FRICTION? LIFT UP YOUR HEAD…
By Wade Martin Hughes Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:28 (MSG) When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!"
THE CHOICE? THE OIL OF JOY! MY FRIEND THIS FRICTION CAN BURN US AND BURN OTHERS…
*FRICTION: the resistance that one surface or object when moving over another, conflict, clash of wills, to be disagreeable, to rub the wrong way, the force to resist, the force moving in an opposite direction,
THE CHOICE? SEEMS FEW LEARN CREATIVE USE OF CONFLICT OR CONFLICT RESOLUTION. Some people seem to love constant bickering and disagreement… THEN THERE ARE THOSE THAT PUT A ROTATING FAN AND STIR UP THE MESS…
THE CHOICE? I HAVE A STRONG MAN COME UP AND RUB HIS HANDS TOGETHER… REAL FAST! REAL HARD!
His hands will get hot. Then I have olive oil and a towel ready. I have the same man rub his hands together fast and harder, but this time I pour olive oil between his hands. (Don’t spill on the floor.) I have a towel ready. Less friction.
IN MY DAILY CHOICES AM I GIVING COMFORT INSTEAD OF DOOM? IS MY MESSAGE ONE OF POSSIBILITIES AND JOY? GOD HAS OIL READY TO LESSEN THE FRICTION OF DAILY LIFE. JOY! THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH.
Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
IS MY DAILY CHOICE THAT OF CONSTANT FRICTION? CONFLICT? PROBLEMS?
1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1 Timothy 6:5 (ESV) and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
LET US UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE IN INSTINCT AND LEARNED BEHAVIOR.
*Instinct: innate pattern of behavior, automatic action in response, automatic behavior.
*Learn: gain by study, experience or being taught, LIFESTYLE ATTITUDE!
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
We live in a day of rush, rush -- busy daily lives. We refuse to SEE WHERE WE REALY ARE! We need to learn an acceptance of who people are and then who we are! Life is much more than where you have been! Life is much more than where you plan on going! THE REAL VALUE OF LIFE IS WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW? Be spiritually aware my friend! KNOW WE HAVE A POTENTIAL GREATER THAN WHERE WE ARE!
WILL I DISCIPLINE MYSELF TO LEARN… WHAT IS MY THINKING PATTERN? DO I MAKE THE CHOICE OF NEGATIVITY? CONTENTMENT? PAUL HAD TO LEARN TO BE CONTENT WITH A THORN IN HIS FLESH… NOT ME --- BUT GOD!
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
THE CHOICE IS BITTER VS. BETTER… JESUS HAD A CROWN OF THORNS THAT TEACHES US --- INVOLUTED LEAF… WHAT IS A GOOD TEACHER? THORNS CAN TEACH US…
2 Corinthians 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
WILL WE LEARN? WILL WE TEACH? KEEP YOU HEAD UP? WE HAVE THE CHOICE TO COMPLAIN TO OTHER PEOPLE AND EVEN COMPLAIN TO GOD… THE HUMAN CHOICE IS TO COMPLAIN INCESSANTLY AND HABITUALLY COMPLAINING IS ONE CHOICE… THE OTHER CHOICE BEFORE US IS PRAISE GOD AND GIVE ALL THE GLORY TO GOD!
Psalm 3:1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
God can keep our feet grounded. He can lift our heads high. To LIFT UP YOUR HEAD… IMPLIES TO RECOGNIZE GOD AND TO REJOICE…
IS IT A FACT WE ARE A PRODUCT OF OUR DAILY MENIAL CHOICES? T&P… TRIED AND PROVEN… I CAN TRUST MY FRIEND… I think I will skip this one?
2 Samuel 11:1And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
BUT DAVID? THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHOICES…TALK ABOUT REGRETS? David made the choice… I am King, I don’t want to go to battle… I can trust my friend’s leadership skills. David will delegate his authority into the hands of Joab. So David gives the orders and dispatched Joab and his ABLE FIGHTING MACHINE. BUT David stayed in Jerusalem. IS IT A FACT THAT CHOICES CAN HAVE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES? Thou art the man!
DO WE REALIZE WE CAN BE CONSUMED WITH MYSELF… CONSUMED BY MY PROBLEMS AND MY TROUBLES… WE HAVE THE TENDENCY TO PLAY GOD … I CAN WORK THIS PROBLEM OUT BY MYSELF?
Psalm 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Where is my faith invested? GOD LIFT UP MY HEAD SO I CAN SEE YOU ARE GOD… I MUST HAVE FAITH AND TRUST THE PLAN.
CONCLUSION: MY CHOICES? THERE WAS A PEDIGREE CAT… A PUREBRED FROM WORLD CLASS PARENTS.
The papers recorded this cat was registered from a long line of championship cats. This cat was a blueblood, upper class, world class cat. The millionaire lived in the fanciest mansion high on the hill overlooking the whole city. The millionaire family decided to spare no expense and get the fanciest cat in the land. The veterinarian was summoned to the mansion. The family said we want the best cat in the whole world and they sent the vet out in search for their desire.
Several weeks later the veterinarian returned with the most beautiful cat and sold the cat to the millionaire for a large sum of money. The owners were so proud of the beautiful cat. The cat had distilled water. The cat had its choice of the most expensive foods. If the cat did not like the choice, the cat raised its nose and the servant brought something else. The cat lived in air conditioning in the summer and heat during the winter. The pedigree cat had everything it desired.
One winter day the owner and the cat lay by the fireplace and the loving owner petted the cat. By now the cat had quit purring… The cat lay on the pillow and the owner would pet the cat for hours. Again the cat made funny faces at the owner and the cat had quit purring.
The cat was so displeased with the mansion and the pampered treatment. The cat grew angry and fussy. The cat started watching the door and was planning an escape from this mean mansion. A man came and made his delivers. The cat plotted and lay near the door. When the man was carrying in the goods, the pedigree cat ran to be set free from the torture of this house. The cat ran down the hill and never looked back. When the cat was a safe distance from the house he met up with some old ALLEY CATS. The ALLEY CATS were climbing up in the dumpster. The PEDIGREE CAT said I am hungry. The alley cats invited the beautiful cat to climb in the garbage dumpster and dig in for some food.
The pedigree cat started itching real bad… what is this? The alley cat said that pain is from FLEAS. Pedigree had never experienced fleas before. The cats said this is a norm here. The food stank and some of it was rotten. The alley cats asked WHY? WHY DID YOU RUN AWAY? WHY? The pedigree cat said: I HAD TO RUN AWAY! IT WAS TERRIBLE! I WOULD LAY ON MY PILLOW NEXT TO THE FIRE PLACE AND MY STUPID OWNER WOULD RUB ME THE WRONG WAY. I COULD NOT STAND IT ANY LONGER… I HAD TO RUN AWAY! WHAT OTHER CHOICE DID I HAVE?
The alley cats scratched their fleas and were eating rotten fish… The pedigree cat said: WHAT OTHER CHOICE DID I HAVE? I HAD TO RUN AWAY! HE ALWAYS RUBBED ME THE WRONG WAY!
The alley cat said: ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS TURN AROUND ON YOUR PILLOW! YOU GAVE ALL THAT UP BECAUSE YOUR OWNER RUBBED YOU THE WRONG WAY? TURN AROUND! We freeze in the winter? We are hot in the summer? We never have enough to eat? And all you do is complain and complain your owner rubbed you the wrong way? ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS TURN AROUND. IF YOU TURNED AROUND ON THE PILLOW YOUR OWNER WOULD HAVE BEEN RUBBING YOU THE RIGHT WAY!
The pedigree cat scratched the fleas, smelled the rotten dirty alley cats and said: I BELIEVE I WILL GO BACK TO THE MANSION. So the dirty, flea ridden pedigree cat started home. At first the cat was slow, but the closer the cat got to home it started running. The pedigree cat ran out of the long alley right into the path of the garbage truck. The truck ran over him. All the pedigree cat could be heard saying: ALL I HAD TO DO WAS TURN AROUND… ALL I HAD TO DO WAS TURN AROUND…
MY FRIEND, INSTEAD OF ASKING GOD TO CHANGE THE WHOLE WORLD TO SUIT YOU, WHY DON’T YOU HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF THANKFULNESS AND TURN AROUND?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Catch Wade Hughes on YouTube.)
