Dale Cresap's blog

Are there things that outrage you? The world is full of things that are contrary to my will and plan and it is normal that you should object to them. It is not all good. Can you hold your outrage with a sense of grace? For my word teaches you to be angry and sin not. Anger or outrage that causes you to lose your peace or to become hateful makes you part of the problem rather than part of the solution. If you can be angry and gracious at the same time you can have both the motivation and the loving perspective to make a real difference. What is impossible with men is possible with me. 

Do you like to have money in the bank? Prudent people will set aside some money for unexpected emergencies so they will have funds on hand to cover them. Do you see your faith the same way? Not all emergencies can be resolved with money. Are there any that can be resolved without faith? You don’t know what tomorrow will bring but you do know that faith will be a part of the equation. The banking analogy is imperfect but even my word teaches you to lay up treasure in heaven where thieves do not steal. If you spend a lifetime developing a sustaining faith you will have enough in the bank when you need it. 

Anger is a powerful and dangerous force. Do you know the difference between righteous and unrighteous anger? Do you reserve your anger for personal slights and insults or rude behavior against yourself? There are greater injustices on a larger scale in the world, even if they don’t affect you personally. Being angry for your own sake is dangerous and likely to be unrighteous because it is so hard to separate the issues and administer unbiased justice on your own behalf. It is easier to exercise righteous anger on behalf of others who are innocent and oppressed. Do this, and do something about it. 

Where do you expect to encounter me? Many were looking for a messiah who was a conqueror, but I told simple stories illustrated with commonplace items to convey eternal truth. Some of my disciples were on their way to unstated business in Emmaus and I joined them, but they were not aware that it was I who walked with them. Jacob spent the night in the middle of nowhere and after his night vision realized that I was in that place. You don’t need to go here or there, for the Kingdom of God is within you. If you turn to me I will come to you disguised as your ordinary life. Will you recognize me when I do?

Who do you think you are? Have you ever had this question asked of you? Yet it is most often presented as an exclamation and a challenge, as if you had done something inappropriate for your identity. Yet it is still a valid question to ponder. Do you know who you are? For there is a temptation to think that you are the things that you have acquired, if not material status symbols then education or reputation or prestige. But these too are things that you have acquired, and are therefore a part of your acquired self. I invite you to return to your true self. The spiritual essence you had at the beginning of your life is your true self. 

When someone attacks your opinions or thoughts, do you take it personally? Attacks can be directed at your person, but if they are not and you still receive them as if they were, then you are too attached to your opinions.   Recognize your opinions for what they really are. They are not the essence of your being. My word declares woes upon those who cause offenses, but the other side of the coin is that there is no virtue in being easily offended. Give other people the benefit and grace of realizing that their opinions that clash with yours are not the essence of their being either. Understanding this makes it easier to love them.

Is it important to you to be productive? Do you hesitate to pray because you don’t see it as productive effort? Yet you know by my word and by faith that effectual fervent prayer avails much. Yet Christians with a mindset of productivity will apply this same concept to their prayers, making specific requests and looking for results. But what if there was an aspect of prayer that didn’t fit this model? Are you willing to let go of your agenda for a while that you may sit at my feet in mindful awareness in my presence that you may be changed by the encounter? What is on your agenda that is more important than this? 

Have you ever heard of people putting God in a box? This is an absurd concept for someone who inhabits all space, time, and eternity, but you know people who do this. They have a limited concept of me and to make it worse they make strenuous efforts to defend the box from outside attacks. You necessarily have a concept of me. Can you hold this graciously, knowing that it is incomplete, and allow it room to grow? This is an act of maturity and wisdom. If your current concept is larger than your original one, then it is reasonable to assume that your future one will be larger still. Don’t worry about defending your God box. I will break it from the inside. 

As you grow in your faith does it increase your awareness of how far you still have to go? This is normal and good. Do you find it discouraging, as if you are running a race and the finish line gets further away rather than closer? The finish line was always far away, but don’t be discouraged about your rate of progress. I care about your morale. My disciples had lived with me for several years when I told them I had more for them but they could not bear it until later. In like manner I do not willing afflict or grieve your heart. I will show you what you need to know when you need to know it. Sufficient for the day is the evil, and the grace, thereof. I will complete my good work in you.

Are you offended at vulgar language? How offended are you at mean and hateful thoughts expressed in polite language? Well-spoken and articulate people are just as capable of expressing ungracious and unloving thoughts as others. Isn’t the content more important than the manner of delivery? As with many things, you do well to avoid the use of vulgar language yourself. Can you be gracious enough to pay more attention to what someone else is saying rather than the way they are saying it? Let both your listening and your speaking be done with grace and love.