I Want Something New!!

As we move into adulthood we tend to put away the toys that we have in our lives and turn to the world of being a grown up. We move to working our careers, bills, and fun that is different that anything we could ever imagine as a child. Yet, we still look to things in the world to be happy at times. That we could just get a new purse, shoes, car, guitar, etc that we would be so much happier. Yet, the joy that all these things that we acquire disappear over time and we are looking for that next new thing, a dress, suit, ipad, phone etc. to bring back to those moments of joy of having something new.

It is amazing that even as adults, that so many people look to material things for there happiness. That all joy is from those things that we acquire in this life. Yes, toys in the adult world get bigger as we get older, that new house, boat, RV, pool etc. but that source of happiness is so limited to the newness of the object that we place in the garage, home or in our pocket. It is a temporary fix, till we get that urge to have something new because we want it or need to feel that joy once again.

It is sad, that we still look to things for the source of our happiness rather then looking at ourselves to see what is causing that sadness, that somber mood at the moment that we want to hide or just cover up by buying something new to hide that pain that is so well hidden in our hearts. That pain that we don't like to talk about, because the tears may fall or we feel that we will just crumble there on the spot, or melt away like the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz!

Truth be told, that we hate that deep pain, that hurt that seems to haunt us in all that we do, we are afraid of sharing it at all, since others will judge us. It is as if we cant talk about it cause then everyone will know that we are weak, soft, and may actually see us cry and that is simply forbidden. Yet, we shy away from those in the church that maybe able to help us heal as well. We are afraid to turn to them, again they may judge us for the pain, or worse if they knew what I had done they may not forgive me or even hate me. Yet, the pastor at the church or the priest that is there waiting for that call. They are there fir the lay people of the church. They are in the business of helping; they are there to do the work of the Heavenly Father.

The priest / pastor of your church would love to chat, and have the time with you. He wants to know the matters of the heart so he can lead you in the right direction. That he can pray for you, help you heal, wipe your tears, listen to the pain, and be there for you if you are willing to talk to them. They are to show you the love and the compassion that the Father in heaven has for all His children. They are there to help you along the road of healing by showing you that the Father in heaven is there to hold your hand, and walk with you when you are hurting. Yet, they are there to help lighten the load as we walk along the paths of life that are difficult or seem impossible. The priest / pastors are there to help you leave that heaviness at the door, as they lay it at the feet of Jesus. He is there to show you and guide you with your walk with Jesus. In times of struggles, and deep pain when you just can't find the words to cry out to God, they can help you put the words together and form the thoughts to express what it is you need God to help you with so your heart can finally start to heal without all the toys and temporary fixes of the world.

Rather, the Father wants you to leave those burdens at His feet, to leave that pain at the foot of the cross, and to walk away from all that is troubling your heart. He is there to stitch up the wounds, and want to heal all the old scars so they are able to fad away. He sees all the pain, the tears and it breaks His heart that we as His Children do not turn to Him for the healings that are related to the heart. He wants to take that burden or pain, and replace it with joy! A joy that is not found in things that is temporary, but rather a joy that is complete. It is a joy that can only come from Heaven. Joy that comes from knowing we have a Father in Heaven that loves us, know us, because we walk with Him daily.

Where do you run?

There are some of us that talk to others, some that turn to friends, others that run to the church, pastors and priests and then there are some that are more comfortable bearing their souls to a total stranger, an outsider, a therapist. All are acceptable in a time of needm and we all need to have someone, somewhere that we are able to run in those times in our lives that we are struggling with personal, interpersonal or just stuff that is happening in our lives, We all have to have a refuge that we can bear the hurts, pains and wounds that we carry deep within us that many do not know that they even exist.

As humans we need to have someone that can talk to us and listen, really listen to what we are saying and not judge us by what we are feeling or thinking at that moment. We need to feel safe bearing our souls to someone when we are in need, or have pain deep within us, espicially when it is willing and coming to the surface. At these times it can be hard to see options, or think that anyone has ever been in this place where we sit in the midst of all the pain, and open wounds that are bleeding and we try as we may to cover them but just can't seem to get that bleeding to stop. It is in those moments that we tend to run to others that we trust or look for someone out there in the world that we feel safe with to share all that is within us at that moment. Someone who is willing to explore those thoughts and feelings, or look at the pain and what is happening in another light, someone who is there for us in the time of our need.

We all have these times in our lives, some have more than others, but we all go through tough and trying times in life. As Christians we have the ultimate comfortator there willing and want to help if we just reach out to him. As a Christian we have Jesus there at our calling, we can reach up to heaven and have Him come down to us and hold us in a time of need, He is there listening, and won't judge you for what you are feeling. He is there to wipe away all the tears, and will always be near. His love is never ending and he is always awake so it doesn't matter if it is 2 in the afternoon or four o'clock in the morning. Jesus does not sleep, and never see's his children as a bother or a problem. He is there waiting for you to call out to Him.

Yet, sometimes we reach out and still feel that we need more, that we need a human here on earth to talk to, it is then that we run to the church. We turn to the priest, a pastor, a leader in the church. We seek out someone that will understand what we are going through and can help us see God is there with us in the middle of the storm that we are in at the moment. We reach out and see that there is love here for us in the church, that God's love is all around us in the church. That the priest have a true heart for the people and that when we are hurting, they too feel the pain that we bear in our souls. They see us and love us as their family, so when we hide all our pain and hurts, it is then that we are hurtung our spiritual leaders as well. They are there for the church, but more importantly they are there for the people. They truly care for us as the members of the church. They love and care for us as their family, and want us to call them in the times of need, and not to run and hide in the back of the church or the fake smile on Sunday morning. I am sure they don't want us calling them at 3am, unless it is an emergency, but knowing several pastors and priests over the years, I know they want us to call them in the am if we need to talk and are struggling with finding or seeing God work in us, through us or simply knowing that God is still there and has not walked away from us when we are in need, pain and misery.

They are there to walk with us, guide us and help us walk with the heavenly father. The priest / pastors are there reaching out and asking that we call then when our faith is weak, and we are climbing out of the lowly pit that we may be in and can't seem to be able to grasp that rock to pull ourselves up off the floor. They are there reaching their hand down, saying grab ahold, I am here to help you my child. I am here to pray with you, show you the Father in heaven and be a shoulder you can cry on without any judgement or shame. Call me and I will help you, I am here for you always, just like the Father in heaven. Reach out in the times of need and you will see the love of the heavenly father reaching to you through others and through your priest / pastor of the church.

Forgive them? Never!!!

What would happen to us if we all took God seriously, and not saw going to church as a choir that we had to do on Sunday.  What would it take to take that step and respond to God, and really say  yes to him. That we would go to him and draw near to Him daily, rather then withdrawing from Him on a daily bases other then Sunday in church where we sit and listen to the homily or sermon that is being given. But are we really listening, or are we there cause we have to be there because it is an obligation. What would happen to us we because real worshipers of the Lord, would you still live a life without thinking of God other then on Sundays or would you draw nearer to Him?

Oh, if we draw near to God then everything would change, maybe you would have to start caring about those around you or have to forgive someone in your life. Yet, you are not willing to let go of that pain or hurt, and just flat out don't want to forgive them because they don't deserve to be forgiven by you or by anyone else! Yet, the Father in heaven wants you to forgive them so that you can draw nearer to Him and grown deeply in Him and His love, None of us really deserve to be forgiven, yet Jesus died so that you could be forgiven and be able to come to the Father in heaven without difficulity. None of us truly deserved to have all our sins wiped away and made white as snow in the eyes of the Father, yet out of Love for us He died so that we could live life more fully on earth as we walk with Him.

Not only will the Father draw near to you as you draw near to Him, but you will grow in Christ. You will find that your love for others around you will grow, you may see things a little differently as you walk and worship the Father in Heaven. It is by drawing near to him that we will have peace in our hearts, and comfort to our souls, yet if there is true unforgiveness in us how can we become complete in Christ? How can we forgive some but not others? Yet in the Bible it state we are to forgive someone at least 70x7 times. Imagine if we forgave someone and they changed not only towards you but towards others too and your relationship grew because you came to an understanding with them. Not only did your realtionshup with them grow, but they changed also because you had the heart of forgiveness towards them. What would happen by you letting go and letting God be in charge, letting God deal with the hurt and allowing Him to change you and them at that moment. By allowing God to move in your life He can work thorough you and even change the other person, or at least give you peace on the situtation.  Is peace in you and around you worth forgiving that person? Only you can answer that question.

Draw me closer.....

One main theme that we hear in sermons, homilys, worship songs and hymns is draw me closer Lord, draw me to you and let me dwelll in your presence. Come unto the Lord, draw unto Him, and He will draw to you. Come read, worship, and praise the mighty Lord, and you will find love, peace and joy in your heart.

Yet, this is not the easiest thing for us to do, we all have sin in us and have sinned against God. Yes, all have sinned, this includes you and me, the pastor in the local church, the priest at the local catherdal, the nuns who are hidden there in the convent and the deacon in the office down the hall. They all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This makes us all sinners. Yet, it is often hard to think that those we look to for our spiritual guidance, who work, live and breathe to forward the love and word of God have sinned.  Although, they are human too and have needs, wants, and friends amoung us who wonder the church. They are no differnet the the rest of us in the Christian community other then they are called to a different minstry then the rest of us. They have a deep calling to fellowship, work for the Lord. They are there to help us, guide us to God in ways that we are may not see on our own. They are an ever present source of help when we are in need, we call then and they see us, counsel us and love us as children of the Lord and never ask for anything in return, other then a thanks as we walk out the door. They are the spiritual leaders in our churches and they are our friend in need.

They are all human, along with you and I, and we all have one common calling in our daily lives, one of drawing nearer to God. We are all to draw unto him and He will come to us if we ask Him. We are his children and he is not going to stay away from us if we ask Him to come. We are to draw near to one another in our time of need and in times of joy.  There is to be no lone soliders in the game of life, We are to have fellowship with each other and with the priests, pastors, nuns, and deacons of the church.

By drawing near to God, we ar then allowing ourselves to be open to God and what He wants for us as His children. We are able to grow in our faith in the Lord, and walk in the grace of the ever present Father.  It is in the drawing near to God that we are able to reach out and let go of hidden hurts, grief, and pain, because we have the love of the Father there with us able and willing to comfort us. Along with the Heavenly Father, we have those in the church that we can draw near too to help us along the path that we are walking.

This drawing of the Father will also allow us to come clean with God, get rid of the hidden dirt, the sins that no one knows about other then you. The things we are too ashamed of to ever speak of, those things that are well hidden in the past. We are able to let go of them and be washed completly in the Blood of Jesus. His blood can and will clease us if we are willing to let go, confess them, and allow ourselves to be forgiven by the Father. He loves us and wants to be so close to us, if we allow Him to come and draw near to Him, ask Him and He will be there with you.