Section 4
I have a chair by the sliding glass doors here in our house. It's my prayin', griping, cryin', laughin', readin', pity-party, hallelujah, mad at God, thank you Lord chair. I'm not there at any specific time...i.e. it's not my quiet time place...I don't really have one. It's simply the place I go to be alone with Him...sometimes in the morning...other times at night...just when I want to "be still, and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10). Well...as I'm sure you can identify with I've had some great times-n-some sad times sittin' there lifting up my eyes to see if He's comin'...renewing my mind...listenin' for His answers to the thousands of questions I ask. Like this one...WHY?? Ever ask Him that? I used to every single time I sat in that chair. I never heard His answer either. Sometimes I'd ask that question about a particular occurrence or some statement I read in His book or His love for me and Jeniece or my mom's death...shoot y’all, about everything. Jesus asked a bunch of questions too...mainly to His disciples...His followers...and His enemies too. He asked this one of His Father..."Why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). I think that's the question I've asked God the most. For years I felt as if He never answered cause He wasn't listening...at least not to me anyway. I was the forsaken black sheep of the flock...the ugly duckling...the biggest failure in the world...living proof that you couldn't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. I just figured "Why have you forsaken me" was Hebrew for Bobby! One day, not too long ago, I uttered that redundancy again...’Why?’...and what do ya know, He answered...’why not?’ Typical...He's smart enough to know that little counseling move (answering a question with a question)...He is, after all, the "wonderful counselor" (Isaiah 9:6). Well...I was about to pitch a fit when that statement actually illuminated itself in my spirit. 'Why not' indeed. It finally dawned on me that I'm not the boss of this outfit...He is. And He will do as He pleases with my life, Jeniece's life, everyone’s life...and it will be good! Ya see, He's preparin’ us for a wedding..."I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord" (Hosea 2:19-20). Betroth means to promise 'by one's truth'. We're connected to God, so to speak, by truth...His truth...The Truth...His Promise...Jesus. We're the Bride not the bridesmaid...truth. Jesus wasn't forsaken (His flesh was, just likes ours will be; but not His identity), sin was eliminated and He was glorified...truth. God can, in fact, make a silk purse out of a sow's ear...truth...look at me! "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:35-36). Why?...Why not!! Next question. -------------------- SEE YA THERE We had another one of our talks today about how many tomorrows God has for us. You probably already have this figured out...but I think we have a whole bunch...as in 'all of them'. Far as I can tell that's what eternity is...all of our tomorrows. It's easy for me to sit on this side of the fence havin' all the confidence in the world; I don't have a giant alligator chewin' on my faith like Jeniece has over on her side. Well, I guess I do...we all do...the ratman doesn't know when to quit. But, you see, it's not the dyin' I'm concerned with...it's the livin'. For some reason, whenever we're havin' those heart to hearts, the Spirit gives me an example to use from my past...they don't always fit the current situation--it's that male thing--but they come anyway. I think this was a good one. My dad called me one afternoon to tell me Pa, his daddy, had gone to heaven that mornin' right there in his arms. Virgil Marion Giles was a hoot...he was the best fisherman I ever saw and the absolute greatest 42 player in the world. He always outfished me and knew what dominoes I had in my hand before I even laid one down. We had a tradition where everyone in our little family would pick a horse in the Triple Crown races...he always picked the winner...had an eye for those horses boy. We ate breakfast for supper at Ma-n-Pa's every Sunday night, and I always made it to that meal, even in high school...brought my girlfriend with me several times. Pa could snore with the best of 'em too...it used to shake the house! I cried so much at his funeral my brother Dan thought I was losin' it...and I was...I was losin’ one of my favorite people in the world...for a little while. Pa never went to church a day in his life...not once. He wasn't even married in one. He made sure Ma, Dad and my aunt Annie were there every time the doors opened, but as far as I know he never went. Pa died in February, a few days after my birthday. The previous Christmas I went over to see him for what I think we both knew would be our last time together in this place. I told him how much I loved him, what he meant to me, how much I appreciated him lovin' me and teachin' me how to fish...we even laughed about him kickin' my tail when I needed it. He sat in his chair while I cried out every word. Finally I asked him the question...’are you sure you’re goin' to heaven Pa? I want to go fishin' with you when I get there’. He was dang-near blind by then but it sure looked to me like he was seein' me pretty good through those 87 year old eyes when he said ‘oh, I know I am...I'll see ya there’. By every 'religious' standard...all those legalistic chains that hunkered me down for years...Pa wasn't an example of a single one. But he was an example...he used to sit in that chair while everyone else was at church, spendin' time with God in a way that was best for him. He didn't need a big buildin' or a committee meetin' or a sermon or anything to do with 'organized' religion. He just needed a quiet place away from all the hoorah. I never heard him pray...I don't even think he ever mentioned the word God...ever...not that I remember anyway. But he knew he was goin' to heaven. I asked him once when I was just a pup what he did while everyone was at church...know what he said?...'I listen'. I was too ignorant at the time to catch the meanin' of that...but I get it now. Knowin' we're goin' to heaven isn't the result of followin' a bunch of rules…it's the result of a relationship. Pa had a relationship. I know he heard the Word cause my grandmother would tell him what the preacher said when she got home. He heard...cause he listened..."so then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:7). I guess listenin’ and hearin' privately was enough for Pa. So...what does that have to do with our situation?...or yours?. Because we're God's saints, I think we can’t help but hear...we can’t help but listen...to His words. I believe our tomorrows...all of ‘em...are set in stone. Today we walk...by faith...cause we know...by faith...tomorrow is taken care of...every single one of 'em...even the ones we'll never 'see' here below the line. "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13)...because we know our destination is secure in Christ we can enjoy the journey...even the bumps along the way..."plans to prosper you and not to harm you" (Jeremiah 29:11). Ultimately, those bumps...sure they hurt sometimes...but they can’t harm us...they can only prosper us...God says so! That's what my Bible says. That's what I shared with Jeniece this mornin'. I believe that's what Pa was sayin'. -------------------- HEAR I hit the chair today when the powernap came knockin'. It was so quiet around here and I was hearin' pretty good...hearin' the voice...of God. Yeh-yeh, I know, ol' goofy's hearin' voices again. Well...it's true...'cept it's only one voice...His. See...I believe God speaks to His children...sometimes it's through a circumstance, or a friend, or an encounter, or a promptin', or readin' His Word, or prayin'-n-singin'-n-praisin'-n-worshippin'...but dadgummit I know He speaks to His children cause "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27). I've heard lots of sermons and talks about the 'follow me' stuff and I think it's definitely right in the middle of the bull’s-eye...people followed Jesus...we follow Jesus. Here's what I'm gettin' at...didn't Jesus tell us "Follow Me" (Luke 5:27)?...well sure He did. And I'll bet He 'said' that to you in some miraculous way that you can remember plum down to the exact words you said in response...’yessir’...’I'm comin' Lord’...’Thank You Jesus’...’say what?’...there was a response to His drawin' you to Him...a response to His 'voice'. I don't know if He said it audibly...but you had to've heard it cause you took off with Him. I heard it too. So did Jeniece...back several months ago she 'heard' Him say, 'you're gonna hear that word again...but I'm gonna heal you'. Stay with me here cause there's somethin' to this...what transpired a few weeks later is, she did, in fact, hear 'that word' again...the one we don't give air to in this house. The Shepherd told her it was comin' and it did. Now, since we all know that first part came true...is there any reason to believe the second part won't also? Not over here there ain't!! Jesus knows us..."I know them"...He knows what is best...for His glory and our blessing. Sometimes--dang-near every time for me--it's not what we think 'best' oughta look like. But I don't think that changes the 'best-ness'. Anyway...it seems to me, because we have the life of Christ livin' in us, we can be certain that we hear His voice. I know the ratman tries to mess us around and all that...but he was disarmed at the cross...sure he roams around tootin' his horn...but he's not the voice we're listenin' to. Y'all, if we heard the 'follow me'...if He does know us...then I believe it's a pretty good bet the first part of His statement--us hearin' His voice--is true as well. I believe we hear His voice cause it's the only voice we truly desire to hear. I think we can trust His inner voice. Sure, it's a little awkward at first, but so was walkin' the first time and we're not crawlin' around on our hands and knees anymore are we? Look...we can’t come to the Father unless He draws us (John 6:44)...we all know that...and we can’t follow what we don't hear. He speaks...we hear...that's what His sheep do...cause that's what He says we do..."My sheep hear My voice". Listenin'? -------------------- TICKET We don't take out the trash like normal folk...puttin' the bags in one of those big rollin' things with the lid on it then placin' it at the curb once a week. We got us a garbage shoot...it's a shaft that goes from the fifteenth floor all the way to the garage. You have to open a door in the hallway to access it, open another little door in order to stuff your stuff in there and let-'er-go. Well, today was trash day so I was walkin' down the hall at the same time as another fella who'd just come off the elevator headin' in the same direction. Havin' never met a stranger I started up a conversation with 'how's it goin'...he responded 'aw, it's okay I guess, how 'bout you'...so I said 'just another day in paradise'...and he responded with 'I think I left my ticket at home'. He stopped, knocked on a door...'have a good one' I said, went an' filled the shoot, walked back to the house and straight to the chair...'Lord, show that guy Who his ticket is'. I remember livin' that lie...the one where the enemy makes us think the circumstance is bigger than God's love for us...the one where we think we missed the boat cause from where we're sittin' this sure don't look like paradise...the one where you can’t see any hope cause you can’t find your dadgum ticket! Gosh I hurt for that guy. Aren't ya glad we didn't miss the boat?..."whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21)...aren't ya glad we can’t lose our ticket or leave it at home?..."by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10)...aren't you glad we have a home in paradise?..."in My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3)...aren't ya glad that stranger in the hallway will one day know Who paradise is?..."As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God" (Isaiah 45:23)...aren't ya glad God empties 'the trash' for us?..."having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Colossians 2:14). Yep...got us a ticket don't we! -------------------- BUT...CHEERS I gotta tell ya...the enemy was bangin' on my door today. We had a lot of ministerin' goin' on here at the homeplace and the ratman was doin’ his darndest to get my attention. Each time the Word was spoken the liar started yellin'...'but look at this though'...'but that can’t be right'...'but what about that pain'...'but the fella in the white coat said'...'but, but, but, but'...and on-n-on. I found myself thinkin' like a victim! When I take my eyes off Jesus, it's easy-n-natural to look at the easy-n-natural. Is it that way for you? Sometimes I catch myself lookin’ at the lies...and what's weird about that to me is I know the truth! "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy...meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8). Well fer-cryin’-in-a-bucket y'all, doesn't everything for a child of God consist of "these things"?...of course it does!! The truth ain't just words on a page...it's who we are!...'true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy'...because 'these things' live in us. I'm pretty sure that's the 'Christ in you' of Scripture. Anyway, the stinkyones finally left...both the ones I dug up-n-the one that roams around..."Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Ya know?...what I noticed was I can’t resist ‘til I remember where the submit button is. See, I have no strength of my own; certainly none that can whip the ratman. But when he comes around I can dern sure submit to God...and when I do, that "My power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9) jumps up and gives that deceivin' grubworm another in the long line of butt-whuppins he's gonna get ‘til pitday. Instantly, his lies...all those 'buts'...vanish. The Redeemed of the Lord...you-n-me...His children...are never victims..."but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57)...we're victors, and overcomers in Him..."These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Cheers! -------------------- DADDY JOSEPH I was thinkin' today about Joseph...the other one...the daddy of the Savior. Can you imagine what was goin' through his mind this very night? Somethin' like 'I wasn't a part of this here conception'...'I don't have a place to stay'...'I didn't get to pick a name'...'What's that star doin’ there'...'Who invited these guys'...'What's goin' on here'...'What do I do now...this ain't even my kid'. Okay, maybe he wasn't thinkin' any of that...but I'll bet you a bucket of frankincense every doubt, every fear, every question, everything about him changed when he saw the Son of God for the first time. He had to be in awe...astonished...he had to marvel at this entire scenario. I sure would have...heck, I am now! "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Tonight I'm writin' you on the eve of Jesus' birthday...tomorrow I'll celebrate His birth...with you and every other saint in the world. Not too long from now we'll all meet Him face to face. I'm gonna personally look for-n-thank Joseph when I see him...for bein’ a good dad to his son. Ya know?...a lot of years went by between that night in the manger-n-that day on the cross. Somebody...down here, I mean...taught the Messiah how to be "as a man" (Romans 1:3). I think that was Joseph...and, of course, Mary too...I'm sure there were others...but ol' Joseph was 'dad'...not 'Father'...'dad'. And he loved Jesus...so did His mom..."And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him" (Luke 2:33). So what's the big deal about Joseph anyhow...why give him some ink? It's just that his part in the birth of Christ is one of adoption...which is exactly what happened to you-n-me..."having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" (Ephesians 1:5)..."to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:5). We're special to our Father...special to the "I Am" (Exodus 3:14)...He loves us...so much so He brought us into His family...He adopted us...forever. What a Christmas present!! -------------------- MERRY CHRISTMAS The powernap knocked on the door around noon...Jeniece responded-n-I made it to the chair in time to do some thankin'...some pleadin'...a little readin'...some listenin'. I got all over the grandness of the Lord. He truly is the answer to our question...our prayer...our thought...our pleadin'. I can’t think of one single time in my life when He has disappointed me...sure, I've been disappointed...but never by Him. God doesn't disappoint...He appoints..."You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit" (John 15:16). He calls us 'beloved'..."But you, beloved,"...we're the beloved of God! Pretty neat huh!! That was followed by this..."building yourselves up on your most holy faith" (Jude 20). It says "on", not 'in'...another reminder that we are created...not creators. Faith holds us up. I sat there feelin' peaceful...thankful for the uniqueness of this Christmas Day. I spoke with loved ones who were where I thought I wanted to be...with them! But it wasn't where my Father wanted me...He wanted me for Himself...and for Jeniece...He wanted me to spend His Son's birthday with Him. He brought me to this little tidbit of wisdom: "keep yourselves in the love of God, lookin’ for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 21)...me-n-Jeniece spendin' our very first Christmas away from our family...well, that's true, we weren't with them in the flesh; but we will always be with them in the Spirit, thanks to the grace of Christ. I had a wonderful time today baskin' in the comfort of God. Don't get me wrong now...I missed my Dad-n-brother-n-I missed Jeniece's family too...but I dang sure didn't miss Jeniece…and I didn't miss our Savior's birthday either. I even gave Him a present...really, I just gave Him praise for what He gave me: "Now to Him who is able to keep" me "from stumbling, and to present" me "faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only God" my "Savior, through Jesus Christ" my "Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever" (Jude 24-25). He gave me a present too...He gave me Jeniece...all to myself. Best Christmas ever! -------------------- WHAM The chair was delightful today...the Word came...I listened...I was bustin' with thanksgivin'-n-praise. I don't normally get all bushwhacked in that chair...I do get overwhelmed, but usually I can feel somethin' comin'...not today. I started readin'-n-WHAM!!…this verse hit me like a ton of bricks. Like you, I've read it a few times before...but this afternoon it sorta 'spoke' to me (don't worry, it wasn't audible or anythin'-n-I'm not hearin' voices...well, I do hear His!). I've been listenin'-n-studyin'-n-prayin'-n-livin' more than at any other time in my life. This 'Christ in you' revelation has set me on my ears! Just when you think you've got some kinda handle on it the Father reveals even more..."Deep calls to deep" (Psalms 42:7). Anyway...He brings His Word in lots of ways...but He sure brings a bushel full from our brothers-n-sisters! Some we know personally...friends-n-family...some we won't meet ‘til we see that white horse runnin'...angels unaware...but we are definitely a 'deep' family. I've read more books in the last 16 months than ever...good ones too...the kind you can’t put down...the ones in the Book of Life. Everywhere I look there's somethin' that confirms my 'death'...on the cross...with Jesus. The first time someone shared this with me (over 20 years ago) I thought they were lunatics! I ran from...the truth. Here's the whammer...right there in Scripture..."for the love of Christ overmasters us, the conclusion at which we have arrived being this--that One having died for all, His death was their death" (2 Corinthians 5:14). Let's see here...doesn't that mean us? Looks that way to me. Somehow, by God's divine way, I've been removed from the scene of action. Isn't death the ultimate removal? Looks that way to me. Here's a question...the same one I had all those years back...how in the sam-fat can a dead person live? Here's the answer...the same one I ran from back yonder..."He died for all in order that the living may no longer live to themselves, but to Him who died for them and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15). Did ya catch that?...the livin' may no longer live to themselves...to themselves!! Well dadgum...how can anyone livin'--that would be the person starin' back at us in the mirror--how can we be livin'-n-yet no longer live? It's these three little words..."but to Him". Let's see here...I can die (that would be 'independence')-n-still live? Yep...'but to Him' (that would be 'in dependence'). So, that would mean I had to be raised from my dead state...with Christ!..."but God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7). O Lawd!!...see why I ran?...see why I now run to Him every moment of my life? We can only live--truly live--in complete and total dependence on Jesus since He alone is life....."I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). We only have life through Christ? Looks that way to me. -------------------- BROKENNESS I sorta got caught up in my domestic chores today...'cept for the nap...and missed the chair thing. I did put a Bible under my pillow while we reclined...naw, doesn't work like that does it. It used to...I mean I kinda lived my Christian life by the words of an ol' country song...'just gettin' by on gettin' by'...you know the drill...do what is required...get saved-n-dunked, go to seminary, get ordained, serve in several 'ministries', have a quiet time, go to church, kneel when I pray sometimes...then maybe I've performed well enough-n-the big man'll let me in. What a load of bullroar!...we're already in y’all!! You ever feel that way?...maybe it's just me. Anyway...I do think we all go through that sorta stuff...the brokenness...finally seein' by His revelation that all our effort...especially all those spiritual legalism horsebiscuits...is useless. God calls those things "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6)...I know all mine sure were...I got 'plum broke' too. Is there any other way? Nope...I don't think so. Here's an unbelievable statement...I think all that breakin' is a blessin'. Please understand me here...I do not enjoy the process of brokenness...but that dern sure doesn't alter what Scripture says..."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ," (Ephesians 1:3). All of Jesus, none of me...yep, even brokenness is a blessin'. -------------------- COMFORT All our perceived failures...those things the world says we flunked...are just part of the Master's plan..."For I know the plans I have for you," (Jeremiah 29:11). Jeniece-n-I talked a bunch today about why this-n-why that...ever feel helpless? I did today. I can 'do' everything Jeniece needs doin’ that she can’t do for herself...all the domestic chores so to speak...and I can be her arms-n-legs when she needs that too...I can be a masseuse, physical therapist, an encourager, a stroller pusher, a lifter, nurse, friend, lover, husband...but I can’t fight this thing for her. I want to...I wish it was me not her...but He knows...and now I know...that no amount of performance on my part or hers can alter His plan..."plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11 again). We gotta big pile of hope over here and an eternal future...here-n-now-n-then! And I can love my bride-n-boy she can sure love me cause "we love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19)...no circumstance will ever change that. If you want to experience a phenom, uncork this-n-take a big swig: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Did ya taste that?...our comfort is abundant!...tastes good huh. I don't like Jeniece's situation-n-neither does she...truth be known, we despise it. As hard as it is sometimes we do thank Him for it because we believe it had to pass the Throne to get here-n-He says "in everything give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Ya know?...I can’t do that...but Jesus does it for me...that's a cotton-pickin’ miracle's what that is. Here's the popper...we are abundantly comforted...moment by moment...by this truth: we are right now, we were way back yonder, and we are forevermore smack-dab in the middle of God's perfect plan. Sure, the sufferin'--that dadburn pain that stinks right now, stank yesterday and will stink again tomorrow--is still around. But goshdawgit y'all so is Jesus!..."You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you"--that includes all God's children!--"than he that is in the world"--and that includes all circumstances!--(1 John 4:4). How can that be!?!?..."because". Because!!...don'tcha love the truth! By grace--that unmerited favor our Father continuously reveals to us, through-as-by-and-in His Son Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the Bright Mornin' Star, the Wonderful Counselor-n-every other name above all names--His children can never ever be anywhere else other than in His perfect will. It might hurt...it ain't always fun...but it's for sure His plan-n-it's always perfect. And if that ain't comfort I'm a duck!
WHY NOT!!
Sharing the Journey...
I believe God's gift of life is a free gift...as is this ministry...any longevity will be proven by His blessings. With that as our premise, friends have inquired how they might encourage Music Mountain Ministries: first of all, the Bible tells us prayer is always effective--if God says the same, pray for us...secondly, purchase one or all the songs and the books...thirdly, invite us to come share our gifts and talents with you...finally, you may send a monetary contribution--please know, however, since your contribution is not tax-deductible at this time, we will receive it believing it comes at His urging.
Visit as often as you'd like...read and listen to all you want for as long as you want. We're honored you come.
''There is a fountain, on Music Mountain, where that living water flowsOn Music Mountain, from God's own fountain, the blood of Jesus, it overflows'
Blessings.
Bobby
