Reuniting and Rconciliation are two different things.

“Reuniting is one thing.  Reconciliation is another.  One difference is the presence or absence of misery.  Absalom was dissatisfied by his meeting with his father.  What was wrong with him?  Possibly he suffered from the same thing many adults suffer from today.  When Absalom was a child, his daddy was his hero.  Plenty of shortcomings existed, but the boy could not see them until one day an emotional bombshell hit home—exploding in the bedroom of the oldest son.”

”Although people got mad, no one cleaned up the mess.  Lives continued to be torn by shrapnel no one ever swept away.  David did not—perhaps could not live up to Absalom’s expectations.  The results were devastating.  The revenge he had taken on Amnon was not enough.  The fact his father still called him a son was not enough.  He still cried out for vengeance and was determined his father would pay.”

Obviously Absalom tried everything he knew—good and bad—to get his father’s attention.  He could not get to David through his home, so he determined to get to him through his throne.

David had never asked for forgiveness.  He had never taken his rightful place of authority over family events.  David made plenty of mistakes but Absalom did not have to follow suit.  He could have called on the mercy of God and forgiven David for failing him, even if his father never admitted how wrongly he had handled his family.  God would have held David responsible and Absalom would have been free.  Instead he locked himself in the prison of bitterness where character eroded in the darkness of soul.  We may often resist forgiveness by saying, “It’s too difficult to forgive.” Forgiveness may be excruciating for a moment.  Anger and bitterness are excruciating for a lifetime.”

                                                                                       Beth Moore,  David Seeking a Heart Like His

Here Absalom and Amnon are grown men?  David was always their father?  Why didn’t Amnon ask for his sisters’ hand in marriage rather than take advice from his cousin and force himself on her?  Why didn’t Absalom approach his father and demand justice?  After 11 years why couldn’t Absalom having been granted the presence of his father and welcomed with a kiss, sit down and ask his father what were you thinking?  Here is what I thought.  You already know what I did.  Daddy what do you think about me and the life I have lived since I had my brother killed?

I wonder if restitution does not only require forgiveness, but requires conversation and understanding.  Most of all willing hearts to hear and respond when asked, “What do you think?”  “Who do you think I am?”  “What does my life show that I am committed to?”  So many questions go unanswered and so many messes lay like shrapnel .  David was a man after God’s own heart.  He walked with God, had victories, serving and believing God, and strayed away from God.  He saw and received consequences for his actions and he returned to God and did not question God as far as I can see.  He acknowledged God was sovereign, faithful and just and would do no wrong to him.  He had experienced leaving judgment and justice to God to perform his will.  Was this why he did not go hang punish his son?  Did he think it was God’s place to bless or curse Amnon?  So many questions come to mind.  However, as I read the life of David and see his strengths and weaknesses as a human being, I still am in awe that he always returned to his God, got his act together and tried again.  I think David knew from the very beginning when he picked up those five smooth stones that it was his God that directed the blows and only in justice.

“I am and there is none besides me.”  And we have to believe God meant it when he said it.  And as I reread the page I wonder had Absalom been a believer and a doer as his father had been would things have been different?  Who did Absalom put his faith in, David or God?  Who did he serve himself and what he thought to be right or what he knew that God said was right?

2 Samuel 15:4  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

1 Samuel 18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?  Saul has persecuted David, took his wife and gave her to another man and in all these things when the time arrived for his revenge what did David do?

1 Samuel 24:12 The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.  In verse 10 David stated, “I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.  And to really show the man’s character in verse 21 he promises not to cut off his seed after him.  He took Saul’s son Mephibosheth in  and had him eat at his table free for the rest of his life.  Oh! It is easy to look at the things David did not do but look at the God that worked through him for the things that he did do and all David did was be willing and believe…

                                                                                               

The End of Myself

This morning once again the church services on TV replaced the empty pew that most always would have me sitting on it.  It is going on three months now this saga in my life and so many questions have been asked and so many prayers to somehow end up today with the words from Charles Stanley.  Sometimes we have to come to the end of ourselves before God can bless us.  He blesses us when we are obedient to his commands and so many times we have no idea what form of blessing that will be.

Another pastor preached that the things man hold in the greatest esteem mean nothing to God, as matter of fact he made the comment they are an abomination to God.  The words out of context are not as profound as in his sermon.  We esteem silver and gold, precious stones yet in heaven gold is pavement and walls are precious stones and gates are giant pearls.  Yet here on earth we look to these things for security and pleasure yet these will not be treasures we lay up in heaven.  No matter how much gold we have or other riches in this life they are wood, hay, and stubble as far as what will be considered when our works are tried by fire.  What are we doing for the love of Christ?  Are our motives to look good or have people praise us?  God stole away to places to pray with his father and not before men.  Do we take our prayers and go to the closet and pray in earnest as we have been told to do?

If we can just reach one with our witness it will be as much treasure to cast at Jesus feet as those that witness to thousands when that one accepts Christ as Lord and Savior.

How many of us want to do great and wonderful things for the Lord and when we see ashes instead of beauty we are disappointed and feel we are a failure for Christ?  How many times have we jumped out there and performed tasks and then when no results turn around and ask God why?  Did we wait for him to lead in those things?  Perhaps this is why the warning to discern the spirit and see whose it is.  In our flesh we can do nothing but in Christ we can do all things.

In my life I believe the heart is deceitful above all things and when I step out on what I believe to be faith and put things out there for others to see or speak to those I love about things I know to be true the question comes to me....who am I doing this for in my heart?  I believe that it is that the Lord would be glorified but in somewhere down in that deceitful heart did I want to share the glory with Him?  God does not want to share the glory.  He wants it for himself and in due time he will reward us for deeds done that will last in heaven.

Today I am asking myself if I am to spend the rest of my life unable to go and perform in the way I always have;  will I glorify the Lord?  Will I be as the girl in the wheel chair that has no use of her arms?  Will I still go forward or will I stand still?  One thing I am certain life will go on.  The sun will rise and set, seasons will come and go and those left behind will continue on.  I am expedient. 

Can we truly say we can rejoice in all things?

This morning it took 3 sermons from Baptist preachers, one sermon and a song from a Luthern church and a song posted on Face Book to give me messages for my life.  And one of those preachers has already gone to be with the Lord but his ministry for Christ goes on by those left behind. The song about pointing fingers Jesus, Friend of Sinners--Casting Crowns with lyrics www.youtube.com showed me Charles Stanley’s sermon was for me that heard it and not meant to point fingers at others.  His quote “you cannot violate the Word of God and not face consequences.”  A profound statement to my ears that of course I wanted everyone else to hear.

John 12:47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸ He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. ⁴⁹ For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

The Luthern service followed suite with a song about don’t break stained glass windows.  We do not know what is inside so who are we to judge what is inside?  Note Jesus came not to judge the world but to save lost souls.  When he returns he will be the judge.

The preacher from First Baptist in Tyler preached on the rich man and Lazarus.  The rich man wanted him to send someone to tell his brothers.  He told him if they would not listen to Moses and the prophets they would not listen to one raised from the dead.  Yet when He spoke God's word it was spoken by one that is now dead.  Adrian Rogers who is already with the Lord still has those that broadcast his sermons and his message was mine…….What do you have if it is taken away will take away the joy of the Lord from your life?  Ah! Now the fat is in the fire.  I have cried more in the past two weeks and rejoiced less than in five years.  The loss of my best friend, the loss of my health, has caused me to stumble but I have not lost the faith in my Lord.  Indeed I had lost my joy.  What a revelation!  I failed the test so far but with His help I intend that I have learned my lesson well and will do all in my power to now do as Psalm 33:21 says rejoice in him at all times good and bad.

Psalm 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name

And thank you Lord for Psalm 30:5

Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:  weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

I pray this little snag in my journey and the lesson I have got to learn might not take 3 preachers teaching God’s convicting words and two songs speaking to our hearts to open our eyes and see Jesus and have our joy no matter what is taken away.