Tag Archives: God

The Hiding Place

Posted on February 26, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Hebrews 13:2 suggests that your life may intersect or come in contact with an angel. From my vantage point, God has blessed me with several acquaintances in life, most of whom are flesh and blood. Yet, there has only been one person who has introduced me to spiritual Hiding Places.

During a college internship southeast of Cleveland, Ohio, I met a construction worker unlike any human being I have ever encountered. This young man worked hard at his trade, stood up for his faith daily and modeled a Christ like faith. As we drew closer through a weekly Bible Study and church, Chris showed me a hidden gem on his property. Formerly a Boy Scout Camp, his parents’ land contained an abandoned cabin in the woods.

This quaint setting became his closet, Matthew 6:6. Prior to the invention of 5 Hour Energy Drinks, Chris used this room to access living water, John 4:13-14. On bended knees, with out stretched arms toward heaven, the power of the Holy Spirit filled Chris’ each morning. Followed by a consistent dose of God’s Word, my friend was ready for anything life threw his way, 1 Peter 3:15-16. This remote building provided an ideal location to access the secret places of God, Song of Solomon 2:14.

As the world continues to search for alternative solutions to God, mere imitations continue to come up empty, time after time. Artificial replacements might produce a brief desire, energy boast or initial feeling, yet only one thing satisfies the human soul. Jesus remains the only Real Thing in life that quenches the void within your heart. If you want to taste success in life, find your own hiding place today, Psalm 143:9. Create an atmosphere free from distractions, peaceful and isolated like the picture above. The Bread of Life is waiting for you to arrive, John 6:47-48.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged 5 Hour Energy Drink, angels, Bible Study, blessings, Boy Scouts, Christ, church, Cleveland, closet, college, faith, God, heart, hiding, Holy Spirit, Jesus, life, Ohio, place, Prayer, preparation, Reading the Bible, satisfying, soul. Bookmark the permalink.

Disconnected

Posted on February 25, 2013 by expressyourself4him

For a 5 day stretch from February 11th through February 15th, my cell phone became disconnected. After applying for 5 jobs over 2 days, anyone who tried to contact my number was placed into a cyber black hole. According to a telecommunications agent, when you switch from one cell phone carrier to another, your number goes into a virtual portal for usually 24 hours. As soon as a previous carrier releases your old number, you can begin your new service contract. Unfortunately, my number remained locked for nearly a week, crippling any hopes of receiving one of these new positions.

Cell phones, emails, Facebook and texting have become popular avenues to maintain daily contact with key individuals. When these optional aren’t available, people like me panic, especially when one phone call or email is the difference between a new job and unemployment. Yet, it could be worse. You can also become disconnected from God. Prayer becomes a few moments of talking to yourself, reading the Bible like trying to decipher a confusing new language and going to church develops into a meaningless ritual, hallow of any true intimacy with God.

The Bible is filled with examples of people and nations who were unplugged from God. Moses once worked 18 hour days in Exodus 18:13, Achan’s sin hid God’s blessing from Israel in Joshua 7 and God became tired of Israel’s evil deeds in Isaiah 1:15-17. Despite these temporary outages, God is only a confession away from reconnecting your service. Therefore, follow the directions in James 5:13-16 and you can get back online today. Faith is just a phone call away!

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged black hole, cell phones, confessing your sins, connect, disconnect, email, facebook, faith, getting reconnected with God, God, intimacy, jobs, Prayer, Reading the Bible, service contract, sin, texting, unemployment. Bookmark the permalink.

I Regret to Inform You

Posted on February 23, 2013 by expressyourself4him

In the days of World War I and World War II, military procedures were set in stone. If a service member died in combat, the Military Casualty Office was immediately notified. From there, an official letter was sent to the next of kin as portrayed in the film A League of Their Own. With a clip board in hand, this officer hand was interrupted by Tom Hanks as he gently delivered this notification, shattering Betty Spaghetti, causing other woman to doubt the safety of their own spouse.

For the 12 million Americans currently unemployed as of February 1st, 2013, a similar mantra is repeated today. However, modern notifications are less personal, sent via email or through the United States Postal Service. A typical letter sugar coats the bad news with a few sentences summarizing the selection process. Usually, by the third sentence, companies stop beating around the bush. Reading the words”I regret to inform you” is like a slap in the face and a blow to your heart!

However, there is still one final letter that the living and dead will receive. As in the days of World War I and II, this encounter will be face to face. On Judgment Day, each person will have to give an account for their life, Matthew 16:27, waiting to see if their name is written in the book of life, Revelation 13:8. Although I have not tasted success in the eyes of the world these last 2 years, my plans for the future have been secured, 1 John 5:13. Therefore, don’t be surprised by death. Rather, make your reservations today, John 3:16-17 or else you will be devastated when God says, “I regret to inform you!”

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged A League of Their Own, Book of Life, dead, doubt, email, eternity, face, give an account, God, heart, heaven, job, Judgment Day, living, military, Military Casualty Office, next of kin, official letters, regret, The Bible, unemployed, United States Postal Service, World War 1, World War II. Bookmark the permalink.

How Much Longer?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by expressyourself4him

In anticipation, children nag from their back seat, “how much longer daddy until we get there?” Meanwhile, students whisper to the nearest watch bearer, “how many more minutes until this class is over?” During a blow out, the losing coach asks his assistants a rhetorical question, “how many more minutes do we need to endure?” Finally, the long suffering soul cries out to his Heavenly Father, “how much longer will this trial last?”

Unfortunately, most things in life are linked to time. Winter lasts too long, Spring is too wet, Summer too hot and Fall too cold. Instead of either accepting or embracing moments in time, most people are stuck in the past or wish to skip ahead to the future. The only thing fair about life is the chance to breathe. The aborted, still born and premature who may survive a few precious hours or days are dealt a bad hand, forced to fold. The key to life is making the best of your hand, playing until the game of life has ceased.

Therefore, complaining about this or that seems rather pity, Philippians 2:14. Yes, everyone would like to know the answers to important questions, but God will reveal what you need to know at an appointed time, Esther 4:14. While the Dealer is still giving you cards, there must be a reason for today, Ephesians 2:10. Thus, don’t ask God how much longer? Rather, say, “thank you Lord, may I have another day.” Like the prophet of old, “Here, I am Lord, send me to play another hand,” Isaiah 6:8.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged abortion, complaining, crying out to God, dealing with losses, enduring trials, God, life, life lessons, losing, parents, patience, playing cards, playing the game of life, premature death, prophet Isaiah, purpose for life, road trips, RV the movie, still borns, The Bible, The Dealer, time, traveling, Understanding God's timing. Bookmark the permalink.

The Eraser

Posted on February 18, 2013 by expressyourself4him

On the surface, a small piece of rubber, either red or white in appearance, seems rather inconspicuous. Like tiny bread crumbs, these particles are designed to void any mistake made by a lead pencil. While somewhat flawed, if used properly, the eraser can make imperfections disappear.

As technology continues to improve, the eraser is on the verge of becoming an endangered species. Since the invention of personal computers led to the extinction of type writers, white out threatens to replace erasers. With the goal of paperless schools on the horizon, environmentalist seek to save trees, not concerned if or when erasers will be phased out.

From a spiritual sense, there is only One true Eraser. This eraser is as white as snow, spotless and pure, without any blemishes. Unlike the typical eraser that darkens with use, this Eraser remains shiny and new year round. Therefore, if you’re tired of messing up, making mistakes and ruining the body of your paper, keep your head up. As far as the East is from the West, this is how far God is willing to go to erase the sins from your life, Psalm 103:11-12.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged cleansing, environmentalists, eraser, erasing sin, faith, flaws, forgiveness, God, inventions, Jesus, mistakes, suraface, technology, void. Bookmark the permalink.

Supersize Your Faith

Posted on February 14, 2013 by expressyourself4him

In the 2004 documentary film Supersize Me, Morgan Spurlock wanted to know how eating 3 meals a day at McDonald’s for 30 consecutive days would impact his body. Thus, from February 1st thru March 2nd, Morgan ate every item on the menu at least once. The 32 year old gained nearly 25 pounds in one month, consuming 5,000 calories on average per day. As a result, McDonald’s no longer has a Supersize Value Meal and state governments are creating legislation to eliminate soft drinks larger than 16 ounces. While local officials are trying to attack my 7Eleven Big Gulp, I would rather supersize my faith than my body.

In the Greek, there are 2 words used to describe time: kronis and kairos. Kronis refers to when someone asks or wants to know the exact time. Kairos means a specific place; a special moment in time. Mark 1:15-16 contains a quote from Jesus, “The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” The context of the term repent is like making a u-turn away from sin, back toward God. Jesus wants people to change their diets so you make reach the future God has for you, Jeremiah 29:11. In view of this, I want to propose the Supersize Your Faith Challenge.

Beginning March 1st, 2013 thru March 30th, 2013, I invite you to take a leap of faith. I am urging all who are interested to try 3 spiritual disciplines for 30 days. The first is reading 3 chapters of the Bible per day, 90 total. To remember what you read, keep a notebook of any Insight you receive, Question you have and Actions you can take daily. I will post any question you may have and try to answer it or seek another scholar to satisfy your request.

Second, I want everyone who participates to create a separate prayer journal for the month of March. I am asking everyone to spend 30 minutes per day total, writing down prayers and praying. To stay on task, start with any Petition you want to ask God for, then move on to Repenting any sin of action or inaction, followed by words of Adoration, thanking God for completely forgiving you and end with Your own concerns. This usually consists of personal, family, school, work, neighborhood and church requests. Feel free to add whatever the Holy Spirit puts on your heart.

Finally, the last piece of this challenge involves getting plugged into a local church. Depending upon the size and scope of a church, you may want to join a weekly Accountability, Bible Study, Prayer or Sunday School Group. Besides the obvious, attending church, reach out to people who look lost, aren’t connected or appear to be having a bad day. Like Philip in Acts 8, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes during the 30 days of March to become the hands, feet and body of Christ! The time is now, kairos, to consider accepting the Supersize Challenge!

by Jay Mankus

Please notify me if you are willing to embrace this adventure.

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged 7Eleven, Actions, Big Gulps, challenge, church, community, diets, faith, gaining weight, getting involved, God, Greek, Holy Spirit, insights, Jesus, journaling, losing weight, McDonalds, petitions, Prayer, questions of faith, Reading the Bible, repent, sin, Super Value Meals, Supersize Me the Movie, time. Bookmark the permalink.

Stop Complaining, Write Down Your Requests and Pray!

Posted on February 12, 2013 by expressyourself4him

The prophet Habakkuk felt alone, as if God had abandoned him. Upset by a lack of answers, Habakkuk cries out to God, not in prayer, but with complaints. Not satisfied with God’s initial response in Habakkuk 1:5-11, he continues to vent his frustrations. Feeling self righteous, Habakkuk completes his words in chapter 2, verse 1, as if God is to blame for his current circumstance.

God’s reply is classic. Sometimes in life, we expect God to do everything, including read our minds. Thus, Habakkuk 2:2-3 contains God’s call to action which applies to anyone who has ever prayed to God before. If your prayer’s aren’t being answered, maybe the problem lies in your own indecision, not sure what you really what in life. Therefore, stop complaining and start to write down everything you desire, Psalm 37:4.

As for me, I seek a sense of community, similar to what I experienced during the early days at Red Lion. Second, I want to use my God given talents to counsel, educate and train individuals so that they will be successful in life. Finally, I want to travel, interact with people from other parts of the country and enjoy each moment I spend outside. I am not sure if this exact position exists, but I am beginning my quest today, believing prayer is the key to push aside any current barriers. I encourage others to join me by stop complaining out loud, write down the desires of your heart and pray for God’s favor and will. Enjoy the ride!

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged action, believe, calling, complaining, counsel, crying out to God, desires, God, God' will, God's favor, heart, journaling, life, mind, Pray, Prayer, prophets, requests, success, talents, travel. Bookmark the permalink.

From a Mountain Top to the Valley of Despair

Posted on February 11, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Throughout the course of history, unusual events have occurred which defy the laws of gravity. Skeptics argue that reality has been embellished, like a fishing story, changing each time it is told. Meanwhile, just when it appears you understand the mind of God, a twist of fate leaves you dumbfounded, unable to comprehend why something happened.

On top of Mount Carmel, like a classic western movie, Elijah challenges King Ahab’s prophets to a duel. However, guns are replaced by fire, with the winner burning up the hopes of the loser’s god. According to 1 Kings 18:36-39, Elijah was victorious as the Lord God answered his prayer, sending fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice soaked in water. Unfortunately, this mountain top experience was short lived.

When a king is publicly embarrassed, it usually doesn’t go well for the man that brought him disgrace. Being a poor loser, King Ahab complains to his wife, the most wicked woman in the kingdom, 1 Kings 19:1. Not ready to accept defeat, Queen Jezebel fires back with a death threat, vowing to send a hitman to kill Elijah, 1 Kings 19:2. Forgetting the power of God, Elijah ran down the mountain into a valley of despair, wanting to die than face this trial, 1 Kings 19:3-4.

The average person lives in this valley, where heartbreak, pain and setbacks are a daily occurrence. A spirit of depression hovers over this valley, like a stationary dark cloud, waiting for winds of change. However, the forecast for change looks bleak, leaving a state of hopelessness in your heart.

Dr. Love sends a messenger with a recipe for healing in 1 Kings 19:5-9. Thinking out of the box, God sends an angel to fulfill this subscription of sleep. Although Solomon urges people to avoid slumber in Proverbs, sometimes the best thing for depression is rest. Getting up twice to eat, the food draws Elijah back into a deep sleep. Once revitalized, its time to go back up the mountain.

Whether you are presently on the mountain top, half way or in the valley, God’s voice is only a whisper away, 1 Kings 19:10-13. However, we need to get our lives straightened out before you can have full reception, Isaiah 1:15. If you follow the directions in Isaiah 1:16-17, there is a wonderful promise of hope. Don’t delay in fulfilling; Come reason with God today so you can rise on wings like eagles to the peak, Isaiah 40:31.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged depression, despair, Eagles Wings, Elijah, Fire, fishing, God, gravity, heart, heaven, history, King Ahab, love, mind, Mount Carmel, mountain tops, Prayer, Queen Jezebel, recipe, sacrifice, sleep, Trials, valley, weather, western movies. Bookmark the permalink.

Flush

Posted on February 9, 2013 by expressyourself4him

The word flush has numerous meanings depending upon its context. For a poker player, a Royal Flush can’t be beat. In the Men in Black movies, flush refers to an emergency escape route. On the other hand, nutrients in water purify internal organs from chemicals, flushing impurities from the human body. Meanwhile, if you aren’t feeling well, you might become flush in the face, reddening your complexion. However, for me, there are certain days, weeks, months or years, I feel like flushing down the toilet!

As I endured another sleepless night, the image of the secondary definition for flush kept spinning through my mind. I guess this is a sign of God wanting me to cleanse, dispose and purge all that is negative from my memory. According to Proverbs 30:12, purity is not reached until filth is removed from your life. In John 3:2-9, Jesus asks Nicodemus to flush everything he has been taught by man and replace it with a new concept. This conversion, new birth and spiritual creation was too foreign for Nicodemus to grasp. Thus, he stopped talking, becoming a listener, trying to absorb this new teaching, like Bounty Towels, the quicker picker upper.

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Unfortunately, there might be decisions, experiences and images that you can’t seem to flush completely down the toilet. Plungers may help with some issues, yet others may require a call to Roto Rooter to spiritually clear the plumbing within your temple. The author of Hebrews probably addresses this better than anyone I have ever heard. “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood,”Hebrews 12:4. Therefore, hang in there, Galatians 6:9, keep fighting, 1 Timothy 6:12 and flush sin from your life, Romans 13:13-14.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged born again, Bounty Towels, cleanse, dispose, faith, fighting, filth, flush, flush complexion, flushing, God, Jesus, Men in Black, mind, Nicomedus, perseverance, poker, Proverbs, purge, Roto Rooter, royal flush, sin, spinning, spiritual, water. Bookmark the permalink.

Don’t Fool Yourself

Posted on February 7, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Hebrews 4:12 refers to the Bible as containing living and active words. This unique characteristic sets the Bible apart from all other books ever written. Ranked as one of the top selling books annually, the Bible has become the greatest seller of all time. However, when you open this book to read it, don’t fool yourself like a narcissist by thinking you are better than you actually are.

When I opened Proverbs 26 today, God gave me a revelation, new insight to what King Solomon is trying to communicate to readers. Solomon devotes this particular chapter to qualities of a fool. Like a Litness Test to assess your degree of foolishness, chapter 26 contains over 20 traits of a fool. Though you may rate yourself low, similar to a golfer who is under par, Romans 3:23 suggest everyone possesses at least one of these foolish attributes.

The apostle Paul gives new meaning to the term fool in the New Testament. In his epistle to the educated citizens of Corinth, Paul makes being a fool not so bad. According to 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16, wisdom does not come from schooling, which encourages students to trust in themselves. Rather, wisdom is obtained through the power of the Holy Spirit, leading one to put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. While the world will continue to emphasize intelligence, becoming a fool for Christ will have the last laugh. Therefore, don’t be a fool by following Jesus, – 1 Corinthians 1:27-31.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged apostle Paul, Bible, books, characteristics, Corinth, Dumb & Dumber, educated, education, faith, fool, foolish, God, golf, Holy Spirit, KIng Solomon, Lord Jesus, New Testament, power, Proverbs, Romans, schooling, top sellers, trust. Bookmark the permalink.

ExpressYourself4Him

Tag Archives: God

The Hiding Place

Disconnected

I Regret to Inform You

How Much Longer?

The Eraser

Supersize Your Faith

Stop Complaining, Write Down Your Requests and Pray!

From a Mountain Top to the Valley of Despair

Flush

Don’t Fool Yourself

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