We are such people of habit and self-centeredness. As I look back at my life and think of the trials and struggles, good times and bad, I think of how blessed I am and how God saw me and pursued me. Even when I was running from Him and trying to do what I wanted to do. He never gave up on me. And even today when I get into my whiny selfish stage, he still doesn't give up on me. That is the kind of God he is. He loves us that much that he will not relent.

When I am in his presence there is such peace, such understanding and revelation, there is a fullness of joy. When I am focused on myself, there is just me and my own "power" and abilities. Wow, just thinking on that makes me kind of chuckle, I have no power or abilities with out the relationship I have with Christ. I know I could do ok and probably even good things on my own, but none of these things are more meaningful than when you  have a father who loves you directing and guiding you.

We watched the movie 'After Earth' last night were Will Smith is portraying a military person that had great honors and accolades with his son Jadan as a cadet trying to do things to get his dads attention and respect. Though it is not a great spiritual movie, there were some things I was considering about how God sees us living our lives and tries to help guide and protect us from things he sees coming to destroy us. In the movie they crash landed a ship and only the father and son survive as far as we know. But the Will Smith character has, along with many injuries, two broken legs.

The son, other than some bumps and bruises is fine. During the crash the tail section of the ship has broken off and was thrown miles from the other part of the plane. Of course that section of the ship had all of the medical supplies and the beacon that would be needed to be rescued. This was years after earth had been abandoned because I'm sure the environmentalist would say we destroyed it, but any ways. The atmosphere was unstable and could no longer support human life for a sustained period of time.

So, now Jaden has to go find the tail of the ship to get the beacon and save the day. The whole time wearing a monitoring device that his dad can watch him and communicate to him what to do and warn him of trouble coming his way. (Sounding kind familiar yet?)

In this adventure the boy is nothing but nerves and fear, and the whole premise of the movie and the reason they were on this mission was to learn how not to fear this alien that was out to get them, in which the father was well known for proving his ability to 'ghost' or show no fear, leaving himself invisible to the perpetrator.

Every so often the father has to call out to the son, get him under control and focus on the mission. So he would have these moments where he will say, SON, TAKE A KNEE... So the boy would drop down on one knee and start to focus while getting instruction and encouragement from the father.

In life, these are probably relatable to the times where we lost a job, have a huge debt to pay or have an illness or disease that we are worried about. We need to first, focus on Jesus, then the task at hand, then realize that our father would not steer us into trouble but lovingly leads us away from it, and also be aware that our Father is the one who has the healing we need. So what are we worried about? Oh yeah, loosing this life. I have some bad news for us all... WE WILL LOOSE THIS LIFE ANY WAYS, Thank the Lord!!

This is a good thing, I don't want this junky earth suit throughout eternity, I want the awesome robe of righteousness that is coming to me, soon I hope!

So, looking at John 3:22-36 Johns disciples talk about Jesus baptizing more than they were and saying 'The man' you met beyond the Jordan, the one you 'said' is the Messiah is baptizing and everyone is going to him instead of us???? I hear this in a very whiny tone......

In this John says something back that I wish we, the church, would get and understand, he says "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven."

Here is this man that has known Jesus his whole life, but I believe that at the Jordan is where Jesus was revealed to John as the Messiah. He had an encounter with the God of the universe and it changed him from a preparer to a devoted follower. To the point he released his disciples to go and be with Jesus and to say in verse 30) He must increase, or become greater, and I must decrease, or become lesser. Again a concept the Church MUST get ahold of...

It is time we "Take a knee" and get focused on our mission and why we do what we do. Go back to 'beyond the Jordan' and remember the revelation that God has given us and stop focusing on our problems, worries, bills, sicknesses and doubts and go all out for the Father!!!