Jailed

 To God we are His. Beautiful and curious. Jesus will show you the way. 

Ezekiel chapter 34 verses 17-23.

"And as for you, O My flock---My people---the Lord God says, I will distinguish lambs from kids and rams from billy goats! Is it a small thing to you, O evil shepherds, that you not only keep the best of the pastures for yourselves, but trample down the rest? That you take the best water for yourselves, and muddy the rest with your feet? All that is left for My flock is what you have trampled down; all they have to drink is water that you have fouled." Therefore the Lord God of host says: "I will surely judge between these fat shepherds and their scrawny sheep. For these shepherds push and butt and crowd My sick and hungry flock until they are scattered far away. So I Myself will save My flock; no more will they be picked on and destroyed. And I will notice which is plump and which is is thin, and why! And I will set one Shepherd over all My people, even My Servant, David. He shall feed them and be a Shepherd to them."

   I read this morning about a person who had been in jail for some time and when he was released he missed those who he had become friends with. Those who were still in jail.

   I'm not sure why people struggle with God. Maybe it is because they cannot physically touch or see Him. 

   In the book of Exodus, Moses was a shepherd who one day was tending the flock out on a mountain side. He noticed a bush that was on fire, but was not burning up. It just continued to burn in full flame. As he approached it he heard a voice who said it was God. This voice asked him to be the one who would lead the Israelites out of Egypt and away from being held captive to Egypt's slavery. Moses tried his best to get out of being this person whom he thought no one would believe. 

   God did live up to his promises and after many unexplainable miraculous miracles, the Israelites were led out of Egypt. They followed a pillar of flame and watched the waters of a sea split apart and the sea bottom dry so they could get from one side to the other. They watched as the sea walls engulfed the Egyptian army. They watched as water appeared from stone and food was provided daily. Yet the moment Moses was not around they rebelled. 

   In Exodus chapter 32 the people said to Aron, "Look, make us a god to lead us, for this fellow Moses who brought us here from Egypt has disappeared; something must have happened to him." 

   God was not happy and wanted to destroy all of them, but Moses pleaded with Him, "Lord, why is Your anger so hot against Your own people whom You brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and miracles?"

   Are we any different today? I may have seen churches, I may have heard about God, and Jesus but I did not give them any of my time or put even a thought towards them. It was only when I called out in desperation that God heard me and did for me what I was unable to do for myself. He walked me out of my addictions. Not only that, I have found that He wants to care and provide for me. And in return I praise and worship Him. 

   The praise and worship are not hard to do because I am so thankful and so grateful for the miraculous miracle that happened to me. And the continued mind blowing experiences that can only be from God who knows my dreams and hears my prayers. I have never been more content and at peace with life. 

   So what does jail look like? Try telling someone that they are the ones in jail, imprisoned to a failing life, that will forever be troubled and filled with anguish. I would not have known I was there but all the drunken times of loneliness and sorrow; of the empty laughter and false relationships added up to being imprisoned. I was held captive to a false world of bling, temptation, wrong desires, easily manipulated and misguided by not knowing that God wanted me so bad to follow Him. 

   What does peace and happiness look like to you? Well for me it was not stress, worry, confusion and grief. I struggled with relationships and fitting in. Until God opened the door for Jesus. At first I did not know what was happening. I said a prayer to God and the next thing I know I was becoming a different person. I no longer craved addictive substances. 

   To overcome the addictions opened my eyes to see the beauty of God's hand upon my life. Why do I think it was God who helped me? Because I had tried on my own several times before but this time was different. I asked God for His help and suddenly the cravings were all gone. My body healed and I've been on a journey with Him ever since. That was many years ago but to this day I seek His guidance and give Him the praise and respect that He deserves. 

   I have met many a Christ follower and all of them have their own stories. The stories of God and Jesus and how much they love Him and what He does in their lives. 

   Romans chapter 6 verses 22 and 23 say, "But now you are free from the power of sin and are slaves of God, and His benefits to you include holiness and everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

   Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You for the freedom to laugh and love. What an amazing gift Jesus is.  😊   

John chapter 15 verses 26 and 27.

Jesus said to them, "I'll send you the Comforter---the Holy Spirit, the source of all truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you all about Me. And you also must tell everyone about Me, because you have been with Me from the beginning."

Romans chapter 9 verse 4. 

God has given you so much, but still you will not listen to Him. 

Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9.

It is by grace that we are saved through faith, not that of ourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest we boast.