Wednesday, April 30, 2008

"Trust Jesus"

"But I trust in the Lord Jesus..." Philippians 2:19a

A couple of days ago an old hymn came to my heart- I haven't sang it in a long time. I found myself singing it throughout the whole day. Yesterday, the same thing happened- that song came to mind again and I wanted to sing it. Then last night I had a dream- it was very brief- but in the dream I remember being in a church service needing to hear a word from the Lord and the minister said that he had a word for me- he begin to repeat the words of this hymn.

What was that hymn you ask? ""Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus". This is the song the Lord has been placing on my heart and speaking to me through. I want to "sing" the song for you this morning. The words of the song speak for themselves and they speak volumes to us. There is certainly a message in them if we will listen and take it to heart. I believe that this song is a "word" for someone this morning. I pray that through it you will find renewed hope and strength; rest and reassurance.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon his promise,
And to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

I'm so glad I learned to trust thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, friend;
And I know that thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Have a great day. You can trust Jesus.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

"Choices- Part 2"

"...choose you this day..." Joshua 24:15ff

Obedience or disobedience to God is a choice that we have to make daily. When you choose to obey, it might not "look" like it was the right choice to make. Daniel obeyed and did not eat of the king's meat. His obedience put him on the spot, it brought accusations and testing. When the three Hebrews obeyed God and did not bow to the king's idol, it brought persecution- the fiery furnace. When Abraham obeyed and left his father's house, he had to leave his family and comfort zone. When Joseph obeyed God and refused Potiphar's wife's enticement, he wound up in prison.

It would make you wonder if you should obey or not if it is only going to "get you into trouble". It may seem that way but look at the end result of obedience. There is always a blessing attached at the end of our obedience. Daniel gained favor with God and man. The three Hebrews were saved in the furnace, they saw the Son of God in the fire with them, the king made a decree that all should worship their God. Abraham became the father of many nations. Joseph reigned as second highest in authority in Egypt. When you look at Jesus, His obedience brought Him pain, shame, suffering and death, but the end result brought salvation, eternal life, a restored relationship with mankind and completed His joy.

When we choose to obey God, it may not always "seem" like the right thing to do- from a natural standpoint- but there will always be a blessing attached to it. There certainly is a promise attached-- "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." Isaiah 1:19

Have a great day. Obedience is always the route to go.... even if there wasn't a blessing attached to it.

Monday, April 28, 2008

"Choices"

"...choose you this day..." Joshua 24:15ff

Choices, choices, choices. Perhaps life would be easier to live if we weren't faced with so many choices, but the reality is that we will always have to make choices. Some choices are simple- easy to make. Some choices are more difficult. Some choices affect only the moment. Other choices affect us our entire life. Some choices are made automatically when we refuse to make a choice. From the moment our eyes open in the morning until we close them in sleep at night, we will be confronted with many choices.

I had to make the choice this morning to get up and send out this devotional or stay in bed and sleep a while longer. I will have to make the choice to go about my business or spend some time alone with the Lord. I will have to choose to read my Bible today or not. Throughout the day I will have to make the choice to yield to the temptations that come my way or resist them. I will have to choose to forgive those who trespass against me. I will have to choose to turn the other cheek. I will have to make the choice to treat others the way I want to be treated. I will have to make the choice to believe God or my feelings. I'm sure I will have to make a choice to let my light shine or hide it; to bear the fruit of the Spirit or respond in the flesh; overcome evil with good; pray for my enemies; and so on.

Everyday affords opportunities for us to make the choice to do the right thing or the wrong thing; the flesh thing or the Spirit thing; the thing that pleases God or displeases Him; the thing that brings Him honor or brings Him shame. When the time comes-- and it will-- which choice will you make?

Have a great day. Today you will be confronted with choices, and you will have to make a choice about what to do with them.

Friday, April 25, 2008

"Good Gifts"

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

God gives us so many wonderful gifts each and every day that we miss because we have our own idea about what we think are "gifts". When we don't receive what we perceive as a good and perfect gift, we tend to think that the Lord has not blessed us today. This is so untrue. There are good gifts all around us.

If you woke up this morning- that was a gift from the Lord. If you have your eyesight- that is a gift. If you can hear- that is a gift. If you have a roof over your head- that is a gift. If you have food on your table- that is a gift. If you can smell the roses- that is a gift. If you can move around without the aid of some mechanical devise- that's a gift. Clean water to drink- that's a gift. If you have eternal life- that's a gift. If you have the Holy Spirit leading your life- that's a gift. And the list goes on and on.

It's amazing what we define as a good gift verses what really are good gifts. God gives us so much that we don't appreciate as His good gifts. It's like the old saying, "You can't see the forest for the trees"- you can't see His gifts for seeing His gifts. His gifts and blessings are all around us, we need to take time to recognize them. By the way, why not take time today and deliberately look for His gifts in your life-- I guarantee you that you won't have to look very far before you find more than you can count.

Have a great day. God sends so many good gifts our way each day, be sure to thank Him for them.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

"Right Thinking"

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

The world has a mindset- they have a way of thinking. The thinking of the world is selfish and self-centered. It's bent toward the flesh, toward immorality, toward doing what's right in their own eyes, it's slogan is "if it feels good do it", it calls evil good and good evil. The world thinks that morality is old fashioned and outdated, God is whatever you perceive Him to be, if you aren't hurting anyone else then it doesn't matter what you do.

Living in this world we are continually exposed to this way of thinking because it surrounds us- we hear it on television, it's in the people we work with, it's in our families, it's even crept into our churches. There's no getting away from it; this is why the Lord has told us to renew our minds to counteract it so that we won't be conformed to this way of thinking.

Renewing of the mind is a continual process- not a one time thing. It's something that we may even have to do many times a day. Each time we hear this wrong, ungodly thinking we must renew our minds. How do we do that? There is no way not to be conformed to this world without the word of God. The word of God is what we renew our minds with, it's what transforms us, it keeps us from being conformed to this world's thinking and helps us to conform to God's way of thinking. This is why we must read it, meditate on it, hide it in our hearts, study it and speak it. If we are going to have the right kind of thinking- one that pleases God- we are going to have to keep our minds renewed with His word.

Have a great day. There is no way not to be conformed to this world without the word of God.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

"Not Abandoned"

"And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. " Genesis 21:14

Life can take a change suddenly, and without warning. Hagar and her son Ishmael were living in Abraham's house, all their needs were taken care of, they were not just ordinary servants, Ishmael was an heir then all of a sudden they are homeless, sent out of Abraham's house with nothing but some bread and water. They went from the "good life" to "poverty"; from "rags" to "riches" overnight.

When life brings a change, it's not always a change for the better from the natural point of view. We can go from having a roof over our heads to being homeless, from having good health to having a dreaded disease, from having a wonderful relationship to having it broken-- and all in just a matter of minutes. But when life does make a change and we find ourselves in the desert, in despair, in want, we can be assured that the Lord knows where we are. He knew where Hagar was and heard her cries. (verses 16-19) He had not abandoned her and Ishmael. He was well aware of their situation. And He provided for them in that desert place. He spoke words of encouragement and blessings to her, promising that she and her son would have a future.

If you are in a place like Hagar this morning, I want to remind you that God knows where you are and He has not abandoned you. He sees you and He will make a way for you. He will speak to your heart and give you words of comfort, hope and encouragement. He will meet your need while you are there. You are not alone. Hagar felt like she and her son were totally alone, but they were not, God was with them. He is with you also.

Have a great day. God doesn't abandon us nor forsake us... He always knows exactly where we are even when life sends a change in our direction.

"Not

"And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. " Genesis 21:14

Life can take a change suddenly, and without warning. Hagar and her son Ishmael were living in Abraham's house, all their needs were taken care of, they were not just ordinary servants, Ishmael was an heir then all of a sudden they are homeless, sent out of Abraham's house with nothing but some bread and water. They went from the "good life" to "poverty"; from "rags" to "riches" overnight.

When life brings a change, it's not always a change for the better from the natural point of view. We can go from having a roof over our heads to being homeless, from having good health to having a dreaded disease, from having a wonderful relationship to having it broken-- and all in just a matter of minutes. But when life does make a change and we find ourselves in the desert, in despair, in want, we can be assured that the Lord knows where we are. He knew where Hagar was and heard her cries. (verses 16-19) He had not abandoned her and Ishmael. He was well aware of their situation. And He provided for them in that desert place. He spoke words of encouragement and blessings to her, promising that she and her son would have a future.

If you are in a place like Hagar this morning, I want to remind you that God knows where you are and He has not abandoned you. He sees you and He will make a way for you. He will speak to your heart and give you words of comfort, hope and encouragement. He will meet your need while you are there. You are not alone. Hagar felt like she and her son were totally alone, but they were not, God was with them. He is with you also.

Have a great day. God doesn't abandon us nor forsake us... He always knows exactly where we are even when life sends a change in our direction.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

"Elder Brother- Part 2"

"But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf." Luke 15:30

Yesterday we talked about the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son. Like most of us, God has made everything that we need available to us for the asking but we go lacking because we don't ask for what we need. This morning I want to look at this elder brother again- the focus being more on his attitude. It's true that this brother was jealous of his younger brother, but he had a bigger attitude problem than that- he was angry at his father. He saw the father blessing his brother, forgiving him, throwing a celebration for him and it made him angry. He didn't think that the father should have done this after the way his younger brother had acted.

Many Christians get jealous when the Lord blesses a fellow "brother" that they don't think is "worthy", but what they don't realize is that their jealousy is really anger toward God. The jealousy that they are experiencing is a "surface" problem, the real root is that they are angry with God. This is what happened to Cain. Cain got angry because God accepted Abel's offering and did not accept his. Cain's anger was toward God but it manifested in jealousy toward Abel. We tend to believe the problem is the one we see- jealousy of someone, not the one that is hidden- anger toward God, so the way we deal with it is by coming against that person- Cain killed Abel, the elder brother would not go in and celebrate with the younger brother.

We find it easier to deal with and admit that we are jealous, angry, etc. with someone else, but we don't like to think and have a hard time dealing with the fact that we are angry, upset, or mad at God. But if we are going to live at peace with one another, if we are going to walk in victory, if we are going to bear the fruit of the Spirit, if we are going to live in fellowship with the Lord, if we are going to be bright shining lights in a dark world, we are going to have to go to the root of the problem and admit like David that it is "against Thee".

Have a great day. If your real problem is toward God, admit it, repent of it, ask Him to help you and go live in freedom from it and harmony with your brother.

Monday, April 21, 2008

"Elder Brother"

"And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends." Luke 15:29


Most of the preaching that I have heard concerning the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son deals with his jealousy and poor attitude about his brother's return. This morning I want us to look at him a little differently. (There is something else that we can learn from his attitude.) To the elder son's accusation above the father answered, "And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."(verse 31) The father's answer- in plain English- was: "You've always been with me and everything I have is your". This answer implies that the elder son had opportunity to ask the father for a party, to have friends over, to celebrate, for anything he wanted, but he never did.

There was so much available to the elder brother- whatever he had wanted was there for him- but he never asked the father for it. Many Christians are like this elder brother. God the Heavenly Father has made so much available to them, He has given them every good and perfect gift, He has promised to meet and supply every need, there is no good thing that He withholds from them, yet they have not because they ask not.

The elder brother could have had everything he wanted or needed, but he didn't ask. If he would have asked his father, he could have enjoyed the same blessings that were being bestowed on the returning son, but he never took advantage of all the resources that his father had. God has provided great resources for you today to meet every need, to give you the desire of your heart, to provide in your times of weakness, to give you when you lack, but you will go lacking if you don't ask the Father for it. "Ask, and it shall be given you." (Matthew 7:7a)

Have a great day. The elder son did not receive because he did not ask although everything the father had was available to him. If we aren't asking, we won't receive either?

Friday, April 18, 2008

"Listening To Circumstances"

"And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side." Mark 4:35

I'm sure you're familiar with the story of Jesus and His disciples getting into the boat and a storm came up that threatened to destroy them. Jesus was asleep in the boat during the storm but the disciples were bailing water in fear of drowning. The storm was so bad and they were so afraid that they woke Jesus and accused Him of not caring that they were going to die. The truth of the matter is-- they were never in fear of drowning although they thought they were because of the circumstances around them.

Jesus had already told them that they were going to the other side. That did not mean that they would drown, that they would turn back, that they wouldn't make it. They had Jesus' word on the matter, so what He said was what the outcome was going to be. The situation that they were facing made them fearful- it also made them forget what Jesus had said. If we aren't careful the situation that we are in will cause us to forget what the Lord has said to us because of what we see happening around us. The disciples "saw" the storm. They "felt" the water splashing upon them. They "heard" the winds howling. What they "saw", "felt" and "heard" governed their belief-- therefore, they believed that they would drown.

What they were experiencing said one thing, but Jesus had said something else. If they had held on to what Jesus had said they would have known that there was no possible way they were going to drown. If the Lord has spoken to you concerning a situation, listen to Him, don't let the circumstances that are around you tell you what to believe. Let Jesus' word be what governs your belief.

Have a great day. Circumstances say one thing.. Jesus says another.. which one will you listen to?

Thursday, April 17, 2008

"Take Off The Mask"

"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:24

It's one thing when we wear a "mask" around others- having a pretense, not showing our true feelings, pretending all is well when it is not, pretending to be something that we aren't. And it's another thing when we wear one around God. He knows our true feelings. He knows what is behind the front we are trying to use to cover up what is really going on with us.

The man who came to Jesus on behalf of his child had to "come clean" with the Lord and tell Him that he believed He was able but his faith was weak. Many of the characters in the Bible- Moses, Peter, Elijah- even though great men of faith, had to admit to the Lord that they were weak in faith, that they didn't have it "all together", that they were "missing" it. The disciples were in the presence of Jesus and still they feared that they would drown in the storm. Even though Jesus rebuked them for not having faith, because they took the mask off and revealed their fears, they saw God work a tremendous miracle on their behalf and they received a greater revelation of who Jesus was-- "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:41b)

We have to take the mask off when we come before the Lord because it's in our weaknesses that His strength is revealed and made perfect. It's when we acknowledge that we are weak, lacking, don't have it, fearful, unsure, etc. that the door is opened for the Lord to step in an show Himself mighty and strong on our behalf. Take the mask off today, be honest with God, let Him know what's really going on with you-- after all, He already knows it, nothing is hid from Him, He sees inside the depths of your heart, He knows your thoughts even before you think them. He is waiting for you to admit it so He can intervene and help make you strong in this area.

Have a great day. Are you wearing a mask around God?

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

"In His Image"

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:27

Since we are all created in God's image, have you ever wondered why we don't all look alike? If you are created in someone else's image shouldn't you look like that person and shouldn't everyone else who is made in their image look like them too? So why don't we all look identical- like clones or a carbon copy? The reason is because we are created in God's image.

Who God is, what He looks like, His nature is so vast, so unsearchable, so infinite that the fact that we all look different is a testimony to who God is. Our differences reflect His greatness. There is so much to God that each one can reflect a part of His image and still not look the same. God's "DNA" is so complex that He can imprint just part of it into each person and still come out with people who are individual and unique.

The fact that we are all different yet all created in God's image, proves that there is so much more to God than we can imagine or fathom. When the enemy comes to you and tries to tell you that God is small, weak, and not so great, just go look in the mirror and remember that God had to create billions of people in order for us to get a glimpse of just how great He really is and what He looks like.

Have a great day. Put all the billions of people God has created together and we get a small picture of how vast God is.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

"Out Of Thin Air"

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

As I awoke this morning the Lord was speaking something to me. It was on the order of: "if you need a job, I can create one for you." I want to try to be brief and to the point this morning in explaining what He meant. Years ago I had a friend who needed a job and the Lord created one just for her. The job did not exist before, but God brought it forth "out of think air" to meet her need. When her need was met, the job played out and no longer existed.

This jest of what the Lord was saying to me this morning was for you and it is: whatever you have need of, He can meet it, even if He has to "make" it. He can cause a company to make a new position so you will have a job. He can establish something where nothing was before in order to meet your need. And He will do it if that is what it takes.

When God was ready to create mankind, He brought forth the earth that had not existed in order to give us a place to live. When the Israelites were in the wilderness they needed food. God sent manna in the morning, they gathered it and then it was gone when their need was met. He sends us just what we need, when we need it, and if what we need does not exist, He'll create it.

Have a great day. God will create what you need out of "thin air" if it doesn't already exist in order to meet your need.

Monday, April 14, 2008

"Seek and Find"

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matthew 7:7

Hide and seek is a very popular children's game. When my daughter was a little girl, I would play it with her. When it was my turn to hide, I would hide in places that were easy for her to find me so she always did find me. That's how it is with God. When we seek for Him, we will always find Him. This is one thing you can count on. I made it easy for my daughter to find me... so does God. He makes it easy for us to find Him.

If for some reason you can't seem to find Him, perhaps it's because you aren't looking. Perhaps you are giving up too soon. Perhaps you have already decided that you won't be able to find Him anyway so why try. He has made us a promise that if we seek Him we will find Him. If you aren't finding Him, it's not His fault, because He desires for you to find Him, and like I have already said, "He makes it easy for us to find Him".

Stretch your faith, look a little longer, look a little further, He's not hard to find. If my daughter didn't find me quickly she, like most children, would get tired of looking and want to quit, but I would make a noise or step over a little to get her attention and she would start looking again. God keeps giving you "signs" that He is there- turn back around and look again. You will find Him.

Have a great day. He has made Himself easy to find.

Friday, April 11, 2008

"Experiences"

"... thy word is truth." John 17:17b

It's the job of the enemy to deceive us. He does it primarily through the word of God by twisting it, by adding to it, by taking away from it, or by stealing it from us. This is one of his main strategies. It was the first one we saw him use in the Garden of Eden. He deceived Eve by putting the word of God in question and making her doubt what God said. This morning I want to take a moment to caution you about something that many are doing and we all have a tendency to do- it's another area that we can be deceived in concerning the word of God.

We must guard against making the word of God line up with our experiences. Our experiences must line up with the word of God. For example, the tendency has been to think that because you are being blessed then you must be right with God. This is not always true. The Lord sends rain on the just and the unjust. His mercies fall upon saint and sinner alike. Remember Zacchaeus- "And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was." (Luke 19:2,3a) Zacchaeus was a rich man, but he was a thief and in need of a savior. If he did what most do today, he would have taken his experience (the fact that he was wealthy) and made God's word line up with it (I must be right with God because He blesses the righteous.) The word of God did not line up with his experience. The word of God called him a thief who needed to turn from his wicked ways so that he might inherit true, eternal riches. On the flip side, just because you are experiencing financial problems, hardships and trials doesn't mean that you aren't right with God.

Don't make the word of God line up with what you are experiencing. See if what you are experiencing- especially when it's good- lines up with the word of God. The enemy will use your "good" experiences to try to trick you into believing that all is well when it might not be. Always make the word of God your source. Always refer back to it. Always compare the blessings against it. Always line your experiences up with it.

Have a great day. Line your experiences up with the word of God.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

"Get To Work"

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." John 9:4

My aunt and I were discussing how much evil there is in the world- things are getting worse. Violence is on the rise, life has no value, the wicked seem to get more wicked-- I don't have to tell you, you have seen it for yourself. We concluded that it's because the devil knows his days are numbered and the time is getting shorter. The time of the end is fast approaching, therefore, he is "stepping it up" and getting busier. He has picked up the pace and is working harder than ever to destroy as many souls as he can because he knows he doesn't have much longer to do so.

As we discussed this, I wondered what are we doing- what was I doing personally- in light of the lateness of the hour. As Christians, we see the signs of the time, we know it won't be much longer, we know the days are getting shorter, the time of the end is at hand. So because there isn't much time left to work for the Lord, to reach people with the gospel, and snatch them from the flames, what are we doing? Why aren't we working more diligently, why aren't we picking up the pace, why aren't we becoming more serious about the state of people's souls, why aren't we doing all we can to reach the lost?

It's one thing to talk about the state of the world, it's one thing to know why things are like they are, but it's another not to do something about it. Knowing that the time is getting short why are we still sitting in our comfort zones, why are we complacent in the lateness of the hour, why are we going about life as usual, why are we asleep, why are we wasting time, why are we doing nothing? What I say to you, I say to myself also because we each have a personal responsibility to do the work of the Lord. The Great Commission was given to the church collectively and individually.

The devil is busy because he knows he doesn't have much time left. We know there isn't much time left to work, so why aren't we redeeming the time and getting more determined to reach as many souls as we can for Christ before it's too late?

Have a great day. What are you doing? Are you letting the days just slip by or are you using each opportunity to reach someone for Christ and snatch them from the grip of the enemy?

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

"Bless God"

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

The Lord is so good to us. He blesses us in so many ways. Some of His blessings that we experience are health, food on our tables, clothes on our back, abundant life, eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and a list of other blessings too numerous to name. There is no doubt that He blesses us, and does so daily. He blesses you, are you blessing Him? How do we bless the Lord?

We bless Him when we give Him praise and tell Him how great and wonderful He is, how much we appreciate His goodness, when we sing His praises from a heart of gratitude. But praise is not the only way we bless Him. He is blessed when we tell others about His saving grace. He is blessed when we are obedient to His commands. We bless Him by treating others with kindness and by bearing the fruit of the Spirit and by walking uprightly before Him. He is blessed when we let our lights shine, when we exhibit a Christ like attitude in the midst of persecution, criticism, tribulation. He is blessed when we don't murmur and complain while going through trials. He is blessed when we decrease and put others first, when we help someone who is in need, when we do what He would do. We bless him when we turn the other cheek and go the second mile, when we love our enemies, when we give a cup of cold water in His name.

God is blessed when we live out His word in our daily lives and when others see Jesus in us. Take note of what you say, do, how you live, react and respond; take note of your attitude in every situation you go through; take note of what you are showing others by your lifestyle. If what you are doing pleases God, then He is blessed. If it doesn't, then He isn't. Make the necessary changes so that He will be blessed.

Have a great day. He blesses you- no doubt about it... are you blessing Him?

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

"Spring Cleaning"

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." Ephesians 5:26

There is something that our mothers and grandmothers used to do every spring- it's called "spring cleaning". I don't know how many people still do it today. But each year when spring arrived they would do a thorough cleaning of their homes. Their houses had been closed up all winter because of the cold and now they could open the windows and let the fresh air in, so they would dust, sweep, mop, discarded, wash everything, beat the rugs, air out the mattresses- clean the house from top to bottom.

You may not "spring clean" your house, but what about your "heart house"- your body, your temple where God dwells? When was the last time it had a "good cleaning"? I'm not talking about taking a bath to clean the outside, I am talking about cleaning out dirt, dust and grim from your spirit and soul. Are there sinful habits, fleshly lusts, immoral behavior, evil thoughts or wrong attitudes that need to be cleaned out of your life? Does the dust of unforgiveness, jealousy, temper or bitterness need to be wiped away?

There are some of you who know that there is some cleaning that needs to be done in your life but you aren't doing it. You have developed the mindset that if God wants me to "clean it up" He'll tell me or He'll convict me. When these women took up the task of spring cleaning their homes, they left "no stone unturned"- if it was dirty it got a cleaning. They didn't give it a second thought- it got washed, dusted or sanitized. There are some things in our lives that we are waiting on God to put a finger on that we should already be taking care of. If I have trash in my home no one has to tell me to take it out. I know that if it stays in my house too long it will make it smell bad. God's word has already taught us that these things ought not be in our lives so it's up to us to do something about it-- not wait for God to point it out-- He already has in His word.

Have a great day. Is there anything in your life that needs to be cleaned? Then pick up the "dust rag" of repentance and start cleaning.

Monday, April 7, 2008

"I Can't"

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phillippians 4:13

Have you ever know anyone with a case of the "I cant's"? A lot of children have this- everything you ask them to do their response is- I can't. Children aren't the only ones affected by this many adults have it too. Sadly, many of those adults are Christians. It's part of our human nature to focus more on what we can't do instead of what we can do. The scriptures are full of examples of this. Gideon had the "I cant's", Moses had them, the disciples in the boat had them too.

As a Christian "I can't" should never be in our vocabulary- not when it comes to doing what the Lord tells us to do; not when it comes to obeying the commands of God; not when we are called upon by God to perform a task. Sure, in and of ourselves there is much that we can't do. But, as Christians, there is one very important factor that we leave out when we say "I can't"- we leave out the "God factor".

David could not defeat the giant Goliath with his own strength and ability- but he did defeat him- killed him and cut his head off. Why? Because David thought he was bigger and stronger than Goliath? Because he thought that this giant wasn't equipped enough to defeat him? No, it was because David did not leave God out of the equation when he went out to face Goliath- "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand." (1 Samuel 17:45,46a)

Moses by himself could not lead God's people, but when God placed a rod in his hand he could- and did. By himself Gideon could never win a battle, but when God put valor in his heart he could- and did. Peter never could have walked on water by himself, but when Jesus bid him to come he could- and did. I don't know what God may be speaking to you about, but by yourself you can't do it, but since He has called and commanded you to do so, through Him you can-- do it.

Have a great day. You "can" do whatever God calls you to do--- take "I can't" out of your vocabulary. Look to God, trust God and know He will help you do it.

Friday, April 4, 2008

"Yesterday And Today"

"They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:23

I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I miss it. There are days that I don't always do what I should, but I am thankful that even if I missed it yesterday, I don't have to stay there. Today is a new day- a new day that has band new mercies available to me. Yesterday I might have been a failure, but today I can be a winner. Yesterday I might have suffered defeat, but today I can be victorious.

Look at Peter. There was a "yesterday" and a "today" for him. Yesterday, he denied Christ, but then we see him a few days later and Jesus is commissioning him to feed His sheep. Mary Magdalene had a "yesterday". Yesterday she was full of demons and the Lord cast them out. The next day-her "today"- she is a follower of His- staying by His side even until He drew His last breath on the cross.

There is a "yesterday" and a "today" (so to speak) in all of our lives. Yesterday we may have been in one place, state or condition, but today because of the goodness, mercy and grace of the Lord we can be somewhere completely different. You might have missed it yesterday, but today you can get back on track. Yesterday you might have blown it, but today you can get back up. Yesterday you might have been disobedient, but today you can repent and fulfill His will. Yesterday you might have walked in the flesh, but today you can walk in the spirit. Yesterday you might have been a failure, but today you can be more than a conqueror. Don't let your mistakes of yesterday hold you in bondage. Today is a new day and the Lord is standing at it's threshold waiting to make it a new "today" for you.

Have a great day. You may have blown it yesterday like Peter, but today you can hear the Lord say "Feed My sheep".

Thursday, April 3, 2008

"He Knows Everything"

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." Hebrews 4:13

I was driving through town yesterday and the flowers are gorgeous- they are in full bloom everywhere, and lots of them. I started thanking God for creating them and for giving us such beauty to enjoy. As I was, I began to think about the greatness of God and how all knowing He is. I think we tend to forget just how great God really is- He is Omniscient- all knowing. He knows everything- nothing is hid from Him. He knows exactly how many flowers are on every bush on every street in every town. He knows how many blades of grass are in my front yard. He knows how many pears will be produced on my pear trees before they even begin blooming. He knows how many grains of sand are on every beach in the world. There is a song that I heard several years ago that says, "You can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed".

On a more personal level, He knows how many hairs are on your head- how many you woke up with and how many are still there when you go to bed. He knows how many wrinkles are on your face, how many freckles on your body, how many eyelashes you'll grow throughout your lifetime. He also knows the thought and intent of your heart. He knows your thoughts before you even think them. He sees every tear you cry and bottles them up. He knows the day of your death before the day of your birth.

He knows what you are going through. He knows what you'll face before the day is over. He knows how many times you'll laugh today, and how many times you'll cry. He knows how many words you will speak before you go to bed. He knows what you'll need today, and he knows what it will take to meet the need. If you find yourself wondering if He even knows where you are or what you are going through, just remember that there is nothing He does not know. Rest assure that He knows and He knows what to do on your behalf.

Have a great day. God knows everything.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

"Right Judgments"

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war." Revelation 19:11

I had a dream last night about a being in a court room and the case that was before the judge was a custody case. The judge gave the child to the "wicked" person- not the parent who was living a good, decent, respectable life. The judge made the wrong, and a bad, decision. I can remember telling those who were involved that one day the Lord would return and establish true judgment and justice.

Let's face it, we live in a world where evil is rewarded and good is punished. It seems like the harder you try to do what is right, the more persecution you receive. Doing the right thing doesn't always seem to get you very far. The guilty are released and the innocent are condemned. Is it right? No. Do we have to like it? No. Can we do anything about it? Not always. But in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation, in a time when there are wicked authorities making wrong decisions, when there are evil men in power and making ungodly rules, we must not lose sight of the fact that one day- and I believe not too long from now- the Lord Jesus will return and establish true justice. He will not let the guilty go free. He will not allow evil to have the upper hand. He will be the ruling Judge and King and His decisions will be right and perfect.

In the meantime, we must be praying for those who are in authority that they will make right decisions, that God will give them wisdom from above to do the right thing, that they will not abuse or misuse the authority they have been given. And we must pray for ourselves as well that we make wise, godly and righteous judgments in our everyday affairs.

Have a great day. Men don't always make the right decisions, but God does and one day He will bring true justice and judgment upon the earth.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

"Pass It On"

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD..." Isaiah 43:10a

Back in the late 60's or early 70's there was a very popular Christian song that we used to sing all the time. It was entitled- "Pass It On". The chorus said, "That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it. You want to sing, it's fresh like spring, you want to pass it on." The song expressed a natural response to receiving something wonderful. When we receive something good or get good news, what do we usually do--- we share it with others. When my precious little granddaughter was born, I shared it with all those on the mailing list, I posted it on the website, I sent out birth announcement cards to my family and friends, I made phone calls, I told everyone that I saw--- and still do!

What the Lord Jesus did for us was the greatest thing anyone could ever do for us. And when we come to a place where we receive this wonderful gift of eternal life, when the love of God is flooding our hearts, when our sins have been forgiven, and we have come into a glorious relationship with the Savior, we should want to share it too-- because that is the best thing that could ever happen to us. It's better than having a grandbaby, better than getting a new home, better than winning a million dollars, better than any earthly relationship.

So let me ask you this morning-- are you "passing it on"? Have you told someone else about this wonderful experience you have in Jesus? Are you passing on the good news that Jesus saves? When was the last time you shared the gospel with another person so that they too can experience this wonderful love and forgiveness? God does not intend for us to be the only ones who enjoy this wonderful experience- He wants us to tell others so that they can enjoy it too.

Have a great day. What has God done for you? Pass it on!!