Blessed be the name of the Lord

"Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise.

When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say; 

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name."

It's certainly easy to praise God in our good times. When we have everything we want and long for. When all our needs are met, our health is in good shape, and we are surrounded by our loved ones.  Yes, it is indeed effortless to be grateful and to praise God Almighty when things are well.  Let's turn the situation around now. How do we act when we don't have everything we want, and our needs are not being met, or we contract a terrible disease, and/or our loved ones leave us.  In those times why do we turn away from God? Is being grateful conditional to God giving us what we desire? So basically you strike a bargain with the Lord then, eh?  How sad and disgraceful.  

"Not for a moment does He forsake us..." 

"He cannot love us any more or any less than He loves us this very instant."

Yet our love, our gratefulness, and our praise for Him is tentative.  However, this tentativeness doesn't deter Him from us.  Nothing keeps Him from pursuing us. He watches over us as a father would. He hurts when we distance ourselves from His love.  It pains Him to see us worship idols.  After all we do to ache Him, He still longs for us to commune with Him.  He tells us to, "come to Him continually. I am meant to be the Center of your consciousness, the Anchor of your soul..." (Interpreted from Hebrews 6:19, 1 John 2:28, and Matthew 22:37).  So then why do we turn away?  Why do we ask, "why have you forsaken us?"  Can't we feel His pull?  He knows that, "...our minds will wander from Him, but he asks how far we will allow it to wander. He says that as we drift away from Him, His Spirit within us gives a tug, prompting us to return to Him..." (Interpreted from Hebrews 6:19, 1 John 2:28, and Matthew 22:37).  For being the Lord of all the heavens, He makes this much effort to know us, to walk with us, to be in our every thought; then why do we not long for Him as such?

It says in scripture to thank God for everything.  Even in our troubling times, we should thank Him.  Don't turn away from Him for it says; 

"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you.  He will be with you; He will never fail you nor abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:8 

"[He] loves us at [our] darkest" Romans 5:8. 

All He asks is the same from us. Our God is alive, with us, and within us. How lucky and blessed are we! Praise God!! Our Lord knows of our suffering as He too has suffered from our transgressions.  How do we then justify not praising such a loving, forgiving, and merciful Lord?  So today my friends, please join me in singing His praises:

"Bless the Lord oh my soul, oh my soul, worship His holy name.

Sing like never before, oh my soul, I'll worship Your holy name.

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning; it's time to sing Your song again.

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me, let me be signing when the evening comes.

Bless the Lord oh my soul, oh my soul, worship His holy name.

Sing like never before, oh my soul, I'll worship Your holy name."  

     

Walk in the park?

Ever wished following the right path of the Lord would be easy?  I mean, we believe right.  So why do we have to struggle so much?  Why can't we simply wake up and be perfect human beings who are loved and cherished by God?  Aha!  But you are loved and cherished by God my dears.  God can't love us anymore than how much He loves us right now in this moment, and every moment thereafter.  It is us, mere humans, who believe we have to do certain things to earn God's love and mercy.  When all that God wants is to have us follow Him.  Have us look for Him in everything.  Have us trust in Him.  But it isn't so easy is it?  It isn't easy to follow Him, look for Him, and or trust Him.  As following Him, looking for Him, and trusting Him requires us to change our ways.  So it isn't always a walk in the park for most of us.  However God isn't seeking perfection from us.  

So what does it take to follow God?  It takes each of us picking up our crosses each and every day and walking right beside Him.  You can take the phrasing picking up a cross however you feel it applies to you.  As for some it could be giving up drugs, whilst for others it could be not lying.  Neither of which is easy for the person having to give it up.  Trying to change who you are or have become doesn't happen over night and sometimes not at all.  So those that do it, and make it through, they do indeed pick the heavy burden of their cross and walk alongside God.  As they decided that being one with God, and having the mercy of His grace is more significant to them then their additions.  

Now what does it take to look for God in everything?  This sort of becomes that little voice on your shoulder that tells you to do something or not do something.  In this scenario what ends up happening is, your willingness to put aside what you want and putting in the forefront your desire to seek God.  This could be; not purchasing new shoes and instead buying a meal for a homeless person, or giving up on a fancy meal for yourself to get someone a blanket to sleep in on the streets.  Your eagerness to pursue God in place of worldly things are certainly noticed by the Almighty. 

Finally, what does it take to trust the Lord?  This is the hardest, as it requires complete surrender to His will. By far this is what most everyone struggles with as we feel we are independent and can handle whatever comes at us.  What we fail to realize is that our independence, strength, courage and determination that it takes to get anything done comes from Him.  So if instead of relying on our own understandings, we gave it to God, it would please Him so much.  For he says:

"...I divided time into days and nights so that you would have manageable portions of life to handle.  My grace is sufficient for you, but its sufficiency is for only one day at a time.  When you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy frame.  You stagger under this heavy load, which I never intended you to carry...Enjoy My presence continually by trusting Me at all times."

Interpretation from; Matthew 6:34, 2nd Corinthians 12:9, and Psalm 62:8

So my dear friends, don't stress yourself about doing everything the right way to please God.  Doing everything correctly is not a walk in the park and don't forget God doesn't expect perfection from us.  He simply wants us to follow Him, look for Him, and trust Him.  May He guide us to do His will as commanded. Amen!!

Believing v. Trusting

To believe means to accept something as true; or feel sure of the truth of.  Well in that sense I believe in flying reindeer, unicorns, leprechauns, big foot, and ninjas to name a few. However, is believing in something enough? Kids believe in Santa Clause, until the day they catch their dad placing gifts under the tree.  So I ask, is believing in God enough?  Is believing He exists and is here for us through everything sufficient? Hmm...as you probably guessed, we'll evaluate it.

Consider the scenario where you have hit bottom, and you find yourself between the rocks and a hard place. There is no family and or friends around.  Correction; family and friends are there, yet you feel so ashamed that you cannot turn to them for help.  As the last time you had reached this level, they helped you through it. They found you work, a home, and stabilization.  Yet you left it all behind to feed your habit.  Now you find yourself in the position you were in, but know or at least feel they aren't going to be there for you as before.  You are living out your car, and stand at the side of the road everyday with a sign that reads, "Need money for food.  Don't use drugs.  Anything helps!"  Unfortunately only a few seem to believe the middle sentence of your sign and do not feel empathy for your situation.  Night after night you crawl up under an old jacket in your car and cry yourself to sleep.  Your shoes are so worn out that they have holes.  Even in this situation, when someone gives you money, you quickly spend it on your habit instead of putting food in your belly, or getting yourself a hot drink to keep you warm.  How did I get here you ask yourself.  You remember the good days and the message of God you received while recovering the last time.  The message that said to believe in God and His mercy.  You repeat to yourself, that I believe in God, He will help me through this. You say, I believe in His word and His mercy.  Over and over you say this, yet as soon as you have more money you are on the streets looking for a buy.  Why isn't God helping me through this.  I keep saying I believe.  Why isn't my situation changing...

It's not to say that God isn't listening to your belief in Him, if you do indeed believe and aren't just chanting the words. He wonders whether you actually trust him with your situation or believe only in the words you keep repeating.  For He wants you to feel the difference between believing in Him and trusting in Him.  What is the difference?  The difference is that when you truly trust in the Lord, you surrender to His will and then through His grace you're changed from the inside out.  Believing is good, don't think that it isn't.  It's simply not enough.  First step is to believe.  Second step is to trust.  In the first step you get God's attention to yourself.  In the second step you allow Him to work within you and help you.  In the first step you cast away sins.  In the second step you put God above everything else.  Think for a second about the person you love and trust most in the world.  Then amplify that love and trust by an unimaginable number, the highest digits possible.  That is how much our God almighty loves and cherishes us.  When we fall rock bottom and think we don't deserve better, He waits on us and calls us to Him.  He asks us to:

"...Lean on, trust, and be confident in Me.  When you lean on Me. for support, I delight in your trusting confidence..." Interpretation from Proverbs 3:5 and Isaiah 30:15 

"[Now] faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence if things not seen." 

Hebrews 11:1

    

Off with organized religion...

Whether you attend a Christian church, Muslim mosque, Hindu temple, or Jewish synagogue; the message received is often the same.  The message of serving God, worshiping God, being grateful to God, love and peace...  But then they begin to add things.  Religious prayers, religious ceremonies, how many times to bow, how many times to wash up, when you can't pray, when you can pray, etc.  Have you noticed how religion puts boundaries on your communion with God?  Do these religious buffs practice what it is they preach?  Do these so called pious people lead by example?  Are their lives reflective of God's beauty?  Or does it represent what God condemns.  Think about it for a hot second!  

The love for all and hatred for none message preached, where does it go when it comes time for application of the principle?  The non-judgmental acceptance they speak of, where is it outside the four walls of their establishments?  I am not asking anyone to abandon it all and seek God.  But as for me, I am abandoning it/them all and seeking the kingdom of God!!  My aim is to bring to light what is preached v. what is practiced, so that everyone can see for themselves what religion was at one point in time, what purpose it served, and what it is now; allowing people to make an informed decision for themselves.  Am I an expert on the topic?  No.  However I know enough to educate as many as I can, so that they open their eyes to the truth all around them.  

Religion is defined as an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence.  It once brought people together in harmony to stand against empires that oppressed them.  People stood on a belief bigger than what they could see.  A belief of something better than what they had.  A belief in a God so mighty who would bring them out of the darkness and into the kingdom of heaven.  Religion stood for something then.  Alas, it isn't so anymore.  What happened one may ask.  People are fallible.  Worshiping prophets, instead of God.  Worshiping idols created by man, rather than the true Lord.  Focusing on the cultural systems, in place of the Almighty.  Preferring to care and impress world views, as a substitute to impressing the God who created us.  That's what happened.  

So out the window goes love, and down the toilet goes peace.  As the world grew, powers established, new empires built, a staleness came upon religion.  A state of stagnant disposition.  Freedom of religion came into effect, allowing for worldly views and cultural systems to take hold and put on the back burner the faith in God.  Consider how previous empires were shaken to the roots.  By people like us, standing against them, their teachings, their oppression as a group.  Not by going along with whatever is said and done by the majority.  Ever wonder why this blog is titled awaken world?  It's because in our dormant state we have lost sight of the message of our God Lord Almighty.  The message of love, acceptance, forgiveness, and peace.  For it is written:

"And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.  We love Him because He first loved us."

1 John 4:16, 19  

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

John 5:24

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9

"You will keep him perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3

Consider what Jesus, Mohammed, Ram, and Moses would say to their religious followers if they walked the earth today?  Ashamed is God of us!  As He should be.  We have turned our backs to Him who created us and gave us the heaven and the earth.  We make rules up in our said religions as it suits us.  We judge those who don't follow the guidelines made up by man.  I trust only my God to judge me and my belief.  Off with organized religion and join me in laying down our lives for the one and only God!  The God who loves us so, that He knows every hair on our body.  The God that accepts us so, that He knows us each by our name. The God that forgives us so, that He covers all our sins.  The God that gives us peace, for He wants us to unite in harmony and worship Him and no one else.  Open your eyes and see Him!  

"I am nearer than you think, richly present in all your moments.  You are connected to Me by Love-bonds that nothing can sever...Ask me to open your eyes so that you can find Me everywhere...Faith is the confirmation of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, perceiving as real facts what is not revealed to the senses."

Interpretation from; Acts 17:27-28 & Hebrews 11:1  

Can the real God please stand up!

When you first open your eyes in the morning, and when you last close your eyes at night, what is the thought in your head?  Could be; worries about the next day, how you will be able to pay the electric bill, whether you will have a good day at work or will you be stressed again, will that lady in production be mean to you again, will you have enough money for dinner, why everything happen all at once, why you don't have enough money, why are your children not as behaved as others, why your love is not as strong, why don't they understand, how will you be able to get up in time, when will sleep come....?

Worries after worries.  Negative after negative thoughts.  Failure after failure.  

In your anguish you turn to many idol things; family, friends, coworkers, money, tarot cards, palm readings, hypnosis, lottery tickets, gambling, envy, anger, pride, wrath, etc.  Every day the same every night restless. Over and over you ask what's happening and why.  Yet no answer comes to you.  Your worries grow, and you begin watching your horoscope daily, as if that held the key somehow of how your day will turn out. You feel imprisoned in your own body.  You shake your fists at the heavens above for your bad fortune. Never once do you consider that perhaps you are relying on those people, things, objects, that can't help. You continue on your path of idolatry.  What, who, me??  I am not an idol worshiper.  Am I?  Unfortunately we all are in one way or another when we start focusing our attention on everything in this world, and not on our God.  We place our need for money, our self esteem and pride, our assets; houses, cars, bank accounts, all above our love and desire to commune with God Almighty.  In that sense, the money, the self, the house, the car, all become idols we begin to worship.  For it is written:

"Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father (God) is not in him.  For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father (God) but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

1 John 2:15-17       

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth."

Matthew 6:24

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?"

Luke 9:23-25

Let these words touch your body, mind and soul.  Every single day, in every prayer, I ask God to use me as His tool, to glorify His name, to serve His purpose; to give me the strength and courage to continue in my worship of Him.  Yet I still catch myself admiring my own worth and value and yearning for worldly things.  I realize what I ask is not straightforward or uncomplicated.  Yet I must ask you my friends, to take up the cross daily.  To turn to the one being who can truly relieve you of your worries, troubles, sorrows, and failures.  Can the real God please stand up, so that we, the unworthy can gaze upon Your glorious face till our days are done and beyond!  Can the real God please stand up and let us, the unholy, set You apart from everyone and everything else! Can the real God please stand up and let Your children's voices be heard over the cries of those engaged in blasphemy!  Thank You Lord, my God, my everything, for Your blessings, Your mercy, Your forgiveness, and Your love...   

"For when you seek Me instead of the world's idols, you experience My joy and peace.  These intangibles slake the thirst of your soul, providing deep satisfaction.  The glitter of the world is tinny and temporal.  The light of My presence is brilliant and everlasting.  Walk in the Light with Me.  Thus you become a beacon through whom others are drawn to Me." (Interpretation from; Exodus 20:4-5 and Samuel 22:29)

The light at the end of the tunnel...

You find yourself in a dark place with no way out.  You seem to be walking in all directions, and every which way you turn the darkness seems to grow instead of lesson.  You get exhausted and sit down against the dark walls.  You feel doomed and forsaken.  You first ask why you?  Then you curse the gods for your situation.  You even bargain for your release.  No matter what you say or seem to do, you simply can't find your way...

But wait, what is that shimmer?  Right there, in that far corner of your eye.  You see it, but it seems far far away.  You tell yourself that you must try though. So you pull yourself back up and start going towards what seems to be a shimmer just in the corner of your eye.  Is this even real you ask.  Or have you been in the darkness too long that your eyes are playing tricks on you.  But it is certainly something, so you keep heading in the direction you feel the shimmer of light is coming from.  Slowly, carefully you step forward, one foot in front of the other.  Simply trusting what you feel is your instinct.  Is the shimmer getting brighter you think?  You rub your eyes roughly. You squint and then open them up wide.  It can't be...but it is. Yes, you see some light.  You now pick up your pace.  Though you can't see where you're stepping, you begin to run towards the light.  Why is it taking forever to reach it?  Can't give up now.  Your legs begin to tire out and you start wondering if you're seeing something that truly isn't there. Is it an oasis?  It seems as real as your breath, and as real as the feet under you.  You feel you can reach out and touch it but every time you stretch out your hand, it is just a bit beyond your reach. Yet you keep moving forward.

After what seems like hours, or maybe even days, you see the light getting brighter.  How long have you been walking?  Why are you not thirsty?  Why are you not hungry?  What's going on here you wonder.  Okay, you say to yourself.  My mind has got to be playing tricks on me.  To gather yourself, your thoughts, and your mind, you sit back down.  This time when you sit, you begin to talk.  You don't at first realize what you're doing as there is no one else there in the darkness, and in the depths of this hell you are in. Yet it feels like you're talking to someone who's sitting right next to you.  You begin to say, 'where am I God?  Is it You who is showing me this light?  This light that I have been following for so very long and can't reach.  Is it even real God?  What's going on here?  How long have I been in the dark? What do I do?'  You sit there waiting for a reply.  When none seems to come you begin to get up, but you can't feel your feet.  Then as if the voice is emanating from within you you hear the words, "Let Me show you My way for you this day.  Concentrate on staying close to Me.  Through communing with Me, you transfer your heavy burdens to My strong shoulders.  Discipline your thoughts to trust Me as I work My ways in your life.  Pray about everything; then leave outcomes to Me.  Do not fear My will, for through it I accomplish what is best for you. Take a deep breath and dive into the depths of absolute trust in Me." You are left sitting there in shock and in wonder. You dare not move, as if you're frozen still right where you are.  You contemplate the words you heard in your heart and soul. Right then as if it wasn't even in your control, you kneel and begin to pray like you never have before.  You say;

'Oh my Lord, I hear You.  I hear Your blessed voice speaking to me.  Lord though I am not worthy, You have chosen to seek me out and speak to me personally.  Thank you Lord. My God, in this time of darkness of mine, I come to you with arms wide and heart abandoned.  I need You more than I have ever needed anything else in my life Lord.  Nothing else matters to me except Your will, Your guidance, and Your forgiveness.  Whether it is today when I am lost in the darkness, or tomorrow when I am joyful.  You are what I need.  Lord guide me to the right path.  The path that leads me out of this place and into Your light.  For without You I am nothing and will be lost in here for ever.  You are the one who led me thus far, and You alone can bring me out of here. Please Lord, help your humble servant.  Amen!'

After praying these words, you get up and look above you, then ahead of you.  Though it is still dark and you cannot see your own hand, you feel you know the way as you aren't alone now.  You feel energized though the situation you are in has not changed any.  One step after another you move ahead.  Each step with more conviction and more determination.  With each step you praise God. You don't know how long you do this but it no longer feels like eternity. You're smiling throughout your walk and feel a joy inside that you cannot understand. Then there it is.  One more step and you will be standing tall in the light.  You hesitate for only a moment, not knowing what awaits you, and then in the name of God you take your last step into the light and you allow it to engulf you.  How great is our God you say.  Thank you Lord for hearing my pleas for help!
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Know in your heart that this too shall pass.  Whatever troubles you're finding yourself in, whatever issues you are facing, whatever bills you cannot pay; Entrust the Lord with your burdens and then trust His will for the outcome.  That light at the end of the tunnel does exist and it's His everlasting love for us and His forever presence in our lives.

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Therefore if God makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

John 8:32, 36