Jesus

Merry Easter and Happy New Life.

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , , ,

I was thinking that a lot of people in the world like to argue about what day Jesus died.

I’ll basically give it to you straight. I don’t care what day it was, or how the days are counted or by what tradition. The point of the matter is, it happened. That’s my belief. The arguments will continue on until the end. Either our end or the real end.

Recently I’ve gone through some troubles. I’ve shared a bit about the recent health issue. It’s been a week since I got out of the hospital. I at least look better than before.

ron-now-bwAlthough I look better than in the hospital, which I would hope anyone would, things are going to take several weeks, at least, to recover. Perhaps months. But I’m good. I’m accustomed to illnesses. I did almost give up on the A to Z Challenge but, here I am still writing. and doing my Sunday Thought. Which I need to get back to.

I guess all I really have to say about Easter is, it’s the reason Christmas came about. You know there really isn’t a known date for when Jesus was born. I sometimes wonder if it was around this time of year. The way God works, it wouldn’t surprise me. And if you think about it, what’s really the important day to remember? The birth or the resurrection? I like to go with Easter myself. That’s the whole reason Jesus showed up.

Whether you believe in Jesus or not, or God or not, just know there are things we all share. Beliefs. You may not realize it but we do. Jesus taught about those. It’s nice to have them written down to remind us every now and then. I always like to tell people even if you don’t believe, following what Jesus said can’t lead you wrong.

Everyone have a happy Easter. Eat some eggs. I have to hide some. “B” always makes me hide them as hard as I can. I have to take pictures to know where I put them. We lost a couple two years ago. I think a squirrel got ’em.

One last thing before I go. I’ve told this story before. but with Easter here ham is apparently part of the whole thing. Well a old pastor friend of mine liked to preach on this:

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men

Matthew 8:28-34

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

My old pastor and friend told the story from the Bible and was very serious as he looked out over the congregation in church that Sunday and followed it up with  “And that is the first known record of Deviled Ham in history.

 

Let’s connect.

https://twitter.com/RonovanWrites

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ronovan-Writes/630347477034132

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RonovanWrites/about

Image of Ronovan Writes

 

 

 

 

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015

 

 

It came to pass. (A Poem)

Ronovan Haiku , , , , ,

And it came to pass,

Ill control over the world,

Put to rest that day.

Racist Bigot or Another Human People Disagree With?

Ronovan Thoughts , , , ,

go-your-way

Loving America. That seems to be a question or hashtag trend or reason to go on a hater-fest of someone.

A former very prominent political figure came out this past week and spoke against President Obama. You may google and discover what was said and then do research before jumping to conclusions.

Conclusion jumping has led to follow-up interviews and hashtag trends that divide people even further. Maybe if we all got along or agreed there were more than one possible thought on a subject things would just be too boring and we would have to read books or something instead of Tweet about some dumb carp stuff like who had the best dunk of the night in the NBA. I know my night is not peaceful until that is trending somewhere.

At first I was going to delve into the whole Racist Bigot situation, actually I wrote a whole article on it and after getting that out of my system I came up with the real article for the day.

Ever wonder why one person is a Racist Bigot and another person is an Activist? Hmm. I get confused.

Oh, I got it. If you like the person they are an Activist and if you don’t then they are a Racist Bigot.

Wonder what happens when you run in to someone who simply says it’s cool to be you so be you and let me be me and then we good?

Ever met someone like that?

I mean met someone truly like that?

Hello, my names Ronovan. Nice to meet you. Just be you, I’ll be me, and we’ll get along naturally.

Hey, and all those things we see in the news and the back and forths? Just use them as a way to learn about the truths of things by doing research. They lead you to learn a lot more than about the stupid thing you first start reading about. Sometimes there are some really great things to discover.

Of course this wouldn’t be a Sunday if I didn’t mention where I get my direction from. You know, Jesus was a good guy, even if a lot of people that have used his name for their own purposes have not been. His example is a good one for anyone to follow. Jesus let you do think what you wanted to think. Okay, he got a bit angry when he went in to the temple and found all the bad stuff going on, but you know, I’d do the same if I went in to my house and found bad stuff like that going on as well. And yes, the temple was his house. He got ticked. One thing about Jesus that you had to just like was that he said basically you know, this is how it is and you believe what you want to. I’m not going to force anything on you and if I’m right then oops you gonna be in a world of hurt. He didn’t force anything on people. “Oh, but scaring people with Hell is the same thing as forcing them.” Um, well if they believe in Hell then most likely they believe in Heaven then most like they believe in God then most likely they believe in Jesus soooo, I’m not seeing the scaring part going on, just the part of the Bible says this.”

I think I rambled. I sort of lost my way there in the middle. It’s been one of those weekends already. Well, that’s it this week. Have a good one this week. What one you have good of is up to you.

 

Ronovan Writes

 

 

 

 

@RonovanWrites
Facebook
GoodReads
Google+

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015

 

Tolerance or Support, What do people really Want?

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , , ,

tolerance-support

Tolerance. One of the most misunderstood words in language, or at least in the English language.

You can have a tolerance for pain. Your body can tolerate medications more than they once did and thus the medications become less effective. You can tolerate someone’s behavior.

I personally have less tolerance for things than I once did. Some reasons are medical reasons. There are other things that I finally decided that I was simply tired of tolerating and therefore no reason I must tolerate.

Or should I say, not tolerate in the way the world has come to define the word. Tolerance these days is  defined as acceptance and supporting.

Before anyone begins to jump on some high horse and think I am talking about certain social issues, get over yourself and put your assumptions back in your back pocket close to where it belongs.

I had a very long post written but I decided to make this as short as I can. First of all I have two polarizing examples that will make my point clear.

  • Example: The death penalty is a law in some states in the U.S. of A.. Does that mean I have to SUPPORT it or Tolerate it? I’ll keep using the death penalty here. If you believe it should be a law in my state and you live in my state as well and there is a vote coming up, do I have to SUPPORT it just because you want me to? And if it does become a law do I have to SUPPORT it or Tolerate it?
  • If you want to go another more controversial law you can consider abortion. It’s a law. Do you SUPPORT it or Tolerate it?

So what I want to talk about today is having to tolerate what other people say about Christianity, Jesus, and God. A great many in the public eye like to speak out against Christianity while praising or supporting other faiths or even no God at all. And if someone calls them on it then the person doing the calling is called a bigot or intolerant.

If you are of another faith or don’t believe in God, that’s your deal. It has nothing to do with me. I have friends here in the blogs that believe in other faiths or no God at all. We get along just fine. So before you start calling me a bigot as I continue, I’m about the least bigoted person you will find. I figure God gave us free will. I’m not the one to take that away from anyone.

I don’t SUPPORT what people say about Christianity. I take that back. I don’t support ALL of the generalizations and negativity aimed at Christianity. Some things said may be true, about some Christians. If a specific person is being discussed and the things mentioned are true then they are true.

But if I were to get on a news program and say that I don’t like what someone says about the negative generalities I can almost guarantee you that I would end up with hate messages in various places. Why? Because I am supposed to ACCEPT and SUPPORT  the hate at me but no one is supposed to TOLERATE or PUT UP WITH my defending my faith, my beliefs.

I can hear the thoughts of some now. “Ronovan, you can’t be serious. You Christians think you have it so bad. You rule the world. You have it so easy. You can get away with anything. You are in control of everything.” Let me read my Bible at lunch in a local school, alone, in my classroom, and see what happens.

I read blogs, opinions of people, and remain friends. I don’t always support what people say but I don’t have to. I can still be friends with someone and not support every single thing they support. And I don’t go out and yell and scream about not supporting something.

Is it Tolerance the world wants from Christians or is it SUPPORT they want? There is a difference. Let’s turn it around. I want you to SUPPORT what I believe. You know, Tolerating would be good but no, I am saying now as an example, I want you to SUPPORT what I believe about something and make it a law. Do you think you can do that? The answer is no. You can’t. You want to say yes. You may comment yes, but the honesty in you should say no.

A society says they kill the first born child if it is male. It is legal in that society. Do you SUPPORT that? You are now thinking, “Ronovan, that’s not even close to what we are talking about.” Actually by saying I can’t freely act like a Christian, that I can’t fulfill my faith as a Christian as the Bible says to do so, you are saying to put my faith to death.

I tell you Jesus is the Son of God, that he died on the Cross for our sins, was resurrected so we could be saved. That I believe what Jesus said in the Bible about his being the only way to the Father.  I’m done. You can take it or leave it.

For some reason there are people that don’t like that. They think it’s forcing something on them. They think it is some form of I don’t know what. But they just can’t handle it. It’s up to you to believe me or not. I’m not going to beg, or repeat it over and over to you. I’m moving on and going to Wendy’s for a burger and fries.  And yes they are fries, not chips. Chips are thicker and not like the thin strips like American fries.

If you had questions after I said that about Christianity I would answer them, but that would be to you. No megaphone shouting in your car from me. And I wouldn’t even say that up there about Jesus being the only way unless there was some reason that came up in a conversation.

All my faith says to do is share it with others. Not force it. Some try to do that and they are wrong. I will tell you that now. If you are a Christian and reading this then you need to look what Jesus said; If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet~Matthew 10:14. No mention of yell or cram it down someone’s throat until they run you out of town.

I’ll tolerate things. I’ll put up with things. But just as I  don’t intend to force you to support things that you may not believe, don’t try and force me to support things I don’t believe in and use tolerance as a front to do it. It won’t work with me.  Make a law out of something all you want, but it doesn’t mean it will be supported by people.

As I’ve written this I am sure there are various things that have come to peoples’ minds. What issues could Ronovan be thinking of. Don’t try to guess because you would be surprised at how wrong you might be.

Are there things you are tired of people forcing you to SUPPORT by telling you to Tolerate? Share it below in the comments. Or fill out the form below if you don’t want it to appear in the comments. I may use the results in a future post, without names and contact information included.

much-respect-ronovan

 

 

Ronovan Writes

 

 

 

 

@RonovanWrites

RonovanWrites on Facebook

followmeonbloglovin

 

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015

 

Go back

Your message has been sent

 

My Sunday Thought: Insults Don’t Insult Me.

Ronovan Inspiration & Motivation, Thoughts , , , , , , , ,

Some of you may have noticed I have a slogan or motto attached to the blog now.

ronovan writes

I’ve been asked the renewal of what. No, I don’t remember by whom. But I do remember whoever it was had read my Sunday Thought last week about the renewing of our minds or had at least liked it.

There are a lot of things I’ve seen in the news of late about some pretty, well, let’s just call them what they are. Stupid and even juvenile disagreements. A great many involve the back and forth Tweet fights of celebrities, usually music people. Sometimes it is between on artist that once was somebody who is trying to remain relevant by insulting a current somebody. The truth is they are really both nobodies as far as on my radar of celebrities of enjoyment. They simply waste mental energy and disrupt positivity for a moment of time that could be better used for something else.

Imagine if you will that one celebrity praised another instead. How often do you see that trending on any social outlet?

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.  And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.~2 Timothy 2:23-24

First of all, don’t even try and confuse this with an idea of we should roll over and let a nation or a person just completely stomp us into the ground. These verses have been misinterpreted almost as much as, well actually not near as much as the following.

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.-Jesus in Matthew 5:39

There is a lot of culture behind the wording of this and I won’t get into it too much but simply put it is saying to ignore the insults and the slights of the world because they really mean nothing. The left hand was the shall we say the unclean hand in the time of Jesus. People predominantly used their right to do things such as eating and striking someone but of course to strike me on the right cheek you would have to backhand me, a sign of believing I was inferior to you. An insult.

We get backhanded a lot. We get backhanded in our blogs, we get backhanded at work, in our relationships, in love and in pretty much ever facet of life. A big step toward renewal is to realize these are insults that do you no permanent life ending harm. It may take a few moments to realize that, but you will realize it, just pray it’s not too late.

A 16 year old boy, I emphasize boy here, calls me a cripple  in a grocery store. Do I let him know he has touched a nerve by retaliating? No, I do something I talk about in an old article I wrote back in May called Don’t ALLOW People to Control You. It’s advice from a very successful woman I heard at a business luncheon probably 15 years or so ago. I do not mean some large gathering with hundreds of people. There were maybe 50 people there and we were able to actually have a good discussion. Perhaps that is why I went home and typed up the notes from that meeting.

I’ve learned through the years to let the petty little garbage things go. I don’t give it space in my mind or heart that belongs to loving and adoring. That gives me a lot of loving and adoring to give. It also gives me a lot of ability to step back and look at situations in a fair manner. You learn how to look beyond things that spark that emotional reaction inside of you.

A lot of things this past year could have been avoided if dealt with in a mature fashion and would have set such a great example in many ways. But people are ALLOWING things to happen.

To get to the point of Renewal you need to get rid of the old habits  you have of ALLOWING others control over you.

Remember;

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.~James 1:19-20

do not lose your temper

ronovan-writes-signature-black

 
 
 
 

@RonovanWrites
RonovanWrites on Facebook
followmeonbloglovin

 

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015

Time For Innocence

Ronovan Poetry , , , , ,

time for innocence christmas haiku image

 

Time For Innocence,

This Season we are now in,

Gives our Life Meaning.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2014

Some people change, you know?

Ronovan Inspiration & Motivation , , , , , , ,

Yeah, I know it’s not Sunday but I had a great verse given to me and wanted to share. You know sometimes you are seen as that person who wasn’t good in school or you were the fat kid or any other number of things. For the rest of your life that is who you are.

Matthew 13:58

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

change happensJesus was just seen as that carpenter’s son when he went back home. People had heard what he had done but still just couldn’t get past what they had seen of him growing up.  Imagine that.

For a lot of us out there we write. We can write just about anything. For some of us we were that quiet person that just made it through school without trouble of getting noticed. And that’s who we are still.

No one I grew up with or know would believe I write science fiction books, fantasy, historical drama, teen adventures or Romance novels. I’m still the same guy I was growing up, even to my ‘family’. For some people, if they never moved away from home for a period of time that being held to a a certain mold will crush that growing talent. For others they will leave and become this new person and when returning home they are once again who they were. Just like Jesus.

Imagine all that the world has missed out on because of people not being open to change and growth.

If you have a friend, family member or even your own child who shows a sign of being different than they were even just a week ago be open to it. My son enjoys things with me because I am open to his changing. How many 7 year old boys in the South do you know would try Sushi and like it? He’s told me the parts of a story he wants me to write someday. He does all these different things and I am always ready for the next change to happen.

I had a concussion and I am a totally different person. Well almost totally. But you can’t tell me that any longer that I am a certain something because I am reinventing myself. My original tagline for this blog site was “discovering my world one word at a time.” That’s what I do every day I write a new article or research something. Notice I am not rediscovering, I am discovering. I’m not looking back, I am looking forward.

Be open to all who show change because change happens. If you aren’t open you might miss out on something amazing.

 

Much Respect

Ronovan

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2014

 

My Sunday Thought: The Gift of Christmas?

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , , , , , ,

gift of christmas is easter

Oh my word. I tell you I had no idea what I would write about today for my Sunday Thought. I knew for those who might visit, a Christmas tale might be expected. Well, every day is Christmas for me so, my apologies for letting you down with something holiday oriented. But if you really want to have a bit of something Christmas then here you go.

A preacher and Christian Book Store filled the pulpit one Sunday evening since our pastor was out of town for the evening.

“Everybody, would you move forward to the edge of your  seats for me?” he asked.

“Thank you. Now could you raise up your hand and say Amen?”

“Thank you, you may relax.” We all sat back in the pews with various people looking at each other strangely. Deacons were staring at deacons. I was smiling at the deacons, I was the Chairman of the Deacons at the time.

“You may all be wondering what that was about. I told the pastor I would have you all on the edge of your seats, raising your hands and saying amen before the end of the service. Now he owes me dinner.”

What’s that got to do with Christmas, right? Well this visiting preacher was a bit on the strange side. I mean cowboy boots, checkered shirt, jeans. Just saying the church wasn’t accustomed to that. I personally don’t care if the pastor is wearing shorts, Hawaiian shirt, and flip flops as long as he’s preaching the word of God and the Spirit is leading him. But he actually was a strange man. I spoke to him on several occasions after that in his store. I love books, sue me. No, don’t.

What he preached on that night left such an impression on me that I incorporated it into a Youth Lesson I taught one Wednesday night.

The Gift of Christmas is Easter

You know, a lot of people want to turn Christmas into just an economic boost. Some religions don’t even celebrate Christmas, and I mean the ones that believe in Jesus. I have a relative who doesn’t celebrate Christmas but sure does love getting a present to open. I really have no problem with any of the demoninations. Yes, I said demoninations. You see, man made the divisions. God is God. Jesus is Jesus. There you go. Dunk, sprinkle whatever. As long as they are believing in the true word of God, I’m good with it.

As you think about the baby Jesus all warm and happy in the manger, think of the bloodied and nude suffering Jesus on the cross dying for you. That little baby came here to end up like that so we could have Easter, salvation.

Part of the Trinity voluntarily came to earth in the form of  an infant to live life as a human through all the sufferings of a human child and remain perfect throughout his life in order to be beaten, flogged, scourged, humiliated, crucified, murdered for us.

“Oh, but if he was God then he could be perfect” some try to say. Let me take a nail and pound it through your wrists with you knowing I intended to murder you and see if you would forgive me for it. Do you think it didn’t hurt Jesus? Do you think he didn’t feel pain? That little baby oh so cute and lovable died a murderous death. And here is something else to think about; for it to be the ultimate sacrifice for ALL of our sins, think about how badly and how horrible he must have been beaten even before getting to the cross.

I wasn’t going to talk about a Christmas related story today. I was actually going to talk about a verse I was given from Matthew, but as I began writing different words began to form on the screen and here we are. I love Christmas. I love the feelings it brings with family. It’s not the actual day of the birth of Christ but it’s nice to have a day to celebrate it. I think we should do it every day.

In the silence of that night long ago,

The son came to earth as a gift.

Celebrate the day in the way you like,

But always and every day his name uplift.

 

 

 

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2014

My Sunday Thought: Be quiet.

Ronovan Inspiration & Motivation, Thoughts, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Be Quiet Chalk Board ImageI always like to write my Sunday Thought about something to do with events that are happening in society today. The problem with that is the same things have been going on for weeks now and to be honest I have been attempting to avoid simply going off on a rant to say exactly what I think of the various situations. So far I’ve held my tongue and merely spoken in a somewhat neutral tone. Mostly because it would be such a long article that I know it would not be read and everyone has there opinions.

And they would be just that. Opinions. You can take two people and give them the exact same information and they will see something different. It all depends on your view of how things operate.

Why do I not give my full blown, knock down, in your face opinions on Ferguson, Cosby and Garner? Because it would be an opinion that, although not in the media and not sensationalized or used inflammatorially would still add fuel to a fire that no one can know 100% either way about. Don’t make assumptions about my opinion based on that statement. Why?

James 1:19-22
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

And if you don’t want to take the advice of the half brother of Jesus then take it from the wisest normal man that ever lived.

Proverbs 17:28
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.

I’ve taught my son one thing if nothing else. Keep quiet unless the teacher asks him the question or he’s certain of the answer being asked. You see kids just spout out an answer sometimes and look like they are crazy. We think it’s funny. Adults do it and we look foolish. That happens in every aspect of life.

 

Much Respect

Ronovan

 

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2014

 

The first reported case of deviled ham.

Ronovan Opinion Articles, Poetry , , , , , , , ,

It’s early here. Especially early considering it is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. I have a blanket wrapped around my legs, the warmth makes the joints and bones feel decent. Who would have thought at my age I would need to be doing that? But then no one would have ever thought Mr. Human Heater would ever need a blanket.

So what am I thankful for today,

on this National Holiday?

I suppose I need to start with God,

and continue with that I at least still have a bod.

Family must be in the picture,

I hope that cranberry salad is of the right mixture.

Loved ones and smiling faces galore,

or the thoughts that I most adore.

Creativity and my imagination,

are two things needing appreciation.

Of course my friends here and there,

and those most loved everywhere.

You come upon a holiday and wonder what to write about. Do you write about the foods and traditions, which usually are the foods? The favorite deviled eggs. It’s a thanking God day and deviled eggs are one of Southern people’s favorites? Yes, my addled brain finds humor in that. It reminds me of a story my old pastor once told.

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men

Matthew 8:28-34

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

What does that have to do with Thanksgiving? My old pastor and friend told the story from the Bible and was very serious as he looked out over the congregation in the church that Sunday and followed it up with  “And that is the first known record of Deviled Ham in history.

Yes, I am thankful for that friend who taught me to enjoy the Bible, find humor in life, and have an unshakeable faith.

A post today so random it had to be from me, Ronovan Writes. I write everything after all. But then when being thankful, is it really random if you are sharing what you are thankful for?

 

picgif.com
picgif.com

Happy Thanksgiving to Those in Tryptophan land today. And if you don’t want turkey, a nice broccoli or squash casserole would be excellent. Send any left overs to:

Ronovan Writes
P.O. Box 116
Much Respect, WP.com

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2014

Sunday Thought: Be Like a Child and Grow Up

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , , , , ,

You know when I started writing these Sunday Thoughts and agreeing with myself to use whatever verses came up in my Bible Verse Generator I knew it might be difficult at times. God likes to make me think real deep at times. I’ll just put it that way. Today I’m thinking deep.

 

 

I try to be good. I fail. I fail every day, in some way. Sure I might do good in this way one day but then the next day I blow it. I stumble. I try to be the good Christian, but I stumble. Yeah, I realize I will never be perfect here on earth. Only Jesus ever was. I wish all Christians realized that. I wish non-Christians realized Christians didn’t have to be perfect nor thought of ourselves as perfect. But hey, things are the way they are. Doesn’t mean we can’t change them. Maybe today you can help start some changing.

I’ll tell you how difficult today’s verses are for me to get just right in explaining. Or getting thoughts from. This is like my fourth or fifth version of this. I think part of the reason I’m having a problem is because I do a daily Christian study and I just did it right before this so I am in that same mind. So let me take a moment and get out of that mode of mind. (Yes, I am actually doing all of this as I do it.)

Do you remember what it was like to be a child? I’m not talking about playing in the yard or riding your bike. I’m talking about how you thought. How you felt. It’s almost impossible to capture that isn’t it. In today’s verses Jesus tells he disciples to do just that or they won’t get into Heaven. And then he gives a warning.

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:5-6

5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea

You know the disciples always seemed to wonder who were going to be the big guys in heaven.  And we only have some of the times they asked about it. Can you imagine how tiresome that must have gotten. Jesus having to repeat himself over and over?  Well God did it all through the Old Testament, didn’t He?

Jesus basically tells them to be like children and depend on their Father, believe Him, follow Him, learn from Him, and give no thoughts of what greatness is.

People sometimes wonder about the whole drowning statement. What does Jesus mean by this? Think of it like this; you have a child and someone causes them to do something bad, say drugs, get drunk and I mean a child, a little kid. What would you do to that person?

How what Jesus is saying is it would be better for that person to have died from drowning rather than to have done something that would  have caused him to face the anger and rage of the Father.

You force drugs in my son, and well . . . I’m  a Christian, but I’m not perfect. I can imagine my rage at that. God’s rage would be so much more than that, beyond our imagining. And just think, my son is one of God’s children.

But well, I know what is going on for real. The enemy is at work. He is using others to make things happen. People aren’t born with their lives planned out to be this or that. Things happen along the way that make things turn out the way they do. I would like to say I could forgive anything.  God gave everyone the chance at forgiveness.

I’m not God. I can forgive a lot of things in this world done by people because I know the truth of what’s behind it. But, it would be best that you strap a car around your neck and throw yourself in the ocean before I got to you.

For the enemies of Jesus, and really I can’t understand why anyone would not embrace his teachings and ideas, but for his enemies, your millstone is around your neck right now. Lucky you there is a sword that can cut it away. Some call it a tree, some a cross, some might see it as a sword.

I didn’t intend to get preachy today. I never do really. I have a site for a bit of the preachy, although I don’t really get preachy with it. (Why do I have Will Smith singing in my head?) But really today was about not caring about being the greatest in this or that. Be the best that you can be. Don’t worry about all of that glory stuff. Seriously, do your best. That’s what I tell my son. Do I want him to have A’s on his report card? Of course. But I tell him just to do his best. If I see him come home with a bad grade and I know he studied, I’m good with it. Bad grades happen. I mean you could ask ‘B’ that if he were on here.

Well that’s the end of this rambling nonsense today. Til next week, God bless you and pray daily. Start out your day with some quiet time with God to start that day off on the right foot. Trust me, it helps.

Much Respect

cropped-headertypewriter3-copy.jpg

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2014

 

My Sunday Thought: For Others

Ronovan Thoughts, Writing , , , , ,

Philippians is one of my favorite writings of the Bible. I know many refer to them as books of the Bible, but they were letters and essays when first written and only became ‘books’ after being bound together in a book called the Bible.

No, I am not going to make a big deal about semantics today, it’s just one of my little quirks. That and the numbered verses and the chapter divisions. I really just enjoy the words in the original flow, without man’s interruptions. Man can mess up some beautiful things, you know?

But Philippians has some of my favorite sentences in it. One of them is one of the first I ever referred to as a life ‘verse’.

Philippians 1:19

“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”

Whatever is happening to me, I count as something I can use to make me stronger in my relationship with God and make me a better person overall moving forward each day. It might be a good fortune or a day of body ravaging pain but through each I move forward with the one constant in my life. And I use all for my betterment.

But that sentence is not what was  given today for me to think about and ponder upon. No, I was given instead;

Philippians 2:3

“1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

I found the sentence today interesting. I’m not overly sure why. Okay, perhaps I do know why.

Think about it like this. Say you go on vacation and you have to leave your house and expensive things behind but you are the only one you can count on, the only one you can trust. Would you actually be able to relax on vacation or even take that vacation?

Now think about if your neighbors cared about you, watched out for you and each other, each others property and safety. Would you be able to go on vacation and relax?

Yes, I know what most people think of when they read the verse. We are supposed to put other people before us as Christ put others before himself. But there are many benefits even before we get to heaven we can receive if we all just did as this verse said.

I like to think I consider others before I do myself at times. No, I am sure I don’t all the time. Just wanted to say that before anyone decided to think I was being all braggadocious or something. I know I care about my blogs and my writing and the happiness of those of you reading what I write. But I do sometimes put things on delay to help here and there. Why do I do that?

I do some things around Blog World that people would ask to be paid for. You know what? I enjoy doing the things I do. I rarely, if ever have said no to helping someone. Why? In all honesty, I’ve never thought to say no. Maybe afterwards or in the middle of something that is taxing during a fibro flare, I might get that “I so regret saying yes” feeling, but the person’s happiness makes it better.

Don’t do things for others for recognition. I haven’t told you what I’ve done or for whom. Anything I’ve ever written with someone I’ve not wanted my name there but it’s been pretty much insisted upon at times. I like just helping and seeing the person get good results . . . if they do. Most of the time I really don’t do that much except just spark an idea.

Anyway. Help others. Put others needs before your own. It sounds like a big thing but it isn’t always. If you’re a boss, stand up for your employees. I did that when I was a boss. I ended up being stabbed in the back by one of those I stood up for time and again, but here I am . . . doing what I love most, writing. All works out for my deliverance.

Until Next Thoughtday,

Ronovan

ron_full_river - cropped

 

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com

 

My Sunday Thought: Freedom . . . but from what?

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , , , ,

It’s a rough Sunday morning today. The old body is not cooperating. Got one of them flares going today, well the past few it I am to be honest. I wasn’t going to do my Sunday Thought today but I needed a bit of the Word.

I was hoping God would say something like, “I shall taketh your paineth awayeth righteth noweth.” You know someday I’ll know what his voice really sounds like, as in the actual sound of it. I see his ‘voice’ all around me at work, so to speak.

So what verses did I get today from the websites I like to use to give me a bit of variety to my Bible studies?

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.-2 Corinthians 3:17

At first, if you don’t really read much of the Bible it doesn’t say much to you, but for me it did . . . after a moment. For me the Spirit is inside of me. The Spirit sets us free from a  lot of things.

This brings to mind the  saying “The Truth shall set you free.” The origin of that is Jesus talking about his being the Truth and those who know him and follow him will be set free. Free of what? Free of the consequences of all we’ve done here on earth when we pass on. Oh sure, we won’t get everything we could have in Heaven, all the rewards set aside for us, but as long as I get there, I’m good.

Maybe a better explanation is that we are free from being under the rule of sin. See, I’m not under that rule any longer. Sure, I will have to answer for things but as Mark Lowry said it “Sure Beats Hell”.

So what does that verse do for me in the middle of a Fribromyalgia Flare? It lets me know that eventually I’ll have a healthy and pain free existence down the line.

Along with this verse I received;

“And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”-1 John 4:21

When you have the Spirit inside of you and you have Jesus, and I mean for real, not just saying you’re a Christian, trust me there are a lot of Play-Christians out there, but when you are for real, then realize it’s easy to love your brother and sister. This doesn’t just mean your relatives. And by loving people it sure does take a lot of that pain of hating off of your body, your heart. The stress of hanging onto that grudge or that whatever goes away.

This even reminds me of something I wrote about where a celebrity said a few things recently about a, well I’ll call us civilians, but anyway, if the celebrity just took a step back then it would have been realized there was no reason for the reaction.

That Spirit frees you up from a lot of things, but you have to be active with it. Don’t just think because you walked an aisle or whatever to get saved one Sunday means you are automatically changed into a better person than you were. It’s the first step.

I was saved for a long time before I think I could really call myself a Christian. Things changed for me after that. Not everything, I still messed up because I was a dumb human. Still am one actually. Still mess up actually. But I at least am aware of what my mess ups are.

Do any of these verses take my pain away or cure me? No. But studying the Word does make one feel better about where we are and the future. You see, I know things may look bad, and I try to help and do the best I can while I am here, but I know that down the line I will be just fine. After all  I’m a foreigner here in this land. My home is another place.

Well that’s about it for me today. I know it was a bit disjointed today, but I’m good with it.

Much Respect

Ronovan

ron_full_river - cropped

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Romans 1:16

 

2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com

Sunday Thought-Be Content.

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , , ,

There are a lot of things that we want. How many things do we need?

I sit back and look at the need situation of the house at times and wonder, literally, how did the needs get to this level. There are difficult decisions to be made in life. Wants and needs are big decisions.

“11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”-Philippians 4:11-13

“7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”-1 Timothy 6:7-8

Financially we want a lot. We say we don’t but our lifestyles contradict, even for those who live at the lower range of lifestyles. The Bible also says not to ever owe anyone anything. When you owe you put yourself in a position of weakness, for one. But also you put yourself in a position of putting your beliefs or ideals in jeopardy.

What do we need?

Food, clothing and shelter? Thoughts are running through minds at this time about needing a job to have those things. Yes, you need a job. What job do you need? How much food and clothing do you need? How much shelter do you need? What job are you too good for?

I ran into the problem when job searching of being over qualified for everything. I simply wanted a job that would make ends meet. I knew what needs there were, but they were more than the needs I should have had. We say we live at our bare minimum, but do we all do that?

What do we need?

Friendship? There is only one friend we ever can have that will never do anything against us. Why then do we mourn not having friends? Why then do we fall into friendships that are not good for us?

It’s not about what we need any longer. It’s about what we want. I’ve slowly come to a realization of returning to need in aspects of my life. Imagine the satisfaction. Imagine the relief from a great deal of mental and emotional grief and pain. I enjoy the friendships I have. I am now very selective in those I hold close to.

One thing to learn about friendships is to let them be friendships. You don’t have to make them be these soul bonding experiences. Be friends. Enjoy them.  Enjoy them for what they are and for the time you have them. No, I am not saying count on them no longer being a friend. I am simply saying enjoy being in the moment.

Wants and needs. Two very difficult words to differentiate when you make those difficult decisions.

We all need to be content with what we need. It would make the whole world a lot better off.

Have a Blessed Week

Ronovan

 

2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com

Writing in the Sand

Ronovan Poetry, Reblogs , , , , , , ,

A very good poem for today.
Much Respect
Ronovan

Do everything in love. My Sunday thought for today.

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , ,

My randomly generated Bible verse today was 1 Corinthians 16:14

“Do everything in love.”-Paul to the church in Corinth

It is always my custom to then go and read the surrounding verses to get the context of the message. If you visit the verse today you will see it stands alone and does not rely on an explanation from any surrounding verses. But there is a message from all of those verses.

Paul was telling the church that he wanted to come and that he was sending others until he could but regardless if anyone of them were there or not they should . . . do what?

“Do everything in love.”

That pretty much sums up how we should be and how I TRY to live. I try to live that out here on my blog and to those I encounter through it. Do I fail at times? Oh yeah! But I TRY.

It doesn’t say to do this thing or that thing in love it says ‘everything’. You see if you look throughout the New Testament you’ll see that doing in love is a key. If true love is guiding you then you can’t go wrong. This isn’t the ‘in love’ love. Or the ‘love of power’. This is ‘love of what is right’. For a Christian that ‘right’ is the words of Jesus.

You know we look at the writings in the New Testament and there are so many arguments about it, but just go to the words of Jesus and see if things are backed up by what he said. “Love your neighbor…” remember that one? Not love that neighbor on the left and not the one on the right.

This is a pretty simple thing that if we all thought and lived by would make the world a lot better. It wouldn’t even matter what your beliefs were, just simply love. For those who might be thinking, “But I don’t believe in what the Bible says,” well, I kind of think “Do everything in love” is a pretty good thing. As I’ve said many times before, whether you believe or not, the words of Jesus and those words inspired by him are still useful to everyone’s daily life.

 

Much Respect & LoveRon_Hoodie_HeartRonovan

(See? I got a little heart love action going on.)

 

2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com

Sex and Hell: My Sunday Thoughts, Enter at Your Own Risk

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , , , , , , , ,

You ever notice I have strange ideas about things? It’s Sunday and that means Bible thoughts are swirling through the old lost mind. Christians annoy me. They really do. What? That surprises you to hear me say? Well keep reading and see what the old amnesiac has to say.

Sex.Couple kissing and embracing hands on faces

  • If you have it and you’re not married then you go to Hell.
  • If it occurs outside a man woman marriage then the people go to Hell.

You know if I had thought of that in my early to mid twenties when I started searching for a church I would have just said, “Forget it, if I’m going to Hell already then I ain’t gonna bother with it.”

Oh I know, you are thinking, “Ronovan, you forgot about the part where if you get Saved by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you’re okay.”

No, I didn’t forget it. Nope. Thought about it the entire time.

So here is where I am coming from. Do we all sin? I know some of you are saying you don’t believe in sin and so forth, but okay then. Do we all do bad things, like breaking the laws and such?

Yeah, I see some of you nodding your heads, trying to stay awake and it’s not working. Just like in a church on a hot day right before lunch time and the pastor is preaching the same sermon he has 5 times before and he’s been there less than a year.

If you break a law and you go to court, you end up paying a fine of some sort, be it money or time in jail. Now after you get out of jail or have paid a fine then you are free to go on your way.  That’s because that’s what the rule book says, the law.

Well Christians we have a rule book, a book of law so to speak. Yeah, the Bible, the Word, the Good Book.

  • It says in the Bible that Jesus came for ALL of our sins.
  • It says in the Bible that if you accept Jesus then your sins are thus forgiven.
  • It says in the Bible you have to be perfect from that point forward to stay Saved.

If you agreed to that last one we might need to have a little talk. Because there is a verse in there that says . . . hold on let me find it.

Here it is, John 10: 27-30

27″My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”-Jesus

Notice that, “No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” No sinner can snatch you, not even yourself. Once you are in the Father’s hand you are His. You may slide back into a life that you crawled out of, but all the Father asks is that you try to be better. That you try to do better. No one can be perfect, if they could then Jesus would not have had to come in the first place.

Now I am talking to my Christian friends here. We need to stop judging and fudging. Stop judging people and stop fudging the Word of God. “But Ronovan it says in Romans 1 that . . .” Stop right there. Have you ever read Romans 1 and 2 together without the chapter breaks that later man put in there? Without verse numbers? No? Give it a try and then see what is being said.

If you do you might see that Paul is laying into the early Christians of Rome not to judge those that people today condemn in Chapter 1. He is telling them that if they do then they are judging themselves.

What society do you think made up those first Christians in Rome in the first place?

Yes, sex outside of man and woman marriage is a sin as the Bible says. A touchy subject I know. I am a sinner. Yep. Throw me to the pits, oh, wait . . . I accepted Jesus. I . . . and I don’t . . . I don’t judge other sinners.

“But Ronovan you’re judging us for judging others.”

Nope. I am sharing the Word of God.  “But you judged.” No, what I did was point out something that we have all been taught for so long is more of a ‘tradition’ in the church than an actual fact of the faith.

Pastors around the  world today are preaching on Romans Chapter 1 right now as an end all and be all, because it’s what they’ve been taught according to ‘traditions’.

Does the scripture above mean I can go out and sin all I want to and be fine? Technically yes, yes it does. “Then let me sign up now before I go get with the neighbors wife.” It doesn’t work that way. You have to be sincere. Over time things happen and there are outside influences and life situations and all sorts of things that cause one to do this or that. Ask forgiveness and then try to do better.

“Ronovan, do you still think people that have sex with someone other than who they are married to according to the Bible marriage plan is sinning.”

Yes I do. And guess what. I don’t think that sin is any greater than any other sin. There isn’t a tier system. Jesus died for each and every sin, not just what we consider the baby sins.

 

So what inspired me to talk about this today? I really don’t know. I was going to speak on suicide after a popular video was shared with me but then this hit me. Oh, now I remember, it was part of a conversation I had. I think there was a discussion on monogamy.

Did I say things today to encourage people to go out and have sex with other people? No. Did I say they were forgiven if they had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior? Yes.

I am sure there are some reading this now wondering about me. “What is Ronovan talking about? I thought he was a Christian. He must be one of them Liberal so called Christians.”

I think it’s odd when a person says they believe in something the Bible says that disagrees with “traditions” they are automatically labeled a Liberal. I actually said something in all of that which would make people say I am a Conservative as well.  My actual party if I were to proclaim one is Christ Led.

Not sure if I said anything anyone learned from today. But this is me on a Sunday, sharing my thoughts of how I see what the Bible says. Not everyone has to agree with me, but I am glad I got that off my chest.

Praying you all have a good week and see you next Sunday.

Ronovan

 

ron_bloglovin2

2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com

Forgiveness? Can you do it?

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , ,

Life can be rough. And that’s when people are nice. It really doesn’t help when the unpleasant people get involved in it. I used to work with this lady in a warehouse back when I was in my first years of college. We didn’t really have much to do with one another. As far as my journals say, I’m not even sure if we spoke much. We just didn’t have a reason to.

She was very pretty, seemed nice and sweet.  She never bothered anyone and did her job the best she could. The problem was she was honest. Honesty a problem? It’s put me in tough spots before. But still you need to be honest, right?

It turned out this young lady, actually older than I was at the time, had once been an exotic dancer, a stripper. She had strippergiven up that life to come and work in a warehouse sewing. To me it seemed like she was trying to make her life better. Imagine the amount of money she had been making.

You know we probably all think it’s easy to be a dancer like that and just make money thrown at you. I think it’s probably difficult to get up there and do that knowing there might be some men out there that might get to aggressive either inside the club or outside.

Now you are thinking, “She shouldn’t be dancing like that if she doesn’t want the attention.” I guess being alone, with a baby, and no high school diploma and desperate didn’t have anything to do with her decision. I suppose feeding that innocent baby, the child of a waste of life male sperm donor, didn’t come to her mind as she got up there each time and did what she did. I guess she just liked to dance naked in front of drunk men.

She didn’t last long at the warehouse. She lasted longer naked with drunk men than she did with a group of women sewers.

Once it was discovered what she had done prior to working there it was all down hill and out the door. The men were nice enough. Oddly they just acted normal. We didn’t have a reason to be around her much. I did as I was a jack of all trades. I did everything there was from the point of unloading the boxes of uniforms off the trucks, to the loading the finished uniforms back on the trucks, and yes, that included sewing and embroidery.

I learned a lot there. It was my first real job. The first place I discovered what treating a woman should be like form seeing how badly some of the women were treated.

Psalms 103Jesus_crucifixion

9 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

What is David saying here? For our sins to be removed and forgiven there had to be a sacrifice, and that was Him. I know some people get a little confused about the Trinity, but Jesus was an aspect of God, one of the three. And Jesus came to earth to take on our sins because God does not always accuse, or harbor his anger forever, nor does he treat up as our sins deserve.

Jesus says to forgive or we will be judged just as harshly as we didn’t forgive. That’s a paraphrase but that’s what it says. I have a friend who has an interesting past. Although that past is something they don’t deny but instead use to attempt to reach and help others, people use it negatively and for selfish reasons. There is no forgiveness and recognition of what is being done. They simply see the past and live in it instead of seeing the present and seeing what is being done with the past.

Forgiveness. It’s a tough one but not really. I always say that as I believe that we are all God’s creations that we were all MEANT to do good in our lives. But through various things throughout history things have turned out the way they are. A child grows up to be a dictator, but was raised from birth to be one. A woman ends up being a stripper, but wasn’t raised from birth to be one.

Yeah, I am able to see the sin from the sinner. Is it easy? No. Do I like it? No. Does it make my life easier to think that humans aren’t born to be murdering rapists? Yes. If I had to attempt to come up with some psychological answer for every single problem everyone has I would die in moments from overload.

You don’t have to agree with me. I’m good with it. Everyone can be as they like as long as they don’t harm others. If we all did that, we would all be better off.

The title asks can you forgive. You don’ t have to. Forgiveness has already been given. We should just learn to follow a great example.

 

Much Respect

Ronovan

 

bloglovin

2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com

Sunday Thought: Be Still and Know

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I read an article by someone I have come to consider a good friend of mine, Allison at Long & Luxe, and a phrase she used reminded me of one of my favorite all time scriptures.

 

Sunset Pear Harbor
gettyimages © Original Photo by Kathy Collins

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”-Psalm 46:10

 

Each person reading this has different beliefs and we each have something we turn to that brings us comfort and peace. During a period where I was dealing with high blood pressure, which due to my weight loss I no longer have, and some newly found health problems at the time my world was chaotic. My mind was not able to focus and things had no stability to me.

 

I’m not one to believe in coincidences. Some people say God doesn’t speak to them. I say they just don’t recognize his language.

 

During this time two things happened:

One Wednesday night at church we broke up into different groups and prayed for each other. The one praying for me prayed for peace and focus in my life without my saying a word of my need.

 

The next week, as I was functioning as the Youth Pastor for my church, I took our youth to a Steven Curtis Chapman concert. For those of you not familiar with him, he is an American Contemporary Christian music legend. Some say he even broke the boundaries and brought music of a type that spoke to a new generation of Christians.

 

During the concert Chapman had the lights turned down low and it was just him and his guitar. And he sang this song.

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still oh, restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of Peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still, be speechless

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know He is our Father
Come rest your head upon His chest
Listen to the rhythm of
His unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still, be still

As I said, I don’t believe in coincidences. I recognized God’s voice in what was going on around me. This was in 2008 and has been a mantra of mine ever since. Be still and know God is God and that there are things beyond your control, things you just have to pray about. Give the grief and the sorrows to Him. Let God be God.

 

Since an accident in my home in the summer of 2013 I’ve been through some tough times. One thing that has never left me is the Word of God. This verse keeps me going. I’ve expanded on it as I’ve studied the Bible more and taken a fresh look at how Christianity is today.

 

“Be still and Let God be God and people be people.”

 

I see the slogans and shirts about “Be calm . . .” or “Stay calm . . .” If I have to rely on people to bring me peace and calm, I’ll just give up now. My phrase means just stay calm and be yourself and LET God take care of the rest and LET people be the people they are and wish to be. Yes, as a Christian believing in Heaven and Hell I will share with someone what I think because I love them, no matter who they are, but I’m not going to force them to be what they don’t want to be. Jesus didn’t do that, and he’s the one I follow.

 

I heard Be Still and Know for the first time at that concert weeks before Chapman lost one of the three daughters he adopted from China. His youngest son ran over her in his truck as she ran to him. He didn’t see her. Chapman kept yelling to his son as he drove off after the helicopter taking his daughter away “I love you son. I love you.” Chapman eventually was able to record again. Was able to be still and know.

Much Love

Ronovan

 

bloglovin

2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com

How I continue on. A look inside what makes me . . . me.

Ronovan Thoughts , , , , , , , , ,

I am asked at various times, it is commented in my blog wondering how I do what I do with all of the problems I have.

“12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.“-Philippians 1:12-19

Paul is shackled and yet the Word of God is still doing its work through his actions. The Word of God is being spread by those with good and bad intent, but is still being heard.

Some have issues with Preachers such as Joel Osteen. Saying that he doesn’t preach on certain aspects of the Bible. Joel is not a Pastor in the sense of what we normally think of he word. In truth he is a motivational speaker using the Word of God to get the message out. His church has a small group program that takes care of what every Sunday School  or small program does in every church.

What does that have to do with me? Not much as far as how I am able to do what I do, but this is my blog and I have decided to blog my thoughts at times, especially on Sundays.

 

But I do what I do because I don’t focus on what has happened. I focus on moving forward and, yes, I do talk about what is wrong with me but I do so to get it out of me and hope that it helps others to see what is going on in the world and to say those of similar problems that it is okay, we’re good, we can do things.

 

I wouldn’t be here in blog land with so many new friends if not for what has happened to me. I do not hate what has happened, regret, deny, wish to change. I look at it as one part of me that has led me here.

That is what the scripture above is talking about. Paul is saying that he is thankful, embraces, all that has happened to him because it has brought him to this point in his walk with God and will work out for his good, if not here on earth then in Heaven.

 

Am I comparing Paul’s work to what I do. Not at all. But I use Philippians 1:19 as one of my life verses, along with Romans 1:16 and  1Peter 3:15.

 

Terrible things happen in lives, but they’ve happened. Nothing can be done about them. We can either let them work to the negative or to the good. I choose good. I choose good every time.

 

Lord,

I pray today that all of my Friends are safe in life and will find health and happiness.

I pray all things in the name of Jesus who you, Lord, gave all authority in Heaven and on Earth.

Amen

Much Respect

Ronovan

 

2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com