The Storms Expose`

The imperfect Christian remembers a bright sun filled September morning, leaving home, and going to obtain a background check, from the Sheriffs Department for a new job. On the way back home he stopped to visit a friend. The friend was a very heavy sleeper so the imperfect Christian continued on his way home. When he arrived he was once again totally shocked! His wife in sheer utter shock as well, said a plane had just crashed into one of the Twin Towers in New York! Not long after that we heard people yelling in the background, and a second plane hit the second tower. The imperfect Christians wife said, "They thought that it could be terrorist, and I think that just confirmed it!" The imperfect Christian fell to his knees and cried. One tragedy per year should be more than enough right? The imperfect Christian's best friend and uncle was killed while working on July 4th. July 4th was always a huge family gathering, and on this one the family would mourn. September 11th was much the same.

Storms come in a variety of ways. They can be natural like Irene, that just hit mostly the entire Eastern Seaboard, or they can come in the fashion of a terrorist attack. They can even come in the form of a spiritual attack as well. We do not wrestle flesh, nor blood, but principalities of the dark. Regardless of the storm, the imprefect one tries to remember a few key things:

1. If we allow the storm to expose our dirt, we may go through a cleansing.
If we confess our faults one to another, and pray, then we may be healed, the fervent, effectual prayer of the righteous avails much! James spoke of of Elijah praying for the rain to cease, and then for the rain to once again fall and end the three and a half years of drought, and God honored his request. (James 5:16-18)

2. If we allow the storm to expose our hurt, then we may find strength to heal. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials-gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. (I Corinthians 3:12-15) Healing comes at a price sometimes. In order to heal, you have to have something that hurts. So is reaching Salvation, and being in Christ, like a house on fire? We are judged by the kind of "work" we do. Can you imagine as one preacher illustrated so eloquently... can you imagine your house being on fire while you're in it asleep? You wake up coughing, and on fire. Your spouse is engulfed in flames and the smell of smoke and her buring flesh sickens you instantaneously. You do not have time to go for any valuables, no pets, your kids are upstairs and the roof just caved in, and you heart broken and scared for your life go for broke, and jump through the huge bare spot in what used to be your bedroom wall, and the fire fighter standing outside says to you, "Thank GOD, at least you made it!" How devastating would it be to live a life that would only be self preserving? Can you imagine getting to Heaven and getting the news that your wife/husband and children didn't make it? Please Lord God, let the imperfect losses stop today.

3. If we allow it the storm will expose that work.
James 1:22 says not to be just hearers of the Word, but doers also. Let our work be like the precious metals mentioned in Paul's writing to Corinth, that the imperfect one mentioned in the afore paragraph. Let the fire refine, but not consume. Let us suffer no loss.

4. Finally if we allow ourselves the discipline to praise Him in the storm, the storm will expose His worth.
He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. (Proverbs 25:28)
Even in the toughest of times, we must remember to give Him the praise, and not allow our spirit to fell us. We must have discipline and control. The imperfect one would love to watch the Vuelta A Spain, but baby girl in the first grade y'all (still amazed at this!) has homework. So weakened spirit, tighten up, we have work to do. We have things that need to be taken care of with house and auto maintenance, but we so desperately want to go splurge and buy a new cell phone, or latest trinket! Better yet let's play the lotto until there are not any funds left! Even in the storm be angry and sin not. Keep your mind clear, and praise Him, because just like 9/11, and Irene, that storm doesn't last always! The imperfect one's, uncle may not be present in body, but his spirit is present with the Lord, he is now in his glorified body. The imperfect one prays that along with many other family members and extended family members too see him again in his/their own glorified bodies. The storms expose` could be the greatest manifestation of a miracle that you experience, so hold tight, stay focused, and let the storm bless you, because you have a Savior mighty enough to calm it, and see you through!

Well past the imperfect bed time again! So until next time...
Peace, Blessings, and Joy... that real PB&J!

Does This Ever Happen To You?

Imagine a bright sunny day, on a small town street. You're sitting in front of the bank with your windows down, a slight summer breeze eases through, and gently caresses your face. You can hear the river flowing just above a whisper off of the bank below, but you can hear the playing children clear as a bell. You can hear their enthusiasm as they are running about, laughing, and playing at the park on the other side of the river. Ahhh... the sound of small town laughter to remind you of your own youth. It's invigorating isn't it?! That's good medicine no matter who you are, however, abruptly out of the Carolina Blue, that joyful memory stroll is interrupted by a horn toot and flashing lights just down the street. Your perfect get-away sabotaged by noise pollution! In the country you can't say a block down, because this small town street is more like the one traffic light town. This town in particular has only a few shops left on it's main strip. It's a small town where pretty much everyone knows each other.

In this one particular case, however, it was the first time that the imperfect Christian had ever witnessed this person. She was petite, but looked a tad bit feisty! She appeared to be rushed on this beautiful sun filled day, and somewhat aggravated about it. She stormed out of her building, hands full, arms loaded, and now trying to get into a station wagon parked directly in front of her buildings doorway. She tugged at the handle, and for the life of herself, could not get the door to budge. She sat her coffee mug on top of the car, and now tugs even harder, and still no go. She tries the key fob again, and again a toot, and more flashing lights as she stands next to the drivers door.

At this time the imperfect Christian is almost in tears and trying to stay out of sight until he can regain his composure. He notices her reaching for the lock on the door with the key. At this point the imperfect Christian thinks about how bad he would feel if someone would have to have a lock replaced, or if they would have to have repairs made to their vehicle because he sat back and did nothing. Sure it made for a good laugh, but now the laugh was done, and it was time to assist and do the right thing. So the imperfect Christian opens the door of his church van, that is now a makeshift delivery van, and yells down the street to her, "Ma'am, their is a car just like the one you're attempting to get into, with the lights flashing right behind you." She throws her hands up, and says, "How dumb was that!?" She waves to thank me, walks back to the other car (hers) embarrassed, and still talking to herself while opening car door. It was too funny!

Then there was a time when the imperfect Christian was standing with a friend in the bank parking lot talking. We had just left the building, and were reminiscing over the past, when a man walked out of the bank, rudely said, "Excuse me," split between my friend and I, and got into the car we were standing next to. He fumbled around in his pocket, took one more hateful look at us, and then grabbed his keys, paused and looked around the car, and then slipped out a wirty dord...

My friend amazed said, "He just got into my car!" I asked if she knew the man, and she replied, "NO!" I turned back to look at him, and he got out of the car, and said, "I can't believe I got in the wrong .... car!" My friend said, "It's OK." I laughed and thought yeah we couldn't believe that either, I won't ask how you feel right about now, cause it shows all over your face! Classic small town duh... I left my brain inside moments.

Last but not least, on my way back home, I witness another station wagon funny. A man walks out of the gas station and tries to open the back gate on a Post Mortem Transport'em. It's locked, and the man shows his disgust. So he walks to the back passenger door, and gives the handle a tug, which results in an even more frustrated look. With one last attempt, he goes to the front passenger door, and is hot enougn to spit fire at this point. He goes back to the rear of the little station wagon, and take a glimpse to his left. What does he see? A car that is exactly like the one he's trying to break into! Again hilarious! The owner walks out with the lady that is accompanying the man, and imperfect Christian number two in the back seat rolls his window down to hear the man get cursed out. Instead the woman (owner of the car) starts laughing about it, puts her beer in the front seat, and the man and his family laugh back to their car, and he comes back, they talk more, and laugh a little more, and he says, "Well at least no one else saw, me and you didn't come out here mad and all." Then he looked to his right, and there we are the two imperfect Christians with grins from ear to ear! This happens way to often when I am around, but by the grace of GOD has yet to happen to me. Thank You GOD! (Smile)

Yeah the devil unloads some crazy things on us. We lose our focus, we believe the lies, and we have to snap out of it, and get on back on board. It's a lot easier, however, if we allow Jesus to see us back on board, and into the peaceful shore. Peter could have attempted to swim back to the boat, and climb aboard, but instead, Peter had to snap out of it, regain focus, and call on the Lord. Jesus not only took Peter to shore safely, but got all of the disciples back to shore safely. If you've lost focus today, I would like to pray for you. As a born again Christian, I will ask those born again to pray for me as well. Please leave your request at the site: http://sites.google.com/site/gotravvy

If you wish you may leave your name, or an alias, and please know that all requests are confidential. So please leave us your email information, and requests and if you desire we will get in touch with you as soon as we possibly can. Thank you and God bless.

Peace, Blessings, and Joy... (That real PB&J)