With You Always

On the same day I submitted the previous post, I found myself surrounded but astoundingly alone. I was stranded on an island of depression and as much as I thought I had in common with those around me, they were powerless to reach me, since they were powerless to understand. The next morning while driving to work, I was playing through songs on my phone and came across this blessing that I hope to minister tomorrow. It was a timely blessing (and reminder) for me and I hope it is for you as well.

I Love Y'all
SLC 


With You Always

Lead Me From Me To You

I was making the mistake last night of having a conversation with myself. While that may not be bad all the time, last night it was. I was thinking about the lease on a building, my classes, the increased workload on my job, the roof, the oil change, Elijah’s graduation, my class reunion, and my desire to relocate to Georgia. SLC and I were talking about some of these things; primarily those that need to be taken care of this week. I told myself, “You can handle it. You’re just overwhelmed.” I immediately heard Psalm 61:2; the second part that says, “When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Just between you and I, I’m a pretty smart guy. I am very resourceful. Need something fixed? I can do it, even if I have never done it before. I’m a man’s man. I don’t like taking about what’s broke, I like fixing it. This smartadicity (new word I just made up) is my biggest problem, and it was my biggest problem last night.

I mean if I am overwhelmed obviously all my intelligence and resourcefulness is not enough to get me the peace I need. Telling me I can handle it was a somewhat delusional statement when made without acknowledging my dependence on God. In fact I am now convinced God allows some crap to take place things not too work out as planned when my smart self plans without praying and acknowledging him.

So as I hear this familiar scripture again, for the first time, I think I understand it a little bit better.

It starts, “From the end of the earth I will cry to You”, meaning know matter where I go, or how high I get I will always acknowledge your role in getting me there and keeping me there.

Next it says, “When my heart is overwhelmed”. Heart actually means and includes mind, so as smart as I think I am, I will reach a point of mental futility equivalent to brain freeze, which can lead to mental and physical exhaustion.

Finally, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”. Jesus said to Simon, “thou art Peter”. Peter means small stone. Thou art ___________, a small stone. Then Jesus said, “Upon this Rock I will build my church.” This rock is not a small stone, but a Bedrock or a large foundational stone that you can build on.

So when my small stone of a mind has exhausted all of its resources, remind and lead me to the ultimate source of all peace; the foundation upon which my faith, hope and life is built.

Now I know what they meant when I was a child when they said, “You know Too Much”.

Thank God now I know Him.

See y’all real soon.

PRESS!

I love blogging, sharing, and the Word of God; in reverse order. But as anyone reading this can tell, the blogging aspect of my sharing has been woefully neglected. There’s a reason for that, but there are no excuses. I am married……with four kids……active in ministry…..trying to resurrect or pursue a more active role in music……and I am trying to complete a degree in information technology with a concentration in database administration. Oh yeah, I work for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. These are what occupy major chunks of my 25 hour days. But still, I have know excuses.

When I started blogging with Perspective, it was a way to get a vent while doing something I enjoy, writing, and interacting with people beyond facebook shenanigans. Eventually I started this blog and somehow, whenever people went to my profile, Search Me Lord (SML) is what was listed first. I could blame that on blogger’s tendency to do the unexplainable, but I prefer to blame God.

While perspective is just that, my perspective on current events, Search Me Lord is GOD’s perspective often times of me and by extension others that can identify with some of what I may …… excuse me…. what God may be dealing with me about. This blog is an extension of a call on my life, not a habit. It is a part of who I am based on the will of God not me. When I think of all the things I know I should be doing, I think of Myles Munroe's trip past a cemetery. He was driving and God said, "most of them never became who I called them to be". Ouch!

So there should be a minimum of two relevant posts per month on SML. No junk postings, just so I can say I posted something. Posts like the one I never wrote for Easter titled “Don’t waste it. Celebrating the resurrection but living an un-resurrected life.” Or the post that I never wrote titled, “SHUT UP. Learning How to Argue From Jesus’ Example” (I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply. For I am waiting for you, O LORD. You must answer for me, O Lord my God. Psalms 38:14-15). I have a blogger friend (not you) that really needs to stop validating haters with her constant rebuttals. (But Jesus held his peace Matthew 26:63a)

This is a calling I can no longer neglect, so it’s time for me to press through all of my (in)valid reasons for complacency. See y’all real soon.

SLC

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

WHAT WILL YOUR PRISON PRODUCE?

Some of the best advice I have ever received came from an inmate. I don’t know about you, but I have known some people to go into prison a hell raise and come out a priest, a preacher, the Dalai Lama, monks. Although I have never spent any time behind bars, I know there have been times, and there are times where I feel like a prisoner. A prisoner of circumstance. On these occasions, I turn to the writings of my favorite inmate Paul.

He tells me stuff like;

Romans 8:31......... "If God be for us, who can be against us?

Colossians 3:2............ "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:23.......... "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,...

Romans 8:18............ "...consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Romans 8:37............ "Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Philippians 4:13................"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Ironically Paul wrote many of his letters from prison, producing the majority of the New Testament in less than ideal conditions. He allowed his ministry and his growth to prosper in spite of where he was.

Hopefully, the next time I find myself feeling imprisoned by circumstances and the things I have to do now, to pave the way for the things I want to do now, I’m going to take some cues from Paul and make sure my prison produces something that’ll prayerfully bless someone else as Paul has blessed me.

Waiting for parole,

SLC

Keep Reading

When I received this email today I read the first line and thought, "I don't want to hear this". Then I heard it's exactly what you need to hear. Have you ever had that experience before? I knew I had to keep reading even if only because I wanted to stay in my mood. The last thing I need to do is hold on tighter to my funk than to my faith. Y'all pray for me.

Love y'all

SLC

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- February 26, 2010

Beloved, refuse to allow discontentment to encroach on your thoughts, for it most certainly has its roots in bitterness of soul and will make a place for the enemy to work against you. Contentment comes from a position of faith and trusting that I am for you and not against you; that I care for you. Take comfort in knowing that I am with you. Set your sights higher than the

temporary things of the earth. Look heavenly, and renew yourself in the hope of my promises, says the Lord.

2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Edify

Thursday night I went to Lowes for some vertical blinds. It was one of the most valuable trips I had taken in a long time. With the start of the school year and the day-to-day drama of raising four boys (ages 12, 11, and 4) and one 9 year old woman, life has been good. But life, even when good can be a little draining. My trip to Lowes resulted in me being edified. I checked the dictionary but I think my definition is good enough.

Edify – build up

That’s it. The whole thing. When I get a few 100 more words I’ll publish the SLC Dictionary but for now this one word is it. My edification had been coming through blogs like yours, but sometimes that life thing doesn’t give me the time to stop and check in with my blog family. But Thursday night at Lowes I ran into Eric and his wife of 22 years. I met Eric 20 years ago when I though he was radical, crazy, and to be avoided. When I saw him I was hesitant to speak since I wasn’t sure if he was still the combustible individual I once knew. Much to my surprise he had changed. Much to my benefit he was full of Godly wisdom and without me complaining about any of the trivial issues that had drained me, his conversation edified me. It strengthened me and pulled me out of a three day funk; much to the delight of my immediate family. I can say I should not have needed that encounter but then I would have to ask the question, why am I in the Body of Christ? If a part of my body aches, another part of my body, usually my hand takes care of it. In the same way, when I am down, another member of the Body edifies me.

So with that, I’d like to say thanks to Eric, and thanks to whoever is reading this. Something you have posted on your blog, or some comment you have made here has had a greater impact on my world then you will ever know. I pray that I can fight a little harder next time, but if not God will send someone to Lowes, or send to one of your blogs to get the edification I need. And prayerfully, I’ll be able to do the same for some of you.

Thanks for edifying me.

SLC (Inspired by Feels like home…) Thank Sis. I needed that…..

Can You Hear Me Now

I recently read something about the noise involved in writing. Specifically anything that interfered with the receiver clearly hearing and understanding what was written. I immediately thought about my relationship with God and the noises that life can throw at you. I also thought of the cell phone commercial where the guy did everything he could do to try and get a clear signal, while he kept asking, "can you hear me now?"

When life gets hectic there is nothing like being able to hide away with God in prayer. Especially the kind of prayer in which I keep my mouth shut for most of it.

My example:

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,
Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a
solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

A little voluntary solitary confinement does a person good.

Love y'all.
SLC