This section celebrates the timeless wisdom that was given to Chuck Banas while he was on this earth with us.  As Jaque began to go through Chuck's writings, she realized there was far too much to keep hidden.  Although Chuck is enjoying his new life in heaven, there's no reason we can't continue to enjoy what made his life on earth so valuable to us all.  Each new post is seperated by a smiley face...scroll down and enjoy each one!

Chuck's Response:

How is the Word of God like water, and how does this water wash us inside and out? 

 

Water in itself is the most essential element required by man to sustain life.  Without water all creation would die.  So also is the water of the word of God to our spiritual well being.  With His cleansing water we are nourished to become one whole spirit, soul and body.  Our inner condition determines our outer stability.  We are as “living water” in this dry and thirsty world.

 

The mere presence of water will not quench our thirst or clean our bodies; the presence of water only makes us thirstier. We must drink of this presence—this water.    We must hear with our hearts and not just with our ears. 

Chuck's Response:

In a paragraph, talk about the inner family—the marriage between the soul and the spirit.  What light have you acquired from this lesson?

When we received Christ we joined a group of people called and set apart by God himself.  In our new position we rise above the cares of everyday living and with Him we walk the path which Father has set before us.  We live each day directed by God in His assurance that we will accomplish our part in His plan for us on this earth.  Our true freedom is to accept ourselves as His responsibility and not our own. 

 

To live in harmony with others is only done when we learn to live in harmony with ourselves.  The completion of man will be living in unity with spirit, soul and body as one.  The wholeness of our being “one” within is the key to enjoying community with others.

Chuck's thoughts:

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.  Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NKJV)

Ezekiel is our witness to the importance of water to the spirit.  It brings new life that is to be directed by the spirit of our God.  The spirit can’t be seen by the natural eye, but it can be known in the sensing that in Christ “all is well.”  It is only in God that man finds peace and rest.  Our new life is lived in a complete surrender to God as we allow Him to express all that He is through us for the good of mankind.

Chuck's journal:

Father, I receive again your grace and mercy shown through Christ’s atoning death on the cross. I am that I am, because of Jesus.  He is the door through which I come to sit at your feet. I can know you today because of Jesus Christ.

 

Yes Chuck; recognition of His finished work takes the burden of performance off of you and allows your heart to take flight.  You live in joy instead of a heavy load of responsibility.  Why do men hurry and rush to accomplish so much?  Do they believe they can take it all with them? Sit a little longer with Me Chuck, and go forth in great peace in all I lead you to do.

Chuck's journal:

Father; I feel the need to remain consistent with what I know.  You bring great peace and rest to my soul, and I do not understand why I do not seek you more.  As I sit here enjoying your presence I marvel at the quiet and restful love which comes simply from being here. I want to remain aware, for I see that life is indeed exactly what I will allow it to be.  Today I choose to see you everywhere, to hear and allow you to respond through me in grace and love towards all.

 

Chuck, no one can put you in a place you will not agree to be.  Yes, it may sometimes seem like others are your problem, but it is your desire to please them that puts stress on you.  Simply don’t go there.  I am your source, and only I can see beyond men’s words into the intent of their hearts. Allow Me to guide your responses; don’t get caught up in places you don’t belong.  Seek to keep the peace with yourself; remember that thoughts, Chuck are your only problem.  Renew your mind and don’t allow your thoughts to steal your joy.  Go in peace and allow me to keep you there.

Chuck's journal:

Chuck; the darkness I speak of is not about the time of day but the attitude of the heart.  Those in artificial light are still in darkness.  My Spirit is the true light where life is found.  Your only power is me; illusive power is of this world and under submission to me.  All power is subject to my control, and you Chuck have the same power and control over anything that seeks to defeat you.  Control by my spirit and in my name all the areas of your life which stand against righteousness, peace and joy.  This is to be a way of life; take control of that which threatens your joy and place it under my feet.  Shine my light on its toothless bark and put it in its proper place under my power which I have given you.

 Father, I see that anything that would threaten the joy of our relationship and try to steal our time and place is darkness (an attitude) trying to creep in to block out your warming light.  I do possess the power to choose; my simple choice can repel every thought that would try to separate us.  Peace, rest and joy are mine in the name of Jesus, and by that name there isn’t a dark place that can remain; the light of your spirit dispels the darkness.  I call out the forces of my God to join me in battle this day and clear every path from the darkness of this world—in which I live and be. 

Chuck's thoughts:

How far above the reasoning mind of man is the Spirit of the Lord God! As life continues from day to day, and as I observe the ways of man to do only that which he calls necessary or important, it becomes clearer that there is only one thing I really need, and that is to hear the voice of God.  How sincere are my intentions, and how well I think I have laid the foundations, but how quickly the walls cave in around me. 

 

Even that which began in Spirit takes on flesh when left to my own reason.  The true issues of life are lost in the shuffle of “doings.”  Purpose and intent are pushed aside by getting something done “now.” How quickly we measure and judge our own progress.  But then I wake up again from my slumber and see the great reality of Spirit.  Life is far more spiritual than we know; God is faithful to show us that we don’t always need to “do something about something!” He has done it all.  Mine is only to rest in His peace and flow in His being.

Chuck's journal:

Father, where is the line between carnal and spiritual thought found?  I know it’s not in the doing, for I would not allow any man to come between me and my God.  It is not in mental thinking, for I know my God is all grace, mercy and love. Yet I sense at times a separation which keeps me at a distance from that which I know is a part of me.  You are my Father and I am your son; what is there in or about this world that keeps me from the one-ness which we are?

 

Chuck, this feeling of separation is within your expectations. Have I not said we are one?  Have I not called you “son”?  Have I not spoken to you this day?  Don’t focus on expectations that say things should be different, for they separate you from Me.  Don’t eat of the tree of good and evil, or good and “better” for this will lead to disappointment.  My word is your Tree of Life.  The voice of doubt [uncertainty] is not the voice of union. We are one and I am with you.  You are not alone; everything is as it should be. 

Love Father.

Chuck's thoughts: 

Oh yes; the mountains in my life are not insurmountable.  I know this now.  I am learning to live life on God's terms, which relieves me from the burden of trying to live life my way.  My God reigns supreme over that which seems to stand against me but is standing against Him and cannot last.  Experience proves I can have much confidence in His ability to lead me over, around, or through any mountain which may appear to stand in defiance against me. 

Chuck's thoughts:

To be loved by God is one of the first considerations any of us have from the beginning of knowing anything about Him. "Jesus loves me this I know," is one of the first songs we learn and, "Jesus loved us so much that He died on the cross for us," is taught every Sunday in our circles.  But only as I enter into a personal relationship with Him can I even begin to understand what any of these words mean for me.

In the beginning, these are mind words.  They sound good and they temporarily sooth the problems of life.  As we grow and mature, the God issue becomes a heart issue and in spirit we truly become one with Him.  It is in this "being one" that divine revelation allows us to see far beyond what a human being could ever see about what the "spirit being" now is. 

Love is not the emotion or feeling we once thought it was, but instead it is the living for another.  It is the giving of all one is in order that another would gain even the slightest benefit or improvement in the quality of life they are presently living.  This is the love of the Father, which He extends to all of us so we can extend it to others.  All this for the glory of the One who is Love itself.   

Chuck's thoughts:

To be as open and real with God as I can be is to be as real and open with myself as I will allow Him to be in me.  It is the reality of His presence right now, every moment of every day, that will cause me to surrender even more to the purpose of my being here in this time and place.  I am the reason Christ died on the cross, it was for this appointed day that I was called, and unless I act accordingly I am ignoring the reality of who I am.  I have as much reason for being on this earth as did my brother Jesus, and I am as accountable to my Father as was He.  It did not look like much of a yesterday, but tomorrow will record forever the beat of a single butterfy's wings...and the deeds of a single man who is hearing and obeying the words of His God. 

Chuck's thoughts:

How far above the reasoning of the mind and the intellect of man is the Spirit of the Lord God!  As life goes on from day to day, and as I observe the ways of man to do that which he calls necessary and important, it becomes clearer and clearer that there is only one thing which I really need, and that is to hear the voice of God.  How sincere are my intentions, and how well I think I have laid the foundation, but how quickly the walls fall in around me.  Even that which has begun in spirit takes on the ways of the flesh when left to man.  The issues are lost in the shuffle of "doings"; purpose and intent are pushed aside by getting something done "now."  How quickly we bring out the measuring stick and judge our progress against what we perceive as profit or loss.  But then I wake up again from the slumber and sleep of what I think, to the true reality of the spirit.  Life is far more in the spirit than we know, and as time goes on God is faithful to show us that which we need to see.  But even in this we take off running to apply new found solutions for that which does not even apply.  Why do I need to always do something about something?  God has already done it all, and I need to find rest and peace in life by allowing God to show me who He is instead of trying to do what my flesh wants to do with spirit insight. 

Chuck wrote:

Father, I see how easy it is to follow the path the mind would like to go down.  It does not even have a reason or purpose to go there, it just seems like a good idea at the time.  I see that this quiet time and these journals keep me awake and give me good reason to go down the right path - which has purpose and good at its end.  I now know what I am doing and why I am doing it.  Your thoughts and Your ways are so much higher than mine, and when I am awake I make your thoughts my own.  This is in no way too hard, and the peace and joy which I receive as my reward for coming should make even this dull mind want to come running back every day.  Still, it takes conscious effort to make this right choice every day.  My prayer is to make and keep this quiet time without question or consideration; that I simply come because it is where I know I belong.  By this time I thought that this would be my most regular habit, but everyday I am faced with something the mind thinks is more important to do.  When will it ever learn?

 The Father's reply

Chuck, the mind is as a small child that needs daily tending.  You have in you all it takes to train and renew your thoughts for the day.  Keep choosing life, Chuck, no matter what seems to it to be a better idea.  This time with Me is your only place to be.  This first choice keeps the mind where it belongs.  When it is time for the second choice, third, and so on, you will find peace, for the whole of the day responds to your first priority.

 Chuck's response:

Thank you, Lord, I will keep this in my mind's view, for this makes sense even to it!