Saturday, March 31, 2007

Second time around

I can remember a song from years back; let me share a few words…

“I know you come a long way baby but you don't need that heart of stone, you proved that you could do it do it baby you could make it on your own…

You can't keep running away from love 'Cause the first one let you down no, no, no and though others try to satisfy you baby with me true love can still be found love can still be found…

You know I really love you and I paid for my mistakes, yes I did girl, the more I try to hide my feelings baby this old heart gets in the way and love won't let me wait…”

This song speaks about a love we often see or hear about. This young man is trying to convince this young lady to give him a chance to show her how she should be loved. She has shown that she can survive without him, but trust issues possibly have established residence inside her heart. When you have been hurt, it’s really difficult to get back in the game of trusting again. But you really need to get back up again! You know the old sayings… you don’t miss the water until the well run dry. It’s their lost!

When I see the difficulty in relationships, and the brokenness, even sayings that I don’t need him or her - I can do badly all by my self. If the truth be told that’s not the real you speaking, that’s pain, fear, and many other dislikes on the inside coming out.

I often think about what God said when He created all things; all the animals, birds of the air, creeping things - all had companions but Adam. God’s heart was deeply moved. He saw that there was no suitable companion for the man (Adam). God couldn’t allow that to happen because God is LOVE.

Genesis 2:18, 21 - 22 (New Living Translation)

18. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.

21. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.

22. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib and he brought her to the man.

God cares’ about the brokenness, He designed us male and female to share our lives together. God established the very first marriage. If we really desire to experience true love we need to find “God first” because God is love. You may ask what if I have already experienced a false sense of love, and can’t really love again. I would say find your way to God like never before, read the human instructions…

Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth

After giving God some of your time He will love on you, and that love will be viewed by many people, then you will love again. The reason we’re able to love again is… God will purge the old false love, and refill it with unconditional love. You will no longer view only what a person look like on the outside, but a combination of both the outside and inside.

I’ve learned to first look at a lady, see her outer beauty, and then go for the best part… the inter woman. Outer beauty will fade away just as a good paint job on a vehicle or house; but what’s inside have the greater value. I’ll refuse a relationship in the early stages based on a lack of mutual affection. It’s just not worth the pain in the long run to reach out to another, and get nothing but a momentary feeling in return. We hold on to people merely because they look good. I’ve seen many beautiful vehicles that look good but they aren’t going anywhere because something on the inside is in need of repair. Maybe “the engine is blown.” Beauty on the out side ONLY doesn’t count for much.

Want a second time around? Stop allowing people to test drive, either they want you or they don’t. And let me say this… just because someone go to church doesn’t mean they are a Christian any more than standing in a car garage make you a car. Check out their fruit! In addition, don’t rule out the small things you see, question things, get everything you desire out in the open. Communication is the fuel that’s needed to keep a strong relationship. If you don’t communicate well when you’re dating, I suggest not going to the final step (marriage) things get worse. Don’t hold on to a person if they don’t want you! Even though it hurt, just move forward; God has something better.

I want to speak to the men now… God made women for us men to love not to practice our fighting skills. What about our daughters? What if some egghead put his hand on one of our daughters? The bible say there is a time for everything. You can figure out what I’m thinking!

Let me close by speaking to the women… don’t settle for a guy just because he make you feel good for a moment, wait for the one who will love you forever. Many ladies sell themselves short. You are wonderfully made! Now get out there and present the Queen you are. Stop pursuing guy’s and allow a man to pursue you.

Apply the written guidance, and your love life will have you walking with your head up forever.

Blessings to all,

CJ

Monday, March 19, 2007

Can I trust you?

I often think back to some of my old military moments. Early on in my military journey I can remember when most transactions were conducted merely by word of mouth. We were all trusting, never really had a problem until one day; notice that everything seems to change one day! The trust system we had in place suffered from a failure of one person to hold their end of a promise.

We as a military family went through hard times; many people changed their approach when allowing others to use items normally rendered without question. Per the new guidelines, everything had to be signed out if anyone outside the current organization had need of it. Man, those were hard times!

Notice how one problem changed everything. Let me say this... even though a potential problem existed, I practice business as usual, because I got to know a person before allowing them use of my items. I would check many people out, most I would render the item they had need of, shake their hand and the item would be returned as promised. There were exceptions to my rule; a few people had to sign for the needed items because their past behavior forced me to cover myself.

As I look back over my life, I am so glad God allowed me to experience the good and bad of what this life presents, because I have learned so much. I have found if you want to live this life in its fullness, give God the controls… the young singer Carrie Underwood said it best “Jesus Take the Wheel.” The BIBLE instructs…

Proverbs 3:5 – 10 (NLT)

5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
7. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil.
8. Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.
9. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces.
10. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with the finest wine.

Wow! What a promise! All we need to do is “Trust in The Lord.” I have tried these words for myself, and they are true to the core. I’m not just writing to stroke your emotions; the Word is true!

Let’s give our children a good example; first we must be an example. I am so proud of my baby son; he found several one dollar bills on the floor in a certain house we visited, without even thinking about it, he brought the money to the lady of the house, presented it to her, and said someone dropped this money on the floor. If only you could have seen her face. She was shocked that a young man at his age would even consider such a thing. As I sat there as a proud father, it reminded me of our Heavenly Father. When we do what’s right in His sight, I believe He just smile, and say that’s my boy or girl.

Can I trust you? What a question; we need to rebuild the lost trust so that our Father in Heaven can bless us as He desires. He love us some much, but can’t really bless us because we are untrustworthy.

Starting today, lets make every attempt to do what is right when interacting with our fellow human counterparts, and see don’t our Father show up, and bless you as never before. Trust is a great thing!

Blessings to all,

CJ

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Seven reasons not to mess with children

I had to post this! Laughter is good.

It’s been said, time and time again, children tells the truth...

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Reason# 1:

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.

The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".

The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"

The little girl replied, "Then you ask him ".

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Reason# 2:

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."

The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

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Reason# 3:

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.

After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"

Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."

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Reason# 4:

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.

She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"

Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."

The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

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Reason# 5:

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.

"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'

A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."

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Reason# 6:

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the
blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."

"Yes," the class said.

"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"

A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."

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Reason# 7:

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:

"Take only ONE. God is watching."

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples.

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Blessings to all,

CJ

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

WET PANTS

A friend sent this to me...

Come with me to a third grade classroom..... There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, "Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat."

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap.

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!"

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!"

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Susie whispers back, "I wet my pants once too."

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good.

Remember.....Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Each and every one of us are going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.

Blessings to all,

CJ

Monday, March 12, 2007

When nothing else will work - read the instructions

I can remember purchasing items that came with instruction booklets, but I could assemble them by viewing the pictures. One day I purchased an item that gave me fits to assemble, so guess what I had to do? You guessed I had to break down and read the instructions. I’ve learned in my few years on the earth to read the provided instructions first in order to get a better understand of what to expect, because someone has already viewed the end result of what I’m about to attempt. Now that’s worth giving God thanks for already!

I watched the movie “Facing the Giants,” and let me tell you, if you haven’t seen it yet, get the DVD it’s great for the entire family. I just want to capture a small portion from the movie... the coach had arrived to a low place, his team wasn’t performing properly, the top office was disappointed with him, his car was breaking down on a regular basics, his home life was afflicted; this man needed help, and fast. How many of you know when we are weak, and then He (God) is strong. Let me explain… everything that is made has instructions; I don’t care if its home made so to speak and someone tell you how it works, those are still instructions. When this coach arrived to a low place he remembered the Word… 2 Corinthians 12:10 (New Living Translation) that’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. He took his eyes off himself, and looked to where his help comes from (God).

Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth

When we try and fail; when life seem to deal us a poor hand, don’t just sit down and do nothing, pull out the instructions (BIBLE). God is our designer, He knows us better than we know ourselves, why not receive instructions from the ONLY one who can repair everything that we will ever face. He may not repair things the way we desire them, but His way is always better. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts; His approaches to issues are much higher than we could ever comprehend. He was, He is, and He is to come.

Blessings to all!

CJ

Thursday, March 08, 2007

What on Earth are you doing for Heaven’s sake?

Psalm 34:19 (New Living Translation)

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

***Each day we awake to a new beginning; when my eyes open I give God thanks for a new day. In addition, I ask God to order my steps, because I want to be in His perfect will. All of us should thank Him each day, even if things aren’t going well. If we are able to see, walk, talk, smell or hear we got so much to be thankful for. The reason we break down to a low place when difficult times arrive is we don’t fellowship with God enough when things are going well.

***I want to show you a powerful witness during a real bad time for a little lady…

2 Kings 5 (New Living Translation)

1. The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.
2. At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.
3. One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”

***Ok, take a look at this! Naaman was a mighty warrior, but he was very sick; leprosy for Naaman during his time is like AIDS today. Now get this! They took this young girl from her family, and landed her in a foreign land. Loneliness possibly occupied her thoughts, maybe she often wondered if she would ever see her relatives again. She had ever right to be angry; she could have been bitter, but she chose the greater good. God sometimes allow us to arrive in some difficult situations, not only to show us that He is in control, but to use us to reach those who are lost.

***The God on the inside of this young girl, which was in her heart, showed up on the outside…

Luke 6:45 (New Living Translation)

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

***The heart is where our God desire to reside. If He is in our hearts, we can make a great difference for the kingdom. The young girl informed Naaman’s wife about a man (Elisha), who knew how to get in contact with The Creator (God), who can fix any problem. Remember, the next time you see someone in need, it doesn’t matter what has happened between the two of you, aim for the greater good. This may take some time, but we should always allow room for God to work in us, and through us. Man gives each other a second chance, but God gives us another, and another, and another…

Blesings to all,
CJ