Take Your Time

Don’t rush into finding God.


Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.


I must admit, in my walk, I have not always attended church. As a matter of fact when I was first discovering Christ’s power and affect in my life, I went to God and asked Him to help me find a church. He said, “When the time is right.” Again I felt I was being groomed by God and had to experience some things before I could ever walk in a Church and claim to be a Christian. I was not going be a hypocrite, and wear a mask in front of all the people worshipping.


I began by applying the scripture to my life with every second that I breathed. Not daily or weekly, applying the word is a minute-by-minute thing that needs constant action.


Is.29:24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

Eph.4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;


When I was six, I entered into the Catholic school not knowing who or what God was, or what religion was. All I knew was I was a six year old kid, fresh out of Baptist Bible School, (that we went to, to have something fun to do?) Here I was, first grade, being made to face a God I had only seen in my mind. He was being shaped by man for me. Was I going to accept this form? Probably not.


John 5: 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.


At six I didn’t know my older brothers were already setting off to high-school, a public high-school I might add, fresh out of Catholic school. All six of us had the benefit of the Catholic school education and I know now, how hard that must’ve been on my mother and father to send six kids to Catholic school, seeing that the tuition was pricey. We’d receive ‘donation’ envelopes that were to be turned in at church each Sunday; little did I know then, tuition was discounted, with the weekly tithing from the four of us that were still in Catholic school. Nor did we know that playing hooky from church, would be made known to my mother when the school notified her that they had not been receiving a weekly tithe, thus our tuition would go up in cost.


We never attended church as a ‘family’. My sister and two brothers were made to take me to church with them and this is what shaped a church life for me. They wanted money. They wanted me to tell THEM my sins, they wanted to shape my walk with God, and even at a young age, I felt God tugging me in a seriously different direction.


Num. 22:24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.


My dad would sit and watch the Sunday service by Oral Roberts and I saw this and thought it was quite okay to sit at home and worship God. I meditated on these things and the only thing shown me was the Light and Love that God had for me, and His hand was doing the molding of my walk with Him. I found myself in later years watching Billy Graham, Robert Schuller, Joel Osteen and others. This was my God filled life.


Job 19:8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

Job 30:13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.

Pss. 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.


My parents knew no better. They were marring my path thinking that they were doing the right thing by sending us all to Catholic school, but just like sitting at home watching a TV service is unacceptable to God, a child shouldn’t have to be made to raise himself in the Lord. And that is exactly what I did.


Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Pss. 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.


About nine years ago, God whispered in my ear, “It is time.”


It was at that time I gave up everything!  My home, all of my material belongings, except for a few things, basically all of my past life was gone from before me. I took my son with me to find God and what He wanted me to do.


About seven years ago, I entered a Church for the first time in many years. This is their statement that drew me in: We WELCOME you! Everyone is invited to share in our activities. We recognize all Christians as being part of the church - the Body of Christ. We expect everyone to continue to grow in their faith relationships with God based on their previous faith experiences. Thus, everyone can remain true to her or his beliefs, while being united in Worship, Education and Service. We celebrate our unity through our diversity.


This looked promising and surely was for two years of my growth. By then I tasted the love of fellowship, saw things I needed to change, and knew that this was not the church to further mold me. God had said, “Move on.” And He brought me to a Church of GRACE.


Yes siree, God has had a hand in each and every church I’ve attended, since the beginning of my church life at six, until this very day where I am embraced by people who walk the Christian path daily. I now commune with people who add to my growth, no longer tied to people who draw me away from my faith. “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”


I am now a changed woman all because of Church and Gods hand in seeing that this creation is well worth the clay He formed her from.


Job 33:6  Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

Is.64: 8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Matt.6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The Journey Set...

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
 
It happened when I was 15 years old; I met a guy four years older than me who actually liked me back. I had dated another guy before, but this guy was different. My brothers didn’t like him, my sister did, and everyone in the neighborhood knew him, knew OF him, and respected him as the ‘leader’ of a pack. I don’t know if I was right in making this vow to God, but I had said that the first man who touched me, (yes, in THAT way) I would commit my life to him, physically.
 

Rom. 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 

He came into my life as a troubled man with much pain and tribulation following him; I saw this as my first ‘charge’ in my duty as a shepherd, the pursuit of helping to change people. He would be a challenge in my life, but after he touched me, I remembered the vow I made with God, and I committed to Vince. (not his real name. Changed because his story is not mine to tell)
 
1 Cor. 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
 
At sixteen, I became pregnant. It was the Spring of  ‘82. What a shocker to the family, not the first and certainly not the last, but this was now a form of my rebellion. My father asked what I wanted to do with the child. As if there was a choice? I believe in LIFE, and so I CHOSE life, for what I sensed to be, my son. 
My father assured me that my mother and him would stand behind me and if Vince was still around AFTER I had the baby, he would allow us to marry. I guess my Dad thought he’d bail, but nine months later as my son was born. The shock to us all came.
 
Deut. 28:37 And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
 
I don’t know about an astonishment to all nations but my family became aware of how strong my faith in Christ was at this time. You see, on November 27th I was told that my baby’s heartbeat had stopped. I would then have to carry him, dead, inside my womb for days (which seemed like months) and on December 2nd, he was STILL born, in the guiding light of Angels as they carried his spirit away. The doctor stood astonished, asking me,  “Did you see that?”
How could I not see, the Light that emitted from me as Christopher entered the world of the living and I watched as the blessed Angels came to carry Christopher away.
 
Mark 5:42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
 
I may not have been twelve, but I was still just a babe myself and I rose, to tell my family in the following days, that God is good and I loved my Lord and Savior more than anything for choosing ME, to lay this walk upon. Shock rippled through the family like a stone skipping across water. 
“Aren’t you angry at God for taking your baby?” is what I heard a lot of and I only knew to say, 
“No, Christopher is with Him now; a much better place than I could have ever given him. There is a reason for every single thing in life. God makes NO mistakes!” 
As their faces looked on in shock, they saw a new wisdom reach forth from me, a spiritual force that they could neither grasp or understand. They sat in awe of my strength, as I sat in awe of My God. Seven months later, at the age of seventeen, I was married to Vince and I would begin the twenty years of service to the vow of commitment I made to Christ.
 

Neh 10 :29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;
 

Job 1: 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
 

As many people are blessed with a loving, caring family whose life they were placed into and shaped them in some way, mine was to be my curse and my blessing. As God knew my path before I was born, carving me out of pieces of the stellar cosmos, and placing me right where He needed me to do His work; knowing full well that I would have the power within me to change me, people and the the world, one word at a time.
 
Through my words, my testimony, my life story, I give you the truth that dwells in me, the life that was lain, and all glory to Him who created me.
 

Ps 109:28 Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
 

Job 12:13  With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

The Tell-Tale Christian

 

Why did I name this post, the Tell-Tale Christian? Because it is in us to go around telling everyone that we are Christians. It either makes us feel closer to God, right with the world or maybe we think people will like and accept us if we are Christians.

Matt. 6:1  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
 
Rev. 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

I do understand what the term ‘alms’ means; giving to the poor and needy, and yes it fits into this tell-tale Christian post because I know so many, who after helping someone say, “I gave him a dollar, he was begging for it!” Their compassionate heart was ruined just by that statement. We’re not to go around boasting and bragging of our walk with the Lord. “I gave this, my charitable heart did that.”  That makes us as ego driven as the windswept snowdrifts!


We are deceived into thinking ourselves self-sufficient, when in fact we are spiritually blind and self-righteous! With this behavior we are then closing the door to Jesus, our walk becomes futile and each step is like a foot in quicksand, but there is good news in this, Jesus hasn’t closed the door on US! His arms are open and as He stands knocking, He allows us the choice of whether we open the door, or just peek through the peephole. He can only enter if the DOOR is OPEN. And once He enters He is now beside you walking the journey. You are not alone, and He sees everything we do, good AND bad, for Him or against Him.


Did you know that Jesus, to His disciples, said many of times, “Tell no one I am the Son of God.” Did you ever wonder about that? Why would this Glorious King of Kings come to save our souls, not want anyone to know that his Father sent Him to shed blood for you?
He knew mans hearts so well. He knew they would go and tell, He knew His message would reach thousands, millions and billions. Jesus knew we were weak and He was trying so hard to make us strong.
He also wanted us to pray in secret.

Matt. 6:6-7 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Do you get it? Our spiritual journey is between YOU and HIM.  It is not a display case for you to show off to others. Sure you can share the scripture, but be ready, KNOW from what you preach. You can not stand inside the door, peeking out through a peep-hole, then claim to be a Christian, who walks the walk. That is sort of like window shopping as Christ stands on display.


“Looky there, I know Him, I walk with Him, I praise him daily.” In your excitement you tap on the glass, “Hey Jesus, remember me, I tell everybody about you!” A silence washes over you. You realize something as you look through the glass. You haven’t really let Him in, spiritually, you have Him on display.


There is a barrier between you and Him, called glass. Don’t be on the outside looking in, stand WITH Him, be one with Him, allow Him to live in you! Open the Door! Don’t just be a Tell-Tale Christian.

Rev. 3:20-22 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Soul Storm

Many people struggle with their faith. This being my first post ever on Soul Songs. I won’t bore you with my journey of seeking and finding God. We have plenty of time for that. But right now I’d like to introduce the woman behind the soul that will be hopefully leading you in the right direction of faith that you seek.

My name is Joni, and I am a writer. A wannabe published writer, but a writer nonetheless. I drip my soul into poetry like a funnel of rain in a downspout. I touch souls with my words and it is a kind of mission of mine to find a nice place nestled in your mind, where I have you thinking, changing, and longing for an enriched soul.

Allow my first post be one of my beloved poems, and the title of my poetry book, if ever it gets published. Without further adieu, here is:

Soul Storm 
9/13/09
All rights reserved:
copyright © joni  zipp

Beyond the tempest storm I see
a rainbow waiting there for me
clouds they merge then pass me by
my eye always on the erupting sky.

The storm boils over without warning
lasting through the mumbled morning
I wait with hope for the sun to win
against this beast the angry kin.

He gnaws and gnashes, biting trees
he shreds the land then heads for seas
Finding joy in causing  pain
Unleashing torrential slashing rain

I think destruction is friend
he takes away the ability to mend.
But does he know you have more power
within your grasp through every hour?

The more he taunts and tries to break
the more you seek the rainbows wake.
You know its there; it’s in your view,
Holding hope and all that’s true.

The rays burst out of the hidden shell
Erasing the storms evil spell.
the arc of promise rears its head
the rainbow shows your faith’s been fed.