THE BARNEY FIFE SYNDROME

 Greetings fellow citizens of Mayberry.  How is life on Main Street?  Here is the burning question...where's your bullet? Is it in you front shirt pocket where Andy told you to keep it...or is it in the chamber of your gun... ready to go off when you least expected it.?

Do you ever have bad stuff happen to you... and you scratch your head wondering WHY?  Are ya walkin' along in life...when suddenly KABLOOEY!!!!!  In the words of J.J. on the 70's T.V. show Good Times...Dy-no-mite!!!!  Do you find yourself getting into another mess and all you can do is say..."Thank you Johnny Shafto."

Good Ole Barn...means well...but tends to shoot himself in the foot more often than not.  I relate to Mr. Fife...because...I have a tendency to hear God...obey Him for a while... but at some point...I disregard the wisdom of God...and do what He told me not to do.  Why?  Because I am like Ford Motor..."Ford...has a better idea."  Like the motor company..."Rod (thinks) he has a better idea (than God)."

"There is a way that seemeth right to Rod...but the end is the way of death (destruction)." Pro-Verbs 14:12; Pro-Verbs 16:25)

I find that a lot of times...I am in a confused state...about WHY I am going through and experiencing bad things in my life.  I find myself doubting and being driven and tossed around by the surf of the sea as my faith is tested and I encounter various trials. (James 1:2-6)  I find myself...more often than not...rebuking the devil... confessing this, that and the other trying to build up my faith...blame my problems on the people in the world (my private and global world)...and still tossed like a salad at a five star restaurant.  What's a deputy to do?  I'm glad you asked.  I can ASK FOR WISDOM.

"But if any of you LACKS WISDOM (about the various trials and testings of you faith)...let him ASK OF GOD...who gives to all men generaously and without reproach, and it WILL BE GIVEN HIM." (James 1:5)

It seems to me...that when I ask..the wisdom is this.  Things happen for a variety of reasons...and each reason needs to be responded to accordingly.
VARIOUS REASONS FOR WHY?

(1)  We live in a cursed world...and I can rebuke the devil all day long...and the world will still be cursed.  Wisdom for me dictates that I press into the blessings...for His promise is sure...His joy is gonna be my strength. (2)  There are well orchestrated schemes against us by the devil (little d) and I need to stand,resist, walk in the authority that I have in Christ. (3)  The Barney Fife Syndrome...where Andy has told you to keep your bullet in your pocket...and you choose to take the bullet out of the pocket and put it in the gun...and when you least expected it...BANG...your gun goes off and you begin to wonder why things always happen to me.  That is called DISOBEDIENCE..and there are causes and effects to disobedience.  You can confess the promises and blessings of God all day long..and rebuke and do spiritual warfare until the Lord returns...but wisdom dictates...repentance and crucifying the flesh.  (4)  God...allowing stuff to happen...to test (not tempt) you to see who you will turn to...who you will trust...and for you to come out the other side of testing with proven character.  Wisdom dictates to learn you lessons...submit and hmble yourself to God...and He will lift you at the proper time.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

Thank God for wisdom...

Love and Wise Kisses
Rodney "Here At The Rock We Have Two Rules (1) Obey All Rules (2) No Writing On The Walls" Boyd