  Are you tired of keeping up the appearance of  love, joy, peace and happiness, when none of them have root in your life?  Let me tell you, there IS a peace that passes all understanding.  There IS a joy unspeakable and full of glory.  There IS a happiness that overshadows all pain and will stick with you even in the most desperate of times.  There IS a love that will NEVER die.

I hope you find it at this beautiful season of 2010.  It is there.  Don’t pull yourself up by the bootstraps and try to live another year keeping up with the “Joneses.”  You may accumulate houses, cars, money and things, but the ONLY joy is in finding “the mystery of the gospel…and that is…Christ formed in you.”

Much love and blessing as you walk your journey and I hope to walk with you along your way.  ~Rita

P.S. I want to recommend the two greatest books of all time to you…My Utmost for His Highest and Pilgrim’s Progress.  If you are serious about finding out the true mysteries of the Universe, there is no better place to start.  I have a small blurb about them on my website.  Just go to the Arts link and scroll down.

 

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