Frail Grasp on the Big Picture

This song the The Eagles Sums up so much of where I see America Today

"Frail Grasp On The Big Picture"

Well, ain't it a shame
That our short little memories
Never seem to learn
The message of history
We keep makin' the same mistakes
Over and over and over and over again
And then we wonder why
We're in the shape we're in

Good ol' boys down at the bar
Peanuts and politics
They think they know it all
They don't know much of nothing
Even if one of them was to read the newspaper
Cover-to-cover
That ain't what's going on
Journalism's dead and gone

Frail grasp on the big picture
Light fading and the fog is getting thicker
It's a frail grasp on the big picture
Dark ages

You my love-drunk friend
All that red wine and candlelight
Soulful conversations
That go on until the dawn
How many times can you tell your story?
How many hangovers can you endure
Just to get some snuggling done?
You're living in a hollow dream
You don't have the slightest notion
What long-term love is all about
All your romantic liasons
Don't deal with eternal questions like
Who left the cap off the freaking toothpaste?
Whose turn to take the garbage out?

Frail grasp on the big picture
You keep on rubbin' that, you're gonna get a blister
It's a frail grasp on the big picture
I've seen it all before

And we pray to our Lord
Who we know is American
He reigns from on high
He speaks to us through middlemen
And he shepherds his flock
We sing out and we praise His name
He supports us in war
He presides over football games
And the right will prevail
All our troubles shall be resolved
We have faith in the Lord
Unless there's money or sex involved

Frail grasp on the big picture
Nobody's calling them for roughing up the pitcher (?)
It's a frail grasp on the big picture
Heaven help us

Frail grasp on the big picture
All waiting for that miracle elixir
Frail grasp on the big picture
I don't wonder anymore

Frail grasp on the big picture
Somebody says, "You brought her here so go ahead and kiss her
Frail grasp on the big picture

Frail grasp on the big picture
Light fading and the fog is getting thicker
It's a frail grasp on the big picture

Frail grasp on the big picture
Frail grasp on the big picture
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Lord, Please help us to have a grasp on your "big picture" for our country and our individual lives. Please forgive us for the many times that we focus too much on the little things which are not important to your kingdom.

Relationships Done God's Way

Wow! I met this awesome person, sparks are flying, now what?

These are some practical guidelines for those who are seeking to start or keep an existing relationship on a Holy path taken from 2 Corinthians 6 ( all scripture taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible)

1 Working together [a] with Him, we also appeal to you: "Don't receive God's grace in vain." 2 For He says: In an acceptable time, I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you. Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation.
3 We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed. 4 But in everything, as God's ministers, we commend ourselves: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardship, by pressures, 5 by beatings, by imprisonments, (D) by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger, 6 by purity, (E) by knowledge, (F) by patience, (G) by kindness, (H) by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, (I) 7 by the message of truth, (J) by the power of God; (K) through weapons of righteousness on the right hand and the left, 8 through glory (L) and dishonor, through slander and good report; as deceivers yet true; 9 as unknown yet recognized; as dying and look—we live; as being chastened yet not killed; 10 as grieving yet always rejoicing; (M) as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken openly [b] to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. 12 You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections. 13 Now in like response—I speak as to children—you also should be open to us.

Line by line breakdown

Verse 1: They worked together with God, trusting the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This reminds me that we can not do it alone! In the verse below, “a cord of three strands” refers to the Holy Spirit being one of those strands bound together, in this case, with a couple, to make sure that they knew that God was always a part of it should it not be broken!
9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if somebody overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. -- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Verse 2: Everything was done in acceptable time, once again, meaning the believers were trusting on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead their decisions.
Verse 3: They gave no opportunity for areas of compromise in their walk, especially during the critical forming of the early church; things had to be foundationally secure!
Verse 4 -5: They did not give up, and endured, despite anything this world and its corrupted morals, ideas and pressure put on them.
Verse 6D: “By Purity” 12 No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. -- 1 Timothy 4:12
Verse 6F: “By Patience” Remember: 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
Verse 6G: “By Kindness” One of the fruits of the spirit, we constantly show kindness to each other, although at first, there were times where I had to bee kind to you in my speech, and you had to learn to be kind to me. God has been molding each of our hearts in this area as we submitted it to Him!
Verse 6H: “By the Holy Spirit” 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit; the Father will send Him in My name and He; will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. -- John 14:26
Verse 6L: “By sincere love” In everything may our motives be sincere, pure, and selfless (1 Corinthians 13)
Verse 7: God’s Word guided them!
Verse 7J: God gave them the power to do that which was impossible to their ordinary nature!
Verse 7K: God gave them the armor and the spiritual weapons to fight the temptations of Satan: See Ephesians6:11-18 for a detailed description of the armor of God
Verse 11: They spoke openly to each other, in inner circles and openly to the early church leaders to get accountability. Everyone should have at least 1 or more people, both married couples and same-sex persons they are accountable to for their actions when entering into a dating relationship.

In the Heart of the Fire

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." -- Malachi 3:3

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study, and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

We are here for you. Please share your stories of how God is refining you in extraordinary circumstances and you might just be featured on the project419 website~!
To email your story or your confidential prayer requests, please send an email to brandon@project419.org