Give God Time

Too often we want what we want when we want it without regard for the actual time it takes to deliver what it is we want. I have seen this in business and in life in general. In an underfunded, understaffed, high demand work environment, the few remaining operational leaders are taking on more and more until all they have to do is work for the immediate demands of the next-level-up’s demands. The rest of life suffers, consequently. It is another side-effect of demand immediacy.

The printing press made it easier to spread ideas. Now if it is not printed with the highest quelity or with the rapidity of instant messaging, most will not read it at all.

The microwave and trivection ovens are the latest replacements for a cooking fire. What used to take days of preparation is now resolved in mere seconds by the push of a button. And some think that is too slow.

Here in the USA, like most high tech nations, many have become the ‘mircowave society.’ If it is not immediately resolved then it is taking too long! Wanting it now does not remove the fact of the reality that certain things take time. Some things are only resolved “in the fullness of time” – this is admittedly irritating, but none-the-less reality.

The same is true of God (YHWH Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob-Israel, Jesus, and me). Adherents and non-adherents make the same time demand on GOD. “Show us you are God and right now.” A bit on the arrogant side by us humans, don’t you think? Making that demand on the God of the Bible shows our amazing ignorance. The greatest chess-minds will tell you that though the objective is to take the opponent’s king there is required some ‘set-up’ to make that happen. Even so with GOD. Do note however, once the required set-up is made the initiation of activity comes on with the rush of a tidal wave – which means those who are paying attention take action; those who do not are inundated.

I think the message here is patience. Have patience. Be patient. Has God said? Will He not do?

Though the word God has given you seems to tarry, wait for it. It will surely come to pass.

Isaiah 40.31; 55.11
Jeremiah 29.11
Habakkuk 2.2

Special note:
This note does not take into account varying systems of belief. I am irreligious and Christian. By that I mean I know there is but one true god – the God of Israel. If you differ with that, you may. I will refer you to an essay I wrote regarding truth. Follow the link.
“Whatever Occupies the Mind”
https://docrogerswrites.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/essayswhatever-occupies-the-mind/

Cheers!
Doc.

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Honor

Introduction:

“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren…” — I Chronicles 4.9 KJV

In reading through the beginning of I Chronicles, we see a list of genealogies; the list of sons from Jacob-Israel on down. In the list of names there are kings and princes, patriarchs and pariahs. They are all just listed. Then we come to Jabez. It is as if God stopped everyone and said, “Take a longer look at this one.” Jabez is only mentioned here and not again through out the rest of the Bible. What makes Jabez stand out?
Jabez was more honorable that those with whom he was listed. He was listed with kings and princes, yet Jabez was said to be more honorable than they.
In this study, we will look at ‘honor’ and why practicing it will make you stand out; even among kings and princes.

Foundation:
Honor [Latin] Official dignity, repute, esteem; the esteem due or paid to worth; one who or that which is a source of glory or esteem; he who or that which confers dignity; glory
Glory [Latin] Fame, honor, pride, boasting; worship adoration, praise; splendor, magnificence, radiance; to exult with joy, to rejoice in
tanah [Hebrew] To present, bargain, hire; attributing honor, ascribe praise
hadar [Hebrew] To swell up; to favor or honor; glorify; majesty; ornament or splendor:— beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honor, majesty
howd [Hebrew] grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and appearance):— beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honor, majesty
yqar [Hebrew] Value, wealth; costliness, dignity; honor, precious things, price; valuable; brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honorable women, precious, reputation
kabed [Hebrew] to be heavy; numerous, rich, honorable [good]; burdensome, severe, dull [bad]; to make weighty; prevail, promote, be rich; great
doáxa [Greek] glory; dignity; honor, praise, worship;
doáxazoµ [Greek] to render glorious or esteem glorious; to glorify, make full of glory, honor, magnify
timaoµ [Greek] to prize, fix a valuation upon; revere, honor, value
timeµ[Greek] a value, valuables; esteem of the highest degree; dignity itself, honor, precious, price
timioáteµs [Greek] expensive, magnificence, costliness

Points:
I. Importance

That which you honor you ascribe importance. Who you honor you ascribe importance.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20.3 KJV

In this verse, which is the first Commandment, God is establishing importance; who and what is important; what should be ‘first things’ in our lives.
Q: What is of first importance in your life?
Q: Our actions speak louder than words. What do your actions evidence?
Who do you honor first? Who do you make important in your life?

II. Parental Honor

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” – Exodus 20.12 KJV

Paul observes in his letter to the Ephesians that this is the first commandment with a promise. If you want your life to go well and you live a good, long life; honor your father and mother.
Q: Your parents are a type and shadow of your relationship with God Almighty. Does your ‘honor’ to your parents reflect your relationship with the God of Israel?
Q: Parents, you are examples of God to your children. Are you receiving your children’s honor as unto God? What are you doing to earn that honor? Are you demanding respect and insisting on honor? Are you showing yourself Godly?

III. Preference

Mordecai, the uncle of Hadassah who becomes Queen Esther, honored and respected King Ahasuerus. A plot to kill the king was made known to Mordecai and he passed that information to Esther who brought it before the king in Mordecai’s name. The trial and all transpired were written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Persia and Media.
On a sleepless night, King Ahasuerus had the chronicles read to him. He came to the note of Mordecai’s service to him. The king asked if anything had been done to recognize the service rendered. His chief scribes said nothing had been done yet for Mordecai. The king asked Haman, the king’s chief counselor, what would be recommended to honor someone in whom the king delighted. Haman responded with what he personally would like, thinking the king meant him. The king said do all of that which was said, but do it for Mordecai the Jew. Haman hated Mordecai and deceived King Ahasuerus in plot to destroy all of the Jews.

Q: Mordecai was a king’s scribe, who sat in the gate as a leader. Mordecai was respectful to and honored the king. Who do you honor? Who do you actively seek to protect?
Q: Haman was jealous and self-serving. Has there been a time when you made plans to receive someone else’s honor?
Q: Mordecai preferred to serve and protect his king and was honored by the king eventually. Have you preferred someone without thought to your role or immediate personal benefit?

IV. Deference

Queen Vashti lost her position of honor because she placed her honor above that of the king’s. She was holding a feast and declined to come when the king asked for her. The queen was removed from her role and a new queen was sought.
A young Jewish girl name Hadassah went through the process in preparation of meeting King Ahasuerus. The young women were given anything they wanted to adorn themselves to meet the king. Hadassah, now called Esther, adorned herself in only what was given her by the chamberlain. Esther received favor in the sight of all and in the king’s sight. King Ahasuerus made Esther his queen.

Q: Queen Vashti enjoyed being queen, but failed to recall her role in deference to the king’s role. Consider your current position in life. Is there someone in authority over you that you have disrespected? And, chose your own ways of doing things?
Q: Hadassah became Queen Esther out of the honor she showed her uncle Mordecai, Hegai the king’s chamberlain, and King Ahasuerus. When have you deferred to the guidance of others out of respect, to honor their wisdom, or to honor their authority? What was the result?

V. Position

On a visit to one of the chief Pharisees, Jesus observed how everyone picked their places to sit. After they had settled Jesus spoke to them a parable on how picking the best place to sit was not the best idea. What if someone came a long that was more important and you were asked to take a lower or worst seat? [Luke 14.1-11]
Jesus said it is better to take the lower seat and for the manager of the meal to come find you and bring you up to a seat of honor.
Q: Have you preferred your own position and importance over another?
Q: Have you ever been asked to take a lower seat, a less important seat?
Q: Have you ever been asked to take a better, more honored seat by the host?

VI. Sacrifice

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; … For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” – Luke 6.38 KJV

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
— Galatians 6.7 KJV

Jesus pointed out, and Paul mirrored, that whatsoever you give out you will get back. If judgment, you will be judged. If condemnation, you will be condemned. If mercy, you will receive mercy. If honor, you will receive honor.
There may be times in your life that are like Mordecai’s. It is your honor to serve your leader, but there is this ‘Haman’ in your life that is causing you much grief. You may not have a good relationship with your parents, or manager at work, or your co-workers. It is your challenge then to ‘honor’ them. Sow it as a sacrifice. It will come back to you … pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing. Just be patient and chose to honor those around you.

Q: What ‘honor’ are you sowing?
Q: Who do you ‘honor’?

Review:
The weight of importance and state of ‘specialness’ you give to others reflects back on you; and, it is their testimony of what God must really be like. Jesus said, “They will know you are my disciples by your love for one another.”

Key Points:
 That which you honor you ascribe importance. Who you honor you ascribe importance.
 Let your actions speak louder than words. Let your actions become your evidence of honor.
 Let your ‘honor’ to your parents reflect your relationship with the God of Israel.
 Prefer someone without thought to your role or immediate personal benefit.
 Defer to the guidance of others out of respect, to honor their wisdom, or to honor their authority.
Check the result. Wait for it.
 Take the lower seat or the lower place. Let the Lord find you out and promote you.
 God is not mocked. Whatsoever you sow, including honor, you shall also reap.

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I Pray…

I PRAY…
MT 6 & LK 11

OUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN
Position: I recognize You are King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and GOD over All!

HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME
Praise: You are holy! You are worthy of praise, and I worship You!

YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
Priority: You rule over all things, Lord! All things were made by Your hand!
All things have been placed under Your feet! You are Lord over All!
Here on Earth and in my heart, have rule over all things.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
Provision: I thank You that You have given seed to sow and bread to eat! You meet my daily need!

FORGIVE US OUR SINS AS WE FORGIVE THOSE, WHO SIN AGAINST US
Perfection: I praise You and thank You for my Salvation through Your Son Jesus, The Messiah, The Christ Jesus, my Propitiation and Salvation through the Night, the Cross, the Grave, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and the sitting down at the Right hand of the Father.
I have forgiven all just as all has been forgiven of me; no one has sinned against me.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Protection: I thank You that You, Lord, are My Shepherd. I shall not want. You make me to lie down in green pastures! You lead me beside still waters! You restore my soul! Though I walk through the valley of death I fear no evil. You are with me. Your rod and staff are a comfort to me!

FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM THE POWER & THE GLORY FOREVER
Praise: You are holy! You are worthy of praise and I worship You! You are King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and GOD over All! You are All Powers in One! You are the Glory and my Glory forever and ever!!!!

~ • ~

I PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF ISRAEL
I PRAY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ISRAEL
I PRAY FOR PEACE IN THE CITY OF JERUSALEM

~ • ~

I PRAY FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
I PRAY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE USA
I PRAY BLESSING AND PROPERITY FOR THE USA
I PRAY FOR PEACE AND WISDOM IN ALL CAPITALS AND GOVERNMENTS

~ • ~

I PRAY FOR OUR NATION
OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY & WELFARE
I PRAY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP
The President, the Vice President, all of the Cabinet Secretaries and Agency Directors; our Ambassadors; our House of Representatives and Senate; our Justices; our Attorneys General; all of our Civil Servants; our Intelligence, Military, and Police Forces; and for all of their families …

I PRAY FOR OUR STATE
OUR STATE’S ECONOMY & WELFARE
I PRAY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP
The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor; the Secretaries, Directors, Superintendents, and Boards; the Legislature, both Representative House and Senate; the Justices, Judges, and Attorneys General; all of the Civil Servants; our Intelligence, Guard, Reserves, Militia, Police and Emergency Services Forces; and for all of their families …

I PRAY FOR OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY & WELFARE
I PRAY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP
The Mayor, the City and County Councilors and Commissioners; the Secretaries, Superintendents, and Boards; the Justices, Judges, and Attorneys General or Counsels General; the Civil servants; the Police, Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services; and for all of their families …

I PRAY FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP
The Apostles, the Prophets, the Evangelists, the Pastors, the Teachers; the Presbyters, the Overseers and Bishops; the Deacons, the Elders, and the Servant leaders; and for all of their families …

I PRAY THAT THEY …
All come to a saving grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
All are filled, baptized by and with the Holy Spirit of God
All are blessed with Godly wisdom and have good health.
All are blessed and have exceedingly more than enough and all sufficiency, needing no aid or support, and are content.
All have the heart of a servant and see their role as one of service to God and to His People. All ambushments, designs to harm, and traps are turned against those who make themselves enemies.
All are surrounded by a hedge of protection, that ministering angels surround them at all times, that the Hand of God is upon them to bless them and to see good established in them.

I PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
The Εκκλεσια, the Whole Body of Christ

I PRAY THAT EVERY MEMBER IS RIGHTLY JOINED AND FITTED TOGETHER

ONE GOD, ONE CHURCH, ONE VOICE!!!!

I PRAY FOR THE CHURCH AND THE VISION TO REACH THE COMMUNITY
[Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world; Frisco Texas, bordering counties, Texas, USA, Earth]

A PRAYER FOR OUR CHILDREN
Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Your blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our Country.

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Making Time for God

II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, Who are called by my Name,Will humble themselves And pray, And seek my face, and Turn from their Wicked ways, Then will I hear from Heaven And will forgive their Sin and will heal Their land.”

We must pray for our nation, our communities, our families, and especially our children and our childrens’ children – they are the ones who are going to suffer the most … if we don’t seek God.

This little note is not for everybody; yet it is. There are some that say “There is no ‘god.'” A wise man has said that it is a fool who says in their own heart there is no God. So, those that say there is no ‘god,’ research the word etymologically, historical uses, and religious applications. You will change your opinion. Everybody can benefit from this observation.

Making time for God can be a ‘religious’ practice, a duty or responsibility, performed as a daily ritual or practice. Without a relationship with the one to whom you make the habit of time devotion you may as well have only spent that time staring at a ceiling, a wall, a floor, or off into the air. Making time for God subsumes you want to develop a relationship with God. You already make that practice with those who you want as friends. You actively pursue, set aside time for, the development of a relationship with them.

You say you love God, yet you spend no time with God.

Famous quotes:
– I pray 5 times a day!
– God already knows my heart.
– We talk all of the time.
– God is only for certain days of the week, and times.
– I don’t want to put God in a box.
– Why pray, there is no one there to listen.
– My life is too full [kids, school, work, etc].
– I have more important [or fun] things to do.
– I’m not ‘religious’ like that.

Really?

“I don’t have time for this.” or “I spend a lot of time at work. It’s not appropriate in the workplace.”
– If that is you, you should stop reading here.

There are a lot of theologies out there; a lot of ways people are choosing to express their understanding of ‘god.’ I will not be discussing those. I will be discussing developing a real relationship with one who is able. So, I just cut out a lot of readers with that last sentence. How brave are you to keep reading? I am going to offend some.

Those that have not grown up in a Judeo-Christian environment do not understand how the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible [Torah and Holy Bible] permeates everything: all of the daily events [meal time prayers, night time prayers], all of the weekly events [Synagogue on Saturday or Church on Wednesday/Sunday], and holidays [too numerous to note]. There are those that have grown up in the periphery of it and have adopted some of the holidays and practices as ‘ritual’ without understanding. There are those that have grown up in it but have decided that was for when they were children and their parents / grandparents are clueless to reality of a real world so they ‘stopped’ but still practice some of the more fun parts. And some have denied there is a personage who is named God [shortened to this because His name is too long or out of respect]. But, God permeates all aspects of life for those who grew up Jewish or Christian [all variants].

Those that grew up without the Judeo-Christian education or knowledge of God as a person still have that vacuum in their lives that just seems empty. It remains a huge question mark that grows larger the more it is ignored and as one ages. Life is temporal.

People in all cultures have this curious habit of crying out to a nameless entity with the power to “Save me!” or “Help me!” It seems it is built in. We like the idea that there is someone out there beyond us that has the power to do just that. It gives us hope.

When we are sick, we like for a healing god to be around.
When somone dies, we like for a comforting god to be around for our grief and to give us a hopeful future.
When some great disastor arises, we like for a saving god to be around.
When faced with a problem, we like for a wise god to be around.
When we are short on supplies, we like for a provisioning god to be around.
When chaos is all around, we like for a peacemaking god to be around.

Yet, when we do not have any life-rocking events occurring, we do not want any god who will make requirements on us around.

In essence we say, “All is well. I have no need of you today.” Some add to that with this, “But don’t go too far, in case I need you.”

Another wise man once said, “My God, where can I go that you are not already there before me?”

Another truly wise man once said, “Seek first the rule and judgment of God before all else.”

These two wise men did not assume a god in their lives. These two wise men knew a GOD in their lives. Their GOD was not a religious practice, ritual, or habit. Their GOD was not made by their hands or created by their ancestors. Their GOD was in a personal relationship with them. And, how can we have personal relationships with any unless there be two parties in communion?

One of the big difficulties people have with Judeo-Christianity is the god of Judeo-Christianity is not distant nor unresponsive. “How can that be?” is a very popular question. They assume there is no god. The GOD who made himself known to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Solomon, Daniel, Isaiah, etc assumes he is.

The God of Israel talks to his children; even if they are not 100% in alignment with him. He will even have a relationship with them; albeitly, distant. But, if we come to him, call to him, he will come to us, and develop a relationship with us. There is one major requirement: time.

Assume there is a God of Israel, if only for just a moment. Ask him one thing: time, let us spend time together. Show me how.

That is it.

“But, I don’t know what to ask or pray? What do we talk about?”

Here is a good place to start:
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

It is simple, but start there. Meditate – think on it. Discuss it with God as you would anyone else you know.

Bring to remembrance those times that something amazingly good or miraculous happened. Ask God to show you how he was involved in those.

And if you already know that God was involved in those, ask him anyway and be sure to thank him.

The atheist, irreligious, and non-Judeo-Christian all assume there is no God. Some have taken God’s words and twisted them to their own purposes. Wherever you are in your understanding of God or your relationship with God, spend some time with him. Ask him to make himself known to you. He will.

There are several accounts in the Judeo-Christian Bible where the God of Israel has made himself known to his people: in a burning bush, a clouded mountaintop, a river bank, a clouded temple, in a furnace, in an upper room, on the road to Damascus, on an island on the Lord’s day, in a bible study, prayer meetings in Los Angelos, even the back pew of a small Nazarine church in Charleston Heights SC. You never know. Where you are could just be next place he decides to show up. Ask him to.

The worse thing that will happen is you have spent time with God, reflecting on what he has done and what he will do. The best thing that could happen is you ask him into your life. He will show you what that means through his book, the Judeo-Christian Bible, aka Holy Bible.

Make time for God. He will make time for you.

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National Day of Prayer Usurped

National Day of Prayer Usurped in hopes to not offend: Why has the current USA Executive Administration done this?

In 1952 President Truman established one day a year as a”National Day of Prayer.”

In 1988President Reagan designated theFirst Thursday in May of each year as the National Day of Prayer.

In June 2007 (then) Presidential Candidate Barack Obama declared that the USA “Was no longer a Christian nation.”
[Note: The USA never was a ‘christian nation.’ It has historically been heavily populated by those who follow the Christian faith.]

In 2009, President Obama canceled the 21st annual National Day of Prayer ceremony at the WhiteHouse under the ruse of “not wanting to offend anyone” I guess it doesn’t matter if “some” are offended by a WH sponsored national prayer event that is inclusive and others are not.

BUT… on September 25, 2009 from 4 AM until 7 PM, a National Day of Prayer FOR THE MUSLIM RELIGION was held on Capitol Hill, beside the White House. There were over 50,000 Muslimsin D.C. that day.

The National Day of Prayer established by Presidents Truman and Reagan was set aside for all religions and all peoples of the USA to pray for the blessing and prosperity of their nation.

In not wanting to offend Islam, President Obama appears to offend all other religions or belief systems in the USA.

Note the next national meeting for Jummah [or Friday prayers] is October 15th.
This is not a Rumor – Go to the website To confirm this info: ( http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com/ )

Islam, like all other religions in the USA, may peacefully observe their religion in accordance to their religious practices; unless those practices violate the rights and privileges of other USA citizens as guaranteed by the US Constitution and the various State Constitutions.
~Muslim should note that in the USA, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. In the USA the legal right to worship as you chose is established by the US Constitution as a protection for all the USA citizens to ensure they may worship or observe religion as they chose; even if they choose not to observe any religious practice at all.

There are religions on Earth that have as part of their religious requirement certain legal and governing practices. Those certain religious legal and governing practices that are athwart or against or crosswise with the US Constitution may not be practiced in the USA – where respect for individual liberty and freedoms is law. In those religions that are incompatible with the USA form of government, practitioners should consider going to another part of the world where totalitarian religious practice might be tolerated.

The US Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and many other freedoms, at the cost of tolerance of others being able to likewise have the same freedoms; and recognitioin of others rights under the US Constitution.

In the USA, the rights of its citizens end where the rights of another citizen’s rights begin: that is individual sovereignty.

The National Day of Prayer was a brilliant and inclusive idea brought about and sanctioned by two US Presidents in hopes to unify, rather than separate, the great peoples of the USA. The current US Executive Administration seems to be on a course for disunity and separation. I pray it is not so.

Take a moment every day and recall this simple, little prayer:
“Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country.”

And if you are of those who choose to have no religious practice then think on how you can aid parents to be better successes, teachers to be better successes, and our country – the USA – to be a better nation.

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Failure Is Not An Option

Failure is not an option. It is a part of the course. | Greet failure with a smile. You are one step closer to succeeding. | If you are still breathing, you have not failed utterly. Get up. Persist until you succeed, then persist some more.

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