"What Is 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 think that we tend to interpret this verse to mean that we are to seek God first thing in the morning when we wake up and start our day off with prayer.  Yes, we should.  We should seek Him early before the day starts crowding in on us.  We should face Him before we face anyone else.  We should get guidance from Him to be able to go through the day that lies ahead of us.

But this verse means so much more than just praying in the morning.  It says to seek first the kingdom of God.  We are to make God's kingdom the priority.  We should seek His kingdom above anything else.  We should seek His agenda above our agenda.  We should seek His plan above our plans.  We should seek His purposes above our purposes.  We should desire His will first above our own. 

Seeking His kingdom first means that we are seeking after righteousness, peace and joy, above seeking wealth, ambition, a career or material blessings.  It also means we should be seeking the eternal instead of the temporary-- His kingdom is eternal.  It means we should seek to glorify the King of the kingdom above everything and anyone else, including self. 

When we get things in the right order-- Him first then me; His will first then my will; His glory first not mine-- all the things we thought we had to seek after first will be added to us.  The things that are truly important and have real value will be added to us. 

Have a great day.  Seeking the kingdom of God first means more than just praying when you first get up in the morning.  

"Defeated Or Conquerors?"

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us".  Romans 8:37

I woke up with a song on my mind that comes from the verse above.  "We've been made more than conquerors.  Overcomers in this life.  We've been made victorious, through the blood of Jesus Christ".  Like I said, this song comes from the verse above, therefore, it is the Word of God.

So, if Jesus has made us not only conquerors but more than conquerors, why do we live and act so defeated?  Why do we allow things to upset us and defeat us the way they do?  Why do we give up and give in so easily when trials and problems come?  Why do we "tuck our tails" and run when the going gets tough?  Why are we depressed, anxious, fearful and whinny?  Why do we murmur and complain about everything?  Why do we act like there is no hope?  Why are we wallowing in self-pity?  Why can't we rise above the circumstances that weigh us down?  If you will be honest, you know many Christians like this--- yourself included?  There is something terribly wrong with this.  How can Jesus have made us more than conquerors, and we are so defeated at the same time?  It just doesn't make sense-- it is just not right!

There are many reasons why.  The first is because we don't spend enough time in His presence to get a revelation of who He actually is and who He is in us.  Second, we believe everything everyone says and don't believe what God says.  That is because we spend such little time reading the Bible and renewing our minds with it.  It is no wonder we believe that we are defeated.  

It is time for the church, and it is time for you and I to rise up strong in the Lord and the power of His might and stop allowing everything to defeat us.  You are more than a conqueror through Jesus.  The greater One lives in you.  You have been given power over all the powers of the enemy.  No weapon formed against you shall prosper.  The Holy Spirit empowers you to rise above and not be trodden beneath the cares and trials of life.  You need to get in your prayer closet and stay there until you "see Jesus" as He is and "see yourself" because of Him as a conqueror.

Have a great day.  We are more than conquerors.  We are not defeated.  So, stop acting like it! 
 

"Trouble For Today"

"And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning".  Exodus 16:19

Yesterday we talked about having troubles from without but not letting them come within.  Well, that was yesterday.  Along with the dawn of today came its own new troubles, new problems, new sorrows, new challenges, new obstacles, new temptations and new trials.  So how do we handle them?  The same way we handled them yesterday-- through our trust and confidence in Jesus. 

When the Israelites were in the wilderness, the Lord provided food for them each day.  This food they called manna.  The instructions the Lord gave them for gathering it were that they were only to take enough for each day.  Daily they would have to go gather it and it would be good for that day only.  Only once a week they could gather enough for two days, and that was for the Sabbath.  They were not supposed to work on the Sabbath so they gather extra the day before. 

For today's troubles we can't go on yesterday's "manna".  We have to go to God each day and get what we need for that day.  Like I said earlier, today is a different day with different troubles, therefore, you have to get new instructions as to what to do today.  You have to get new strength for the day.  You have to get fresh peace for this day.  The Lord doesn't want you trying to "stretch" out yesterday's provision and answer.  He wants to give you something "fresh" to make it through today. 

You are going to the same faithful Lord who provided for your troubles yesterday and with confidence you know He will provide for them again today, but you have to go to Him again today for today. 

Have a great day.  You have to go to God daily for help and answers to the new troubles that come daily.   

"Troubled In Trouble?"

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me".  John 14:1

"Don't let your heart be troubled".  How is that possible when there is trouble all around us?  We are constantly hearing of wars and rumors of war.  The economy is unstable.  Relationships are rocky.  We have threats of persecution.  Our enemies are rising up against us.  Someone is always out to "get us".  Evil men are getting eviler.  Our jobs aren't as secure as they once seemed to be.  Disease is more common than ever.  Natural disasters are on the rise.  We are faced with trouble on every side.  So how can we not be troubled?

The answer:  believe in Jesus as you believe in God.  This leads to another question.  How does believing in Jesus give us the power and ability to keep from being troubled (disturbed, fearful, anxious, disquieted) in our minds and hearts?  Especially when we dwell in a troubled world.  Especially when trouble is hitting our lives.  Especially when there is trouble on every side we turn.   

Troubles won't cease.  They will always be here as long as the earth exist as it is-- under a curse.  And we will continue to face trouble from time to time as long as we live.  But what Jesus was saying was "trouble may come, but it doesn't have to have you".  You may be in it, but it doesn't have to be in you.  You don't have to be "troubled" over the troubles.  You don't have to be defeated by them. 

You can't stop trouble (difficulties and problems) from coming.  But you can choose to either let trouble overcome you and defeat you.  Or you can choose to overcome and defeat it.  This is where "believing in Jesus" comes in. 

Problems and difficulties come to bring distress, fear, anxiety and steal our inner peace.  Our confidence and trust in Jesus will combat the fear and anxiety it brings with peace and drive it away.  Our confidence and trust in Jesus may not stop the problems from coming, but it will give us the inner peace we need to face them with strength, grace, courage, boldness and wisdom.  It will give us the peace and assurance that though all is not well on the outside, all is well on the inside, therefore, it will all be well in the end.    

Have a great day.  Though troubles come, we don't have to be troubled by them because of our faith in Jesus.   
 

"Broken Bones"

^"Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice".  Psalm 51:8

Broken bones are no fun.  They hurt.  There is pain attached to them.  They have to go through a healing and mending process after they are broken.  Sometimes in order to fix a broken bone it requires surgery.  Broken bones are caused by trauma.  Something has to happen to cause them to break-- that something may be from the outside (like a strong blow to them) or from the inside (a disease strikes).

The Psalmist may have been speaking about physical bones when he was writing.  Or perhaps he was speaking more in a spiritual sense.  Our bones are strong and support our body.  Without them we would not be able to stand.  We would be like a "jellyfish" basically.  Spiritually our bones represent several things.  They symbolize strength, vigor, good health and wholeness.  Broken bones symbolize defeat or oppression.    

There are times when our spiritual "bones" are broken.  We don't feel very strong.  We may have been through a tragedy that leaves us feeling broken.  We are suffering pain from grief.  We feel defeated because we gave into a sin and condemnation is hanging around and tormenting us. Because of a trial we have gone through we don't feel very "whole"-- things seem out of sort, we are confused, we feel fragmented in our emotions.  There are times we feel helpless and hopeless because of various situations.  What do we do?  How to we get our "bones" healed and mended? 

When our bones are broken physically, we go to the doctor and he either places us in a cast, boot or some other device to help support the broken bone.  Or he may do surgery to repair it.  When our spiritual bones are broken, we go to the doctor also-- Jesus, the Great Physician.  He knows how to bind up what is broken.  He will pour His healing oil in.  He will give you a dose of joy, hope, peace and laughter (which does good like a medicine).  He will turn your mourning into dancing, your sorrow into joy and cause what is broken to be healed.  Make an appointment with Him now.  You won't have to wait. 

Have a great day.  Are your spiritual bones broken?  Go to Dr. Jesus.  He is the Great Physician. 

"The Rock And Water"

"Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ". Exodus 17:6; 1 Corinthians 10:4

We have been talking about rock and water-- solid and liquid.  We have said that we can't be both a "rock" and "water" at the same time.  But Jesus can be both and He is both.  The Bible says He is the Rock and He is Living Water.  This is good news for us. 

He is the Rock.  It speaks of His character.  It means He is strong.  I can look to Him for strength when I am weak.   He is a firm foundation upon which we can build our lives without fear of destruction.  He is unmovable and unshakeable.  He will be there when I need Him. He is unchanging.  I don't have to worry that He will not be as faithful to me today as He was yesterday.  He is the cleft of the rock that will hide you in His loving protection.  He is the Rock of my salvation.

He is Living Water.  He cleanses me from all unrighteousness.  He cleanses me when I get "soiled" by the world.  He cleanses me from sin.  He sustains my life by refreshing me when I am tired and weary.  He quenches my thirst.  He pours His life giving water upon me and I am renewed. 

He will be that rock when you need Him to be.  He will be water when you need Him to be water.  He is the Rock and He is Water.  He is all-sufficient for everything that you have need of. 

Have a great day.  Jesus is all that you need and need Him to be.   
 

"Water Or A Rock?"

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new".  2 Corinthians 5:17

The past two days we have talked about Psalms 114:8 how God turns a rock into standing water and a flint into a fountain of water.  We have compared this to our lives and salvation.  We said that there are three main forms of matter:  solid, liquid and gas.  Today I want to continue with this thought and relate it to what happens at the new birth/salvation.

In order for a solid to become a liquid there has to be a change in its molecular structure.  At the new birth-- when we are born again-- a change takes place in us.  Our "spiritual DNA" is changed.  We go from being a "rock" to "water".

A rock is a hard, rigged, solid, stationary, restricted, dead object.  Water is the total opposite.  It is soft, flowing, conforms to whatever it is put in, yielding, and alive.  A rock does nothing.  It can't move.  It can't refresh.  It can't conform.  It is just what it is.  Water can do much.  It gives life.  It can satisfy a thirst.  It can clean what is dirty.  It can support life. 

When we are born again, God changes us from a "rock" to "water".  He makes us something brand new that we weren't before.  He takes our dead hearts of stone and makes them into live hearts of flesh.  We are no longer a dead hard lump.  We are a live, freely flowing stream.  We are the total opposite of what we once were because of the transformation that has taken place in us at salvation.

Have you been saved?  Did a transformation take place in you?  Or are you still a "rock"?  If you are, then you weren't really born again.  You may have become religious, but religious is just another name for being a rock.  If that is the case, let Jesus Christ come into your life and make you into that new person.  Let Him transform you into a free-flowing fountain of water. 

Have a great day.  Have you been changed from a rock into water?

"A Double Life"

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon".  Luke 6:24

In yesterday's devotion we made the statement concerning matter forms that something can't be both a liquid and a solid at the same time.  The same is true if you say you are a Christian and are living like something other than a Christian.  You can't be two different things that conflict with each other.  You are one or the other, but not both.   

The Bible makes it plain that you can't be hot and cold at the same time.  You can't serve God and mammon.  You can't be a sheep and a goat.  You can't have sweet and bitter water coming out of you.  You can't love God and the world both. 

Yet so many who profess to be Christians are trying to live "double" lives.  They are trying to live for God and self both.  They are trying to serve the Lord and also serve self.  They are trying to fit in with the world and fit in with the church.  You can't be or do both.  Where did we get that idea from? 

Why is it we think we can profess the Lord with our mouth but hold on to the world with our hands.  We have this mentality that thinks we can have God and everything else.  We can't.  He either has ALL of us or He will have NONE of us.  I know that is a pretty strong statement, but I am not the one who said it-- Jesus is.  And He is the one who makes the rules and defines the relationship He desires to have with us. 

If you are trying to ride both sides of the fence, you need to stop and repent.  You need to let go of the world and take hold of the Lord only.  You need to stop having a divided heart and life.  Either He is Lord and Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all!  You can't have it both ways.  He will not share you, your heart or the throne of your heart with everything, or anything, else.

Have a great day.  It is either Jesus or the world... you can't have both.   

"A Change In Matter"

"Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters".  Psalm 114:8

Matter takes on one of three basic forms:  solid, liquid and gas.  A rock is solid matter.  Standing water is a liquid.  Flint is solid.  A fountain of waters is liquid.  They can't be both at the same time, something has to happen in them to make the change.  Something has to take place in a rock before it can become water.  The verse above says that God can do this.  He can change a rock into water.  He can change a flint into water.  He can make this transformation possible between these two forms.   

There are some changes that only God can do.  Salvation is one of them.  Only God can save us.  Only He can change us from being a lost sinner to a saved follower of Christ.  We can't save ourselves.  We can't change ourselves.  No amount of effort and no number of changes that we make in our lives can bring about this transformation.  All the changes in the world that we could make in our lives will not make us that new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Turning over a new leaf, stop smoking, start going to church, start acting kinder, stop cussing, etc.  No number of good deeds and good works can do it.  It only happens when we come to Christ Jesus confessing our sins and putting our faith in Him as Savior.  It is then when we are changed.  It is then when we are forgiven and made righteous.
  
If you are trying to change yourself, if you are trying to be good enough to be a "Christian", if you are trying to do enough good deeds, you can't and won't ever be able to do it.  It would be easier for you to take a rock and turn it into water than it would be for you to do enough good deeds to save yourself.  It is impossible outside of Jesus Christ.  He is the only way it can happen.

Have a great day.  God can turn a rock into water.  And only He can turn a sinner into a saved person. 
 

"Faith In Suffering"

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised".  Psalm 113:3

Praising the Lord from the time we wake up in the morning until we go to sleep at night is not always an easy thing because there is a lot that can happen to us in a day.  And not all that happens to us is good. 

Trying times happen.  Tragedy strikes.  Grief comes.  Sickness attacks our bodies.  Pain enters.  It happened to Job.  I don't believe there is any way we can fully comprehend all that this man went through.  (I can't.)  He lost all his children.  He lost his herds and flocks.  He lost his health.  All he had left was a wife who out of her own pain encouraged him to curse God and die.  Yet in the midst of all his pain and suffering, he worshipped God.  "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord". (Job 1:21)

 

He didn't worship God for the suffering, he praised Him in spite of it.  He knew that his relationship with the Lord was the only thing that was going to carry him through the pain, sorrow and grief.  He knew he had to maintain his relationship with the Lord if he was going to survive the agony of what he was going through.  He knew that he had to stay close to the Lord if he was going to have any peace.  He knew his strength to make it through was found in the Lord.  He knew his comfort would not come from man but from God. 

 

Like Job, our worship is an indication of our faith.  Sometimes, when going through difficulty praise doesn't always come automatically or easily.  Often it is a sacrifice.  I am very sure Job didn't feel like worshipping the Lord, but he did anyway as an act of faith-- faith that he still trusted God, he still knew God was faithful no matter what he was going through, he still knew that God would be with him and he still knew that God would turn this around for good. 

 

Are you going through something today that makes it hard for you to worship the Lord?  Do it any way.  Let your faith speak for you-- not your pain.  Job did and as a result he made it through his time of suffering.  

Have a great day.  Praise the Lord even in suffering.   

"How'd You Wake Up?"

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you".  1 Peter 5:7

There were a thousand different ways a person could have woke up this morning.  Some woke up to a "perfect" world--- no problems at all and all is well.  But that wasn't the case with everyone.  Some woke up burdened this morning.  Some woke up with pain, sickness and disease in their bodies.  There are those who woke up in grief-- grieving over the passing of a loved one, over a relationship that has been broken, over a misunderstanding, etc. 

Some woke up to find themselves homeless.  Some are uncertain as to the state of their employment.  There are others who are wrestling with the question "why".  Some woke up feeling hopeless.  Many woke up addicted to things that have a stronghold in their lives.  Some people woke up struggling with guilt, condemnation, confusion, fear, anger and bitterness.  Some are facing the decision of a lifetime and need an answer.  

Some woke up incarcerated.  Some woke up in a hospital.  Some woke up in a strange bed.  Some woke up in a shelter.  Some woke up having to live with relatives or friends.  Some woke up in a mental institution.  Some woke up in a palace; others woke up in a shack.  Some woke up fighting on a battlefield.    

Wherever you woke up this morning, and whatever state you awoke to, I want to encourage you that there is a God who sits high but looks low.  He sees where you are.  He knows what you are going through.  He sees the conditions and situation that surrounds you.  He has your answer.  He knows your need.  He has peace and comfort for you.  He has strength and guidance available to you.  He has hope and help.  Bring Him into your day.  Bring Him into your situation.  Bring Him into your struggles.  Bring Him into your good times and bad times.  He is a present help and a God who loves you, cares about you and desires to be active in your life.

Have a great day.  How did you wake up this morning?  Bring God into it and let Him give you all you need to make it through it.       

"Sin Exposer"

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more".  Hebrews 8:12

What a wonderful promise!  When we confess our sins, the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us.  He not only forgives but He "forgets" our sins.  He doesn't keep reminding us of what we have done.  He doesn't remind us of "that time when".  He doesn't use the knowledge of our past sins against us.  He doesn't use them as a "bribery" or "tool" against us, threatening to expose us if we mess up or don't do exactly what He tells us to do or wants us to do. 

It is hard for us to believe that because the only example we have comes from each other-- mankind.  We see it a lot now in the politic arena.  Politicians are "exposing" one another's past sins and failures.  We see it in marriage relationships.  One spouse doesn't live up to the demands or expectations of another, so they keep "throwing up" the mistakes they have made.  In the business world there is a "little black book" of failures, mistakes, compromising situations, etc., that are used against, and by, those who are trying to "climb the corporate ladder".  And the list goes on.  It is everywhere.  People are trying to find and use as much "dirt" as they can against each other.

Newsflash--- we all have a past.  We all make mistakes.  None of us are perfect.  We have all said and done something wrong at some point in life.  We have all sinned.  We should worry about getting the log out of our own eye before we try to point out the speck in someone else's.  We need to sweep around our own door before we expose the dirt around another's. 

Don't be throwing up someone else's mistakes, sins and past.  Don't use what they "did" against them.  Don't listen to the condemnations of the devil when he throws up your past sins.  Thank the Lord for His mercy and grace in forgiving you.  And if He has, then you not only need to forgive others, but you also need to stop exposing their past sins and extend the same grace to them that God has extended to you--- don't remember their past sins to use as a weapon against them anymore.

Have a great day.  God never uses our past sins against us-- can you say the same when it comes to others?
 

"Figuring It Out"

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths".  Proverbs 3:5,6

There are some who are reading this that are in the "valley of decision".  You are in a place where you have to make a decision about a matter, but you don't know what to do.  You have tried everything.  You have looked at the situation from all angles trying to make the right move.  You have tried to figure it out on an educational level.  You have looked at it through the eyes of "common sense".  You have gone from person to person-- family, friend and professionals-- to help give you an answer.  But still to no avail.  You are just as confused now as you have been.

The problem is not the problem.  The problem is that you are not going to the right source for help-- the Lord.  Bring Him into your decision.  Acknowledge Him concerning the direction you are to go and the move you are to make.  It is not in our ability to direct our own steps.  We can't make a wise determination of the situation.  Our knowledge is limited.  Our resources are weak.  Our understanding is carnal. 

Go to God and ask Him.  You may say that you already have but still don't know what to do.  One little prayer quickly "thrown up" is not how you get the answer.  You have to seek Him until you find the answer.  You have to ask until you receive direction.  You have to knock until you have gained access. 

We try to figure things out on our own without the Lord's help.  We can't.  When we finally realize we can't, we go to Him and expect Him to answer us in 20 seconds, or we move on to the next thing we think might work.  Well, it doesn't.  It often takes time to hear.  You have to be prepared sometimes to wait for the answer.  You have to learn to be patient and still long enough to hear.  When you are, you will know what to do because you will hear Him speak in the matter.

Have a great day.  You can't figure out what you need to do on your own.  You need the Lord's help. 

"Deformed Fruit"

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them".  Matthew 7:20

We used to have two pear trees in our yard.  For years they made lots of delicious pears.  We had so many and they were so good that we were able to enjoy eating them, canning them and giving them away.  But after several years we had to cut the trees down.  They got some sort of disease.  They still produced pears, but the pears were shriveled up and had blotches on them.  They didn't get very big; their growth was stunted.  Their shape was deformed.  And although they were pears, they didn't look like a pear and couldn't be eaten.

This reminds me of many Christians.  The Bible says that we will be known by our fruit.  They are still a Christian, but they don't look like it.  They have allowed themselves to become "deformed".  They have allowed their fruit to become "diseased".  They don't look very appealing and the "taste" that comes from their lives is not desirable.

We know what caused our trees to become diseased.  As they got bigger, the cedar trees they were planted near got bigger too and the two trees can't be planted too closely together.  It is called cedar-apple rust disease. 

What causes the deformity and disease in a Christian's life that we are talking about?  It is caused by being too closely involved with the world.  When you become "of the world" instead of just "in the world", your fruit gets contaminated.  It also comes as a result of holding on to anger, bitterness, resentment, revenge, unforgiveness, hurt, pain and guilt.  These can affect your fruit and although you are a Christian and should be producing love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, etc., the fruit will be marred.  It won't look like what it is, and it certainly won't be desirable.

We could have sprayed our trees and worked with them for a while to heal them.  But we cut them down instead of going through the process.  A Christian who has become "deformed" can be healed and start producing good fruit again.  They do it through repentance and giving everything that contaminates their heart over to the Lord and give the Holy Spirit full control.

Have a great day.  Has your fruit become contaminated and is now deformed and undesirable? 

"Living For Eternity"

"For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country".  Hebrews 11:14

The "they" this verse is referring to is all of those who lived by faith and died in faith.  Their faith was in the God of heaven and earth.  They trusted and believed what He said.  They held on to His promises whether they saw them fulfilled in their lives or not.  They knew that the Lord was faithful as promised.

They also knew that this earth was not their home.  Like a pilgrim, they were only passing through.  They knew that there was more to their existence than this life and what it has to offer.  They knew that if their faith was in this Almighty God that when they died, they would go into His presence to live with Him for an eternity.  Because of this, they kept their hearts and minds stayed on Him and were ever mindful that they were just "passing through" this earth.

I look around at so many of those who "live by faith"-- Christians, believers, followers of Jesus-- in this present day and see a different attitude about eternity.  Most are so consumed with this life-- what to eat, drink, wear, where to live, how much money they are trying to make, politics, the economy, entertainment, etc.  They act as if this life is all there is.  They act, live and talk like this temporary is the eternal.  Well, it is not!

Those who made it into the "Hall of Faith" (Hebrews 11) knew this.  I want to say to my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord-- This world is temporary!!! It is not eternal!!!  It will pass away one day.  You will die one day.  This is all going to be done away with one day.  You will not live here forever.  There is an eternity that awaits us.  Live for it!!! Stop living for the temporary!!  Refocus and get your eyes off of this life and onto the one that is to come.  Eternity never ends-- this life does.  Don't let this temporary life rob you of eternal life.  Keep eternity in mind.  Live your life with eternity in mind.  Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also". (John 14:1,2)

Have a great day.  This life is temporary.  The one to come is eternal.  Which one are you living for?

"Captive In Destiny"

"And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand".  Genesis 39:4

The Lord doesn't always deliver us out of affliction, trials and testing.  He doesn't always deliver us from them.  Sometimes He delivers us in them.  Meaning we still go through them but instead of them holding us in bondage we have freedom.

Joseph was not delivered out of Egypt.  Daniel was not delivered out of Babylon.  They both lived most of their lives there and even died there.  But while they were there, the Lord was with them doing great and mighty things in their lives and through their lives. 

Joseph ruled alongside Pharaoh as second highest in command in the greatest nation on earth.  Daniel was made a prince who ruled providences in Babylon under three different kings-- also the greatest nation on earth at that time.  They each were captives in body, but they were free in spirit, heart and mind. 

Although they were captives, they were still promoted in their captivity.  They still served the Lord in their captivity.  They still fulfilled their destiny as captives.  Instead of us always praying for deliverance from "captivity", why not pray to see if this is part of God's plan for your life.  I know this is not a very popular message.  We don't want captivity.  We want comfort.  We don't want to have to go through anything like that.  But like Joseph and Daniel, this might be the very thing that your destiny and God given assignment is wrapped up in.

Have a great day.  We may not always be delivered from our captivity, but that captivity might in actuality be part of our destiny.   

"Foolish Way, But Best Way"

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters".  Genesis 1:2

In verse one we see that God created the heavens and the earth.  In verse two there was darkness and chaos in it.  In verse three God speaks into the darkness and chaos and brings forth light.  Is your life full of chaos and darkness?  Are you going through a time of difficulties?  Do you feel like you are in the wilderness and facing tremendous problems?  Well, be encouraged, the Lord knows how to turn your darkness into light and your chaos into something good.

In verse three the Lord brought forth light into the situation by speaking to it-- "And God said".  When God is working on our behalf, He may not always do it the way we think He should do it, the way we would do it or the way we want Him to do it, but He knows how to do it the best way. 

God's ways are not the same as our ways.  They are so much better than ours.  His thoughts on the matter aren't our thoughts about it.  They are so much higher.  He sees the whole situation.  He sees it from beginning to end.  He sees the full picture. 

God's way of working in our darkness and trials may seem foolish to us.  In verse two He simply "spoke" to it.  We want God to "put His hands on it".  We want some physical sign that He is doing it. For example, it must have seemed foolish to the Israelites when they needed water for God to have Moses strike a rock.  But as foolish as it may have seemed, they received water. 

The point is:  God knows how to turn your chaos and darkness into something good.  "And God said-- then God saw it was good".  Just trust Him and trust Him to do it His way which will always be the best way.

Have a great day.  God knows how to bring something good out of the chaos in your life and He knows the best way of doing it.   

"Come After"

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me".  Luke 9:23

Jesus offers an invitation to anyone who will to come after Him.  This phrase "come after" has a two-fold meaning.  One means to follow behind something or someone.  Many are "coming after" Jesus like this.  They are following Him through religious formality.  They go to church, they have a church membership, they read the Bible, give offerings, say prayers and try to treat others kindly.  They stay away from alcohol and other vices and immorality.  They are doing the works, but have they really accepted the invitation?

Have you ever heard anyone say that they were "going after" something?  You may have heard those who participate in the Olympics talk about "going after the gold".  What do they mean?  It means they are passionately pursuing that gold metal.  They are doing whatever it takes to obtain it.  They are making whatever sacrifices that are necessary in order to win it. They aren't letting anything stop them, hinder them or get in their way from obtaining it.  They are keeping their eye on the prize and doing everything in their power to pursue it.  This is the second meaning of "come after".  This is the invitation that Jesus has given us.  To passionately pursue Him.  To go after Him with everything we have and are.  To see Him as the greatest "prize" to be received.

Have you accepted His invitation?  Are you "coming after" Him?  Which definition are you coming after Him with?  Are you following Him through religion practices only-- the dos and don'ts, the list of religious rules and regulations?  Or are you following Him with a passionate pursuit?  Having "eyes" only for Him?  Going after Him with all you have?  Loving Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind?  Giving/sacrificing all to have that relationship with Him?  Making Him your heart and life's goal?  You are either following Him one way or the other.  Which is it?

Have a great day.  How are you "coming after" Jesus? 

"First Love And First Works"

"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent".  Revelation 2:2-5

The Lord said that these people had lost their first love.  Have you lost your first love?  Is Jesus the focal point of your life like He was at the beginning?  Do you still love Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind?  Or has your love for Him dwindled?  Has He taken a seat further down the line, or at the end, of your affections? 

How does this happen?  We allow the cares of this life to cause us to start turning from Him.  We let others come between us and Him.  There are many reasons.  But more important than "why did this happen?" is "how do I get that first love back?". 

When Jesus told us the problem, He also gave us the solution.  "Repent, and do the first works".  The first step is to repent.  Confess this falling away to Him.  Confess this lack of love to Him.  Repent of it, turn and start heading back toward Him.  Next, do the first works.  If you noticed, He first commended them for their "works".  So, they were doing works.  They were still working for Him and doing His work.  So which works is He talking about?

If you look up the word work in the original language it also means:  that with which anyone is occupied.  Do you remember when you first got married, or were dating someone, how you were occupied and preoccupied with that person you were in love with?  No one else mattered.  Your whole world- your interests, schedule, money, time, plans, every waking moment-- was spent planning how you could be with or see that person.  You longed to be with them.  All you could do was eat, think, drink, sleep, dream about them.  You couldn't wait to be with them and didn't want to leave once you were.  That person was the center of everything you did.  Everyone and everything else came second.  This is the work that He is talking about-- being occupied with Him more than anything else and not letting anything else stand in the way of you being with Him.  You do the first works by being preoccupied and occupied with Jesus.   

Have a great day.  Have you lost your first love?  Are your thoughts and life occupied with Him?         

"True Appearance Or Not?"

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment". John 7:24

As many of you know our ministry runs a thrift store.  Years ago a friend came up to me and told me that she and her husband had passed by the shop one day while I was closed and thought someone had vandalized it.  She was so upset that anyone would do that.  The reason she thought that was because the windows had red paint "scribbled" all over them.  She had her husband turn around so that could take a closer look and clean the paint off of the windows.  Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the paint was also on the inside.  They concluded that I must have done it.  

Let me now tell you the story behind the windows.  When my granddaughter was eight years old, she would "volunteer" for me on Fridays during the summer.  Well, she found a tube of red glass paint.  So, she decided to do a little "artwork" and write some messages and draw on the windows.  Me being the "wonderful" Nana I am--- I let her.  

A lot of time we will "jump to conclusions" based on appearance.  We will act according to what we see.  Many times, what our eyes are telling us is the truth, but sometimes it isn't.  After looking at the windows I could easily see how they drew that conclusion.  (I probably would have too if I had not known the truth.)

I said all that to say this:  Our judgments should not be after appearance.  They should not be solely based on our feelings or opinions.  They should not be based on everyone else's opinions as well.  We should seek the Lord and ask for His understanding in the situation.  God corrected Samuel the prophet for this very thing when he went to anoint a new king of Israel.  He was looking at the statue of the man.  He was looking at the brothers' appearances.  He was following Jessie's opinion, who didn't even think David was good enough to be king, so he left him tending sheep. 

You have heard it said, "Things are not always as they appear"-- this is often true.  Things are not always as others say they are.  Things are not always as we perceive them to be.  So, again, seek the Lord.  Get discernment from Him.  Ask Him to help you see the situation clearly.  Don't just take everyone else's word for it, or make a judgment based solely on the way things look.  It might not be true. 

Have a great day.  Base your judgments on truth, not on appearance only. 

 

"Fight With Your Mouth"

".... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God".  Ephesians 6:17b

How does the Bible tell us to fight our enemy the devil?  It tells us to fight him with our mouth.  He comes to steal, kill and destroy and he fights against us with his mouth/words.  This is how he fought against mankind in the Garden of Eden-- with words.  "Did God say?"  He is still fighting against us with words.  Words of fear, guilt, shame, condemnation and accusations.  

Many of you are trying to fight him the wrong way.  You think that if you just ignore him, he will go away.  You think that if you talk to him, you will be sinning.  You believe that just because Jesus already defeated him that you don't have to do anything else.  You don't understand that he is to be spoken to in order to defeat or resist him.  I didn't say we are to converse with him.  I said we are to speak to him.

Jesus taught us how to defeat the enemy when He was in the wilderness.  He did not carry on a conversation with the devil.  He did not simply ignore him.  He did not stay speechless.  He spoke the Word of God to him-- "It is written".  When Jesus and His disciples were in the boat and the storm came up, it was no ordinary storm.  It was demonic in nature.  It was the enemy trying to detour and destroy Jesus from reaching His destination.  What did Jesus do in the storm?  He spoke to the storm.  He told it to "shut up and be quiet"! 

In your time of "attack" you are going to have to do the same thing.  You are going to have to open your mouth and use your Sword-- the Word of God.  The Bible tells us we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.  Are you using God's Word to fight the devil?  Are you being quiet and not saying a word?  Are you ignoring him and hoping he will go away?  It wasn't until Jesus had told him three times that "It is written" that he finally left-- but he did leave. 

Have a great day.  You have to speak to the enemy and tell him what the Word of God says.   

Scripture reference:
Genesis 3:1
John 10:10
Revelation 12:10,11
Mark 4:39
Matthew 4

"Diligent"

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth".  2 Timothy 2:15

The word for study here means to endeavor, give diligence, be diligent.  The word for diligent in the dictionary means:  constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything.  So, are we?  Are we diligent when it comes to our relationship and service to the Lord? 

It seems that we are diligent about everything else but our relationship with Him.  We are diligent about our education, in our careers, in our relationships with others, and so on.  That is a good thing.  We don't need to be lazy or slothful in any area of life.  If we say we are a Christian, then we need to be diligent in what we do and be people of excellence.  But our first priority is to please the Lord.  We should endeavor to serve Him with all our hearts.  We should endeavor to give Him our best.  We should endeavor to make His love known to others.  We should be diligent in our study to know Him in deeper depths.  Striving for a close intimate relationship with Him should be the greatest desire of our hearts.

We have been brought into a relationship with the Lord through the sacrificial shed blood of Jesus Christ; therefore, we are not working to be saved.  But we have to be diligent in our salvation.  We have to be diligent, attentive and constant in our relationship with Him.  We can't neglect it and take it for granted.  We can't be "off and on" or "wishy-washy" with it.  It should be our first priority.  It should mean more to us than anything else.  It should be the cry and utmost desire of our hearts.  Is it?

Have a great day.  Are you diligent in your relationship with the Lord?  Does it mean more to you than anything else?

"You Must Be Born Again"

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God".  John 3:3

When Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, he said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him". Jesus didn't say back to him, "You are right.  My Father has revealed this to you. I am glad you recognize who I am".  He said none of that.  Instead, He said something odd-- to me it made no sense.  It sounded like it had nothing to do with what Nicodemus had said.  Jesus immediately responded by telling him he had to be born-again.

Jesus never beats around the bush.  He always goes to the heart of the matter.  He was letting Nicodemus know that entering into the kingdom and having eternal life was more than just having the right belief.  Jesus sets the criteria.  Although Nicodemus had all the "credentials", his credentials were not the criteria.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a religious ruler, a teacher, he had a place in the temple, he recognized that Jesus was from God, he knew He could do miracles, he knew God was with Jesus, he followed Him in the crowd, but that wasn't enough.  He still had to be born-again.

Just because you go to church, just because you are a Sunday School teacher, just because you sing in the choir, just because you are on the deacon board, just because you give tithes and offerings, just because you pastor a church, just because you joined a church, just because you shook the preacher's hand, just because you raised your hand in secret and repeated a prayer does not mean you meet Jesus' requirements for entering into the Kingdom of heaven.  Let's take it one step further, like He did for Nicodemus-- just because you believe that Jesus is from God and He is the Son of God doesn't mean you are saved.  Even the devils believe that Jesus is who He is, but they aren't and never will be saved.  Jesus said you "must be born-again". 

A person gets into a family here on earth by either being born or adopted into it.  If you haven't been born into God's family, you don't belong to Him-- you are not in the family.  If you are not in the family, you will not live with Him forever in His house in heaven-- only family gets to do that.  Nicodemus was religious but he was not born-again.  He believed the right thing about who Jesus was, but he was not born-again.  You can be a faithful church goer, you can be religious, you can believe the right thing about Jesus, but if you are not born-again you are still lost and will not enter into God's Kingdom.  That is what Jesus said-- and He makes the rules!

Have a great day.  You have to be born-again in order to enter into God's Kingdom.  If you aren't, you won't! 

 

"The Mark"

"From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus".  Galatians 6:17

Paul said he bore the marks in his body of the Lord Jesus.  The word for mark here means:  a mark pricked in or branded on the body; a scar of service.  Perhaps these marks were the scars from when he was beaten three times because he was a follower (as well as a minister) of Jesus.

Do you have any identifying marks of the Lord Jesus?  Even if we don't have any physical marks, we should have a mark.  We should have some identifying marks and scars of service that are evidence that we are followers of the Lord Jesus.

If not a physical mark than what kind of mark would we have?  The mark that distinguishes us as followers of Jesus is love.  We have been stamped with His love.  "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".  That is our distinguishing mark. 

The world will know we are His because we are marked with love and by love.  Love for our enemies.  Love for those who despitefully use us, abuse us and mistreat us.  For those who take advantage of us.  For those who are out to get us.  Love for those who hate us.  Love for those who don't love us in return.  This love isn't vengeful, vindictive or unforgiving.  Love is patient, kind and is not jealous; does not brag and is not arrogant.  It does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.  It does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

You can say you belong to Jesus.  You can say you are serving Him.  You can call yourself a Christian, a follower, a believer, but if you don't have love, you don't have any mark that identifies you as His.  Without love, you have nothing-- nothing but words.  You can say you belong to Him all day long, but the "mark" is the proof-- the mark of love.  

Have a great day.  Do you have a mark on you that identifies you with Jesus?

Scripture references:
John 13:35
2 Corinthians 11:25
1 Corinthians 13

"Turn The On Light"

"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple".  Psalm 119:130

This world is walking, and living, in darkness because of the presence of sin.  We are groping around trying to find our way.  We are stumbling over what is hidden from sight because of the darkness.  The remedy for darkness is light.  When light comes in it helps us to see what is hidden.  It helps us to walk in a perfect way.  It causes us to miss the things that would trip us up. 

We need light.  We need light to shine in our own hearts, our homes, our schools, our government, our nation and the world.  Until it does, we will not only continue to be in darkness but do "dark" things.  Hate, murder, greed, retaliation, revenge, robbery, immortality, abuse, division, anger, malice, incest, bitterness, unforgiveness, rebellion (to name a few) are all works of darkness. 

How do we get light into our situations?  Where does this light come from?  Is there a big "switch" that we can turn off and on to bring us light?  Yes, it is.  This light I am talking about does have a "switch".  It can be "flipped on" to bring light.  It is called the "Word of God". 

If we would bring God's word into our situations, by reading and doing it, the darkness would flee-- that is how we turn on the switch.  The Word of God shows us the problem and gives us the solution at the same time.  For example, it will expose hate and at the same time tell us how to overcome the hate-- love our neighbor as our self.  It would expose retaliation and tell us to turn the other cheek and go the second mile.  It will expose revenge and admonish us that vengeance belongs to the Lord, He will repay.  It will bring "light" into the situation so that we will not be in darkness and do darkness any longer but do the right thing-- the "in the light" thing.

Have a great day.  God's word is light.  It is the answer to the darkness.   

"A Quick Fix"

"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high".  Luke 24:49

Everybody wants a "quick fix".  A quick fix in their health, their relationships, their finances, etc.  This quick fix mentality has also come into the church.  We know nothing about "tarrying".  We know nothing about "waiting on God".  We know nothing about staying at the altars until we "pray through".  Do you ever wonder why the modern-day church seems to be powerless?  Do you ever wonder why we look so different from the church of our grandfathers or great grandparents, or the early church?  They knew you had to do some waiting-- waiting in prayer. 

They prayed until they had prayed.  They prayed without regard to a clock.  They prayed without regard to what others around them were doing.  They prayed until the answer came.  They stayed on their knees until they had touched heaven and the answer they needed came and peace flooded their souls. 

Many say we shouldn't go back to the past.  They say that it is a new day.  They say what our forefathers had is obsolete and irrelevant for today's generations and changing culture.  They are trying to "make a better mouse trap".  They are trying to "improve" what is already perfect and works best. 

The instruction to "wait/tarry/pray through" came from Jesus Himself.  He never was a proponent or taught that there was a "quick fix".  He said to His followers to tarry until they were endued with power-- even His modern-day followers.  He Himself tarried often all night in prayer.  Tarrying/waiting is not what we want to do but it is what we need to do.  If we would, we would see different results than the ones we are getting to our shallow prayers.  We would see a difference in our lives.  We would see a difference in our ministries.  We would see a difference in circumstances around us.  You can't "build a better mouse trap", and you can't improve on God's pattern of doing things.

Have a great day.  A "quick fix" is not the answer.   

"WDJS?"

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock".  Matthew 7:24

We have all heard the phrase- What Would Jesus Do?  We have also heard- What Did Jesus Do?  This morning I want to talk about another one-- What Did Jesus Say? 

Everything that Jesus said is of great importance-- a matter of life and death, and eternity.  Sadly, most people who sit in church week after week can't tell you what Jesus said.  They don't know.  They don't know for themselves.  They rarely pick up a Bible to read it.  For most, their Bible stays in the car from one Sunday to the next or in the same place they put it after church until time to go to church again-- unopened and unread.   For others it sits on a shelf collecting dust.  Most folks depend on the preacher or some other person to tell them what the Bible says.  They don't have a clue.  That is why so many are confused about the scriptures and don't know the difference between an "old wives tale" and a scripture verse.

So, just what did Jesus say?  He said to love your enemies.  Pray for those who use you.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  Blessed are you when men shall persecute you for His sake.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Don't do your alms before men to be seen of them.  Forgive others so you can be forgiven.  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  Turn the other cheek, go the second mile.  Take no thought for tomorrow.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit.  Get the log out of your own eye.  Do not lay up treasures on earth, but lay up treasures in heaven.  You can't serve two masters-- you can't serve God and money.  Give to God what is God's.  If you love only those who love you, you have no reward.  Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord" will enter into heaven. 

 

Of course, He said much, much more but this was a good place to start.  These words that I quoted to you were basics from His sermon on the Mount.  He ended that sermon by telling us how important it is that we hear what He says and do what He says.  He said that if you hear what He says and does what He says you will be like a wise man who builds his house upon a rock.  When the storms of life come, when you have to give an answer to others about your faith, when you stand before Him on Judgment Day, you will have something to stand upon and will not fall.  But if you don't hear and do them, you will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  You will have nothing to stand upon.  How will you have a firm foundation if you won't even read His word or find out for yourself what He said?

 

Have a great day.  What did Jesus say?  Do you even know?  Do you know for yourself?  Are you trying to find out?  You should! 

 

"Touch Him"

"And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole".  Matthew 14:36

In the story of the woman with the issue of blood and in the lives of many others who pressed in to touch the hem of Jesus' garment, they were all healed of their infirmities.  These were real, literal physical healings.  But there is something "symbolic" that we see from these accounts.  It is the "touching of Jesus".

When was the last time you "touched Jesus"?  We can't touch Him in a physical sense like they did, but we can touch Him, nevertheless.  When we go into our place of prayer, that is the best opportunity we have to touch Him.  But too often in prayer we are too rushed to wait for that "touch".  Or all we are interested in is presenting our "wish list" and having it fulfilled.  When this is all that the time of prayer is to us, we are robbing ourselves.  

When they physically touched Him, virtue flowed into their bodies.  That virtue was so powerful that it healed every disease they had-- regardless of how horrific it was, incurable it was or how long they had been plagued with it.  If we would spend time waiting in His presence to "touch" Him, His virtue would flow into us and bring that which we need.

It would give us the peace and joy we need.  It would give us wisdom and grace.  It would empower and strengthen us.  It would enlighten us and give us clarity.  It would bring healing to our minds and emotions. It would remove fear, worry, anxiety, confusion, depression and bring deliverance from the bondages that ensnare us.  And it can still bring healing to our bodies.  All that we need is still in His presence.  We just have to be willing to reach out and touch Him to get it.  

Have a great day.  When was the last time you touched Jesus?     

"The Place Of Rejoicing"

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

There are many days when I get up that I don't know what the Lord would have me to do that day.  I don't know in which direction He might lead me to go or to where He might order my steps.  Even on the days that I know what I will be doing-- going to work, visiting at the nursing home, buying groceries, etc.-- I still don't know what "specific task" He might want to direct me to do. 

While I don't always know what I am to do each day, I do know one thing I am to do-- rejoice and be glad today.  When I don't know what else I should do to fulfill His plan for my life, I know I am to rejoice.  When I rejoice, I am in His will.

I can rejoice, and will rejoice, in spite of difficulties, in spite of heartache and in spite of trials.  I can rejoice for many reasons.  Where do I start?  I woke up this morning, for one.  I have my right mind.  I am sitting here at this computer.  But more than that, I can rejoice because my name is written in the Book of Life.  I have peace with God through Jesus Christ.  I know that He is with me and will never leave me.  I can enjoy unbroken fellowship with the Father.  His Spirit who guides me is dwelling in me.  I have His word to guide my steps.  I have His joy that is unexplainable.  I am living in His grace and He supplies all my needs.  I can spend time rejoicing because of His goodness toward me.  

Maybe you are wondering-- "What would You have me to do today, Lord?  Where would You have me to go?"  While you are waiting for Him to show you something specific, you already have some direction-- go in the direction of rejoicing.  Go to that wonderful place of rejoicing in Him and His goodness. 

Have a great day.  If you aren't sure what the Lord wants you to do today, one thing He wants you to do is rejoice. 

"It Will Speak"

This morning I felt impressed to share the 23rd Psalm with you, without any commentary or opinion.  I believe that there are times we need to just read the scriptures and let them speak to us.  We need to read them and then meditate on them.  We need to allow it to minister to us by itself.  

Read this Psalm and re-read it and let the Lord Himself speak to you in a personal way through it.

Have a great day.  When we read the scriptures, we need to let them speak to us.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.   He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.   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.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever".

"Buttered- Up"

"A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin".  Proverbs 26:28

This word won't apply to everyone this morning specifically, but it is something we all need to know and can learn from.  The specific word for someone who is reading this is--- you are being "buttered-up".  Someone is trying to get on your good side.  They are trying to get close to you.  They are trying to gain your trust and confidence, but they have an ulterior motive behind it.  They are not what they appear, and things are not as they are trying to make them appear.  In short, they are manipulating you into believing a lie so you will come over to their side and do what they want you to do.    

Flattering lips, what we call "buttering-up" is a tool of manipulation.  Not every good thing that someone says to us and about us is a form of manipulation-- some are sincere.  It is what lies behind the words.  It is about what they want and can gain from it.  It is the motive of their heart behind what they are saying and doing that constitutes the difference.     

The serpent in the garden said "flattering" words to Eve.  He told her what she wanted to hear.  He appealed to the desire of her heart.  But his motive was not to "help" Eve or give her something that would make her "happy" and "fulfilled".  It was to advance his own agenda.  He wanted the place of God.  He wanted what God had given Adam and Eve.  It wasn't about "her".  It was about "him".  His own greedy, selfish and evil desire. 

So, for all of us.  We must guard against being "butter-up".  We must guard against listening to flattering words.  We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us be discerning so that we will know the difference between flattery and sincerity.  If we will, we won't believe the lies and fall for the deception and manipulation like Eve did.  In the end it didn't benefit her, it was her ruin.

Have a great day.  Beware when people start "buttering" you up.

"Don't Forgive"

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses".  Matthew 6:14,15

There are many who are reading this that have unforgiveness in your heart against someone else.  You just won't let it go.  There are many reason why people hold on to unforgiveness.  The reasons are endless.  Someone abused you or misused you.  Somebody took advantage of you or your generosity.  Someone you confided in let you down.  Someone who was supposed to be there for you wasn't.  Someone you loved betrayed you.  The list goes on.

If truth be known, while we are holding on to unforgiveness toward someone else, we may not be guiltless ourselves.  We have all said and done things to hurt someone else.  We have all been an instrument at some point in time that caused hurt, pain or heartache to someone else.  Therefore, we should get the "log out of our own eye" when it comes to not wanting to forgive someone else.

The bottom line concerning unforgiveness is this-- you may have a legitimate reason for feeling the way you do.  Whoever you are holding unforgiveness against may actually be guilty.  Whoever it is may not deserve your forgiveness.  But that is all besides the point.  The point is:  you and I need forgiveness-- the forgiveness of God.  We need Him to forgive our trespasses.  If He does not we are eternally lost.  Unforgiveness is not a luxury nor an option.  It is a must if we are going to be forgiven by the Heavenly Father.  If God's forgiveness means nothing to you, then go ahead and continue to walk in unforgiveness because He won't give it to you if you do.

Have a great day.  If you don't forgive others, the Lord will not forgive you.        
 

"The Lord Of The Work"

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her".  Luke 10:41.42 

Let me preface what I am about to say with this-- the work of the Lord is important, we should not be negligent of it, we should take our responsibility to do what He has called us to do serious.  But having said all that, our relationship with the Lord we are working for is more important than doing the work. 

 

The Pharisees did the work but had no relationship with the Lord.  Jesus made it clear to them that just because they did all these "works" did not mean that He knew them and that He would not say "depart" to them on the day of judgment. (Matthew 7)

 

Remember the story of Martha and Mary?  Martha was busy serving/working for the Lord, but Mary was "busy" with the relationship with Him--- sitting at His feet listening to Him, fellowshipping with Him, loving on Him.  Jesus said that she had chosen the "good part".

 

I just need to remind you, and myself, this morning that spending time with Jesus, loving on Him, communing with Him, listening to Him, coming into His presence is more important than all the work we do for Him-- especially if all we do is work but neglect the relationship.

 

Have a great day.  Your relationship with the Lord of the work is more important than doing the work of the Lord.  If you have to choose between the two-- always choose the relationship.    

 

"I Can't Make It"

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". 2 Peter 1:4

Do you ever get so physically tired that you just don't think you can make it out of bed?  You just don't think you have the strength or energy to get up?  That was how my morning started-- it was hard to get out of bed.  That's such a simple thing but it often seems major.  But what about situations in life that really are major and make you say, "I just don't think I can make it"?

Perhaps you are dealing with a rebellious or wayward child, and you don't think you are going to make it.  Perhaps grief is surrounding you and you don't think you are going to make it.  Maybe you are dealing with a disease or illness that keeps holding you back and you don't think you are going to make it.  Perhaps you are a caregiver to a spouse, a parent, a child or someone else and you are so exhausted that you don't think you are going to make it.  You might be on a job that is demanding more out of you than you have to give and you don't think you are going to make it.  Or you might be weighed down with financial debt, and you don't think you are going to make it.  Perhaps you are dealing with some situation other than what I have named, and you just don't think you are going to make it through it.  It seems more than you can handle or bear.  If so, I have good news for you.  There is hope.  It is found in the promises of God.

The Lord promised to give us strength in weakness.  Provision in lack.  Joy for mourning.  Praise for heaviness.  Help in trouble.  Guidance in darkness.  Peace in confusion.  His presence in loneliness.  Comfort in sorrow.  A word of wisdom when you don't know what to do.  Grace for everything else.  His promises are for you.  Stand upon them. Hide them in your heart.  Take hold of them.  He has made you a promise that you will make it if you grab hold to Him and HIs promises. 

Have a great day.  When you don't think you can make it, God's promises say you can make it through Him.  

"The Report"

"While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.  But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole".  Luke 8:49,50

Jesus was on His way to Jairus's house because his daughter was very ill and He was going to heal her.  On the way Jairus received word that his daughter had died.  Upon hearing that report Jesus spoke another word to Jairus-- "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole".

At that point Jairus had to make a choice, either believe the report of the messenger or the report of Jesus.  One was devastating, the other gave hope.  One was from a man, the other was from the Son of God.  One was based on sight, the other was based on faith.  Jairus chose to believe Jesus and his daughter was brought back to life. 

Life is full of "reports".  The question is, "Which ones will you believe?".  Had Jesus not spoken to Jairus, he would have believed the report of the man, and he should have because that was the only report he had.  But now he had two to choose from.  If the Lord has truly spoken to you about a situation then you too have a choice to make.  Will you believe the report of the situation or the report of the Lord?  Will you believe what the situation is saying to you or what the Lord is saying to you?  I am not talking about believing in "hope-so" (you hope this is the will of the Lord).  I am not talking about assumption (assuming this is the will of the Lord).  I am not talking about just pulling out a scripture that fits and standing on it (thinking God will back it up).  I am talking about truly hearing from the Lord like Jairus did.  When you do, then you must make a choice as to which one you will believe.

Have a great day.  Who's report will you believe? 

"Fixing The Fixer"

"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you".  1 Thessalonians 4:11

 When the Lord laid this scripture on my heart to share this morning, I knew it was for me if for no one else.  It is not always easy to do-- be quiet, tend to your own business, do your own work-- especially when you are a "fixer". 

When you see things that are wrong, when you have a "better" way of doing it, when you have gone through it yourself, when you are more versed on what the scriptures say about it, when you have a heart to help, when you want to make it easier for other people, when you can see the situation more clearly, you can't help but want to say something or do something to remedy it-- it is hard not to do it.

This word this morning is two-fold:  First, it is an instruction.  Stop giving your opinion and telling others what to do unless they ask for the help or advice-- keep your mouth off of it.  Tend to, and mind, your own business unless they want you involved-- or the Holy Spirit prompts you to do something-- keep your nose out of it. 

Second, this is a freeing message.  The Lord wants to free you from thinking you always have to "do something".  It is freeing to know that I don't have to right every wrong, correct every mistake, instruct every move, point out every fault and always be pointing to the right direction.  It is freeing to know it is not my place to live someone else's life for them.  I am not responsible for them or their decisions.  I am responsible for me-- to do my own work and take care of my own business.  When I do that, I will be more productive in the things that the Lord has called me to do. 

Am I saying there is never a time to help counsel or be involved? No, but not if it isn't wanted.  And not if I think I can make it or the person different.  That isn't my business, it's God's.  Sometimes we are trying to do something that only God can do and in doing so we take it out of His hands.  It is His place to fix it and not mine.  I can promise you, it is better to leave it in His hands and let Him do what needs to be done--- in my own life and the life of someone else.

Have a great day.  You don't always have to be fixing something or someone.