Doing well in God’s Eyes

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Gen 4:7

There is a line. Above this line one does well, below, one does what is good. In a bout of confusing semantics, how does one decipher what they have done is done well? What is good? In this tale of two brothers, Cain and Abel, the definition is given. The essence of doing well before God and doing good.  

These terms are very real in this world and are at the constant forefront of debate. What does God say pleases Him and what does Man say pleases God?

For the one that does good, there is an invariable earnest sincerity. Some will do good for their own gain, some will do good for the betterment of our world. The latter is noble to our existence.  Man is ultimately satisfied in doing good. He feels good about himself, he can check a box: one for good! It offsets, the one for bad stored from yesterday.  Doing something good is great for our self-assurance, our satisfaction, our self-worth, but it does not fortify a bond between our hearts and God. It is a misunderstanding to think otherwise. Doing good without a bound heart to God, is of the world.

Ask what is good. Is good what God wants, or, is good to help ease our personal guilt? Although the easing of guilt may seem to be the extreme argument, it is one possibility. There are really many reasons. All are in a private and singular mode of justification and a rationalizing of our eternity. In self-justification, we have crucified sin in a way outside of the sacrifice of Jesus. We have side-stepped an absolute way to eternity through our personal rationale. The one standing next to you has done the same, and as we continue down the line of these good people, we find a different crucifixion, a different redemption, a different god for each and every one. This is Relativism.

What is relative cannot be of the One truth. There is an equation: Justification through Jesus = Man with Faith. If the good person defines god, and if he rationalizes his eternal justification through his own good works, then faith has been replaced by self-justification. This replacement is new to every next person along a long line of hopeful souls who refuse to replace self-justification with faith in Jesus.

Why?

Cain did in earnest what he thought would please the Lord. He was dismayed that the Lord rejected his offering. The gentle admonishment from the Lord was thus: “…if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”   The key point here is that if we do only what we deem is good, we do not rule over the sin that lies in wait. He who does well has this power. Spiritually, he who does good by the toils of his labors, does so in vain.

How do we do well? It is perplexing because our minds understand what is good and bad in this world but have a hard time discerning doing the good of the world and doing well in the perspective of eternity. God teaches us to do well. We give our self not to toil but as a sacrifice. This is pleasing in God’s eyes. Even as we may sacrifice our self in our works, we are really only lending ourselves with our own personal assurance of a return to our selfish way. God desires a sacrifice of our self in the purity of sincerity and humility with our eyes fully forward focused on God without the worldly safety net of our self.

Pure sacrifice has a safety net that God will be there. Doing well and doing good are shown as a sacrifice of ourselves:  One is wholly and purely unconditionally, the other, a sacrifice to toil. Firstborn versus first fruits of the harvest. God wants our purity as we step onto His path that is led with sole reliance on He who leads us, loves us. The purity of the firstborn lamb is a picture of Jesus. He is the sacrifice for all and we do well by following Him. He is the justification without rationalization or self-satisfaction. Doing well is the desire to give all to God with a sincere heart.

So doing well is an offering. It is a sacrifice. It is the pure focus that we a redeemed through the One who became all sin for all who will have faith. Doing well is listening and following God’s will and surrendering our will. Doing well is not our works for the betterment of the world, but the betterment of the world through spiritual Love. We do well to have faith God will provide is all cases. He is there not when we deem the time, but always in His time. We do well to understand that all in our life is done in the sight of God and anything may be a lesson of wisdom and growth. Prepare yourself in pure sacrifice for we must lose our self and have faith. It is our gain. The sin that lies in wait is insurmountable without our faith because we are reliant on God. We have done well.

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Matthew 16:26

Remember: God wants us wholly, He does not need us. We need Him. We will see that we want Him too! Give yourself to God in faith. Ask Him for wisdom. Know His love. Love others in His way. You will have done well.

Rick Stassi

May 21, 2012

Life is beautiful, and too, the music

7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.”
8 Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”
1 Samuel 5:7,8 (NKJV)

In our lives we seek comfort. We seek ease in our day, lightness in our footstep.  There is pleasure awaiting us at every turn in our day and we follow the alluring fragrance of a gratifying moment. We look from within a life filled with trials and turmoil, decisions, responsibility and we deserve respite from the heavy hand upon us. Don’t we? We are here on earth for but a moment and why should it be spent in heaviness?

There are ways of this word that hold solution to our need to nourish a gratified-starved soul.

There are many temptations in this world. They appear in our path at various stages in our walk to be opportune in timing to our exact situation. It is the false scent of lilac in a putrid day. It is the color of false riches in a gray and dreary season of want. It is the lust of flesh in a time when curiosity and boredom are upon us. An empty soul exists with mouth agape. It needs-no it wants! See if you were once there. I was. See if you were happy and filled. I was not. How is this state of want  remedied?

In my life I found that the ability to find a morsel to throw at a salivating soul was always available. The avarice of my want was on constant prowl. It was availed because there are gods of temptation who are always around us. They aren’t really gods at first. They are but a solution to a moment’s problem. They do, however, become our gods. I examine my life and see these gods on the shelves, counters, bed-stands, and cabinets. They were all once a convenient answer to a gripping desire to fill. To fill.

These times of wants for emptiness, were in my life before I saw a light shining through a small crack under my door. The gods I knew held me tight, but now I was curious. That light! Upon closer investigation, the light drew me closer and there was music. Beautiful music. There was a sweet fragrance-real fragrance. All behind the door. I talked with my gods and they all agreed that the door held nothing for me. They were sure and as I tended to my gods, the light would catch my attention. A glimpse, the wondering. Wondering….yes, wondering why my gods held me back so strongly. Why were they gathering dust on my shelves? Each one for a particular moment of time. I was always hungry and greedy for satisfaction! I deserved it. But this reasoning of being deserving always kept me seeking. Something was not right because the gratification I received was for a moment and one-by-one each god fed me then soon left me hungry. I want to be sustained.

Up and toward the door I curiously wandered in the dark room where I lived. I found that not only did my gods scoff at any long-term care for my empty heart, they also inflicted pain as my dependence on them became my master. We were all there. You and I. Somewhere, some god. Examine life. What holds our attention but then departs. The door beckoned as pain and emptiness grew. I struggled at the handle but it was locked. Only a key-hole through which I could peer through. Light the size of a key shone through. It was interesting in there behind the door. I saw smiles and hugs. I saw a place of warmth and contentment. I saw a Man whose eye saw me peering through the hole. He had a  warm smile and inviting eyes. He beckoned and I could see in His eyes that there was a fullness about Him that would close my soul, agape for want, and fill me. I could not get in as the door was locked and my gods all held tightly to my ankles as I shuffled them across the room. No! They cried. We give you solace for a moment then we will do it again the next.

I grew to hate this moment-by-moment way of life. My want turned to need as I now sought a type of completeness. The Man in the keyhole smiled warmly. “Knock”, He said.

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Luke 11:10 (KJV)

So I knocked. There was more than a man inside. He was a King whose majesty caused my gods to shirk away. His light penetrated my soul. He had a love that exuded to all areas of my heart and soul. My eyes welled with tears as my heart grew warm and a smile appeared. I have awaited this moment all of my life and did not even know it. I am still here in my house but have walked through a door that had been closed for many years until then.

The Man is Jesus and He told me many stories. He told me of times  when He had to grab my hand when I started to fall. When He wiped my brow glistening with sweat from toil and burden. He told me that He had always loved me and I listened intently. He told me about His Father and how He and I were co-heirs to our Father. My Lord, my Father. Smiling I sat like a child in wander-lust. My eyes were filled with tears. This was a time of contentment. It was a time when my life intersected with God and all my other gods were destroyed.  He knew the time and the place and He just waited.

Here I still smile with Him. What a glorious life in Jesus Christ. My soul is filled with comfort and my step is light. My burdens are cast aside. When my old gods come over to visit, I resist, most of the time. But I always know where to return because there is the outstretched hand of God ready to bring me home.

So, false gods are destroyed and the world wonders what to do with a King of such majesty. They will see someday. For me? My room is filled with a warm Light. It is fragrant and it is comforting. Jesus waited and I found Him. Life is beautiful, and too, the music.

Rick Stassi

May 10, 2012

The Overshadowing of a Devouring Discontent

9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His bright clouds.

Job 37:9-11 (NKJV)

In my life, there are seasons. Some are good, others are not so good. There was a season like a winter that seemed to go on forever. This was a time of my darkness. It was cold and it was constant. Just as a creature under a rock, the light of the sun was loathed.

There was an innocence of my Fall when I longed to delight in world pleasures. The world of lies obliged and began to wine and dine me. This frivolity eventually turned to discontent. In this discontent of a bleak winter I walked under the umbrella I fashioned from cloth and stick to protect me from rain, occasional sun, but mostly rain. This a time when I walked alone.

Or so I thought, anyway.

The lies of the addicting elixirs of this world started taking their toll on me. Why couldn’t I feel like I did when I was younger? There was fun, devouring each moment, chewing and flavor-savoring, then spitting out. The moments lined up like they were there for my pleasure. However, these moments of time each drained one more ounce of my life. I didn’t know this until the icy water stirred no more giving way to a still frozen sheet. Life was not supported here. Life was spurned and loathed as the last of the moments were consumed. The artificial happiness that was once contained in the moment slowly dissipated.

Woe to my miserable self in pain! The ways I medicated myself had an awful consequence. What was once a season of fun, now was a loathsome, painful darkness. The world changed. “You are not like you used to be”, I talked plainly, face down into a pillow at midday. “You were here for my  pleasure. Now I am the fodder of your lies”, again, speaking muffled as a light began to come on.

Pain was the ignition of change. I started to become aware: “I am alive. Now I will try to turn the page.” I don’t know why I thought that then. Maybe one can feel pain only so much before taking a leap away, opposite in direction, is the remedy.

God watched me through this icy winter. He saw my laugh. He saw my enjoyment, He saw my hurting heart. He already knew the outcome. He would save this one (me). I was blessed and didn’t even know from whom. He watched. I poured out the last lie into the sink and made my bed. The blinds were opened. The was light! I saw it. The icy pond began to break up as the cloud of His spirit circled around as if to gather me up. His clouds showered upon me with the fresh rain that shows a dark cloud is really a good thing. It hides the light for a moment, but in God’s timing, pour down water to restore and refresh. With my odd, homemade, umbrella cast aside,  I walked into this downpour and savored the drops of refreshing spirit. God’s heart smiled. Soon it will be Spring.

So I packed away the musty baggage of my devouring discontent and sat and thought. I had exhausted my way. I was exhausted-period.  I was consumed by the very thing I lustily devoured in haughty spirit. The hunter was really the prey. I was prey to my desire and the lies of this world that so readily came at my beckon and call. I was depleted and no longer any fun to this world. God knew that the world would soon loath me as I would soon grow into my body of a man who hastened toward a new light. The Light. Tears all dried! No, there were more tears alright, but there was so much joy. It was a new life awaiting for my exploration. The despair turned to joy and God scattered His bright clouds so that I would have moments of sunlight with still a few reminders of my past darkness.

I understood. God watched me through the times in my self-propelled season. From when the leaves of my Fall lit upon the ground and the icy pond of my Winter froze over. He was there holding my hand protecting His child. I was now growing up and need not desire my physical youth for in the Lord we are in eternal, spiritual youth. We can always call ourselves His children. It is blissful, this season. Jesus came to me and I followed. Elixirs are now a memory, by I do remember! It is by design lest I should think to revisit. There will always be a reminder of pain, but, it is overshadowed by the greatness of our God. He holds me, He keeps me close to Him, He walked with me through my discontent. I know this is true. For the hand I held as I drunkenly stumbled in my self-made and happy path, was not of a friend. It wasn’t even happiness. It was God, patient and loving. God spoke, “Walk with me and you are forever young. You can call me Father for you are my child and I love you.”

I weep.

Rick Stassi

April 27, 2012

Fall and the Harvest Moon

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

1 Corinthians 13:11

In the Fall of my life, leaves peeled away from my branches and fell to the ground. In my understanding, I was like a tree. Once flourishing  in a glow of parental care, the green leaves of innocence of my very young times. The sureness and comfort of youth. The seriousness of my cares lie in my next meal or when I should see my Father’s face when he arrived home from work. When I was a child I did not fear. I did not have a care for anything outside of a very small sphere of influence. Lies are awaiting, seeking.

Jesus was a name in a book and as my green leaves began to wither and turn to a fiery orange-red, I felt  a change in my life but could not comprehend it. My protection of green foliage slowly stripped away until the last leaf fell and I was exposed to the angry, imminent elements of a harsh winter. But first the Fall…

I was now seen in the company of the evil one. He perched on my branch as a raven with its beady eyes peering. Most do entertain his company after we are exposed. He is seen walking with us as we seek to be older than we really can be. Our exposure is his invitation. As we shed the skin of our earliest protection, as we think further than we can walk, we carry an innocence that is an invitation to he who seeks his prey.

I still spoke as a child even as I put away my childish things. My understanding was still as a child even though in my own mind I was no longer a sapling, but a sturdy tree. God saw. He loved me. He waited patiently. For He knew that this young tree would bend in the slight breeze, cower in the first rain,  and begin to build a pride to withstand. God knew that the pride I would now choose as protection would need to be broken in my Spring. One does not come to this season of Spring until one has crossed the desolate Winter where pride blossoms. But again, the Fall…

Maybe the Fall relates to the ‘Fall’. Yes the Fall. For wasn’t I falling? My self-reliance waxed, my fears waned. In reality I was already fallen, the Bible tells us; but, I was just an innocent child! Even so, fallen. Now was a time when I would begin to demonstrate that self-reliance, or pride maturity, was the manifestation of the fallen. Pride grows as Sunday school becomes a memory. Jesus is not even a name in a book. He is all but forgotten in these times. In my self-reliance, Jesus gently smiles and reached for my hand. I am oblivious to His gentleness. I have control. Adamantly persistent. The same nature that lures me away from His gentleness, sees my branches grow brittle. I see a Sun set earlier and see more and more night.

It is a precarious time, the Fall. In the Fall one seeks their pride and finds it to walk on a godless path. We must see our faults to know what we must lose. However, not this season. In my eyes, I am a mighty tree. In reality a fragile sapling void of leaves. Naked and exposed. Holding hands with the one who is evil as he leads me away. It is dark but I am not sleepy! It is dark but it is still early as the Sun has set. Jesus walks with us as the evil one sneers: “He is mine!”  Jesus is steadfast, unflappable.

The burning Sun sets as  the Harvest moon rises. I am older, self-reliant, and walk in the light of the Harvest moon. But it is the wrong light and God sees. He waits and knows my path is now obstacle-filled. These obstacles are traversed effortlessly for now…but wait: the Winter lies in wait. My heart and soul follow my ever-building pride.

I was once an innocent child, we all were. We stepped out with the confidence of an adult as wings grew. It was wonderful, but we could not see that we were exposed and would be snatched up by all temptation.

As I look back I see only God. In this time of my life I see God over me and watching just as He watched the evil one test Job. In His mercy I survived the Fall and subsequent Winter of my youth. Now I see! It was all part of God’s plan. I lost a few branches in that stormy Fall and felt the icy emptiness of the Winter. For another time…

 

I praise the God who has always been with me. He has always loved me and knew one day I would break the tight grasp of Satan’s hand-hold. He would sneer and fade away giving way to a Light! Not the Harvest Moon, but Jesus Christ Light of the world. God knew.

Rick Stassi

April 21, 2012

The Rushing River to Nowhere

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121

Our faithful God. He lies awake in a higher place. One eye on me, the other on you. I look to the heavens and search for Him and He is there. Is He my reassurance? My safety? My Purpose? More: He is the creator of heaven and earth and shall always be there where I look for Him. He will protect me and give me purpose. But lest I forget, He is the Author of my life, provider of all love.

 Yes I look to the mountains. The high places because the places that are on my horizontal plane disappoint me. These places  are limited and often reflect a similar angst I carry – though some hide it better. I tilt my vision upward. The plane of  my vision now casts off into the depths of the universe. My God is there. He dwells in higher places. I need to look above the places that once tried to placate me ever-seeking a meaningful life, a deeper thought, and a more purposeful world. He is there always to help me. He understands me  and loves me. His is my Creator.

Once, I walked over the wet stones at the river’s edge. The shining stones are wet from the lapping of a busy stream always late to get somewhere. “Take me with you, stream of this world”, I cried. “I am in a hurry to get there too!” Where, though? I followed this river with hectic pace. It was deceiving me and I knew it. It was fleeting, ever-away, always ahead. It settled into a lake, maybe the sea, and waited.

So too must I wait.

I know I must wait for Him and His promises. I believed for a moment that the hectic pace was really going somewhere. I forgot to look upward to God. He was looking at me and He even kept my footstep sure. If I should slip and join as one with the water, my pace would join the pace of the world. False hopes adhering to my heart would be of something better. However, my reality would be mired in a waiting place of no purpose with the rest who are in that river. All waiting. All born to die.  Not me for I will not join! I am sure-footed, well really, my step is protected, it is not me at all. It is my Father watching me. Pray for those caught up in the fast river.

He watches me day and night. When would God sleep? His Love is His sleep; our obedience to Him, His rest. His right hand will protect me from a searing Sun and a Moon that is the light of a thief in the night. The fast world by day powered in sunlight and the thief at night: Fear. These are lights. The world doesn’t quite understand my need for a Light on a hill shining eternal.

His light shines brightly. It illuminates my soul. He is my contentment and I am sustained. Where I stand, I see a world on a pace to finish nowhere. It is deception if it tells you there is somewhere. The world doesn’t know anything but the temporal. Why would it know more? It extinguished the Light I look to long ago. Take pity on this sad world. It knows not what it does, it just rushes at a hectic pace to wait.

I like to see myself at leisure. There is joy in leisure and there is confidence. The confidence is this: God is with me every minute. No proof necessary. I just know because I have felt Him save me from slipping into the rushing river. Now, I choose to love each day. I know He loves me, so my supply is ample and I won’t run out of love. I just need to remember where to look: the mountains, higher places, a tipped plane of vision into eternity. There is God and here is God. Not a paradox. He is omniscient, everywhere, and He cares about me.

He sees me come and go and His mercy and love endure forever. I hear the din of a rushing river. It is inviting cool water as the Sun sears, it is inviting activity to explore by romantic moonlight. But I know. The world hurries to get nowhere. I choose to not be on this path to nowhere. When I forget, I may slip. But He will always be there.

The river runs at a hectic pace to a place where all deceived angst cries together. I must stay out of this river for there is another river awaiting me: A stream of Life, A stream of Living Water that quenches my thirst for eternity. And I am thankful of He who watches me from the mountain.

Rick Stassi

April 9, 2012

faith, endurance, thanksgiving…

Artist: Laura Trevey

2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Exodus 16:2,3

Those with the courage to step out in faith are truly of the Lord. I have a journey and a purpose. I must see God through my faith, endure through my trust, and know His fruit when He pours it upon me. I trust, lest I murmur. My murmuring is a complaining pang in my side – that regardless of my love for God, life seems too hard. I must see His Light over the world’s darkness.

Would I become so distraught in my current life to wish I were back engrossed in my godless state? If so, I have forgotten all. Faith, endurance, thanksgiving. In faith His light shines into my heart. In endurance, I persevere through trials. In thanksgiving, His blessings are realized and I give Him the credit. God will not forget me. I am not a fleeting project of a whimsical nature. I am a child of He who authored Life. I can be capricious as there is still bursts of laughter, frivolity, tears, anger; but aside from that the journey with the Lord. It is my core and it is dead serious and straight. I must see that my walk is a walk with a purpose. His purpose.

In my faith I see Him daily. Through prayer I commune with Him and in meditation of His word, I become closer. My faith says it is right. God agrees. I ask Him to make me a stronger Christian, a loving husband, a nurturing father. He hears! My faith says it is right and God agrees. I ask in sincerity that a person crying in their own wilderness, bleating like a lost sheep, be found by our Shepherd. They are found and once again my faith says it is right. God agrees. But His agreement does not enable self-control. His agreement is a nod that I am in obedience. My heart is joyous.

But endurance? Yes, as I ask Him for a change in my life, I do not ask with condition. Therefore, God’s plan for how He works in my life may mean an argument, a moment of discordance. In my trials I have a choice. Murmur and fall back as faith shrinks and trust wanes, or endure. In endurance His plan is played  out according to His will not by my choice of opposition. Endurance yields learning through the process I have asked for in the first place. He molds, I endure and learn.

When we pray for a change in our life, do not be surprise at events that unfold that propel this change. Some are not always pleasant. Stay focused on God and know He is with you.

Finally, thanksgiving. Endurance is my wilderness. Lack of complaint, my faith. The result is His blessing of the impartation of knowledge. I see Him with more clarity. Marriage is restored and family is harmonious. The smile and loving gaze of my wife melts my heart. Her tears break my heart. Her joining me seeking God is a true blessing and I am thankful. Marriage is one example of the many things He works on in my journey. Each day is a new wilderness, of some sort. I choose to trust rather than murmur. I have seen the yield of the fruits of His blessing. It is good. God is good.

Children grow and seeds are planted in them. They will begin their own journey. We love them and help nurture their personal relationship with God. It is hard to watch, sometimes. We need to remember our faith. God is in control.

Faith, endurance, thanksgiving. My Promised Land is around the corner! Not seeing it is not a good reason to not have faith. Faith is in the unseen. Survey your life. There are many blessings. Embrace them and know they are from our Father Who art in heaven.

Rick Stassi
April 5, 2012

Rev1 4/14/12

The Eternal Circle

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians 5:25

 Christ is the bridegroom and the church is the bride. A picture painted by God. He created this institution not to just  procreate as some would say. There is a realm of love of which Jesus is in the center. It is a circle, a perfect circle and marriage is on that circle, rotating about the radius point, around Jesus. I am subject to God’s word as a Christian. I am therefore likened to the way of godliness in Jesus Christ: Love my wife even as Christ loves us. Fairly obvious in meaning greatly poignant in the reality of my responsibility in my marriage.

Mind’s wander and thoughts creep. This love painted by God, the relationship authored by God, my wife, appointed by God, is a lifetime investment. This investment requires emotional deposits. The relationship requires a man to be a sanctuary of security and safety for his wife. The marriage requires a commitment to stay emotionally focused on my wife.

It is full-time and it starts on a circle: love her, respect her, treat her like a fragile vessel. I know she is comparable and appointed for me. Then as I listen to God and put His word into action in my life, His blessing follows. She submits and feels secure, feels loved, feels the spark of the first day many years ago. It is not easy and as with our walk in Christ, there are obstacles in our path. We see many couples run off in opposite directions when faced with obstacles. First there is emotional absence  and the longer a man in absent, the further the relationship separates. They may stay together, but both are losing touch with each other. It is disparaging, but not necessarily a permanent reality. I choose God’s way of learning from obstacles. Perpetuating that which is a gift from God. One He will be sure to perfect over time.

Remember the circle. Love, emotion, sanctuary, submission, love. This is the eternal circle. I love my wife. I do not need to be taught love, because Love abides in me. Love is therefore emitted from my heart as I connect with God and then my wife.

This is what I believe. God tells me. Love her like Jesus loves the church. It is a tall order. But also remember, whatever is appointed by God, the evil one hates. Just as God hates darkness (Proverbs 8:13), Satan hates marriage. Years pass and children come and go: our images change and our needs change. I am capable of shirking off the arrows of the enemy, because I am centered on Jesus. My marriage is capable of the same. We are a divine appointment. God’s will. We are one heart, one life. If my heart breaks for what breaks Jesus’ heart, it certainly breaks when I look into her eyes glazed with the tears that I have caused.

 My marriage is from God and it is holy for that reason. I pray strength to be the strong sanctuary for her as God is for me. All works together to glorify God.

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Colossians 3:18

She seems to always have patience. We talk and she may open a conversation that quickly sours. Why does it sour? Criticism is poison to my pride: any criticism. Humility is the elixir. The conversation is focused on what she needs and how I can provide that need. But I stubbornly believe  I already provide! I protest, and the circuitous argument begins again. Another row of bricks. Thanks to me whose words and actions supply mortar. The wall grows higher creating a safe place for one.  Communication is simple enough. Or is it? I fail many times…Most of the time.

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
1 Peter 3:7

 When there is criticism, the bristly hairs stand on the back of my neck. I am tense. I begin a process of shutting down. Communication has already begun to fail. At that moment, God enters. I remember the eternal circle. My wife and I are one. She is valid in her critique. After all don’t I criticize? When my neck stiffens, I try to remember humility. I am her sanctuary. It is my goal because I love her. She is given to me by God and we are joined at our side. One comparable person under God. One heart. My heart breaks to think of emotional absence. Dank and dismal is the sanctuary she runs alone to.

Stop and just do it. More action than words create security.

At Her Service

There is hope in all situations and the hope lies in trusting God. Begin by serving her. Jesus served and He is the King of kings. I can serve always and in all ways. I am not above serving unconditionally. With service comes the blessing of a loving gaze. Sanctuary returns as my shoulder broadens to accept a cheek, a tear. Hands held tightly; never let go. This is my wife. This is my goal. The Lord has already provided and now He helps. He is my trust and a joyous blessing comes out of that trust.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22

Look at you wife. Look at your spouse. God’s gift. Mistakes and criticism. Love and Sanctuary. All on the eternal marital circle. Remember…

Rick Stassi

March 30, 2012

The Sun of Righteousness, the Bridge to God

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation 12:10,11 (KJV)

When was my day of reconciliation? When did I cross a divisive line scratched in mankind, from one world to the next? The line I sought was as wide as a chasm that could not be crossed without a bridge. This bridge was my Providence and the chasm was deep. Temporal life on earth was reconciled with eternal life in heaven. I crossed this line to know one side from the other.

There was a calling with many decibel strong. An external ring; O my knotted stomach. “There must be more!”, I thought, but what is it? Where is it? Woe to he who does not ask this question. This question is the first step to an enlightened awareness. This illumination is not a candle that burns on our mantle, but one that burns with an eternal inextinguishable flame. It is the “Sun of Righteousness”

But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise

Micah 4:2

There were many gods that pulled upon my soul. I was stretched one way and the other. All were vying for my attention but it was just not right. The  illumination that is from the sun and the moon, rises and sets. Light then darkness. There was a loud voice in my soul that whispered to me saying there was a Sun that never sets. The Son of Man, Jesus Christ. He gave all for me, He stands for the highest of all love,and He is accepting of all still under the temporal sun.

He is loving but He is jealous of  other gods and our time stolen by them. He will not tolerate them sharing our time:

 ”…for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…”

Exodus 20:4

So we who ask if there is God in sincerity will be led to Him through Jesus. We will try to sneak through, like I did, by way of a temporal light hoping there is enough illumination to see God. The light dims, fades. Jesus is the bright path to the Father and he who looks upon Him, looks upon the Father [a]. I asked God blindly in this darkness and the temporal earth, the temporary light of my earthly walk, gave way to an eternal Light. God revealed Himself in His glory. He showed me Jesus, the bridge over the chasm. There is truth and there is love. Together they are shown illuminated by light unmatched by the lesser lights. My salvation. My Savior.

The curse of this world, the wondering curse of he who accused me of my wrongs and who piled guilt, regret, rage, upon my shoulders, now writhes in anguish. He is no match for the Light I walk in. The accuser is death and is now thus defeated as I bade farewell crossing the bridge between God and Man. The crossing is effortless. I was carried across and in this transcendence, I lost my ‘self’ that was once held in the throngs of darkness. It is now illuminated in the rebirth of my soul: my salvation by the blood of my Savior. Death is defeated.

Death remains defeated for me. My word is strong because it is wisdom imparted from God because I am reverent. It is His word that cuts to the core of hearts. My testimony stands strong because Jesus is my testimony. I asked God, He answered. I tried various ways to reach His outstretched hand: even pushed aside the very One who offered to carry me to the Master. But soon the sun set and my self-deception that I could be with God without Jesus was extinguished. So in darkness I groped to find the switch to turn on the Light. “I am Love” were His words to me. “Cast your burdens upon my shoulders” . He is truth and across the bridge I went into God’s arms.

There is a way that seems reasonable to all man. He is pinned down by the accuser of all we have ever done wrong. But through our reason, we can also see Jesus. Yes, it is reasonable. God reveals His Son who is the Sun of Righteousness to us because we asked and finally succumbed to Him on His terms, walking His way.

The temporal light dies and gives way to the eternal Light. Our efforts are in vain as soon darkness hinders our search. God bridges temporal and eternal with Jesus Christ. His light is unmistakable and clear.  There is no deception. The dragon falls and we are sustained in God’s Light forever.

Rick Stassi

March 26, 2012

Our Fruitful Walk, Our worthiness

“…that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;…”

Colossians 1:10

There is a path I walk upon. It is a path set before me by God, Himself. It is a place where I may feel purpose in life, see a greater calling to my life, and feel  a closer connection with God and Man. This path began with my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Savior. He is my Lord. Through His blood, my burdens may be lifted off my shoulders; my guilt may evaporate in the Cloud of His spirit; my heart may be purified and refined. For I am not owner of this body anymore. I am His.

Artist: Laure Freudenberger-Carlisle

I seek worthiness in His sight. Even as He always loves me, there is expectation that I must see and hear what He tells me. It is how I grow closer to Him.  He tells me to walk upright with the virtue of one who has accepted a gift so great in Jesus. My worthiness is in this knowledge and acceptance. I see my past, I see a place where I changed, I see my current life. There is an elevation change! Where I am now is much more preferable than where I was. My acceptance of Jesus is pure, sincere, and with passion. There is no compromise, rationalization, or human reason that causes me to stray from His way. He is truth. I know this truth as it is dwells within me: the Truth, the Spirit, God Himself. Acknowledge this truth and walk a worthy walk.

I listen, I hear, I respond. In our response comes fruit. We are a branch that is pruned in the early hours of Springtime, parting with branches that point inward, downward: withered. We are the branch that points to heaven. “Always prune just above the second bud“, my papa said as he taught me how to prune a grapevine when I was young. Those buds burst to leaves and then there is the fruit born with focused nourishment because it grows on a branch set apart, others pruned and gone, drawing from water of life deep in the roots. I am a branch set apart. I am sanctified in Jesus Christ, the Living water. Therefore, my walk is fruitful. I build on God’s word. Worthiness to fruitfulness.

I walk a path that  is pleasing to God and in that process, I see things change in my life! O how things change. As I mature  in Jesus, God is refining me daily. I can count on it for He is faithful. It hurts sometimes. But Jesus died! He died to give me this opportunity to walk on God’s greener grass. One drop of His blood purifies. Am I just walking through a life and learning a higher moral value? Well yes, that is part of it. Good morals and good people. Is “good” good enough? I focus above good to perfection. Jesus is perfect. I know this because God told me. I learn God’s nature as I learn perfection is a focal point personified in Jesus Christ. I look, you look, we all see Him. His heart smiles, I grow in wisdom and in fruitfulness.

I can withstand all hurting because I am assured God is working. What joy to know He cares about me! You and I.  The pain is really my feeling the hands of the Potter stretching, kneading, molding…I change. Then I encourage change through the very emanation of what I store within. His light that is within because the molding process shines a light deep into my heart and soul, seeking. “Found one!” I remember a grudge, an obstacle that hinders His work . Finding, acknowledging, releasing. Grudge is placed upon the shoulder of my Savior.  In pottery it is a bubble in the clay. Clay does not fire well in a kiln with that bubble. In pruning, it is the uncut withered branch. Fruit does not grow plump and sweet from a withered branch. The refining process bring us closer to God.

As I walk in worthiness, I feel the pinch of His pruning. “Two buds”! Thanks, papa. Thanks, Abba. True knowledge in You grows.

Rick Stassi

March 24, 2012

for catherine f. who taught me to own what i write. I happily own this.

Our Marvelous Father

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
He does great things beyond our understanding.
Job 37:5

Our God is a marvelous God. From the heavens He waits. He watches our every move. He discerns our thoughts. He sees our path of which He Himself has set before us. He is interwoven in the fiber of our lives. He abides in our heart, He holds us in His hand. He places a protecting wing over us. Our God is truly marvelous.

There is evil that lurks. He seeks a small crack in our armor. An armor that is fortified in hope and trust through a faith in our unseen God.  This evil swirls about us trying to confuse. We keep our path straight, our eyes are forward. Ever-forward we walk because we have set our heart upon this path of faith and have made agreement with our most powerful God that we hate evil along with Him. (Proverbs 8:13)

We hate darkness. Yet if we are distracted for but a moment, we succumb to the very thing we hate. Distraction is practical from evil’s perspective considering  our nature. We are seeking the Lord in one moment then seeking the pleasure of darkness of the world the next. We vow an undying love for our Father then curse an angst we walked into charged by the fleeting whims of the world. Our lust, our avarice, our hate.  But we have His grace. We need not stay hidden in a shadow. God sees us anyway. Come forth and confess!

The evil world is confounded as it pounds against our armor of faith. Pounding that resonates in our hearts that we allow to empty as easily as a glass of water poured to the floor. The echo of temptation in an empty heart. Our reason changes. We rationalize. “Just once!”, we say. The toe-hold of evil thus exposed at these words. We cannot be sustained in these two worlds. (1 John 1:6). God sees and evil lurks.

Surely in our refining process both worlds lie before us. Free will. We fall, we get back up. We succumb to evil, we remember God. He welcomes us back every time we cry for Him. “Help me!” My heart aches, my mind swirls, my eyes wander, my mind doubts. We are all there in our own times, but our God is a marvelous God who is holding the hand of a child that is obedient one moment and whose mind is distracted the next. Pull away, come back.

Each time we pull away, we  have a trial in our life. A lesson in life. The imparting of wisdom our consequence of self-inflicted straying? That is how good God is. We will not return empty. God sees us grow. Then we do. It takes us a little longer for us to realize how marvelous He is. He works in our lives. He leads us down His path. He holds our hand. So, fear not, child of God. He is with you.

Artist: Tracy Wandling

Life does not go the way we plan always. We walk one way and a brick wall changes our course. In a field of bramble we, in one moment, declare our ownership of our lives. (Judges 9:15).Then our skin tears in a thorny mistake. We have strayed. But can we remember where we came from?  God knows.

Remember there is God and Flesh as one. He wore the thorns of bramble on His head. He died for us. He is Jesus. When we feel the weight of a burdened trial, remember Jesus. He fills our hearts. The pounding on our armor. “Let me in!” cries the evil one whose pounding  now is muffled because we are full of His spirit. Evil lurks, then slinks away. “Another day” he says.

Feeling down? Is hope fleeting? Maybe you have doubts about how God works in your life. First know He is with you then know He loves you. Fall back on your faith in Him as trust and hope follow closely. Agree with God: Hate evil.

Things in our life work out. We look back and know. We made a mistake and God turned it to good. Did we change paths? No, we are ever on His path. Straightforward and faithful. When you feel down, see the face of God with you. He does marvelous things in your life. Be expecting and be assured.

Rick Stassi

March 16, 2012