The Snake & The Man

Several years ago I heard a psychologist speak at a co-dependant meeting I was attending, a category I knew I met all the criteria at the time. The noted psychologist told the story of a snake at the bottom of a mountain where a man was preparing to hike to the summit. The snake seeing the man and a possible opportunity slithered over to him ever so kindly and in its sweetest most gentle voice asked the climber, "Good sir, would you kindly take me to the top? You could put me in your pocket and take me out when you get to your destination." The man alarmed jumped back a step and peering down at the snake responded "No, you are a snake and you will bite me!" The snake thinking ahead of the man quickly exclaimed, "I promise I will not bite you. Just put me in your pocket and take me out when you arrive at the top. I will go on my way." The man began to ponder this as the snake did have an attitude of humbleness and after all seemed gentle enough. Maybe the man could help the snake. Being a person of compassion and wanting to help others the man finally, however with a slight hesitation, replied to the snake, "OK I will take you to the top." The man bent down, picked up the snake and slipped it ever so softly into his front coat pocket. After several long hours the man finally stood on the summit. He reached into his pocket and set the snake on the ground. The snake looked up at the man and without missing a beat bit the man on the shin of his leg sinking it's fangs deeply injecting lethal doses of venom. The man startled and confused writhing in pain began shouting at the snake, "You bit me!" The snake quickly began to slide it's slimy body across the rocks however turned back to face the man with a sneering look and eyes as evil as the night hissed, "But you knew I was a snake...."

How sad but true this story is for those who think they are making wise decisions but know in their hearts their choices will prove as fatal as the mans. The mans mistake came because he did not seek counsel about the snake nor did he trust in himself to believe what he knew to be true. The man let the snake tell him he was not a snake. He also went against common reason and began to believe that compassion meant listening to a false statement and acted on his heart of mercy rather than realizing sometimes compassion must say "No!"

GOOD ENOUGH?

In my humble opinion I think we need the extremists, the tree hugger and the “crazy religious folks” as AxeMan calls them (from another blog) to balance the universe. It causes us to strike a middle ground offering some sacrifice to each to make peace. However because of this the friction is growing in America and across our great world. How does this affect me as a HUMAN? I must use my influence wisely. After searching I have come to conclude for me I can not take credit for being a ‘good human.’ Left to my own device I fall short. I also have come to the conclusion that I can not take credit for any ‘good’ I might do. Oh sure I can ‘be’ good when I want to be good but to be ‘good’ all the time…can’t do it! That brings to point another conclusion of the judge of GOOD. Who judges my good? Is it you another HUMAN or is it by my own standard of measure? How much is good enough? If I feed the poor what about the other poor I did not feed, since there will always be the poor. If I give money, what about the money I did not give and used for some selfish act to satisfy a selfish desire. Who is the judge of my giving? It is too much to bear to be both judge and jury of my own destiny. Guilt and shame and condemnation are the judge….I can never be GOOD enough! I have come to the conclusion after careful study and analysis that the universe is too big and complex, too beautiful and beyond my understanding. And after careful study have concluded there is a God and He created it all. It is His measure of GOOD I live by and not my own. It is He in me that produces the desire to ‘BE’ a better HUMAN and it is by His measure I serve others and in this serving I find peace.

Desired Love

It is the longing of every heart to be loved, a deep rich thirst quenching love. A love of selfish desire of satisfying depths. A love that goes far beyond outward appearance and inward dysfunctions. A love that listens with admiration and desire. A love with passion and greatness in its ambitions. How can this love be found? Every man, woman and child cries out in their search for the elusive love that for brief moments makes it's human presence known. The longing and pain for lack of this love pushes us to pursue the fleeting glimpses and settle for the moments, precious as they are, yet without lasting fulfillment. Jesus says He is a living water always fresh and satisfying. His love is everlasting without confines or restrictions His love is beyond measure or depth. God says this love can only be found in Him...John 3:16.

http://dynamicliving4u.com/

Listen first to the video in the Title then come back to read the blog. While the event posted at the end of the video is long past the message will live on forever. Do you believe God loves you? It is truly the separation of the believer. How can we say we believe and not believe wholly the purity of God's great love? I do not think we can. It goes back to my blog post on looking in the mirror. What do you say about yourself when you look in the mirror? Does your message reflect how much you are loved just the way you are? This is a tough question and it is one I am working on. I can not give what I do not own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxOytYLlhiQ

First click on the link in the title page and listen to an amazing diamond in the rough. Then come back to read the blog. I know we have heard several people like Paul Potts lately who have incredible voices however have been judged by what is seen on the outside. I tell the ladies I mentor that the real person is the one on the inside when they close the door of their home to outsiders. When we hear these talents we are thrilled with their abilities and quite amazed and yet perplexed because we find ourselves asking the question, "where have you been all your life?" It seems some of these hidden talents tend to be older, yet I admit some have been younger, but it is the older ones we marvel most about. Because news spreads fast, venues like youtube and others quickly alert us when these talents are discovered. Yet on the outside and until they open their mouth, judgement is still persistent. Even after the talent is exposed a makeover becomes one of the first priorities, oh not necessarily by the talent themselves but by the important people looking on. Why is that? Actually truth be known it helps to remove the judgement about the person. In real estate the first impression known as 'curb appeal' sells the house. Anyway, much like these new found talents God is looking for the person on the inside. He isn't much concerned with what you look like on the outside. Are you a diamond in the rough waiting for your talent to be exposed? Perhaps you say "I can't sing!" Well neither can I. In fact I am accused of being tone deaf, but that is another story. Or you might have said, "I do not have a talent." Ouch! Ask God to show you His talent that He created you to share with the world. It is there. Don't judge yourself by the outward appearance. Ask God to help you look deep inside. What is your passion? The talent is probably submerged there. The world needs the diamond you might have had hidden all these years. Take a deep breath and step on stage.....

Value of Life

On this early Saturday morning in the heat of an August summer in Phoenix Arizona I began to muse on the value of life. The air-conditioning vent just quite blowing the cool air over my body and small beads of tiny moisture has begun to settle on my forehead. The house is quiet, my husband off to his usual Saturday early morning golf game. His robe is found thrown over a chair in the family room so not to disturb me as he quickly dressed in the faint light of the dawn. My coffee is cooling down as it sits beside my laptop. I am too busy typing to drink from the cup. God has reminded me of my value. An often overlooked and underestimated value. As much as I try, I fight the fact I have no clue what my value is to me or to God. Sometimes I think I have great value and other times, especially when I am looking in the mirror, I can not find value at all. The words that come to mind: too fat, loose skin, eyes wrinkly, skin sagging, age creeping. Why I can wave with the skin that hangs from my underarm! Can't you? What am I saying? Am I crazy to type this out and acutally let the world read my insecurities? I must be! But in spite of all of my ineffeciencies, I am valuable. God loves me. He says so. The price that was paid for me was beyond my understanding and yet this price is my hope. I am working on what I say when I look in a mirror. I want those thoughts to match the words I read about me in the Bible. What words do you think on when you look in the mirror? Do they reflect the words that God says about You? Do you know what God says about You? If not read the book of John in the New Testament. This book will give you more understanding of who this person was that gave everything for you and me. Regardless of what we think or believe.

Twitter

Check out my new twitter page at http://twitter.com/home