"The Fence"

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11

Several years ago my husband and I planted a small garden. Since we live in an area where we have deer and rabbits in abundance, one of the things we did was put up a fence around it. Because of the fence, the rabbits and deer did not eat any of our vegetables.

The fence wasn't there to keep the vegetables in, it was to keep the animals that would destroy it out.  The fence was a protective barrier around the garden. Daily the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy our lives so we have to have "protective barriers" around them also. Our protective barrier- our "fence"- is God's word. It is a protection to us as we stay within its safe boundaries.

When the enemy comes to tempt us to sin, God's word will protect us and keep us from yielding as we look to it and act upon it. God's word is a shield against his attacks to destroy us. God's word is a safe place for us- the temptations can't steal from us, the fiery darts can't destroy us, the weapons he uses against us can't kill us. As long as we stay within the safe perimeters of His word we will be protected and safe.

Don't take down your fence and leave yourself unguarded. Don't remove your fence and leave yourself open for the enemy to come in. Stay in God's word, hide it in your heart, stand upon its promises, renew your mind with it.  By doing so you will keep your fence up and your life protected.

Have a great day. There is safety behind the "fence" of God's word.

"Astray"

"How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?" Matthew 18:12

The other day we talked about how God cares about us each individually- not just the masses. He loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son to come and rescue us because we were all like sheep who have gone astray. (Isaiah 53:6) But in the verse above we see a picture of Jesus who not only came to seek and to save "those" who were lost, but that "one" who had gone astray.

Have you gone astray? Have you left the "flock" that you were once a part of- Jesus' sheep fold? Are you wondering around in the world away from God? Did you once know Him but turned your back on Him and went your own way? Have you forgotten Him? Are you living your life to please yourself instead of to please Him? Are you running from God?

If that is you, He- like the shepherd in the verse- is seeking you out this morning. He is the Good Shepherd who has laid down His life for the sheep, even the stray ones, even the ones who have run away from Him. Let Him find you this morning. Don't keep running. Give up, surrender, don't live your life in rebellion and away from Him any longer. He laid down His life for you, He went looking for you, He will rescue you, He will put you on His shoulders and carry you back home.

Have a great day. Stop going astray, the Good Shepherd is looking for you... let Him find you.

"Your World"

"For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37

I woke up with a song on my heart and mind and feel I need to share it. The chorus says, "Nothing is impossible for You. Nothing is impossible for You. Nothing is impossible for You. You hold my world in Your hands."

There is nothing that is impossible for God, there is nothing too difficult, there is nothing too hard, there is nothing too big, and there is nothing that He can't handle. But it's the last line of the chorus I want to focus on. "You hold my world in Your hands." We each live in our own "little world". We may be part of the whole human race, but individually we have things that effect us individually. "My world" is all about what's happening to "me".

In "my world" not everything is always wonderful. Sometimes it's full of hurt and heartache. Sometimes there are broken relationships. Sometimes things don't always go as I plan. Sometimes sickness comes into my world. Sometimes there are trials that are unbearable.  Sometimes I have personal inner struggles, questions and concerns.  Sometimes my world is rocked by bad news or a whole list of other things too numerous to name.

The point I am getting to is that whatever is going on in "your world" this morning, it's not too big or impossible for God to handle. Your pain is not impossible for God to heal. Your sickness is not too difficult for Him to heal. Broken relationships are not impossible for Him to mend. Your situation is not too hard for Him to change. Your problem is not bigger than His ability to do something about it. But the key to Him moving in "your world" to do those things that are impossible for you is... letting Him "hold your world in His hands".

One quick question, "Who's holding your world in their hands?" Are you holding it, trying to solve your own problems? Are you letting someone else hold it, looking to them to solve it? Or are you letting God hold it and work it out?

Have a great day. Let God hold your world in His hands because there is nothing that is in your life that is impossible for Him to take care of.

"Get Concerned"

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

I truly get concerned about how unconcerned people are about the state of their eternal souls.  Just because you think that you are going to live forever and death only comes to the elderly, doesn't mean you are correct in your thinking.  Death is an appointment that everyone has and will face one day-- young, old and in between. 
 
Just because you think that you have all the time in the world to get things right between you and God, doesn't mean you do.  We aren't promised tomorrow. 

Just because you don't believe in hell, doesn't mean it isn't real.  Even the devils believe and tremble because they know it's the truth.

Just because you think that hell isn't bad and that there is a party going on there or that your definition of hell is the bad things that happen to you here on earth doesn't mean that is how it is.  It is a place of eternal torment- unlike anything we can imagine in our worse nightmares. 

Just because you don't believe in God, doesn't mean He isn't real.  He is and you will stand before Him as your judge one day.

Just because you think that you can live anyway you want and still make it into heaven, doesn't mean you can.  You must be born-again to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Just because you think you are going to heaven because you are a good person, doesn't mean you are.  Our righteousness is nothing more than filthy rags.

Just because you believe that Jesus is real and do nothing with His sacrifice for you on the cross, doesn't mean you are going to heaven.  Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved. 

Just because you think you can have Jesus and the things of the world doesn't mean it works that way.  You can't serve two masters.  You can't be lukewarm. 

People have a lot of strange ideas about life, death and eternity.  Most are false.  The truth is we are not going to live forever.  We will all die.  We were born sinners and if we die sinners we will spend an eternity in the eternal torment of hell and the lake of fire.  Don't let what you believe or think keep you from making sure it is well with your soul before it is too late.  Your beliefs, your good times, your fun and games, your misconceptions of eternity, your good works and deeds, your religious opinions, your excuses will all pass away, and eternity will claim your soul.  Will it be eternal life with God in heaven or eternal death in hell?  What will you exchange for your soul?  What is worth losing your eternal soul over?  A good time?  Popularity?  Friends?  Self-centered desires? Fortune?  Pleasures of sin?  A career? Power?  Is it worth it?  Is it worth losing the life that God has to offer you?  Is it worth the torment of eternal damnation?  It is time to get concerned because one day it will be too late.

Have a great day.  You need to get concerned about the eternal state of your soul before it is too late.     

"His Favorite Number"

"How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?" Matthew 18:12

 

In the Bible numbers are significant.  They each symbolize something.  For example, five means grace.  Six is the number of humanity.  Seven represents perfection.  Eight is new beginnings.  Out of all the numbers there are, I believe God has a favorite number and I believe that number is the number 1 (one).

When we read about the life of Jesus we see evidence of this. He was always reaching out to individuals.  As the verse above says, He left the ninety-nine and looked for the one lost sheep.  He stopped a funeral procession to raise one widow's son from the dead. He stopped and acknowledged the healing of one woman who had touched the hem of His garment in faith. He stopped to hear the cries of one blind beggar pleading for his sight. When Jarius came to Him on behave of his sick daughter, not several children, Jesus went with him and raised her up. The Centurion had a sick servant, not a house full of sick servants, yet Jesus was ready to go to his house and heal this one man. One day Jesus told His disciples that He had to go through Samaria- He had an appointment to meet one woman at a well.  There is not one sparrow that falls to the ground that He doesn't see.

My favorite account in the life of Jesus is the one where He healed the demonic at Gadara. Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, a terrible storm came up while they were crossing the sea. It was so bad that the disciples thought they were going to surely drown. Jesus rebuked the storm and they landed safely on the other side. When they got to the shore, a demon possessed man came running out to meet them. Jesus cast the demon out and brought deliverance to this man. The people were upset and wanted Jesus to leave. He did. Jesus went through all of that to reach one man with a need.

I don't know what you may be going through this morning, but God does and He cares about you. Each person is dear to Him. Each "one" is important to Him.  He would have left heaven and given His life on the cross had it been only one person who needed salvation.  He loves YOU. YOU are that ONE.  He is concerned about YOUR individual need this morning. While He was on earth He proved to us that each one's need is important to Him and He will go to great lengths to help YOU.  After all, His favorite number is ONE.  One hurting person, one person in need, one person with a problem, one person who needs His grace, forgiveness, love, mercy, strength and peace.

Have a great day. Yes, He does care about YOU.  You are the ONE. 

"Prayer And Praise"

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Proverbs 17:22

What a contrast- a merry heart and a broken spirit, the complete opposites. To have a merry heart is more beneficial because there is life and healing in it, while a broken spirit brings death, discouragement and even sickness. How do we keep a merry heart? How do we overcome a broken spirit? James 5:13 gives us an answer. "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms."

When experiencing a broken spirit or afflictions, don't just ignore the problem that causes them. Don't just try to sweep it under the rug. PRAY. Philippians tells us to pray in every situation. Go to God, talk to Him about it, turn your care over to Him, seek Him for direction, pour out your heart to Him, let Him know how you feel.

When we have a merry heart, we shouldn't ignore it either. Don't withhold it, don't keep it bottled up inside, release your joy, this is one time not to keep your mouth shut. James says to sing psalms when we are merry. He didn't just say to sing, he said to sing psalms- the praise chapters of the Bible. Release your praise and sing unto the Lord. Make His word your meditation, make it your song throughout the day, make it the thoughts you dwell on.

We experience times of both in life- joy and affliction. But there is something that we need to do when we are. Broken in spirit? Go to God in prayer. Merry in heart? Sing His praises.

Have a great day. Prayer and praise-- two great principles to live our lives by.

"Door To Door"

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

About forty years ago I was an Avon representative. Back then you went door to door selling the product. I can remember each day heading out on my route to knock on doors of people who were perfect strangers, greeting them, telling them who I was and what I had to sell. I haven't thought about that in a long time until yesterday. As I was reminiscing I began to put it in a spiritual context and it made me wonder--- why is it easy for us to talk to people we have never laid eyes on before and try to sell them something in order to make money, yet have a hard time telling strangers, acquaintances, friends and family about Jesus. Why is it so hard to share the gospel- the only truly good news- with them when we will share everything else. We have something to offer this world that is better than a product that will make them look a little younger, make them smell better, help improve their life, make them feel better, etc. What we have to offer will give them eternal life, escape from eternal torment, abundant life now and put them in right relationship with a Holy God.

These ladies that became my customers looked forward to my coming and were always glad to see me. They could hardly wait to see what I had to offer, see what was on sale, order something they were out of or just visit. May I tell you that there are a whole lot of people out there that are waiting for someone to share the good news of the gospel with them. They are looking for someone who will show them what they need and point them in the right direction. They are hurting needing help. They are in pain needing comfort. They are in confusion needing the truth. Sure you have those who don't want to hear and those who will reject, but there are many who do want to know. I can remember being excited about even one order. When sharing the gospel, we should rejoice when even one person will listen and turn to Christ.

Not everyone bought something each time I went. They may go for a few months without making a purchase, but I didn't quit going. I kept going each month and finally those who did not buy before did that month. Those you witness to may not receive Christ the first time you go, or the second time you witness to them, but if we persevere God will give the increase.

Have a great day. Go and share the gospel.. we go and share everything else with them... even if they are strangers.

"Excuses"

"And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused." Luke 14:18

I heard someone say that an excuse is just a lie wrapped in reason. We are full of excuses as to why we can't or won't do certain things. At times there are legitimate reasons why we can't but most of the time we are only making excuses. Our excuses are so "lame", they don't "hold water", like the people in this portion of scripture.

I want to ask you this morning- what is your excuse? What excuse are you using as to why you won't surrender your life to the Lord? What excuse are you giving as to why you won't turn your problems over to Him? What is your excuse for being disobedient to what He has told you to do? Making excuses goes back to the beginning of time. Adam tried to excuse his disobedience by blaming his wife. Aaron tried to excuse his creating the golden calf by pointing back to the peoples' demands and Moses' absence. Saul tried to cover up his disobedience through excuses by saying it was the people who did it.

Have you noticed that each of these examples tried to justify themselves by putting the blame on someone else? They tried to excuse themselves by making it someone else's fault. They tried to "pass the buck"- basically saying, "I would have obeyed if it had not been for someone else."

If you are making excuses as to why you won't receive the gift of salvation and eternal life that God has so freely provided for you through His Dear Son Jesus; if you are making excuses as to why you won't surrender the Lordship of your life over to Him; if you are making excuses as to why you won't repent and turn from your sins and receive Him as Savior and crown Him as Lord-- then on the day when you stand before the Lord and have to give and account, you will stand there alone with no one to blame but yourself. You won't have any excuses, you won't be able to blame any one else, you won't be able to point the finger of excuse toward someone. On that day, you will have to stand and give a reason and it won't be any one else's fault... and you won't have a good reason. So stop making excuses today. Stop turning your back on the gift of eternal life that God has provided for you... you don't have an excuse not to and you certainly don't have a good reason.

Have a great day. Stop making excuses... you have none.

"Going In Circles"

"We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God." Jeremiah 3:25

A couple of weeks ago I was sitting here at my desk and noticed a lizard on the window. He caught my attention because he was going around and around in circles. He would make a couple of loops in one direction, then he would stop and turn and go in the other direction. Going around, and around, and around, and around in circles.

Do you feel like that- like you are spending your life just going around in circles? You are always finding yourself back at "square one" or at the same starting point? The Israelites found themselves going in circles during their stay in the wilderness. They spent forty years going around and around the same mountain.

What causes this? Often, as was their case, it's our disobedience. Disobedience will prevent you from going forward. Disobedience is sin and sin will bring confusion to your heart and mind. Disobedience will stop you from walking on a straight and clear path. Of course, this is not the only reason. Not acknowledging God in all our ways and just going out on our own to do what we want instead of seeking God about what He wants is another reason. Also the enemy will attack us to try to keep us from going in the direction God would have us to go so that we can't see clearly the straight path.

If your reason is disobedience, then you need to stop right now and fall on your face in repentance before the Lord. And then choose to obey what He has told you. He will give you grace, strength and provision as you do. And He will lay out a straight course before you.

Have a great day. Disobedience will keep you going around in circles.

"Fleshly Weapons"

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)" 2 Corinthians 10:4

Someone came over to my house the other day. They said they had been here and there and was going somewhere else after they left. They only stayed for a few minutes and didn't have a lot to say. They had acted very odd, so I called them and asked them if there was something wrong because their behavior was just not right.

They told me that they had been battling depression for the past couple of weeks so they were trying to keep themselves busy so they would not give in to it. Can I tell you, this is not the way to handle or defeat it. This person was trying to handle it through "humanistic wisdom". What they were doing (trying to stay busy to keep from giving in to it) was the flesh's way of trying to solve its problem.

When you have a problem, when you are going through something, when you are facing a battle, you can handle it one of two ways: either through the flesh or through the Spirit. The Bible tells us not to be conformed to this world. That means don't handle problems or fight battles the same way the world does. Their way is to keep themselves busy, take a pill, go hug a tree, let their anger out, write a letter to themselves, find a hobby, etc.

Instead of conforming to and following the world's "solution" for dealing with these things, we need to handle them through spiritual means. For example, instead of busying themselves, this person should be falling on their face in prayer, and crying out to God, pressing into His presence and remaining there until they have touched the hem of His garment and felt His virtue flow into them.

Handling things through fleshly means will never solve the problem and will never bring victory. Handling them through the spirit- through the weapons that God has made available to us- will.

Have a great day. Flesh cannot solve its own problems-- it's not by our might or power, but by His Spirit-- by spiritual means.

"Mosquitoes"

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place."
2 Corinthians 2:14

I finally killed it! There has been a mosquito buzzing around my office for two or three days now. I have taken a swat at him several times- each time I'd see him land- but always missing. Well, this morning I did not miss! He will no longer bother me or attack me.

Are there any "mosquitoes" in your life? Are there "little sins" that are always trying to destroy you, keep taunting you or keep "buzzing" around waiting for a moment when you are off guard to attack? Does victory over them seem to elude you?

What do you do about them? There are those who do nothing. They just let them go, making no attempt to remove them from their lives. They think that if they ignore them then they will go away. Some know they are there but have decided that this problem is such a small thing that they don't feel they should waste their energy on trying to get rid of it. They forget that little things can cause a lot of hurt and suck the life blood out of you. Some will make attempts to "swat" at them but when they "miss" they get discouraged and give up having decided that they will never be free or will never get victory over it. The last group are those who go after it to rid it from their lives. They are relentless in their pursuit to not allow this to stay in their lives. They don't give up until they have the victory over it.

Which group are you in? Christians should be among the last group. We should not allow these things to stay in our lives. We should continually fight the good fight of faith against them-- not giving up or quitting until it is destroyed. We should always expect victory over them because Jesus Christ has already gotten the victory for us. If you're not among this group then you have a bigger problem than a "small mosquito" type sin. And it will not be long before your "mosquito" size sins become something much larger. Molehills easily become mountains when you ignore them and let them go.

Have a great day. Don't allow even the smallest of sins to stay in your life- they don't just go away.

"Praise At All Times"

"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1

"At all times, continually" will I bless and praise the Lord. Is that your testimony this morning? Do you bless and praise Him at all times? Or do you let the cares of this life, the problems you encounter, the challenges you face, the temptations that come your way steal your praise? He is still worthy of praise no matter what you are going through.

You need to praise Him. You can't afford to stop. Praise is a powerful weapon. Praise brings God's presence into the situation. Praise confuses the enemy. How? The enemy expects you to whine, cry, become fearful, grumble and complain about the trying times, but he doesn't expect to hear your praise. He can't figure out how you can still sing the praises of God when you are losing everything. He can't figure out how you can lift your voice in adoration to God when you are going through a devastating time. He gets confused and doesn't know what to do next. Ordinarily, when he hears you respond to these times with discouragement he knows that all he needs to do is keep piling them on you. When he hears praise, he has to rethink his plan and scheme against you.

Don't give in to the temptation to stop praising the Lord. Praise Him at all times--yes, even in the bad times, and especially when you are in a battle. Praise may not necessarily change the situation itself but it will change your attitude toward it. When it does, you will see the victory.

Have a great day. Determine to praise the Lord and bless His name at all times.

"The Lord's Goodness"

"And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy." Exodus 33:19

"I will make my goodness pass before thee." God's goodness is still passing before us. It passed before me this morning when it woke me up. I see His goodness in His faithfulness. I see His goodness each time He fulfills His promise to me. I see the Lord's goodness passing by in His provisions- for it is He that meets and supplies all my needs. His goodness passes by our lives in the form of His love, through His healing of our bodies, His strength in our weakness, His grace in times of afflictions and in His mercies that are new every morning.

God's goodness is not just a one time glimpse of Him as He passes by your situation. His goodness is all around us each and every day. It comes in the ways I have already described but it also comes through something as simple as a smile when you are feeling down. It comes through an unexpected word that lifts you up. It comes through the blessings of a new addition to your family, an open door, food on the table, a bargain at the store, protection in a dangerous situation, the air you are breathing this moment and in too many other ways to name.

God's goodness is still passing by, don't miss it because you are looking for it in the "big and miraculous"- it comes in those ways too, but not all the time. You find it more often in the simple and small things of everyday life that we seem to take for granted.

Have a great day. Take time today to notice His goodness, it's all around you, you won't have to look far.

"Spent"

"Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God." Isaiah 49:4

Our lives are being "spent" on something. How are you spending yours?

1) Is it being "spent with" the Lord? Do you spend time with Him daily? Throughout the day? Once a week? Would you rather spend time in His presence than anywhere else? Is your time spent on selfish lusts, entertainment, wasteful activities, on things that have no eternal value to them, or is it spent getting to know Him better, developing a deeper intimacy with Him, drawing closer to Him?

2) Is it being "spent for" Him? Are you spending your life doing His will? Are you spending it doing the things that please Him, on the things that He has commanded you to do, on fulfilling His plan for your life? Or are you spending it on self- on your own desires, following your own dreams, visions and agenda?

As I said earlier, our lives are being spent on something. They are either being spent on self or God, on His will or our will, on eternal things are temporal things, on spiritual things or fleshly things, in His presence seeking His face or seeking our own pleasures. So again, I ask you, "How are you spending your life and what are you spending it on?"

Have a great day. Are you spending this life that He has given you with Him and for Him?

"Deleted"

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

Isn't it amazing how you can delete certain material you don't want or need any more from your computer? Don't you wish you could delete your mistakes, your past, some of the things you've said or your sins as easily? Unfortunately, life does not come with a delete button, but God does.

The blood of Jesus "deletes"- it removes, cancels, blots out- our sins. That's what justification does, washes and cleanses us from our sins just as if they were never there. His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. It washes away our sins. It removes the guilt, the condemnation and the shame of them. It allows us to stand before a holy God without fear of judgment because of the sins that He'd see.

Are you trying to "remove" your sins yourself? You can't. Are you living in the guilt of them because you see no hope of ever being free from them? There is hope. As you put your faith and trust in what Jesus did at the cross for you, as you turn in repentance and trust Him as your Savior, He'll blot out all your transgressions/sins and cleanse you from them."But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14)

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." (Isaiah 43:25)

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:." (1 Peter 1:18,19)
Have a great day. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. It can and it does!

"Jericho"

"And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour." Joshua 6:2

When it was time for Joshua to take the Israelites into the promised land, the cities of its inhabitants stood in the way. The first city they encountered was Jericho. Jericho was a large, well fortified city with walls that were impenetrable- defeat of this city looked impossible. What is standing in your way this morning? What stands between you and the promises of God? What hinders you from entering into your destiny? What is that thing that keeps you from receiving and enjoying the abundant life that Christ came to give you? What is that thing that seems impossible to get through and overcome?

When I looked up the meaning of the name Jericho, I discovered two names. Evidently, the meaning is disputed. The two meanings were: City of the Moon and Place of Fragrance. When you think about the moon, you think about something that has always been since the time of creation. The moon is very big. It's always there even when the clouds hide its presence from view. It's an unshakeable, unmovable object which is impossible for us to destroy. Does that describe the thing that stands in your way? Has it always been there? Does it, like the moon, keep returning day after day or night after night? Does it look unmovable and too big to overcome? If this describes that thing, let me give you good news this morning- God brought the walls of Jericho down and destroyed the city! The "City of the Moon" was no match for God.

When I thought about the second meaning, Place of Fragrance, it reminded me of a phrase that we use around here- "The sweet smell of victory". When the Israelites went to Jericho, they could already "smell the victory", its fragrance hung in the air. Before they went to encompass the city, God had already told Joshua that He had given Jericho into his hand. They had the victory before they ever made the first step toward it. The fragrance of victory hung in the air because of God's promise. Even the people in Jericho could smell it because they knew that the God of the Israelites would destroy them.

This morning, whatever that "thing" is- it may look impossible to move, it may have been standing between you and the promise for a long time, it may have been there everyday taunting you by its size and power- but remember, the same God who created the moon can pull it down, the same God who gave Israel victory over the walled city of Jericho, can pull that thing down too, it's not too big nor too powerful for Him. Stand upon God's promise and begin to "smell the victory".

Have a great day. God destroyed the "City of the Moon" and the Israelites enjoyed the "sweet smell of victory"- if He could do it then for them, He can do the same for you.

"All Things"

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

How many times have you said, "I can't do that"? How many times have you said that when you read the Bible and it gave a specific command? How many times have you said that to the Lord when He asked you to do something? This often seems to be our immediate response to most situations. But the scripture says we can do "all things" through Christ, not some things, not a few things, not only certain things, but all things.

This means that I can love those who hate me. This means that I can go the second mile. This means that I can forgive those who have done me wrong. It means that I can turn the other cheek. It means I can lay aside the weights that so easily beset me. It means that I can run the race that is set before me. It means that I can obey Him in every area of my life. It means that I can go where He tells me to go, do what He tells me to do, respond the way He tells me to respond and live the way He tells me to live.

So, what is that thing that is your "I can't"? According to God's word, whatever it is, it is something that you "can do" through Christ's strength and grace. Go to God, turn that thing over to Him and let Him give you what you need to turn your "I can't" into "I can"-- because "yes, you can".... yes, you can through Him.

Have a great day. There are no "I cant's", only "I cans" through Christ.

"Childlike"

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

Jesus said that we have to become like children to enter into the kingdom of heaven. One child like quality is humility. Children aren't full of pride and act like they know everything. We adults tend to think we are too big for God, we are too smart, we are too wise, we are too strong or we are too important for God. (Well, even if we don't think it, we sure act like it.)

We act like it when we go on with our own plans and do not stop to acknowledge Him. We act like it when we neglect His counsel. We act like it when we when don't pray or read His word. We act like it when we think that we have all our own answers and can solve our own problems.

When we become adults, there are childish things that we must put away. But our dependency on and humility toward God is not among them. It doesn't matter how old we get, how smart we become, how strong we are, we will never reach the place where we don't need God. When I was little and I would get a haughty or rebellious attitude toward my parents (when I thought, and acted like, I knew better than they did), they would say that I was getting "too big for my britches". Are you "too big for your britches"? Do you think you know more than God knows? Do you think you can make it without His help? Do you think that you have it all under control? Then you have ceased to be like a child. Humble yourself in repentance and ask the Lord to give you a childlike faith, a childlike heart, a childlike spirit and a childlike trust in Him.

Have a great day. Are you "too big for your britches"?

"Rooted"

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love." Ephesians 3:17

When we first moved into our home, I planted a rose bush that had come from my great grandmother's house. It grew, and grew well. I was always having to trim it back.  Several years later I decided to get rid of it- or at least move it somewhere else. I cut it down, but it grew back. I cut it down again, it grew back again. I tried to dig it up, but the roots were too big that I couldn't- so it grew back. I even tried to chop it up, but it was still there. After several attempts, I thought I had finally succeeded. I didn't see any more signs of it for three or four years. About three years ago we decided to put a patio in the same area where the rose bush had been. When the men who were going to do the job began to excavate the spot, guess what we found? That rose bush. It was still there, it was not dead, it even had new sprouts buried under ground.

How "rooted" are you? How "well rooted" are you? Are your roots in Christ deep or shallow? Can you be easily uprooted? Can tribulations "chop" on your life and destroy you? Can problems dig you up? When your faith is tested, does it stand the test? When life gives you a hard time, does it "pull you up"- roots and all?

Our roots in Christ need to go very deep. If that rose bush had had a shallow root system I could have pulled it up at my first or second attempt. Our roots need to be wrapped tightly around God's word so that even when trying times test us we don't lose our hold. We know that the Lord Jesus told us we would have tribulation in this world. We know that things aren't going to get better only worse before the return of the Lord. We know that there are difficulties now on every hand. Therefore, we MUST make sure, very sure that our roots are deep and secure in Christ. Like the song says, "Be very sure, your anchor hold and grips the solid rock". A plant's anchor is its root system. Christ and His Word is our root system, and our anchor.

Have a great day. How well rooted are you?

"Walk To Please God"

"That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." 1 Thessalonians 2:12

How's your walk? In other words, how are you living? What type of lifestyle do you exhibit? Is it a self centered one? Is it loose- having a lack of morals? Are you living a very materialistic lifestyle, always after more, never satisfied with what you have? Are you living as if it's all about you? Are you living to please yourself?

The Christian lifestyle is never about pleasing one's self. It's all about pleasing God. It's about living your life in a manner in which He would be pleased. It's about living according to His will, not your own. It's about denying yourself. It's about decreasing. It's about dying to self.

I wonder why we have to be reminded about this so often. I wonder why living a life that pleases God and denies self is such a foreign concept to so many Christians. What is so hard to understand about Jesus' words,"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself."? How much plainer could He be? He didn't "stutter" when He said them. He didn't whisper them where they could not be heard. He didn't speak in a riddle. He didn't "mince" words. And these aren't just the words of a disciple, an apostle, a preacher, another man, these are the exact words of Jesus telling us what He requires and desires of us. These are the words of our Savior, our Lord, our King- the One we love and serve.

So back to the original question. How's your walk? Is it in line with what Jesus requires? Is it pleasing to God? If not, then today would be a good time to start making a change toward pleasing Him and denying yourself.  Now would be a good time to repent of serving self and start serving God.

Have a great day. It's all about pleasing Him and not ourselves.