"Is There Room?"

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."  Luke 2:7

"No room in the inn".  I know this passage of scripture has been "preached to death".  How many sermons have we heard on this subject?  I have preached about there being no room for Jesus myself.  But it doesn't matter how many times we have heard it, it needs to be said again.  Do you have room for Jesus in your heart?  Have you made room for Him as Savior? Have you cleared out all the false ideas about salvation and made room for Him?  For example, the idea that you can be good enough, or being religious saves you, or attending a certain church makes you right with God, etc. 

Do you have room for Him in your life?  Or is your life so full of other things that there is no room for Him?  Is it full of fear and condemnation that He can't dwell there?  Is it full of entertainment, prosperity, success, education, fame, self-centeredness, pride, and so forth?  Is your life full of busyness?  A heart that is full of self and other things leaves no room for Him.  

So how do we make room for Him?  Some think they have to get their lives cleaned up and some things cleared out first.  That is not the case.  Invite Him into your life and He will do the clearing.  He will show you what needs to go, what can stay and what needs rearranging.  After you have invited Him into your life, don't let it get "cluttered" with the cares of this life and start crowding Him out.  This you do by keeping Him at the head and center of your life.  You seek Him first.  You read and obey His Word.  You stay in constant communion and fellowship with Him through prayer and worship.  You cast all your cares on Him.  When you do these things, you will keep your life free and cleared of all the things that keep Him from having room in your life.

Have a great day.  Do you have room for Jesus in your life? 

"Eventful Days"

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."  Luke 2:6

I don't know how long it was from the time Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem until she gave birth to Jesus.  It could have been that day or a few days.  In our Christmas plays we portray it as being the same day.  Maybe it was.  Maybe it wasn't.   Regardless, it was certainly an eventful day for her. 

Have you ever had "eventful" days?  They start out like any other day but before the day is over many things have happened that change your life forever.  Mary's world, the day that Jesus was born, was changed forever.  It would no longer be the same.  Though her world changed, her God stayed the same.  He was still leading, guiding and providing for her/them.  He was still with her.  He didn't leave her.  He was still faithful and trustworthy.

We never know if the events of our day will be good or bad; bring prosperity or poverty; pain or joy; life or death.  But this we can always rest assured of-- The Lord God will always stay the same.  He won't change just because our circumstances do.  He won't run out on us and leave us by ourselves.  He won't forsake us and leave us to "fin for ourselves".  He won't neglect us.  He will still be there for us and with us.  He will still be the friend that sticks closer than a brother.  He will still be faithful and true.  He is Emmanuel-- God with us.  Just as He was "with" Mary, He will be with you.   

Have a great day.  When you get to the end of the day and things are not the same, remember the Lord is still the same.

"Look In The Right Place"

"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger".  Luke 2:12

 

The shepherds were told specifically where they could find the baby Jesus-- in a manger.  It would have done them no good to look in the inn.  They would not have found him in a nearby house.  The wise men looked in the palace but they couldn't find Him there.  He was to be found in one place and one place alone.

Today many are still looking for Him in the wrong places.  They think they will find Him in religion.  They look for Him in religious service.  They look for Him through development of some inner peace, mystic state of mind or higher spiritual state.  Some are looking for Him through education.  Then there are those who are looking for Him through some false religious adherence.

There is only one place you will find Him-- through a relationship.  There is only one way to get into that relationship-- through faith.  Whoever comes to Him must believe that He is-- and who He is.  The shepherds and wise men had a few things in common:  the shepherds believed what the angels told them; the wise men believed the prophesies and the appearing of the star as a sign of fulfillment.  They both believed He was the Savior King and they both moved in faith to seek Him out.  When they found Him, they both humbled themselves and worshipped Him. 

It doesn't matter who you are, your position in life, your financial status, you must believe that Jesus is the Savior and that He is God.  You must humble yourself before Him in repentance.  You must then worship Him as your Savior and Lord.  When you do, you will be looking in the right place and will find Him.

Have a great day.  Many people are looking for Jesus in the wrong places.  Look for Him in the right place and you will find Him.

"The Perfect Gift"

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".  John 3:16

We all like receiving gifts.  At this time of year we give and receive gifts more than at any other time of the year.  Some gifts will be appreciated and some will not.  Some gifts will be perfect and others not so much.  Some gifts will be well-thought out and others will be whatever is convenient to give.  Some gifts will be utilized while some will be stored away and forgotten.  Some gifts will be loved by the receiver and some gifts will be returned and exchanged for something else.  Believe it or not, there are some gifts that will be refused and unwanted.  There are many things we can do with the gifts we receive. 

Over two thousand years ago the most perfect gift ever given to mankind was sent from God Himself.  He wrapped it in swaddling clothes and laid it in a manger.  It cost Him everything.  It was given with love.  It was the gift of His One and Only Begotten Son Jesus.  This was no ordinary gift.  It was many gifts rolled up into one.  It was the gift of His greatest love.  It was the gift of eternal life.  It was the gift of acceptance into His Kingdom.  It was the gift of adoption and sonship.  It was the gift of abundant life.  It was the gift of access into His presence.  It was a gift that would bring hope, peace, comfort and joy to the receiver.  It was the gift of grace.  It was the gift that was greater and more costly than any other gift ever given.  It was the gift to top all gifts.      

As we have already said there are many things we can do with a gift-- love it, cherish it, return it, ignore it, store it away, etc.  The gift of Jesus given to us by the Heavenly Father is given to all--none are excluded.  But it is a gift of choice-- you have to choose what you will do with this gift.  Will you receive it and love it?  Will you reject it?  Have you already accepted it?  Are you enjoying all the many gifts that came wrapped up as one?   

Have a great day.  What will you do with the gift of God's Only Begotten Son? 

"Waiting, Waiting, Anticipating"

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh".  Matthew 2:11

"Waiting, waiting, anticipating", is what many children will be doing on Christmas Eve night.  They will be waiting with great anticipation of finding gifts under the tree in the morning.  The wise men who came from afar were also anticipating the time when they would behold the new born King.  And like the children on Christmas Eve night they had to do some waiting as well.  Only they weren't idly waiting. 

Many believe that from the time the star first appeared to the wise men and the time when they actually laid eyes on Jesus was a couple of years.  During those years they were following the star- traveling where it led.  Imagine with me for a moment this journey of the wise men.  They didn't travel by plane, bus, boat or train.  They traveled on camels- rough, smelly camels.  They didn't have grocery stores along the way to stop and get something to eat.  They didn't have Wal-marts to pick up extra provisions.  There were no Holiday Inns to spend the night in- just the hard ground.  They traveled day and night through all kinds of weather conditions.  They probably encountered a bandit or two because it was a large caravan and they were carrying treasures.  They faced hardships, dangers, scorching sun and desert terrain.  It was no easy trip.  I am sure they may have questioned whether it was worth it or not.  But they had to persevere and continue going.  They couldn't give up if they wanted to see this new King. 

What a lesson spiritually this is for us.  It illustrates our journey through life after we "see the Star"-- Jesus Christ, the Bright and Morning Star.  After Jesus, the Light of the world, shines His light in our hearts through a salvation experience we then start a journey through life.  A journey of anticipation and waiting. 

Anticipation of one day beholding our glorious Savior face to face.  Anticipation of being with Him forever in eternity.  Anticipation of the time when our faith shall become sight.  But it also involves waiting.  Waiting for that day when we shall arrive at that destination.  But we aren't waiting idly by, we are pressing toward the mark; we are running the race that is set before us; we are persevering; we are fighting the good fight of faith; we are setting our affections on the prize that is set before us. 

I know that I have been lengthy but please bear with me.  We, like the wise men, will face many obstacles-- scorching temptations, long nights of trials, desert places, the thief who steals, kills and destroys, hardships, afflictions, etc. The wise men didn't give up.  They continued on even though the journey was hard.  As a result, they obtained what they anticipated.  They beheld the new born King.  They presented their gifts to Him.  They saw Him face to face.  If we will continue on, not stopping, not giving up, not throwing in the towel when this journey gets difficult for us, we too will obtain what we anticipate-- seeing our Savior/King face to face.  Our faith will become sight.

The one difference in us and the wise men is that once they saw the King and gave Him their gifts, they turned around and left heading back to their homeland.  For us, we will not be leaving from His presence-- we have arrived at our "homeland".  When we see Him face to face, our journey will be over and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  So don't give up; don't stop; keep pressing on; keep preserving.  It will be worth it all when you come to the end and what was anticipated is no longer by faith but becomes reality.

Have a great day.  One day what we have anticipated and waited for by faith will become reality.  So keep continuing on this journey. 

"Allegiance"

"And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way".  Matthew 2:12

There is one thing we miss about the wise men who went to see the Christ child/the newborn King.  It is called allegiance.  When the wise men first arrived, they went to the palace of Herod seeking the King that was born.  When they left, Herod told them to send word when they found the King and let him know so he could worship him too.  

The wise men were warned by the Lord God in a dream not to tell Herod.  They didn't.  Their allegiance was to God and the newborn King instead of to this earthly king Herod.  They were faithful to God.  They obeyed Him.  They submitted themselves to His rule, decisions and commands-- not a man.

I bring this up because I see so many in the church who have given their allegiance to a man.  They are followers of some man-- be it a pastor, prophet, teacher, evangelist, etc.  We see this a lot of times when churches split-- some leave with the pastor.  We see it often when a pastor leaves a church-- some stop going to church at all.  We see it when people follow big name evangelists all of the country and make sure they sit in every meeting.

As Christians our first allegiance must be to God.  We can't put a person ahead of God.  We must remain faithful and true to the Lord.  He must have our utmost loyalty and obedience.  He is the One who saved our souls-- not a man.  He is the One we will have to stand before one day and give an account-- not a man.  Am I saying to be rebellious?  No, God places people in authority over us.  Am I suggesting we be disrespectful and not honor the position?  No, but God must come first.  His wishes, desires and plans for us must come before that of any one else.  "We ought to obey God rather than men". (Acts 5:29)

Are you like the wise men?  Does He have your complete allegiance or is it divided with Him and someone else?  Or is it all given to a man and not to God?    

Have a great day.  Who has your allegiance? 

"The Now Time"

"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us".  Luke 2:15

"Let us now go".  Many times the Lord works through a process of time concerning His will for our lives.  But then there are times when we have to move into His will "now".  The shepherds could not put off going to Bethlehem until another day.  They couldn't decided to go next week to Bethlehem to see this new born King.  They had to go "now".  If they had waited they would have missed it. 

In our lives, in dealing with the will of God for us, there are times we have to learn to wait.  But there are times when we can't wait, but have to move right then.  If we don't move, we will miss it.  How do we know the difference?  That is not always easy know but there are some indicators that we can go by in order to know. 

There are key words we should pay attention to.  The angels said to the shepherds-- "unto you is born this day" (verse 11); "this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find" (verse 12).  In these words were instructions-- "this day you shall find".  God gives us instructions through His word.  His word came through the angels and told them what to do.  God's word will come to us through His Spirit, through His written word or through a "messenger". 

Another way we know is by the inward peace that He gives us.  "Fear not".  God is not the author of confusion and peace is our guide which "calls the shots".

Because the shepherds moved at the right time, they got to see something that no one else saw-- the new born King.  They got to be the first witnesses to the birth of the Messiah. They were in the right place at the right time.  Moving at the right time will put you where the Lord wants you and bring a blessing with it at the same time. 

Have a great day.  In moving into God's will there is a time to wait and a time to move now. 

"The Great Divide"

"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats".  Matthew 25:32

The Bible talks about a time when the Lord will separate the sheep from the goats and the wheat from the tares.  He will separate those who look the part from those who actually are what they profess to be.  I believe we are in a time where the Lord is bringing a greater degree of exposure.  He is exposing those who are not really in the Kingdom and those who are.  He is exposing what is false from what is true. 

But one day there will be a final separating.  He will place the sheep on His right side and the goats on His left.  Those on His right He will invite to inherit the Kingdom for eternity.  Those on His left He will send into eternal punishment.  I want to sound an alarm today, and it is this:  should today be the day He separates the sheep from the goats and the wheat from the tares, which group will you be in?

I didn't say-- which group do you hope you will be in.  I didn't say-- which group do you think you will be in.  I asked you if you know beyond any shadow of a doubt, based on the Lord's definition and criteria for being a sheep or goat, which group will you be in?  You must know for sure.  You can't hope, think or wait to see when it happens.  You must make your peace now with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  You can know for sure.  (1 John 5:13)  You can have that assurance.  If you don't have it, go to the Lord and repent of your sins and ask Jesus to come into your life and be Savior and Lord.  He will make you a sheep.  From then on follow Him the rest of your life-- sheep follow the Shepherd. 

Have a great day.  If the separation of the sheep and the goats and the wheat and the tares were to take place today, which side would you be on? 

"Worldly Or Kingdom Behavior?"

"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

I am alarmed at the worldly behavior I see many Christians involving themselves in.  In Christianity, in times past, the worldly behavior that concerned the church most was-- dancing, drinking, smoking, cursing and other vices.  The church is still concerned about these things, but now days this worldly behavior that I am referring to specifically is more deadly in nature.  It is more subtle.  It takes on the appearance of wisdom and rational thinking.  It is more deceptive and many Christians are falling into it.

They are embracing the wisdom of the world as opposed to embracing and practicing the wisdom and instruction of the Kingdom.  Let me show you what I mean:
The world says- Let your voice be heard; make them listen.  The Kingdom/Bible/God says- A soft answer turns away wrath.


The world says- Riot, protest, make them pay in order to get results.  The Kingdom/Bible/ God says- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

The world says- Share the wealth.  Take from the rich and give to the poor.  The Kingdom/Bible/God says- Thou shall not covet.  If a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat.

The world says- Don't let anything stand in the way of your success.  The Kingdom/Bible/God says- Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

The world says-- Destroy those who oppose you, who won't let you have your way and who won't give you what you desire.  The Kingdom/Bible/God says- Love your enemies. 

The word Christian means: Christ-like.  True Christianity means conformity to Christ likeness, not the likeness of the world.  Jesus didn't destroy the law, He fulfilled it.  He didn't walk after the example and practices of the world.  He walked out and lived out Kingdom principles.  He brought the Kingdom to earth.  He taught the Kingdom.  He modeled the behavior of the Kingdom and lived in the Kingdom while here on earth.  He has called us to do the same if we call ourselves Christians.  He said that the Kingdom was within you. Whatever is in you should guide and dictate your behavior.  Whatever is in you will come out.  If your behavior is that of the world's then the world is in you, not Christ.  There is no room for both.  Repent and ask Jesus to come into your life and put His Kingdom in your heart.  Then go and live it out here on earth. 

Have a great day.  Is your behavior conforming to the world or to the Kingdom of God? 

"Becoming Fools"

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools".   Romans 1:22

We usually think of this verse as having to do with the ungodly and worldly-- and it does.  The world thinks they are so right in their liberal thinking and that Christians are the ones who are out of touch with what it real, true and right.  But in sounding an alarm this morning, the Lord spoke to me about "Christians" who fit into this category. 

Let me preface what I am about to say with this:  we should have knowledge concerning what is going on around us in the world.  We should be concerned and involved.  We don't need to remain in ignorance about the affairs of life, the nation and the world.  But, what is happening is some Christians have developed a "liberal" mindset and are propagating a humanistic way of life.  They are wise economically, sociologically, politically and in every other way the world considers wise.  They have become so "wise" in these areas that they are supporting and even standing up for this social agenda.  The result is that they have become "unwise" in the things that pertain to the Kingdom of God.  They profess to be wise-- they have worldly wisdom-- but are becoming "fools" spiritually. 

They know more about how the world and its agenda works than they know about how the Kingdom of God works.  They understand human economics but know nothing about Kingdom economics.  They know nothing about Kingdom ethics, Kingdom order, Kingdom judgments, etc.  They have left off the Kingdom in their decisions and interpretations of earthly matters.  Therefore, they have become "foolish". 

The Bible says that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  One reason we lack knowledge is because we are so consumed with gaining "earthy/worldly/social" knowledge that we have neglected learning and making Kingdom knowledge our priority.  What will it profit you if you are wise in worldly wisdom but foolish in heavenly wisdom?  We are Kingdom people.  Yet, we know little to nothing about how God's Kingdom operates because we are so busy learning and fighting for this earthly kingdom which is temporary.  Has the world and its way of thinking become your way of thinking?  Do you know more about how it all operates than you know about the Kingdom of God?  Then you are among those who think they are wise but are really fools.  Repent and get your thinking in order.  Repent and make understanding the Kingdom your first priority.  When you do, you can then rightly evaluate the wisdom of the world, discern the difference and handle correctly the affairs of this world.   

Have a great day.  Don't be so wise in the wisdom of the world that you become foolish concerning the wisdom of the Kingdom.  Put Kingdom wisdom above worldly wisdom.   

"Apathy"

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name".  Malachi 3:16

I feel like I am suppose to "put the trumpet to my mouth and sound an alarm" to the church.  I am concerned about what I see happening in the church, namely in America, and some of the things the Lord has been speaking to me about her condition.  This is not something new that I see, but it is getting more intense and worse.  Many people have alarm clocks.  Their purpose is to wake you up so that you will get up out of bed and fulfill the duties, tasks and responsibilities that await you.   This morning I am sounding an alarm to "wake up".  The next several devotions will be aimed specifically to Christians, or those who call themselves Christians, to wake up and repent.    

When I woke up this morning, I kept hearing the word "apathy" in my spirit.  Apathy means: 

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.  I see a lack of interest and enthusiasm in the church.  Where is the passion for Christ?  Where is the love for His Word?  Where are the testimonies of the great things He has done for us?  Where is the excitement of going to church and hardly being able to wait to see what the Lord will do among us?  Where is the concern for the things of God-- the salvation of souls, the proclaiming of the gospel, love for one another, prayer and fasting, etc.?  Where is the obedience, adherence and conformity to His commands?  Where is the reverence of that which is holy?  Where is the fear of the Lord?  

​

We act like He is just another part of our lives, instead of the fact that He IS our life.  We live like He is an attachment to our lives instead of our first priority.  He does not rule our lives, we do.  All of this is apathy.  Does this describe you?  Where is your enthusiasm about the Lord?  Where is your concern about pleasing Him above everything else?  Do you have a lack of interest for the things of God-- they are something you can "take or leave"?  Then you need to "wake up".  You are in danger spiritually.  Let me give you the Biblical definition of apathy:  lukewarm.  And the result of being lukewarm is that He will spew you out of His mouth!  Repent today of apathy and ask Holy Spirit to rekindle the fire of desire and love for the Lord.

 

 

Have a great day.  Wake up out of apathy.

"Don't Neglect Your Lamp"

"They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept".  Matthew 25:3,4,5

When talking to others about things that are happening in the world around us, I have heard my husband several times encourage them to "keep their lamps full".  Jesus told us to do the same thing in His parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins.  If we aren't careful our lamps can become empty.  The lamps of the five foolish virgins did. 

How does it happen?  How do our lamps become empty?  From the parable we see that it happened from neglect.  They neglected to take extra oil with them.  They neglected to stay awake.  They neglected to watch for the bridegroom's return. 

We must keep our lamps full.  We can't neglect so great a salvation.  We can't neglect our spiritual life.  We can't neglect the things of God.  We can't neglect the kingdom of God.  We can't neglect giving attention to the weightier matters and that which is eternal.  We must be on guard of being lulled to sleep by the cares of this life.  We have to be aware of getting too comfortable here (in this world) that we fall asleep and stop watching and waiting.  We can be put to sleep by indifference, by compromise, by leaning to our own understanding, by false reasoning, by worldly influences, by listening to the wrong voices, by taking our eyes off of the prize and by thinking that our Lord is delaying His coming.

So, be on guard.  Keep your lamps full by keeping your relationship with the Lord your first and foremost priority.  Stay awake by setting your affections on things above, by renewing your mind with God's word, by watching and praying, by resisting the temptation to neglect the Lord, by communing with Holy Spirit daily and by living with the expectation that His return could be any time.

Have a great day.  Don't neglect to keep your lamps full.  
   

"Only One Name"

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".  Acts 4:12

There is no other name under heaven that will save you.  That means there is only one name that saves us.  It is not the name of Buddha.  It is not the name of Allah.  It is not the name of any of the one million other gods worshipped by mankind.  It is not the name of the Pope.  It is not the name of some television evangelist or any other religious organization or ministry.  It is not the name of a denomination.  It is not the name that is found in a title-- king, ruler, president, pastor, prophet, etc.  It is not the name of your pastor, overseer, bishop, deacon, etc.  It is not in the name of your service-- Sunday School teacher, singer, choir member, worship leader, church secretary, nursery worker and so on.  It is not in the name of your ministry-- prison outreach, homeless outreach, ministry to battered women, construction of orphanages, etc.  It is not the name of what others call you-- a good person, a helper, a righteous man, a godly woman, a servant, or any other accolade placed on you.

There is only one name that saves.  That name is the Lord Jesus Christ.  No other name will be recognized by the Heavenly Father when we stand before Him on the Day of Judgment.  You may try to impress Him with some other name, especially the name of your own goodness, but it won't work.  Jesus is the only name that saves.  

Some will say I am being intolerant.  Some will say I am being closed-minded.  Some will say I am being dogmatic.  Some will say that I am wrong to say that Jesus is the only name that saves.  Consider this, I live on a dead end street.  If I tell you the only way to get to my house is by getting on Dreamy Trail and following it to my house are you going to tell me I am wrong, that is not the only way?  There is no other way of getting here.  Are you going to tell me I am intolerant?  No, because this is a fact.  If you come to see me you have to come that way.  If you are going to enter into God's house you are going to have to come in one way and one way only-- through Jesus Christ.  Or you won't get in.

Have a great day.  Jesus is the only name that will save you.     

"He Doesn't Condone It"

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment".  Hebrews 9:27

 

There is so much false reasoning going on in the world, especially in regard to the Lord and spiritual matters.  I would like to address one of those this morning. 

 

A lot of people have the misconception that God is condoning what they are doing because He hasn't "struck them down".  They think the lack of something bad happening to them is God's sign of approval when they are living in sin and doing sinful things.  They reason that if God were unpleased with it He would do something bad to them.  That is not necessarily true.  

 

There are times when our sinful practices and lifestyle bring consequences-- we reap what we sow.  There are times when bad choices lead to bad consequences.  So, yes, sometimes we see the bad that is happening to us and think that it is God's way of judging what we are doing as wrong.  They conclude that this is God's judgment.  So, by the same token, when nothing bad is happening they conclude that the Lord is "all right" with what they are doing.

 

This is false reasoning.  He is never "all right" with sin.  But the judgment we face for our sins ultimately comes after we leave this life.  It will be what we face when we step into eternity.  This is what confuses people when they see the wicked prospering now and having a "good life".  The Bible says they have their reward.  This is all they get as for as what we consider a "good reward".  But their real reward will come after they die.  Then they will face the judgment and be "rewarded" accordingly.  This is when they will receive their punishment-- Depart from Me into everlasting hell fire. 

 

So, don't be deceived into thinking that just because nothing bad is happening to you while you are living in sin that it means God has put His stamp of approval on it.  He never puts a stamp of approval on sin.  Your "reward" will come later.

 

Have a great day.  Just because you are living in sin and nothing bad is happening to you doesn't mean that the Lord condones it.   

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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"Frustration"

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee".  Isaiah 26:3

 

Most temptations and spiritual attacks come against us subtly.  If they came with flashing neon signs and loud shouts we would be more apt to recognize them for what they are.  But the enemy doesn't usually come like that.  He comes with a question-- "did God say?  If you are the Son of God turn these stones to bread".  He often comes with suggestions-- "if you eat it will make you wish like God".  He comes to try us in the everyday affairs and tasks of life.  I have become aware of one of the biggest weapons he uses--- frustration.  Frustration is defined as: the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something.

Lately, I have found myself battling this "weapon" every time I turn around.  Things don't go right.  Things aren't going according to plans.  Other people are changing your plans.  Things aren't always as you were told or appear to be as you understood them to be.  Your bank statement won't balance.  Your vehicle won't crank.  A major appliance breaks down.  You have a deadline and every hindrance imaginable is interfering with you meeting it.  You gave it your best and your best wasn't good enough.  You can't get anyone to cooperate with you or help you.  What you ask someone to do, they did it wrong now you have to go back and redo it.  You lose your job.  You can't seem to get over an illness.  You can't find your other shoe and you are running late.  All of these things when not going the way you want them too-- smoothly-- have a way of frustrating you. 

The reason we must guard against frustration is because it steals our joy and our peace.  Without joy we have no strength-- the joy of the Lord is our strength.  So we become weak and give into the frustration and start getting upset, annoyed, angry and worried.  We start loosing our temper and say and do things we shouldn't and that we will regret later.  When we lose our peace, confusion and frustration become our guide.  Therefore, we can't make wise decisions.  We can easily go in the wrong direction and do the wrong thing.  We are being led more by our emotions and own understanding therefore we are more apt to make mistakes and misjudge the situation.  At that point we are operating more in the flesh than in the spirit and can hide our lights under a basket and do things that are unbecoming to our Christian testimony.  

Be on guard for frustration.  Look to the Spirit of God to help you recognize this weapon and ask for His help in overcoming it so that it will not overcome you. 

Have a great day.  Don't get frustrated.      
 

"Helper, Keeper and Preserver"

"The Lord is thy keeper..."  Psalm 121:5a

The Psalm that this verse is taken from only has eight verses in it.  Twice it lets us know that the Lord is our helper. Three times it talks about the Lord being our keeper.  And three times it tells us that He will preserve us.  So, the Lord is our helper, keeper and preserver.  

Some would said that if He is my keeper then why did this or that happen to me.  Why didn't He keep me from being hurt?  Why didn't He keep His hand on me in the difficult trial I went through?  Why didn't He keep me from losing everything?  Why didn't He deliver me, or heal me, or provide for me?  Why did/does bad things happen to me if He is my keeper?  The "keeper" should have "kept" it from happening.

The fact that the Lord did not keep you from some hardship doesn't change the fact that He is your keeper.  He doesn't always keep us "from" those times, but He keeps us "in" them.  If you noticed when the psalm said He was our keeper, it is "wedged" in between Him being our "helper" and our "preserver".  Helper is on one side and preserver is on the other side, and keeper is in between.  What the Lord is letting us know is that He will help us in our trials; He will keep us in our trials; and He will preserve us in our trials.  He will help us when we go through them.  He will keep us when we go through them.  He will preserve us when we go through them. 

Rejoice if you are going through a difficulty because the Lord will be there to help you make it through it.  He will keep you from being destroyed by it.  He will preserve you and not let it get the best of you-- you will make it through it.  Let Him help you, keep you and preserve you.

Have a great day.  The Lord will help you, keep you and preserve you in your time of trial and need.   

"Adapt To Change"

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee..." 2 Corinthians 12:9a

 

My mother in law went to be home with the Lord on Thanksgiving Day.  She was in the hospital for two days prior to her passing.  While the family was at the hospital my granddaughter and I were at home getting ready for the holiday.  Within those two days our Thanksgiving plans were changed five times.  With all the change taking place it became a teachable moment for Lexi, and myself.  I want to share what we learned with you because life is full of changes.

 

Changes in life happen as a result of choices we have made.  Sometimes we go through changes that are out of our control.  Some changes happen because they are part of the cycle of life.  When they come, we have to learn how to adapt to them and handle them the correct way.   We have to learn to "go with the flow" of what is happening and not allow them to frustrate us, aggravate us, make us angry, worried or fearful.   

 

When God created the Chameleon lizard, He gave it the ability to change colors and adapt to its surrounding.  It seems so effortless for it to change and become a part of what is happening around it instead of being in turmoil.  Would the Lord do that for this tiny creature and not do the same for us?  No.  God has given us the ability to adapt to life changes through His Holy Spirit.  Is it always easy?  No.  Is it possible?  Yes.  The Holy Spirit will give us the grace and peace that we need to change and adapt.  We don't have to allow a change of plans to upset us when they happen.  If we will allow the Lord to help us through the change, we can make the transition in peace.

 

Have a great day.  The grace of God will help us to adapt with peace when life brings changes.   

 

"Lifestyle Of Thanksgiving"

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you".  1 Thessalonians 5:18

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.  For a Christian Thanksgiving is not just another holiday or an event on a calendar.  It is our lifestyle.  Each day is-- or should be-- a day of thanksgiving.  Our lives should show "thanks living". 

Having a life of thanksgiving doesn't mean that everything in your life is worthy of thanks.  It doesn't mean that it is problem free.  It doesn't mean that things aren't going wrong.  It doesn't mean that your life is going the way you planned.  No, we encounter fiery furnace trials, lion's dens, enemies from without and within, giants, Job situations, Joseph treatment (betrayal and false accusations), impossibilities, Red Seas before us and a pharaoh's army behind us.  Some times we face grief and heartache.  Sometimes we have plenty to take care of our needs and at other times our resources just won't stretch any further.  Some times our bodies are healthy and at other times they are racked with pain, sickness, disease and suffering.  

You may be going through problems and trials but it a life of thanksgiving rejoices in God's goodness in spite of it.  A life of thanksgiving may be hurting physically but says-- it is well with my soul.  It can sing and praise the Lord even in the fire.  It can sleep in peace in the lion's den.  It believes to see the salvation of the Lord as it stands before the sea.  It holds on to the Lord's faithfulness in the midst of the storm.  It knows that all things work together for good.  And its highest praise proclaims-- though He slay me, yet I trust Him.

Don't just celebrate an event or a special occasion.  Let your whole life daily be a celebration of thanksgiving to the goodness, mercy and love of the Heavenly Father.

Have a great day.  Live a life of thanksgiving.       

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from 
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to call (601) 833-5278 or
Email : mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org  

"Like The Prodigal"

"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."  Luke 15:18

In the story of the prodigal son what we tend to remember most are the bad things about him and the story-- his rebellion and hate for his father, his waste of his inheritance and the pig pen.  But while he did much "bad" there is one "good" thing that he did.  He repented and returned to his father's house. 

He could have stayed in the pig pen.  He could have stayed in the country he now dwelt in.  He could have thought, "What's the use?"  But he didn't.  He didn't let the shame, the pain, the condemnation, pride or anything else keep him from going to his father.  He went to the father with a repentant heart and the father received him back as his son and even threw a party on his behalf.

There are many today who have wondered away-- either through rebellion or neglect-- from the Heavenly Father.  They have gone their own way.  They have turned their backs on Him.  They have stopped having a relationship with Him.  They have given over to some sin that keeps them in bondage.  Many would like to "return home" to the Heavenly Father's house but are allowing what they have done-- shame, guilt, pride, embarrassment, condemnation or even a misunderstanding of the Father's love and forgiveness and so on-- keep them from returning to Him.

If this is you, don't let anything keep you from going to the Lord in repentance.  Don't think that what you have done is too bad and that there is no way He could forgive you.  He loves you.  He is waiting for you.  He desires for you to return.  He knows your shame, your guilt, all the awful things you have done, your rebellion, your sin and your desire to return.  He gave a promise in His Word that "whoever comes to Him He would never cast out or turn away". (John 6:37) 

Have a great day.  If you have been like the prodigal son and left the Father, be like him again and return to the Father. 

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from 
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.Please feel free to call (601) 833-5278 or
Email : mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org  

 

 

 

 

 

"The True God"

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him".  1 John 4:16

 

I grew up watching the old original Star Trek with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.  I still like to watch them sometimes.  The other night I was watching an episode where they encountered the ancient Roman god Apollo.  On the program Apollo demanded worship and used force to make them comply.  He was selfish, self-centered and hateful.  As I watched the program something stood out to me about the characteristics of this false god.  I want to share it with you because every false god that has been worshipped from the time after the fall of mankind in the garden until now all have the same characteristics.   

 

These are the characteristics of false gods:  They demand your worship and if you don't give it to them they threaten you with pain or death.  They also take away your free will.  It is either serve them or else.  You have no freedom of choice.  You become a mindless "robot" doing their bidding.  Thirdly, they do not show any love.  They are filled with hate.  Look back in history.  Baal forced worship.  Molech demanded child sacrifice.  The Roman gods took revenge on their subjects if they didn't obey them.  Today certain religious groups kill in the name of their god.

 

I talked about this to show you the difference between the true and the false and remind you that there is ONLY One True God.  A true God does not demand worship.  The True and Living God desires a relationship with us.  He doesn't force us into one.  He gives us free will to love Him and serve Him.  He didn't take away our free will.  He give us choice.  The choice is up to us individually.  He gave mankind the choice to obey or disobey in the Garden of Eden, even though He knew he would disobey.  The greatest difference between the True and false is LOVE.  The false gods demonstrate hate.  The True God demonstrates love.  Even while we were yet sinners-- enemies rebelling against God-- He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be the sacrifice for our sins.  Even when we rebelled against Him through disobedience He came to our rescue.  He didn't demand our sacrifice in order to please Him, He was our sacrifice.  He loved us so much that He didn't spare even His Only Begotten Son for us.  He is love.

 

Why are you serving false gods?  Why are you serving and worshipping those who aren't real but are demanding and full of hate?  There is a true God who loves you beyond your ability to comprehend.  He gave Himself for you so that you could have abundant and eternal life.  He is the only One who has given instead of taken.  He loves you and is worthy of your love, devotion and worship.

 

Have a great day.  There is only One True God, and He is Love. 

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from 
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to call (601) 833-5278 or
Email : mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org 

"Too Much Jesus"

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory".  Colossians 3:4

 

One of my young customers and her mother were looking at some bracelets at the store yesterday.  Her mother picked up a bracelet that was made up of crosses.  She asked her daughter if she liked that one.  Her daughter replied, "It is too much Jesus".  What?!  The mother almost came unglued and immediately, along with others who were standing by, said "you can never have too much Jesus".

 

I am not sure what the girl meant by that but I can't help but think that that is exactly what is wrong with the world.  People in the world, even people in the church and even some professing Christians think you can have too much Jesus-- or that you don't need that much Jesus.  They have the mentality that a "little Jesus will do you".  Wrong!

 

You can't have a little bit of Jesus-- that is an impossibility.  Why?  Because that is the same thing as being lukewarm.  You can't have just enough Jesus to get by.  You can't have some of Jesus and think you are going to enter into heaven.  It doesn't work that way.  He has to be ALL.  He has to dwell in you-- all of Him.  

 

Don't believe the lie that says you don't have to have all that Jesus, you are being fanatical, a Jesus freak and going overboard.  No, according to Him you do have to have a lot of Him-- all of Him and He has to have all of you.  He has to become your life, your breath, your movement, your wisdom, your thoughts, your guidance, your everything and in all areas of your life. 

Have a great day.  You can never have too much Jesus. 

 

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from 
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to call (601) 833-5278 or
Email : mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org