"Trusting In The Temporary"

"Trusting In The Temporary"

"He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch." Proverbs 11:28

It is amazing how many people put their trust in the "all-mighty dollar". They act like as long as they have plenty of them it will save them, protect them and solve all their problems. The Bible says that riches will make themselves wings and fly away. You can be rich today and a pauper tomorrow. All it takes is for one catastrophe to hit and wipe out a life's savings. One bad decision can bankrupt you. A crash in the stock market and it could all be gone. There was a period in our history when Confederate money was valuable- it was "real" money. But now it is sold as souvenirs in stores or lives as a reminder of the past in our museums. A fire could burn it all up; a flood could wash it all away. Why would a person put their trust in paper, gold or silver? It is all temporary.

The bottom line is-- why would we put our trust in anything (not just money) that is temporary? Why would we put it in things that give us no guarantees? There is nothing in this life that gives us any guarantees for happiness, security or hope. This is a depressing thought if I were to just leave it at that, but there is a place where we can put our trust. It is in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

When we place our trust in Him, we are placing it in one who is not temporary- He is eternal. We are placing it in one who is not affected by what is happening in the natural. When we place it in Him, we do not have to worry, or wonder, if we are secure. He won't take wings and fly away. He isn't affected by the stock market, laws of Congress, the economy, fire, water, wind or storms. He won't cave in when catastrophes come. Our bad decisions or nothing we do changes, minimizes or depletes Him. He will remain if everything else is gone. 

So where are you going to place your trust? In something that is temporary and subject to change and failure? Or will you put your trust in the Eternal One who does not change or fail?

Have a great day. If you put your trust in temporary things, they will fail you. But when you put your trust in Jesus, He will never fail. 

For further reading:

Proverbs 23:5; 11:4; 13:7; 27:24

Psalm 62:10

Matthew 6:19

"Waiting"

"Waiting"

"In your patience possess ye your souls." Luke 21:19

Have you ever had to wait for something that you were hoping would happen quickly?  The whole world is in a place of waiting.  Waiting to be released from the house, waiting to go back to work, waiting to hear that things are safe or waiting to hear that life will get back to normal.  But it doesn't seem like that will ever happen.  The delays in getting back to the business of life keep eluding us.  So in delays we need to remember:

1) A temporary delay does not mean a permanent one. Often things in our lives are "put on hold", but just because they are doesn't mean they won't happen eventually. So don't be discouraged.

2) A temporary delay is a place of waiting. But the wait is not what matters. What matters is "how" you wait. Not everything in life, even the promises of God always come immediately. Sometimes there are delays, waiting periods, and how you wait is what's important.

Perhaps you are in one of those times now. How are you waiting? Are you anxious? Are you getting frustrated? Are you losing heart? Are you getting impatient? Is your impatience effecting your attitude- as in, are you beginning to be short, rude and unkind to others? Or are you waiting in peace? Are you trusting that God has a perfect timing for everything and He is working behind the scenes to cause all things to work together for your good? Are you resting in confidence that God is perfect and in control? Waiting is a fact of life. Delays are a fact of life. What we do in them is what counts.

Have a great day. Not everything in life comes instantly, so when it doesn't, what do you do?

For further reading:
Psalm 40:1
Philippians 4:6
Romans 8:28

"He's There"

"He's There"

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

Sometimes people are on the "mountain top". They are in a place where everything is going well. They have plenty, no problems, no lack, everything looks great, their life seems to be perfect. Then there are times when we are in the "valley". Problems come, there is lack, things don't look so great, you can't see as clearly and you don't always understand what is going on. And the thing about these places is that they can change at a moment's notice or without warning. One minute you are on the mountain top and the next you are in the valley, or vice versa.

Where you are is not what matters most. What matters is who is with you while you are there.  (I am not talking about what person is with you.)  I want to remind you that the Lord is with you- whether you are on a mountain top, in a valley, in a storm, in the wilderness, in an oasis, in a drought or a famine. It may feel like He has forgotten you. It may feel like He has abandoned you. It may feel like He is a million miles away. It may feel like He doesn't care. But He does care and He is with you. You can't lose sight of this. You are NOT alone! He didn't promise you that you would always "feel" His presence with you. But He did promise you that whether you felt it or not, He would never leave you. Take comfort and take heart this morning in His promise and remember that you are not alone-- ever.

Have a great day. Life takes us to the mountain top at times, and it also takes us to the valley. But regardless of where it takes us, we are not alone... the Lord is with us.

For further reading:
Psalm 23
Psalm 139
Exodus 3:1-3
Deuteronomy 8:2
Mark 4:37-40
Hebrews 13:5
Matthew 28:20

"The Middle"

"The Middle"

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

When the Lord gives us a command or instructions, as He did in he verse above- "Let us pass over to the other side"- He never promises us that it will be smooth sailing to get there. He never says that we won't encounter hardships or difficulties. He never tells us that there might not be a struggle or a storm to endure. He just gives us the command and attaches a promise to it- "we will make it."

From the time the instruction comes until we see the fulfillment of its promise, we may go through hard times, problems or even moments that threaten to "sink our ship". But don't give up. Stay in the boat. Keep pressing forward. Stay obedient to the command. Set your eyes on the prize- the promise.

David received the anointing to be king, but before he actually sat on the throne he was under constant pursuit by Saul and had to run for his life. From the moment that Joseph received the dream concerning his destiny and it actually came to pass, he went through a pit, slavery and a prison.

We don't mind the instruction of the Lord in regard to what He would have us to do, and we look forward to the fulfillment of it- the promise that is attached. It's just the "middle" part that we have trouble with- because the middle may involve a storm. But if you hold on to His promise in the storm the fulfillment will come to pass.

Have a great day. There is usually a trying time attached to the promise and the fulfillment of the promise, but stay faithful and full of faith during that time and you will make it to the other side.

For further reading:
Mark 4:35-41
Psalm 105:17-21
Hebrews 10:23
John 16:33

"Focus First"

"Focus First"

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

I felt like the Lord wants to remind us to "stay focused". Don't allow distractions to turn you away from the "task" that is at hand. Those distractions may not be something bad or evil. They may not be something that is sinful. But don't focus on them for too long or they will pull you away from that which really matters.

Most people do that where their salvation is concerned. They are so focused on "life" that they miss the thing that is most important in their lives- making sure they are right with God. They spend all their time, days and years focusing on their careers, education, entertainment, pleasure and a long list of other things that they have neglected the thing that truly counts in the end.

Am I saying that these things are wrong? Not necessarily. But what I am saying is that we need to take care of "first things first". We should not consume our lives with so many other things that we don't take care of the most important thing-- the security of our eternal soul. Take care of your soul, take care of your relationship with the Lord, take care of eternal matters first. Make sure that this is your primary focus.

Have a great day. It is not a question of whether what you are focusing on is good or bad, the question is, "Are you focusing on the most important things first and more?".

For further reading:
Matthew 23:23; 13:22
Luke 9:51

"Love Test"

"Love Test"

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up." 1 Corinthians 13:4

God is love. He doesn't just posses it. He doesn't just carry it around in His pocket. But it is who He is at the very core of His being-- love. When Jesus was on earth, He showed us what the Father was like. Jesus demonstrated love, the Father's love, everywhere He went and in everything He did- from the "smallest" miracle to the cross.

When you read 1 Corinthians 13, especially verses four through seven, you see the definition of what love is and what it isn't. When you read it, you are also looking into the face of Jesus. Jesus was patient. He was kind. He wasn't proud or boastful, envious or jealous. He didn't keep a record of wrongs that were done to Him. Through His fulfillment of the definition, He gave us an example and pattern to follow.

The word Christian simply means "Christ-like". We are to follow Jesus- not only in obedience to His commands- but through imitation. We are to do what He did and don't do what He didn't. We are also His children. Therefore, we are to be Christ-like in reflecting the nature and character of God as Christ- who is the Son of God- did. 1 Corinthians 13 is also an evaluation tool to determine whether we are walking in love, living according to love and reflecting God's love.

When you read 1 Corinthians 13 from now on, I hope you will look at it differently- not as just a definition, but as an example which you are to follow and as an evaluation to determine if you are. After all, the true sign of your Christianity is not in your profession of being one, but in your demonstration of love.

Have a great day. Are you following Jesus' example of love?

For further reading:
1 Corinthians 13
John 3:16; 13:35; 14:8,9
1 John 4:7,8

"Love Motive"

"Love Motive"

"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." 1 Corinthians 1:3

You can make lots of sacrifices, you can give your life to religious service, you can give your life to helping other, you can even lay down your life for your belief, but if you don't do it out of your love for God, then it profits you nothing. You see, it's not WHAT you do, but WHY you do what you do. It all boils down to motive. Motive is always at the heart of the matter, and the motive of true Christianity should always be love.

There are a lot of people who aren't Christians who do good works. Lots of people who aren't Christians are laying down their lives for their religious beliefs. But many of them do it because it makes them feel good or feel good about themselves. Some do it hoping for some sort of approval, recognition or reward in return. When Christians do good deeds or lay their lives down for their belief, it's because our motive for doing it goes deeper than just the joy that we feel or the reward that we know we will receive one day- it's on a whole different level.

At the heart of our motive is a desire to reveal God to others. Our greatest expression of love toward Him is to reflect His nature and character of love, compassion, goodness and grace to others in the things we do, in the sacrifices we make and in the service we give so that those who don't know Him will get a true picture of who He is. That is the motive behind what we do that sets us apart from others-- a love for God that causes us to live in such a way that will cause others to desire Him.

Have a great day. Motive is always at the heart of the matter. Is your motive behind what you do based out of your love for God?

For further reading:
1 Corinthians 13
Matthew 5:16

"Willing Spirit"

"Willing Spirit"

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41

Many of us have a will to do what is right, to please the Lord, to be obedient and to not sin, but this flesh of ours gets in the way. Because of its weakness we tend to give into and do the things we don't want to do. We tend to roll back over in bed in the mornings instead of getting up to pray. We tend to sit in front of the television or computer for hours being entertained instead of spending time reading our Bibles. We tend to live undisciplined lives that are not yielded to God because we are always giving into the lust of this weak flesh.

We do what we shouldn't and don't do what we should because our flesh is weak; Jesus is the one who said it in the verse above. But when He said it, He never intended for us to take that fact and make it an excuse to justify our lack of discipline, surrender and obedience. We focus too much on "the flesh is weak" when our focus should be on "the spirit is willing".

Even if we have just the slightest willingness, when coupled with the Holy Spirit we can do all things. We need to switch our focus from the weakness of the flesh to the power of the Spirit who resides in our spirits! This is the same Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead. This is the same Spirit that moved upon the face of the deep at creation. This is the same Spirit that empowered our beloved Savior Jesus while He was one earth.

As long as we are focusing on our weakness instead of His strength, we will continue to fail; we will continue to be defeated; we will continue to live lives that aren't experiencing abiding peace, unspeakable joy and abundant life. But if we focus on the power of the Holy Spirit empowering our spirits then we will walk as more than conquerors; we will speak to mountains and they will move. The situations will not overcome us but we will overcome them, and Christ through us will be glorified.

Have a great day. Are you focusing on your own weak flesh, or the Holy Spirit's ability to empower and strengthen your willing spirit?

For further reading:
Romans 8:11
Genesis 1:2
Luke 4:1
Zechariah 4:6
Acts 1:8

"His Love"

"His Love"

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

Before you were born, the Lord knew you and loved you. Before you repented of your sins and became His child He loved you. He not only said that He loved you, but He showed you how much He loved you by sending His Son to die for your sins. He has always loved you, so why do you ever doubt?

According to the Book of Romans nothing separates us from His love. That is because His love is unconditional. He loves us in spite of ourselves- in spite of our rebellious attitude, in spite of our selfishness, or our determination to do things our own way, and in spite of the fact that we often think we know better than God does when it comes to running our lives.

Because He loves us so deeply and unconditionally does that mean that we have a license to sin and it will be all right? No, it doesn't. Sin puts a hindrance in our relationship with Him. It's what broke our relationship with Him in the first place-- through Adam's sin in the garden. But because His love for us is deep and eternal, He provided a way to put our relationship back together again. So now we can have the wonderful assurance that because He does love us, that once we confess our sins any hindrance is completely removed out of the way.

And just in case you doubt His love for you this morning look at the cross. There is no greater demonstration of love. And there is no greater proof.

Have a great day. The Lord loved you, loves you and will always love you.

For further reading:
John 3:16
Romans 5:8; 8:35-39
1 John 1:9
Jeremiah 31:3

"Power In The Blood"

"Power In The Blood"

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." Hebrews 10:4

I grew up on songs like, "There is Power in the Blood", "Nothing But the Blood", "The Blood Will Never Lose It's Power", "Are You Washed in the Blood?". Of course, these songs were all talking about the blood of Jesus that was shed at Calvary.

I want to talk about the blood for a moment. There is so much to say and teach on the subject but this is a devotional not a book so I just want to touch briefly on the power that is in the blood. The blood of Jesus is more powerful than anything else. It has the power to remove sin. It has the power to give eternal life. It has the power to bring reconciliation between us and God. It has the power to give salvation, redemption and healing. By its power a new covenant was established.

If the blood has the power to forgive our sins and give us eternal life, why are we still trying to find a way to save ourselves? What do I mean? There are those who still try to find forgiveness through doing good deeds. They are trying to work their way to heaven. They think that if they are "good enough", do enough religious deeds, or don't do certain "sins" that this will make them acceptable to God. When the spirit of death went throughout Egypt during the last plague, there was only one thing that could save the people- the blood. If the Israelites did not have the blood of the lamb applied to the doorposts of their houses, death would have come to them as well. That night there was only one thing that could have saved them- it's the same way today. It still takes the blood of the Lamb applied to our lives.

You can try to offer the Lord your own "sacrifices", but the blood of His Son Jesus is the only thing that God will acknowledge for the forgiveness of sin. The blood was the only thing that could have paid the price. Try as you may to pay for it yourself, but you will always come up short. The price was paid in full at the cross through Jesus' blood, so why don't you stop trying to work hard enough to come up with something else that will pay for it-- it won't.  Receive Jesus as your Savior by acknowledging the sacrifice He paid for your sins through His shed blood.

Have a great day. There is power in the Blood!!


For further reading:
Hebrews 9:12-14, 22
Exodus 12
1 Corinthians 6:19,20
Isaiah 53:10,11

"No Reason To Fear"

"No Reason To Fear"

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

There are some fearful things in life, but Christians have no need to fear them. Let's talk for a moment about why we have no reason to fear.

First, fear does not come from God. It comes from our enemy, the devil. We don't have to fear what comes from him because he is already defeated. His weapons are "broken" that he uses against us. Our Lord defeated him, stripped him, dethroned him and made his weapons of none effect. So, why do we fear the devil? Is he greater than Jesus? Is he more powerful? Was he the victor? No, no and no!!

Also, we don't have to be in fear because the Lord has given us, and equipped us, with everything we need to be victorious over fear. He has given us "power". His power, not our puny little power. It's the same power that defeated the devil at the cross so that we can defeat him each time he comes with his attacks. The Lord has given us His "love". Love casts out fear. Fear and love cannot cohabitate, just like fear and faith can't. He has also given us a "sound mind". Fear starts first as an attack against your mind. This sound mind we have been given "nips it in the bud" before it has a chance to go any further or manifest in us.

So, given the fact that fear has been conquered by Jesus, we have absolutely no reason to fear anything-- even giants-- that stand before us. It matters not what they are or how big they are, God is bigger. Are you facing a "giant" this morning? A financial giant? A relationship giant? A giant of sickness or disease? A giant that is threatening to make you its slave or keep you held captive? Remember David and Goliath? This story teaches us about the power of God to bring down giants in our lives, no matter how big they are...or what they are! What defeated the Israelite army was their fear-- fear of Goliath. It wasn't the giant that defeated them. (Read the story.) They were paralyzed by fear and would not make a move forward to fight him. They had become a slave of fear and the giant.  Fear will defeat you, if you let it.  It will paralyze you, it will keep you from advancing, it will hold you captive and turn you into its slave, it will steal from you and in the end it will destroy you. 

David wasn't defeated because he didn't fear Goliath. He didn't fear him because he knew that God was bigger. There is an old adage that says, "The bigger they are, the harder they fall". How true! God can bring even the biggest giant in your life down and He can do it with something as simple as a small stone. Nothing is too big for Him!!!!

Have a great day. There is no reason to fear the giant... whatever that giant may be.  God is bigger than it is and has empowered you to have victory over it!!

For further reading:
1 John 3:8
Isaiah 54:17
1 John 4:18
2 Corinthians 10:5
1 Samuel 17

"First Step"

"First Step"

"And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again." Genesis 37:22

When Joseph's brothers cast him into a pit, I can't even imagine what was going through his mind. I am sure that fear, confusion, anxiety and a host of other emotions were running rampant in his thoughts. No doubt he was asking, "Why?". During his time in the pit I am positive that there was one thought that wasn't going through his mind-- "this is a good thing". Little did Joseph know at the time that this was the first step in the fulfillment of God's plan for his life.

Often the first steps in the fulfillment of our destiny, God's plan for our lives, doesn't look at all like we thought it would. At first glance it may even appear to look like anything but. It doesn't necessarily come wrapped up in flowery packaging. It doesn't always come under ideal conditions. It doesn't always come through some miraculous encounter with the Lord like Paul had on the Damascus Road or Moses had standing before the burning bush. Joseph's brother's hatred, jealousy and betrayal is what sent him on the first step.

Many times the first step that will take us to our God given destiny comes like it did for Joseph- in a pit. Remember, Esther's came through her captivity, as did Daniel's and many others recorded in the Bible.

Don't get discouraged, don't get anxious, don't get fearful or fretful when things aren't going as planned or they appear to be going in the opposite direction. It might be that this is your first step toward fulfilling your destiny.

Have a great day. Joseph's destiny was the palace, but the first step in getting there was the pit.

For further reading:
Jeremiah 29:11
Romans 8:28
Genesis 37
Genesis 50:19,20
Acts 9:4-6
Exodus 3

"Who Is In The Boat?"

"Who Is In The Boat?"

"And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Mark 4:41

The disciples were in a storm. The boat was filling with water, the winds were blowing, the waves were beating upon them, the situation looked like sure destruction or death. Jesus was in the boat with them during this storm. You know the story, they woke Him up to save them and He rebuked the storm and the sea became calm. The next conversation we hear from the disciples is not one of praise because they were safe or worship because Jesus had done such a miracle, but one of awe and fear about the true identity and nature of Jesus.

We all go through storms in our lives. They may not be literal like the one the disciples faced but they are very real, nevertheless, and threaten to destroy us. When we go through these storms, most of us have no doubt believing that Jesus is with us in the storm. But we too are often like the disciples, we don't know who is in the storm with us. Or at least we act like we don't know.

We often act just like the disciples- fearful, worried and anxious. We fret over the storm. We act like, though Jesus is in the storm with us, He is powerless to do anything about it. We act like the storm is going to drown us and there is nothing that can be done about it.

It's one thing to know He is in the boat with you, it's another thing to remember who He is that is in the boat. In case you have forgotten, let me remind you this morning of just who He is. He is the one who speaks peace to the troubling situation. He is the one who rebukes the winds and the waves- the lies and the fears. He is the one who created the universe, who calls the stars by name, who spoke into nothing and created everything. He is the one to whom every knee shall bow. He is the one who has a name that is above every name. He is the one who destroyed the works of the enemy at the cross then paraded His defeat of the devil before all spiritual beings- angels and demons alike. He is the one who causes demons to flee, the rocks to cry out, the hills to skip like young rams, and water to come out of a rock. He speaks to ravens and they fed a prophet. He turns water into wine, puts money in fishes' mouths, sends manna from heaven. He is the ark of safety. His name is a strong tower. He is healer, deliverer and provider. He is the Prince of Peace, the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God. Should I go on?

Storms of life come to all of us and when they do it's not enough to just remember that Jesus is in the boat with you, but you also have to remember who He is that is in the boat with you.

Have a great day. It is the Almighty God, who is all powerful and able to do anything, that is in the storm with you!!

For further reading:
Psalm 147:4; 29:6; 103:3
Genesis 1:1-3
Romans 14:11
Philippians 2:9,10
1 John 3:8
James 4:7
Luke 19:40
Exodus 17:6; 16:15
Colossians 2:15
1 Kings 17:6
John 2:3-10
Matthew 17:27
Isaiah 9:6
Revelation 22:13
Proverbs 18:10

It's About Us

"It's About Us"

"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 always say that it's about God and not us. It's about Him receiving the glory. It's about Him be exalted. It's about doing His will not our own. It's about what He wants not what we want. And, yes, this is true-- it is about Him. But, as for as He is concerned, and from His perspective, it's about "us".

The whole reason Jesus came to earth was about us. He lived His life showing us what the Father was like. He demonstrated the character of God while He was here in order to show us what a loving Father God He is. The whole reason why Jesus went through the pain and shame of the cross was because of us. It wasn't for His own sins- He had none. It was all about us.

It was about the Father's love for us. It was about His desire that we be with Him one day in heaven. It was about us becoming His children. It was about Him being able to lavish His love on us. Everything He did was for us- so that we could be redeemed, so that we could have a relationship with Him, so that we could have forgiveness of sins, so that we can have everlasting life, so that we can know Him.

On His end what He did, He did for us. On our end what we do, we do for Him.

Have a great day. As for as we are concerned, it is all about Him and not about us. But as for as He's concerned, what He did was about us.

For further reading:
2 Corinthians 5:21
John 14:1-3
Hebrews 12:2
Galatians 3:13
John 17

"Follow Close"

"Follow Close"

"Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off." Luke 22:54

The first time we saw Peter in the scriptures he wasn't following Jesus. The rest of the time we see him in scripture he is following Jesus closely. But in this verse he is following Him afar off. After Jesus' resurrection and the rest of Peter's life he followed Jesus more closely than he had followed Him when He was alive.

Let's bring this issue of following Jesus home- on a more personal, individual level. Are you following Jesus? How closely are you following Him? Are you following Him afar off? Are you endeavoring to follow Him more closely today than ever before? Are you following Him daily? Are you following Him only when it is convenient for you? Are you following Him on Sundays but not on the other six days of the week? Are you following Him when things are going well only? Or when things are going bad too?

When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He meant that they were to follow Him close enough for Him to tell that they were following Him. That goes for us modern day disciples too. As a matter of fact, if you aren't following Him, you really aren't His disciple, because that's what a disciple does.... follows.

Check your walk and relationship with the Lord today. Honestly examine your life to see where, or if, you are following Jesus. It was never His desire for you to follow afar off. He wants to be "up close and personal" with you.

Have a great day. The only true way to follow Jesus is closely, and growing closer every day.

For further reading:
Luke 5:4-11
Matthew 16:24
John 10:27
John 12:26
John 21:14-19

"The Other Side"

"The Other Side"

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

If you recognized this story from the scripture above, you'll remember that this was the time when Jesus and His disciples were in the boat heading to Gadara and a storm came up that threatened to destroy them. When they got in the boat, Jesus told them that they were going to the other side. When He told them this, He was telling them what His plan was-- go to the other side. He also was giving them a command to take Him to the other side of the sea. This was the "mission" that Jesus had given them. It was their task to get Jesus to the other side so that He could fulfill the plan of the Father once He got there.

I said it was "their task to get Jesus there" because we all know that boats don't guide themselves. Some one has to be hoisting the sails and attending the oars. Boats don't just "drift" and happen to make their intended destination. Some one has to be piloting them.

Jesus had a plan to fulfill and the disciples were to take Him to the place where it could be fulfilled. Now, I have been very wordy to get to this point. We have a task- or assignment- to "take Jesus to the other side". It is our job to get Him from one place to another (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world) so that God's plan might be fulfilled in the earth. He gave us the commission and He gave us the message-- Jesus.

Are you fulfilling the commission you have been given? Are you taking Jesus to the "other side"- to your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, classmates, etc.? Are you letting the storms of life, the trying times or the fierce winds stop you? They will come, they did that evening to Jesus and His disciples. The enemy is always trying to kill and destroy us, but we can't let anything stop us. We have to keep going on in faith and rebuke the hindering circumstances.

When they got to the other side, a man who was possessed with a legion of demons was gloriously delivered, set free and restored to "life". People like him still exist today- the lost, the bound, the infirmed, the hopeless and so on. They need Jesus and someone needs to take Him to them.

Have a great day. You have been given the commission to "take Jesus to the other side"...are you?

For further reading:
Mark 4:35-39
Acts 1:8
Mark 16:15
Romans 10:14

"Mending What's Broken- Part 3"

"Mending What's Broken- Part 3"

"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." John 8:11

Continuing on the subject of "broken things". When something gets broken, I either try to put it back together again or just discard it. When my mother in law's tea cup got broken (that I told you about yesterday), I would have thrown it away and not given any more thought to it. But my mother in law wanted to repair it. Evidently, it meant something to her and she believed that it can be "saved".

We tend to do this with people. We look at them and are ready to "throw them away". We are quick to give up on people. We would have given up on the prodigal son. We would have given up on the prostitute that was caught in the act of adultery. We would have given up on Peter. We tend to look at people's lives and say, "There is no hope". We look at the drug addict or alcohol, the rebellious child, the criminal and say, "They will never change. What's the use?"

I am so glad that God doesn't look at us the same way. I am sure that many people thought that I was hopeless. I know that people had given up on me. I know that they thought I would never change. I know that I was broken and ready to be thrown on the trash heap. But you know, even though people wanted to "throw me away" because they didn't see any value in my life or anything worth trying to save, God didn't throw me away. Instead He saw my value and worth when no one else did. Then He provided the "glue" that it would take to put me back together again. That "glue" was the shed blood of His Dear Son Jesus. It has been said, you determine the value of something by the price that one is willing to pay for it. God paid the highest price possible, the life of His Son, because that was the value that He put on our lives.

I am of the firm belief that as long as there is breath in a person there is hope. And as long as there is hope we shouldn't give up on people. We shouldn't discard them and give up on them- God hasn't.

Have a great day. We tend to want to throw away things that are valuable to God.

For further reading:
Matthew 14:30
Luke 15:11-24
John 8:1-11
1 Corinthians 6:19,20
Romans 5:8

"Mending What's Broken- Part 2"

"And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." Isaiah 58:12

Yesterday we talked about God specializing in repairing that which is broken. He is the healer, He is the mender, He is the repairer, but He has also commissioned us to be His hands extended to repair what is broken.

We live in a world that is "broken". People all around us- on our jobs, in our families, in our schools, in the market place- have broken lives that need to be put back together again. You don't have to go very far before you see a broken life. You don't have to go very far to find someone who has a shattered life. You don't have to go very far to find someone who is hurting. May I ask you a question this morning? What are you doing about those that you come in contact with who are broken?

When my grand daughter was little, she and I went to my mother in law's home and while there she broke a little tea cup that was sitting on the table. My mother in law gave it to me to take home and repair. A month later it was still sitting in my office, awaiting repair. I looked at it numerous times. I picked it up and thought about repairing it. I even moved its pieces on several occasions to another spot because it was in my way at the moment. For some reason I couldn't seem to make the effort to repair it. For some reason when I did think about doing it, it is inconvenient to do so.

Back to my question. What are you doing about those that you come in contact with who are broken? Are you doing the same thing I did with the broken tea cup? Are you just looking at them but not offering help in getting their lives put back together- like the priest and the Levite who saw the man who was left for dead on the Jericho Road? Are you "ignoring" them because you are unwilling to "get involved" because of what it might cost you, because it is inconvenient, because you just don't want to take the time, because you don't see it as important or because you have other priorities? What might your reason be? What if Jesus had used the same excuses and not gone to the cross? Where would our lives be? Still broken with no hope of repair.

We aren't the ones who bring the healing- only Jesus can do that- but we are the ones who are to reach down, pick them up and pour in the oil and the wine like the Good Samaritan did. If we aren't reaching out to the broken, then who is going to take them to Jesus so that He can bring healing and repair their broken lives?

Have a great day. Jesus' part is to heal them, our part is to bring them to Him so He can.

For further reading:
John 13:15
Luke 10:30-37

"Mending What's Broken"

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

God specializes in repairing that which is broken. He knows just how to mend it- He knows just how to put it back together. And He desires to put that which is broken back together again.

This fact about God was revealed through the cross. Mankind's relationship with God was broken through Adam's disobedience. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to repair our broken relationship with Him. Through the cross He also fixed our broken lives. He "put us back together again". He made us whole and complete.

When God puts it back together, He does it so perfectly that there is no scar, no seam line and no crack left as evidence that it was ever broken to begin with. That's because He has a way of making it completely brand new- just as if it had never been broken.

What's broken in your life this morning? Is it your relationship with the Lord? Is it a relationship with someone else? Is it your heart that is broken over a situation? Is your life shattered? Whatever it is, the cross is a place of mending. It's a place of repair. It's a place where whatever is broken can be put back together again and made whole. Turn to the cross- turn to its mending, healing, restoring power this morning. Turn to the wonderful Savior who was willing to go to the cross so that whatever in your life is broken could be put back together again.

Have a great day. The cross mended our broken relationship with God.. and everything else that is broken.

For further reading:
Isaiah 59:2
2 Corinthians 5:17,19
Colossians 1:20
Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20

A Prepared Place

"A Prepared Place"

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

When we read this verse, we usually think about the place the Lord is preparing for us in heaven. Certainly, it is a place so beautiful, so glorious, so unlike this world that we can't define or describe it accurately. Who can imagine, without actually seeing it, what the streets of gold, gates of pearl, mansions and the rainbow around the throne of God really look like.

But this verse is also talking about the "here and now". God has prepared some things for us while we are still here in this world. (That's part of the abundant life that Jesus was talking about.) For one, He has prepared a place of peace and rest for us. When the plagues were falling on Egypt, God had prepared a place called Goshen for the Israelites to dwell in. The Bible records that while the Egyptians were suffering because of the plagues the Israelites were dwelling in safety. The plagues weren't touching them. They were in a place of peace and rest. They could relax in their homes with no fear that the plagues were going to destroy them.

Jesus showed us first hand what this place looked like one night when He and the disciples were in a boat crossing the sea and a violent storm came up. Where was this place? Was there a cabin on the boat and He was safely below deck? No, the place was a place of peace and rest that He found in the Father. The waves were beating upon the boat, the boat was being tossed on the sea, water was filling the boat, but Jesus was asleep through it all- until the disciples woke Him up. How could He sleep through a storm? Because He had found that place of peace and rest that God had prepared.

Have you found that place? Are you at peace when you see the "plagues of crisis" that are coming on the world? Are you resting in faith and confidence that the storm that is hitting your life will not drown you nor destroy you? That place of peace and rest that God has prepared for those that love Him is found in Him. He is our safe refuge- our place of peace and rest.

Have a great day. God has prepared a place for those who love Him here and now... as well as in heaven.

For further reading:
John 10:10
Exodus 8:21-23: 9:26
Mark 4:37-39
Psalm 4:8
Psalm 91

Coming Through The Storm

"Coming Through The Storm"

"Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy." Luke 8:22,23

Life is a lot like weather.  You can be going through life experiencing sunshine- no problems, no cares, everything is well in your relationships, your health, your finances, etc.- then all of a sudden the “clear” day turns “stormy”.  And vice versa- you might be going through difficulties and all of a sudden the “sun” is shiny again and all is well.  There is a story in the New Testament that illustrates this fact well.  It is the story of the disciples who were in the boat when the storm came.  They were experiencing "smooth sailing" then all of a sudden a storm that threatened to drown them arose. 

 There were four things that I discovered from this story that have helped me to handle the storms that rage in my life from time to time.  I want to share them with you.

1)  Remember that you are not alone in the storm.  “And he was in the hinder part of the ship.”  Often it may seem as if you are going through the difficulty alone.  You may even wonder where the Lord is.  You might wonder if He even sees what you are going through.  It may feel like He is a million miles away on the other side of the universe.  He isn’t.  He is right there with you.  He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you.  (Hebrews 13:5)

2)  Don’t forget who it is that is with you in the storm.  Jesus was in the boat- but He was not just another man or another one of the disciples, He was God Himself in the flesh.  The Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God was right beside them.  The very One who calls the stars by name and created the universe by the words of His mouth was in the storm with them. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:12,14) 

3)  Don’t hesitate to ask the Lord for help. How many times do we try to solve our own problems before we go to God and ask for His help.  We tend to put Him at the bottom of the list of resources.  We usually wait and go to Him only after we have exhausted everything else that we thought might work.  "They were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.  And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish." (Luke 8:23,24a)  

4)  Put your trust and faith in the Lord.  "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" (v.40)  It's one thing to acknowledge His presence and remember just who He is when you are in the storm, but it has to go one step further.  You must put your faith in Him-- in the fact that He will do what He says He will do.  Jesus told them when they got into the boat that they were going to the other side.  He never said anything about drowning.  Jesus was going to the other side of the lake in obedience to God’s will- He had a purpose to fulfill.  He had a divine appointment in Gadara awaiting Him.  The enemy sent a storm to try to stop Jesus, but to no avail.  The enemy may fight you.  He may try to stop you from fulfilling God’s will in your life.  The situation you find yourself in may look impossible.  All hell may come against you.  Trials may arise.  But if God says something, regardless of what comes your way, His word will always prevail.  If He said they were going to the other side, ten storms could have come up on the lake but they would have passed through all ten and reached the other side.  God’s word is more powerful than the storms that try to destroy you.  It is greater than the enemy who tries to stop you.  Heaven and earth will pass away but His word will always remain.  “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31)  

Have a great day.  If we will remember and put into practice these four things that we learn from this story, we too will safely arrive at our intended destination- regardless of the storms. 

"Add Praise"

"Add Praise"

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalm 100:4

When was the last time you took time during your prayer time to do something more than just ask God to supply some particular need? The scriptures do tell us to ask if we have a need, so we should. But do you ever take the time to just thank Him for all the prayers He has answered? Do you ever just spend some time telling Him how wonderful He is? Do you ever take the time to give Him praise, honor and glory? Even Jesus taught us that praise was a key element to our prayers when He taught His disciples the "Lord's Prayer".

I know there are times of "urgency" in our prayers when we need an answer. But there should also be times when we just let Him know how truly thankful we are that He allows us to come and make our requests known to Him and that He answers them.

What does your prayer life consist of? Just requests? Just giving Him your petitions? Or do you spend some time just loving on Him through your praises and thanksgiving?

Have a great day. Prayer has more than one part to it-- it's about asking and it's about praising the One we ask for answering us.

For further reading:
Matthew 6:9-13
Philippians 4:6
James 4:2
Psalm 113:1
Psalm 118:21