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¿Uncertainties? And Reasoning

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Contents

DEDICATION........................................IXACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................XIFOREWORD..........................................XVThank God.........................................xixCHAPTER ONE.......................................1THANKSGIVING......................................1CHAPTER TWO.......................................11GIVING THANKS.....................................11Stained...........................................21CHAPTER THREE.....................................23PULLING WEEDS, PLANTING SEEDS.....................23CHAPTER FOUR......................................41PREVENTING PROBLEMS...............................41Worthy Praise.....................................51CHAPTER FIVE......................................53IRON SHARPENS IRON................................53CHAPTER SIX.......................................63STANDING IN AUTHORITY.............................63CHAPTER SEVEN.....................................81BETRAYING HONOR...................................81CHAPTER EIGHT.....................................91UNBELIEVING BELIEVERS.............................91The Last Salute...................................103CHAPTER NINE......................................105PROVIDING THE SOLUTION............................105CHAPTER TEN.......................................121BELIEVING BELIEVERS...............................121

Chapter One

Thanksgiving should occur more than once a year or on special occasions. Levels of individual relationships with God vary as people worship and praise according to their spiritual knowledge. We should, according to Psalm 50:14 (NIV), "offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High."

From a personal perspective, thoughts of thanksgiving drift to upcoming invitations for a tasty holiday dinner. Mouth-watering stuffing, juicy turkey, and delicious macaroni and cheese stimulate brain cells. Accompanying these thoughts are savory visions of eye and stomach pleasing desserts satisfying taste buds.

My thanksgiving includes praying for the hands that actively participated in preparing the long-awaited meal. If it was delicious, a secret prayer was made for the chef, praying that his or her hands will be available next year.

Another thanksgiving prayer releases the joy of seeing and not seeing certain individuals because the outcome of the joyous occasion may weigh heavily on differences between personal preferences, strengths, weaknesses, and behaviors. In hindsight, thanksgiving should reflect joy and happiness because we are the children of God. As ambassadors of Christ, in dealing with difficult situations remember that "a wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing" (Proverbs 13:17 NIV).

Discussions on the thanksgiving forum may range from air to football to politics with each storyteller trying to outshine the other. Unfortunately, the situation may get out of control. Natural, fleshly influences tend to control, and dominate dinner discussions, while permeating thoughts, actions, thus disrupting harmony. As the Bible states, "For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV). If you have never experienced a family disagreement during any type of dinner setting (and you do not dine alone), glory be to God!

Jesus said "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35 NIV).

The scripture reads "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1 NIV). So, if it is written and documented in the Bible, who has empowered humans to judge others? Certainly not Jehovah God as he told Moses (after dictating the 10 commandments) to address the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 5). "Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commandments always, so that it might go well with them, and with their children forever!" (Deuteronomy 5:29 NIV). Don't we, in the depth of our hearts, also desire the best for our family? Is not that what we claim?

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3 NIV). According to the scripture "how can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:4-5 NIV).

Diffusing arguments begins with an honest acceptance and realization that a higher power exists and that Jehovah has a more productive plan for us. Prior to human differences going out of control and relationships spiraling to a bottomless pit, we must honestly forgive, move forward pursuing, and fulfilling God's will. Completing His will on earth is our purpose to enter the Kingdom of God. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10 KJV). Our divine Lord is the perfect role model who is "gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy" (Psalm 145:8 KJV).

Yes, it is hard for a human to accomplish certain things. By the mercy and grace of God using us as vehicular tools, we can overcome the hardest tasks en route to salvation. Jesus said "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27 KJV).

Instead of worrying who is coming to dinner, stressing yourself to the point of becoming vex with the world prior to the next dinner engagement, approach your brother or sister and ask for forgiveness. "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him" (Luke 17:3 KJV).

In the natural, one may hold onto grudges and expect the other person to humble themselves to ask for forgiveness. In the spiritual, forgiveness comes naturally. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Peter asks Jesus "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?" (Matthew 18:21 KJV). The response may sound too much for human comprehension. WHAT seven times? PLEASE, the first time was just too much because he or she should not have done that! They were WAY out of line. However, Jesus' humble and wise reply was "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22 KJV).

Imagine the amount of love and patience it takes to forgive someone seventy TIMES seven! That is the type of love and patience we need to emulate and give thanks to God for loving us that much while being patient as we stumble and fall. Learning to love and respect each other as it is commanded "Honor thy father and thy mother, and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 19:19 KJV), leads to becoming faithful servants.

Giving thanks to God on a constant basis plants seeds. Constantly praying increases personal faith and growth nurturing the seed allowing it to reach its fruition. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27 NIV). As humans, we may attempt to reach certain goals and at times it is not attainable.

Invoking the divine presence of our Lord is that higher echelon we need to stand grounded on to reach goals...