Guard What's Entrusted

2 Timothy 1:14 NLT – “With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard what has been entrusted to you.”

 

I am a football fan.  Not a fanatic, but I do enjoy watching a good football game or two on a Sunday afternoon.  I watch the Super Bowl with mixed emotions – it’s the big game, but it also signals the end of the football season.

 

I use football as an analogy because of something I’d noticed quite a bit this football season.  For some reason, quite a few of the passes from the quarterbacks were dropped (or penalized as incomplete) because whoever was receiving the passes wasn’t pulling the ball in sufficiently to keep it from popping out and either falling to the ground, or being taken away by the opposing team.  These players weren’t guarding what was entrusted to them! 

 

The quarterback has to make a quick decision as to which player he’s going to throw the ball to, all the while keeping an eye on the various defensive players, rushing both at him and at the players he’s trying to get the ball to.  Sound familiar?

 

Although the Holy Spirit has known since before the beginning of time to whom He can entrust the precious gift of His Word, He still keeps an eye on both us and the enemy, watching over us like a hen brooding over her chicks, ready to come to our aid or defense at a moment’s notice.    As with Job, the enemy wants to get at us, but still has to ask permission of the Lord for how far he can go.  Once he gets in our ear, he will stop at nothing to convince us to leave the safety of the Lord’s camp and venture out into the outer darkness and the dangers found therein.

 

That’s why it’s so important to guard what’s entrusted to us.  If we constantly keep an eye and mind on the gift placed in our care, if we bind it around our necks and write it on the tablet of our hearts, if we meditate on it day and night, that is, in essence, “pulling it in” and keeping it safe, away from the marauding attacks of the enemy. 

 

Now, just like in football, guarding what is entrusted to us doesn’t stop the opposing team from jumping on us, knocking us senseless, damaging the protective gear and sometimes the parts the gear is supposed to protect.  But that is, in essence, what living this life in Christ is all about.  At the end, it’s not about us, but about what we did with what was entrusted to us. 

 

We may get knocked down a few times, but our goal, our job, is to hold on to the Word, guard it with all our might, at all costs.  Jesus told us that in this life we will have trouble, but we were to be of good courage because He overcame the world.  That means that we are going to experience setbacks of varying degrees, but that we must not lose heart.  Refer to the beginning of the focal scripture: “With the help of the Holy Spirit…”  We can guard what’s entrusted to us because we aren’t alone in this fight.  We have the best armament anyone could hope for, and the best physician to get us on our feet again when we fail to use it right, or misstep.

 

Just because we have the “ball,” we automatically become a target for the opposing team, so know that this game of life in Christ is not going to be a bed of roses with peaches and cream dreams.  We are going to get knocked down, talked about, abused, misused, some martyred, some diseased,  but keep looking toward the Great Day, our Super Bowl, when we get our crowns (so much better and longer-lasting than a Lombardi trophy).  The trials and tests will be worth it because we win.  Refer to The Playbook, WE WIN!!!!

 

Meditate on His Word.  Discuss it with other saints.  Pray about what you don’t understand.  Trust God when He doesn’t immediately answer.  Learn from your mistakes.  Don’t sit on your gift, use it.  When you fall, get up again, don’t just lie there; you’re only defeated if you don’t try to get back up.  Let the Holy Spirit be your guide through it all; He knows where you’re going, especially when you don’t.  These are all ways to hone your gifts, your knowledge, your understanding, and aid you to guard what is entrusted to you all the better.  Remember, God doesn’t make mistakes; if He entrusted something to you, then He has also equipped you to guard it, and guard it well.

 

Again, remember the focal scripture that reminds us that the Holy Spirit lives within us and is there to help us at any given moment to guard what is entrusted to us.

 

Now get out there and play some “football!”

It's Happening...

(originally written March 2, 2005, republished November 30, 2009)

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. -– Psalm 91:7

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. -- Genesis 50:20

You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me. -- Psalm 118:13

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. -– Habakkuk 2:3

 

When I used to go through a testing period, before I came to know the Lord and understand that He has a specific plan for my life, I would cry, whine, throw fits, ask “why me?” and basically act like the child I was. But now that I’m grown, I have put childish things away and now look to the Father for the reason for the present test. Don’t get me wrong, there are still times when I give in to the flesh and forget Whose child I am, but those periods don’t last long, and Daddy, by His Holy Spirit, gently chides me and reminds me of my reason for living.

I do not in any way liken myself to any of the biblical Hall of Faith honorees, far from it. I do however, see the seeds of similarity in some of the situations in which I have found myself. Like when the Lord explains that I only went through “that” for His Glory, I gain a little understanding of Job’s faithfulness. Or when someone operates against me in an ungodly way, yet I still emerge the victor, I catch a glimpse of what Joseph must have felt like. Well, I had a “Jonah-like” experience recently and I would like to encourage anyone who has strayed to get back to where you need to be before Daddy takes a switch to you!

I had a bit of a fall Monday night and bruised my hip. No big deal, but it is relevant to the story. I had class last night, Tuesday, and was not looking forward to sitting for two-and-a-half hours on a bruised hip, so Tuesday morning, while at work, I took some painkillers to ease the discomfort. By the time I left work to get to class, I had forgotten to take another dose before I left and so by the time class began, I was in pain again. Forty-five minutes into class I am having problems concentrating because of the pain, so I excuse myself to go home. I do not have my own car yet, so I take the bus to get to where I need to go.

I get to the bus stop about five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. I am standing there for about two minutes when two police cruisers go flying by, sirens blaring, lights flashing. The location of the bus stop is two blocks from the police station, so though exciting, it’s not a rarity. Well, a minute later, I hear a major collision to my right, and so, naturally, my attention is drawn in that direction. What happens next is definitely a rarity, at least in my life…

I see a white SUV come barreling out of a parking lot (the collision I heard was the SUV hitting a compact car). The SUV is now trying to flee the scene and decides to go the wrong way up a four-lane one way main street. Now mind you, there are buses and cars coming down this street at their regular pace, not expecting to see a car coming towards them at top speed, so now chaos begins to ensue as vehicles brake and screech and try unsuccessfully to get out of the way. The SUV is hitting vehicles left and right, trying to flee in the wrong direction and seeing no other way out, jumps the curb and starts barreling towards me!!!

Y’all, all I could do was call on the name of Jesus. I couldn’t even scream it. I just kept calling His Name because there was nothing else I could do. There was nowhere for me to go. If I jumped to the left I would be in the street in the path of other vehicles, and the right was blocked by a five-foot high chain-link fence that ran the entire block length. So here I am hanging on to the fence, calling Jesus, and seeing my life flash before me as this vehicle is heading straight for me. Jesus heard me and put His Hand out and the SUV veers to the left, his right, into oncoming traffic, fewer than 50 feet from hitting me. It takes off, continuing on its extremely reckless wrong way path up the one-way with now six or seven police cruisers chasing it. All this happens in under a minute.

The moment the wail of the sirens die down, my knees buckle, and I begin to hyperventilate. There was a gentleman waiting for the same bus who had to talk me down from my heightened state of panic.I used to live in New York City, the city reputed to have the highest crime rate, or at least gets the most publicity about its crime, and I have never experienced the things I have experienced since moving to Delaware, reputedly the slow state. I was ready, at that moment, to move back to New York. But I digress…

On my way home, you better believe I had a serious talk with God. I just knew that the enemy was after my life and that God had such a big thing planned for me that the enemy was angry and was trying to take me out before it manifested (you know, the things we’re taught to think in some instances of adversity).After He got a Word in edgewise , He let me know that my life was never in danger, but I needed a wake up call. You know that got my attention.

My prayer and study life had seriously slacked off and I knew it had, but I kept letting it get away from me. I am a warrior for God, but I can’t go into battle without armor, or with rusty weapons, and believe me, if the enemy had truly come up against me, he would have been the victor and I could have blamed no one but myself. If God had not stretched out His Hand and protected my life from all the unseen dangers I am sure have occurred, while I found my way back to Him, I would already be asleep in my grave, another unfinished story.

God has been gracious enough to show me little pieces of the part I am to play in His Plan and I can neither sit idly by nor skate on prior experience; I have to stay in the Word, guard my heart with prayer and fasting, and be ever vigilant against the distractions the enemy keeps throwing my way to keep me from doing just that. I used to fool myself into thinking that because some parts of the vision had not yet manifested that I had time to “take a vacation” and relax in my duties as a soldier. Let me tell you, NOT SO!!! Don’t slack off, be ever ready, in season and out, not just because you never know when God is going to call upon you to perform the duties to which He called you, but also because the enemy roams about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (see 1 Peter 5:8).Many soldiers have been devoured simply because they slacked off and their armor wasn’t in place when the attack came.

God made us in His image and in His likeness for His purpose (Colossians 1:16). How dare we take that workmanship and grace for granted? I took the moments of free time to relax instead of delving deeper into my relationship with my Father. If God hadn’t been gracious, it might have cost me my life.I am a part of God’s plan, whether or not I see or feel it. You are a part of God’s plan, whether or not you realize or recognize it. We are a part of God’s orchestra and choir—every instrument and voice is vital and plays an extremely important part, no matter how small it may appear to the human eye. Your part may be one note at the end of the movement, but though the vision tarries, wait for it, for it shall speak and not lie (Habakkuk 2:3).

God allowed me to live through a harrowing experience just to show me that He is still in control, that He still values me, but that I must do my part. I am still to encourage others as together we strive toward the mark of the prize of the high calling that is in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 3:14). I am still to speak words to the weary (see Isaiah 50:4). I am still to overcome obstacles with the Blood of The Lamb and the Word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11). God is still my refuge and my strength (Psalm 46:1), my battleaxe (see Jeremiah 51:20), the lifter of my head (see Psalm 3:3). He still keeps a fiery hedge of protection around me, but that doesn’t mean He won’t let me experience the adrenaline rushes that sometimes come to kick me out of my complacency.

So the enemy comes like a flood against me, I know that The Spirit of God lifts up a standard (seeIsaiah 59:19) and all I have to do is fall in behind it. So what if attacks come from without and within (see 2 Corinthians 7:5)? Greater is He Who dwells within me, than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).What can man do to me when God is on my side (see Psalm 118:6)? He is the God of my salvation (seeExodus 15:2;Psalm 18:2, 46; Psalm 25:5;Psalm 68:20), the author and finisher of my faith (seeHebrews 12:1-2). So what, I don’t see the physical manifestation yet of the vision? I know to wait for it; God spoke it, so that settles it. It’s happening!

I encourage you to wait on God. If He made a promise to you and you have done all He has instructed you to do, then stand still and see His salvation. He promises that His Word will not return to Him void; it will accomplish the task it was sent to accomplish (see Isaiah 55:11). But your part is vital. Search your heart, have you done all you were supposed to do? Have you put off doing the unpleasant part until a more opportune time? Do you realize that you could not only have been delaying your own blessing, but someone else’s? You’ve heard this all before, so why are you still standing there gazing at a spot from where the anointing has now passed. Get moving to where The Lord is leading you. I have heard many preachers say that many of us are stuck on what God said, instead of moving into what God is saying. But that’s a message for another time…

Be blessed of the Lord! Receive His Word readily, preach it joyfully, live it completely!

 

Lovingly submitted,

The Psalmist

Give, and you will receive

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Give, and you will receive

Luke 6:38 says, in the New Living Translation, "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. ”

One of the gifts GOD has laid on this servant is the gift of exhortation. Those of you who share this mantle know that the enemy comes against us more often than others with darts of depression, attacks of despair, slings of criticism, barbs of hurts, bombs of insecurities, bullets of rejection, and countless other weapons of offenses to make us move backward and not fulfill our purpose. There have been many a day when I've given in to the flesh, taken my eyes off JESUS and focused on the problem, but then I'm reminded that I am not alone in this and that GOD has me surrounded by angels on every side and that it is HE WHO fights my battles for me.

I am not a "Mary Sunshine," far from it, but when I hear, see or sense another being beaten down, that gift is stirred up, and no matter what I'm facing in my own life, I am compelled to encourage that dear one to keep putting one foot in front of the other, to let them know that someone is here who is willing to listen or just to let them know that they did not just "fall into a void."

This stirs up the WORD within me that has been deposited by wise men and women of GOD over the past decades, the WORD that is written on my heart and worn around my neck with pride. It then encourages my own spirit to keep moving forward and accomplish GOD's plan for me in HIS grand scheme, until HE sends JESUS to come get me.

I encourage anyone who reads this to do the same. Whenever you're feeling down, use GOD's accounting system: if you need something, give it away, because in many days, that bread that you cast on the waters will return to you. And don't give grudgingly or stingily because that's exactly what you'll receive. Give cheerfully and amply, because the more room you make by giving of yourself, the more room you'll have to receive what The LORD has been waiting to pour into you. And on days when I'm feeling really up, I can pour out of the abundance of joy and share with others and bring a smile, a laugh, and blow on a guttering ember.

One other thing, while you're encouraging another, this will keep your focus off your own situation, and give The HOLY SPIRIT time and space to work on it for you without your interference...

Be abundantly blessed!

The Psalmist

HIS Way only!

Originally published April 5, 2010

HIS Way only!


You know how we try to teach babies to "self-soothe" to keep them from needing to be picked up whenever they start crying? Well, that's what the Lord was teaching me today.

You ever have one of those days where things just don't go your way, no matter how hard you try? You push, you pull, you scream, you yell, you pout, you frown, you use every manipulative tactic you've learned over the years, but to no avail. No matter what I did, the Lord still kept me from getting my own way. He was not going to give in to my tantrums, and He was not going to answer just because I was screaming. I was not happy, especially since HIS way required me to humiliate myself. No, I did not give any thought to the sacrifice He'd made, celebrated only just this past weekend, uh uh! My flesh wanted satisfaction, and it wanted it NOW! So I did not have a good day, to say the least.

I, uhm, was trying to deal with a few issues today and instead of first running to the Word for advice and direction, I tried tackling things in my own strength. Well, that didn't work, so I ended up having to take a walk in order to get myself back under some semblance of control. When I finally calmed down enough to humbly return to my Father's lap, He chided me by leading me to Galatians 5:19-24 (below).

Getting chastised is never pleasant, but you know what? Being left out in the cold without receiving necessary chastisement is even worse! I am soooooo glad that God still loves me enough to allow me to come back, even after such shameful behavior.

The following is straight from the Word of God; the version, The Message Bible.
19-21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.

22-23 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

23-24 Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

I pray this blesses someone, and keeps them from making the same stupid mistakes I did!





Lovingly submitted,

The Psalmist

Oooops, too bad

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Oooops, too bad!

You know, the devil is really stupid!

He keeps trying me and doesn't seem to recognize that I have been taught by some of the wisest saints around, and when their lessons don't apply to a particular situation, GOD Himself, through HIS SON, by HIS MOST HOLY SPIRIT is a Wonderful Counselor!

The month has only just begun, but it's been hellish already. No details, but on top of the emotional turmoil, my hormones have been in overdrive and anger seemed to be the emotion of the day, both from without and within. Crying and screaming for the last three days didn't do much to alleviate the situation; the problem was still there after all the emotional upheavals. So then I was right back at square one, only on top of things, I was emotionally imbalanced and hoarse.

I thought I had worked on the source of the problem, but as before, I was only treating the symptoms. Well today, I got to work on the source, and on top of it, I went into warfare mode--laying prayer, praise, worship and scripture at the root of the problem while I tackled some major physical work. I'm worn out, but so much better! I am going to sleep tonight! I have some heavy-duty spiritual warriors in my camp and we're going to knock the devil out with a one-two-three-four punch (see, a simple one-two punch is not going to bring this one down). We're bringing the triple threat right to his neighborhood. We're binding the strongman in his own house and not allowing him access to those areas ANYMORE!!!! HE shoulda known that the more he messed with the children of GOD that we were going to come back with Daddy, and he was going to get his butt whupped!!!!

I still have some other things to work on, but this one thing I know, and I stand on, "Nothing can separate me from the love of GOD. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from GOD’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of GOD that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

From the inside out

Friday, May 14, 2010

From the inside out

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness." Matthew 23:27-28

I had to go on a personal retreat a little while ago because I found myself so frustrated and so angry that I was ready to give up. Not on myself, but on this new assignment that Jesus has set before me. I know that to whom much is given, much is also required, but sometimes I just wanted to be like a kid and "coast" on my laurels, y'know, the good deeds I'd already done, and not have to work out my own soul's salvation anymore. As always, The Holy Spirit gently chided me and encouraged me to just step back, come away for a while and take some time to spend with Him. So, I went on a fast, cutting off all communication, entertainment, food, water, everything until I had an answer to what was going on with me. The scripture above is only a little of what was revealed to me.

As we each embark on the paths laid out for us by GOD, we have to be mindful of the reasons we do certain things. Many motives are tainted by worldly desires, and because of this, so many of us have failed to recognize is that we're building our lives on shaky foundations. Every once in a while, we may heed the voice of The Lord and check ourselves and fix this or repair that, but as with so much in today's society, we're treating symptoms and not the problem. In order to truly follow after Christ and walk the path HE walked, we need to "perform necessary spiritual/mental/emotional surgery" and deal with the root of the problem, or we'll always be circling the same problem, coming back to the same starting point and eventually giving up on attaining the goal.

Before the surgery is performed, however, we have to take self-inventory, and really be truthful with ourselves about what is causing the reaction that leads us to self-destructive behavior, whatever the behavior. For example, self-pity doesn't just happen, something made a person feel so insecure that they retreat to a place of self-pity. Also, self-pity manifests itself in multiple ways, from the withdrawn wallflower to the whiny overachiever, always looking for someone else's approval. We have to make the correct diagnosis in order to perform the surgery, and there often is no quick fix. We have to be ready to unearth the tough memories, answer the uncomfortable questions and face the truth in order to move forward effectively. Sure, tears may be shed, but tears have an amazingly wonderful cleansing effect; they can make things so much clearer once they're shed.

Well, while The Lord and I communed, so much of what was causing my anguish came to the surface, but what was also revealed was that the outward efforts I was making were not going to do me any good until I make an effort to heal from the past. I know that I had held on to some things all because they made me feel "powerful," but that was so stupid, because all it made me become was bitter. I had to come to grips with my shortcomings and my flaws. I had to accept me for me, no matter how much I wanted to be something or someone else. GOD had given me to me as me for a specific purpose, and no matter how much I tried to change, the fundamentals would always be the same because that's just how HE made me. You know that saying, "No matter where you go, there you are?" Well, that about said it.

I was given certain gifts and I was given instructions on how to operate in those gifts, but my disobedience (partial, delayed, or total) caused a malfunction on the way. The malfunction snowballed and I found myself back where I started because GOD is not going to let me move forward until the step I was on was completed. I wanted to shine in areas that I liked and bury the ones I didn't like; not so. I had to complete every step, no matter how unpleasant or fearsome. I have to speak to people I hate, I have to minister to spirits I fear, I have to work with people with whom I would not normally associate, but they were all placed in my path for a purpose. I may not always know the purpose, but because all things work together for the good of them who love GOD, who are the called according to HIS purpose, I have to do it in order to move forward.

I can't make it through this battle without some scars, but there is a Balm in Gilead, and even Jesus rested while HE ministered to the multitudes. I have to do this thing from the inside out, not the outside in. I don't want to deliver a powerful message, but be all jacked up on the inside, aching from unhealed wounds because I failed to heed vital instructions.

I want to be a living testimony to someone, happily skipping down the street, not just wearing a smile on my face, but a smile on my soul as well because I am truly joyful. I am going to continue this cleansing process because it's how Jesus wants me. Holiness is what Jesus wants for me and because HE died for me to have it, I can do no less but to die to self and strive for that holiness. I must keep my face set like flint, my eyes on the goal set before me, being mindful at all times on things above.

Prayerfully submitted,

The Psalmist

Okay, fine...WHATEVAH!!!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Okay, fine...WHATEVAH!!!

Wow! There is a saying: "You ain't been done, 'til you've been done by church folk!"

I thought I'd experienced it before, but nothing like what I've been experiencing of late. Getting calls from strange people venting about something that either they should have no business venting about, or venting to me about something in which I'm not even involved.

The Bible teaches us to take the log out of our own eye before removing the mote out of our brother's eye. I've received a "stern talking to" from someone who, frankly, has no business speaking to me about anything except everyday pleasantries. The sad thing about their concern was they had the power to rectify it, but instead chose to chew somebody else out in order to boost their social standing and their ego. I'm quite a bit perturbed, but because GOD is my source (of strength, longsuffering, patience, love, kindness) and HE has placed angels around my mouth to guard my tongue, I simply listened respectfully (which they acknowledged), took some of their advice, handed "the plate" to someone else and stepped out of the situation.

I will receive manifold, abundant, overflowing blessings because of my faithfulness I've been told, but in the meantime, I endure...

I'm tired...