Holiness, the Holy Spirit, and James Coney Island
by Curtis Jones
Last night I swore off fast food. I’ve been having some stomach pains and a few days ago I ran out of Zantac. It’s not the first time. A few years ago I noticed I was starting to develop sharp pains in my stomach. Since I’m a male, I didn’t do anything about it. One day I was on the way to eat lunch with a friend and the pain was so unbearable I made him turn around and take me to the doctor. The problem was, since I am a male, I didn’t even have a doctor. So I looked one up in the yellow pages. I arrived at the doctor’s office, told him the situation, and waited as he ran some tests. He was perplexed, so he told me about Zantac (praise God), and scheduled me for an ultrasound the next morning. I was a little embarrassed to be having an ultrasound since the only people I knew who received ultrasounds were pregnant women. I was confident I wasn’t pregnant. In high school my youth pastor told us that if we filled out a True Love Waits card we didn’t have to worry about getting pregnant. It turned out he was right.
When I showed up for my appointment, I was escorted into a small dark room and asked to slip into one of those paper gowns. Then they made me wait as if it were some twisted joke among the staff. “The guy in room 1b is wearing the paper gown! How long should we make him wait?” Eventually, a woman came in and told me to lie down on the table. She took a wand and rubbed it around my stomach. I tried to peek at the screen, at which time she informed me that I wasn’t allowed to see it and then moved it out of view. While she did veil the screen from my eyes, she failed to veil her amusement at the state of my stomach. I’ll spare you the diagnosis, but suffice it to say that I needed to cut out soda and French fries.
Last night my gastrointestinal misery led me to proclaim to Amanda that I was done with any food you can get through a window. She seemed unmoved by my new commitment, probably because it is not the first time she has heard it. No doubt she knew I couldn’t, wouldn’t follow through. Turns out, she was right. Only thirteen short hours after my resolute decree I found myself in the drive-thru of James Coney Island (home of the best chili dog in Houston). They have the freshest buns, the juiciest hot dogs, and cheese that comes out of a gun. I was bewitched. I couldn’t resist the siren’s call. And I’m weak.
I’m the king of commitments. My specialty is spiritual commitments. I’m going to read through the Bible in one year. I’m going to share my faith every day. I’m going pray with my wife every night. You name the commitment and I guarantee I have made it. And broken it. Each time I come with good intentions, a pure heart, and an intense desire to do what is right, but rarely does it work.
Will-powered faith is the worst kind of faith. A relationship with God that is rooted in our ability or strength is doomed to fail for two reasons. First, a will-powered faith will result in self-loathing. We make commitments, try our hardest, give it our all, and fail. So we try again…and fail. And the only person we have to blame is ourselves. Some of us suffer from a spiritual depression because we have lived in a cycle between trying and failing for so long. Second, if our will-powered faith doesn’t end in self-loathing it is because it ended in self-righteousness. We make commitments, try our hardest, and we succeed. We congratulate ourselves on a job well done. Then we look around and notice that other people are not experiencing the same success we are. Why don’t they try as hard as me? Maybe they are just not as godly. Self-loathing or self-righteousness—God hates both.
That’s why he sent us a Helper. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17, ESV). Jesus said it was to our advantage that He went away so He could send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7) to rescue us from the inevitable cycle of human strength-centered living. He will give us the help that we cannot give ourselves. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21, ESV). The Holy Spirit’s power at work within you, the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11), is able to do for you supernaturally what you could not do naturally: live for Jesus and resist fast food.
Tags: Curtis
Loved it! Oh the swing from self-loathing to self-righteousness. What a great post!
“The Holy Spirit’s power at work within you, the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11), is able to do for you supernaturally what you could not do naturally.”
One of my most favorite scriptures!
Bring it brotha!! Welcome to LPM! You already know what an awesome place God has put you. 😉
May He continue to do His mighty thing through you, your family and all that is to come.
Blessings~
Fran in TN
Wow! Will-powered faith results in self-loathing. Oh, how true! I loved this. Welcome to blogland, Curtis!
Well now if you will kindly get your cowboy boots off of all ten of my toes…..Thanks Curtis-we all need a reminder that within ourselves we can do or be nothing, but with the Holy Spirit – wow we can be awesome. I look forward to hearing more from you.
Amanda – you have a right to be so proud of yore’man….
Have a blessed weekend.
Thank you for sharing that, and for answering the question I have been trying to answer for quite sometime.
It seems I am constantly in a cycle of limited success/failure in my spiritual life. I have been trying to figure out why I can’t seem to break the cycle. Your post answered the question. I have been trying to do it in my own power, and I am usually in the self-loathing phase. As a matter of fact, I am there right now.
Thanks for the reminder that I don’t have to do it in my power. Not only that, I can’t, and praise Him that I don’t have to!
Great post, and please do come back and share with us again.
Blessings,
Dawn
Like so many others, I feel like you were talking directly to me. I’m so glad you joined LPM. It’s going to be great having a man’s perspective too. This is going to be great!!
I’m not sure what the LPM Blog term is for Curtis, quite yet. Miesta? Briesta? Home skillet? ; ) Regardless, I loved this post and am looking forward to more from him.
Curtis, thanks for reminding me of the power we have in the Holy Spirit to do things we’d otherwise fail at.
Bro-eista,
AND that’s exactly why I HAVE TO pray the ‘Believing God prayer’ every morning… My calling is not to perfection or performance. My calling is to FAITH!
Just say NO to drive-thrus!
Welcome Curtis!! Loved the post….think I could wallpaper walls with all the commitments I’ve made over the years. Thank you for the post!
thank you for that…Jesus is good. Christ in me = Vitory.
Curtis
That’s just what I needed. Thanks for sharing.
Cindy
I know that my husband would love that coney island fast food joint. He loves that kind of thing. I love that you proclaimed that the cheese came out of a gun, yum? Thanks for sharing your weaknesses with us. Your definitely not the only one who lacks will-power. Fortunately, we have supernatural power that resides in us.
Awesome!
Great to hear from you!
Well, first things first – I’m SO glad you’re not pregnant – that was a close one. Secondly – You go, brother! That was an awesome word! I have failed too many times striving in my own effort and strength. Praise God for His precious Holy Spirit that lives in us!! Lastly – I think you are going to fit in just fine.
Keep bringing the Word!!
Welcome, Curtis!
I have to say, this is going to be good for all of us women to get some “miesta” insight on a regular basis! Thanks for the word! I haven’t had that realization before today…things to ponder.
I hope your next post doesn’t stem from something painful, and go get some more zantac!
Holly, NM
PS Welcome home Sunny!
Amen!! I am so much like you described .. kind of sad really…I always plan to do better tomorrow…I am at least grateful for that blessed hope!
Curtis – Thank you so much for sharing this awesome post! Having swung through both ends of the pendulum through several cycles, I COMPLETELY identify. It so helps to have a reminder that all I have to do is cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Just let go and hang on for the ride. 🙂 The best I can do in my own power is mess it up.
Welcome to Siestaville!
PS – SOOOO happy about Sunny’s return!
Amen and Amen. You are right on point and how many times I have failed after setting up goals. I thought that I was a complete failure. Good to know that I am not alone.
What a great lesson. I laughed out loud when you said you asked your friend to take you to the doctor and then realized because you are a man, you didn’t have one and proceeded to find one in the Yellow Pages! Love it!!
I am really glad you wrote this. I have been there and done that with making committments only to fail and beat myself up over it. I had decided to read the Bible through with a great group of women only to find myself lagging behind. I asked God what in the world was wrong with me. Anytime I have tried to go in my own strength I have failed and rightfully so, apart from Christ I can do nothing.
Thank you encouraging us to walk in the Spirit. To rely on God not ourselves.
God bless you and your sweet family and your new job!!
I’m so glad you’re on staff to share your fun and knowledgeable and inspiring insights with us! Thanks for the laugh and true word of inspiration! 🙂
Ouch and Amen, miesta!!!
First, welcome. Second, you are so funny. My lands, I was laughing and snorting! Curtis , you are a hoot.
Third, you hit it on the head. Left to my own ways I am pretty pathetic or pretty full of myself- which ain’t pretty.
Loved your first post! Cannot wait for more.
Amen, Brother! I needed to see this too . We try with the best intentions and some how being Human Yes! I’m weak also I love Taco Bell’s cheesy Melts and went as far as getting one for the dogs LOL!
Praise the Lord for a Brother’s point of View. Now if we can get our men to get with the program we’d be better off .
God Bless,
SueM.
A man in Siestaville–and the first thing he does is hit us with the fast food issue!! Just as bad for us as “fast-food” is “fast-faith”. I think that is why so many times we wind up with spiritual ulcers!
Welcome Curtis. Look forward to hearing from you again. PS on stomach issues: from a former sufferer—Maker’s Diet–it works. I was having so many issues, made an appt. with gastro. doctor. Before my appointment I began the Maker’s Diet and by the time of my appointment, the issue was resolved. Reported this to my doctor and she said, “I have never had a patient cure themselves before coming to see me.”
Hope things are better!
Patti
exactly what i needed! looking forward to many, many more lessons from you. what a wonderful writer.
so glad sunny is home!!!!
If possible, you need to go to the blog below and read her words. She has experienced the unthinkable the last few months…the death of her child. Even though it was one that was expected…how can those words even be thinkable, due to trisomy 18. He lived 56 days! She went to the conference Beth has last weekend and wrote about it on her blog. Her story is amazing.
http://tristanasher.blogspot.com/
Yes! Praise Jesus that He finished the work and that he helps!! We’d be lost without it! Condemnation or self-righteousness, both stem from the same root – unbelief.
Fortunately I have my trust in Jesus…for my will power has always stunk. Only by His grace and help…only.
And fast food? We had to take that out of our budget a few months ago…I sometimes miss it and crave it, but we are squeaky tight–no room for fast food. (I bet there’s a spiritual application there wanting to get out!).
God (I mean good) to hear from you, Brother!
Good stuff. Thanks for this great post!
Amen Brother! Amanda, your man is a good writer! WOW!
Curtis! We love you already! Thanks for the wise words and encouragement. I needed it today. Welcome welcome! Can’t wait to hear more from you!
Blessings,
Marthanne
Dallas, TX
Welcome Curtis!…and hi sweet sisters! I love this community of “believin'” believers! I check in to Siestaville often, but have yet to post a comment. Amanda, your dedication to this blog is so selfless. Thanks for sharing your mom with us…(you too Melissa)…Curtis, your words were so real and so right on…the yo-yo called life can be so tiring when we buy the lies. Praise God for His direction on your families life…i can hear Beth shoutin’ hallelujah the loudest!!
…and WAHOOOOOO!!!!that Sunny is home safe and sound. I LOVE your “feathers..” book, Beth and re-read the chapter dedicated to Sunny…his place in your life goes pretty deep. I just knew he’d get back to you. …”how great is the love the Father has LAVISHED upon us as daughters (and sons 🙂 of HIS!!”
thankful for the encouragement of this blog~
traci
Awesome article, Curtis! I like how you write.
Thanks for the great reminder that anything I do that I think is my own willpower will fail – if it succeeds it is only because God is giving me the strength I need. I can do anything with Him working through me.
Thanks for this reminder Curtis! So often I try to please God by standing on my own strength, and I fail every time…only to feel horrible about myself. Thanks for reminding me that it is not about me, but God’s power in me!
And praise God for Sunny’s safe return! I know how happy you must feel. When we lost our dog back in February and she was returned to us I made the statement “she once was lost, but now she’s found!” Then my seven year old daughter chimed in, “it’s like God’s Amazing Grace mama!” God’s Amazing Grace indeed!! ~ Kristin
Good Stuff!!
But I’m wondering something. If I’m living for and loving Jesus, won’t I naturally want to make commitments (like reading the Bible in a year and praying with my spouse every night) that would please Him and benefit me? I mean, I admit having a hard time with…Is that me wanting this or the Holy Spirit? Because those things you mentioned could just as easily be me and not the Spirit, cuz they’re all good things. How do you know, for sure? If I waited till I was absolutely sure, I might never make a commitment to do anything, cuz I just don’t hear well…do you know what I mean?
Melana (flummoxxed in Wyoming)
True!
Great post. And, just what I needed to hear today.
Lord knows.
What a great word for me today. This is so what the Lord continues to say to me in every way that he can – the word, sermons, blogs, friends. Good stuff. By the way I’m so glad that Sunny is back.
Bingo! I found myself saying “Oh, yea, that’s sounds familiar, too familiar.” Excellent point! Thank you.
We’re like little mice running on the wheel getting nowhere without God’s help. Thanks for the reminder.
Aside from that, you gave me a huge craving for a Sonic extra long cheese coney (chili cheese dog)!
Glad to see you jumping into this group of crazy, but God-loving, ladies with both feet.
Bravo! I loved Curtis’ debut post. I can’t wait to hear more words of wisdom from him.
We are so happy Sunny is safe at home. Praying for the LPL Event this weekend.
Blessings to all
Sister Lynn
What good stuff! Keep it coming! Glad you are part of the LPM staff and look forward to hearing more from you.
Yes your right I give God all the creadit in every thing I can do.I can do nothing with out my Lord.He is my life.I have takeing some many steps in the last month but only with the Lord as hes tilling me what to do.I need to watch what I eat for many reasions, so I will try.I want to take care of my body so I can do what the Lord wants me to & the SS lessions this months for my 5-6 graders is about takeing care of you body for the Lord.So there teacher needs to do that right?Thanks you for makeing me thank again about this.No fsat foods today.God bless love sister in Christ Victoria NC ps this year is the frist out of 22 I havent read the bible all the way.Still reading but with diffrent studies.
Amen and amen — Thank you God that we have the power of your strenght when ours fails! (And Curtis, enjoy that hot dog — we’re glad you are on board! Can’t wait to see what God will do through you!!)
Wow – I finally found my kindred spirit in the Moore clan!
Wow – I finally found MY kindred spirit in the Moore (Jones) clan!
WOW – Mrs. Beth was NOT kidding when she said that you could bring it – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post… Sunshine
straight to the heart….thank you.
Really thought provoking post. Thanks!
I am sure that you were not implying that I have to cut back on chocolate- Kidding! Isn’t it the darndest (spelling?) thing that when we fail we hate ourselves, and when we succeed we praise ourselves- instead of God!
Anyway, I am asking for a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit, because I want to live in victory!
Thanks for a shot of honesty- I love that I now know exactly why you fit in with the “4 Moores”! Welcome!