A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to watch a touching video created by Dean L. Bauman in memory_ of Keith Green’s song “The Prodigal Son Suite.” I was interrupted and didn’t get to watch it through to the end. I had intended on finding this video on my own at home to finish viewing it. Well, I finally did and it has affected me tremendously. This video (which was motivated by the song), coupled with a biblical understanding of the parable that Jesus told in Luke 15:11-32, really hit home.

This is how my exploration unfolded:

1) I began my quest by reading from the book, “A Complete Practical Guide – How To Get the Bible Into My Life : Appplying God’s Word” by Stephen M. Miller. I actually bought this book YEARS ago in 2002. In the subject index I looked up The Prodigal Son and read the corresponding section.


2) Then I researched the term “prodigal” from the online merriam-webster website to be sure I fully understood the layman’s definition.
Merriam-Webster : Definition – Prodigal


3) Next, I read the story in the Bible, “The Parable of the Lost Son” in Luke 15:11-32. If you do not own a Bible here is a link to an online resource to read the story in any version you prefer. The link I have provided here is from the New Living Translation (NIV).
New Living Translation: Parable of the Lost Son


4) Read the lyrics to Keith Green’s song “The Prodigal Son Suite” to fully understand the script behind Bauman’s video. If you do not have any problems hearing the lyrics in music videos then you will not need to do this step although I still recommend it because reading the lyrics can “set the stage” in your mind for the story to make its home.

Keith Green – “The Prodigal Son Suite” (Scroll down to middle of page for lyrics)

5) Next, watch Bauman’s video: (if you cannot view it here, it can be found at vimeo.com/2292296)

6) Grab your tissues… or your shirt sleeve (if you have not already) and share with God why you struggle with following your own heart before God’s while thanking Him for accepting us at any moment in our lives no matter what we have already done. He wants you EVERY SINGLE TIME you come to Him!! He wants to continue giving to us no matter what our mistakes. Come to Him with a sincere heart is ALL He asks.




God Bless you!!

I love God and His people so much. So WHY do I still feel I do not ‘mount to anything and nothing I do makes things right around me or yields the appearance of the fruitful life I feel I should be leading?

This was MY question and now my hope and prayer is that there is somebody out there whom I may reach who’s heart in the same place I am right now, ready and waiting for this very same message. This message comes from the heart of the book of Romans which is said to be the greatest of Paul’s letters and is foundational to Christian living and understanding God’s truth. It is the perfect recipe for those whom are seeking God’s word in this area similar to my question above. I believe these messages will have the same WOW factor for those of you too whom God is also speaking to in this same area in your life.

“It is the supreme discovery of the Christian life that we do not need to torture ourselves with a losing battle to eearn God’s love but rather need to accept in perfect trust the love which God offers to us. True, after that, any man of honor is under the life-long obligation to show himself worthy of that love. But he is no longer a criminal seeking to obey an impossible law; he is a lover offering his all to the one who loved him when he did not deserve it.”
– William Barclay – The Daily Bible Study Series : Romans 4:1-8

“On the one hand there (is) dependence on human effort; on the other, dependence on divine grace. On the one hand there (is) the constant losing battle to obey an impossible law; on the other, there (is) the faith which simply takes God at his word.”
– William Barclay – The Daily Bible Study Series : Romans 4:13-17

Below is a “recipe” I am about to share with you which I just recently followed in my search for answers regarding the subject discussed above. It proved to be an extremely rewarding one satisfying my appetite more fully than I had ever anticipated. This outline will also expose you to a few great resources.




Please follow the outlined links below:

1) Pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit as you read and listen to the following studies. Or, you can pray the following simple prayer:

Father, I can’t understand Your word without Your grace. I acknowledge my weakness so Your power can reach perfection in me (2 Cor 12:9). Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth (Jn 14:26; 16:13). May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me (see Lk 8:15-16). Thank you and Amen.

2) Read Romans 4:1-25 (I also read the commentaries, but that is up to you.)
[Or click below and read an online version - this link is a direct link for the NLT (New Living Translation) translation]
Romans 4:1-25 NLT version

3) Listen to Pastor Richard Dahlstrom from Bethany Community Church, Seattle, WA website:
[click on any of the links at the end of the post to listen to the sermon]
Who Receives the ‘Faith’ Deal? – Romans 4 (Website) Includes 10 discussion questions

or, go directly to the audio only of the sermon:
Who Receives the ‘Faith’ Deal? – Romans 4 (Audio only)

4) Read Romans 4 “THE FAITH WHICH TAKES GOD AT HIS WORD” from The Daily Study Bible Series, by William Barclay from Google Books website:
[Scroll down to page 72, Romans 4:1-8 and read through page 83 (or purchase the book)]
The Faith Which Takes God At His Word – William Barclay Romans 4:1-25 pg 72-83

5) Just for fun: Here’s a link to Pandora’s internet radio site. You can listen to this while reading as I enjoy doing when studying the Word. You will need to create a very simple and free account and then you can create any “channel” which suits your music preference. For example, just type in “Christian Music” or “Micheal W. Smith” and you’re listening
Pandora Internet Radio




ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
More coming in the next few days

So WHY didn’t I pray this morning?

Woke up and had to go the bathroom. Discovered there was no more T.P. and I had left the replacement in the car (omitting the rest of that detail). While at my car I ran into a neighbor who I often chat with when we get the opportunity. Got back inside and heard my computer’s new mail alert sound and could not rest my mind until I knew who it was from…. looked like it may be from a job prospect, nope. Another alert sounded, it was a very old friend IM-ing me for a chat. Chatted for a little while. Decided I’d better get to my prayer time to start the day out right and ask for His safety and guidance, even though if this had been war I would have been dead a couple hours ago. I went into the kitchen to get my cup of coffee which is a routine I must do in order to trigger my psyche to hone in on any one subject with a quiet mind. I failed to get the coffee pot back on the burner squarely…. coffee went everywhere (including beneath several other electrical appliances). I cleaned it all up (and shined a few other things while at it). The phone rang and it was my mother who is out of town for a couple weeks. Finally, I grabbed my Bible, refilled my coffee mug and went to my prayer spot. My back begins to cramp big time! I tried to pray but could not think of anything but the discomfort. Hunted for the ibuprofen only to remember I had them in a bag from a trip from the previous weekend. I got a glass from the kitchen and took them with some water. I heard my dear stray feline friend meowing at my door for his lunch. He only comes around about once a week… I adopted him as my own since my own 2 cats died about a year ago. I opened the door to take advantage of his rare visit. He helped himself in my front door and sniffed out each corner of “his place” again and I loved him up for about 20 minutes…… and well, what happened next? I let him back outside with his food, I took a shower, got dressed and ran my errands….. it was 4pm when I realized I had completely forgotten that I had been trying to do my morning prayer. I did finally get to my prayer time but had to take most of it to the bed with me. I love falling asleep with Him the last on my mind!

Did this story happen exactly like this? Well no, but not too far off. I bet your stories are not much different. At any rate, God’s grace and humor falls upon us and He showers us with love despite our errors. He is also quite understanding in a little delay in thanksgiving… most of His due thanksgiving usually never even materialize since we are simply unaware of His innumerable acts of love!

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. – Psalm 60:6, NLT

God Bless

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wow, where did the time go?? i had also completely forgotten i had even started this new blog. i have most certainly been successful in my personal endeavors and it is ongoing fur sure. my spiritual life continues to grow and my enthusiasm for my future amplified. so much has happened inside. i was hoping to capture what i knew was going to be the beginning of an incredible adventure. God has blessed me more than i would have ever imagined. i am changing inside in very positive ways (of course) and i am recognizing them and where the source of my strength is coming from!

i certainly hope to be able to explain where there are just no words right now but i also have no intention in rushing that process. somehow i have learned that i can trust God to orchestrate this awesome time in my life and thereafter. i am learning how to draw closer to Him and STAY there for longer periods of time so that i will have already donned the armor of God BEFORE the battle draws near.

sometimes i am even speechless because there are simply no words to describe what happens spiritually. its just a “know” thing. it becomes a part of you that you cannot explain how it works. for instance, the most of us cannot explain how our brain tells us our bladder is full but we sure recognize when it happens!

OK, i have already rambled enough.

goodnight.

i think i forfeited my rights to a visit from the sandman last night when i repeatedly reached for the pen and notepad to jot down my thoughts and refused to just let them settle on their own.  my brain was all over the place and i was not willing to put the notepad aside which would have only neglected the creativity that has notoriously saved my butt in the past.  thinking while sleeping is good too, but this time i think it would have stifled the process i already had going.  i know God also speaks to us during our quietest moments, which i’d imagine one of them would be while sleeping, right? LOL . but, have you ever waken up with a solid answer to a problem or mystery you have chewed on for some time and wham, a clear solution sits before you before your head even leaves the pillow?  that is a real energy booster, but when you wake up having created a scenario that you need a solution to….. now THAT’S annoying.  i must have spent a good part of my cat naps this time though dreaming up more problems… or possibilities i shall call them, if i’m gonna look at it in the light of things.

i have found that most of these times when one day spills into the next missing the opportunity to indulge in that sweet time we call bedtime, it usually leads me to some kind of great revolution, or the feeling thereof.  there is no mystery how lack of sleep causes one to become “high” on life with a great boost of optimism, although only temporary, but then leaves you doubly depleted of energy and makes you look like a fool as you try to make sense out of a bunch of adjectives with no direction.  ok, i think i hear the sandman knocking on my door.
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Compassion.  It can be such a cleansing emotional response to hurt, injustice, or chaos in the lives of those around us.  Somehow it seems that compassion is capable of zoning into pain, processing it, AND converting it into the good, clean hope God desires for us in the face of inequity. It is capable of offering hope and strength from which it in itself is coming from, the Holy Spirit.
Compassion allows for hurt or disappointment to be made sense of outside of its origin where the mind of the afflicted may have become too clouded by its consequences.  In other words, an eagle’s point of view can prove extremely valuable. This only works when another person is willing to expose her own vulnerable self and temporarily wear the same weighted cloak of the distressed. This act of love in itself can provide a sense of hope and edification for both parties. A helper who is working with the Holy Spirit can swoop down and snatch the goodness from the deep sea (because of the birds-eye view) and offer it to the one who may have been without because temporarily she can only navigate the waters from her horizon.

Maybe I can go back to sleep now

Good night again.  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I am a “full-blooded” Christian, meaning with ALL MY HEART I believe in the Trinity and that Christ has died for my sins and rose so that I may choose to become a completely new creation in Him.  My life belongs to Him and I will serve Him simply out of my love for Him solely by the strength of the Holy Spirit.  Every day is a personal choice to listen to the Spirit’s guidance and then take His hand and follow.  And it is this process that will be the meat motivating this blog and my growing process…  despite their topics.

Bless all you fellow Christians whom seek Him with all your heart with a deep passion to become more and more Christ-like each day.  I get excited thinking about my Heavenly family!

Till later.