Cadillacs and Gold Rings

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. http://bible.us/Heb11.32.NIV


No where does this scripture promise cadillacs or golden rings. It does promise a fulfilling life full of promise. In other places in scripture however we're commanded to be joyful so we're not promised that either, it's a choice. A choice.

Who do we choose as leaders in our christian circles now? Are they those who've "captured the meaning behind christs words"? How do we tell? Is it by how much wealth they've accumulated? The bible doesn't promise wealth free from persecutions and disappointments.

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The Most Difficult Thing

Is change.

Whether good or bad because we never truly know what the outcome will be, whether it will be good or bad.  We are always left completely in the dark, we don't always know what the future will hold and yet there is this urge, this sinking feeling that change is coming. We know that there is something coming just on the horizon; if we hold out our hands long enough we can grasp and take hold of whatever that something is.

But we're reaching into the dark, and this dark exists only because our eyes can't see what is there. Our hearts and our spirits know and can see but sometimes that knowing gets lost in translation. From our spirits to our hearts, is an easy journey, not much difficulty in travel there. However, from our hearts to our minds, that's where the waters rise, the winds howl and the waves buffet the ships of this understanding, keeping it from reaching the shores of our conscious minds.

You see, our mind is flesh and it's comprehension is lacking. Our mind can only process impulses sent to it from the rest of our senses and then decodes this data, processing it into information it uses to proceed in its search for longevity and immortality.  But it only operates on a 2 dimensional plane, and as a result, its wants and desires are also 2 dimensional. Enter our hearts, decoding the longing of our spirits which sees the rest of existence for what it truly is.

Our spirits see our true enemies without the veil that our eyes are encumbered by. Our spirits groan unto God and in return receives strength and direction from God. Our spirits commune with God, and God in turn seeks communion with us. Our spirits see into the unseen that we call the future and our spirits, upon directives from God, tell us to reach into that future and take hold of what he's holding out to us.

¹¹" For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

This is the unknown that scares us because it is out of our control, and being out of our control is now in God's control.

I am now reaching into the unknown. I don't know with my mind what the future holds but my heart tells me, blindly with child-like faith and obedience I move forward with outstretched arms.  I am not hesitant at all, with much prayer I feel liberated because I know that God is directing my steps.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5)

Change is always bitter sweet and this change being the most difficult I've ever had to make is truly no different.

 Sincerly,

 Montaque F. Reynolds