Blood

Haiti has been hit dramatically, and after reading from the Old Testament I was left alone with my thoughts... Deuteronomy 8:19: “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed.” Upon reading this bit of scripture I thought something rather audacious in a sense. God is the same yesterday as today and forever, amen! He destroyed a nation (His nation) if they forgot him and lived in disobedience. In this chapter as in many more He is warning His people. “Do not forget that He led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors (8:15-16.)” Are these great disasters that many are facing the result of a nation turning their back on God, and serving the god of their worldly stomachs?

Haiti has suffered from a earthquake numerous amounts of people have died. Is that the case for people like the victims of Haiti? Now Jesus promised that He would not come back until everyone had heard the story; the Gospel. So there are people who need to hear this message. “Who will go for us?” The bible reads and asks a question. Those who claim alliance with Jesus Christ are the ones who are called. Missionary Joil Marbut says it like this, “You better know that you were not called (upon standing before the throne of God)” The Haitian people need to hear the gospel; otherwise, they will continue walking in and inevitably die in sin. Furthermore, we look upon their situation and the many dead and we take pity on them. We are entrusted with the most precious words of God, and the message of the Gospel! “Who will go for us?” We are the chosen people! We are to take this message to them, this bloody story of Jesus Christ dying on a tree. He hung with the heaviness of our sin, guilt, and condemnation! Who are you and I in this world? I am a person, doomed to sin; I fall again and again. Yet I have His grace! I have a hope. People who have not heard are without a hope.

The blood is on my hands. The more I wipe I see the tears flowing and the mouths asking, “Why did you keep silent?” But remember my name is in The Lamb’s Book of Life! Eventually I pray that you will watch the news and remember that we are the responsible ones. Once you have been told, then you have become responsible for their hearts. Not everyone can go to the mission field. But are you praying for these people? Just as a paralyzed man cannot walk around, and most likely stays where he is, we are not all able to conquer the mission field. You can touch those around you and be a light to the ones that God has given at arms’ reach. But God has ears! So let Him hear your cry. Jesus said in Matthew 9:38 “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Christians, turn off the television, get on your hands and knees and pray!

He will listen when we cry out to Him. Pray for America, South America, North America, Korea, China, the U.K., etc, etc… Be specific and heartfelt. Where there is no God there is a desperate need for prayer. This world needs a Savior; the world needs The Savior. These are my thought, and I will conclude with a quote that I hope influences a distress to pray. “Our praying, however, needs to be pressed and pursued with energy that never tires, a persistency which will not be denied, and a courage which never fails.”
-E.M. Bounds

Toes

Counterfeit love; the harmony of a bitter orchestra out of tune… What are we to do? There is a line to be drawn somewhere, right? Commit your thought to this analogy. (Please, entertain my thoughts and choice of tapestry for lingo) You and I are standing in line to buy a “Coney Island” at the Pier where Big Bang is swingin’ away. I’m dressed in my attire complete with Red lipstick and wedged heels. You are there with your slacks and a vest that compliments the paten leather kicks you are sportin’. As slick as we look there standing and snappin’ to the tune, you step on your friend’s toes. It’s not a big deal the first time not even the second time. He says “Oh, my apologies! Are you alright?” she retorts “Oh, it was an accident, please. It’s fine.” And he says “It won’t happen again, I’m so sorry.” She smiles and then they turn away from each other. The second time comes around the corner a little harder, and this time she begins to move over a bit. “Ouch!” she exclaims, and he turns red, grabs his hat in a fit of “Oh the stupidity!” and says, “Please, forgive me…I’m a klutz.” She assures him that she is all quite well, but this time she backs away a smidge. He says again, “I will be more careful.”

She nods her head in response. Then she turns, standing in the pain of her tiny toes. She backs away this time quietly but only enough to avoid the encounter again. He is again snappin’ to the music and acting a little more relaxed. When, wouldn’t you know it? He marches right over her toes again. At the pain’s peak she is fed up. His response the same way as the last times, but she has a new response. “Stop stepping on my toes!” she raises her eyebrows. She then relocates herself to the back of the long line to avoid losing her toes. She watches at the back of the line as he carelessly and impetuously discards wisdom in the choice of his actions; once again. She heard his apologies and believed him without second thoughts upon the first time. The second time she questioned his sincerity but forgave the offense. The third time he had proved to be careless and not concerned enough to be sure it did not happen again. So she left him down-hearted to place herself out of harm’s way.
(Apologies…that was not the best analogy, however, “stop stepping on my toes!” is the line I want to expound upon. So keep it in mind whilst I continue.) Most people have many groups of friends. The first group has to be the largest because it is the acquaintances of people that can range from one side of the state to the other (or beyond). You are not very close to them but you know their face and name. The second group is the friend’s that surround you. These guys and gals are the ones you play games with at the arcade and hang out at the movie theater with. The last slot is solely for those or the one that you consider best friends. Your comrade(s), amigo(s), partner(s) in crime and most trusted companion(s). At some point these friends will annoy you, no matter how close you are. The buttons that are not to be pushed and the nerves that are not to be danced upon, they will dance on. It’s inevitable in the truest sense of the word. Because we are all humans and bound to mess up. In a healthy relationship one learns from mistakes and takes actions to make sure that those mistakes do not happen again. It’s simple. When you love someone you will pay attention to them and be careful to know them, so that you may more efficiently assist them as their friend.

When you say you love somebody you must be prepared with louder actions to accompany your declaration of love. Amour, yes, yes. And with perfect reason I say this. Actions illustrate the love that marks your friendship’s closeness or ability to stay united. There is an equal amount of effort that both people have to coherently apply themselves to. In the event that either of the persons take more than they put out the relationship dwindles. The half that is taking more than enough is happy and content. The other half in a perfectly natural reaction suffers. Just like someone standing beside you, stepping on your toes and saying they are remorseful to have treaded upon your precious toes. But they in action turn to their old ways and do nothing to prevent it from happening again. You know the old saying “actions speak louder than words” and it is true.

I am aware that people make mistakes, believe you me. But a point will come when that person stepping on your toes will not be close enough to you to step on them again. Know your true friends; the friends who will watch where they step cautiously in hopes to avoid any pain to you friend. And be a good friend. Know their boundaries as well as your own. As for now I plea “stop stepping on my toes!” Because, my friend, there is only time and time will tell her story. However this story you may not find yourslef in.