One More Step Away Leaving Eden, Going Home!

This world mourns the loss of Eden because of the fall of man in the garden. Instead of seeking our way back, we succumb to grieving that loss, not healing toward a new paradise.

There is a significant change toward a negative norm, with ourselves becoming the focal point! This shift separates us as opposed to coming together believing in the promises of God, allowing thistles to seethe into our gardens multiplying at an unimaginable rate.

We are imperfect, undeserving, and still loved beyond measure by God without condition. Within, our weakened flesh to love as God does is a task that man fails at quite often. We don’t want to go down the slippery slope, but we do! The slide is so enticing, almost oiled up for a faster ride.

Those who claim to desire a way back are giving us an extra push as we try to claw our way back from the middle of the slide. The people we love the most are often the ones we hurt, holding grudges, while expecting forgiveness for ourselves.

Our faith is flickering, its glow dim, making it less attractive to others. When we douse the Spirit with darkness, the cloud takes over. We should be better at loving. Our fingers should never point. Instead, seek the reflection in the mirror of a humbled, flawed self.

Losing Eden presents a lack of awareness of action equaling consequence. Maturing in our weaknesses is how we find our way back. Why, if we desire truth and healing, do we mess it up even more? I assure you, the puppeteer of deception sits back and laughs.

There is a perpetuation of sad hopelessness in a world, fixating on negativity. A world of broken and misfit toys stumbles with judging the missteps of others. Why are we not acting in the true forgiveness and growth of our Father’s desires?

Instead of getting on our knees for God’s intended purpose in all things, we keep the merry-go-round of confusion cycling until we can’t get off. When it stops, we are super dizzy and discombobulated as we try to make a step forward alone! What are we learning from circumstances? Are we alone? Or missing the point God is with us, we are not paying attention as we are never alone!

He calls us to grow and become a part of the solution instead of deceptive negativity? And we act out because of the lack of admission that we can not do it alone. We beg for men to be the spiritual leaders of the home, and sin has them running in packs away from the pride. They are the lions that have lost their roar. As they seek, they slide into oppression, the homeland darkens, and the hyenas take over.

It appears easier to lick the wounds and relent to self-preservation. We are not following the lead of God when we succumb to the negative and skim by with an occasional positive.

We all do it, though; refusal and denial take precedent. This unintentional act of dancing among the egos of our minds. Understand we live in a society that seeks to negate the fact that God is with us and in control. Alarming how we lose sight of this truth!

If we all seek alignment with our focus centered or guiding one another back to God in all circumstances. We could win our way back to a purposeful life. I want us to at least try our darndest. First, we must humble ourselves to steadfast faith and service to others. The flesh limits as we refuse to surrender, and the spiritual battle rages. But God is, was, and will be! Our world is at war! We must arm ourselves with truth, and why not try being second?

Dang, we spend a lot of time pointing fingers at others. I guess that is because when we look inside; we have to deal with the work left to do. There is so much work to do both on ourselves and in service!

Ever wonder WHY? There is so much violence, why the sadness, the eagerness to grow up fast, the need for gossip, why the news expounds the horror stories and brainwashes! Those listening to it slip into the despair of belief that there is no hope. But there is HOPE!

It’s wasteful when we judge and get stuck slipping down the slide. Remaining angry is never helpful, and not focusing on the good or the joy that hope is ours is futile. Anger is a natural emotion, but is your anger directed at the actual cause, or is it displaced? Broken people are clawing their way back up the slide, but a negative reaction pushes one down the slippery slide away from a Christ-centered relationship.

I do not say this to harm the ego of anyone or dredge up a past that has pain. Pain has its place and purpose in our story. However, it is not the final chapter. We can write a new chapter as long as there is breath in our lungs. We know the truth and yet react in fear, and that is not of God.

Sharing our weaknesses is healing, but separation focuses on brokenness. Separation is the nuclear bomb to losing EDEN forever. We can come together in the light of truth and re-ignite the fire within us, the forgiveness that has a humbling admission of being a work in progress.

• A notable decline in beauty displays as true faith and trust in God disappear from our society.

• It is a minority to see one stand firm in their faith as they trust in God. I suppose this is the timid Comfort Christians can become. A state of comfortable denial of Christ’s existence is something we can all slip into.

• We are a world living in an epidemic of brokenness, broken marriages, broken faith, and injured people. We claim to feed the lost by promoting our faith. Aren’t we all a little lost ourselves? Do we acknowledge that our thoughts, words, and actions are under attack? When we look in the mirror, do we reflect the Christ we shine for? As Christians, are we speaking in different languages from both sides of our mouths? In love and hate, they find themselves.

• For example, in schools, you’re not to pray in or before class. We must not mix church and state. My favorite is that we must be correct about belief systems when in a public forum. Some Christians struggle with the fear of opposing popular opinion, despite their love for God. Regrettably, in such situations, everyone would condemn the offender. Thank God He taught us differently.

• How about when our so-called church families become the judge and jury? Versus God’s love and discipleship of His word in and amongst the chaos? Are we not all flawed, looking for a new beginning daily given by God? And yet we control our brokenness by keeping that clean slate from those breaking around us. We’re all flawed and unworthy, so who are we to cast judgment?

• Wouldn’t it be beneficial to be noticeable enough that others feel comfortable reaching out to us? Is the light that others seek switched on and off for our convenience? We should set their direction toward the script with the answers, The Bible. Are we loving and without condition? The old standby, “Do Unto Others.”

• Why do we allow one more step away from losing Eden?

We challenge some of these points with vehement passion, yet not always correctly or in love. We must respect and love all people, meeting them as Christ would.

Acceptance and patience with those struggling in their walk with Christ or, more importantly, with those who do not know Him. We are not to judge others or, for a better visual, cast a stone at another. We have the image in our heads of a rock. We can relate to the physical pain lancing said stone would make. We can access the damage and understand the need to heal said wound. But are we quick to account for our actions?

We are less likely to understand the repercussions of our verbal assaults. Often these assaults are subtle and made without thought. Sadly, we’re not even conscious of the attack.

We are guilty of these pains and judging. When hit by such an attack, we are rare to respond; we ignore or walk away. We allow it to stew and fester, and we pay it forward. This is done in a way that we’re unaware of, and it can be of purging past or pent-up emotions.

People react to these hurts. We see this as we learn from typical childhood bullying. We also continue these habits into adulthood, yet we are more verbal and skilled in weaving our way through the chaos. Not better than our childhood reactions, perhaps just a tad bit more rational or not.

To think we make mistakes but believe we are justified in our judgments is wrong when covert and used for self-preservation. If we are one of the quote Christians, then you, on the outside looking in, may have urgent questions, especially when our behaviors don’t match our claims of salvation in a life with and for Christ.

People should question us as Christians as they are seeking answers. If you come across a proclaimed Christian, they are short-tempered, not interested, lacking grace, reacting to situations, or just not getting involved on this day. Then please call us on it, but remember, we too need grace.

As children of God, we must be accountable for our actions. As humans, we all have those days when we don’t quite behave like true Christians. We want you to know that we struggle with emotion, frustration, and the lack of luster we display in our humanness.

I do admit there are times I feel limited in my abilities to do God’s works, or there are times of serious discernment where God wants my attention to go first. I even feel frustrated with how God allows me to grow in my pain of emotion. If we could all recognize our limits as “Children.” Then wow, we would be so far ahead of the game. My limits do not matter, as God is the power that fuels me, and I lean on His understanding.

As adults, we acknowledge the boundaries in a child’s learning process. Trying to steer their actions or behavior causes us to feel both frustration and love. We are conscious of the emotions these actions evoke in us as adults. Despite this, we feel protective and even embarrassed as parents, as we are the ones who “should have laid a stronger foundation.”

• He laid the groundwork, and we, in our human form, try our best.

• The second truth, we are human and living in the flesh. The thing we can relate to is the love and occasional frustration one will feel when trying to teach or help a person acting out. If I could only help them see what I already know, no worries, God is in control of their destiny and life plan. So do your best and hang on for the ride.

If we stop and imagine God and His heart as He watches, we continually deny His guidance and buck at His desires for our lives. Well, I guess then we realize the pain we cause Him. We also know it can create great joy when we get it right.

I hope as parents, teachers, and leaders of this next group of up-and-coming adults, we can treat these children as God treats us. He is all-forgiving. He gives us time to figure things out on our own, and when He needs to, He gives us a little nudge. God is repeatedly planting seeds and watering them, yet with these gifts comes high expectations. He trusts that given life in Him, we will want to share these gifts, and as the plant grows, provide clipping to all of those around us.

How many of you, young or old daily, say, “Gee God, I am so sorry I just messed up again; please help me be better each minute. Thank you, God, for loving me anyway while I figure things out. Thank you for letting me know I am loved, no matter what!”

We must be tolerant of others and respectful. We are not anyone’s judges. We are merely children ourselves learning and trying to get things right. We can say we are secure in the world, and yes, this can be true. We can be skilled and knowledgeable about life skills and the Bible’s teachings. But we remain HIS children.

So, just as in our homes, classrooms, and workplaces, we have sets of rules and policies, routines, and beliefs. We still make mistakes and do wrong. Some of our transgressions are small and heal readily, like a tiny pebble hitting an arm.

Some may be large and cause significant repercussions like a shooting or death. We must remember even a pebble; if it lands in the wrong spot, like someone’s eye, the damage can be more severe. Perhaps not intentional, but critical, the larger the stones and attacks take time and counsel to heal.

The last is the stones forming, the ones we are unaware of because they are in the works. Little pains are slowly building up and smoldering. These are the most damaging and require patience while turning to prayer and God for His intervention.

We do not always understand His plan, yet we must comply with it so we can be part of the beautiful outcome.

The attacks that slowly build up and then hit with full force are often the hardest to overcome. We need to go to God with these problems. We need to pray for His guidance, and we need to surrender to His plan.

Sometimes, He purposely has us change course for short periods as He works more directly on our walk as His student. We could consider these a time in a desert, but what if we looked at them as time alone with God?

We would love to play a game of tag with just our mom or dad, all alone, just us. We crave that alone time with a parent. So, we can think of this time as an exclusive appointment with GOD. The things that happen when given this time with God can be surprising.

I am a Christian, and I will make mistakes. I am also a child of God, and I am loved, and SO ARE YOU! Let’s do a little more of the GOD THING in our world. Help each other build up in confidence of God’s promises. Let us share our clippings with others and let us love, more like Christ, unconditionally. Let us forgive as our Father in Heaven forgives us. Get our gear on and never give up, for we are on His team. Here’s hoping when pointing the finger, we try to look to ourselves first, always the right place to start the work, moving one step closer to Eden.