Tackle the Dummy

If you have ever been on a football field while practice is going on, you inevitable know which is the dummy and what it looks like. Although mostly white looking fabric, it is padded and shaped to look like a person. In those practice times, the dummy surely gets the brunt of all guided attempts to stop him.
He is tossed around, tackled, and then most likely stepped on. The "dummy" is jerked around, is hassled, brought down again and again and when practice is over, probably put with all the other supplies, equipment, pads and such to be used for another day.
What would the "dummy" represent to us we walk through life, sometimes feeling like we too are the tossed around, the stepped on, and the tackled!

In writing on this today, I went on-line and looked or surveyed the Dummy page. I saw the Crash-dummies, and saw some for other uses as well. I saw cheap ones and some really expensive ones. But my thought:"why do they need so many and dressed as well as they are dressed?"

As I write I come back to our daughter who is a "pastor". She is the one who likes the "team huddles". She as the pastor likes to bring all together, exhort them, get them into the game of life and send them off with a "good job there faithful servant"!
She demonstrates faith. She loves people and is always drawn to the expressive ones. She will continue to gather them adding them to her prayer journal. She will think on their last visit together and hold them up before the Lord, holding fast in the Word that if God be for them, then who can be against them.
Huddling together as gathering to meet and actually talk, pray together and maybe sample some food might be on the list of things to do, but foremost it is not tossing "one " around, not tackling them to the ground and give them reasons they failed again or try to jerk them back to normal life, when they have no life. No, those things do not work. Those who love God and are called and know the purpose, it is found in and through the life of Jesus and revealed through the Holy Spirit.

Days of dumbing down to act like the "fun" church", the "will do anything for a laugh church", or that "will out perform their band one more time church" should be gone, done away with forever.

That sound today is the tone of love, it is not forgetting the standard God has in place for righteousness and it is ever mindful of those heading for hell. Jesus did not come to accommodate our culture, He came to set up His kingdom of heaven.

John 18:36
36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
NIV

To us a Child was born and to us a Son was given. He died that we might live unto life eternal with Him. Do we rage on like there is no tomorrow? Do we think we can run our mouths, throw people up against a wall with mouths that shriek horror and expect God to bless our futile efforts? Do we stomp "the future leaders" of tomorrow and expect God to hear our rambling and raving words with no respect at all?
Today, start a habit of speaking positive about others. Today speak one positive thing about yourself. Look at the habits which make you productive and fruitful in your life at home and at work and or church. Persist in seeking out the good. Look for that in others, no matter their race, color or creed.
If  you are busy expect to finish every project. If you are creative, expect to create new things for your home, work or ministry. If you minister, expect to minister life,  not only to your leaders within the church, but the coming leaders within your home. 

When we look at Jesus, He was the Finisher. He finished what He started.
Paul the Apostle was a finisher....2 Timothy 4:7.
Solomon, the wisest man who lived was a finisher. 1 Kings 6:14.
Jesus of course, the Prince of Peace and Cornerstone. Man could approach God without any fear, but could come in peace once and for all. Amen.

God is good and He searches for those who have hearts for HIM. God will hear and will answer prayers of those righteous before Him. But He will not answer that which profanes His very Word. Do not be deceived ........God is not mocked. 

Galatians 6:6-10

6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.  NKJV

What will you add to someone today? How will you leave others after you greet them with "a hello"? Is that all? Should they be more to us than someone we tackled to the floor with a loud and vexing scream that we are the unhappy, and our children are out of order, too?
What if we just told someone thank-you? Thank you Candace for what you do to huddle those people together and to tell them about Communion. Thanks Ron for all you do to gather the forces and clean some gutters, mow the lawn and still buy those groceries. How about that young man who pumps the gas for you when you stop at that gas station in Oregon?

We must sow to the Spirit of God to reap everlasting life. Those who do, will in due season reap if they do not lose heart. God is always on time. There is opportunity today to do good to all and especially those of the household of faith. Let's sow to life. Let's sow to giving our best so that we can expect something good ...........not because we want something back from anyone person, no, but because we desire to please our Father Who is watching.

Let's huddle, not slam the Dummy or tackle him till he is in pieces. No seriously, let's think of the other person around us, or within the group but seems to have a hard time to blend in with the talk and activity. When we pray in the Holy Ghost and live to abide in Jesus, we have the joy marked with a boldness that will gather every man, every woman, every race and every nation to God and declare Him to be God alone. Today, let's make the move to bring others into God's household of faith and may our lights shine brightly to the full light of day in Jesus' name. Amen.

I HAVE A NEW WEB SITE AVAILABLE NOW WITH OTHER CURRENT BLOGS AND YOUTUBE TEACHINGS. I INVITE YOU TOO CHECK IT OUT.  THERE IS A PRAYER REQUEST SECTION ON THE SITE.

www.godsgoodnessandlove.com

Notice:

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: 

Offenses, Disipline and Apostles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5bySdU2fMc

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

A TESTING OF FAITH!

Matthew 15:21-28..................21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." 24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" 26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." 27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.     NKJV

Ever cry out to God, but He does not answer you? This woman came to Him and cried out telling Him that her daughter is severely demon-possessed. 

Do we cry out and hear nothing? It could be God is testing our faith! What do you believe and where does your "trust" lie?

She heard HIM speak to His disciples........" I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

She then spoke, "Lord, help me!"

Lord help me, the one who is crying out for an answer to the situation! LORD! HELP!

John 1:11-13...........11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. NKJV

And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." 24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Ever been dismissed by someone, when you tried to get an answer?  I remember needing some help with a computer once on the job. I could not find anyone who seemed available that could take a moment to help me. It was about 8:10 am, and I needed to check-in. That meant I had to get the computer going since it had the database on it which I needed. Without it on, we could make "no sales" and I could not check-in. Then I saw a man who was over the "supervisors" and he was talking with the owner of company. I walked over, but not to intrude, I waited to ask a question. I can wait a long time!  As soon as they saw me, the man over the supervisor's listened and dismissed me. Yes, it was pretty fast and he moved on with his conversation. I thought surely one of them might come to see why the computer was not coming on. (Yes, I had checked all the cords, and all the plug-ins, and it was time to check-in for work.) I opted to go to main computer by the front door and check-in for work.
I left the computer guessing to another person who would be in about 9 am. And I went and did my job. I blessed those I came in contact with and moved on, AND with a thankful heart.

Let's think about this Gentile woman and the moment she had come on the scene. She asked for help!

A MIRACLE ON THE HORIZON APPEARS! Or does it?
Do we stand fast to see that of which we ask to occur in our lives? Think about what had just transpired in Jesus' life. Was He deterred in anyway to stop what He was doing? He just kept going to those who would receive! Read below:

Matthew 15:1-20..............15:1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." 3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"-- 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 

8'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me. 

9 And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " 

10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." 12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" 13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." 15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us." 16 So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."     NKJV

Yes, this is where Jesus just came from. He had an encounter with the scribes and Pharisees. And He saw the Pharisees offended by His sayings. Jesus told them, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Jesus went on to tell the disciples of the evil which proceeds from the heart and named them. Wash your hands as much as you like, but that is not what defiles a man!

Then He has this woman coming to Him who is so ripe to receive, so ready to give Him an answer for anything He asks or speaks.

STEPPING FORWARD!
Do we as parents readily push forward, stepping out to help our children? When they cry, do we not come to their aide? Was there a dividing line coming?
The woman spoke, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
She knows the children's bread was that of the Jews and to eat at the Master's table. Although she knew Him to be sent for Israel, still she heard and saw the mercy and kindness He expressed to those He came in contact with on His walk through Canaan. She was saying, " I know I am not a Jew and of YOUR house, but I believe, and trust YOU can do something for my daughter."
She had an unwavering faith that Jesus could do that for which she asked. She called Him Lord, and worshiped Him. She expressed a like precious faith. Even in the discouragements of not being a Jew and of the house of Israel, yet she did not relent. She did not give up!
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.  

Will we continue to step forward and believe? Will our hearts betray us, let us down? This woman sought something for her daughter. She did not care if she was compared to the "dogs". She sought out Jesus, the Lord, and His goodness. She sought a miracle for her daughter. For whatever remained, even that of crumbs under the table, was enough for this woman. What He had hoped to see in the scribes and Pharisees, and did not find, He certainly found it in this woman, a Gentile.
Can we move beyond having hurtful feelings and do what the Lord asked? Can we move beyond and see other's healed or come to Jesus? Can we show we have a real desire for that which Jesus died to give us?

Father, Jesus said in Matthew 15:13...that "every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. He was talking about the blind leading the blind. We desire to not be those who are blind. We desire that Christ dwells in our hearts through faith and that we are rooted and grounded in love. (Eph.3:17) We come to the Master's table, to receive that good thing.
We seek to make YOU Lord over our hearts. We truly desire to stay in the light of God and His knowledge. 
Father, we see from the Canaanite woman, a woman who did not buckle down to fear. She did not fall into the fear factor and rely on her five senses. We do not know what she was thinking other than what she spoke. But ONE thing was evident, and that was she wanted her daughter delivered from evil. She chose to pursue Jesus and in making that "right decision" she was brought to healing.
Today, we desire to be men and women who will have that same courage to pray and keep praying.......keep asking, and speak YOUR truth. And as we do, we expect that light to shine and bring us into YOUR glorious presence. We desire to willing submit to Your authority and rule. 
Put a longing in our hearts to talk with YOU and to hear YOUR voice. Your Word says, the just shall live by faith...Romans 1:17. We pray to have faith-filled lives. May we live each day with a leading by the Holy Spirit. We desire to not walk in doubt and fear of what may happen, but we choose to seek YOUR voice and plan for us.

Quiet those voices from the outside that represent the world and five senses. We receive today that we are the accepted in Jesus, and we are free! Holy Spirit we loose You now into our lives and our homes. Have Your way today in us........in Jesus' name. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV