Just Within Reach

Step into the story with me. 
They had been a slave for generations, but now they had been free for two years. Two years they have been learning how to trust in their Leader, but all too often two years is not enough.  They are standing right in front of their paradise, their promised land and they are succumbing to the situation.  They are starting to look  back on their past with fond memories, instead of seeing it for what it really was.
Now is the time.  
They are to go and look at what they will be rewarded with.  They are to go and see exactly what needs to be done in order to achieve their new life of freedom living.  They go and come back with conflicting reports.  Ten are overwhelmed with what lies ahead.  Two are confident that God will do for them what they cannot do and through Him they will have success.  The ten, the naysayers, bring discouragement upon the entire camp.  Their voices ring loud with the feelings that  were already brimming in from their wilderness camp out.  The excitement from the journey of being set free was wearing off and all any of them could think about was returning to their former life of slavery.  It did seem much easier.  For what any of us remember about that life is illusionary, unless we are diligent with the truth.  They do not want to hear about how life can be different.  They do not want to hope any longer.  So in order to stop the voices who are reaching for the promise, they pick up stones to beat them into silence.  (Numbers 13-14)

I have found myself within this wilderness journey.  It is one of the hardest parts of my traveling life, learning to live obediently.  They had journeyed for two years and during this time they had a job.  They were building and sewing together, each one with his specific assignment.  But now that part of their training was coming to an end and they were ready to go back to the only thing any of them had ever known.  God works differently.  It wasn't time to go back, but to move forward.  For me, my wilderness camping lasted almost one year.  One year and now I was to marry the man God had chosen for my life.  One year of trying to learn to listen to the correct voice.  One year of trying to do things differently, but often stumbling along the way.  One year of trying to make him flee.  The naysayers are all around and trying to decipher truth between their voices and my own messed up voice within was almost deafening.  So often we pull away in order to hear better, but the truth is that the naysayer within only becomes louder.  We feed the voice that appears to be easier, instead of taking that hard and terrifying step to say "I do".  

It is hard to step forward.  It is so hard to take that arm and trust that where you are being led is a good place.  The promise land was right in front of them and God was telling them to Go, but the voices of the defeatist was screaming No!  And they were defeated for they stopped.  They were too afraid of the challenges they saw before them.  For man, let me tell you, what you are promised does not mean you do not have to work.  They were promised a land flowing with milk and honey and they were standing within reach of grasping their reward.  They tasted the fruit and they held their large bounty between them, but ultimately, what we harvest, we are first going to have to plant.  He will give us samples, but He does not want a lazy bride and His bride needs to show Him appreciative love.  He needs to allow her time to see that she can trust Him.  He needs her to see that if she will step forward, He will do the heavy lifting, but she needs to learn to battle for them.  But, these people, chose not to listen.  They chose to turn and go the other way, a way that was to take them 40 years to journey.  A way that would ultimately take most of them to their grave.

As we travel on this path of life, who are we going to listen to?  Are we going to listen to the naysayers, those who cannot understand why we would want to go His way?  Are we going to do the hard work in order to gain our reward?  Are we going to take those hard steps forward to accomplish our goal?  Whatever we are called to do, it is never always easy!  I so often want to give up and turn around.  I do not want to go back into the slavery that I once knew, but I so often want to believe the lie that a different path would be better.  But I cannot.  I cannot turn from what He has placed in front of me.  I know that whatever He has for me in this life is much better than anything I could manufacture on my own.  I must trust.  I must push through the trials and continue in this fight.  I must battle to to accomplish what He has ultimately already won.  For really, my life is not about me!  It is about others who are on this journey with me and am I helping them to see what He has in store for His people, or am I becoming part of the opposition,  part of the naysayers?  How am I leading?  Am I leading by a good example of endurance, or am I part of those who give up?  For whatever I am doing, others are following... No matter what!  Its not about me... It never is!

Continue!  Do not give up!  You can do it!  What is the path He has for you?  If you will continue to take those steps forward toward His desire, I promise, you will never have those same regrets other paths have taken you down.  Continue!  Do Not Give Up!

Cannabis Bliss, Truth and Lies

Romans 12:2, "Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind." (The Voice Translation)

The other day I went into my favorite gas/burger joint. It is popular with many, mainly the college crowed. I walked in and ordered my families meal. While waiting for our take out, I decided to do a little reading. There is a magazine rack that blocks most other people from your view. This was perfect since I was in my polka dot fluffy sweat pants, an old t-shirt and the place was packed. As all of you know Marijuana is legal in Colorado. The magazine rack was 2/3rds full of magazines like High Times, Skunk, Cannabis Culture, but I landed on Treat Yourself. They were featuring an article on MS and Cannabis. I took the magazine, grabbed a chair, hid behind the rack and began reading. The article was very informative as it discussed how MS affects you neurologically and I was agreeing with everything, especially how vitamin D helps heal you. Then as the patient began talking about Cannabis, I began going "there". I love weed! I love to get high and allow myself to zone out. Throughout my drug years, I found nothing I liked more than marijuana.  X, ACID, popping whatever pills anyone gave me, the one I enjoyed most was this green herb.

I was lost for a moment in the "I have what it takes to really get me some again. And really who is going to challenge me on this one. I have all the material sitting right in front of me to help me with my case!" Then I rounded the corner to the last paragraph of the article and quickly I snapped back to reality. The "patient" began talking about how Cannabis helps him with his moods. How without it he is naturally cranky because of his condition, and this helps him better cope so that he can be a more productive family member and cannabis helps him enjoy all of them more. With that the lie was revealed! I have walked this pathway before and I know what marijuana does to you emotionally. That is the side effect that he did not understand why people don't talk about more often, because in his fog, he does not see that it is actually the weed that makes you a miserable wreck when you don't have it. If you are ever around a pot smoker, you will see that they are extremely touchy unless they are high. It does not help them get their natural emotions under control. It actually causes them to become more sensitive and the withdraws from not being high causes them to be, well, impossible.

Mixed with some truth, there was a lie. Being able to decipher truth from the lie that was told takes knowledge. With me it happens to be personal experience, in this case, I am not saying to try! Now I do not want to take all the time in the world to tell you all about the side effects and all that happens with marijuana. This topic really isn't about weed and I am not trying to pick a fight with a bunch of pot heads. I am saying that we all need to be aware when we are letting ourselves go "there". We can so easily be swept away with the truth of a subject, then when the truth gets mixed with lies, we just may believe them too. "Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind."

We all have something that lures us into wanting to justify what we want. We have those moments of justification, all because we wanted to act that way or do that thing, whatever it is. There s something that entices us to treat others poorly, because "we were hurt." We need to disappear in front of the TV and ignore our families (every day/all night) because "we have had a long day and we need a break." The hard part is deciphering the truth. What is it that I am giving up in order to this thing? Who is not getting my full love? Who am I really?

"Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.  Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.  Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.  When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality," (12:9-13).

As we walk through the day there are going to be many things that seem right to us in the moment.  If we will keep a clear mind and truly look at what we hear, we will be able to see the truth.  Not all lies are easily seen, because they are mixed with truth.  If there wasn't some form of truth mixed in, no one would believe the lie.  God calls us to use our minds.  He does not want us walking around like zombies just going with the flow of the moment.  He calls us to be intellectual, using well what He has gifted us with.  The hard part is taking a really close look within our own hearts and seeing the truth about what we want and are giving up in order to get it.  I do not want to give up true intimacy with my family in order to have what I desire.  If I will keep a clear mind, I will be able to do what my heart truly seeks.  I will be able to have relationships that last and I will be a positive influence on others around me.... And if I will take a truthful look into my true hearts desire, that is what I truly want.  I do not want to settle for something that will leave my heart impotent, but full!