When I See Jesus

When I See Jesus

A man passed me with a look that spoke like a teeming multitude

His children marked the moment with silent smiles

They never asked the question, but the need was expressed with such humility

“Can you tell me where can I see Jesus?”

We’re hurt, alone, and hungry–life has not been kind

The steps have gotten longer on our journey

We’ve searched in places that had promise–but didn’t contain love

We’ve searched in places where people laughed–but didn’t find grace

We’ve searched in places where food and music were abundant–but didn’t find generosity

The banner of my religion didn’t echo a sign of relief

It was the moment I stopped to reach out my hand–that things turned into something REAL, SOMETHING POWERFUL, SOMETHING WITH PURPOSE

I saw Jesus and fed him today

I saw Jesus in a prison cell and helped him find a way….to hope, to learn, to believe once again

I saw Jesus and laughed with him and told him that everything is going to be alright

I saw Jesus in the hospital and prayed with him and stayed at his side throughout the night

The question echoes clearly and I find a daily repeat

The difference now is that I realize—it’s Jesus they need to see

 

A poem by Randy K. Blue, based on Matthew 25:35-40

 

 

Hearing God

Have you ever wondered why it seems there are times when you hear God’s voice clearly and times when you absolutely don’t hear His voice?  I’ve wondered the same thing and it’s during those times that I’ve either had a major breakthrough or a breakdown.  The “through” or “down” was always dependent on my ability to exercise faith and trust that what God said remained true regardless of how things looked.  I’ve also found that there are a myriad of competing voices that seem to rise during those moments that –if given audience–will drown the faith and any sense of passing through in my heart.  Life has a way of presenting challenges on a variety of levels and it is wise not to judge one person’s experience against another.

One person may lose control with the news of a job loss, another is fine and can move forward. Another person may unravel with the announcement of a bad report from the doctor, while another says, “I’ll believe God’s report”. Whatever the news, report, or circumstance–we all have a limit.  Generally those limits have been determined by what we’ve already endured and also by what we still believe about our lives after we’ve come through those situations. The landscape of this world is full of people who have become disillusioned by the trials of life and emotions that overwhelm the best of faith.  There’s a great passage in the Bible from John 10:27 that says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

On first blush, it may not impress you, but our Lord says so much in those few words.  Enough in fact to help all of us know and experience His love on a greater level than we ever thought possible.

“My sheep hear my voice” – We can never allow the circumstances of life to make us forget who we belong to and who has adopted us into the family.  I can still remember as a young child growing up, there was always something distinct about hearing my natural father’s voice. It always evoked a response from me–when I was afraid–his voice brought me comfort, when I was unsure–his voice brought me confidence, when I was lost–his voice gave me direction. Each of the natural examples has a spiritual parallel to our heavenly Father and His voice carries across time, across the world, across every emotion, and every trial. Another key is the fact that I was “interested” in hearing His voice and not taking that privilege for granted. I could actually distance myself from my natural father and eventually not hear him.  I didn’t have that same ability with my heavenly Father, but I could stop listening. It’s in those moments that we leave ourselves vulnerable to the attacks and schemes of our enemy.  If you’re in that place…move quickly back to a position of hearing your heavenly Father and be real in your interest for His voice.

“I know them” – There’s full assurance from God’s word that He knows us so well that He knows what we are thinking, and what we’ll say and do even before our thoughts are formed.  As a father now of three children, there’s a certainty that I know much about my children.  I understand and know their responses to words, life, laughs, trouble, compliments, and criticism. Because I know them, it doesn’t remove my sense of “allowing them” to see who they are and remove those words, life, laughs, trouble, compliments, and criticism. In fact, it makes me want to enrich the experience by always reminding them that they can deal with anything and make it through anything if they rely on God and never give up.  What I watch the most are those moments when what they say and what they do is moving away from the path that they should be on.  It’s at those anticipated moments when knowing them helps me to nudge them gently, or hook them abruptly. Much like the shepherd who has a sheep heading towards a harmful direction or a certain plunge off the side of a cliff. Let me assure you that God knows you and that means He knows what you need, when you need it.  True intimacy is established when we direct that same interest and desire for knowing in our relationship with God.  Jesus said, “This is eternal life: knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” John 17:3

“They follow me” – So this is perhaps the toughest part of our relationship with God. How many times have you and I heard God’s voice and known His love for us and yet…still walk in a different direction?  It’s happened every time I’ve chosen to do my own thing, ignore God’s direction, wisdom, or His word.  I’m amazed at God’s patience with me because there’s so many times when He could have said, “forget it”…but He didn’t do it.  Instead He gave me new mercies every morning, readily responded to my repentance, moved me beyond my pride and firmly said–”you’re going to keep dealing with this until you surrender and truly follow me.”  Sometimes I think we expect God to not tell us the truth and somehow allow us to keep going in a way that doesn’t please Him.  God loves us too much to condemn us–that’s why He sent Christ.  He loves us too much to leave us the way the are–that’s why He sent His Holy Spirit.

God’s speaking to you right now.  Are you interested in Hearing His Voice? ….Answer wisely.

Blessings,

Randy K. Blue

Not Easy to Trust You

I can hear my own heartbeat amid the song of praise

There’s an echo growing fainter, a movement in my soul

I’m looking for a wonder, a path to set me free

God spoke to me so softly, as a gentle wind passes through the trees

I don’t know how to trust you–what you ask is total surrender…

What if I fall or miss or ignore you….will you still be there for me?

Not everyone knows this journey, the narrow path seems true

The people I pass seem distant, as though they’ve missed you too

How do you carry me forward, when my mind keeps repeating the past?

What do you see that I don’t see, that lets me know this is real?

It’s not easy to trust you, because it will cost me everything…

I want to hold on to some remnant of control…yeah, I’ll keep a portion of my heart

Yet the overflow of your love for me–makes it difficult for me to hold…to reserve…to not surrender

Your presence flows right through me and the rivers are cleansing my soul

It’s NOT EASY TO TRUST YOU Lord…yet I stand amazed at …

Your Grace, Your Strength, Your Majesty, Your Love, Your Vision, Your Power, Your Faithfulness

It’s NOT EASY TO TRUST YOU Lord…yet ……I WILL.

A poem by Randy K. Blue

 

Your will be done…

Well it’s a New Year and as usual God is up to something.  I’m continually amazed at how even the tough seasons of life can prove fruitful regardless of the uncertainty, pain, frustration, and yes–disappointment that accompanies transitions.  I’m reminded of some pretty powerful words from Myles Munroe about “Unity of Purpose between God’s will and ours is the ultimate goal of the Father”  It’s funny now that I look back and realize that many times, I have fought or delayed any sense of agreement between God’s will and mine unless “I thought” it was good for me.  That of course is one of the dumbest things that anyone can do because noone knows our purpose and design better than God.  Yet–somehow we spend so much time in life thinking and living like we know better.  Okay–raise your hand if that’s been you too! I hate standing alone on this one.

The world is experiencing a great deal of conflict, turmoil and trouble and there’s something that God intends even in the midst of that chaos.  No amount of determination or self-will can achieve the purpose of God for our lives. It will require an abandonment of the routine ways of acquiring wisdom and understanding.  I truly believe life has these momentary accelerators that allow you to move forward at a quicker pace because you finally make decisions that line you up to do God’s will and there’s no internal argument going on to sabotage the agreement.  Don’t miss the beauty of life even in the midst of pain–because there’s an answer that will satisfy your soul, move beyond the tears, accelerate the learning, and open up doors to a Grace that will blow your mind.

Time to say and really mean…”God, your will be done…”

Blessings,

Randy

Breakthrough

Breakthrough

Free falling through a cloud you were sure would hold you

Amazed by the ones who promised to catch you

Troubled by the ones who laugh at your struggle

Lifted by the ones who believe in you and say so

Burdened for the ones who you know will follow you

…but don’t listen long enough to learn what path to take

Blessed by the ones who never forget your name

Blessed more by the ones who honor you and don’t judge you

Overwhelmed by the God who can speak through each One of them to tell you

Your Breakthrough is the birth of fresh destiny–designed by a God who knew you would win.

A Poem by Randy K. Blue

A Light Must Shine

The time is now for many to step forward and acknowledge the voice of God calling for all of our hearts–not just a portion of our hearts.  Acknowledging that call will require laying aside fears, insecurities, opinions of others, and the comfort of not expecting more from God or ourselves. Most of us are in a fight everyday and that struggle is not an indication of failure–it’s an indication that you have something worth fighting for and moving forward.

It is so much easier to keep God at arm’s length until we reach the soul and spirit stirring conclusion like Jeremiah–there is “fire shut up in my bones”. The fire that will either consume us or propel us to allow God to transform our lives and the lives of those He’s called us to reach. Just an observation, but so many people are running from God right now that it seems He gets blamed for their inability to “be still and know God”. I know because I did the same thing–year after year…getting close and then pulling away. The choice to “sell-out” completely is not a once and for all choice—there is a daily choice to pick up that cross and follow.

I’ve never regretted picking up the cross, but I have regretted the days I did not pick it up and wondered how much closer and powerful would I be in my relationship with God. So many lessons in the last decade about understanding God’s faithfulness and understanding that when humans are no where to be found–I AM, THAT I AM…is always there and ready to help.

It’s time to stop running, take the words from Matthew 5:14-16…^14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Blessings,

Randy

Price of Dreams

I saw a great quote from L. L’Amour about dreams that says, “Sometimes we have the dream but we are not ourselves ready for the dream. We have to grow to meet it.” If you’re like me–you may have thought about the story of Joseph from the Bible.  He is our Biblical poster guy for the tough path of …DREAM–PIT–POTIPHAR–PRISON–PALACE.  There’s something really powerful about accepting that every worthwhile dream is going to be challenged as it becomes reality.  Why?  Because when we have dreams…we’re usually not the “Person Yet” who can truly walk and live the fruition of that dream.  I won’t recount the story of Joseph, but simply say that we all have similar paths and sometimes cyclical seasons to contend with depending on how we do with each stage of our “readiness test” for the dream.

DREAM – prayerfully this is God’s download of what He sees for our future.  Since we have our perspective and not God’s…it only appears as a glimpse because we don’t have the capacity to see the whole like our Omniscient God.

PIT – there is a point where you have to deal with a betrayal and abandonement and find yourself with that “I’m on my own” kind of feeling.  Where many times, family and friends are nowhere to be found or simply don’t understand where you are with life. We may not find a physical pit, but it is still literally a PIT – emotionally and socially.

POTIPHAR – the place of temptation that offers a forked road with a multiple choice answer….What’s set before you is a choice –LIFE or DEATH.  Choosing wisely and going in the direction of LIFE–kills the flesh. Choosing poorly and going in the direction of DEATH–kills the momentum and possibly the DREAM itself. (Good news note: Jesus can resurrect the DREAM…so keep reading)

PRISON - the place of humility and testing that will make you surface and process any motives, attitudes, habits and relationships that are counterproductive to the God-given DREAM. This is also the place where TRUSTING GOD becomes the matter that will leave you with a COMPLETE surrender or a BITTER withdrawal. Best choice–Surrender and mean it.

PALACE – the place where the full DREAM God has for you unfolds in understandable layers and you begin to see that there was a real PURPOSE in the journey. IT is also the place of PROMOTION which confirms that God is the one who has raised you up and not human hands.

Many DREAMS go unfulfilled–stalled in the corridors of this familiar path…but they no longer have to if you’re willing to pay the Price.  God says you’re worth it…so make the investment.

Blessings,

Randy