Pomp and Perspective

Hello CCH family / Welcome Heart to Home

Today... Pomp and Perspective

I recently found myself in a rut as I was

overly concerned about "stuff"

My focus shifted from an eternal/temporal

perspective/began to bring me down over

I would throw a pity party for one (daughter)

Of course I would remind myself of...

How hard I work / countless hours afterwork

What do I have to show for it?

My car is old enough to vote / soon drink

Then someone ran into me on my way....

Flat tire / other damage and on and on

On top of this my wife gets a brand new car

Walk by everyday to get to the G-pa mobile

There were some other things going on

in my temporal world

But I allowed these thoughts to creep in

It's not a good place to be

I allowed these insignificant things to bother

During a Wedn. night service

Pastor Brandon was teaching in Acts

Agrippa/Bernice had come with great pomp

He explained how this could be like our

modern day red-carpet experience

They would have been dressed to the 9's

and how we can sometimes be down on our

circumstances

Look out at the world and see

worldly people/behavior rewarded/celebrated with pomp

But then Pastor Brandon shifted

One of the most under appreciated facts

we can claim when we find ourselves/season

We are children of the Most High God

We have direct access 2 the creator Universe

I can't think of a single reason why

If I wanted direct access to the governor

President / athlete / actor / deemed import

My access would be limited at best

but most likely impossible

But I have access to my Father in Heaven

I can come to Him with

My petitions/ He will listen/perfect response

My fears/doubts/successes/failures

He has no hidden agendas

Everything He does / for my best interest

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God;

And your sins have hidden His face from you,

So that He will not hear.

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

When He decides my time is up here

See Him face to face

I won't be thinking about a car/house/port.

Only gratitude and reverence

But grat and rev doesn't start during face/face

It begins the moment we pass from...

Dark to light / death to life

I went from this category... Isa 59:2

To... Hebrews 4:15-16

I have direct access to that!

Mercy, Grace, and help in time of need (evid)

The penalty for my sins has been paid for

I get to spend an eternity in heaven

after this vapor of an earthly experience

The Lord has always provided for my family

He has never left us hanging

He has proven Himself to us time and time

Who cares about a car?

The car that...

Gets me everywhere / job / love / support

A car that was gifted to me at a crucial time

All of these are blessings when you have

Right perspective

Brandon could have passed over this verse

Grateful he didn't / Praise report as well

In a previous devotional/missed opportun

I have had by not putting myself in a position

I feel God used Brandon 2-fold for me

The message shifted my focus back

It's what I needed to hear that night

God gave me conformation of the

Blessings of simply getting in front of Him

So if you find yourself/season/shift persect