10/14/09
10/13/09
Crazy Old Man
As Christians we are commanded to love one another….as Jesus loved us.
It was a cold winter’s day in
The Crazy Old Man from
Joe was a very wise old man who had lived a great many years and through a great many things. Through it all, the wars, the depression, the droughts and the famines, Joe had not lost his love for life but had actually become more of an advocate for it in the end. And so it goes that he spent his days traveling from town to town trying to “rid the world” of it’s ugly prejudice’s and trying to educate people of their own bigotries.
Joe was determined to try and get the world to see that, the “hatred of others was not the way to peace”, even if it was one person at a time, one wise word at a time.
So it came that it was my time with Joe and his wise words.
“Oh my goodness!” nearly falling on top of the old man. I grabbed him gently by the arm, just barley saving him falling to the ground. “I am so very sorry. I didn’t see you there. I was looking else where.”
“You young people are always in such a big hurry,” Joe shook his head. “Where are you off to in such a big hurry anyway on this beautiful crisp Sunday morning?”
“Uh-uh, I am , uh,” I stuttered a bit. Then realized the old man was right. It was Sunday morning and I had nowhere in particular to go. “I am just out for my morning walk.”
“Well then,” he continued “Since you nearly killed me going no where, why don’t you take a minute here and share the scenery with me.”
Truthfully, that is the last thing I wanted to do. But I felt guilty for almost knocking him out cold and he was all alone and ever so persistent so I gave in.
“Okay. I’ll sit with you. But just for a little while,” I started looking around.
Joe got that gleam in his eye. The gleam he always gets just before he starts his preachin’. “Whatcha’ lookin’ for?” Joe asked me.
“Can we find a spot in the sun?” I asked, rather timidly. “This wind is pretty cold.”
Joe snickered, saying something about us young fold not knowing what real cold was and we walked to the other side of the park. Found a seat in the sun and that’s when Joe shared with me these tid-bits of wisdom.
Joe said to me ~
“I have heard that birds of a feather flock together.
I have searched around the world in which I lived and found it to be so.”
“I have heard that a tiger never changes it’s stripes.
I have searched around the world in which I have lived and found it to be so.”
“I have heard that you can’t teach an old dog, new tricks.
I have searched around the world in which I have lived and found it to be so.”
“I have heard misery loves company.
I have searched around the world in which I have lived and found it to be so.”
I looked at Joe and waited in silence.
He looked back at me. His head hung down a bit, he turned it up toward me and then he gave me half a smile and said, “Aren’t you going to ask me what it all means?”
“Wow,” was all I could think. I didn’t even know what he meant by it. He hadn’t even finished it and some how, some way, I was wowed. I just knew whatever was coming next was going to be a gem and so I looked back at Joe and said, “Okay. What does it all mean?”
I was ready, but ready for what? I had set myself up for the most incredible morsel of wisdom and knowledge. I mean after all, this old man has been around. He has walked where so many of have never and will never walk. He has done so many things and seen so many things and learned so much in life.
“Wow,” was all I could think as I waited in baited breath for his elaborate, profound answer to man-kinds behavioral patterns.
Joe continued ~
“I have heard that birds of a feather flock together.
I have searched around the world in which I lived and found it to be so.”
Joe looked at me, sighed then continued on to say,
“Until we realize we are NOT Birds we will not over come prejudice.”
“I have heard that a tiger never changes it’s stripes.
I have searched around the world in which I have lived and found it to be so.”
Again, Joe sighed,
“Until we realize we are NOT Tigers we will never allow for people to change, thus the world to change.”
“I have heard that you can’t teach an old dog, new tricks.
I have searched around the world in which I have lived and found it to be so.”
Shaking his head, Joe stood up and raised his voice slightly,
“Until we realize we are NOT Dogs, we will not be able to teach anyone anything different than the way it is now.”
Lifting both arms into the air and yelling with zeal and great emotion, tears running down his face, he continued,
“Until we realize we are NOT animals but Men and Woman created in God’s image we will NEVER over come hatred and prejudice!
At this point there were others in the park and they had begun to stare. I can honestly say I did not feel embarrassed at all. The emotion that came from Joe was heart wrenching and real. Passion from a soul who has lived what he has preached. I sat and starred in utter amazement as Joe continued on.
There was a sudden change in Joe’s demeanor. He hung his head low. He was silent for a moment and then continued on in a very saddened tone,
“I have heard misery loves company.
I have searched around the world in which I have lived and found it to be so.”
“Unfortunately, this is true no matter where I have been. Until we realize it is we who are the ones who need to change and not them. It will always be so.”
At that, Joe just walked away.
I just sat there.
“Here I thought he was going to share some great new revelation on how to rid the world of prejudice or something,” I shook my head.
“It’s no wonder they call him the Crazy Old Man.”
copyright ©2002 AmyColleen
I went to bed last night expecting to get a good night sleep. (haha)
Instead I awoke several times through out the night with prayers streaming from my heart and mouth. A certain someone on my heart. Each time I followed the unction, so strong to pray and dozed back off to sleep. I wasn't the least bit upset that I was awaken so many times during the night....instead when I got up this morning I took extra time in prayer for this precious friend and child of God. Thank the Lord for allowing me to be a part of their life.
I am hoping they are reading this.
Below I have posted a "Word in Song" the Lord Himself gave me during one of the "hardest times of my life." I didn't think I would make through those times...but I did....not without the guiding hand of Jesus though.
Here are the words and one dy when we see each other again soon I will sing it to you.
I am praying for you!
The Friend You’ve Wanted and The Friend You Need
A “New Song”
I often wonder how I might be.
The friend you've wanted and the friend you need.
How I might share your worries and your fears.
How I might wipe away your tears.
Tell me.
Where do you go, when you're feeling oh so low?
Who do you turn to, when there's no place left to go?
When the ones who you love, seem so far away,
These are the times, I long to hear you say.
***
"Where are you? Where are you, friend that I knew?
I need you. I need you to help me make it through.
Where are you? Where are you, friend that I love?
Come right now. See me through. Send your love from above."
***
You'll never know just what it means to me,
To walk and talk just you and me;
To share your joys and your miseries,
Have you forgotten, that I died for these?
So ~
Child, come to me when you're feeling oh so low.
Child, turn to me when there's no place left to go.
When the ones who you love, seem so far away,
Child, I'm right here, by your side, here to stay.
Go ahead. Call for me.
Child I'm right here.
Go ahead. And you'll see,
How happy you can be,
How happy we will be.
10/11/09
*
Okay - so I was in church just praising the Lord worshiping our beautiful God and I just kept hearing over and over and over again (in my head) “Look at me”.
It took a few times, but I finally caught on that it was actually the Lord’s voice and that I was actually getting distracted as I was worshiping. That the Lord was pulling me back in, if you will….and each time that he did ….the anointing was stronger than ever. I felt HIS presence even more.
You might think HOW could I be distracted if I was truly worshiping the Lord. But come now let’s get truthful here and be perfectly honest with each other.
I didn’t actually realize I was being distracted until I heard the Lord’s voice speaking to me…. “Look at me”…. repeatedly.
Now that I look back at the situation (and being totally honest and transparent with you) I can clearly see I was being distracted and how.
You see, those few people that know me very well, know I do not like attention; however this morning the anointing of worship was so strong in the service I felt drawn to leave my seat and move the side isle where I had more room to worship and move freely, and I did just that.
As I was worshipping the Lord my FLESH was constantly battling the urge to “wonder what others might be thinking” of my extravagant worship…..that is until I heard the Spirit of the Lord say to me, “Look at me.”
As I focused on the Lord the anointing on my worship of God grew stronger and I had no thought for anything else.
It took a good 10- 15 minutes to break through this distraction; to become completely enamored with Jesus and all encompassed with worshiping Him. Not concerned at all with any one or thing else. Then it was sheer heaven!
When we all sat down and the Pastor shared a word from God….I was blown away (but not surprised as this is how God seems to always work) to find that it was right in line with a Word the Lord had given me during the last part of the worship time. ....(*I have written the word the Lord gave below)
God is soooo Awesome!!!
Also**
Please take a moment to click on the link below Pastor Rodney has a AWESOME Word form the Lord that is life changing!
Love you All!
May God Bless you this week with an awesome revelation of who He is and who YOU are in Him as you seek His Beautiful face!
Amy Colleen
The Word the Lord shared with me is this:
I asked the Lord why so many were so disappointed and un-excited about all that HE had done for them. So many …..so faithless; when they “knew soooo much and had sooo many wonderful gifts from God.”
The Lord spoke this to me.
“So many that are seeking that “good feeling”….that “now word” from me or that “answer to prayer”.
They pray and pray and pray but then they leave never having actually come into my presence.
Some, may go a step further and cast their burdens down at my feet after having prayed, then leave.
Still others even a step further, pray, cast their burdens upon me and come into my presence where there is fullness of joy….but still they fail to be still long enough to receive all that I have for them.
Amy, It is IN ME all your needs are met. In my presence is the fullness of Joy….and Amy, What is your strength?....”
(*I answered the Lord… “The Joy of the Lord is my Strength.”)
“In answer to your question….pray, cast your burdens on me for I do care for you and come INTO my presence where THERE IS FULLNESS of JOY!......and everything else you need. Drink from me and you will never thirst again!”
***********************************************************************************
Life’s Answer
By: Amy Colleen
I was lost and alone, dazed and confused,
Looking for something exciting and new;
I had done everything I had known to do,
climbed the highest mountain; I’d searched the world through.
Still I had found I hungered to be fed,
For more than this life of grandeur I lead.
It was as if I were driven to find the way,
to where I am now today.
I couldn’t put my finger on it, what it was I heard.
I don’t know that it was one particular word.
All I know is that one-day,
I heard this man speak the most incredible words and say,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his Only Son;”
That moment, I knew what had to be done.
I didn’t wait another moment. I fell down on my knees.
I asked God to forgive me and set me free.
I’m not lost, alone, dazed or confused any more.
I let Jesus in my heart’s door.
My life is exciting and brand new!
I found life’s answer after searching the world through.
***