An Example of How the Holy Spirit Works

I wanted to share something that happened to me that shows how God is in control and works all things for good.

One of my kids, let's call them "Pat", has been arrested twice recently for things done while under the influence.  Pat realized their need to change and started and completed an intensive outpatient program.  The program was a positive influence and helped Pat think about their situation.

The IOP was not the end of the journey.  Pat was told to find a 12-step group and attend weekly meetings, as well as meet with a Counselor and possibly other group meetings.  After being out of the IOP for two weeks, Pat had yet to check any of these boxes.

Two or three weeks ago, I was thinking about the parable Jesus told about a man who had an impure spirit.  Perhaps this was a physical demon or a spirit of addiction or both.  In any case, the spirit left the man, wandered around for awhile looking for a new home, and then came back to the man.  The spirit found it's old "house" "unoccupied, swept clean and put in order".  In other words, the man had gotten his life back together after getting rid of his demon.  Seeing the house unoccupied, the spirit went and got more evil spirits and they all moved in to the old house.  Jesus said that the man was worse off then before.

I wanted to share this story with Pat but did not find a good opportunity.  Every few days, I would think, "I really need to tell them about this", but did not.  Finally, yesterday, I was in the kitchen.  Pat was in the kitchen.  No one else was around.  It was the right time, so I shared the story.

I told Pat that the lesson of the parable is that you can't just beat your old problems.  You can't just get rid of the demon.  You have to replace the bad with something good.  Otherwise, something worse will happen.

That night, there was a group meeting.  Pat attended.  (Box checked, ptl.)  There were four other people like Pat at the meeting.  At one point, the therapist asked the group, "Is it enough to just stop using?  Is it enough to get rid of your bad habit?"

Pat raised their hand and said, "I know the answer to this one."

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. -- Psalm 91:15

Thoughts on Jeremiah and individual responsibility

I'm currently reading through the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah and Ezekiel are known as the prophets of individual responsibility. Jeremiah wants his readers to know that they need to take responsibility for their actions.  Bad things are happening to them because of what the nation has done collectively AND because of the choices each person is making.  People need to turn back to God.  They need to stop sinning and do what is right.  They cannot blame God nor their neighbor for their situation in life.

How does this apply to me?  I need to take responsibility for my situation.  There are consequences for choices.  This is true for both worldly and spiritual things.  If i don't start eating better, my health will get worse. I need to make better choices about what I eat and how much.  I need to listen to my doctor.  My stubborn nature is going to put me in the hospital.

Likewise, I need to spend more time with God; read his word more.  I need to love people more, especially my wife and kids.  I need to flee temptation and sin--stop pumping bad stuff into my brain.

The reality is that I cannot do any of this without God's help.  "The evil that I would not, that I do", and so on.  I say with Paul, "Who will save me from this body of death?"  Thanks be to God who saves (or should I say SAVED?) me through Jesus Christ.

I know that I am a sinner.

I know that I fall short of the glory of God.

I know that I deserve nothing but punishment.

I feel like a failure.

God loves me.

Jesus died as payment for all my sins past, present, and future.

I have been crucified with Christ.  My sinful nature is dead.  Jesus lives in me.

Thank you Father for loving me.

Thank you Jesus for reconciling my relationship with the Father.

Thank you Holy Spirit for living through me.

"Winners" are the problem

In the introduction to a recent Sunday Night Football episode, the narrator said, "Good things do not come to those who wait.  Winners take what they want."  This sounds great in the context of football, competition, and testosterone. Sports are about winning; about fighting for victory.  There can be only one winner.  Second place is the first loser.  And so on.

Unfortunately,  this mentality is transferred from sports to the rest of life.  When we are driving in rush hour traffic, we cut people off or don't let people move in front of us because we have to be first.  If someone is giving away free stuff, we grab as much as we can not thinking (or should i say not caring) about the people in the line behind us.  In business, people at the top get the highest salaries and best perks.  The farther down the chain a person is, the smaller their share of the profits are.

This is the problem in America and the world.  This is we had black lives matter protests.  This is why there is inequality. 

The problem is not rich people who do not pay their fair share of taxes.  The problem is people who feel entitled to take more than their fair share of the prosperity that this country enjoys.  They call themselves winners because they are in positions of power.  Their goals are to climb the ladder and maximize their income.  Only so many people can be managers.  There is only so much money for salaries.  There are only so many winners.  Everyone else gets to fight over the leftovers.

It does not need to be this way.