"He's Looking At You"

"Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,  Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!"  Psalm 113:5,6

 Loosely translated this verse means-- God sits high, but He looks low!  This God who is so highly exalted above anyone and anything else, keeps His eye on the things that are in heaven and that are down here on earth.  When you consider the heavens, the work of His fingers, the moon and the stars, which He has ordained; what is man, that He is even mindful of us? He has made us lower than the angels.  Yet He did not create us then leave us on our own.  He didn't create us then sit back in His "easy chair" somewhere and like some child playing with a toy-- "wind us up and let us go" moving around on our own.  He is always there.  He is always watching over us.  He is still ruling from on high.  He is still very active in the affairs of men.  He is very mindful of us.

You may feel as if He has left you, neglected you or forgotten you.  You may feel abandoned by Him.  You may feel like He doesn't care about you.  You may feel like He has left you to yourself and doesn't know where you are or what you are going through.  Your feelings are not telling you the truth.  He does care.  He is with you.  He is watching over you.... always.  

Have a great day.  Although God sits high, He still looks down low to watch over you.   

For further reading:
Psalm 8:3-5

 

"I Know A Secret"

"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."  1 Corinthians 14:2

The word for mysteries here means- hidden secrets, hidden things not obvious to the understanding, the hidden purposes and secret counsel of God.  How amazing is it that God desires to reveal His secrets to us.  It is amazing because His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours.  It is amazing because He knows the names of each and every star-- all trillions times trillions times trillions of them.  It is amazing because He sees each and every sparrow when it falls, measures the universe in the width of His hand, knows the numbers of hairs on each person's head, and yet He would let man made from dust in on His secrets.

"He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." (Matthew 13:11) This privilege and honor is not given to everyone.  It is not because God does not want to share them with us all.  It is given to those-- like His disciples-- who spend time with Him.  Who are with Him twenty-four seven.  It is given to those who will sit at His feet and listen to His words.  It is given to those who follow Him everywhere He goes and leads, and obeys what He tells them to do.  It is given to those like Moses who will come apart to listen.  And to those who will draw near to Him to observe and hear.  "And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." (Exodus 3:3)

"He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." (Psalm 103:7) Even among those who profess to know Him most only know His "acts".  They see what He is doing but they don't understand it.  They don't know "what?" or "why?" God is doing what He is doing.  Will we know "everything" about the workings of God?  No.  We only know in part now while on earth.  But there is a whole lot more that God desires to show us and make us privy to if we would have a heart that desires to know Him in a deeper way and listen to what He is saying.  There is no good thing that He withholds from those who walk uprightly... including His secrets.

Have a great day.  God desires to reveal His secrets to you.   

For further reading:
Isaiah 55:9; 40:12
Psalm 84:11; 147:4 
1 Corinthians 13:9,12

"The Highest Call"

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:14

There is a prize that is laid up for those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  We should be "pressing" toward it.  Those who faithfully run, and finish, this race of life staying connected to Him will receive it when they stand before Him. 

There is also a high calling that we are to be "pressing" toward.  That high calling is not some lofty position that we hold in church.  It is not some great ministry that we might aspire to.  It is not some religious vocation.  There is a call to service that the Lord places on all of us, but this "high calling" is far more valuable and greater than any religious title or work that we might be called to do.  It is much more important.  It is also the one that is most taken for granted.

What is this "high calling"?  It is the same as the "prize".  It is Jesus Himself.  Our highest call is to come into a place of intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a call to "know Him".  It is a call to come and sit at His feet and love on Him.  It is a call to become one with Him.  It is a call to love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.  When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus didn't say it was to do some "work"-- don't kill, don't steal, feed the poor, don't lie, don't mistreat people, give tithes, sing in a choir.  He said the greatest was to "love God with everything that is in you".  This is our "high calling".  Everything else we do stems from it and is a by-product of it. 

On the day when we stand before Jesus, it won't be about the works we did.  Many will profess that they did great and miraculous works in His name, but He will tell them to depart because He did not know them.  Knowing Him is the greatest work-- it is our high calling.  Have you made it yours?

Have a great day.  Our highest calling is to know the Lord in an intimate and deep personal way.    

 

"A Foolish Weapon"

" And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever."  2 Chronicles 20:21

I wish I had time to expound on this whole chapter because there are so many rich verses in it. (Take the time to read it when you have an opportunity.)  The Israelites were facing a great battle against many enemies.  The king prayed to the Lord and sought His help and counsel.  The Lord promised to be with them, to fight the battle for them and to give them victory. 

The one thing I want to talk about this morning is how the battle was fought.  It wasn't fought with swords and spears.  It wasn't fought with guns and bullets.  It wasn't fought with knifes or hand to hand combat.  It was fought with the oddest thing-- praise!    

The Lord said He would fight our battles as well.  But His weapons aren't our weapons-- they are more powerful, and they seem foolish.  Who would stand before an enemy with only the praises of God in their mouth and no weapon in their hand?  Yet, this is what Israel did and won the battle.  "And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten." (verse 22)

Your praise may seem like a foolish weapon, but it is a powerful one.  It confuses the enemy.  When you are facing a battle- or going through some difficulty- he does not expect you to be praising and worshiping God.  He expects you to complain, grumble, speak negatively, get angry, etc. but not praise.  Praise is so contrary to our human reactions.  It is contrary to our nature.  But praise is God's nature in us, and it is faith at work.  When Job worshipped God after his tremendous trial, the devil was put to confusion, he was proven wrong, and his accusations against Job were put to silence for a season.     

If you want to rest assure that you win your battles, then first seek the Lord for guidance.  Then let the high praises of your awesome, wonderful, mighty, God who has already won the victory for you be in your mouth.

Have a great day.  Praise may be a foolish thing to do when the enemy is attacking you, but it is a powerful thing to do!

"The Diary"

"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 have been blessed with some amazing friends who love the Lord dearly and enjoy talking about Him.  When we are together, He is the subject of our conversations.  But for the most part it is hard to find "Christians" who really want to talk about Him.  They want to talk about everything else and very seldom does He even come up in conversation.  Why is this?  Talk to me about Jesus!  I want to talk about Him.  The world needs to hear us talk about Him.

There is no worthier subject than Jesus.  We waste our breath on so many other topics or subjects.  We certainly don't mind talking about our problems.  We don't mind talking about the trials that are going on in our lives.  We don't mind talking about other people.  We talk about everything from the weather to politics, but not Him.  He should be the grand theme of our conversations with each other.

I remember when I first turned my life over to the Lord and He became my Savior.  I went to visit a friend.  I wanted to share Jesus with her.  All I wanted to do was tell her about Him.  She kept changing the subject.  Finally, I told her that I could talk about anything that she wanted to talk about, but I would rather talk about Him-- Who He is and what He has done.  So, we talked about Him, and she surrendered her life to Him that night.  The world- the lost- need us for us to talk about Him.  They don't need us to keep our mouths shut.  They need to hear this good news.  They need to know there is hope and help.  But how will they hear if we never talk about Him.

The verse above tells us that those who fear and love the Lord talk often about Him.  When was the last time He was the topic of your conversation?  When was the last time you just wanted to talk about Him?  It also says that when we do talk about Him to each other, He records it in His book of remembrance.  In today's language that would mean-- God keeps a "diary".  Each time you talk about Him, He records it in His diary and reads it over and over again.  (How cool is that !!!)    

Have a great day.  Is Jesus the theme of your conversation?  If He is, God is keeping a "diary" of every time you talk about Him.

"A Chain Reaction"

"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped."  Job 1:20

Job had just gotten word that he lost all ten of his children.  He also lost all his possessions which included seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred donkeys.  The Bible says that he was the greatest of all the men in the east.  But in a matter of hours he lost everything.  And what did he do?  He worshipped the Lord.  What an "odd" thing for Job to do! 

Job wasn't worshipping God because of his tragedy, he was worshipping God in spite of it.  When we worship/praise the Lord in spite of the bad that it happening in our lives it starts a "chain reaction".  When you get a bad report, as did Job, you first have to make a choice-- are you going to grumble, complain, get angry, get fearful, etc.- or are you going to make a step of faith and worship/praise the Lord.

When things go wrong, praise isn't always automatic.  Sometimes it is a "step of faith".  We don't feel like praising God, but faith needs to override our feelings and praise Him anyway.  When we make that first step of faith it starts the chain reaction.  From there your step of faith becomes a "sacrifice of praise"-- something you are bringing to God.  Then your praise ushers in the presence of God-- He inhabits the praises of His people.  Once He comes in and inhabits, everything that He is also comes in too.  When it comes, He then releases everything you need to make it through the difficulty that hit your life to begin with- whether it is strength, grace, help, wisdom, peace, etc.  It comes into your heart, mind and situation.

So, to sum it up-- when something "bad" happens, take a step of faith.  It will become a "sacrifice".  When God sees the sacrifice, it will cause His presence to draw near.  When He draws near, everything you need to make it through it will be available to you.  On the flip side of that, there will be a "chain reaction" that takes place also if you don't praise the Lord in spite of what you are going through.  You will start complaining, which will lead to fear, which will lead to unbelief, which will lead to confusion, which will lead to depression, which will lead to thoughts of giving up.... and etc. etc. etc.

Have a great day.  Your praise will start a chain reaction. 

"Many Ways To God"

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  John 14:6

The world says that there are many ways that lead to God.  It says that it doesn't matter what your religious belief is, it will lead you to God-- they all lead to God.  Though we don't like to think that we share this same belief in Christianity, I am concerned that we really have adopted this same way of thinking.  Let me explain what I mean.

While we don't believe that you can get to God through Mohammad, through Buddha, through following the teachings of some prophet, or through some idealistic philosophy, we seem to think that we can get to God by doing some religious duty.

We seem to believe that if we join a church membership roll, if we are baptized in water, if we teach a Bible class, if we give offerings to the church, if we abstain from sexual immorality, if we give aims to the poor, and if we are good and treat others good then we will get to God.

This is the same thinking that the world has-- there are many ways to God.  Ours is just more subtle and it involves doing "Christian influenced" religious acts more than following some person or teaching like those who are following different religious beliefs.

Many roads/ways do not lead to God.  All roads/ways do not lead to God.  There is only One Way that leads to God the Father and His name is JESUS.  He alone is the way.  Following some great teacher or prophet won't get you there.  Doing religious deeds won't get you there. Faith and trust and following Jesus is the only way that will get you there.  He is the Door-- the way to enter in.  If you try to go through any other way you are like a thief and won't get in.  You must go through the door-- Jesus.

Have a great day.  Many ways don't lead to God, including religious church activity.  

 

"The Fiery Darts"

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."  Ephesians 6:16

Just as any enemy, the enemy of our soul, has weapons that he uses against us.  In the verse above it says that he has "darts" that he throws at us.  These darts are "evil" in nature.  They cause annoyances, hardships, toils, perils, pain, trouble and disease.  They are intended to steal, kill and destroy us.

What do these darts more specifically look like?  They are darts of depression.  They are darts of confusion.  They are darts of anger, bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness.  They are darts of pride and arrogance.  They are darts of selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-ambition.  These darts include lust, hatred, unnatural desire, greed, hopelessness, grief, fear, etc.

Are you feeling pressure from the things that I have named?  Then the enemy is hurling his "darts" at you.  If they are hitting you, if they are taking a hold of your life, then you have let your shield of faith down.  There is only one way to quench (extinguish) them-- by using your shield of faith. 

How do I do that you may ask?  By getting into God's word-- read it, meditate upon it, apply it, speak it over your situation.  Believe God's word and stand upon it.  Bring the thoughts of your mind captive.  Don't give them a second thought but turn them over to the Lord.

The weapons of the enemy do not have to destroy us.  We don't have to become a "battle causality".  If that were the case, the Lord would not have given us weapons to combat the enemy and protect ourselves with.  The weapons He has given us are not just weapons.  They are His weapons.  And His weapons are mightier and more powerful than any weapon the enemy conjures up to use against us.  But you have to use the weapons that the Lord has made available to you in order to be victorious against the enemy's "darts".

Have a great day.  Use your shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the enemy.   

"The Correct Response"

"And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." Luke 1:18

"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:38

Two events were recorded in this chapter that were related to each other.  The angel Gabriel appeared to both Zacharias and Mary to bring them news of God's plan in their lives. 

The angel told Zacharias that his wife was going to conceive and bare a son whose name would be John.  John would be the fore runner of the Messiah- preparing the way for Him.  Zacharias response was-- "this is impossible because my wife and I are both too old to bear children".

The angel told Mary that she was going to conceive and give birth to the Christ, the Messiah.  Her response was-- "how is this possible biologically, it takes a man and woman to produce a child, and I haven't been with a man?"

Zacharias' response was "this is impossible". Mary's response was "how is this possible?"  Zacharias made a statement.  Mary asked a question.  Zacharias' response was based on what he saw.  Mary's response was based on the Word of the Lord.  Zacharias didn't believe because he was "walking by sight".  Mary believed because she was "walking by faith"-- faith in the Word of the Lord through the angel Gabriel. 

When God speaks a word to your heart, what is your response?  Do you doubt?  Do you believe it is impossible?  Are you looking at the natural circumstances and allowing them to dictate what you believe?  Or are you walking by faith?  Are you putting your faith in what God says above what you feel?  Mary received when she heard- not when she saw the evidence of it in her body.  Zacharias believed when he saw the evidence in his wife's body instead of when he heard.  Which one of the two is more likely to have been your response?

Have a great day.  When the Lord speaks to us, we can either respond with faith or unbelief. 

"From A To Z God Is Good"

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."  Psalm 139:14

I came across this in my files and thought I would share it with you. It is a list from A to Z of what the Lord has done for me. It is a testimony and reminder of His excellent goodness to me (and to you also).  

A - He is Always with me.
B - He Bestows upon me every good and perfect gift.
C - He Cares for me.
D - He Delivers me from all my fears.
E - He Encourages me.
F - He Feeds me with my daily bread.
G - He Gives me all things freely.
H - He Handles all my problems for me.
I - He Instructs me in the way I should go.
J - He Just simply is good to me.
K - He Keeps me from falling.
L - He Loves me.
M - He Makes my feet like hind's feet to walk on high places.
N - He Never leaves me nor forsakes me.
O - He Owns it all and shares it with me.
P - He Protects me.
Q - He Quickens me by His Spirit.
R - He Restores me soul.
S - He Saved me.
T - He Talks to me.
U - He Understands me and loves me anyway.
V - He Visits me in my times of need.
W - He Walks with me through the rough places.
X - He X-rays my heart to see if there is any displeasing thing in it.
Y - His Yoke, which is easy and light, He places on me in exchange for my heavy one.
Z - He gives me Zeal to continue to persevere in my walk with Him.

Perhaps you would like to take some time today to remind yourself from A to Z of the good things that He has done and does do for you.

Have a great day.  The Lord is everything from A to Z to us. 

"What Are You Seeking?"

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near."  Isaiah 55:6

We seek for a lot of things-- wealth, riches, popularity, provision, dreams, desires, love, freedom, etc. -- but is the Lord among what we seek?  Do we seek after only that which can satisfy our flesh?  Or that which can give us inner peace and contentment?  Do we seek after that which is material or that which is spiritual?  Do we seek after that which is temporary-- it is here today and gone tomorrow, like the grass that withers?  Or do we seek after that which is eternal-- it has no end, moths can't destroy it, and thieves can't steal it?

What is the focus of what you are seeking today?  You have a wonderful invitation to seek the Lord who is the source of all that you need.  Only He can provide it all.  He is the giver of life, of peace, of provision.  He gives abundantly.  He gives liberally and generously.  He gives strength, rest to the weary, hope to the hopeless.  He gives wisdom and grace. He gives mercy.  There is no good thing that He withholds from those who walk uprightly before Him.   

So, seek the Lord today.  Seek Him first.  Don't stop seeking Him.  You have been invited to seek Him, and you have a promise that when you do, you will find Him.  And when you find Him... you find all you need.

Have a great day.  What are you seeking? 

"Just Obey Him"

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."  Hebrews 11:8 

When God told Abram (Abraham) to leave his father's house and go to a place where He would tell him to go, Abraham went.  He obeyed even though he didn't understand why God was leading him this way.  He obeyed even though he didn't know what God had in mind.  He obeyed even though he couldn't see God's plan.  He obeyed even though God didn't tell him every detail of His purpose.  Abraham trusted God and did as He said--- that's faith.

 

The land God was sending Abraham to was a land that He would later give him as an inheritance for himself and his generations to come.  What would have happened had Abraham not obeyed because God wasn't more specific and didn't give him all the details?  What would have happened had Abraham not obeyed because he didn't know everything first?  Our account of Abraham in the Bible would probably be much different. 

 

When God speaks to us concerning what He wants us to do, we may not understand it either.  We may not have all the details.  He may not show us the whole picture.  We may not be able to see what He is doing or know what He has in mind.  But whether God does or doesn't tell us everything, we need to have faith and trust Him and do what He tells us to do regardless because there is always a reason, a blessing, and a divine purpose behind what God tells us to do.

When God told Abraham to go, he went.  He didn't know that God was going to give him the place He was sending him to for an inheritance.  Abraham received it after he obeyed, not before-- "he should after receive".    When God gives us instructions, even if we don't know where, why or what He is doing, we should obey because He might be planning on giving it to us. 

 

Have a great day.  If we don't obey, we won't receive. 

 

"Believe He's Freeing You"

"And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage."  Exodus 6:9

The Lord God told Moses to tell His people that He was bringing them out from under Egyptian bondage, redeeming them with a stretched-out arm and with great judgments.  He told Moses to tell them that He was going to make them His people and be their God.  And He was going to deliver them out of the land of Egypt and bring them into their own land which He had sworn to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and give it to them for a heritage.  What great news!  Any slave would want to hear this, especially when they had prayed for it.  But the verse above tells us that this was not their reaction. 

Instead of rejoicing over this message from the Lord that their prayers were answered, instead of "packing their bags", instead of receiving the message, they did not hear/listen/receive it.  Why?  It was because of the anguish of their spirit and cruel bondage. 

They had been born into this cruel slavery.  This was all they had known.  They had prayed all their lives for deliverance and nothing had ever happened.  They felt that God had abandoned them.  They were so beaten down that they could not even receive the answer to their prayers when it was being presented to them.  They weren't willing to be patient and receive it the way God was going to bring it to them.  They were tired of the hard work, the beatings, the cruel treatment, and being treated like animals. 

Have you ever gone through something so difficult that it doesn't look like there is any hope of ever getting out?  Have you lived in a situation for so long that you have resigned yourself to the fact that it will always be like this?  Have you been so badly treated by someone, or the situation, that you have lost heart?  Has it been so bad that you can't even believe that things will ever be any different?  Have you desired for change but see it as impossible?  Are you in such anguish over the situation that you don't believe that God can or will come to your aid?

Just as He did for Israel in bondage, He will do for you.  I believe that God is getting ready to turn someone's situation.  It has been more than you can bear at times.  It has kept you a prisoner.  It has made you feel so defeated.  It has controlled your life, and you have wondered if it will ever change, does God really care, will He ever come through for me?  I have good news this morning.  He is getting ready to do it.  Only don't be like the Israelites... hear what the Lord is saying.  Don't let your circumstance rob you of the promise that God is giving you.  He has heard your cry, just don't let what you have gone through cause you not to believe.

Have a great day.  Has your situation so beaten you down that you can't believe that God wants to set you free?

"The Signs Of Transformation"

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  John 13:35

Years ago, my granddaughter and I were spending some time together- she was around seven years old. She was not being very content and was whining about what she wanted to do.  I asked her if she loved Jesus and if He was living in her heart and she said, "Yes".  I then told her that there were signs that Jesus is living in our lives.  One of those signs was that we are content.  I told her another sign was that we didn't complain.  I proceeded to tell her that being patient is a sign also.  Obedience to her parents and others was a sign.  She then said to me, "There sure are a lot of signs".  I told her there were a lot more than those.  Jesus said the greatest sign was love.  Our love for others shows that we love Him and that He is living in our hearts.  I then told her that there was one big sign that showed He lived in our hearts-- and that is living, acting, walking and talking like Jesus.   

Jesus came to save us from our sins.  He came to give us eternal life and forgiveness.  He came and took the punishment for our sins so that we can be reconciled to the Father and live with Him in heaven one day.  But after we receive salvation and He comes and lives in our lives, there is a transformation that should begin to take place.  A transformation into His image, where we live our lives like Jesus, where it is no longer about me, but about Jesus living in me, where we can say, along with Jesus, that when you see me, you see the Father, and where we decrease and He increases.  One pastor put it this way, "We are Jesus with skin on in the earth."

Yes, there are a lot of signs that prove what we profess if we profess that Jesus lives in our hearts and we love Him.  Jesus said the greatest sign was love.  As we allow Him to transform our lives to look more like Him, love will be there because He is love.  The more we yield to His transformation process in our lives, the more other signs-- peace, joy, faith, contentment, patience, kindness, etc.-- will be evident because they will reflect who He is.

 

Have a great day.  There are a lot of signs that prove Jesus lives in your life.  Are those signs evident in your life?    

 

For further reading:

John 3:30; 14:7-9

Galatians 2:20

 

"Set The Captive Free"

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Isaiah 61:1

This verse was a prophesy about the coming Messiah and how He would preach good tidings to the meek, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and open prisons to those who were bound.  This verse was fulfilled later by Jesus.  "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." (Luke 4:17-21)

I want to focus this morning on one thing it said He would do-- set captives free.  Are you being held captive by some addiction?  He came to set the captive free.  Are you being held captive by drugs, pills, alcohol?  He came to set the captive free.  Are you being held captive by pornography, adultery, fornication or some other immorality?  He came to set the captive free.  Are you a captive to gluttony or some other undisciplined behavior?  He came to set the captive free.  Are you in bondage to some besetting sin?  He came to set the captive free.  Are you a captive to anger, temper, hatred, bitterness, jealousy, envy, greed or unforgiveness?  He came to set the captive free. 

It doesn't matter what it is, He came to set you free.  No bondage is too big for Him to deliver you from.  No prison bars are too strong that He cannot break them.  It doesn't matter how long you have been held captive by it.  He came to set the captive free.  He wants to set you free this morning.  Regardless of whether or not it is from something that is major in your life, or something that seems too small to bother Him about.  He came to set you free from any and all things that would hold you captive.

Have a great day.  Jesus came to set the captive free.

"Encourage Yourself"

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."  1 Samuel 30:6

David had been on the run from King Saul for years.  At the time of the scripture text above he had been sent away by the Philistines and returned to his home base at Ziklag with the men who had faithfully followed and fought with him.  Upon their arrival they discovered that the city had been invaded by the Amalekites, and they had burned the city and taken all their wives and children captive.  The hearts of David's men was so grieved that they cried until they could cry no more.  Then they had thoughts of turning on David and stoning him. 

David's heart was broken as well.  But unlike the others he encouraged himself in the Lord in order to get through his time of pain and grief.  The point this morning that I want to make is that we need to learn how to encourage our own selves.  Why?  Because there may be no one else there to encourage us.  David's wives and children were gone-- he couldn't be comforted and encouraged by those he loved.  His men had turned on him-- there was no encouragement there.  Sometimes even if they are there, they are going through something themselves and can't offer you any encouragement, or they are preoccupied with what is going on in their own lives that they aren't even listening to what you are saying. 

The key is to "encourage ourselves IN THE LORD".  Many try to encourage themselves through various means.  Some try to encourage themselves by going and buying something new.  Some think that if they can just take a trip or go for a walk that will give them encouragement.  Some seek encouragement through a bottle or a pill.  None of these bring the encouragement you need to get through your situation.

How do you encourage yourself in the Lord?  You go to Him.   You don't just simply give up and go sit in a corner, or hide your head under the cover, or run from God.   You pray-- even though you may not feel like it.  You renew your mind with His word and His promises.  You meditate on what He has done for you in the past- His faithfulness.  As you encourage yourself in Him you will be encouraged.    

Have a great day.  You have to learn to encourage your own self in the Lord, because there may be no one else there to encourage you. 

For further reading:
1 Samuel 30

 

"The Head Of The House"

"And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased." Matthew 21:15

Jesus had gone into the temple and saw the moneychangers and those who were selling sacrifices to present on the altar to God the Father.  He took control of the situation and "cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves." (verse 12) Then He made the statement, "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (verse 13) This displeased the chief priests and scribes.  Why?  Because they were the ones who were in charge and control of the temple.  They thought they were the "head of the house", but when Jesus came in and set things in order, they got angry because He let them know it was "His House".  The saddest part of this account was that The Head of the house was in the house, and they didn't even realize it because they thought they were the head of the house.

It's still that way today.  Many churches and church leaders think they are the "head" and have stopped acknowledging Jesus' headship in His "house/church".  This isn't happening in churches only, it is happening in "The Church"- in the body of believers. 

The Bible says that our bodies-- those who put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior-- are the temple of God (2 Corinthians 6:16).  Like those chief priests in the temple that day, we too tend to think that we are the "head" of our own lives.  Jesus is the Head of our lives, but we rarely acknowledge His Lordship. 

When He came into your life at salvation, He intended to be the Head of your life/temple.  He doesn't want to share you with anything else.  Today make it your prayer that He would "drive out" anything that is displeasing to Him.  That He would "overthrow" any idol you have set up in your heart.  That He would "drive out" those things that would try to take His place.  That He would "drive out" self-seeking, personal agenda, fleshly based goals, hatred, anger, bitterness, jealousy, and anything else that would make your life a "den of thieves" instead of a temple of prayer, holiness and honor to Him. 

Have a great day.   You are the temple of God.  Let Him drive out anything in your life that would stop Him from being Head of your temple. 

"Stay Small"

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."  Proverbs 16:18

There seems to be a "trend" in modern Christianity for bigger and bigger.  Mega churches and large ministries are becoming the norm.  Pastors want their churches to be the largest one in town.  Many are working hard to have churches that have more attendees than the next church.  Ministers want to be prophesied to about having a world-wide evangelistic ministry.  Many evangelists, or "big" name ministers won't even go to speak at another church or conference unless promised large sums of money.  It is becoming all about crowds, large congregations, making a name for yourself, being well known and popular. 

If God has called you to a mega ministry, serving a large congregation, or ministering world-wide do it following Him and for His glory.  But be on guard, we have seen many ministries and ministers get so "big" that they forgot God.  They become self-serving, people-pleasing, full of pride about what they have done, what they are doing and "who" they are. 

But to all of us whether we are used in mighty or small ways by God, there is a warning-- we must keep ourselves humble before the Lord.  The key to staying humble when God is using you is to "stay little in your own eyes".  When God starts enlarging your tents, when He promotes you, when He calls you to do a greater work for Him, don't think more highly of yourself than you should.

Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel.  He was head and shoulders taller than the other men.  He was anointed by the Prophet Samuel.  The Spirit would come upon him.  He prophesied.  He was used by the Lord.  But Saul fell.  He disobeyed God.  Therefore, God took the kingdom from him.  We have the reason why he fell and our answer to keep from falling.  "And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?" (1 Samuel 15:17) The answer is-- when God is using you to do His work, stay little in your own eyes.  Don't look at yourself as bigger than you are.  You aren't the big one, God is.

Have a great day.  Stay small in your own eyes when God is using you.  (Don't get too big for your own spiritual britches.) 

 

"God Knows The Plan"

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

"I know, declares the Lord".  We don't always know the plans that God has for us.  When Joseph was in the pit, he didn't know the plan God had for him.  When he was in prison, or serving as a slave in Egypt, he didn't know God's plan for his life.  He didn't know that God had planned for him to rise to position and power in Egypt in order to save the nation of Israel.  But God knew.

When God told Abraham to leave his father's house and go to a place where He would show him, Abraham didn't know that God had a plan to make him the father of many nations.  But God did.

When Moses was on the backside of the desert tending sheep, he didn't know the plan that God had for his life.  When his mother put him in a basket as a baby and placed him in the Nile River, she didn't know the plan that God had for her or her son.  But God knew. 

While David was tending sheep for his father, he didn't know the plan God had for him.  He didn't know that one day he would be anointed King of Israel.  When Mary was growing up, she didn't know the plan that God had for her to be the mother of the Messiah.  They didn't know, but God knew.

We don't always know the plan God has for our lives.  We may speculate.  We may hope.  We may dream about or wish for a certain plan, but we don't always know.  We don't always have to know, until God choses to reveal it to us.  But it should bring us comfort to know that not only does He have a plan for our lives, but He knows what His plan is.  It should bring us peace and reassurance to know that He knows.  It should strengthen our trust in Him, that even when we don't know, He knows.

Have a great day.  We don't always know the plan that God has for us, but He knows what it is.  As long as He knows, then we know we can trust Him in whatever it is.     

"Be Successful"

"Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."  Proverbs 3:9, 10

Everyone wants to be prosperous.  We want to have plenty, and even more than plenty.  There is a key to achieving it.  It is called giving.  When we give God the first fruits of all our increase, He gives it back to us good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.  There is a promise that when we give Him the tithes and offerings, He will rebuke the devour for our sake. 

In this verse it is talking about material things-- money, crops, etc.  But there are other ways to be prosperous as well.  The word prosper means to be successful.  We can be successful in our journey through life, in our soul, in our business dealings, in our work for the Kingdom, in the ministry God has called us to, and so on.  But the route to prosperity, in any area, comes one way.  "Honor the Lord."

We said earlier that it comes through giving.  It comes when we give honor the Lord.  The word honor is the same word as "glory".  When we glorify God, when we do what we do for His glory, when we keep Him in mind, when we honor Him-- by obeying His commands, by seeking Him first, by doing what He requires-- He in turn makes us prosperous.  This is when success will come.  In other words, He fills our "barns with plenty".  Our "vats burst forth with new wine".  "Our way will be prosperous".  We will be "fruitful in every good work". 

Have a great day.  The key to prosperity (success) is to honor the Lord.

For further reading:
Psalm 1:1-3
Joshua 1:8
Roman 1:10 
3 John 1:2
Colossians 1:10

"A Reason To Rejoice"

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

Today I don't know what I may face or what I may go through, but I know that I can still rejoice and be glad in this day.  The Apostle knew this when he pinned the words, "... we glory in tribulations.." (Romans 5:3)

So today I might find myself walking in a dark place, but I can rejoice because Jesus is the Light.  I might go through the fire but He will be the fourth man in the fire with me.  I might go through the storm but He still speaks, "peace be still", to it.  I might face enemies, but I can rejoice because He fights my battles for me.  I might face many temptations, but He makes a way of escape in everyone.  I may find myself in lack, want and need.  But I can rejoice anyway because my God shall supply all my need.  If I become weak today, His strength will be made perfect in my weakness.  I may need wisdom, but He will give it to my freely. 

I won't rejoice because of the tribulations, problem, trials, trying situations, but I will rejoice in spite of them.  The reason is because "You (The Lord) are with me".  I never face them alone, in my own strength, or by my own power and ability.  He is with me.  He will give me all that He has and all that I need to make it through them.  He will endue me with power, strength, grace, understanding, deliverance, healing, and anything else I need to make it through the day.  So, when you have everything you need, in every situation you face, and you know that God is supplying it because He loves you and is with you, you don't have a good reason to do anything but rejoice.

Have a great day.  When going through difficulties, we can rejoice because the Lord is right there with us providing all that we need to make it through them. 

"Mercy For Today"

"O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever."  Psalm 136:2

Each verse of Psalm 136-- all 26 of them-- ends with, "for his mercy endureth for ever."  If you read each verse leaving out this ending, you will see that it paints a picture of how truly great, mighty, awesome and powerful God is.  He is the God of gods.  The Lord of lords.  He created the sun, moon and stars.  He defeated great nations, kings and kingdoms.  He did signs, wonders and miracles.  He brought judgment upon oppressors and the wicked.  He is a deliverer.  Keeps His promises.  He makes provision for and takes care of His people. 

Even though He is so great, mighty and powerful; and even though He is God and does not have to answer to anyone nor seek the approval of any; and even though He is so highly exalted above everything and anyone else-- He is also a merciful God whose mercies endure forever. 

This all powerful, all knowing, all present God is a God who is full of mercy.  He shows compassion, kindness and benevolence to those who are so undeserving of any goodness.  He is gracious and gives favor.  He bestows His blessings on us.  He forgives our sins and heals our diseases.  This is why we are reminded repeatedly that His mercy endures forever.  It isn't here today and gone tomorrow.  It didn't cease after the Old Testament.  It didn't stop after the New Testament.  He is a merciful God forever.  This means He is as merciful to us today in our faults, failures and short comings as He was back then and has always been.  His mercy endures forever because He is Mercy and He is Eternal.

Have a great day.  God's mercy endures forever.... even today.  

 

"A Great God"

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable."  Psalm 145:3

The Lord God is a Great God!  When we think about His greatness, we think about His great power.  While He is great in power His power isn't the only thing about Him that is great. 

His love is great.  His compassion is great.  His mercy is great.  He is great in grace.  He is great in His faithfulness.  He has great peace.  He gives great joy.  His gentleness is great.  He is great in wisdom.   

Great seems like such an inadequate word when describing God.  He is great beyond what we can comprehend.  He is great enough to speak the world into existence-- from nothing.  He is great enough to measure the universe-- in the palm of His hand.  He is great enough to speak peace to raging storms and they calm.  He is so great that the cross couldn't kill Him-- He yielded up the ghost/His soul.  He is so great death couldn't keep Him-- He conquered it.  He is so great the grave couldn't hold Him-- He was resurrected, and the tomb is empty!

If you are saved by the blood of Jesus and are following Him and His will, you are not serving a weak, milk toast of a God.  He is not an average God.  He is not a tired God.  You are serving a GREAT God!  So great that there is nothing that can compare to Him.  There is nothing that can do what He can do.  And there is nothing that is greater than He is.   

In the words of the children's song-- "My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing that my God cannot do!"

Have a great day.  Don't forget that it is a GREAT God that you are serving!

For further reading:
1 Chronicles 16:25
Psalm 48:1; 95:3
Proverbs 26:10
Titus 2:13
Revelation 19:17

"Betrayed"

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread."  1 Corinthians 11:23

One of Jesus' own "disciples/followers" betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver-- Judas.  Judas was a follower in presence only, but not a follower from his heart. 

Many are "following" Jesus in "presence" only.  They're present in church on Sunday morning.  They even sing in the choir.  They post something about Him every once and a while on their Facebook wall.  They profess to know Him.  They say they are a Christian.  But it is only with their presence and lips-- not their heart.  "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." (Matthew 15:7,8)  

Is this you?  Are you a Christian in name only?  Do you have the appearance of following Jesus?  Do you "talk" about Him, but not "know" Him personally, intimately?  Do you show up for "roll call" but in presence only?  Or are you betraying Him by saying one thing but doing another?  Are you betraying Him through continuing to live a lifestyle of sin while professing to "follow" Him?

Judas' heart was set on riches and money.  They had his heart-- not Jesus.  He broke the first commandment to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.  What is your heart set on?  What is your heart following after?  If your heart is divided between Jesus and other things; if other things come ahead of Him in your life; if you desire something else more than you do Him, yet you are professing to be one of His followers... then you are betraying Him.

Have a great day.  Jesus was betrayed by one who professed to be His follower. Does that sound like you?

 

"Go To The Source"

"Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."  John 6:68

When others were turning away from Jesus, the disciples did not because they knew they had no other place to go.  They knew He was the source of life, the source of peace, the source of contentment, the source of power, of grace, of faith, and of strength.

Search as we may, we will not find true life, peace and contentment except in the source of life, peace and contentment-- which is Jesus.  Many are pursuing peace through a life of ease.  There are those who are pursuing happiness through relationships.  Others are trying to find real and enjoyable life through recreation and involvement in many different things.  Whatever it is you are looking for, you find it by going to the source of it.

If you are thirsty, you go to the source that will quench the thirst-- water.  If you are hungry, you go to the source that will satisfy the hunger-- food.  You can't satisfy these longings with anything else.  Neither can you satisfy the longing of your soul with temporary, external things.  It is only satisfied by going to the source.  Again, the source is Jesus.  Go to Him today and let Him give you all that your heart is longing for.  Only He can truly satisfy it.

Have a great day.  Go to the source if you want peace, life and contentment.  The source is Jesus.

"An Unlikely Choice"

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."  1 Corinthians 1:27

God has used many unlikely things to accomplish His plan and work in the earth.  He used dust to create a man.  He used a bush to speak to Moses.  He used a raven to feed a prophet.  He used a donkey to try to turn a wayward prophet around.  He used lepers to tell Israel the good news that there was food during a famine.  He used a coward to deliver Israel from their oppressors.  He used a borrowed tomb to hold His body temporarily.  He used a harlot to save the Israelite spies.  He used the jawbone of a donkey in the hands of a man to defeat an army.  And so on.

God has and continues to use the unlikely, the weak as well as the strong, the educated and uneducated, the talented and untalented, the fearful and the brave to glorify and reveal His Kingdom here on earth.  He will use anyone who makes themselves available to Him.  We don't have to be "qualified", He qualifies us Himself by calling us.  He gives us every ability that we need.  He empowers us with everything we need to do what He has called us to do.

Don't hold back from answering His call because of preconceived ideas of who you think you ought to be and what you think you should do.  Just surrender and yield to His plan and let Him do in you and through you what He desires.  He will do the rest.

Have a great day.  God wants to use you to accomplish His plan in the earth.      

"Chastened"

"The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death."  Psalm 118:18

There are times when we are going stray that the Lord will "chasten" us.  The word chasten means to:  correct, instruct, discipline.  Why does He do this?  Because He loves us.  "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6) 

He doesn't want us going in the wrong direction.  He doesn't want us to come under the condemnation of sin.  He does it to remind us and turn us around.  Our earthly fathers correct us.  Our Heavenly Father does the same.  "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." (Hebrews 12:9,10) 

We think that giving us blessings and everything we want is the sign that He loves us.  Giving us only "good" things-- although He does load us continually with blessings and benefits-- just makes us "spoiled" children.  His correction is His greatest sign of love and care for us. 

When He chastens us, it is not harshly.  It is not to destroy us.  It is to save us.  If you feel you are being chastened by the Lord.  Don't fight against Him.  Don't rebel.  Don't despise it.  Don't get angry with the Lord and turn from Him.  Surrender to His loving discipline and learn and grow spiritually from it. Repent of that which you are doing that is bringing the correction. "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:  For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." (Proverbs 3:11,12) 

Have a great day.  If the Lord is chastening you, it is because you need it, and He loves you enough to give it to you. 

"I Am With You"

"...and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."  Matthew 28:20 

"I am with you always".  What a wonderful promise!  We never walk through this life alone.  We have a constant traveling companion who will never leave us nor forsake us.   

 

"I am with you always".  We aren't attended in our journey through life by just anyone or some other person.  "I Am (is) with you always".  We are attended by the Great I Am.  The God of the universe.  The One who created all that is.  I Am-- the One who quenches fire, shuts lion's mouths, delivers from the pit, calls forth light out of darkness.  I Am-- who knows the number of hairs on your head, who feeds the sparrows, clothes the lilies, and calls the stars by name.  I Am who is the beginning and end, first and the last, and sees and knows everything in between.

 

As you walk through this day, remember that you aren't alone.  And as you remember that you aren't alone, remember Who it is that is walking with you-- I Am.  So, no matter what you face or encounter I Am is there and He is big enough to handle it.

 

Have a great day.  We are never alone; I Am (The Great and Might God) is with us.

 

"Clean Hands And Heart"

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."  James 4:8

I would like to read this verse for you in the Amplified Bible.  "Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]."  I feel impressed to focus on the part about "cleansing your hands". 

Our hands represent our work-- what we do.  We are told to cleanse our hands-- this means that they are dirty.  Are your works dirty?  Are you working for the Lord out of a pure heart or selfish, self-centered motives for personal gain?  Are you doing what is right when others are looking and what is wrong when they aren't?  Are you being honest in public but in private you are practicing dishonesty-- taking a little extra that doesn't belong to you?  Are you doing religious acts and deeds before others-- singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, taking care of those who are helpless, giving alms?  But when you are alone you are watching pornography, popping pills, getting drunk, gambling away your hard-earned monies, being abusive, etc.? 

Do your "works"-- the things that you do in private as well as in public-- line up with your profession of being a Christian?  If it doesn't, you are being "disloyal" to the Lord you say you serve.  You are not serving and loving Him faithfully with all your heart.  You are deceiving those around you.  You are being a hypocrite.  You are in need of having not only your hands washed but your heart purified as well.  The "hand" issues-- what we do-- always start in the "heart".  They are a product of what is inside.  What you really are inside will be reflected on the outside-- in the things you do.  (This is why the verse talks about hands and hearts.)  And what you do on the outside is a reflection of what's on the inside. 

Have a great day.  Our hands will be clean when our hearts are clean too.      

 

"Wishy Washy"

"And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."  Matthew 21:9

Our scripture text comes from Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  The crowd is shouting His praises.  They are waving palm branches and throwing down their coats before Him as He enters into the city.  Their praise is the sound of great joy and worship.  In just a few days though Jesus will be crucified. 

Many of the same people who were shouting His praises on that day, would a few days later be shouting, "Crucify Him."  These people were "wishy washy"- wavering; indecisive.  They couldn't make up their mind to either praise Him or crucify Him.  To either worship Him as their Messiah or deny Him.  Does this describe you?  Are you wishy washy?

Did you praise Him yesterday, but today withhold your praise and even turn your back on Him because you feel He didn't answer a prayer the way you thought He should?  Last week you couldn't praise Him enough; this week you are disappointed with Him and have stopped praising Him at all.  Yesterday you were singing His praises.  But now you have gotten angry with Him because you feel He failed you.  Do you go back and forth between being pleased and displeased with Him?  And as a result, you are either praising Him or turning your back on Him.  This is being wishy washy.

Have a great day.  Are you praising the Lord one day, but turning your back on Him the next?  Stop being wishy washy!   

 

"Close Isn't In"

"And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question."  Mark 12:34

In the chapter above a scribe had come to Jesus and asked Him which was the first commandment.  Jesus answered, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." The scribe then answered Jesus by saying, "Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

After these answers back and forth Jesus then said to him our opening verse.  The part that stuck out to me and that I want to talk about this morning is the fact that we can know the truth, we can agree with what is truth and still not be part of the Kingdom of God-- saved.  This man agreed that Jesus was right.  He knew from his own knowledge of the scriptures that it is true.  But he didn't surrender to it and allow it to be received into his own life in order to bring salvation.  Jesus told him that he was "close" to the kingdom, but not "in" the kingdom.

There are a lot of people who are "close" but not "in"-- but they think they are "in".  Some think they are "in" because they believe in the existence of God. (Even the devils believe but they are not in the kingdom.)  They think they are "in" because they listen to the preacher on Sunday morning.  Or because they liked hearing a particular sermon.  Some think they are "in" because they were raised in church.  Some others think that they are "in" the kingdom (have salvation) because they are good, hard-working, decent, better than most, moral people.  

The reason this guy agreed with Jesus was because he was a scribe.  His job was to copy and recopy the scriptures in order to preserve them.  He studied the Law of Moses and taught it to the people.  He took his job very seriously.  He could tell you exactly how many letters in each verse, how many words in it and where the punctuation went in each passage.  He knew the scriptures forwards and backwards.  Yet Jesus told him he was "close" but not "in".  (Close is never good enough.)

We must take heed and check ourselves to see if we truly are "in" and not just assume we are because we can quote scripture, believe God is real, go to church and even agree with the truth.  We may just be thinking we are "in" and really aren't.  This man had a lot of scriptural knowledge.  But knowledge isn't what saves us-- even having correct knowledge.  What saves us is faith in Jesus Christ. 

Have a great day.  Are you just "close" to being in the kingdom, or are you actually "in" the kingdom?    

"Going Back To The Past"

"Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee."  Deuteronomy 32:7

We are told and taught not to live in the past.  Many churches have put this into practice that there is no resemblance of anything that even remotely resembles anything from past times in the church.  The music has no reflection of the past. The terminology has completely changed.  The way we dress for church has changed.  The décor has changed.  It does not look or sound the same at all. 

We are told-- I have taught it myself-- that our past will hinder and rob us of our future.  Therefore, we must leave the past behind.  We are not to live in the past-- in past victories, in past glories, in past accomplishments, in past movements of God.  Neither are we to live in past defeats, condemnation of past mistakes, failures and sins.  But we can't throw out the past altogether.  As one of my former pastors used to say, "You can't throw out the baby with the bath water."  We have to have a truth-based balance.  Lest we are confused and misunderstand what is meant when we are told to leave the past behind, so I want to clarify it this morning. 

There are times when our past must intersect and join to our present in order to ensure our future.  The Bible teaches us to remember the past.  Let me explain what I mean.  On the day of Pentecost Peter took the crowd back to the past-- to the writings of Joel to explain what was going on.  Moses commanded the Israelites to remember every year at Passover God's deliverance of their nation from Egypt.  The great faith chapter continually reminds us of those in the past who ran the race before us and encourages us to do the same.  They were given to us as examples to go back and look at often.  (We go back to the past each time we do.)    

Each time I remember what Jesus did for me at the cross, I am taking a trip back to the past-- back two thousand years ago.  I have to go back to my past in order to remember the day I got saved.  When I do, I am strengthened and encouraged because I remember where He brought me from, and my heart is filled with praise.  I remember and meditate on the times in the past when God brought me through a difficult place or answered a prayer or met a need.  My faith is renewed each time I do.  It reminds me that the same God who was there in my past is here in my present.  So, I am encouraged to move on into the future.  My past teaches me that He will not fail me because He never failed me before.   

Have a great day.  Sometimes we have to go back to the past in order to be strengthened in the present and move into the future. 

 

"Just Eat It"

"And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."  Genesis 3:13

Years ago, I had a crown that fell off of my tooth.  When I went to the dentist to put it back on for me, he was cleaning the filling out of it and accidently put a hole in the crown.  He showed me what he had done and then said to me, "You know what you do with this?  'Eat it'."  He was saying that because of what he had done he would have to take full responsibility for replacing it.  He would have to pay for it.  He would have to take the blame for it.  He didn't try to make me look bad or make accusations such as-- if I hadn't had it fall off, he wouldn't have done that. 

There are times when we need to do the same thing-- just eat it.  There are situations and circumstances that we need to just take the responsibility for upon ourselves.  For example- I don't like to arrive anywhere late.  I would rather be a little early or on time.  If I am late, it is usually because someone else made me late.  What do most of us do in that situation, should we arrive late?  We begin to let everyone know why we were late.  We tell them that the fault lies with our husband or our children.  My question is, "Why do we have to say anything at all?"  Why do we feel the need to make others look bad... or rather the need to always make ourselves look good?! 

True enough it may be their fault.  True enough they may be the reason.  But in most cases, it really doesn't matter.  When it doesn't, just "eat it".  Don't make them look bad.  Don't try to make yourself look good or perfect.  We should be protecting others instead of putting them out there as a target for blame.  (I just used the example of being late to make a point, but this is true in every area.) 

We need to learn to let the responsibility fall on us.  We don't need to be pointing blame at others even if they are to blame if it isn't a big deal anyway.  We need to get rid of our pride.  We should just show love and "eat" the reason.  What does it matter anyway?   

Have a great day.  Stop trying to always make yourself look good by making someone else look bad. 

"No Need For Lack"

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."  Psalm 23:1

The word for "want" here means lack.  To lack means to be without or not have enough for something.  This morning, I simply want to remind you that whatever it is that you need today, God will supply.  Whatever you lack, just ask.  If you lack wisdom, ask.  He will give it to you liberally.  If you lack guidance, ask Him to guide you.  If you lack peace, He is peace.  Ask Him for it.  If you need love for another person, ask Him to help you love them.  If you need forgiveness toward another person, ask Him to place it in your heart.  If you need your faith to grow, He has provided His Word.  There is no reason for you to have to go through the day in need and want/lack.  He provides.  But sometimes we don't have what we need and are in lack because we don't ask. 

Are you asking?  Or are you trying to do it on your own? Are you trying to provide for your own need?  I am not talking about sitting back and being lazy-- God condemns that.  I am just reminding you that you can't do it on your own.  It is God that meets and supplies all your need/needs.  Bring Him into your area of lack.  Pray to Him, ask Him, seek Him, surrender to Him, obey Him in whatever He shows you that you need to do or need to change.  He is a faithful God who has more than enough to meet your every need.  He is your Good Shepherd; therefore, you don't have to lack.  As you seek Him first, all the things that you lack will be added to you.

Have a great day.  Whatever you are lacking in today, ask God for it.   

 

"Radical Lifestyle"

"He must increase, but I must decrease."  John 3:30

Is this your daily goal?  Is this the cry of your heart?  Do you desire that Jesus be seen in you to the fullest?  Is your life all about Him and not about you?  This sounds a little radical or fanatical I know but this is what true Christianity is about.  It is not about a Sunday morning church service or membership into some religious club.  It is about being sold out whole-heartedly to Jesus.  It is about being absolutely surrendered to His Lordship over your life.  It is about loving Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and being willing to die not only to self but physically if need be for Him. 

The Christian life is "radical".  When I say that word, I am not talking about in an evil way as some other religions portray.  The word radical means: a person who holds or follows strong convictions or extreme principles.  Our convictions about our salvation should be so strong, we should be so serious about them that we don't waver in them no matter what comes our way.

We should be "radical" in our faith-- knowing that with God nothing is impossible.  We should be "radical" in love-- loving God, loving our neighbors and loving our enemies.  We should be "radical" in peace-- peace that passes understanding.  We should be "radical" in denying ourselves-- take up our cross and follow Him.  We should be "radical" in surrendering our lives fully to Christ-- it is not I but Christ that lives in me.  We should be "radical" in our obedience to the Lord-- nevertheless, not my will but Thine.  

You may say that this is a little too "radical", no it isn't.  Look at the people in the Bible.  Look at the early church.  Look at the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11).  We see that this is how they lived their ordinary everyday lives.  Jesus gave specific guidelines for His church.  He told us what was required of those who call Him Savior.  He told us to follow Him.  If we do, where will it lead us?  It will lead us to heaven and an eternal home in His Kingdom.  But it will also lead us to the cross-- take up your cross and follow.  

We can be "radical", "fanatical", "extreme", "gung-ho", "sold out", "pumped up", "committed to", "surrendered" to a lot of things.  So why is it considered "strange" if we are the same about the One who died for us and saved us from an eternal hell?

Have a great day.  Christianity is not a passive little Sunday social club; it is a radical lifestyle of surrender to Jesus.