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What'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.

click the following link if you can't see the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=worKJEaJLoQ

Lonely, I know it very, very well...

Lonely, I know it very, very well...

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. 

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.

The Parable of the Car

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

Cheers,
David

Life is not a practice run...

This life is not a practice run, with the 'real' coming later.
Put yourself out there and be vulnerable.
Don't shrink back, run your own race.
The answers come easier when you put yourself out there.
Peace is for YOU today, but you gotta trust.
You gotta be the one God made you to be.
Never apologize for being you.
After all, God's allowed a lot of things to give you that personality.
So, what if someone doesn't like you and this makes you upset?
Have we gotten true love from them and why should we lie?
If someone doesn't accept you, they have the problem.
God was thinking about you when He made you.
He accepts you just as you are.
And now the quest is on to discover just what He sees.
What do you think that might be?

Am I walking By Faith or In Fear?

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.

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. 

God came to The Garden asking one simple question.  He asked Adam and Eve the same thing I want to ask you… “Who told you that you are naked?”  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. 

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 decision maker 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. 

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…

Who told 'you' that 'you' were naked?
Who told 'you' that 'they' were naked?
Who told 'them' that 'you' were naked?

Light exposes everything.  Trying to ‘become something or someone’ 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.

I Am,
David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

A little understanding please…

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.

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.

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.  

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.  

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 will 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 will 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.

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.

It’s by the word of your testimony and 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.  God is actively arranging and making changes in your life to bring you into a place you are already in, Him.  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. 

I Am,
David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

Why am I going through so much?

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.

Your trouble (situation) may mean that it’s your turn.  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 ‘tongue’ confession.

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.

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…

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.

I Am,
David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

Are 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. 

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 "my version" of Matthew 16:1-4:

Matthew 16:1-4  ¹ Then the Republicans and Democrats came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. ² He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; ³ and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites!  You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. ⁴ 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.

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.

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).

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.

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’. 

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.

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.   

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).
I Am,
David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

H.O.W. to be Happy?

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 may revolutionize your thinking.

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.

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 your story, is your 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!

Be Willing to do nothing; or anything.  There is one thing God will not do by force; Change your mind.  He will 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. 

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?”

- Be Honest about resisting God’s leading- it called confession.

- Be Open about it- don’t hide behind fig leaves like Adam and Eve

- 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

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.

I Am,
David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

My Life’s Purpose

The 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’.

We all intellectually 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. 

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.

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.

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.  

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.
 
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. 

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. 

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.

One with the Father,
David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

True Love can’t be traded or sold

Have 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…

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22, NKJV)

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.

I AM,
David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

Get Down to the Core

Your human mind is a picture of your own snare, keeping you from experiencing the abundance of Life God desires for you.

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. 

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).

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? 

- Does it mean that His calculator is faster? 

- Does it mean that God has all the factors and knows the answer based on more intelligence?

- Does it mean God is smarter than me?

Of course, God is all those things, but what God is speaking of is much deeper and more simple.  His ways are above our ways because they come from another dimension.  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. 

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. 

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 intellectual answers just won’t cut it.

I Am,

David

view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

Avatar, movie review… Why are people committing suicide?

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.

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.

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. 

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.

I Am, David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

NOTE: 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: 

Ephesians 4:4-6. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Joshua 1:9.  ⁹ 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."

Romans 1:19-20.  ¹⁹since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰For 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.

Have Thine own way Lord…

Since this Blog site is about what I think, this is what I’m thinking:

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
      Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
     While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
     Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
     As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
     Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
     Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
     Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
     Christ only, always, living in me.

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).

Have Thine own way Lord, with me.

I Am, David

view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

Are 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?

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.

I Am, David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/
or http://restorationhouse.com/
related reading: just soak in His presence

Ouch, that hurts!

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.

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.

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. 

I Am, David

view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

related reading: Matthew 16:33; Romans 1:19-21; James 1:2; I Peter 4:12

God's DNA

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!".

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 being one with His very nature.

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.  

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. 

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.

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.

I Am, David
view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/


related reading: Phil. 2:5-13

I'm just saying...

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'. 

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.

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."

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.

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.

I Am, David

view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

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

A Must Read for the New Year

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.

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.

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.

This year, how about doing something beyond making a new year's resolution...  How about having a revolution, within your own heart?

I Am, David

view this blog and many more at http://davidnroberts.blogspot.com/ or http://restorationhouse.com/

related reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17