Author Archives: expressyourself4him

Questioning God

As I was listening to a message this morning, I was reminded of the prophet Habakkuk.  A tongue twister to pronounce and a spell check must when typing.  Habakkuk lived during a time in history where righteousness was turned upside down, similar to today.  At the beginning of his book in the Bible, chapter 1, verses 2-4, Habakkuk is ticked off.  Fed up by all the chaos surrounding the nation of Israel and God’s apparent absence from the scene.

While hanging on a cross, Jesus of Nazareth, questioned God as his imminent death drew near.  Being fully man and God, known as a hyperstatic union, Jesus called out speaking in his flesh.  God usually does not clue us in on His plan until after we have had time to reflect upon our circumstances.  Therefore, when God’s own son called out, He was silent.

If God told us what was going to happen before we lived each day, our lives would be anti-climatic, like a spoiled children always getting their way.  Questioning God is not a sin like some you tubes have suggested, committing blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.  Rather, questioning God in prayer is a sign of maturity.  David, who was considered to be a man after God’s own heart, regularly questioned God in his Psalms.   As people begin to understand God’s nature like Abraham in Genesis 18:16-32, our perspective will be transformed.  Thus, God allows ongoing uncertainty to steer us toward Him!

by Jay Mankus

Forecasting the Weather: Snow

As winter approaches each year, cable news channels have a different interpretation of exactly how much precipitation will fall.  Although they use identical or similar weather doppler systems, so called weather experts regularly make gaurantees at a 25% success rate.  One thing is sure: either their computers are malfunctioning, they are embellishing their projection to promote television ratings while creating a mass hysteria at local grocery and hardware stores fighting for the last loaf of bread and shovel in town or they don’t have a clue to what they are doing.

Farmers rely on their almanac to determine what to plant and when each season.  Financial experts watch the markets to see what is trending up and down.  Professional athletes listen to their strength and conditioning coaches as well as their bodies when they are hurt.  However, sometimes, the best answer is, “I don’t know!”  In an ever increasing world of cynicism, people are looking for a voice of reason.  Someone who will man up when they are wrong, show humility when they were right and be honest when they don’t have a clue!  For now I will stay optimistic, but pay attention because the next forecast for snow is right around the corner.  Maybe you’ll find an honest weather man.

by Jay Mankus

Consolation and Desolation

Depending upon how you see the world often dictates how you respond to the circumstances you are dealt.  If you are pessimistic, seeing the world glass half empty, you will experiences times of desolation, dwelling on the negative leading to periods of hopelessness, despair and restlessness.  King David, during a dark time in life  prayed his way out of desolation in Psalm 30:1-3.

If you are an eternal optimist having a half glass full perspective, you will begin to encounter moments of consolation.  Times where the Lord’s presence is strong, consistent and obvious by your day to day life.  The apostle Paul talked about consolation in Galatians 5:25.  Once a person is able to overcome the distractions of this world by devoting their time to God, they can begin to actually keep in step with the Holy Spirit.

The reality of life lies somewhere in between consolation and desolation.  If you are always positive, we can become fake, artificial and not genuine to those we interact with.  Those who regularly get up on the wrong side of bed leave a trail of negativity which can spread like cancer throughout any workplace environment.  The proper balance can be found in Philippians 3:12-16.  Success is the process of arriving, it is the journey and the marathon which we call life.  Once our focus turns heavenward, our perspective can change from consolation or desolation toward eternity.  In the end, each of us have to ask ourselves a question, “what legacy am I leaving?”  Is it consolation, desolation or eternity?  Carpe Diem or in modern times, Get busy!

by Jay Mankus

Desperate Times

On January 2nd, I received the news my services would no longer be needed at my job of 10 years.  Happy New Year, didn’t start so happy, forced to change course of my life.  Desperation has a way of transforming your perspective of life, especially when your employer does not provide unemployment.  I went straight from complacency to a sense of urgency trying to figure out my next assignment in life.

Solomon, inspired by the Spirit of the Living God said, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the Lord’s purpose prevails, Proverbs 19:21.”  In desperate times, human efforts can only take you so far as one tries to ascertain the puzzle pieces to life.  Despite my circumstances, I am still blessed to have been born in the greatest country in the world.  Sure, we have our own problems at this moment in time, yet there is still hope to live the American dream instilled in us by our founding fathers.

Sometimes in life, we need to be pushed beyond our comfortable limits.  Whether through failure, trials or tribulations, desperate times provide a healthy stretching of our lives.  In these times of fear and doubt, there is a higher power which comes beside us, carrying us along the way.  Though my future remains clouded and concerns abound, I can feel asleep with peace knowing that the Lord will provide, Genesis 22:14.

by Jay Mankus