By: Gabriela Yareliz
This is something that really touched my heart. I hope you take the time to read it. I took the time to type it out, because it really uplifted my spirits.
Thoughts by Dr. Tony Evans (with my interjections) Everything in quotes is from his message in Tampa, Fla., on Nov. 2.
CANDIED APPLES WITH SECULARISM
Tony Evans tells the story of how he does not like apples; he’s more of an “orange kind of guy.” But he likes them when he goes to a fair they have in Texas.
Why? Because they are candied apples. The thing is, he said, once you dip the apple into liquid sugar, it cancels out its nutrients. People take God’s word, and they dip it into human opinion, man-made thought and secularism.
“They think that just because they have an apple, they still have its nutrion. Not knowing, you dip God’s Truth in man’s thought, you canceled out its impact in your life.”
MAKING IT GO
He further reveals an experience of when he was on a horse. He felt he knew what to do because he had watched plenty of Western movies. He got on the horse and made the “click, click” sound and said “giddy up,” with a slight kick. The horse would go two steps forward and four steps back. He became frustrated with the horse and told the organizer that his horse was crazy and that he needed another horse.
The organizer asked him, “What are you doing?”
He responded telling him, “I am going ‘click, click,’ like this, and saying ‘giddy up’ with a kick.”
The organizer looked at him and said, “The horse is not the one that is crazy. You can’t expect him to go when you keep pulling on the reins. He is confused.”
Sometimes, it is like this with us and God. We want Him to go, and have control of our destiny and future, yet we pull back on the reins.
“In the Bible, wisdom has to do with one’s ability, capacity and determination to apply spiritual truth to life’s realities. Conversely, a fool in the Bible is not somebody who dropped out of kindergarten; it is not concerned with academic accomplishments as its formal meaning. A fool in the Bible is someone who refuses to apply spiritual truth to life’s realities. The difference between wisdom and foolishness is an application difference, not an informational difference.”
TWO FOUNDATIONS
24 “Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house [Like Hurricane Sandy…]. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. 26 But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It fell and was completely destroyed.” (Matthew 7)
“Both looked fine until the storm came. Your foundation determines your future. You can’t fix a foundation in a storm. One house stood, one house fell–all predicated, not one their dreams, but on where they started.”
“Sand is easy, moving, cheap; bedrock is hard, firm and expensive.”
“It is all about where you start: The Bible or our human efforts.”
Despite our finite intelligence, which is given to us by God, we can’t find our own way. In the end, humanity’s solo path leads to a dead end. We will always be at a loss, no matter how hard we try. You know that feeling when someone compliments you, and you genuinely say, “No…no, I am not that great.” That feeling of inadequacy and unworthiness– that is how we always are before God. That is how we are on our own. But our weakness is made perfect in His strength and power.
Common English Bible (CEB)
THE STORM
35 Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” [They said they wanted to cross over to the other side… isn’t that what we always say? When someone wants to take us to the other side, and we are excited; we want to go–something new, something that might be better-(paraphrase)] 36 They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along.
37 Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped.[Storm] 38 But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. [When someone is asleep on a pillow or cushion, you know that person intended to sleep, He did not fall asleep on accident. (paraphrase)] They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?” [The storm must’ve been bad if FISHERMEN feared for their lives (paraphrase)]
39 He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Peace! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. [He told the peace to be still. Wouldn’t He address the storm instead? No, because even within the storm is the movement of God’s peace, taking you to where you are intended to wind up.-(paraphrase)]40 Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?” [“Do you believe my word in your storm. A storm in the way does not change my word, [Jesus was trying to teach them.]”]
41 Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!” (Mark 4)
TO YOU:
Are you going through a storm? Are you building a foundation? We all are, but what are you building it on? Are you building it on truth or society and man’s everchanging arguments and opinions?
Today, take truth as it is; unadulterated, even if it is not convenient. Let your destiny unfold in God’s providence, and let go of the reins. Build a foundation on something eternal that never changes and that is greater than yourself. And when you go through the storm, don’t lose faith, and know that not even a storm can change His word, power and plan for you.
I Touched His Garment:
This video is of a group I sing with back home (I love and miss them all!). We sang on Thanksgiving weekend. This song is a beautiful song. I hope the words touch you, as they touched us.
And yes, I am the girl that starts out and finishes the song singing in the purple dress. 🙂
GABRIELA YARELIZ 