Tag: Jesus

The Journey Continues

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Jesus, Short story, The JourneyLeave a comment

continued from The The Journey

“Look around you. Many of you do not think you are ready yet. You wouldn’t be here if you were not. Few will take this journey with you. Many will not. Look around you. Those that are not ready need the help of those that are. There will be many that will not want to hear what you have to say. Say it anyway. You will be persecuted, jailed, beaten, laughed at. Say it anyway. This is your journey. Each of you will have a different path to take but we will all be on the same journey.”


“Do not stray from my word. I will give you a list of do’s and dont’s. However, I know all of you will fail. At some point you will turn away from this journey and go your own way. You will go down roads I wish you wouldn’t. I will not be mad at you. I will not  leave you. I will wait for your return. Your journey will continue.”

“You must have the faith of a child. You must trust like a child trusts. Protect the innocence of the children. Do not follow the ways of this world. There is nothin in this world that can compare to the riches that await you.”

“You will hit walls. Smash through them. You will hit dead ends. Turn around. You will go the wrong way down a one way street. I will guide you back to where you need to be.”

“Love everyone you meet. Many will not love you back. Love them anyway. Plant seeds everywhere I send you. Some may sprout right away. Others may sprout long after you are gone. Some may never sprout at all. Plant them anyway. ”

“I will not lie to you. I will always speak the truth. I expect the same from you. You will be the light in this dark world. When you are not speaking, let your actions speak for you. Others will be watching you when you do not know they are. Lead them the right way. Do not be a hypocrite.”

“You will be hungry. You will see others hungrier than you. Feed them with what you have. Give them what you don’t have. Clothe them with the clothes you wear. Share your time. Volunteer to help the least of them. You may be tired but I will give you strength. You may think you are not making a difference but you are. ”

“Again I say you will stumble. You will make mistakes. You will make some of the same mistakes over and over. You may want to give up. Do not give up. Do not be discouraged. I will forgive you. I will love you. I will guide you back to me. I will put you on the right journey you are assigned to. Each of you have different gifts. Use those gifts. Do not be afraid. ”

“Lastly I leave you with this. My love for you has no ends. When you are lost I will search the world for you. When you are in the dark, look for my light. When you turn away from me, my voice will turn you back around. Show this world compassion, love, forgiveness.  Find joy in me. Be content in all circumstances. Be thankful for who you are because you are who I made you to be. Be courageous on this journey I have set you on. The one you have chosen to take. The one I will be with you on.”

 

“Who wants to follow me? Now let’s go on this journey together. I love you my children. Who will follow me? ”

That’s when I stood up and shouted, “I will follow you!”

I Will Go by Kutless – 

Send Us Out by New Hope Oahu – 

Fill Us Up and Send Us Out by Matt Redman – 

Lion Leads The Way by Pillar – 

Send Us Out by Brenton Brown – 

Send Me Out by Fee – 

Where I Wanna Go by 33 Miles – 

Where God Placed You by Flame – 

Wherever He Leads I’ll Go  by Alan Jackson – 

Wherever You Go by Audrey Assad – 

Whatever You’re Doing by Sanctus Real – 

The Journey

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Jesus, Short story, The Journey2 Comments

He stood in front of us. We had to number in the thousands but he did not seem nervous. He was not an imposing man but spoke with authority. I was hanging on every word he said.

“Today you have taken the first step in your journey. You will never take another journey more important than this. I must commend you being brave, for risking everything to be here today. There are many in this world that will never take this step.”

“I will tell you that this journey will not be easy, and that my friends is an understatement. You will be asked to do things you did not think you were capable of doing. You will be asked to make the impossible possible. Many times you will think your journey is over when it has just begun. Many times you will be asked to do things you don’t want to do.”

See what I mean. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. If I wasn’t sitting on the floor I would’ve been on the edge of my seat.

“Sometimes you will wonder if it is all worth it. Sometimes you will have doubts. You will doubt yourself, you will doubt my instructions. Sometimes you will forget my instructions and many of you will. You will go your own way. You will not want to listen to my voice. Keep listening anyway. ”

“Today, some of you will be asked to go by boat. You will have rough seas. You will have calm waters. Keep your guard up. Out of those calm waters a storm can rise. You will ask why but do not doubt and do not be afraid. Stay strong in my directions, stay on course, the waters will calm again. You will face many beasts out on the waters. Some will look dangerous and they are. Some will look harmless but they are the most dangerous. Some will look dangerous but they will help you. You may ask how will you know your enemies from your friends? Keep your eyes on the truth that I will give you and you will know.”

I have to be honest and say at this point my enthusiasm was starting to wain. I told myself I hope I don’t get picked to go on the boat.

He continued, “some of you will be asked to travel by plane. You will board the plane and not know where your destination will be. You will have turbulence. The engines may fail. I tell you do not fear. You will not die. Believe in my instructions and you will never die. When you land at your destination you may see horrors you have never seen before. Stay strong. I will guide you on what you need to do. You will see things that you won’t be able to forget. Things you would never see from where you are leaving. That is okay, but do not be anxious about them. Be grateful for what you have seen.”

“Some of you will travel by foot. You will have a long journey but stay strong. Keep my words in your heart. You will see many things along you way. Some will be great, others will be horrible. I will put people in strategic places along your journey to help you. They will feed you, clothe you, encourage you, and strengthen you.  You will meet people along your way that will pretend to be my helpers. They are not. Listen to their words closely. They will not align with mine. Listen closely, as I have said before, my voice will guide you.”

Well as enthusiastic as I had been, I can honestly say it was gone. I know I didn’t want to go by boat, plane, or by foot at this point. Excuse me sir, are there any other options? Yet, something was still telling me to go.

“You will meet people along your way that you will wish will always be in your life. They may die, they may just simply be on a different path than you are on.  Do not be dismayed. Remember the people I put in your life may only be there to help you in that time of your life. Then I will need to send them to help someone else. Most of the time it will not be because of something you did, but because of something I need them to do.  However, there may be times they leave you because they don’t agree with you any longer. Maybe it’s because they are listening to another voice that is not mine. Know when to walk away and when to hold on. Be thankful no matter what happens that they were a part of your life. They helped shape you into who I need you to be. ”

“My word will be everywhere you go. Anytime you are discouraged, beat down, lonely, frustrated, feeling unloved, disappointed and feel like you can’t go on, they will be there to help you.”

At this point he had his helpers pass out his instruction manual. He said not only do we have this hard copy form but he said we all can find it on our phones, tablets, computers, etc.  It can be found anywhere, we just have to look for it.

“Okay, who still wants to start this journey today.”

My hand immediately went up. Wait a minute, I pulled it back down. He looked at me and smiled,  I couldn’t help but put it back up again. I looked around and was amazed at how many people did not put their hands up. What were they thinking? They were thinking the same thing I was a minute ago. I guess I was just braver, better than they were.

That was when he looked directly at me. This time he wasn’t smiling.

“Pride and judgement are of this world. You are new on this journey and you will learn.”

How did he know what I was thinking?

To be continued….

Go by Everfound – 

Everywhere I Go by Tim Timmons – 

Go by Building 429 – 

One Word At A Time by Sanctus Real – 

Here I Am Send Me by Matt Papa – 

Here I Am by MercyMe- 

Be Ready When I Say Go by The Emperors – 

Send Me by The Planetshakers – 

Hope For The Hopeless by Papa Roach – 

Children Go Where I Send Thee by Mandisa – 

It’s Alright (Send Me) by The Winans  Phase 2 – 

Twenty Miles Past Sunrise

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Jesus, music, Short story1 Comment

Image result for long isolated road in dark

Forty miles before sunrise and I’m starting to fade. The white lines are starting to blur in my headlights. I rub my eyes to try to buy a few miles.

Thirty miles before sunrise and I’m rolling down the window to get some fresh air. Yes, that’s what I need. Some fresh air. Why am I driving at this hour? I can’t even remember what I’m running from. I shake my head and adjust my seat to try to buy a few more miles.

Twenty miles before sunrise and I don’t think I’m going to make it. Wherever it is I’m trying to make it to. What the!!!!! I slam on my brakes. Why would someone be standing in the middle of the road? I look around but no one is there. I’m so tired my mind is playing tricks on me. I see another person darting out from my peripheral vision. These hallucinations are driving me crazy. What if they aren’t hallucinations?

Ten miles before sunrise and I turn the radio up. Need a song to wake me up. A song I can sing along with. I hit scan and the first song comes on. I like that old time rock n roll, that kind of music just soothes the soul. Good song but not in the mood for an oldie. The scan stops next on sports radio station. No thanks, I love sports but that is not going to keep me awake. Next stop is another oldie. U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. Well, Bono, neither have I. Neither have I. Next stop is Jason Aldean’s They Don’t Know. Oh yeah, I can do this one.

All they see is tractors, barbwire and tall green grass
They don’t see the years spent working, busting their ass
How they pray for rain
They don’t know a thing
About what it takes
Livin’ this way

They ain’t seen the blood sweat and tears it took to live their dreams
When everything’s on the line
Ain’t just another field, just another farm
No, it’s the ground we grew up on
They think it’s a middle of nowhere place where we take it slow
Aw but they don’t know
No, they don’t know

Sunrise. Look at the beauty of this sunrise. How can anyone say God doesn’t exist when they see how he paints the world each morning? Yeah I know, I have questioned God’s existence many times. Every time things don’t go my way actually. However, in this moment, when I feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the way He lights up the world, giving the world a way out of the darkness, I know He exists.  I can’t help but say out loud “God, I believe in you!”

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Ten miles after sunrise and I am thinking I should turn this car around. Face my demons for once instead of running away. I am just so tired. My brain is foggy.

Twenty miles past sunrise and I wake up with the car flipping over and over. What the heck? I must’ve fallen asleep. I come to a stop upside down in a ditch. I can’t get out and I know no one is around. I picked the most desolate place to drive, to escape my life. I smell the gasoline and I see the fire start. I know I’m going to die.

I see two men a short distance away. One dressed in red, the other in white. They look like they are in a heated argument. Don’t they see me? Help!!!, I start to scream. I see the man in white look my way. I know him from somewhere, but my head is spinning.  He says one last thing to the man in red and walks my way.

He reaches for my hand and I grab his.

The radio plays Broken Things by Matthew West.

If grace was a kingdom
I stopped at the gate
Thinking I don’t deserve to pass through after all the mistakes that I’ve made

Oh but I heard a whisper
As Heaven bent down
Said, “Child, don’t you know that the first will be last and the last get a crown”

Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King
I wish I could bring so much more
But if it’s true You use broken things
Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours

The pages of history they tell me it’s true
That it’s never the perfect; it’s always the ones with the scars that You use

It’s the rebels and the prodigals; it’s the humble and the weak
All the misfit heroes You chose
Tell me there’s hope for sinners like me

Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King
I wish I could bring so much more
But if it’s true You use broken things
Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours

Grace is a kingdom
With gates open wide
There’s a seat at the table just waiting for you
So, come on inside

Image result for bible verse on about ready to die

Broken Things by Matthew West – 

Mercy Meets My Pain by Seventh Day Slumber – 

Every Mile Mattered by Nichole Nordeman – 

You Still Love Me by James Fortune – 

I Wouldn’t Love Me by James Fortune (feat Kierra Sheard) – 

Grace Like Rain by Todd Agnew – 

Random Thoughts In A Poem

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, music, poems, Random Thoughts6 Comments

 

Why is where I park my car called a driveway?

Remember when the doctor said you wouldn’t make it through the day?

Ten years later and you still haven’t ran on a runway

Who was the first person who thought “I think I’ll boil those eggs!”?

Who was the first woman who said ” I need to shave my legs!”?

What makes us think we will never be the guy on the corner who begs

If the sky was green and the land was blue

Would it even affect me or you?

Do you spell two to or too?

How do you pronounce read? Is it read or red?

What about the word lead? Is it lead or led?

All depends but in this case let’s go with feed and not fed

Remember when you never were sick

And your thoughts weren’t so easy to forget

And ole Rover wasn’t too tired to fetch his stick?

I love how the morning is so quiet

Why does it seem like  only some people riot?

Why do so many people fail when they diet?

Here is one thing I bet you thought you’d never miss

Your parents giving you a good night kiss

If you had just one wish , what would you wish?

Why is Teresa Palmer so hot?

Now that’s a random thought

One I probably should think not

Have you ever imagined a world without hypothetical situations ?

Why do people not use all their vacations?

Why is there so much war when we have the United Nations?

Why can’t they make the entire plane with the same material as the black box?

If 7/11 is open 24 hours then why do the doors have locks ?

Why do trucks haul SHIPments but a ship unloads the CARgo on the docks?

I remember the day you were born

I held you in my arms and kept you warm

God and I, we will give you comfort in the storm

Would we still read Dr. Seuss Cat In The Hat

If instead of a cat, it was a bat or even a rat?

The Grinch, I wonder how he thought of that?

Would you take a million dollars

If all you had to do was say your favorite colors?

The smartest people are not always just the scholars

My nose stays in one place so why does it run?

When did I let life be so difficult I quit having fun?

How will I be remembered when this life is done?

When I’m exhausted, why does the morning come so soon?

How do things get their name, like the sun, stars, and the moon?

Hey guess what? My birthday is in June

Would all my problems be solved if I had more money?

Why does Kayhla think clowns are scary and not funny?

Don’t ask me why we pronounce bologna  like it ends with an e

Why is a boxing ring a square?

Who ever told you life was fair?

Why am I here? Why are you there?

Why is the slowest traffic of the day called rush hour?

How does Teflon stick to the pan?

Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of a bottle?

Yes I know those three didn’t rhyme

But why don’t sheep shrink when it rains from time to time?

“How was you day?”  Why do I always say fine?

Why is there Braille on drive thru ATM?

Why do they stay when they are abused by them?

Why do people find it so hard to believe in Him?

Why do they find it so hard to believe that Jesus did come?

They say because they can’t see Him or all He has done

Well my friends, I can’t see the air that fills my lungs

How do some bloggers, in a month, get six thousand followers?

If I’m lucky, I might have sixty seven by tomorrow

Maybe a few of theirs they would let me borrow

Remember when you ate those bugs?

Remember when you said you’d never do drugs?

Man, I wish you were still here to give you hugs

Here is more food for thought

Would you cheat if you knew you wouldn’t be caught?

Yes? Then the person I think you are is the person you are not

 

This is getting long so I think I’ll part

These are just some thoughts from my head and my heart

One more thing, do you put the horse before the cart?

Some random new songs I like:

 

Work Harder by Zach Dubois –  

Better Man by Sixx AM – 

Oh Lord by NF – 

Boxes by Goo Goo Dolls – 

Better Than Yourself by Lukas Graham – 

Break On Me by Keith Urban – 

Beautiful Day by Take 6 – 

 

The Heart

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, The Heart3 Comments

I am the heart. I provide life to the rest of the body. I pump oxygen and blood to and from other organs. You can not survive without me. I am the wellspring of life. Everything you do comes from me.

I am going on strike.

Yes, you read that correctly. I am tired of how you treat me.  I will no longer be helping out your kidneys or right foot. I am thinking about not helping your brain either. You don’t seem to use it much when it comes to me anyway. I saw you last night watching The Biggest Loser while you were eating popcorn and M&M’s and washing it down with a can of Coke.

I break for you. I feel your hurt and your pain. I feel your depression. I feel your frustrations. I feel your joy, your excitement. I feel the rush of endorphins when you exercise. I feel your longing, your wanting to belong. Everything that you do and feel, I feel.

My main enemy is your brain. It is often said that the mind is the devil’s playground. How many times have you not got me pumping harder because your mind said you couldn’t do this or that? Your mind says stop but I can go on. Give me a chance to prove that to you. How many times have I begged you “please stop eating this food, it is making me work harder, it is clogging my highways to take care of the rest of your body” but do you listen? No, because your brain says I will take a double order of fried, greasy food because it will make me feel better. Lies. All lies. The brain is like the devil. It doesn’t care about you and neither does he. Most of the time I think they are planning their attacks on me together.

Most any one can tell you that you don’t need your brain to survive. Look at the decisions you make every day. Some really good ones and some really bad ones. The only thing we have in common is if you don’t use us, we can’t help you. Okay, so you do need the brain to survive. I mean if not, we would all be walking off cliffs or in front of cars all the time. That would put an end to me as well. However, the brain can’t work without me. I only wish I could tell your brain to take better care of you, and therefore me.

Did you know that in the NIV Bible the word heart is used 570 times in the Old and New Testament? I am the fourth most common word behind father, God and Lord, not in that order. Why do you think that is? I would not exist without God. You would not exist without God. I am a uniquely created internal organ made so that you can have physical life. You are a uniquely created person.

If you walk away from things that make me work better you will die. If you walk away from God, you will die and spend an eternity with our enemy, the devil. If you eat right, sleep well, exercise, take care of me, I can make your life here on earth all that it is meant to be. I determine your actions and reflect whether Jesus is at the center of your life. If you give your life to Jesus, He can make your life here on earth all that He meant for it to be. If you put Jesus at the center of your life, you can have a life of abundance, a life of joy, no matter what your circumstances are.

The good news is that it is not too late. You can fix all the damage that has been done to me by your past actions. I can be renewed. You can take away years of neglect by turning around and doing what is right. Take care of me so I can take care of you. You can’t do it alone though. You need Jesus. Ask Him to continually renew me. Ask Him to help you take that first step. Each step after that will get easier. Let Him hold your hand as you start a new, healthier you, and me.

Where am I in your life today? Are you struggling to make me healthy? Are you making the right choices when it comes to food, drink, exercise and sleep to make me work better?

If not, ask yourself this question, where is Jesus in your life today? Are you struggling with sin, with bad habits? Ask Jesus to come into me today. Let Him help us become healthy, physically and spiritually. Ask Jesus to renew me, your heart, and commit that He will remain at the center of me, your heart.

You have only one me, the heart. You have only one body. There is only one God. Align all three of us and ask God into your heart, into your mind, into your life.

Here’s My Heart by Casting Crowns – 

Open The Eyes Of My Heart by Paul Baloche – 

Feel It In Your Heart by Abandon – 

Where My Heart Goes by Colton Dixon – 

Heart On Fire by Dan Bremnes – 

The Heart Of The Father by Brad and Rebekah – 

My Brain Says No But My Heart Says Yes by FM Static – 

Here’s My Heart by Crowder – 

Busted Heart by For King and Country – 

Your Heart by Casey J – 

Tell Your Heart To Beat Again by Danny Gokey – 

How Could I Withhold My Heart by The Glorious Unseen – 

Wtih Every Beat Of My Broken Heart by Hawk Nelson – 

Search My Heart by Hillsong United – 

Strength Of My Heart by Rend Collective – 

My Heart Cries Out by Rush Of Fools – 

Jump Start My Heart by Satellites & Sirens – 

Change This Heart by Sidewalk Prophets –  

 

Double Standards

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, music2 Comments

 

Why do we constantly judge people? I like this person because…but I don’t like this person because…  Does it all come down to we are only human? Maybe we are but that isn’t how God wants us to treat everyone. Here are some examples of what I am talking about.

Miley Cyrus vs Selena Gomez –

Both have had hit shows watched by millions of kids, and adults alike. After starring in Hannah Montana, Miley released Can’t Be Tamed. A cd showing a more mature Miley you could say. Many parents were outraged that they bought the cd for their kids only to find out some of the songs were more mature than they liked.  Note to parents: is that Miley’s fault? She didn’t release the cd under Hannah Montana. She was in several movies over the next few years then in 2013 released Bangerz, with the controversial video Wrecking Ball.

Selena, starred in Wizards of Waverly Place, and in several movies and releases several cd’s with Selena Gomez & The Scene. She also starred in a movie, Spring Breakers, with very mature content. In 2013, Selena went solo and released Come and Get It, with the hit single of the same name. No controversy about the mature content. Maybe I read more into the lyrics than I should but to me, come and get it sounds mature.

You ain’t gotta worry, it’s an open invitation
I’ll be sittin’ right here, real patient
All day, all night, I’ll be waitin’ standby
Can’t stop because I love it, hate the way I love you
All day, all night, maybe I’m addicted for life, no lie.
I’m not too shy to show I love you, I got no regrets.
I love you much, too much to hide you, this love ain’t finished yet.
This love ain’t finished yet…
So baby whenever you’re ready…
When you’re ready come and get it
Maybe it’s because Miley went through several years of partying and explicit behavior while Selena has kept a more clean image, and for the most part has stayed out of the media headlines. I will say I totally get the video of Wrecking Ball though. I get the song. You give someone everything you have, you are totally vulnerable, and the relationship ends. Maybe it could have been made a different way,but I get it. But let’s take a look at Selena’s video for Good For You. I don’t know about you but it is a little more racy than Wrecking Ball. Yes, Miley is naked, in a vulnerable way, but Selena is practically naked in a sexy way.  I don’t recall ever hearing anything negative about the Good For You video like the uproar that happened with Wrecking Ball.  Just to prove my point, when I went to Youtube to add these videos, I had to sign in for age verification for Wrecking Ball, but not for Good For You.  Hmmm

Ryan Shazier’s hit on Giovanni Bernard vs Vontaze Burfict hit on Antonio Brown-

I am neither a Pittsburgh or Cincinnati fan. Watching these two hits though makes me wonder what is happening in the NFL? We all know the refereering this year has been terrible, but why the difference in these calls? Ryan’s hit his head is clearly down and hits Giovanni’s helmet, who’s head was up,  head to head. Vontaze’s head was down but hit Antonio’s helmet with his shoulder after Antonio leaned forward with his head, if he would’ve stayed up it never would’ve happened. Is it because Vontaze is known to play more “dirty” for a lack of a better word? You can even hear the announcer say it was because Giovanni was not defenseless,  by the rule it was still head down, helmet to helmet and should have been penalized. No penalty for Ryan, three games suspension for next season for Vontaze. Double standard?

 

Ray Lewis vs Pete Rose –

Two different sports but why is Ray Lewis a sure thing to be in the Hall Of Fame but Pete Rose can not get in? Ray Lewis plead guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with the stabbing deaths of two men in 2000. Ray tore his bicep in 2013 and recovered in half the time that is normal. The steroids he took to heal reportedly had in them a banned substance.  A banned substance that is only detectable in blood tests, something the NFL does not do. Ray denies it but…Ray is expected to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2018.

We all know the Pete Rose story.  The greatest hitter of all time who bet on games. A lifetime ban from the Hall of Fame.

Maybe comparing the NFL to MBL is like apples to oranges with each having their own rules but..

 

Jesus verse, well, all of us –

This is the one case where there is not a double standard, never has been, never will be. He died on the cross for all of us. He has forgiven all our sins. Yet, many of us, including myself, keep sinning and doing what we want in this world. Jesus forgave his enemies on the cross for they know not what they do. Many of us know what we do and know it is wrong but do it anyway. He forgives us the same. He gives all of us the same choice to follow Him, or not to follow Him. He didn’t say well, Mother Teresa lived a life of service so she gets into Heaven but Rob, man, look at you, time after time I give you chances and you keep messing up. I want nothing to do with you. There is no double standard.

Unlike Miley, Vontaze, and Pete who have been condemned by humans for their past, Jesus does not condemn us for our past mistakes, for our history of repeated bad actions. He forgives us so we can live today, and tomorrow free of the guilt of yesterday. All of us, no double standards. 

 

Have a great night. God bless.