tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47338399953185044412024-03-04T23:37:20.856-06:00David N. Roberts23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-56270476410016463792012-03-13T11:32:00.000-05:002017-01-22T11:14:45.754-06:00We've moved...We've moved to http://restorationhouse.com. You will be automatically forwarded in just a few seconds.<br />
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If you are not forwarded automatically, click here: http://restorationhouse.com<br />
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<META HTTP-EQUIV="refresh" CONTENT="5;URL=http://restorationhouse.com">Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-70750187449649556182011-06-06T12:53:00.006-05:002011-06-06T13:04:29.451-05:00What's inside an Onion?As we walk in uprightness and honesty, we find ourselves (God) peeling back the layers of our lives like an onion. With travailing pain, more is peeled away, and yet the core becomes approachable and more simplistic. We embrace Truth. If an onion is peeled back far enough, it disappears and there is No-Thing. Take No Thought (No-Thing) about what you should wear or take no thought about tomorrow for it will take care of itself.<br />
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click the following link if you can't see the video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=worKJEaJLoQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=worKJEaJLoQ</a><br />
<object height="286" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/worKJEaJLoQ?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/worKJEaJLoQ?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="286" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-45473349738762626442011-03-07T21:07:00.000-06:002011-03-07T21:07:40.088-06:00Lonely, I know it very, very well...Lonely, I know it very, very well...<br />
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Well, it's been about 9 months since I've written much, and it's been by design. I'll share more about the timing at another time. At the end of the summer of 2009 (August), we purchased another video camera, having the desire to blog through means of video. <br />
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Well, here is my first 'Vlog' (video blog). It's very important to my relationship with God, that I be as honest, open and willing as possible, with every aspect of my life. My prayer for you is that you find some value as I journal my relationship with God, but I must confess, everything I do is for myself and my relationship with God... My full intentions are to continue being real, honest and naked (of course, since it's a video, I promise to keep my clothes on, haha). If there is any light in me, I am fully persuaded that the light does its own evangelizing. Please enjoy and feel free to dialogue, make comments, or ask questions. My intention is not to lord over you, telling you how you should live, but rather, I am reporting where I am. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XWnk7P9CySE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-933951852545175622011-01-23T18:20:00.002-06:002011-01-23T18:28:19.843-06:00The Parable of the Car<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SM5Ev2depFdjs5buLbuC4so-Akm1R3q_gQ1_VXqznVfUYVtRPlxWiqq_LV5pCmxprgsuLONZWzla2LmI9mUBgTb7f7lOKk4_k54KABR7_lVdwL4PLZtPAKj2VGUe02qyhtimJSYAMAeI/s1600/traffic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SM5Ev2depFdjs5buLbuC4so-Akm1R3q_gQ1_VXqznVfUYVtRPlxWiqq_LV5pCmxprgsuLONZWzla2LmI9mUBgTb7f7lOKk4_k54KABR7_lVdwL4PLZtPAKj2VGUe02qyhtimJSYAMAeI/s320/traffic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The driver's seat in your car faces forward for a reason; however, there is a small mirror provided, should you decide you need to briefly re-examine something in your immediate past. It's best to stay in your own lane, but side mirrors are provided should you attempt a lane-change or turn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Do not be sad if familiar cars turn from the road you are traveling, never to be seen again. Sometimes driver's decide to pull over and rest, and sometimes cars crash. Cars will come and cars will go but the driver of each car is not the car. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> It can easily become confusing if you believe you are the car. You are the operator within the car, so no matter what model car you sit, you are the observer of everything happening in and around. The car may cease to exist. It is only the part others see with the human eye. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> There are all sorts of cars. There are red ones that go fast and blue ones that have really large tires. There are still others with silver paint and a bed in the back for hauling. There are others still with rust all over and falling apart. No matter the car, it's most important to remember that the car we are looking at is not the person inside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Cheers, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> David </span>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-34335636357884612532011-01-19T07:52:00.000-06:002011-01-19T07:52:52.652-06:00Life is not a practice run...<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div><span style="font-size: small;">This life is not a practice run, with the '<em>real</em>' coming later.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Put yourself out there and <em>be </em>vulnerable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Don't shrink back, run <em>your </em>own race.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The answers come easier when you put yourself out there.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Peace is for <em>YOU </em>today, but <em>you </em>gotta trust.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">You gotta be the one God made you to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Never apologize for being you.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">After all, God's allowed a lot of things to give you that personality.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So, what if someone doesn't like you and this makes you upset?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Have we gotten true love from them and why should we lie?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If someone doesn't accept you, <em>they </em>have the problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">God was thinking about <em>you </em>when <em>He </em>made you.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">He accepts you just <em>as you are</em>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">And now the quest is on to discover just what <em>He </em>sees.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">What do <em>you </em>think that might be?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgw2sxNnMSWyYquQD0K518mFcQJKgxbNs3WuuWTBHxKbAhEbmLHNLkttyKjpAByoXHP44NHi81Qj_WmOSCym1tz4I8QsNwiZFrk0BqTRoogWeHR8PBvN_gT5FekTWVh7Sz8Z5l8pk_kwE/s1600/practice-practice-practice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgw2sxNnMSWyYquQD0K518mFcQJKgxbNs3WuuWTBHxKbAhEbmLHNLkttyKjpAByoXHP44NHi81Qj_WmOSCym1tz4I8QsNwiZFrk0BqTRoogWeHR8PBvN_gT5FekTWVh7Sz8Z5l8pk_kwE/s320/practice-practice-practice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></div>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-54480641737618670812010-04-28T22:08:00.003-05:002010-04-28T22:20:38.409-05:00Am I walking By Faith or In Fear?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wVlp1JgqvW3EdxCBfwJhzNZGZN8tBdsiW5aShojB781B6CLPDLhwnZVsWofFjiQt_IZFnnjgvffwjV_agZTjGHwreA7YqkpWh61VrsodoTGdIwM1asoLax8O5WNQnGdo2zhWllCewXEi/s1600-h/MindChrist%5B3%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="MindChrist" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vgNDrM7yv_oV4BJ25cDVgu-STCSKYb082VZmTEWMKKTs34DKGKp-YBlYOp79HSpY66cN4mSMuKODnWMLErJLiKOpd6OaXCo_NAJKFsR96bo7iTrSy8dBdc0SauCJgGoCTQBSbHyQFUbl/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" title="MindChrist" width="244" /></a> Early in the book of Genesis we find a man and woman, walking in the garden intimately with God. They make a decision that would forever change humanity. Their decision was to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. To ‘eat’ means it was Adam and Eves’ motivation. Their motivation, or intention of their heart was to take care of themselves. They became independent, where they had been totally dependent upon God till this event.<br />
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Prior to the first ‘Declaration of Independence’, they were naked and didn’t even know it. After the event, they were naked and they felt ashamed, trying to cover up. Although God was never in denial about their wardrobe, He didn’t see any of their decision-making as a problem, except for the one thing they were told not to do. God didn’t have a problem with any ‘action’ they would ever take except for the subtle core problem of being independent from Himself. <br />
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God came to The Garden asking one simple question. He asked Adam and Eve the same thing I want to ask you… <strong>“Who told you that you are naked?”</strong> When God asked them this question, He was simply stating an obvious identity perception problem. Adam and Eve, always being naked, weren’t judging themselves (or each other) until their child-like innocence was violated. <br />
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Is it possible to live life, not judging ourselves by our actions? Yes; in fact it’s a supernatural occurrence of walking by faith, born in love. It’s the nature of unconditional love (Love without conditions) that looks past performance and sets focus on identity. If your <em>decision maker</em> is ‘knowledge of good and evil’, you are eating from the same tree as Adam and Eve (The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil). The whole point of Christ living in you is for you to surrender and trust Him, regardless of what it ‘looks’ like. <br />
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The question God asked Adam and Eve was strangely never answered. He asked them “Who told you that you were naked?”, yet God never answered the question. So, let me ask you three questions about your current life and relationships…<br />
<blockquote>Who told 'you' that 'you' were naked? <br />
Who told 'you' that 'they' were naked? <br />
Who told 'them' that 'you' were naked?</blockquote>Light exposes everything. <em>Trying</em> to <em>‘become something or someone’</em> is walking in the power of sin (fear). It’s the covering up, using anything other than Grace that derails the experience of ‘Truth’ already finished in you. <br />
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I Am, <br />
David <br />
view this blog and many more at <a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</a> or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-59627610000244159632010-04-14T12:52:00.001-05:002010-04-14T12:52:19.764-05:00A little understanding please…<p></p> <p>When things go ‘right’ we give thanks to God and are all happy and stuff.  Why weren’t you happy when things were going differently than you had hoped?  This deserves prayerful consideration. </p> <p></p> <p>Most of us are thankful when things go ‘right’.  Few are actually happy in all situations.  I mean, genuinely happy in all things.  Pretending doesn’t count.  Having a mental disorder doesn’t count either. </p> <p></p> <p>The only thing that counts is finding your identity in Christ alone, and this comes from being honest, open and willing.  Out of this simple revelation, everything you ever need will flow; EVERYTHING.   </p> <p></p> <p>My question is:  Why is it such a stretch for us to embrace a new plan, outside the plan we had secured our identity?  When you didn’t get the promotion, parking spot, or job- why is it that we are slow to understand one of the most simple truths about God and our relationship with Him?  How about bigger things?  What about when your political ideology isn’t winning, or your child is killed in an accident, or when you lose another loved one or friend; or worse still, if you receive a bad report from the doctor.   </p> <p></p> <p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywa3Aed-g1eXBQQf-tKtUOmw3PcEp3HJqzm-ZpFh4PrqlbEkSU0I6WUfpvnFeTT6_7yW_6VM9UnGHuyWjjwwrWEj4AVl8WC-KggT9NkSYutSBPgJMPu75hJVfWwjmMW-UQ3KtSJMBCLiE/s1600-h/blueprint%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="blueprint" border="0" alt="blueprint" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfOKuMnfcPiZsKIIJkCMBHPNEqc6JQCIIGS6GSwME0UW0u_iud8_c9BtO9SBlYpIvbeUansYOAFUnyob_8pi5GpLEoCIubu-5VdKgGVktYDw0xm8oyNneAfq2JqOm5s8_aAmTiNgk4STy/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="163" /></a> The answer is simple- far too simple for most of our educated minds to comprehend so I’m not going to attempt explaining it:  I’m simply going to state it, and you can do with it whatever you wish.  Do you remember the scripture in Jeremiah, the one about God’s ‘plans for us’ (‘thoughts toward us’ in KJV) ?  We all know it by heart.  It’s Jeremiah 29:11, and the NIV reads, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  In this passage, nowhere does it say that ‘I’ know the plans ‘He’ has for ‘me’.  It says that ‘He’ has a plan for ‘me’.  God isn’t secretive and <em><u>will</u></em> tell you His plan, but you’ve got to be willing to hear the answer; and it probably won’t make any worldly sense.  God deeply desires to take you from glory to glory.  This process means you <em>will</em> be let down, and disappointed at times.  If glory is being given to God, recognize that God is having an intervention- and you are the target of His affections.  Open your heart to what God is saying. </p> <p></p> </p> <p>Abraham, the father of our faith, considered God’s instructions, and was obedient; offering up his child, the only means of fulfilling God’s promise.  He was obedient to a proceeding word from God.  Faith without works is dead.  If your eyes of understanding are opened, you will hear what the Spirit is saying. </p> <p></p> <p>It’s by the word of <em><u>your</u></em> testimony <em><u>and</u> </em>the blood of the lamb that you overcome.  What you are going through is part of your own unique testimony and IS very important.  Everything about what you are going through is important.  How you got to this place (emotionally and physically), what you feel about it, what your hopes and dreams are (and were), and your present reality ‘now’; all are important (but they are not permanent).  Trusting God means your perception will change into His perception.  The revelation you receive, Truth, is permanent.  <em><strong>God is actively arranging and making changes in your life to bring you into a place you are already in, Him.</strong></em>  Embrace the flow of life.  This doesn’t set aside the grace of God- for if your testimony is all there is, Christ died in vain.  </p> <p></p> <p>I Am, <br />David <br />view this blog and many more at <a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</a> or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a></p> Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-32181036481608777082010-04-13T15:14:00.003-05:002010-04-13T15:35:31.100-05:00Why am I going through so much?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCVZUPdgf4VzyjpxYFFWLMV996VYccmmqR7jLzGfpxPfribhw7iZSwDyN-gGvOA4UW86vAPNx5reDOJKtOKMJiRuyyLiuWAP2B80EMZxi0J8khHdRYjxrKoDsPY3d9_9liQML4mGukgj6/s1600-h/breakbread%5B3%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="breakbread" border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0VQuHix6UR-DKDlvBudYOOXik392wsq1egExR8GNX8mWSbaIyJ9ckwaH8f0OE1o6ijg3i7G6eZN-R0ZvDnvjyyC7OoM9EN_mfgyibajLXAzmdqz-WtmZrPnNPRyNMVM0dTuXdjvNVZmU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" title="breakbread" width="244" /></a> When things don’t work out as hoped, and nothing can be done, God may be changing ‘me’. Sooner or later we understand that resistance is futile. God is the one behind my being let down and broken hearted. God is breaking ‘me’. My ‘knee’ is bowing. There is no such thing as every knee not bowing and every tongue not confessing. EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.<br />
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Your trouble (situation) may mean that <em>it’s your turn</em>. Your knee is bowing and tongue needs to start confessing. We know that faith without works is dead. What this simply means is… When we ‘connect’ with God, faith is formed. This always requires a response. Sometimes it’s to allow something to be changed within ourselves and sometimes it’s an outward expression. You can rest assure that there is always a response. There will always be a ‘<em>tongue’</em> confession. <br />
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At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and passed it for consumption. The bread was first taken, then He gave thanks and broke it, then given to others (Luke 22:1-23). His actions mirror a recurring theme throughout all the scripture (and all creation). There is a very important message being spoken with His actions. First, we recognize receiving Christ and His broken body. We receive Him as “The Bridge” of death burial and resurrection, paying the way for us. Secondly, as God wills, we experience something much greater, much deeper. We begin to experience Christ in us. We start to understand that He lives in us. We see that it’s in Him that we live and move and have our being. We see our new identity. Further, being one with Him, we see we are the bread being broken and given to the world. <br />
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You don’t have to be confused with all the pain experienced in life… God lives in you and loves you. Christ is saying to the Father ‘Thank you for those given to to Him (you)’- and just like the bread, must be broken before it can be given out. It’s when you are weak that you are strong. When given out, you’re given to the world as light and salt. To resist is futile. Trust God- His surgical skills surpass all others. His sword is sharper than any knife… <br />
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I guess the only sad part is that this type surgery is that He doesn’t anesthetize you while cutting. There is a joy set before us. Go in peace and allow God’s finished work to change you. <br />
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I Am, <br />
David <br />
view this blog and many more at <a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</a> or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-40786212773178984832010-03-24T17:55:00.008-05:002010-03-24T18:13:29.158-05:00Are we a Christian Nation?What I have on my heart is pretty sensitive and my intention is not to stir up trouble. It is; however, to speak the truth in love, letting the chips fall where they may. <br />
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This whole business about healthcare in the USA and what political ideology is ‘right’ is a manifestation of our more serious problem. Take a look at "<em>my version</em>" of Matthew 16:1-4: <br />
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<blockquote>Matthew 16:1-4 <sup>1</sup> Then the Republicans and Democrats came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. <sup>2</sup> He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, <i>‘It will be</i> fair weather, for the sky is red’; <sup>3</sup> and in the morning, <i>‘It will be</i> foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot <i>discern</i> the signs of the times. <sup>4</sup> A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.</blockquote><br />
Maybe we are like this scripture? Maybe we don’t understand the face of spiritual matters because we are so locked into being ‘right’. We have a god set as an idol above God. The problem can't be addressed corporately because it is being adressed individually first. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_Gu7e2NJ4aFpePwkbVD3DvW88k9DzhVv0nMvD6JtLfQNoE4yMYfNXS1o1EINPpB2_krVCQ7VQmaohQn5b7vs5_ytw2fwus4S59QIIQWCIqm-EcDHleU0k7gNLHi10R1Iu39xSw11wBE3/s1600-h/repdem%5B3%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="repdem" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3CBngGU5HW_PINxGXWV8rQjMhQSF2QR52E0T6Yb-pRqA4XD07D-335rWSvSENCrun-jXT24j-pq-ee7acDUosvNpUFnCRVRsh7SuAUaFJa_zzrKiV84AlcCT1t0H6Oyc9_m83qH6Ebwp/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" title="repdem" width="236" /></a>In the first place, this country is not a Christian nation. It may be founded along Christian truth; and by Christians, with Christian founding fathers and founding documents. None of those things qualify us to claim we are a Christian nation. A country can’t be Christian. For someone to say a country could be a Christian country proves you think being a believer is about following rules and performance. You are right that it’s about performance but it’s about God’s performance, when He performed perfectly through His Son. God’s saves people, individually, not our man made organizations (even if they are God led when they were started). <br />
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Secondly, if you think your party or ideology is on God’s side, you have an idol as described just above. There is no side in this world, on any topic that God is for or against. God is desiring you to choose His side, and His side isn’t based in meteorological patterns and whether it’s going to rain or not. Those worshiping God must do so in Spirit and Truth. Neither are based in this world. Sounds foolish? It’s supposed to sound foolish to your natural man. That’s why the invitation is to step out in faith to trust Him. Trust Him like Jesus did… when He was asleep in the bow of the boat, in the middle of a huge storm. <br />
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Reread the referenced scripture. Let your spirit guide you and decide for yourself if you think it’s worth sacrificing your intimacy with God to be ‘right’. <br />
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We all desire a nation we can safely raise our children, and without unreasonable intervention from our government into our personal lives. Because we desire these things doesn’t give us permission from God to allow things of this world to effect us by making us anxious and worried. <br />
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Isn’t it just possible that God is allowing all our troubles to reveal our own lack of trust in God? The anxiety is coming from worry, and things not working out like we wanted. When a baby does it, it's called a tantrum. Someday we'll leave childish ways and grow up in the Lord, but for now, let's just see if we can learn what God is teaching. I am available if you need to talk. <br />
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Now, if you can be honest with yourself and keep it before God, I think you should do whatever is in your heart. But, if you think God is taking a side, you’re going to be surprised how this plays out (Joshua 5). <br />
I Am, <br />
David <br />
view this blog and many more at <a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</a> or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-40423584909598188272010-02-26T04:25:00.002-06:002010-02-26T04:27:18.284-06:00H.O.W. to be Happy?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoCyUVK4r29MjNrtoy7CJX2ockFwaniX4muTE6Do-zytKakqkLWqZMhtWFKQz3ilJYU3c5fLRgDhYNz3h8YQVc7P-xi8Twkindc-KQaJ3qY8d8BMJWeVza1fc87biRAbOmuHMb6l53sde/s1600-h/how%5B3%5D.gif"><img align="left" alt="how" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcjqDgWc8JkI-IRIn7-8NG0pJO9uSQynZjiq0_-7mlVpqQx9kPvP_O-pyjdVtZ3ip1PcdVyyprBqy_-tnWWIPuK6G7zwpSbbJnF86OgJhal1VK9S18wIkn68u5yGt58o0Lg9w5qSAnGF3/?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px;" title="how" width="240" /></a> We’re often asked, “How can I make it in Life?”, or “How can I be Happy?” Most people are caught in a cycle of ‘self-actualization’ blinding them from the possibility of living life another way. My search for Truth over the past 20 years or so, has uncovered many “Portals” into the unseen. In this short article I will share how you can be happy. The simplicity of this article <em>may</em> revolutionize your thinking. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-mscL8YnO9uxjwo-nCdztklKC8Vd7YnMikLIb4wgE_fAtJXhZSmK1MqgyZ0FGaxhnzONJcpcYrMZ_pSqmDTC0WbFoOcrWqCni2v1B11wt6J1pLWYXlTwhSNfk1bxp8MFX7Uc4ebDN1eV/s1600-h/H%5B6%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="H" border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mz93HmlSFrAWURQW0Z6uoDm7QWk9Kf2KmwueGOU5nW0zZvWIdTfzcRGg9gcucyvaGphPLy11bUQVrgvBHOHjGwC7m4SgZEpAk9zupsf4Wyya4VAYKuuuKAK-WaVDZ9g08ZBrf7MgMZ9N/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px;" title="H" width="109" /></a> Be Honest with yourself and God. God isn’t impressed when you go to the store, buy a T-shirt that says “I Trust God”, if you don’t. Just be honest. If you are struggling at a moment in time, own that moment. Have the attitude of, “I am struggling with this ____________ that is in me”. The purpose isn’t to take long term ownership of the struggle but to trust God with it. If we confess our struggles, He is faithful and just to forgive us and purify us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6D-y5RI9iJZXJwiWTxhZUThKitMXxbEHuZAjWMAFAVrZ-ZVivuK1HcT02uLuPY42i05LyzYJBWAfuDERdzDvRMespqI40758vINObeNbhB7hvvI3oNgP-IHoq2QH-I9gpVViGjJfjMcT/s1600-h/o%5B3%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="o" border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgJq-kF8gnWsvuHuRs5fF3rImd7uBrmLVMWDULXW8xDRzG5Mx1MUQQ3J_i-7HqIS7_aGtqNt1Fb1kuobbKGedzIn60gporoSI0wspvcmU3ZC5hY1S0k1z5NhST1G15a5mikzwp-8qy3aY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px;" title="o" width="102" /></a> Be Open and allow your present reality to be seen. The real you is the most powerful you. There are all sorts of roles we play, acting as rusty pipes, when compared to the real you. The masks we wear, are little more than garments covering The Light within us. These masks filter our perception of the world, creating a false identity, based in the world. It’s crucial that <em>your</em> story, is <em>your</em> story, and not your neighbors’. There is no such thing as an unimportant history, when concerning any person, regardless of your religious beliefs. You are important, as you are!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglO20a8pfHu2B4Iq7xypDctnK0-mzPJZNMlcLg9FmrT8FShEZV_cvcXBCv8oPL5HEGUm9efhMjQyQJ2-KgVIgb_0TIqTfE12F5AiBzn5f8BM4099uc0L_DLUlUDeOSvvla7QUOVReZU0R3/s1600-h/w%5B3%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="w" border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAvd47wASuAMx5pzUfn_IzEQ0l3yyZd7-Ux562sC0aSCfpY9nS0cHml5K_5qJC9XgfRZGqLEYNEtS5evp9f_cTb-vw55ox-T_mJTORii6bqJ1tT2vrHCxN4_W1tEhpUNmuXSplC6BzimG/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px;" title="w" width="128" /></a> Be Willing to do nothing; or anything. There <em>is</em> one thing God will <em>not</em> do by force; Change your mind. He <em>will</em> allow tragedy in our paths to soften our hearts and just like Pharaoh, send 10 plagues until we let your true self free. True willingness is to lay your agenda down. Now, I’m not speaking of an intellectual willingness, where you take in information and decide whether it ‘fits’ your plans. It’s like a dead fish laying out of water, not flopping around. True willingness gives up complete control to be led by Peace, even though the body wasn’t designed to operate under these conditions. <br />
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If you find yourself resisting change, and you will, don’t sweat it. If anxiety manifests when you’re not in charge, His grace is sufficient; so be honest enough to ask, “H.O.W. can I be happy?”<br />
<blockquote>- Be Honest about resisting God’s leading- it called confession.</blockquote><blockquote>- Be Open about it- don’t hide behind fig leaves like Adam and Eve</blockquote><blockquote>- Be Willing to change your mind- you will be more willing to trust the unseen when you aren’t identifying with the world so strongly</blockquote><br />
Jesus teaches a more reckless abandoned faith than most of us would ever teach or preach. True faith in God will lead you in places you do not want to go. The daily changing of your mind, to rethink and trust in ways foreign to this natural world, is the hardest struggle you will ever face, yet will bring joy unspeakable. In John 21:18 Jesus tells Peter, when he was younger he was able to feed himself and cloth himself, but when he is more mature in his faith, he would be led around with his eyes closed and the Holy Spirit would carry him into places he did not want to go. If your flesh is always agreeing (never offended) with the direction you are going, you probably are not being led by the Spirit; because your body and the Spirit have opposite desires. <br />
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I Am,<br />
David<br />
view this blog and many more at <a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</a> or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-23566843134582916052010-02-22T22:48:00.003-06:002010-02-22T22:56:10.972-06:00My Life’s PurposeThe message God is speaking with my life is to trust God with your whole heart. Studying and living this theme the past 20 years or so, God has revealed much hidden in my own heart, usually by revelation of my own ‘lack of faith’. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmiVOw89qay-g5pbPOuYFnMvhj7DcB2kkkJfyjfSLPm0uCRSTWwFkXN1rgGSQuPuAeaKl8ebGQ1lA9Be9OBLK9Tw1JlG1rKdn9n21EGrXu0hvsWBsh1V1W67gR2AHmZZ2jVnsfgpGExDl/s1600-h/jordan%5B3%5D.gif"><img align="left" alt="jordan" border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhEFFnA9QtZFrpgCTZ4VpjVF_aDvPwzcc9JrGYcl9_lH0XpjR3S-uiCro388YkG8Aj4V28FqOWet9_efdnLe_C3gT-ov5-1jcBXZOGKvbq8VD3cxlLkd1JfodMR6GHcXfTk1rkl3PeTHC/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px;" title="jordan" width="244" /></a>We all <em>intellectually</em> know we are to live in this world but not of it, yet for reasons I’ll explain a little later, I challenge this occasionally, by thinking as I did prior to trusting God. Being in ‘ministry’, I am not immune from falling prey to my old man, even though he’s reckoned dead and crucified with Christ, just as all believers. <br />
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My life’s calling and purpose is primarily demonstrating the contrasting difference between walking by faith and walking by sight; and the simple transition on how to enter His rest. Walking by faith is trusting God. Walking by sight is taking into account things of this world and trusting the information gathered, good or bad.<br />
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Everybody wants a ‘ministry’, and yet it never dawns on us this was the original sin with Adam and Eve starting the first ministry. Don't overcomplicate life. God is Love, pure and simple. Man’s idea of ‘ministry’ and God’s idea of ‘ministry’ are very different. God’s idea of ‘ministry’ is: His constant love flowing through varying methods. Man’s typical idea of ‘ministry’ is: Methods used to accomplish a goal. There are two parts to any ministry; constants and variables. Variables (i.e. where to work, who to marry, where to live, what to say, how to say it) change from time to time and then there’s constants (i.e. God’s Love is unfailing, Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus was crucified taking on the sin of the world and giving His righteousness to His Body), which remain unchanging. To our ‘natural’ minds, it’s natural to take God’s variables and make them our constants, mainly so we’ll know what to expect and remain in control. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Cxiz8joQ7j8Z92fJrotcutMiS70B7ZMUXoADSG7GPHYv4bXcNqUFiL_vhz7uCK7PuK1HIk4bd8H9p1neZB6dogLJlfw7bN1SUJQD0gGI0L276TwEfRk9sBXr0-cixuRRDDLjMLhWzJVT/s1600-h/JMPrune%5B3%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="JMPrune" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLla64wQAOSiG2lxCCGr9wz7oQL_S3Cvs-z6DGrl28c1q_GI-eMwbDepL5QkmjRAgvnkX77o4RCbWWY6Np12XCVZ8xt1GKye4D54lqDwbVzdqSIdTeEKs0PYAd_7IRMMEyo_GTMcup6h83/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px;" title="JMPrune" width="184" /></a>Back to Adam and Eve… God created Adam from the dust and breathed into him life. Then, God planted a garden in the east of Eden. The Lord made many trees pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the Tree of Life and the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Lord commanded Adam, you are free to eat from any tree in the garden but you must not eat from the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. The tree of Life is rooted in Unconditional Love and represents motivation where we are like children, without guile. God never explained why they should not eat from the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. He only said, if you do, you will surely die. The second tree is rooted, or finds our motivation in having our eyes opened to be like God, knowing good and evil. This sounds innocent enough but God didn’t intend on us walking with our eyes opened to sin. <br />
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The sin consciences we feel at times is our old nature which was born out of the original sin, wanting to control our own destiny. Wanting to control situations is directly from the fall of man and unacceptable to God. It’s in all human flesh and for the believer, it was crucified with Christ at cavalry. Even though the flesh man has a will based in knowledge of good and evil, the path God has for His children is to walk by faith in the Son of God, which means to deny the fleshly desires and walk according to the Spirit. <br />
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This is the part that simply blows my mind. There’s perfect freedom in Christ and it’s perfectly okay for you to embrace your present reality. You see, the sin nature (flesh) is not in God’s radar. He’s not trying to fix your behavior. He’s not trying to keep you from thinking certain thoughts and performing certain actions. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a free gift of salvation that He bore your Sin condition on Himself, leaving you without spot or blemish. <br />
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Well, if that don’t get your fire going… your wood’s wet (so to speak)… But there’s more. God actually decided that to seal this deal He needed to give you His Spirit. Now, we traditionally think of having His Spirit as moving in with our Sprit, but from what I am seeing, the good news keeps getting better. In 1 Corinthians 6:17 Paul writes that the one who is joined to the Lord is ONE Spirit with Him. That is saying that your spirit and His Spirit are not separate Spirits. Your true identity is actually God’s Spirit. Over and over, Jesus teaches that He would never leave us or never forsake us. In Romans we find that nothing could separate us from God. You can’t be separated from Him because you and He are ONE. <br />
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I am only just beginning to see that His Love is not complicated, yet His depths are unfathomable. Intellectual minds have difficulty grasping the simplicity of walking by faith, never understanding it's not about following or not following rules. It's simply about being a New Creation. <br />
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One with the Father,<br />
David<br />
view this blog and many more at <a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</a> or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-56622108385909464802010-02-17T22:21:00.003-06:002010-02-17T23:18:01.506-06:00True Love can’t be traded or soldHave you been trapped into thinking you have to earn love? Of all the things we will ever encounter, God made love unique. True love cannot be traded or sold. It can only be given away freely, or received freely. This concept may brings some questions to your mind… hmmm. Let’s consider some thoughts…<br />
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True love, the kind God gives to us and through us, is NOT something that can be grasped, or handled. It is NOT something we can neatly write about, and figure out. True Love is the Power of God, and just like He can’t be captured in a bottle, neither can love. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq1YuDJrzSuCv_Pk0ZwMqQavBc8wmhzzKivxmQ5wt3wWY50KV0Skxb1OyHW3Eb-Fd6IeXTBdYRpmAg_oWykWokUMS9XNkxXNBMzCIpsg79qGOoSqf_w2efNICAMQwZPrpSCOjGiiYdIIx/s1600-h/work4love3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="work4love" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdwXTrleM5vu7DYp8AYp1yHtWjcHsZkOD-jioXPepp8JL9JEPXRsnipXFYStUCH5gXXJIbpf-q8i3mcLmzE3VUcYBXxId8weP5Oxlk7PVyC2PLjv6nZPa3ED7S3nptl7VDQiXTsJKLrq-/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px;" title="work4love" width="244" /></a>Everyone has been taught to work for acceptance and love by the worldly system we live. This includes you because everyone has this same 'system' built into our earth suits. Why don’t we let each other off the hook, and not require each other to work for love. How about just giving love, acceptance? You don't have to agree with everything they say or do, but you can recognize there is a struggling person trapped inside their body, trying to get love in all the wrong places. <br />
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When God clothes us, He does it from the inside, and then it flows out; otherwise, His desire would be for us to follow the law. His desire is not for you to follow the law, but rise above it, walking in love. <br />
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It’s so confusing to the natural mind. We are accustomed to ‘calculating’ our every move. It just doesn’t make sense that all I have to do is trust God, with my fears, hurts and hang-ups; and even the things I perceive as ‘good’. We’re told from birth to ‘do right’ and ‘be moral’. It never dawns on us that if we will lose our minds in Christ, He is quite capable of ‘doing right’ according to Him, and ‘being moral’, according to Him. <br />
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We’ve so overcomplicated how to live as a Christian. It’s simple. When Jesus was asked by a Pharisee what the greatest commandment was, He answered, “<i> ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.</i> <sup>38</sup> This is <i>the</i> first and great commandment. <sup>39</sup> And <i>the</i> second <i>is</i> like it: <i>‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.</i> <sup>40</sup> On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22, NKJV)<br />
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Want an instant stress reliever (warning, it will develop character and humility)? Try looking past actions (even your own) and accepting each other for who they are on our deepest part. Let your self off the 'work for love' hook. Let each other off the hook... Love first, ask questions later. <br />
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I AM, <br />
David <br />
view this blog and many more at <a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</a> or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-22140357967335033422010-02-16T15:34:00.001-06:002010-02-16T15:34:15.574-06:00Get Down to the Core<p></p> <p></p> <p>Your human mind is a picture of your own snare, keeping you from experiencing the abundance of Life God desires for you.</p> <p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4sxsSwf0uO3vGqKlxCECzUt0w0-6smAefj1ZLKyJrc_DC4Z66dAsMqqjeTvjTrrAmQ_zETlQ1pFdVQD3S0bK-EcQD2fsmDsxw9o9X1wxJCRy8ioeGSQ6iLmpKe9YqDnonoyjWZ_Wof7J/s1600-h/onion%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="onion" border="0" alt="onion" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsGHz0gmXod84dqzwFp3HQp-msGQqwJKflejTLaepfipmpgGAwpbaDWuH2GobvRmHZB3Tf7T-hNlbXuSQJUKNvpXA1rYuqliBCurcgFC_sEAZUqjwkQwovyQVlmx6kX5q4xe1MvIp7ic3/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a>Psychologists long have known that most our problems are 'Presenting Problems'.  'Presenting Problems' are simply problems in our lives that are only a small portion of the 'main' problem lying beneath.  As we explore the ‘Presenting Problem’ we peal back to the true fears and motivations of the heart.  Just as an onion is pealed back, we will find the core issue if we are honest and transparent.  </p> <p></p> <p>In order to lay down my burden, I must first identify it.  Man's burden is living based on knowledge of either good -or- evil (fear).</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>No one would argue that their mind is comparable to God’s, and yet, we process information and make decisions like our way of thinking is the only way.  God couldn’t be more clear in His word that His ways are above our ways.  What does ‘above our ways’ mean?  </p> <p></p> <p>- Does it mean that His calculator is faster?  </p> <p></p> <p>- Does it mean that God has all the factors and knows the answer based on more intelligence?</p> <p></p> <p>- Does it mean God is smarter than me?</p> <p></p> <p>Of course, God is all those things, but what God is speaking of is much deeper and more simple.  <em>His ways are above our ways because they come from another dimension.</em>  Tragically, our human minds can’t understand how to transcend it’s own thoughts, because our minds are ‘caged’ within themselves, as long as it’s left unchecked and in charge of our destiny.  </p> <p></p> <p>Our minds are programmed by God, since the fall of man, to walk by sight, sound, feeling and other sensory stimuli.  There is only one way to accept such faith, and that is to deny yourself of the way that comes natural according to the world.  </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Our human lives are meant to reveal the many ‘portals’ into the mind of Christ and ever loving relationship with our Father.  The challenges of life, ‘Presenting Problems’, present themselves to reveal that <em>intellectual answers</em> just won’t cut it.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I Am, </p> <p></p> <p>David </p> <p></p> <p>view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/ </p> Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-55450974767946630842010-02-07T20:33:00.003-06:002010-02-07T20:36:08.916-06:00Avatar, movie review… Why are people committing suicide?<img align="left" src="http://l.yimg.com/eb/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/avatar/avatar_smallteaser.jpg" style="display: inline; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px;" />After hearing several news stories about people committing suicide after watching the movie Avatar, I wanted to see what was all the fuss. After viewing the movie yesterday, I can honestly say that Avatar was the most “On Target” movie I have seen, revealing the Oneness of God and the connectedness of His living spirit with His creation, including His people. There are multiple ways the movie is powerful.<br />
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Avatar is set on the planet Pandora. On Pandora, the native people (the Na’vi) have a unique way of seeing life because they are conscious of their connection to each other and all creation. In the story, the Na’vi, are able to experience and be one with Life (God) while the humans are caught up in living based on the five senses. The planet Pandora isn’t anything unlike Earth. Remarkably; the producer’s creativity, show the storyline simply and clearly revealing the essence of God and the simple way it ‘can’ be with God. When the Na’vi experience Life, they have identified their life source, embracing their bodies as temporary, because they see their life energy within is part of the One Life, God. The message is a Christian message, where our spirit is one with Creator God, whether viewing the movie or not. It’s the message of Christ providing a bridge when He exchanges places with creation. The sad fact is, most Christians are so busy ‘living’ by ‘sight’ we couldn’t find the relevance in the Na’vi’s way of life, as portrayed. <br />
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On Pandora, there is a very valuable mineral, one that people from Earth are doing anything to get. After years of failed relocation negotiations (the valuable minerals are deep beneath the Na’vi’s home), the humans devise a way to grow a DNA altered body (Avatar) that can survive the atmosphere. The host body (Avatar) made by humans can then be remotely lived in by Jake Sully to fully experience the Na’vi’s way of life, being able, to be completely present, with his inner being the whole time. The hope is that if Jake can win the Na’vi’s trust, he can then convince them to leave their home. While becoming intimate with the Na’vi’s ways, Jake is caught in a conflict between the humans and Na’vi. <br />
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The Na’vi, simply by being conscious for their connection to God, demonstrate at least one other powerful truth I wish to speak about. The Na’vi in this story are as the body of Christ in Reality, having one and the same spirit with God Himself. The testimony by the Na’vi is the picture of the Body of Christ’s connection to our God. Their simple, unassuming existence, enlightened Jake, by allowing him to see for himself his connectedness with life and Love from God. While I am not saying this story came straight from the Bible, I am saying that the story is just another picture, a very clear expression of God’s love for us. If you get the chance to see it, I encourage you to do so. <br />
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I Am, David <br />
view this blog and many more at <a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</a> or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a> <br />
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<strong>NOTE:</strong> If you have seen this movie and don’t see the connection, allow me to share a few scriptures to think about. If you have not seen this movie and desire to move more deeply in relationship with God, think about these verses while watching the movie: <br />
<blockquote><strong>Ephesians 4:4-6</strong>. <sup>4</sup>There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— <sup>5</sup>one Lord, one faith, one baptism; <sup>6</sup>one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Joshua 1:9</strong>. <sup>9</sup> Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Romans 1:19-20</strong>. <sup>19</sup>since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. <sup>20</sup>For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.</blockquote>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-3530528152264893592010-02-06T15:15:00.001-06:002010-02-06T15:15:04.248-06:00Have Thine own way Lord…<p> <p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcuU1mjs_C174dwv9ZlQgb2F00yxUEJ7kOKsWkS9aukOKLsC08xaDcfbkCuYbYF_T9kfVgRUl3HSo_1LUSd-NOxCiA7NDW6UaEZ8k2q4UpwP0wIVKEKocktwfuzNLz9LKl8IvAim-SRMq/s1600-h/surrender%5B12%5D.gif"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="surrender" border="0" alt="surrender" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGofIjdU1kkNLILfp2qHdkkWdIMogXN6dpMPmlK-dZ6Fz5yylW7AXnoGH7rBRO8iP1UtDfbfL1aELJ6yb9JI1kihMi64M1fPJxscfVOMgk2nJlEVfGZoiqW1cYl4P8dKuDXf26XL05egY/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="448" /></a> </p> <p>Since this Blog site is about what I think, this is what I’m thinking:</p> </p> <p> <p> <p>Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! <br />      Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. <br />Mold me and make me after Thy will, <br />     While I am waiting, yielded and still. <br />Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! <br />     Search me and try me, Master, today! <br />Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, <br />     As in Thy presence humbly I bow. <br />Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! <br />     Wounded and weary, help me, I pray! <br />Power, all power, surely is Thine! <br />     Touch me and heal me, Savior divine. <br />Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! <br />     Hold o’er my being absolute sway! <br />Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see <br />     Christ only, always, living in me.</p> <p></p> </p> <p> <p> <p>In 1902, Adelaide A. Pollard, a Bible teacher and hymn writer was hoping to go to Africa as a missionary, but found herself unable to raise the needed funds to make the journey. Greatly discouraged, she attended a prayer service one evening and as she sat there, she overheard an elderly woman say "It really doesn't matter what you do with us, Lord, just have your own way with our lives." The elderly woman inspired Pollard and she contemplated the story of the potter from Jeremiah 18:3 and upon her return home that evening, wrote all four stanzas before retiring for the night (quote from Wikipedia).</p> <p></p> </p> <p> <p> <p>Have Thine own way Lord, with me.</p> <p></p> </p> <p> <p>I Am, David </p> <p>view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/ </p></p></p></p></p></p> Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-48340874083181926892010-02-05T17:13:00.003-06:002010-02-05T19:15:02.420-06:00Are you walking by faith, or by sight?Watched this video a little while ago and I feel so embarrassed. It seems as though I have been trapped within my own fears again. It also seems as though God wants to love me…. I say 'YES'. Will you? <br />
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As you watch, get to know God more. Resist trying to get motivated to go do something. Recognize just how big our God is. If you are anything like me, sometimes you also have an identity crisis. Allow His love to embrace you, and comfort you. <br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:ce03b4e7-239c-4b92-a326-730f0c8df725" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 425px;"><div id="f4c5a6b9-3abc-4acc-8d66-e73d30d9df48" style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div><embed height="355" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EY5kmDG5AXk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425"></embed></div></div></div>I Am, David <br />
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/<br />
or http://restorationhouse.com/<br />
related reading: just soak in His presenceRestoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-43373710428853997002010-02-04T15:27:00.001-06:002010-02-04T15:27:15.134-06:00Ouch, that hurts!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr8t8V8jKYBgb-4PlRVzh0kZ9h4KdJ5ESPomOClG_WD__i_CaIwQOKHjQhdD2t9FWCL3jsqSGdHYJifsUscvMSLlLQcQyVEphiSz2bSwOeRUyEaX9LvORtMCS4WcI-c_A98Uf8SZmBnqY/s1600-h/JMPrune%5B25%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="JMPrune" border="0" alt="JMPrune" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcK8KuItkdPsTyy84fiU_WwQeHxkgo8eljjAId3mvHcYov3I3Zhtf8vJB7YUPGHDo7dcEfOxweqfcIexZjqnyMyZz2TcJPbk6wrcL-0P9Eqcatt02srtHBBqB7sph-GV4lNxrq_7cdSUI/?imgmax=800" width="391" height="505" /></a> According to arbor experts on pruning Japanese Maples, the goal is to encourage the tree’s natural and healthy growth habit.  Light pruning limits re-growth and overall isn’t in the trees best interest.</p> <p></p> <p>In Japan, apprentices are not allowed to do any pruning.  They are only allowed to pick up the pruning debris.  After 10 or 15 years of learning by picking up what is removed, they are allowed to cut a tree.</p> <p style="width: 437px; height: 0.24%"></p> <p>Since you are a spiritual being, temporarily living in a natural earth suit, the natural and healthy growth habit would be to grow from ‘natural minded’ to ‘spiritual minded’.  The same careful consideration is given by God when He prunes you. God desires you to awaken (agree with His finished work, come into perfection), and move out of natural patterns of thought, so you shouldn’t think it strange if you find yourself in a trial.  </p> <p></p> <p>I Am, David </p> <p>view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/ </p> <p></p> related reading: Matthew 16:33; Romans 1:19-21; James 1:2; I Peter 4:12 Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-29586982308966707362010-01-22T13:49:00.008-06:002010-01-22T14:18:44.699-06:00God's DNA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAdyObS9ElCOMo7X9Qg3eiC2wgUB67EtFY3T1f-KYT7FqF1-ZmyiwV_0USr_WgZu9PZ5GSY7OFmGmspVcpqc3TSdGvftTQaZLlSB81oIK6P1i8GR2oSoEJReIfSxsba_KKPho8q7kOr-d/s1600-h/Godsdna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAdyObS9ElCOMo7X9Qg3eiC2wgUB67EtFY3T1f-KYT7FqF1-ZmyiwV_0USr_WgZu9PZ5GSY7OFmGmspVcpqc3TSdGvftTQaZLlSB81oIK6P1i8GR2oSoEJReIfSxsba_KKPho8q7kOr-d/s200/Godsdna.jpg" width="185" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was just reading an exciting passage from a book talking about the divine nature within us. To oversimplify, the passage was exclaiming "We have God's DNA!".</span><span style="color: blue;"><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, this may not excite you but it excites me. Bear with me and meditate on what I'm saying for a moment. You know, God, the One that is all loving and all merciful. He knows everything and is everywhere. The One that accepts me (and you), and loves all humanity, regardless of conduct or performance. The same One that spoke and suddenly there was light. He did and does all sorts of stuff but all that stuff is so incidental when placed beside <em>being one with </em>His very nature.</span><span style="color: blue;"><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At some point, you gotta ask yourself a serious question... If Jesus gave Himself for me, then who is He? Don't just read over it, who is He? And, exactly what did He give you? And, did He hold back some of Himself? You can answer this in your own way and in your own time, but for me, I believe He gave Himself for me. He exchanged His nature for mine, so that I might break free of this worldly (veiled) existence. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you read the referenced Bible verse (Phil. 2:5-13), being obedient even to death. is what we normally run from; but, fixing us was never God's plan. The only way to be awakened is the old man is killed and God starts over, by exchanging His Life for yours. </span><span style="color: blue;"><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just watch the news reports about people around the world in trials. Haiti, for example: People are being awakened into the power of God. They are receiving God's gift as they recognize that trusting in human type thinking is futile. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a gift, and it's free!... I'm opening my gift and checking it out and I hope you'll do the same. Who knows... Maybe we can compare notes sometime to see what each other is experiencing. As we become more open we reveal the gift inside. More on 'creating an atmosphere' at a later time. For now, open your gift- Life. </span><span style="color: blue;"><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Am, David</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">related reading: Phil. 2:5-13</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAdyObS9ElCOMo7X9Qg3eiC2wgUB67EtFY3T1f-KYT7FqF1-ZmyiwV_0USr_WgZu9PZ5GSY7OFmGmspVcpqc3TSdGvftTQaZLlSB81oIK6P1i8GR2oSoEJReIfSxsba_KKPho8q7kOr-d/s1600-h/Godsdna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAdyObS9ElCOMo7X9Qg3eiC2wgUB67EtFY3T1f-KYT7FqF1-ZmyiwV_0USr_WgZu9PZ5GSY7OFmGmspVcpqc3TSdGvftTQaZLlSB81oIK6P1i8GR2oSoEJReIfSxsba_KKPho8q7kOr-d/s400/Godsdna.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
</div>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-63354892530380677702010-01-05T23:32:00.001-06:002010-01-05T23:35:00.568-06:00I'm just saying...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rEP5z98XHNyNFu4VO7XOmBZdCQMdzFvZYL5bsPiQqDE8n8yoBupu35_SWHiZktgHjfxU-im834ZcEmwM0n9I3FTqAbylAl6DX7bKUBJietCX3FqnbTBUKos_llMGLgQ5KtyGDqMm8lJU/s1600-h/work4love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rEP5z98XHNyNFu4VO7XOmBZdCQMdzFvZYL5bsPiQqDE8n8yoBupu35_SWHiZktgHjfxU-im834ZcEmwM0n9I3FTqAbylAl6DX7bKUBJietCX3FqnbTBUKos_llMGLgQ5KtyGDqMm8lJU/s320/work4love.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really don't have anyone specifically in mind but need to say something. It just tickles me when ministry folks, and other self-righteous folks (including myself sometimes) who have to 'save face' and must always 'look good'. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everybody knows that we should trust in the LORD with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding. It's the leaning not on our own understanding that is the killer. To hear some folks, they never struggle... Who could relate to such foolishness? Come on, be honest. Don't you ever find yourself leaning on your own understanding? The very fact of admitting it is getting it in the light, thus nullifying the sting of death that everyone else can smell. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know about you but I laugh at myself sometimes... just like Paul. "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do you 'work for love' like the picture included shows? If so, you'll never 'get it'. The only way to receive love is to receive it freely, without excuse, return payment, or guilt.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you never hear me say anything, hear me say clearly that it is not about your conduct. It's not about what you do or don't do. Nothing can make you closer or further away from God. His love for you is unconditional. Acceptance for you is unconditional.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Am, David</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">view this blog and many more at </span><a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> or </span><a href="http://restorationhouse.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://restorationhouse.com/</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">related reading: you don't have to read this anywhere; all of creation is saying it if you'll just listen or Prov. 3:5, Rom. 7</span>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-36107158141828675462009-12-31T16:49:00.001-06:002009-12-31T16:57:05.713-06:00A Must Read for the New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bRMms5ai7qoSJE_5qqrKA2tWVnVpYi9yO3fKumNwjG1TaQ6BjeflaqecmYaFWVF_YClkzAv0wW42dcIiEXL7ay0Z67LVs1rSxI-gf6jTpOd9Fcnl9By9gXRLT4L9Xk1ESopB_h6dQ0q9/s1600-h/hny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bRMms5ai7qoSJE_5qqrKA2tWVnVpYi9yO3fKumNwjG1TaQ6BjeflaqecmYaFWVF_YClkzAv0wW42dcIiEXL7ay0Z67LVs1rSxI-gf6jTpOd9Fcnl9By9gXRLT4L9Xk1ESopB_h6dQ0q9/s320/hny.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God exists in the spaces we overlook. We look for Him, typically in things, thoughts, works and other natural circumstances. True, He can be found there when we seek Him, but once we see Him we see that He is a super- natural God, not confined to worldly situations. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then; it dawns on us that we have His mind. At this point, letting go of the things we've trusted for so long is the battle, or is it? It would appear the battle is to let go, but in actuality the supernatural exists regardless of my state of mind. Having to battle to receive God puts to shame grace, so it can't be. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, start 'fresh' and in a perfect faith. Purpose with God to trust Him. Decide to live where He is Lord of our lives, and Love is our language. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">This year, how about doing something beyond <em>making a new year's resolution</em>... How about <em>having a re<u>v</u>olution</em>, within your own heart?</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I Am, David</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">related reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17</span>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-6417197682571371442009-12-17T10:45:00.000-06:002009-12-17T10:45:22.895-06:00No Weapon formed...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnpoBm6JaKYVTFzZYO6d0md7oKlHu_58_lxPbC5noi7ro7Pq_gjl9Kvy8czf4t_u0AWH9_oOd1ZCyOBIokiBy08RdFOi-rVubl3qXgTTdjR-vmf8Go8oI14FrWT8KHVcqAuPWQPXSkdI0/s1600-h/sin-on-the-cross1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnpoBm6JaKYVTFzZYO6d0md7oKlHu_58_lxPbC5noi7ro7Pq_gjl9Kvy8czf4t_u0AWH9_oOd1ZCyOBIokiBy08RdFOi-rVubl3qXgTTdjR-vmf8Go8oI14FrWT8KHVcqAuPWQPXSkdI0/s320/sin-on-the-cross1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yea, yea, yea, I know that no weapon that is formed 'against me' will prosper... but what about the ones formed for me??? What about all the stuff in my life that God wanted to shape me and mold me, allowing me to be me (which is really a unique facet of Him), to be Light and Salt in the Earth? Why can't it be that bad things happen to change me? I think this is so.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't just Jesus nailed on the cross... it was your sin nailed on the tree, leaving you without blemish, free. This type weapon is meant to carve away anything that hinders you from being The Light in this world.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I'm changed... whether He meant for the pain and struggle to make this happen or not, it's happened. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Am, David</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">related study: Isaiah 54, 55, 56</span>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-42646835987967211422009-11-25T00:28:00.000-06:002009-11-25T00:28:05.722-06:00Who shall I be today?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNgurCGtP33pPxQNcJK4YYxdtXaQm0M_DNoioTNP21nw5MDiw9HZjWETgi4yx2FavUxJMHZhdT5d7T8uc5aHzx-YJOe68LGIXacM7xIitwbNXBquxXlwujtnBk0WRWPny4mwz2rvgcDQ7/s1600/Mask2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNgurCGtP33pPxQNcJK4YYxdtXaQm0M_DNoioTNP21nw5MDiw9HZjWETgi4yx2FavUxJMHZhdT5d7T8uc5aHzx-YJOe68LGIXacM7xIitwbNXBquxXlwujtnBk0WRWPny4mwz2rvgcDQ7/s320/Mask2.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New York comedian Demetri Martin said, "I went into a clothes store and a lady came up to me and said <em>'If you need anything, I'm Jill'.</em> I've never met anyone with a conditional identity before." Isn't that how most of us act? Depending on the circumstance, we'll put on the appropriate face. Depending on what we're doing, or who we'll be engaging, we seem to act that role.</span> <br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it God's best plan for you and I to change faces with each changing situation? <em>No</em>. God couldn't be more clear that He desires that we shine, not letting anything dim our light. His word says we should be in the world but not of it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, immediately we each have all sorts of mental images or ideas as to what it means to be a 'shining light' and not let anything dim this light. We also have mental images as to what it means to be in the world but not of it. Those images and ideas could possibly be accurate but they will never capture the fullness of Eternity, the measure which exists within you.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we adopt different identities daily, we are doing nothing more than shortchanging ourselves. Regardless if you believe you are being <em>'good'</em> or <em>'bad'</em> isn't the point. The point <em>is</em> that you be true to what is happening within you. God is spirit and the path to enlightenment is to enter into <em>the 'now' moment</em> by being honest and truthful with your present reality. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is your present reality true? I don't know if <em>your present reality i</em>s 'God's Truth' but if it's <em>'your present reality',</em> it's certainly true to you. Whether the present reality is our final perspective or not, isn't the question. The path into peace with God is being honest with the present moment. God calls this 'confessing'. We can't confess without being honest. Actually, being honest is just another word for <em>confess;</em> honest with ourselves by being in the moment, not wearing a mask.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, exactly who am I and what does that look like? This writing doesn't really address <em>who you are</em>, but does address the hidden agenda to why we usually ask such a question. The major reason we are so concerned with how something is supposed to look is that we want to emulate it. We are apparently afraid to actually become anything. The funny thing is that we 'are' something deep inside, beyond all those masks and performances. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, if your mind works anything like mine, you may be asking something like, didn't Jesus tell us to follow Him? Or, didn't Paul tell some to follow himself as he followed Christ? Good point and I'm glad you are thinking. Exactly where did Jesus go when He said to follow Him? Where did Paul go? They were going to the cross. Still want to follow Him? Or, are you just interested in looking good, and saving your reputation? God isn't interested in you wearing a mask, looking like a believer or preserving your reputation. God really has a plan for your life and you are important to Him. No matter your age or IQ, you can see God all around you if you're willing to allow yourself to be loved.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's going on? God's plan for your life is to prosper you and this plan carries it's fastest end, by engaging and accepting the plan. God isn't wanting you to <em>perform like you've got Him</em>. He actually desires for you to experience oneness with Himself, which can't be done if we are acting like someone we aren't. Sadly, we can't jump to next year, or even next week. We must live in the now. Living in the now is just another way of saying that we aren't going to resist God. It's also another way of agreeing that God has a plan for my life, and that I trust Him.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The title of this writing is 'Who shall I be today?'. It's the hardest thing I've ever attempted. Being real is not easy, but it is the course assignment God has given me. You can be anyone you want, today or anytime, but I would like to throw my 2 cents in at this point: <em>'The best you is the real you!'</em> </span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Am, David</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/</span>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-92183334749550570182009-11-20T09:10:00.009-06:002009-11-20T09:10:00.217-06:00A Beautiful Mind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzJsayadLvH1_2ZHVN52PYpRq2VoxKXBlk69g-vtN-ZJ5rOaxtsi6BTruZR3IJoV2S7AncaKmITmJHzoaZnbj42S0ak2YTLXl95ARz6mMZ_6fPDnpdU15xk84zSzXnAlkFmY_eRrAzxrg/s1600/schizo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzJsayadLvH1_2ZHVN52PYpRq2VoxKXBlk69g-vtN-ZJ5rOaxtsi6BTruZR3IJoV2S7AncaKmITmJHzoaZnbj42S0ak2YTLXl95ARz6mMZ_6fPDnpdU15xk84zSzXnAlkFmY_eRrAzxrg/s320/schizo.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James, a close friend, is a paranoid schizophrenic. I've known James for many years now, meeting on a weekly basis. Lately, we meet 3 or 4 times each week, each of us growing more and more intimate with our Creator God. James has trouble connecting the dots in life because he has an alternate reality no one else can see. In James' reality, there is a government ran network of people controlling people like himself by computers, placed in courthouses and government buildings around the world. According to James, it's mind control. I believe him. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do I believe there are computers able to control and read peoples thoughts, implanting instructions? No; but I do believe James has this reality and when I see him trying to process otherwise simple problems; problems most of us would consider elementary, his mind is preoccupied with torment, not allowing him to 'see' what you and I see daily in our decision making. His mind is preoccupied with processing; interpreting all the information, made so real to him. To James, the continuous barrage of thoughts coming at him are real. His mind is preoccupied.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James thinks we meet so he can be tutored, mentored, and taught to carry the power of God through life's many challenges. The truth is that I am no different than him and I learn probably more than him. James has a wrong perception issue, causing his mind to be preoccupied, yet he still has such a simple childlike faith in God. He also has a continuing struggle between this childlike faith and trusting in his own brand of reality, just like me. James, myself, and you have alternate thoughts preoccupying our minds. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many times, I have thoughts of any number of things consuming me. I think of what order I'll get showered and dressed in the morning, in order to make a meeting at a certain time. I think about how I'm perceived by others. I think about how I can change my behavior to get a sale, or a desired response from whomever I'm speaking. I also think about life situations as they happen; or rather, usually well before they happen, running it though my mind, to be prepared to react when it happens. It's not really funny, but my preoccupied mind never imagines correctly what will happen. It's only when my mind is free from occupation ['preoccupied' (must be my word for the day)], there He is, manifesting things we've imagined while 'with' Him, yet struggled to know how they might again flow freely though us.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A preoccupied mind is just another way of saying 'sin'. Sin is not decisions or performances based on morality, good or bad. God's desire is that His thoughts occupy our minds, rather than being preoccupied with day to day matters of this world. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I read the definition to the word occupy, I felt so ashamed, convicted, then free. I felt free because He was illuminating within me. Thoughts that were occupying my mind were having Light shown on them, revealing the futility of the trust in them. As I connected how I have allowed my mind to be occupied by my thoughts, God gently manifested in me. The thoughts of this world largely have gone away. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's invitation for us is to trust Him with childlike faith so that 'no thing' can be between you and He. Trusting God with everything means trusting Him with my mind, my thoughts, enough to lose them in Him and not give thought about tomorrow. As we're set free, now we see as He sees; our decisions will be much better. Without really thinking about tomorrow, we'll have bank accounts, cut our grass and pay our bills. There will be provision to do what needs done, and if the provision ceases, we'll adjust our lifestyle instead of figuring out how to maintain. Without really thinking and processing, we'll make normal decisions because we're no longer victims trying to win. We're victors enjoying a victorious life. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think about an occupied country or a war ravaged area, where a group of people occupy a territory. That's like our minds. Our thoughts shouldn't occupy our minds, intrenching like our lives will end if we think differently. Thoughts should flow freely, giving room and place for God to change our minds, giving us new direction. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an exercise, read the definitions of the word occupy and let me know if this ministers to you: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merriam-Webster: oc·cu·py </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pronunciation: \ˈä-kyə-ˌpī\</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Function: transitive verb </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inflected Form(s): oc·cu·pied; oc·cu·py·ing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Etymology: Middle English occupien to take possession of, occupy, from Anglo-French occupier, occuper, from Latin occupare, from ob- toward + -cupare (akin to capere to seize) — more at ob-, heave</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Date: 14th century</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 : to engage the attention or energies of</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 a : to take up (a place or extent in space) <this chair="" is="" occupied=""><the corner="" fireplace="" occupy="" of="" room="" the="" this="" will="">b : to take or fill (an extent in time) <the all="" free="" hobby="" my="" occupies="" of="" time=""></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 a : to take or hold possession or control of <enemy occupied="" ridge="" the="" troops="">b : to fill or perform the functions of (an office or position)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 : to reside in as an owner or tenant</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">— oc·cu·pi·er \-ˌpī(-ə)r\ noun </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I have told you, when you are not consumed by thoughts, you will have peace. When your preoccupied with situations, you will experience trouble. But there's still hope! I am actively working to remove your hope in worldly ways." John 16:33 David</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Am, David</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/ </span>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-25180119852201076792009-11-12T00:12:00.004-06:002009-11-12T00:33:44.924-06:00How Can I Relate to God? What's His Nature?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6u9pNLWnE_4rgEPq95iNNUQ1pJO4tykM8anWn9IyxBW-usmNGEiYKYsafZpcpcckgdZugGha4zuN0gdoott9SB15SHbw2gz3CZdl4Egz63MUlZuprhkZLOY79_oq_UiUeWf2GdLLvbXTR/s1600-h/MindChrist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6u9pNLWnE_4rgEPq95iNNUQ1pJO4tykM8anWn9IyxBW-usmNGEiYKYsafZpcpcckgdZugGha4zuN0gdoott9SB15SHbw2gz3CZdl4Egz63MUlZuprhkZLOY79_oq_UiUeWf2GdLLvbXTR/s320/MindChrist.jpg" /></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can I relate to God? What's His Nature? God is like air, free for anyone to breathe... Man's created religions are nothing more than attempts to explain an unexplainable God; these are attempts the creation is making to recreate God in our own image rather than embracing the simple truth we were created in His image. We weren't just created in His image. We were also created in His likeness. We have the same depth as our creator within us, as our true identity. Deep within what we traditionally think is ourself, beyond our thoughts and emotions, exists our true self, Life.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Man's worldly illusion of truth complicates the simplicity of God, creating <em>'clicks'</em>. These <em>'clicks'</em>, sometime called denominations or religions are simply creations we have crafted, in order to gain control of an uncontrollable God. <em>We 'bottle' Air</em>, and try to sell it, calling it pure. God has made Himself freely available for all to breath (<em>trust</em>). Man's religion divides God into false, worldly explainable stories. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We don't need special instructions on how to breath air, <em>do we?</em> Every time we try to give special instructions on how to teach <em>someone else</em> to breathe (handle life or relate to God), all we are doing is <em>reinforcing the great divide</em> religion offers. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is Love. Only <em>love</em> conquers all. If my people (<em>you</em>) will humble themselves (<em>yourself</em>) and accept Me in Truth and Spirit, then I will change their (<em>your</em>) mind and their (<em>your</em>) circumstances. (2 Chronicles 7:14)</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Am, David<br />
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/</span>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4733839995318504441.post-12399091248427118462009-11-08T11:22:00.004-06:002009-11-08T11:59:18.433-06:00Hypocrisy isn't in the Name of My God<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate hypocrisy! The origin of the word 'hypocrite' actually means to act as in a play on stage. I truly desire for you and I to be who we are, through and through. That's is God's desire as well. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listening to all the arguments in the world today would nearly drive a sane person to believe the best route for humanity were to play 'the game'. It's very amusing to see the world come to an end as we know it. Politics and seeing what personal attacks well meaning people can resort, just makes me sick. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have we forgotten that God loves ALL people? This includes Obama, Bush, Hitler, Palin, John the Baptist, You and I. If you say you are better than any of these listed, you might want to tread carefully on the thin ice your walking. God can even change the “christian” minister, although most leaders are harder for God to reach than the person living their life without regrets. God says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. God also says that He paid the price to make us 'right' with Him. Regardless how you view it, if you are believing God, this does not give you a personal license to throw stones and personally attack those who handle life's choices differently than you might. And it doesn't mean their lifestyle choices are any of your business. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, so there are differences in opinion as to how to handle some issues. I encourage everyone to speak their mind about any issue they want. If you think I'm asking you to change your behavior, that's not at all the point of this writing. I am simply saying you might want to drop whose name you say you are doing it in, because it isn't in the name of my God, some of the condemnation spoken in the name of 'Christ'. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frankly, I wouldn't care if 'In God we trust' were taken off our money, <em>if </em>it isn't in our hearts. The greater issue is <em>actually trusting</em> in God, <em>not writing it on our money</em>. Actually trusting God results in true love for our neighbor as thyself.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God isn't trying to get you to 'act' in any manner. God is after your heart. He wants to show you first hand how wonderful Heaven on Earth can be. Through all life's trouble, God is inviting you into a <em>Real</em> relationship, where you aren't acting, but rather, simply being who you are. <br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Am, David</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">view this blog and many more at <a href="http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/">http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/</a> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or <a href="http://restorationhouse.com/">http://restorationhouse.com/</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">recommended reading: (Matthew 6:33) (Gen. 1:26-27 NIV) (I John) (II John) (III John)</span>Restoration House Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14969574193417620838noreply@blogger.com0