Here is a saying that I came up with. I think it explains very succinctly the principle that doing something you’ve never done before is difficult, and without a teacher or guide, you are bound to make mistakes.

Maybe it has been said before by different people or in different ways, but to my knowledge, here it is for the first time:

“Life is very hard, especially on your first try.”

And now to add to this is the fact that Jesus is the One who has gone before us, and has lived the Christian life for us. We need not stumble through life, because we have a guide, and a light.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

And not only that, but we have others that have gone before us too:

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Hebrews 12:1-2

We’ve got no excuse to remain defeated in life! Others have gone before us and triumphed over much worse than what we have to deal with. And most of all, with have the Holy Spirit, God within us, to help and guide us into all truth.

You may notice from the subject of the post that this message is about money. Not quite, but it does tie in with money, and my thoughts on what has true value. You may notice that I have never asked for any money, and I probably never will. You may have also noticed that my website does not have any advertising or any other affiliate banners. There is a reason for this: for me, this is completely a labor of love. I think that this message shown below will help explain how I feel.

But first, I do want to ask for something, if you can spare it: prayer. I really do appreciate your prayers, and I would ask that if God ever puts me on your heart, to please be faithful in praying. I won’t pretend to be self-sufficient: I need your prayers! This is so greatly valued to me, so much more than any monetary gain could ever be.

The Currency of Heaven

The currency of heaven is blessing, and its checkbook is prayer.

Beloved, it is My will for you to be rich in grace, rich in mercy, and rich in your knowledge of Me.

Invest in Me, for My riches are incomparable to anything that the world has to offer. Heaven’s exchange rate is always good, and My returns are divine.

“When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” -Luke 14:12-14

Don’t you know that one day the things of this earth shall pass away? And what shall you carry with you into the next life? If I have said that even marriage shall be dissolved in the resurrection, (Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25, Luke 20:35), how much more then shall I do away with the vain things of this world?

Beloved, let not your heart be troubled at my sayings: think not that I seek to tear down or strip away without remedy, but rather, I am making room for a more abundant blessing. For the treasures of heaven will far outweigh the things of earth; in the resurrection, they shall seem to you as silly play-things and toys. You have yet to see the full goodness of my blessings.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” -2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Have faith. Trust that I am good. Trust that I know what is best for you. Though you cannot yet see it, have faith that there is a far better place, and far better blessings for you in your devotion to Me.

Let the things of this earth grow dim, and reach just beyond that blackened sky: for a great number of suns and stars await beneath the horizon.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth… But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” -Hebrews 11:13, 16

The following is also used as the welcome message when you subscribe to the mailing list. So, maybe some of you have already heard this, or will hear it twice if you join the mailing list. It was originally sent out for the first time on 7/8/06. (And yes, I have to admit, I was partially thinking of Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner when I wrote this!)

I just wanted to share something that I wrote as sort of an encouragement from God that He gave me a while back. I had been distressed and worried about things in life all day that day, and that evening I wrote a short piece and finally received a peace from God.

Don‘t Look Down

Look.
Look at Me.
My child, look to Me.

Look into My eyes, and know this: I am your salvation. I am your healing.

You need not understand all of what is happening, but simply that I am the answer. Don‘t look down to your own ways, but rather, look up to Mine. Do not look to your mire, but look to My rainbow. Do not focus on your own faults, but know the power of God. Do not look to the entanglements of sin, but rather the goodness of God.

Beloved, you have crossed from death unto life. You have run off a steep cliff, and you have not fallen. You are afloat on My grace. Don‘t look down.

You have run off a steep cliff; and, how can this be!? It is My salvation. Just as Peter walked out onto the water to Jesus, so too have I called you unto Myself. Don‘t look down. Do not see the difficulties below, but the boundless power above.

Look at My countenance. I am your health. I am your purity. I am your strength. You need not sift them out from the hay and stubble of the world. Look unto Me, and you will have peace.

For some reason, I had always thought that the word “diligence” meant to do something with intensity or fervor. Then later, I had thought just the opposite, that diligence meant to do something patiently, or thoroughly.

Now, I believe that God has shown me that it is a balance of both. Here’s a little saying that I wrote, and then some verses to help give it more meaning:

“Diligence is passion, tempered with patience.”

Here are some verses from Hebrews to go along with this:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” -Hebrews 11:6

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” -Hebrews 12:14-15

Here is a short little poem I wrote back in 2004 about salvation:

Heart of sin, without measure,
Thirst within, for secret treasure,
Cold and numb, life’s darkest plea:
“Jesus come, abide in me!”

*This was originally sent out to the mailing list on 8/6/06*

If a man walks a path strewn about and covered with stones, his feet feel no pain – for they are calloused and numb. Yet if he walks a smooth path, and but steps upon one solitary stone, his foot feels a prick.

Again, if a man hears a crowd of voices, all chaotic and dis-harmonic, he understands none – for he is deafened to the noise. Yet if he is in silence, and hears a voice of disturbance, he recognizes it.

My child, you have been as the calloused feet, and the deaf ear. Your conscience is clear, and yet you are unfruitful. Is it not that you are immersed in carnality, that you cannot see your iniquity? You are awash in sin.

Think not that it is in the hands, beloved, but rather, sin is in the heart. Is it not that you are deaf, and you cannot hear the things that are spoken to grieve My Spirit? Is it not that you are calloused and of a hard heart, that you cannot feel the sensitivity of My own?

What else could it be that keeps you from Me? Am I am dumb god, that I should not speak? Or am I a distant god, that I should not manifest My love? Lo, I live within your very heart! How could I be more intimate? And are you even aware of this? Do you know of My closeness?

Beloved, what more could it be that restrains you than sin? Yet mark here this wisdom: it is not in the things that you do, but rather, in who you are.

My desire is that you would love Me. That is all. I want your heart! I crave your love and devotion. To do good works, to behave uprightly and decently, these may be ways to show your love, but what are they? Expressions. They are not love itself, but merely expressions.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” -John 14:15

Beloved, I care not so much for such things. They come naturally as light proceeds from a burning sun. It burns, and its light spreads across the whole earth. It is not your light so much I am after, as your burning. I want you to burn after Me.

When you do not shed such light, but rather dwell in darkness, it is only that you are being honest with yourself. And when you shed a would-be light, as a “good” work, without a burning love for Me, you are spreading a vain light that shall one day be extinguished.

Again, beloved, be honest. If you do not burn for Me, it is no wonder that you have no true light. It is no wonder you are unfruitful. Seek Me. I am the only one that can change you. You know that I am what you need.

If you have not found Me in My fullness, seek Me. And if you cannot, then seek to seek Me. Search with all your heart, and I will be found.

If you have not shared My love in its fullness, desire Me. And if you cannot, then desire to desire Me. Desire with all your heart, and you will know My love.