A Poem: Lesson Learned

“Lesson Learned”

Head hung low in the mirror again

So many thoughts discourage me inside

I once was high with no where to fall

But now I hit that cold brick wall

My hands are dirty and my knees all scraped

I beg for forgiveness and drift in the wake

I hear the whispers and for where they are bound

Lost all my strength like I’m tied to the ground

So weak and so beat everyone dances around 

Cause nothing is more fun that kicking a man thats down

I once was a snake but now Im a lamb

Once so untouchable but now just a man

For all the fire that I once spit to the world 

I’ll gladly stand humbled and take the stones hurled

Inside is my peace in which I will lay

My prayers have been answered it's here I should stay

So if the sun should again fall on my face

And the chains of my past somehow melt away

Please let me not forget what I've learned on this day

Let me hold to the words that are righteous and true

So again I won’t fall into the pit thats so burns

A Thought: Are You In or Out?

God keeps it pretty simple, either you are in or you are out. Say you were going to build a house and you asked for help . A man came and said he would help you and in return you agreed to pay him a fair wage. Imagine then how you would feel if he started showing up absent some days, others he would leave early but there were still somedays he would work all day.  Perhaps you would have concern for his will being and you might be frustrated about falling behind schedule. How upset would you be if you found your laborer across town working on someone else’s house, and that is the reason why they had been missing work or leaving early. I imagine you might feel betrayed. God has things he wishes to accomplish. He doesn’t need our help but he loves us and wants us to join him. How do think God feels if we act as we want to help him help the world on Sunday, if on Monday we commit ourselves to a life promoting and living in sin?

Just a thought.

God keeps it pretty simple, either you are in or you are out. Say oil were going to bills a house and you asked for help . A man came and said he would help you and in return you agreed to pay him a fair wage. Imagine then how you would feel if he started showing up absent some days, others he would leave early but there were still somedays he would work all day.  Perhaps you would have concern for his will being and you might be frustrated about falling behind schedule. How upset would you be if you found your laborer across town working on someone else’s house, and that is the reason why they had been missing work or leaving early. I imagine you might feel betrayed. God has things he wishes to accomplish. He doesn’t need our help but he loves us and wants us to join him. How do think God feels if we act as we want to help him help the world on Sunday, if on Monday we commit ourselves to a life promoting and living in sin?

Just a thought.

Luke 11: 14 - 23

14

Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled.

15

But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons";

16

while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven.

17

But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.

18

And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul.

19

And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

20

But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

21

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace;

22

but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil.

23

He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

A Thought: What My Children Want and What They Need

God loves you and cares about you like your parents. Just like you shouldn’t talk back to your parents in disrespect so you should also not talk back to God. God is willing to give us why we need but it's not always what we want. My children want to eat candy all day everyday but I love them so while I let  them have candy once in a while I make sure they also have balanced meals to help them grow healthy. 

Exodus 17: 3 - 7
3	But the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?"
4	So Moses cried to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me."
5	And the LORD said to Moses, "Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the rod with which you struck the Nile, and go.
6	Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7	And he called the name of the place Massah and Mer'ibah, because of the faultfinding of the children of Israel, and because they put the LORD to the proof by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

A Poem: You Are Not Alone

“You Are Not Alone”

The burn in your heart is there

But somehow your skin is cold

The road is long and hard

You stand still seeing the view

Sweat it rolls slowly off your brow

Your muscles ache from everything so far

You’d like to rest just for a moment

But the ground burns so hot

Never fear for I can see

Cause I have been here before

Just turn around and ask

You are not alone

I know you might feel fragile

But  I am by your side

If you need to lean

My shoulder is here to ride

If you feel your stumbling 

Just about to fall 

I have two hands here empty

They just wait for your call

Maybe you are so confused 

You don’t know what to think 

Just know my ears are waiting 

All you have to do is speak

If you think for just one second

Your weight is too much to bear

That second is too long to think

Otherwise I would not be here

I know you think its heavy 

But for me it's really light

Just ask for my assistance

And I will help you through the dark

You’re not alone for here I stand

Waiting for your call

My strength is yours if you need

For we can make it through it all.

Michael Timothy Smith

copyright 2014

A Thought: Singing to Those You Love

Have you ever had someone sing to you about how wonderful you are and all the wonderful things you do for them. Neither have I, but I am a musician and a songwriter and as my family will attest to a little different from most. I have on occasion been known to make up little songs around the house and sing them to my children about them and how they make me feel. I have even had an occasion to write , preform, and record songs about my wife and how wonderful she is. When I sing these songs for them the funniest thing happens. A smile breaks out from ear to ear

Generally embarrassment ensues because most people are just no used to having praises sung to them, but God loves music, it is a gift fe has given us and after creating an entire world for us to live that provides all we need he asks only 10% of our labors in return. Even credit card companies want on average 15%. A song is merely icing on the cake.

Psalms 95: 1 - 2, 6 - 9
1	O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2	Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
6	O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7	For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would hearken to his voice!
8	Harden not your hearts, as at Mer'ibah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9	when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

Smack Me in the Face if I Try to Brag Please

One thing I love to see in life is greatness. Someone who has the ability to do something to a great success.  Often times men and women in the sports realm come to mind. For me it is inspiring to see someone accomplish something difficult. I think to myself,"wow now that is an amazing thing". I am happy to see others succeed and it makes me realize that if I dig deep and push myself that I can become something more, something better than I was yesterday

What can ruin it all is when someone begins to brag. Its as if the more someone trys to inflate what they did the more it deflates the actual accomplishment. I don't mind someone being happy with their success but I find more amazement when the following attitud3e is, "yes, I accomplished this and I am happy, but lets move on the next thing." When I see someone bragging  it devalues the accomplishment because it stops becoming about the conquering of a task and becomes a glorification of a person by them self.

When I try to do something good or great it is not for me. I do it for someone else to help humanity because I love humanity and I wish it to be better off.  It is about them and not about me. I do not wish to glorify myself. I wish to make the world a better place.

Jesus came and loved. He didn't stand upon an altar and say, "look at me. Kiss my feet and worship what is glorious before you". He humbly traveled from town to town and taught to those who wished to learn. He healed those that were ill. He often tried to avoid crowds when they became great. Jesus at one point took time and washed the feet of his disciples.

So with this as my example I move through each day looking to serve. In this season of Lent I try and sacrifice and show thanks for what I have. As I sacrifice it is a challenge buy I move around in love and try to show love. I maintain my peace and try to share it. I find happiness in each day and try to reflect and validate it for if I was to sacrifice and then lament and try to get attention for my suffering it would only cheapen my sacrifice. It makes my sacrifice less genuine. I sacrifice what I love to acknowledge what I have and my blessing and to become closer to God. I do not wish to cheapen that act for I want to show thanks and not just revel in glory here but to reach heaven where I will have the glorious company of God.

Matthew 6: 1 - 6, 16 - 18
1	"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2	"Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3	But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4	so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5	"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6	But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
16	"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
17	But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18	that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

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A Thought: I am a Sinner

     One thing is for certain, I am a sinner.  Everyday I wake up and make my way out into the world with my flaws. I do my best to overcome my character flaws and desires for past vices and become a better person than I was yesterday, last week, last year and so on.  How do I do this? With God at my side, by studying the teachings of Jesus and with the help of the Holy Spirit. I travel through each day on the path of becoming a  better man. 

     When I learned Jesus came to serve me it really threw me for a loop.  I didn't quite know how to accept that information.  Honestly the world blows my mind. When I see the seasons turn and their purpose, how the circle of life unfolds and how life is designed to feed each other I am in awe. The world just seems to work so well no matter what man tries to throw at it, and that's one of the reasons I believe in God. Because of all I have I am very thankful.  I am a very  blessed person despite all of my flaws and mistakes God blesses me with all I have. Each week I work hard to show my gratitude and thanks. I give when I can as much as I can. When I see others in need I try very hard to break out of my shy introverted nature and help others. I don't want to collect recognition or thanks. It is just how I try to serve my lord.

     So hearing that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are serving me is very humbling.  but its true, over the years I have been served well by the Lord. God has listened to my in my ours of need. God has answered may a prayer , maybe not the way I would have liked but he has answered. Through reading the Gospel and "chance" happenings in my life Jesus has taught me to love and be loved taking my life to places and feelings I have never known. And with the Holy Spirit I have been given the courage, knowledge, words and enlightenment to stay on the right path and to help those around me.

     Just as God serves me I do my best to serve him. As I pass through life I try to stay on the lookout for those I can hold the door open for. I look for those that I can serve and possibly help get to heaven. For that is what I learn from God to serve to love to help others in return for what I have received and to show thanks. Because though God may have all and be all he takes time for those who want him. He is prepared to be the last to leave and so he rewards those who, though maybe lowly and last, because of their sacrifice for others he allows them to be first in heaven.

Mark 10: 28 - 31
28	Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you."
29	Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,
30	who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
31	But many that are first will be last, and the last first."