"Lord, your faithful love reaches to heaven, Your faithfulness to the clouds." Psalm 36:5.
Faith is truly believing, without a doubt, that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. He came to live on this earth and be an example for us. Then Christ died on the cross to save us from our sinful selves. After 3 days Jesus rose from the grave to give each and everyone of us eternal life if we choose to believe and have faith. And in this faith we must totally trust that wherever God leads us we must follow without fear because He is with us always and will protect and provide for us at all times.
"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9.
At this season in my life God is doing a major work, honestly, another major work really. He is calling me to live out my Faith in a very visible way. He has also laid it on my heart to come up with material for some Women's Conferences that I will be doing in the Fall called "Leaving a Legacy - How to Love and Live like Christ." With work and all of this going on at the same time I'm going to have to take a Summer Siesta from my blogging. Sure I will blog here and there, but not daily or even weekly for that. I just need to Focus in on what God has called me to do at this time, I need to take some time to just sit and meditate at the feet of Jesus to hear what He has to say. I need to take some time to devote to the material for the Women's Conferences.
So as the Summer marches on I ask for you to pray with me and keep the faith because God is faithful to us and He will be with us wherever we go.
And at the end of the summer I can't wait to share with you what God is doing and if you have a group that is interested in the material He has laid on my heart to write and speak let me know, I would love to set up some more events.
Christ's Love to All and See you Soon!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Promise in His Power
"O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?" Psalm 77:13
God created the Heavens and the Earth and Everything in them. You can see the works of his hands and his great majesty just by walking outside. So, then why do we fear......because there are all types of giants all around us, and these giants come at us from all angles and at all ages.
Two of my children have horrible night time fears, and recently they have been really struggling with them. The oldest fears someone will come into our home and kidnap or kill him, and the younger one thinks we are going to leave her in the night. These fears of my children keep us up in to the wee hours. We try to console and comfort them with the safety we have, but it doesn't see stop their fear from coming. Just two night ago the oldest came into our room bawling because he had a bad thought about someone coming into our house. This fear began to take over his every breath. Frustrated, not with him but with the circumstance, I got out of bed, brought in his Bible, and said, "Tell Satan to leave you alone because Jesus is your Lord and Savior and there's only enough room for him inside of you." I then handed him the Bible, told him he had nothing to fear because God is with him, He will protest him, and we prayed.
All throughout the Bible there are stories of people who had fears of all types, giants of all sizes, and they prayed for God's protection over them. One such instance was in the first church. Peter and John, the apostles, had just been released from the Council who had threatened them to never speak or teach about Jesus again. The apostles went back to the new believers to tell them of the Council's threat and reveal to them the new giant ahead. So not to let this giant turn into a fear and threaten the spread of the gospel, immediately they prayed. "Then all the believers were united as they lifted their voices in prayer: "O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them -" Acts 4:24. The first thing they noted in their prayer was God's Majesty and Might.
God not only created the heavens and the earth, but he also created the giants within it. And if God created the giants He can also destroy them. Just like when my kids build up a mighty fortress with their legos they can tear it down flat. Don't let your fears get the best of you because God is bigger and better than your fear. Trust in Him who created the Heavens and Earth because nothing is too difficult for Our Great God. "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You." Jeremiah 32:17
And in the end...my son went to sleep and the new believers gained courage from the Holy Spirit, "And they preached God's message with boldness." Acts 4:31b.
God created the Heavens and the Earth and Everything in them. You can see the works of his hands and his great majesty just by walking outside. So, then why do we fear......because there are all types of giants all around us, and these giants come at us from all angles and at all ages.
Two of my children have horrible night time fears, and recently they have been really struggling with them. The oldest fears someone will come into our home and kidnap or kill him, and the younger one thinks we are going to leave her in the night. These fears of my children keep us up in to the wee hours. We try to console and comfort them with the safety we have, but it doesn't see stop their fear from coming. Just two night ago the oldest came into our room bawling because he had a bad thought about someone coming into our house. This fear began to take over his every breath. Frustrated, not with him but with the circumstance, I got out of bed, brought in his Bible, and said, "Tell Satan to leave you alone because Jesus is your Lord and Savior and there's only enough room for him inside of you." I then handed him the Bible, told him he had nothing to fear because God is with him, He will protest him, and we prayed.
All throughout the Bible there are stories of people who had fears of all types, giants of all sizes, and they prayed for God's protection over them. One such instance was in the first church. Peter and John, the apostles, had just been released from the Council who had threatened them to never speak or teach about Jesus again. The apostles went back to the new believers to tell them of the Council's threat and reveal to them the new giant ahead. So not to let this giant turn into a fear and threaten the spread of the gospel, immediately they prayed. "Then all the believers were united as they lifted their voices in prayer: "O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them -" Acts 4:24. The first thing they noted in their prayer was God's Majesty and Might.
God not only created the heavens and the earth, but he also created the giants within it. And if God created the giants He can also destroy them. Just like when my kids build up a mighty fortress with their legos they can tear it down flat. Don't let your fears get the best of you because God is bigger and better than your fear. Trust in Him who created the Heavens and Earth because nothing is too difficult for Our Great God. "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You." Jeremiah 32:17
And in the end...my son went to sleep and the new believers gained courage from the Holy Spirit, "And they preached God's message with boldness." Acts 4:31b.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Open Door of Opportunity
"For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." 2 Chronicles 16:9a
Peter and John, 2 of the apostles of Jesus, were going to the temple to take part in the prayer service when they came upon a lame beggar at the Temple gate. This man had been lame from birth and knew no different lifestyle. He was unable to work, play, really do anything, but beg daily at the temple. When he saw Peter and John, as usual, in beggar fashion, he asked for money. "But Peter said, I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" Acts 3:6. This lame man, this beggar, was immediately healed and began walking, jumping, and praising God as he went into the temple. All the people worshiping had known him for years and were amazed at what they were seeing. They wanted to see the men who had performed this miraculous feat. This Jewish congregation wanted to catch a glimpse of the men who healed the lame. Peter, however, saw this as the perfect time to preach the gospel and save the lost.
"Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd." Acts 3:12a.
Daily there are opportunities surrounding us to lead others to Christ or plant a seed of salvation for God to nurture because the majority of the world is lost. These opportunities don't have to be in a big crowd, but can just be one on one with someone like the lame beggar at the gate.
Just yesterday I was riding with some of my friends from work and we pulled up to a traffic light where a limping beggar was holding a sign and asking for money. There was no question in the drivers mind, as soon as she pulled up to him she rolled down her window and grabbed her purse. She pulled out a McDonald's gift card and handed it to him. Once the door of opportunity was open she began to talk to him and ask him about himself. The homeless man said he had a stroke 8 weeks ago, but was doing much better, and she said "I'm going to pray for you." She was being a witness for Christ in the first opportunity she saw without any question or hesitation.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, there is probably someone around who needs to hear the gospel and learn of the hope they can find through the salvation they can have in Christ. Look for the next opportunity and don't let the door close. Remember, God is calling us to reach the world!
"But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8.
Peter and John, 2 of the apostles of Jesus, were going to the temple to take part in the prayer service when they came upon a lame beggar at the Temple gate. This man had been lame from birth and knew no different lifestyle. He was unable to work, play, really do anything, but beg daily at the temple. When he saw Peter and John, as usual, in beggar fashion, he asked for money. "But Peter said, I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" Acts 3:6. This lame man, this beggar, was immediately healed and began walking, jumping, and praising God as he went into the temple. All the people worshiping had known him for years and were amazed at what they were seeing. They wanted to see the men who had performed this miraculous feat. This Jewish congregation wanted to catch a glimpse of the men who healed the lame. Peter, however, saw this as the perfect time to preach the gospel and save the lost.
"Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd." Acts 3:12a.
Daily there are opportunities surrounding us to lead others to Christ or plant a seed of salvation for God to nurture because the majority of the world is lost. These opportunities don't have to be in a big crowd, but can just be one on one with someone like the lame beggar at the gate.
Just yesterday I was riding with some of my friends from work and we pulled up to a traffic light where a limping beggar was holding a sign and asking for money. There was no question in the drivers mind, as soon as she pulled up to him she rolled down her window and grabbed her purse. She pulled out a McDonald's gift card and handed it to him. Once the door of opportunity was open she began to talk to him and ask him about himself. The homeless man said he had a stroke 8 weeks ago, but was doing much better, and she said "I'm going to pray for you." She was being a witness for Christ in the first opportunity she saw without any question or hesitation.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, there is probably someone around who needs to hear the gospel and learn of the hope they can find through the salvation they can have in Christ. Look for the next opportunity and don't let the door close. Remember, God is calling us to reach the world!
"But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Time Together
"Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17.
3000 people were saved at Pentecost. They went from not knowing Christ to fully believing, being baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. But do you know what they did next? They began to fellowship and worship together.
"And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had." Acts 3:44. These new believers came from all different walks of life, beliefs, and nationalities to one family together, helping one another, encouraging each other, growing in a loving relationship, and worshiping as a congregation - the first church began. "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the LORD's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the LORD added to their group those who were being saved." Acts 2:46-47. The new church met constantly, shared everything, worshiped together daily, met in each others homes consistently, shared meals with each other often, all while praising their great God and enjoying the unselfishness of all the people. And with all of this unselfish love and worship, God filled their church, constantly adding to the body of believers.
Is this the church today? We share if we are asked, but not always. We meet together at the church a few times a week, but not daily. We go to each others homes for small groups every once in a while, but not on a consistent basis. We share meals with each other at births, deaths, and special holidays or occasions, but not regularly and definitely not unannounced.
So what changed?
Instead of being Selfless believers we became a selfish church. If it doesn't benefit us we don't take part. We have gotten consumed with our time, our comfort, our life, and our ways that we have forgotten about the new life as a family of believers that Christ gave to us.
If we truly are following after Christ we must love like he loved, share like he shared, prayed as he prayed, worship as he worshiped, and fellowship as he fellowshipped. He taught the disciples how to live which is love while getting the "I" involved. They went from being disciples to becoming apostles by leading others by the example they were given. We as Christians must also lead by this same example. Our churches might not be open daily, but we can still meet constantly in our homes. We can still join together for worship, praise, and fellowship. We can still share everything including meals. We can still show unconditional love to one another, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
What's stopping you?
3000 people were saved at Pentecost. They went from not knowing Christ to fully believing, being baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. But do you know what they did next? They began to fellowship and worship together.
"And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had." Acts 3:44. These new believers came from all different walks of life, beliefs, and nationalities to one family together, helping one another, encouraging each other, growing in a loving relationship, and worshiping as a congregation - the first church began. "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the LORD's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the LORD added to their group those who were being saved." Acts 2:46-47. The new church met constantly, shared everything, worshiped together daily, met in each others homes consistently, shared meals with each other often, all while praising their great God and enjoying the unselfishness of all the people. And with all of this unselfish love and worship, God filled their church, constantly adding to the body of believers.
Is this the church today? We share if we are asked, but not always. We meet together at the church a few times a week, but not daily. We go to each others homes for small groups every once in a while, but not on a consistent basis. We share meals with each other at births, deaths, and special holidays or occasions, but not regularly and definitely not unannounced.
So what changed?
Instead of being Selfless believers we became a selfish church. If it doesn't benefit us we don't take part. We have gotten consumed with our time, our comfort, our life, and our ways that we have forgotten about the new life as a family of believers that Christ gave to us.
If we truly are following after Christ we must love like he loved, share like he shared, prayed as he prayed, worship as he worshiped, and fellowship as he fellowshipped. He taught the disciples how to live which is love while getting the "I" involved. They went from being disciples to becoming apostles by leading others by the example they were given. We as Christians must also lead by this same example. Our churches might not be open daily, but we can still meet constantly in our homes. We can still join together for worship, praise, and fellowship. We can still share everything including meals. We can still show unconditional love to one another, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
What's stopping you?
Thursday, June 21, 2012
My plans or His steps?
"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9.
We use calendars to plan out our day, plan out our month, plan out our year, and even plan out our life, but if it isn't the Lord's plan those plans are going to change. Have you ever looked back over your life and seen how much your plans have changed? How the direction you thought you were on might have done a 90 or 180 degree turn. When did you realize or have you realized that God was and is leading your steps?
Jesus had appeared to the disciples twice in the locked and confined room before he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. They finally felt His presence on them and got up the nerve to walk outside and see what the world had become. And in the fashion of most men or a lot of men who have been cooped up and left hungry they wanted to stretch their legs and get something to eat. Now they didn't have McDonald's to just go through a drive-thru, these men decided to go fishing. "Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said." (Sounds like a bunch of men to me, maybe even some women.) "So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night." John 21:3.
Okay, did I forget to mention, these weren't any men just going fishing, these were men that before Christ had come for them, they owned a fishing business. They were probably overly frustrated and even hungrier. They were probably thinking, What has happened to our ability to find fish? This sea has always been full. But morning broke and they looked toward the shore and saw someone standing on the beach. "He called out, "Friends, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied. Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of fish!" John 21:5-6a. Peter was probably thinking, Who is this man trying to tell me how to fish?! I know how to fish and there is nothing biting today. However, they had just been filled with the Holy Spirit and He must have encouraged them to take that step. "So they did, and they couldn't draw in the net because there were so many fish in it." John 21:6b. Then John looked back to the shore and immediately realized that the man on the shore was his Lord Jesus.
You see, the disciples had made plans to go fishing and nothing was caught, but when they followed the steps the Lord called out to them they were blessed with abundance. We can try to do things our way all day long, but until we follow the plans the LORD has laid out for us nothing will seem to go right.
"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 a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. Take your next step in the direction the LORD has called you and prepare to be blessed.
We use calendars to plan out our day, plan out our month, plan out our year, and even plan out our life, but if it isn't the Lord's plan those plans are going to change. Have you ever looked back over your life and seen how much your plans have changed? How the direction you thought you were on might have done a 90 or 180 degree turn. When did you realize or have you realized that God was and is leading your steps?
Jesus had appeared to the disciples twice in the locked and confined room before he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. They finally felt His presence on them and got up the nerve to walk outside and see what the world had become. And in the fashion of most men or a lot of men who have been cooped up and left hungry they wanted to stretch their legs and get something to eat. Now they didn't have McDonald's to just go through a drive-thru, these men decided to go fishing. "Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said." (Sounds like a bunch of men to me, maybe even some women.) "So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night." John 21:3.
Okay, did I forget to mention, these weren't any men just going fishing, these were men that before Christ had come for them, they owned a fishing business. They were probably overly frustrated and even hungrier. They were probably thinking, What has happened to our ability to find fish? This sea has always been full. But morning broke and they looked toward the shore and saw someone standing on the beach. "He called out, "Friends, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied. Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of fish!" John 21:5-6a. Peter was probably thinking, Who is this man trying to tell me how to fish?! I know how to fish and there is nothing biting today. However, they had just been filled with the Holy Spirit and He must have encouraged them to take that step. "So they did, and they couldn't draw in the net because there were so many fish in it." John 21:6b. Then John looked back to the shore and immediately realized that the man on the shore was his Lord Jesus.
You see, the disciples had made plans to go fishing and nothing was caught, but when they followed the steps the Lord called out to them they were blessed with abundance. We can try to do things our way all day long, but until we follow the plans the LORD has laid out for us nothing will seem to go right.
"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 a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. Take your next step in the direction the LORD has called you and prepare to be blessed.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
City on a Mountain
"You are the light of the world - like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:14-16
As I was praying this morning I went into a silent prayer where I just sit at the feet of Jesus allowing Him to speak to me. In this time, he revealed first to me an ocean with peaceful waves washing upward toward a mountain. As he guided me up the mountain there at the top was the 3 crosses, I'm guessing representing His death between the 2 criminals, the light between the darkness. There at the cross were people congregating and others coming up to the group already at the scene. These people seemed to be conversing and fellowshiping, discussing what had happened and telling the others. They looked as though they were praising their great God and Lord Jesus. Then it was revealed to me that the people that were already there were Jesus' disciples. They had already been in the presence of Christ and had gained wisdom from Him. He had given them the Holy Spirit and they had become the light of the mountain that was bringing others near, to learn and glean as well.
Those who are followers of Christ are disciples, they must be the light of this world like a city on a mountain for all to see, so that when others come to them to see the light they will see the Glory of our heavenly Father and praise His Great Name. We must let our good deeds shine out from us not in boastfulness, but in humbleness as the Spirit works from our inside out. We must do the work that God has called us to, reflecting the image of Jesus who already left the blueprint of what we should be like. For God was the Developer of the city, Jesus was the Foundation, the Holy Spirit is the Project manager, and we must be the Light.
As Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after the resurrection, they were hidden in a locked room. Essentially, they were hiding the light Jesus had left them with under the basket, but "He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you." John 20:21. He said, go let your light shine out, stop hiding it behind these closed doors.
We as Jesus' followers, as disciples, are the light of the world (a very dark world); we can't hide it behind the doors of the church we must be the city on the mountain, and Jesus has told us to let our light shine out for the world to see. We must go and do as He has already done!
As I was praying this morning I went into a silent prayer where I just sit at the feet of Jesus allowing Him to speak to me. In this time, he revealed first to me an ocean with peaceful waves washing upward toward a mountain. As he guided me up the mountain there at the top was the 3 crosses, I'm guessing representing His death between the 2 criminals, the light between the darkness. There at the cross were people congregating and others coming up to the group already at the scene. These people seemed to be conversing and fellowshiping, discussing what had happened and telling the others. They looked as though they were praising their great God and Lord Jesus. Then it was revealed to me that the people that were already there were Jesus' disciples. They had already been in the presence of Christ and had gained wisdom from Him. He had given them the Holy Spirit and they had become the light of the mountain that was bringing others near, to learn and glean as well.
Those who are followers of Christ are disciples, they must be the light of this world like a city on a mountain for all to see, so that when others come to them to see the light they will see the Glory of our heavenly Father and praise His Great Name. We must let our good deeds shine out from us not in boastfulness, but in humbleness as the Spirit works from our inside out. We must do the work that God has called us to, reflecting the image of Jesus who already left the blueprint of what we should be like. For God was the Developer of the city, Jesus was the Foundation, the Holy Spirit is the Project manager, and we must be the Light.
As Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after the resurrection, they were hidden in a locked room. Essentially, they were hiding the light Jesus had left them with under the basket, but "He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you." John 20:21. He said, go let your light shine out, stop hiding it behind these closed doors.
We as Jesus' followers, as disciples, are the light of the world (a very dark world); we can't hide it behind the doors of the church we must be the city on the mountain, and Jesus has told us to let our light shine out for the world to see. We must go and do as He has already done!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Eyewitness News
I can see it now...the headlines would have flashed up on all the News stations, pop-up alerts would have come up on my iPhone, and the front page of the New York Times would have covered the story: "Prophesy Fulfilled: Man Pierced for our Sins". Why would this have been so big, why would we have believed? Because this was eyewitness news, and when there is a witness at the scene of a crime we do believe.
Jesus had died on the cross naturally, nothing had to be done to his body to quicken the process. Jesus freely gave up His Spirit when the time was right. However, it was the Passover and the Jewish leaders didn't want any body hanging on the cross during this special Sabbath making the Roman soldiers kill and remove whoever was left.
"So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn't break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe." John 19: 32-35.
Why was the breaking of bones or the non-breaking of bones and the piercing of the side so important that it had to be witnessed first hand? So you can believe Jesus was the prophesied Messiah! But why should or would you believe in Jesus as the Messiah because of this? Because this was fulfillment of the Scriptures and the prophesy that you had already heard for years and years as a child. "These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of his bones will be broken," and "They will look on him whom they pierced." John 19:36-37. As an Israelite you would have been told these stories over and over again. They were written all through your history books. "They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover." Numbers 9:12. "Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died." Zechariah 12:10.
Jesus was the final lamb sacrificed for the Passover. None of his bones were broken and ultimately He cleaned them and us from the sins of the past, present, and future. God poured out His Spirit of grace on the family of David because Jesus was of the lineage of David, but He was also the Son of God, the only Son of God, and He was pierced for them to receive this grace. This news hit the stands quick and made every headline. When Jesus rose again people began to believe in droves. They would have all known the stories told to them as a child and the questions left unanswered. Because now these unanswered questions and open-ended stories were answered and completed. In Jesus death we now have life. Don't you believe?!
Jesus had died on the cross naturally, nothing had to be done to his body to quicken the process. Jesus freely gave up His Spirit when the time was right. However, it was the Passover and the Jewish leaders didn't want any body hanging on the cross during this special Sabbath making the Roman soldiers kill and remove whoever was left.
"So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn't break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe." John 19: 32-35.
Why was the breaking of bones or the non-breaking of bones and the piercing of the side so important that it had to be witnessed first hand? So you can believe Jesus was the prophesied Messiah! But why should or would you believe in Jesus as the Messiah because of this? Because this was fulfillment of the Scriptures and the prophesy that you had already heard for years and years as a child. "These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of his bones will be broken," and "They will look on him whom they pierced." John 19:36-37. As an Israelite you would have been told these stories over and over again. They were written all through your history books. "They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover." Numbers 9:12. "Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died." Zechariah 12:10.
Jesus was the final lamb sacrificed for the Passover. None of his bones were broken and ultimately He cleaned them and us from the sins of the past, present, and future. God poured out His Spirit of grace on the family of David because Jesus was of the lineage of David, but He was also the Son of God, the only Son of God, and He was pierced for them to receive this grace. This news hit the stands quick and made every headline. When Jesus rose again people began to believe in droves. They would have all known the stories told to them as a child and the questions left unanswered. Because now these unanswered questions and open-ended stories were answered and completed. In Jesus death we now have life. Don't you believe?!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Glory in your Weakness
When do you feel your weakest? What is a part of you or your make-up that you think will never be able to help you and only hold you back? Did you ever think that your weakest link may be your greatest asset?
Jesus said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9b. At this point in time, Paul has been talking about a thorn in his flesh, that keeps holding him up, and frustrating what he is trying to do, but all of a sudden he realizes that this weakness can actually be used to glorify God because Christ is working through the weakness.
The power of Christ will work through your weakness too, and it will show even greater strength than the best asset you were born with. His glory and grace will shine out for the world to see through these weaknesses because when the power comes from us the world will think it is of us, but when the power comes from our weakness the world will see it is of Christ working through us.
As a student my worst subject was English and writing, I was definitely a right-brained individual. Give me any math problem or science question and I could complete it with very little effort, but give me a writing assignment and I would cry until it was complete and turned in. I had a very hard time putting my thoughts to paper and then trying to make my thoughts line up to even sound coherent. So, as you can see, when I began to write I never once thought it would be good for anything, and I honestly never thought anyone would get anything from it. To this day, I still battle with this weakness. Daily I still battle with not being good enough to write and if I'm confessing, I actually write everyday even if I don't post it because I don't believe what I write is worth anything to anyone. However, this weakness of mine is a place that Christ can show his great power and the Holy Spirit encourages me with this Truth.
In this I want to also encourage you to allow Christ to work through your weakness, so that His glory may be seen the world round. You never know what He will do in the midst of your weakness. "So now I am glad to boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9c.
Let Christ make your weakest link your greatest asset. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10b.
Jesus said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9b. At this point in time, Paul has been talking about a thorn in his flesh, that keeps holding him up, and frustrating what he is trying to do, but all of a sudden he realizes that this weakness can actually be used to glorify God because Christ is working through the weakness.
The power of Christ will work through your weakness too, and it will show even greater strength than the best asset you were born with. His glory and grace will shine out for the world to see through these weaknesses because when the power comes from us the world will think it is of us, but when the power comes from our weakness the world will see it is of Christ working through us.
As a student my worst subject was English and writing, I was definitely a right-brained individual. Give me any math problem or science question and I could complete it with very little effort, but give me a writing assignment and I would cry until it was complete and turned in. I had a very hard time putting my thoughts to paper and then trying to make my thoughts line up to even sound coherent. So, as you can see, when I began to write I never once thought it would be good for anything, and I honestly never thought anyone would get anything from it. To this day, I still battle with this weakness. Daily I still battle with not being good enough to write and if I'm confessing, I actually write everyday even if I don't post it because I don't believe what I write is worth anything to anyone. However, this weakness of mine is a place that Christ can show his great power and the Holy Spirit encourages me with this Truth.
In this I want to also encourage you to allow Christ to work through your weakness, so that His glory may be seen the world round. You never know what He will do in the midst of your weakness. "So now I am glad to boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9c.
Let Christ make your weakest link your greatest asset. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10b.
Monday, June 11, 2012
I Try!
Do you love Jesus? No, Really! Do you love Jesus? He said, "If you love me, obey my commandments." John 14:15. Now I will say it again, do you love Jesus?
This is hard isn't it? I love Jesus, but I will be the first to admit I don't fully obey all of his commandments all the time. But I do try. I try to obey his commandments. I try to love my neighbors as myself. I try to forgive every sin done against me. I try to keep the words coming from my mouth always holy. I TRY! But I need to do more than just try.
I need to always love as Christ first loved me. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." John 13:34. For all of his commandments and all of his ways fall under this one command. When we are loving as He has loved then and only then are we proving our love for Him.
Its like a continuous cycle. God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son. (John 3:16) Jesus died on the cross for our sins out of His love for us and His obedience to His Father. We must now die to ourselves and show that same unselfish love to the world to show our love for Jesus. Then in that love God will love us and Jesus will love us, and He will once again show himself to us. And then the cycle continues.
So, do you love Jesus? Then obey His commands! "Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them." John 15:21.
This is hard isn't it? I love Jesus, but I will be the first to admit I don't fully obey all of his commandments all the time. But I do try. I try to obey his commandments. I try to love my neighbors as myself. I try to forgive every sin done against me. I try to keep the words coming from my mouth always holy. I TRY! But I need to do more than just try.
I need to always love as Christ first loved me. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." John 13:34. For all of his commandments and all of his ways fall under this one command. When we are loving as He has loved then and only then are we proving our love for Him.
Its like a continuous cycle. God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son. (John 3:16) Jesus died on the cross for our sins out of His love for us and His obedience to His Father. We must now die to ourselves and show that same unselfish love to the world to show our love for Jesus. Then in that love God will love us and Jesus will love us, and He will once again show himself to us. And then the cycle continues.
So, do you love Jesus? Then obey His commands! "Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them." John 15:21.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Go to the Work!
"All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them." John 12:26.
Right now, right this very second, God is doing Something. He is actually working on something that He wants you to come alongside Him and do with Him. He isn't wanting us to come up with something new, God wants us to follow Him and join His Work. God has promised He will always be with us, but if we want God to Honor what we are doing, we must start doing what He wants. We must join Him and not expect Him to join us. When we stop trying to fit Him into the work we are doing, getting off of our egotistical horse, and actually follow after Him, we will see God at work. "The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help live in joy." Psalm 69:32. And when we follow God we will see Him at work and be filled with His joy, a true gladness, that will inspire us and grow us into the disciples He has called us to be. So look around, where is God already working? Join Him and reap the blessings of His Joy and closeness as His disciple.
Right now, right this very second, God is doing Something. He is actually working on something that He wants you to come alongside Him and do with Him. He isn't wanting us to come up with something new, God wants us to follow Him and join His Work. God has promised He will always be with us, but if we want God to Honor what we are doing, we must start doing what He wants. We must join Him and not expect Him to join us. When we stop trying to fit Him into the work we are doing, getting off of our egotistical horse, and actually follow after Him, we will see God at work. "The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help live in joy." Psalm 69:32. And when we follow God we will see Him at work and be filled with His joy, a true gladness, that will inspire us and grow us into the disciples He has called us to be. So look around, where is God already working? Join Him and reap the blessings of His Joy and closeness as His disciple.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Looking like a Fool!
What would you think if I said I don't mind looking like a fool? - We are told not to be fools right? Well what about if I said I don't mind looking like a fool when I am praising God?
Okay, okay, yes, we are told not to be foolish. "A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother." Proverbs 10:1. But I didn't say BE foolish, I said LOOK foolish, and really the only one you will be looking foolish to is the one who is judgmental, not confident enough in their own faith, or the one who doesn't trust in the Lord at all.
God wants us to praise Him with all of our might, with all of our soul, and with all of our heart, and if that means looking like a fool to others, then DO IT! "Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the LORD, the source of Israel's life." Psalms 68:26. We are to praise Him because He gave us life, not just breath, but eternal life. Isn't life alone enough to praise Him to the point of awkwardness or foolishness?
Now, I've been to my fair share of college and NFL football games where I witnessed people acting like fools for their team and a lot of the time I took part in it. There was screaming, yelling, going half naked, painted from head to toe in team colors, wearing cheese on your head...come on, isn't that foolish? I've also been to way too many crazy concerts and watched as women decide it would be okay to throw their panties and bras up on the stage or men and some women make mosh pits where they beat their bodies up against one another just to celebrate their favorite group or team. So, if we are willing to look foolish for this, shouldn't we be willing to look foolish for God?
This is not a new question. This has been debated over time. Even in the old Testament, David, newly annointed King of Israel, was rocking and rolling, conquering kingdoms, marrying wives, bringing back the taken Ark of the Covenant. He didn't do all these things quietly, with his hands by his side, his head hanging low...NO....David began dancing and singing, acting crazy, praising the LORD. When as soon as He walked into the Palace his wife Milcah sees him and gets furiously embarrassed over his actions. But, "David retorted to Milcah, 'I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD. So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the LORD." 2 Samuel 6:21. David said he had all the reason to act like a fool, he was appointed by God above others and he needed to praise Him, and the good news is, so were we. "He made us his kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen!" Revelations 1:6.
Okay, okay, yes, we are told not to be foolish. "A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother." Proverbs 10:1. But I didn't say BE foolish, I said LOOK foolish, and really the only one you will be looking foolish to is the one who is judgmental, not confident enough in their own faith, or the one who doesn't trust in the Lord at all.
God wants us to praise Him with all of our might, with all of our soul, and with all of our heart, and if that means looking like a fool to others, then DO IT! "Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the LORD, the source of Israel's life." Psalms 68:26. We are to praise Him because He gave us life, not just breath, but eternal life. Isn't life alone enough to praise Him to the point of awkwardness or foolishness?
Now, I've been to my fair share of college and NFL football games where I witnessed people acting like fools for their team and a lot of the time I took part in it. There was screaming, yelling, going half naked, painted from head to toe in team colors, wearing cheese on your head...come on, isn't that foolish? I've also been to way too many crazy concerts and watched as women decide it would be okay to throw their panties and bras up on the stage or men and some women make mosh pits where they beat their bodies up against one another just to celebrate their favorite group or team. So, if we are willing to look foolish for this, shouldn't we be willing to look foolish for God?
This is not a new question. This has been debated over time. Even in the old Testament, David, newly annointed King of Israel, was rocking and rolling, conquering kingdoms, marrying wives, bringing back the taken Ark of the Covenant. He didn't do all these things quietly, with his hands by his side, his head hanging low...NO....David began dancing and singing, acting crazy, praising the LORD. When as soon as He walked into the Palace his wife Milcah sees him and gets furiously embarrassed over his actions. But, "David retorted to Milcah, 'I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD. So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the LORD." 2 Samuel 6:21. David said he had all the reason to act like a fool, he was appointed by God above others and he needed to praise Him, and the good news is, so were we. "He made us his kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen!" Revelations 1:6.
David did it; God appointed us; Feel free to look like a Fool for the Glory and Praise of the God of the All Creation!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Power in the Weakness
"Teacher,' his disciples asked him, 'why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his sins or his parents?" John 9:2.
Did you realize that people still question someone's misfortune being a cause from their sin? And I'm not talking the consequences of a sin, I'm talking a miscarriage, cancer, being born blind, being born deaf, being born without a limb. These are all flaws, but not of our sins. Usually it is legalists that try and tell us we have this flaw because of some past sin either on our own right or our families sin, but sometimes we do this even to ourselves. Have you ever wondered why you are the way you are, why you of all people have a flaw that hinders you from doing something you enjoy, or what have you done that has caused you or someone dear to you to suffer an illness or a misfortune? Well Jesus tells us things of this sort have nothing to do with sin. "It was not because of his sin or his parents' sins,' Jesus answered. 'He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him." John 9:3.
When I had my miscarriage my first few weeks of thought kept going back to everything I could have done differently. I even thought, maybe God is punishing me for all of my past sins, not allowing me to have another child, but in the mist of all this I realized God wasn't blaming me or punishing me, he was carrying me. "Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in his arms." Psalm 68:19. And He was carrying me so that He could prepare me to stand on my feet stronger than before, ready for the task He had set ahead of me. "All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end." John 9:4.
We can't allow these hindrances to become excuses for the work God has planned out for us from before we were born. We must use our hindrances to glorify Him, and He will bless us in a way that will make our deficiency seem like a new blessing. God gives us things that we may see as blemishes, problems, and hindrances to be used to show His power and majesty. He created each of us special, with a preplanned agenda, and if we allow our flaws to hold us back we can't glorify Him in the way He wanted to use us.
My miscarriage ended up becoming a way for me to grow closer to Him, so that He could speak to my heart, heal my inner feelings, and create a testimony to Glorify Him.
Your flaws and my flaws are not a sin of the past, but a blessing for the future. Look to Him to see how He wants to use you and work with the end in sight! Because in the end He made the Blind Man See, He gave me Twin Girls, and He will make all of us perfect in our weaknesses.
"9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Did you realize that people still question someone's misfortune being a cause from their sin? And I'm not talking the consequences of a sin, I'm talking a miscarriage, cancer, being born blind, being born deaf, being born without a limb. These are all flaws, but not of our sins. Usually it is legalists that try and tell us we have this flaw because of some past sin either on our own right or our families sin, but sometimes we do this even to ourselves. Have you ever wondered why you are the way you are, why you of all people have a flaw that hinders you from doing something you enjoy, or what have you done that has caused you or someone dear to you to suffer an illness or a misfortune? Well Jesus tells us things of this sort have nothing to do with sin. "It was not because of his sin or his parents' sins,' Jesus answered. 'He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him." John 9:3.
When I had my miscarriage my first few weeks of thought kept going back to everything I could have done differently. I even thought, maybe God is punishing me for all of my past sins, not allowing me to have another child, but in the mist of all this I realized God wasn't blaming me or punishing me, he was carrying me. "Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in his arms." Psalm 68:19. And He was carrying me so that He could prepare me to stand on my feet stronger than before, ready for the task He had set ahead of me. "All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end." John 9:4.
We can't allow these hindrances to become excuses for the work God has planned out for us from before we were born. We must use our hindrances to glorify Him, and He will bless us in a way that will make our deficiency seem like a new blessing. God gives us things that we may see as blemishes, problems, and hindrances to be used to show His power and majesty. He created each of us special, with a preplanned agenda, and if we allow our flaws to hold us back we can't glorify Him in the way He wanted to use us.
My miscarriage ended up becoming a way for me to grow closer to Him, so that He could speak to my heart, heal my inner feelings, and create a testimony to Glorify Him.
Your flaws and my flaws are not a sin of the past, but a blessing for the future. Look to Him to see how He wants to use you and work with the end in sight! Because in the end He made the Blind Man See, He gave me Twin Girls, and He will make all of us perfect in our weaknesses.
"9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Faithful Disciple
Have you ever thought, "Am I truly being a disciple of Jesus?" Or have you ever wondered what your life should look like if you were being a faithful disciple? Jesus firms up all these questions in your heart when he was talking about the true children of God.
"Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32.
We are truly, fully disciples of Jesus when we obey His Word. "Disciple" defined is a student or follower; an adherent to the teachings of a particular teacher or school of thought.-Women of Faith NIV Study Bible. Just like being a good student to any teacher we must listen, understand, and obey our teacher. In the Case of Jesus we must follow after Him, and once we do this, once we become a disciple of His, we will know the truth "Jesus" and the truth will set us free. Like the Jesus followers in his day, you may be thinking, but I'm not a slave. Well Jesus says, anyone who sins is a slave to sin, but when we are His disciples, fully following after Him, we are transformed into His likeness, and no longer sinning and no longer a slave. Now, if we are being disobedient to God, sinning, then we are a slave, and Jesus also says, "A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever." John 8:35.
So, when we are being Jesus disciple we will know the truth, the truth will end our enslavement to sin, the chains will be broken that hold us to this world, and we will be the Children of God. The life of a faithful disciple will be in the family of Christ, the House of God, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Our sins or disobedience to God only forge a gap, sometimes a trench, other times a ravine, and every once in a while a canyon between us and God. But when we begin to follow after Jesus or turn back to His Word he will build a bridge strong enough and long enough to reach any distance filling us with His truth and adopting us into His family. The more of the truth we believe, the more we follow, the more we will look like Jesus, and the more we will resemble our brother, Christ.
"Then he said to the crowd, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23.
Don't lose your life to sin, but gain new life, eternal life, by following Christ and being His Disciple!
"Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32.
We are truly, fully disciples of Jesus when we obey His Word. "Disciple" defined is a student or follower; an adherent to the teachings of a particular teacher or school of thought.-Women of Faith NIV Study Bible. Just like being a good student to any teacher we must listen, understand, and obey our teacher. In the Case of Jesus we must follow after Him, and once we do this, once we become a disciple of His, we will know the truth "Jesus" and the truth will set us free. Like the Jesus followers in his day, you may be thinking, but I'm not a slave. Well Jesus says, anyone who sins is a slave to sin, but when we are His disciples, fully following after Him, we are transformed into His likeness, and no longer sinning and no longer a slave. Now, if we are being disobedient to God, sinning, then we are a slave, and Jesus also says, "A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever." John 8:35.
So, when we are being Jesus disciple we will know the truth, the truth will end our enslavement to sin, the chains will be broken that hold us to this world, and we will be the Children of God. The life of a faithful disciple will be in the family of Christ, the House of God, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Our sins or disobedience to God only forge a gap, sometimes a trench, other times a ravine, and every once in a while a canyon between us and God. But when we begin to follow after Jesus or turn back to His Word he will build a bridge strong enough and long enough to reach any distance filling us with His truth and adopting us into His family. The more of the truth we believe, the more we follow, the more we will look like Jesus, and the more we will resemble our brother, Christ.
"Then he said to the crowd, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23.
Don't lose your life to sin, but gain new life, eternal life, by following Christ and being His Disciple!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Wisdom in the Silence
Don't you just abhor being taunted? I know I do, and there are some people in my life who just feel it is their life duty to pick and pick and pick at me. These people are wanting to see how long it will take me to crack my calmness and plain out rouse me.
These people knew me before my walk with Christ and knew at one point in my life I could be a real hothead. They want to be able to prove I'm still the same person I once was. Ultimately, they are trying to prove that God didn't do a major work in me (Philippians 1:6) and transform me into a new person (Romans 12:2). But God did! He is molding me into Christ's likeness, and no matter how much I am taunted, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I may mess up every once in a while, I might have a slip of the tongue on the harsh side, but I know God is working this all out. "The godly think before speaking; the wicked sport evil words." Proverbs 15:28.
Jesus is our example, and we should follow Him. When the Pharisees were trying to capture Him and use His own words against Him, Jesus was staying calm. The Pharisees were taunting Jesus, yet Jesus was ignoring them. "They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger." John 8:6. When Jesus was ready to speak he would only speak from Wisdom and calmness, not rashness on the side of rage. He knew that Silence was Golden, He didn't have to go to the AMC. "They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones! Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust." John 8:7-8. Jesus wasn't about to let them change His attitude of holiness to anger. He wasn't going to let their taunts drag Him to the ground. He was acting out of silence to be able to give Wisdom, knowing that His calmness would eventually break their pestering instead of them breaking His joy. "When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman." John 8:9.
When we are following Jesus fully, we should be transformed into His likeness. And if we are transformed into His likeness we should be more like "Him". So, the next time someone is trying to break the peace and joy that God has built within you, follow Jesus' example and remain silent. For in the silence Wisdom is grown!
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20.
These people knew me before my walk with Christ and knew at one point in my life I could be a real hothead. They want to be able to prove I'm still the same person I once was. Ultimately, they are trying to prove that God didn't do a major work in me (Philippians 1:6) and transform me into a new person (Romans 12:2). But God did! He is molding me into Christ's likeness, and no matter how much I am taunted, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I may mess up every once in a while, I might have a slip of the tongue on the harsh side, but I know God is working this all out. "The godly think before speaking; the wicked sport evil words." Proverbs 15:28.
Jesus is our example, and we should follow Him. When the Pharisees were trying to capture Him and use His own words against Him, Jesus was staying calm. The Pharisees were taunting Jesus, yet Jesus was ignoring them. "They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger." John 8:6. When Jesus was ready to speak he would only speak from Wisdom and calmness, not rashness on the side of rage. He knew that Silence was Golden, He didn't have to go to the AMC. "They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones! Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust." John 8:7-8. Jesus wasn't about to let them change His attitude of holiness to anger. He wasn't going to let their taunts drag Him to the ground. He was acting out of silence to be able to give Wisdom, knowing that His calmness would eventually break their pestering instead of them breaking His joy. "When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman." John 8:9.
When we are following Jesus fully, we should be transformed into His likeness. And if we are transformed into His likeness we should be more like "Him". So, the next time someone is trying to break the peace and joy that God has built within you, follow Jesus' example and remain silent. For in the silence Wisdom is grown!
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20.
Friday, May 25, 2012
I LOVE BREAD!
Confession time: I am a Carbaholic! Yes, I said it, I don't mind not eating meat because I love me some carbs. And my favorite carb is some good ole' fashioned Bread! I like all bread...any bread....But I do have some favorites as well. I love a loaf or 2 from Carraba's, some sourdough from Panera, a Bagel straight from NYC, and I could just go with 3 loaves of the wonderful hot sourdough bread from Mitchel's Seafood Market...mmm yummy! Even though I love all these breads, my favorite, the love of my life, is the Bread of Life...Jesus!
"Yes, I am the bread of life!" John 6:48. I can eat and eat and eat of Him and never get enough. I don't need to wash Him down with a glass of ice tea or add any butter, cream cheese, or salt (if you know me well enough you know what I mean). Jesus, the Bread of Life, is the best carb I could need or ever want. He is just enough, Perfect in Every Way (as Mary Poppins would say). He is flavored just right and always multiplying, never ending. I never need to beg for more bread because He is forever providing. I don't have to purchase Him because He gives of Himself freely. His bread won't give me love handles, a pooch in the front, or a lump in the rear. The only thing He adds to my life is eternal life. "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." John 6:51.
I have many friends and family that stay away from the dreaded carb, they like to stick to the Atkins diet with meat only, but in the eternal world meat alone is human effort. You have to raise the meat and kill the meat, but only the Spirit can give life. "It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63. So, if your diet of human effort is leaving you starving, why don't you take a break, and try the Bread?
"Yes, I am the bread of life!" John 6:48. I can eat and eat and eat of Him and never get enough. I don't need to wash Him down with a glass of ice tea or add any butter, cream cheese, or salt (if you know me well enough you know what I mean). Jesus, the Bread of Life, is the best carb I could need or ever want. He is just enough, Perfect in Every Way (as Mary Poppins would say). He is flavored just right and always multiplying, never ending. I never need to beg for more bread because He is forever providing. I don't have to purchase Him because He gives of Himself freely. His bread won't give me love handles, a pooch in the front, or a lump in the rear. The only thing He adds to my life is eternal life. "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." John 6:51.
I have many friends and family that stay away from the dreaded carb, they like to stick to the Atkins diet with meat only, but in the eternal world meat alone is human effort. You have to raise the meat and kill the meat, but only the Spirit can give life. "It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63. So, if your diet of human effort is leaving you starving, why don't you take a break, and try the Bread?
Bring on the Rain
"From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky all that God had made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God." Romans 1:20
How can anyone say that they have never seen evidence of God? Look Around! He has shown us His creation. Look at each other! He has shown us His likeness.
We as people can so easily justify athletes, actors, and billionaires as gods; And we can make cars, boats, and money as gods as well. But we have such a hard time seeing the One True God in the world around us.
Paul and Barnabas were traveling around preaching the Good News across the land when they ended up in Lystra. They came upon a crippled man who had been unable to walk for years. They noticed his abundant faith and immediately Paul said to him, "Stand up" and he did. The people of Lystra, however, witnessed this amazing miracle and began to comment how Paul and Barnabas must be gods (Zeus and Hermes to be exact.) These 2 men of God became very distraught and saddened by these comments. So, in their dismay, they tore their clothes and ran into the crowd preaching on seeing the Real Living God. "In earlier days he permitted all nations to go their own ways, but he never left himself without a witness. There were always his reminders, such as sending rain and good crops and giving you food and joyful hearts." Act 14:17-18. In our verbage they were saying, "Can't you see Him? We aren't gods, God is God, and He has left us with so many reminders."
Even the first Christians had a hard time realizing who God was, but Paul said, See the rain? God reveals himself throughout all of creation. Just recently we have been in a major drought. A drought, so bad that the grass isn't even growing for the cows. I can't walk outside without having dust accumulate on my legs, my allergies going crazy, and my poor plants needing an extra dose of water without them withering. But when it rains, and every once in a while it does, my heart dances and my soul sings because all of my outdoor issues subside. God is revealing himself to me and to anyone else that is looking through these rain showers. How would I not be able to see Him fixing the problem at hand, a problem that is a problem to us, but that is just part of his creation to Him.
"You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The rivers of God will not run dry; they provide a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy." Psalm 65:9-13. And the earth is probably singing, "Bring on the rain!"
I can see God all through the rain. He calms us with its rhythm, He provides for us with its growing power, and He refreshes us with its cleansing showers. If you are having a hard time seeing God or explaining His Majesty or feeling His Presence....Pray that He will Bring on the Rain!
How can anyone say that they have never seen evidence of God? Look Around! He has shown us His creation. Look at each other! He has shown us His likeness.
We as people can so easily justify athletes, actors, and billionaires as gods; And we can make cars, boats, and money as gods as well. But we have such a hard time seeing the One True God in the world around us.
Paul and Barnabas were traveling around preaching the Good News across the land when they ended up in Lystra. They came upon a crippled man who had been unable to walk for years. They noticed his abundant faith and immediately Paul said to him, "Stand up" and he did. The people of Lystra, however, witnessed this amazing miracle and began to comment how Paul and Barnabas must be gods (Zeus and Hermes to be exact.) These 2 men of God became very distraught and saddened by these comments. So, in their dismay, they tore their clothes and ran into the crowd preaching on seeing the Real Living God. "In earlier days he permitted all nations to go their own ways, but he never left himself without a witness. There were always his reminders, such as sending rain and good crops and giving you food and joyful hearts." Act 14:17-18. In our verbage they were saying, "Can't you see Him? We aren't gods, God is God, and He has left us with so many reminders."
Even the first Christians had a hard time realizing who God was, but Paul said, See the rain? God reveals himself throughout all of creation. Just recently we have been in a major drought. A drought, so bad that the grass isn't even growing for the cows. I can't walk outside without having dust accumulate on my legs, my allergies going crazy, and my poor plants needing an extra dose of water without them withering. But when it rains, and every once in a while it does, my heart dances and my soul sings because all of my outdoor issues subside. God is revealing himself to me and to anyone else that is looking through these rain showers. How would I not be able to see Him fixing the problem at hand, a problem that is a problem to us, but that is just part of his creation to Him.
"You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The rivers of God will not run dry; they provide a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy." Psalm 65:9-13. And the earth is probably singing, "Bring on the rain!"
I can see God all through the rain. He calms us with its rhythm, He provides for us with its growing power, and He refreshes us with its cleansing showers. If you are having a hard time seeing God or explaining His Majesty or feeling His Presence....Pray that He will Bring on the Rain!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Conquering the Giants
NINE FEET TALL! Now that's a giant of a man. When I think of big men, I think of men around my husband's size, 6'5, and I think about those little girls and boys at church that get afraid as he comes around. One little girl, that now loves Mr. Brett, used to cry every time he came near, and would hide behind her mom's legs, always peaking through to make sure Brett wouldn't get to close. And I can never forget what Hunter's best little buddy used to say when he was 4, "I bet Mr. Brett is taller than the mountains."(He's definitely from Florida.) But even though this can be very scary and /or humorous for little kids, Giants are in fact all around us.
As a small boy, King David faced his own giant. He had been out in the field tending to the sheep when his dad asked him take food to his brothers and the commanders of the army that were at battle. Being a curious youth, he walked right up to the battle as the Israelites were facing the Philistines because he was eager to get to the front lines and see the action. When all of a sudden, David sees Golaith, a giant, 9 feet tall. Goliath came out to the front and began to taunt the Israelites and mocked their ability to fight. At this point your average youth would tuck his tail between his legs and run back the way he came, but instead David decided to question his people. "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" 1 Samuel 17:26b. He was no coward, he had a courage that was definitely from God. David didn't care what the giant looked like, you don't mock his God. You don't come up to the people of God and threaten them! David trusted God fully.
Like any giant, he saw this puny little runt of a boy and laughed. He made fun of Israel even more for sending out a child, but David didn't care, he stood strong on his foundation of Faith. "David shouted in reply, 'You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty - the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." 1 Samuel 17:45. David didn't coward away or ask for more armies; he ran right at the giant with God at his side. "As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him." 1 Samuel 17:48. And David with the courage, strength, and power of God, defeated Golaith. "So David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a stone and a sling." 1 Samuel 17:50a.
In life we are going to come across many giants. Giants of all different sizes and matters. These giants could be cancer, work, finances, drugs, family, alcohol, friendships, spouses, lack of faith, unplanned pregnancies, miscarriages, abuse, and the list could go on and on...And when the giant begins to approach us we may want to back down, but we need to take on the courage of David. We need to remember we have the shield of God's protection and the sword of God's word. We must trust in what we cannot see, even if all we have is a stone and a sling. God is mightier, taller, stronger, and fiercer than any giant that could come our way. "You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength." Psalm 65:6. Our Faith will bring Him to our side. He wins every battle He is up against, and He beats down every giant in the way. Remember, we are never fighting alone. "Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you." Deuteronomy 3:22. The giant is going to try and tear you down by putting a fear in your head and a distrust in your heart, but if you stand strong on the Word of God, the foundation He has laid before you, nothing is impossible. "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37.
As a small boy, King David faced his own giant. He had been out in the field tending to the sheep when his dad asked him take food to his brothers and the commanders of the army that were at battle. Being a curious youth, he walked right up to the battle as the Israelites were facing the Philistines because he was eager to get to the front lines and see the action. When all of a sudden, David sees Golaith, a giant, 9 feet tall. Goliath came out to the front and began to taunt the Israelites and mocked their ability to fight. At this point your average youth would tuck his tail between his legs and run back the way he came, but instead David decided to question his people. "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" 1 Samuel 17:26b. He was no coward, he had a courage that was definitely from God. David didn't care what the giant looked like, you don't mock his God. You don't come up to the people of God and threaten them! David trusted God fully.
Like any giant, he saw this puny little runt of a boy and laughed. He made fun of Israel even more for sending out a child, but David didn't care, he stood strong on his foundation of Faith. "David shouted in reply, 'You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty - the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." 1 Samuel 17:45. David didn't coward away or ask for more armies; he ran right at the giant with God at his side. "As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him." 1 Samuel 17:48. And David with the courage, strength, and power of God, defeated Golaith. "So David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a stone and a sling." 1 Samuel 17:50a.
In life we are going to come across many giants. Giants of all different sizes and matters. These giants could be cancer, work, finances, drugs, family, alcohol, friendships, spouses, lack of faith, unplanned pregnancies, miscarriages, abuse, and the list could go on and on...And when the giant begins to approach us we may want to back down, but we need to take on the courage of David. We need to remember we have the shield of God's protection and the sword of God's word. We must trust in what we cannot see, even if all we have is a stone and a sling. God is mightier, taller, stronger, and fiercer than any giant that could come our way. "You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength." Psalm 65:6. Our Faith will bring Him to our side. He wins every battle He is up against, and He beats down every giant in the way. Remember, we are never fighting alone. "Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you." Deuteronomy 3:22. The giant is going to try and tear you down by putting a fear in your head and a distrust in your heart, but if you stand strong on the Word of God, the foundation He has laid before you, nothing is impossible. "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Down and Dirty
Have you ever walked into a model home and just thought, "Wow! I wish my house looked like this." I've done it, and I bet most of you have too. Those homes are perfectly done. Tidy and decorated just right. Nothing is out of place. Then, if you are like me, you will walk into your house, and say, "Whoa! What happened here? It looks like a tornado wreaked havic at the Hitchcock Home." Plates line the table where breakfast was once served as a family, little hairs cover the woodfloors from your dog coming to greet you at the door, and nice little piles of clothes and toys lay scattered across the room where your kids have laid them since the activity they were doing last. Thinking on it, it sure would be nice to walk into that nice model home, but the model home is missing something even more special...the existence of life.
"An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable." Proverbs 14:4.
Just as the empty home may stay clean, so can an empty life; anything empty is essentially clean, but emptiness lacks meaning, memories, and thought. We shouldn't let our lives become empty just because we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. He emptied us of our sins so we could be filled with His Spirit. And when we are filled with His Spirit our life will be filled with life, a busy home, and work for the Lord.
When we try to exclude everything of the world we may be found clean, but we aren't doing what Jesus asked us to do. Jesus didn't come for the healthy and clean, but for the sick and dirty. He came so that they could be made clean. We need to go into the world with this attitude, not letting the world corrupt us, but working to heal the world. Jesus already gave us the great commission and told us that the harvest was plentiful, but we need to be ready to get a little dirty along the way.
We must be willing to open up our model homes, the ones Jesus washed clean, and use this for His Kingdom Work. We need to make memories and save lives, knowing that nothing is perfect. We need to allow our stables to be filled with animals realizing that God is working among them and has already planned how He will be using them in the process of harvesting more crops. God is at work around us, cleaning up the mess already made, and we need to join Him fully understanding that when He is done everything will be made clean again.
At one point in Jesus' journey He came along a crowd of righteous, clean, religious people who were planning on stoning an adulterous, dirty woman to death. Jesus was willing to get down in the dirt to save her life...."They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust." John 8:7-8. We have all been dirty with sin at some point in our life, BUT Jesus did an amazing thing and cleansed us of our sins. So, we must be willing to deal with the dirt of another soul, so Jesus can clean them too!
Next time you are feeling to clean, almost like that model home, don't waste the clean space, and invite others in.
"An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable." Proverbs 14:4.
Just as the empty home may stay clean, so can an empty life; anything empty is essentially clean, but emptiness lacks meaning, memories, and thought. We shouldn't let our lives become empty just because we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. He emptied us of our sins so we could be filled with His Spirit. And when we are filled with His Spirit our life will be filled with life, a busy home, and work for the Lord.
When we try to exclude everything of the world we may be found clean, but we aren't doing what Jesus asked us to do. Jesus didn't come for the healthy and clean, but for the sick and dirty. He came so that they could be made clean. We need to go into the world with this attitude, not letting the world corrupt us, but working to heal the world. Jesus already gave us the great commission and told us that the harvest was plentiful, but we need to be ready to get a little dirty along the way.
We must be willing to open up our model homes, the ones Jesus washed clean, and use this for His Kingdom Work. We need to make memories and save lives, knowing that nothing is perfect. We need to allow our stables to be filled with animals realizing that God is working among them and has already planned how He will be using them in the process of harvesting more crops. God is at work around us, cleaning up the mess already made, and we need to join Him fully understanding that when He is done everything will be made clean again.
At one point in Jesus' journey He came along a crowd of righteous, clean, religious people who were planning on stoning an adulterous, dirty woman to death. Jesus was willing to get down in the dirt to save her life...."They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust." John 8:7-8. We have all been dirty with sin at some point in our life, BUT Jesus did an amazing thing and cleansed us of our sins. So, we must be willing to deal with the dirt of another soul, so Jesus can clean them too!
Next time you are feeling to clean, almost like that model home, don't waste the clean space, and invite others in.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Un-Abandoned
I deal with abandoned children everyday. They are abandoned by their parents, but they aren't alone. Everyone, at some point in time experiences some type of dissapointment, and you can choose 2 different routes in this crisis. One, is to believe that God is with you and will help you, and the other is to believe God has abandoned you and you have nothing left.
Right now, this very moment, I can't even count on my 2 hands and 2 feet the amount of crisis that is wreaking havic on my friends, family, and even in my own life. I am so thankful that I have a promise from God and I know without a doubt that He is with me and will never leave me. But in this time I have found that many of these dear people believe God has abandoned them. That when they sinned or that when a crisis occured that God left the arena. Did you know that this isn't a new phenomena? The Israelites thought this same thing.
The Israelites had been in the promised land for a while and started doing what was easy. They began following other Gods and trusting in themselves. Amidst their new found freedom the Philistines overtook them and stole their Ark of the Covenant. The people fell into depression and totally out of hope. Then out of no where (well actually God had placed a plague upon the Philistines) the Ark of the Covenant came riding back into Israel on a cart pulled by cows (the Philistines were trying to get the plague to leave them). But even with the Ark back no blessings were bestowing the Israelites. "During that time, all Israel mourned because it seemed that the LORD had abandoned them." 1 Samuel 7:2b. So Samuel, the Judge of Israel at the time went to the people to discuss this matter. "Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, 'If you are really serious about wanting to return to the LORD, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the LORD; then he will rescue you from the Philistines." 1 Samuel 7:3. Samuel saw through the fog, he looked out of the box, and realized the reason God seemed so far was because the people had ventured off from Him. They had so many issues going on around them that they were trusting other gods, not the One True God.
Putting our trust in other things can be the simple thing to do when we are in a crisis, but when we look up we can be so deep that we can no longer see God and feel He has abandoned us. That trust that we put in things, friends, money, family, chance....really only can manifest power and strength if it is found in God alone. He is the only Rock and foundation that will be there and never leave. God has made a beautiful promise to us when we are going through rough times. "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." Isaiah 43:2. And that is a promise I trust in and have lived through. I have walked in deep waters and God always kept my hair dry. A dear friend of mine has literally been stuck under the rapids of a river and in life, and God pulled her free and lifted her out. Another friend has walked through fires in her marriage and God had his hand over her blocking the flames and she came out unburned with a beautiful tan. The one thing we have in common is that in all this we knew God was with us. He was our comfort and the only one we could trust. We knew he never abandoned us.
He has made this same promise to you. If you are feeling that God has abandoned you and you are thinking about just walking away. The farther you walk from God the harder things will get. If you don't think you are hearing from Him, maybe you are just out of His Will, not doing what He has asked. Try and return to Him, I promise He has never left you and He really isn't that far. In Isaiah 43:5a, God says, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Trust Him, you aren't Abandoned!
Right now, this very moment, I can't even count on my 2 hands and 2 feet the amount of crisis that is wreaking havic on my friends, family, and even in my own life. I am so thankful that I have a promise from God and I know without a doubt that He is with me and will never leave me. But in this time I have found that many of these dear people believe God has abandoned them. That when they sinned or that when a crisis occured that God left the arena. Did you know that this isn't a new phenomena? The Israelites thought this same thing.
The Israelites had been in the promised land for a while and started doing what was easy. They began following other Gods and trusting in themselves. Amidst their new found freedom the Philistines overtook them and stole their Ark of the Covenant. The people fell into depression and totally out of hope. Then out of no where (well actually God had placed a plague upon the Philistines) the Ark of the Covenant came riding back into Israel on a cart pulled by cows (the Philistines were trying to get the plague to leave them). But even with the Ark back no blessings were bestowing the Israelites. "During that time, all Israel mourned because it seemed that the LORD had abandoned them." 1 Samuel 7:2b. So Samuel, the Judge of Israel at the time went to the people to discuss this matter. "Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, 'If you are really serious about wanting to return to the LORD, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the LORD; then he will rescue you from the Philistines." 1 Samuel 7:3. Samuel saw through the fog, he looked out of the box, and realized the reason God seemed so far was because the people had ventured off from Him. They had so many issues going on around them that they were trusting other gods, not the One True God.
Putting our trust in other things can be the simple thing to do when we are in a crisis, but when we look up we can be so deep that we can no longer see God and feel He has abandoned us. That trust that we put in things, friends, money, family, chance....really only can manifest power and strength if it is found in God alone. He is the only Rock and foundation that will be there and never leave. God has made a beautiful promise to us when we are going through rough times. "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." Isaiah 43:2. And that is a promise I trust in and have lived through. I have walked in deep waters and God always kept my hair dry. A dear friend of mine has literally been stuck under the rapids of a river and in life, and God pulled her free and lifted her out. Another friend has walked through fires in her marriage and God had his hand over her blocking the flames and she came out unburned with a beautiful tan. The one thing we have in common is that in all this we knew God was with us. He was our comfort and the only one we could trust. We knew he never abandoned us.
He has made this same promise to you. If you are feeling that God has abandoned you and you are thinking about just walking away. The farther you walk from God the harder things will get. If you don't think you are hearing from Him, maybe you are just out of His Will, not doing what He has asked. Try and return to Him, I promise He has never left you and He really isn't that far. In Isaiah 43:5a, God says, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Trust Him, you aren't Abandoned!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Father's Love
Alright now say it with me: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. This one verse has be said and resaid over the past couple of years, and so many people now have heard it. But let's not let that weaken it's worth and leverage. Can you even picture what this meant and means? Can you even imagine how much God loves us?
He is contantly giving us our every need, helping us when we can't even bear to lift our head off the pillow.He loves us through the muck and the mire, through the rain and the fire. God loves us so much that He sent His ONE and ONLY Son to this earth for us. And, "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." John 3:17. Where other religions believe God sent someone to this earth to rid the world of people that don't follow their religion, God actually sent His Son to gather those that were lost. Before Christ we were all dieing in our sins, being buried to never rise again. God, however, had compassion on us and gave us just what we needed, a Savior!
God has loved all of us from creation. And if everyone could grasp that love they would surely believe in Him. This belief isn't a superficial belief, but a belief that encompasses full trust and confidence in Him. Knowing He will take care of our every need and allowing Him to lead our life.
Please ponder on these questions for a minute: If you have a great relationship with your earthly father don't you trust he will help you whenever you need Him? Don't you count His counsel as wise? Wouldn't you follow his advice to please him and show your love to him? This is the type of love we should have for God. Now think about the relationship and the love you have for your child or a special child in your life. Doesn't your heart yearn to give them the world? Don't you try and raise them up in the way they should go? Don't you love them so much that you would do whatever possible? This is the same type of love that God has for us.
He put His Son through torture to adopt us into His family. Isn't it time we start trusting Him fully, loving the way He loves us, and obeying His counsel? I no longer imagine the love He has for me....I know the love He has for me. And I have come Together with Him to Work with Him out of Love for Him.
He is contantly giving us our every need, helping us when we can't even bear to lift our head off the pillow.He loves us through the muck and the mire, through the rain and the fire. God loves us so much that He sent His ONE and ONLY Son to this earth for us. And, "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." John 3:17. Where other religions believe God sent someone to this earth to rid the world of people that don't follow their religion, God actually sent His Son to gather those that were lost. Before Christ we were all dieing in our sins, being buried to never rise again. God, however, had compassion on us and gave us just what we needed, a Savior!
God has loved all of us from creation. And if everyone could grasp that love they would surely believe in Him. This belief isn't a superficial belief, but a belief that encompasses full trust and confidence in Him. Knowing He will take care of our every need and allowing Him to lead our life.
Please ponder on these questions for a minute: If you have a great relationship with your earthly father don't you trust he will help you whenever you need Him? Don't you count His counsel as wise? Wouldn't you follow his advice to please him and show your love to him? This is the type of love we should have for God. Now think about the relationship and the love you have for your child or a special child in your life. Doesn't your heart yearn to give them the world? Don't you try and raise them up in the way they should go? Don't you love them so much that you would do whatever possible? This is the same type of love that God has for us.
He put His Son through torture to adopt us into His family. Isn't it time we start trusting Him fully, loving the way He loves us, and obeying His counsel? I no longer imagine the love He has for me....I know the love He has for me. And I have come Together with Him to Work with Him out of Love for Him.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
A Bandwagon Fan
From the time my first born was 2 until he was 6 he loved the Florida Gators. His dad (LSU Alumni) would get so upset and try and change his opinion, but Hunter stuck to his guns and cheered the Gators on. Then, as soon as the Gators lost Tebow and began losing games, Hunter's allegience turned. First, it was Auburn, then it was LSU, and then it was Alabama. Did you catch the trend? He was jumping from one bandwagon to the next of each winning team, and he would ride it as far as it would go.
Have you ever done this with your beliefs? Are you a bandwagon Christian? As long as it is the "It" thing to do, you will follow Christ, but when the tides turn you ride another wave?
After Jesus began performing miracles in Jerusalem many people jumped on the "Jesus Craze". They began following Him and praising Him and bringing others along with them. Jesus wasn't buying it, however, because He knew their heart. "But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew what people were really like. No one needed to tell him about human nature." John 2:24-25.
It is out human nature to want to be part of the winning team. To want to show others we have chosen the best. But God wants us to choose what is right and good. God wants us to choose His Son not just with the shirts we wear, the bumper stickers we have, the crosses we wear, or the Bibles we carry, BUT with our whole heart. "And you must love the LORD your God with all of your heart, all your soul, and all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5. Because when we follow God with only our flesh there has been no heart change, and we will eventually go back to whatever our hearts says.
Now I want you to be honest. Have you jumped onto the Jesus bandwagon or do you bleed Jesus? If you don't follow Christ with all of your heart, soul, and mind you will never feel the full redeeming power of Jesus. "What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
Have you ever done this with your beliefs? Are you a bandwagon Christian? As long as it is the "It" thing to do, you will follow Christ, but when the tides turn you ride another wave?
After Jesus began performing miracles in Jerusalem many people jumped on the "Jesus Craze". They began following Him and praising Him and bringing others along with them. Jesus wasn't buying it, however, because He knew their heart. "But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew what people were really like. No one needed to tell him about human nature." John 2:24-25.
It is out human nature to want to be part of the winning team. To want to show others we have chosen the best. But God wants us to choose what is right and good. God wants us to choose His Son not just with the shirts we wear, the bumper stickers we have, the crosses we wear, or the Bibles we carry, BUT with our whole heart. "And you must love the LORD your God with all of your heart, all your soul, and all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5. Because when we follow God with only our flesh there has been no heart change, and we will eventually go back to whatever our hearts says.
Now I want you to be honest. Have you jumped onto the Jesus bandwagon or do you bleed Jesus? If you don't follow Christ with all of your heart, soul, and mind you will never feel the full redeeming power of Jesus. "What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Dreaming
Cinderella once said,
"A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
the dream that you wish will come true"
What did you dream of becoming or doing as a child? We all have had dreams, some probably bigger than others. Mine was to either be an actress or a singer (Good thing I didn't strive to hard for this one, most of the time I sound like a sick duck...squawking instead of quacking.) But it was a dream, and maybe yours was to be a doctor, nurse, athlete, fireman, librarian, hair stylist, teacher, and the list could go on and on.
Did any of your dreams come true? When dreams are attained it is so fulfilling, so joyful, they give you purpose, and you are delighted. Sometimes, however, dreams are attainable, but you miss them because you went down the wrong path at the pivotal moment, you made a turn right before you grabbed the prize. You got mixed up in the wrong crowd or began partaking in your sinful desires, and these drew you away from the dream that was in sight. "It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools will not turn from evil to attain them." Proverbs 13:19. Maybe your dreams have changed over the years, maybe the dream you once had may be out of reach, but now a new dream is within view. You still have a chance to make your dreams come true. All you have to do is let go of any sin that is holding you back, grab a hold of the Savior that put the dream in your heart, and follow Him. "For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." Philippians 4:13.
My own dream changed many times over the years, sometimes because God changed my route and sometimes because I was following the wrong path. I went from wanting to be an actress to wanting to be a doctor, but somewhere in the middle of it all God gave me a glimpse at the dream He had beset in my heart, to use my speaking ability to help others. (A good combo of performing and doctoring, right?) In the midst of my own sins He began leading my heart, and once He washed away my sins my hope came back, and He is leading me on the pathway to that dream being achieved. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy." Proverbs 13:12.
God has beset a dream in each of us, and when we allow sin to hold us back from our dreams we are not following in God's way. Allow God's Will to be worked out in your life, and keep dreaming.
"A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
the dream that you wish will come true"
What did you dream of becoming or doing as a child? We all have had dreams, some probably bigger than others. Mine was to either be an actress or a singer (Good thing I didn't strive to hard for this one, most of the time I sound like a sick duck...squawking instead of quacking.) But it was a dream, and maybe yours was to be a doctor, nurse, athlete, fireman, librarian, hair stylist, teacher, and the list could go on and on.
Did any of your dreams come true? When dreams are attained it is so fulfilling, so joyful, they give you purpose, and you are delighted. Sometimes, however, dreams are attainable, but you miss them because you went down the wrong path at the pivotal moment, you made a turn right before you grabbed the prize. You got mixed up in the wrong crowd or began partaking in your sinful desires, and these drew you away from the dream that was in sight. "It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools will not turn from evil to attain them." Proverbs 13:19. Maybe your dreams have changed over the years, maybe the dream you once had may be out of reach, but now a new dream is within view. You still have a chance to make your dreams come true. All you have to do is let go of any sin that is holding you back, grab a hold of the Savior that put the dream in your heart, and follow Him. "For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." Philippians 4:13.
My own dream changed many times over the years, sometimes because God changed my route and sometimes because I was following the wrong path. I went from wanting to be an actress to wanting to be a doctor, but somewhere in the middle of it all God gave me a glimpse at the dream He had beset in my heart, to use my speaking ability to help others. (A good combo of performing and doctoring, right?) In the midst of my own sins He began leading my heart, and once He washed away my sins my hope came back, and He is leading me on the pathway to that dream being achieved. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy." Proverbs 13:12.
God has beset a dream in each of us, and when we allow sin to hold us back from our dreams we are not following in God's way. Allow God's Will to be worked out in your life, and keep dreaming.
“If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.” - Walt Disney
Monday, May 14, 2012
Light and Life
"Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone." John 1:4.
Have you ever wondered how life began? God must have been pretty creative to set it all into being. Well, I guess, that's where we get the word creation. "He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make." John 1:3. He created what he already knew because it was within Him. Just like when we have ideas growing within us, if we put those ideas into action we would create something out of our creativity and into creation. God was the first Imagineer. And life, breath, the living, were all, and are all a part of Jesus. This life that lived in him gives light to everyone. A light that shines through the darkness. "The light shines through the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:5. The light that Jesus gives off and gives out, is a light that is unsquelchable. It is a light that lives in the world and the Devil has never been able to extinguish it. He has tried his hardest, and he has done a good job at blocking the light from some peoples eyes, but it only takes one person to reveal the light and the darkness is gone.
As a child, I grew up singing, "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine." This song speaks of the light Jesus has placed within us. He has put His light into our souls and given us life. We need to allow His light to shine out of us and others in the way we should go. "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105. And this word is Jesus, "In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God." John 1:1. So, let's step up, step out, and hold our light high, allowing all to see the life God has given us.
"I won't let Satan blow it out. I'm going to let it shine."
Have you ever wondered how life began? God must have been pretty creative to set it all into being. Well, I guess, that's where we get the word creation. "He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make." John 1:3. He created what he already knew because it was within Him. Just like when we have ideas growing within us, if we put those ideas into action we would create something out of our creativity and into creation. God was the first Imagineer. And life, breath, the living, were all, and are all a part of Jesus. This life that lived in him gives light to everyone. A light that shines through the darkness. "The light shines through the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:5. The light that Jesus gives off and gives out, is a light that is unsquelchable. It is a light that lives in the world and the Devil has never been able to extinguish it. He has tried his hardest, and he has done a good job at blocking the light from some peoples eyes, but it only takes one person to reveal the light and the darkness is gone.
As a child, I grew up singing, "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine." This song speaks of the light Jesus has placed within us. He has put His light into our souls and given us life. We need to allow His light to shine out of us and others in the way we should go. "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105. And this word is Jesus, "In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God." John 1:1. So, let's step up, step out, and hold our light high, allowing all to see the life God has given us.
"I won't let Satan blow it out. I'm going to let it shine."
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Wings like a Dove!
Two days ago, I witnessed the most beautiful expression of complete peace. Last week, a beautiful young woman, Laurie Madonia, lost her battle with cancer, but won peace with God in Heaven. At the end of the most amazing Mass funeral, her family released doves to soar through the air resembling the fact that she is now resting with the Lord. "Oh, how I wish I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness." Psalm 55:6-7.
There is something about a bird soaring through the air that truly personifies peace. In the movie, Forrest Gump, I will never forget Jenny, who afraid for her life, ran away from her abusive father, through the corn field, begging Forrest to pray with her. "Dear God, Make me a bird. So I can fly far far away from here." Jenny knew what it was like to be in fear of a very dangerous enemy, and she also knew that she could cry out to God to make her like a peaceful bird to fly away from the danger. I can remember doing the exact same thing as a child, just wanting so badly to sprout wings and fly me away to heaven where I could be in the peaceful arms of my Savior. And at some point I even began dreaming in this way as well. Almost every dream I had, I would be chased by someone wanting to hurt me, and all I had to do was reach out my arms as wings and begin to fly to safety.
On the ground, birds are easy pray, but in the air not much can harm them. They soar across the sky with peaceful glides.
When we grow weary or afraid, God sees ours troubles and he will grant us peace. "But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31.
No matter what you are going through today, no matter what battle is up against you, pray for God to give you wings like a dove to fly high into His peaceful, comforting, and strong embrace.
There is something about a bird soaring through the air that truly personifies peace. In the movie, Forrest Gump, I will never forget Jenny, who afraid for her life, ran away from her abusive father, through the corn field, begging Forrest to pray with her. "Dear God, Make me a bird. So I can fly far far away from here." Jenny knew what it was like to be in fear of a very dangerous enemy, and she also knew that she could cry out to God to make her like a peaceful bird to fly away from the danger. I can remember doing the exact same thing as a child, just wanting so badly to sprout wings and fly me away to heaven where I could be in the peaceful arms of my Savior. And at some point I even began dreaming in this way as well. Almost every dream I had, I would be chased by someone wanting to hurt me, and all I had to do was reach out my arms as wings and begin to fly to safety.
On the ground, birds are easy pray, but in the air not much can harm them. They soar across the sky with peaceful glides.
When we grow weary or afraid, God sees ours troubles and he will grant us peace. "But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31.
No matter what you are going through today, no matter what battle is up against you, pray for God to give you wings like a dove to fly high into His peaceful, comforting, and strong embrace.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
A Glance in the Mirror
What did you notice about yourself the last time you looked in the mirror? In my case, I thought, wow, this is going to be a bad hair day? I tried to fix it with a little gel to tame the wildness, but to much avail, I looked in the mirror again at work and it had gotten worse. Blah!
When you look in the mirror don't you normally remember exactly what you looked like, don't you know if your hair is a little off or your roots are beginning to show or your hair is starting to grow over your ears or your 5 o'clock shadow is now beginning to remind you of a mountain man? Well God wants us to do the same thing with His Word. He doesn't want us to just hear the word of God, or read the word of God and forget what we heard. He wants us to hear or read it, and do as the Word says. "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, afterlooking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:23-25. I know women and some men who take forever to prepare themselves in the morning. They know where each hair was placed and when one hair is out of place. These same people can tell you where each wrinkle is or where there favorite freckle lies. They know what they look like better than anyone else. This is what God wants us to do as we look into His Word. He wants us to know where to find each piece of Wisdom, He wants us to know exactly which path to follow. God wants us to know how much He cares about us without any doubt.
When we look in the mirror and are able to see God's Word in action, we should be able to see the Lord looking back at us. We should know His Word so well that it is reflected from within us. We should have His Word from His Spirit living within us, and that is what we should be seeing. "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2Corinthians 3:18.
Today, as you look in the mirror and remember what you see, also do this with God's Word. If you are seeing God within you there is no reason why you shouldn't be turning from the mirror and putting God's Word into action. God's Word has now become a part of your life, just like my wild hair is here to stay. I know it is there and I will be aware of it all day. Just as God's Word is alive within me and I should be glorifying Him all day!
When you look in the mirror don't you normally remember exactly what you looked like, don't you know if your hair is a little off or your roots are beginning to show or your hair is starting to grow over your ears or your 5 o'clock shadow is now beginning to remind you of a mountain man? Well God wants us to do the same thing with His Word. He doesn't want us to just hear the word of God, or read the word of God and forget what we heard. He wants us to hear or read it, and do as the Word says. "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, afterlooking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:23-25. I know women and some men who take forever to prepare themselves in the morning. They know where each hair was placed and when one hair is out of place. These same people can tell you where each wrinkle is or where there favorite freckle lies. They know what they look like better than anyone else. This is what God wants us to do as we look into His Word. He wants us to know where to find each piece of Wisdom, He wants us to know exactly which path to follow. God wants us to know how much He cares about us without any doubt.
When we look in the mirror and are able to see God's Word in action, we should be able to see the Lord looking back at us. We should know His Word so well that it is reflected from within us. We should have His Word from His Spirit living within us, and that is what we should be seeing. "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2Corinthians 3:18.
Today, as you look in the mirror and remember what you see, also do this with God's Word. If you are seeing God within you there is no reason why you shouldn't be turning from the mirror and putting God's Word into action. God's Word has now become a part of your life, just like my wild hair is here to stay. I know it is there and I will be aware of it all day. Just as God's Word is alive within me and I should be glorifying Him all day!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The Million Dollar Question.
Question, will one million dollars bring you happiness?
Before you say yes, let's really think about this, what can money actually bring? Things: Vacations, Stuff, Clothes, Cars, Houses, and more Stuff. So, if money brings things it really doesn't bring emotions. Well then do things bring happiness? Vacations are temporary and can bring temporary enjoyment, but sometimes they can be ruined and bring frustration; just think about it, a thunderstorm can ruin a day at a waterpark. Clothes are great, new clothes are even better, but if you have those days like me when nothing seems to look good or seems to tight, it can drain you of every once of happiness and self-esteem. Well, what about cars? Awe, cars.....let's just say I've had my fair share of cars...I love variety and they can get me from point A to point B, but they can also be dangerous and distracting. And in my case cause a lot of heartache. Well then there are houses. They put shelter over our heads, they can be filled with many memories, but even though a lot of memories for most of us could be good, some of us may have horrible memories. Not only that many times we are never satisfied with a house that can just put a roof over our head, it has to be the best house, we have to up the Joneses. What about just plain stuff? Stuff is fun, but stuff is also momentary. There is always something bigger and better even if you buy the biggest best thing. We keep gathering and cluttering our lives, we end up forgetting about the momentary happiness and begin pursueing the happiness that we know will come with more stuff?!
So, if money can't bring happiness, but money brings stuff, and stuff can't bring happiness that lasts, why do we keep wanting more? More money for more stuff, and we are willing to give up everything important and lasting for more. If only I had more money, so I could do more, get more, be more, and have more. Somewhere along the way we have joined the Rat race on the path to an unreachable Happiness called money. And along the way we began to idolize money and when you idolize anything you are making it a god.
"No one can serve to masters. For you will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Luke 16:13. SO why do we try? Back to the the million dollar question, can money bring happiness? When you make money a priority in you life you begin to serve money hoping it will give you the happiness you have been seeking, only to find money actually only brings stuff. And stuff loves to bring along friends with it...like greed and envy.
God, however, brings life. He breaks the chains of slavery to everything holding you down and gives you a happiness called Joy! When you serve God, God will give you everything you need and more, including money, but you must first prove that He is the only Master of your life.
Question: Does God bring Happiness?
Simple....Yes! That would be eternal Joy!
"When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my father and remain in His love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" John 15: 10-11.
Before you say yes, let's really think about this, what can money actually bring? Things: Vacations, Stuff, Clothes, Cars, Houses, and more Stuff. So, if money brings things it really doesn't bring emotions. Well then do things bring happiness? Vacations are temporary and can bring temporary enjoyment, but sometimes they can be ruined and bring frustration; just think about it, a thunderstorm can ruin a day at a waterpark. Clothes are great, new clothes are even better, but if you have those days like me when nothing seems to look good or seems to tight, it can drain you of every once of happiness and self-esteem. Well, what about cars? Awe, cars.....let's just say I've had my fair share of cars...I love variety and they can get me from point A to point B, but they can also be dangerous and distracting. And in my case cause a lot of heartache. Well then there are houses. They put shelter over our heads, they can be filled with many memories, but even though a lot of memories for most of us could be good, some of us may have horrible memories. Not only that many times we are never satisfied with a house that can just put a roof over our head, it has to be the best house, we have to up the Joneses. What about just plain stuff? Stuff is fun, but stuff is also momentary. There is always something bigger and better even if you buy the biggest best thing. We keep gathering and cluttering our lives, we end up forgetting about the momentary happiness and begin pursueing the happiness that we know will come with more stuff?!
So, if money can't bring happiness, but money brings stuff, and stuff can't bring happiness that lasts, why do we keep wanting more? More money for more stuff, and we are willing to give up everything important and lasting for more. If only I had more money, so I could do more, get more, be more, and have more. Somewhere along the way we have joined the Rat race on the path to an unreachable Happiness called money. And along the way we began to idolize money and when you idolize anything you are making it a god.
"No one can serve to masters. For you will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Luke 16:13. SO why do we try? Back to the the million dollar question, can money bring happiness? When you make money a priority in you life you begin to serve money hoping it will give you the happiness you have been seeking, only to find money actually only brings stuff. And stuff loves to bring along friends with it...like greed and envy.
God, however, brings life. He breaks the chains of slavery to everything holding you down and gives you a happiness called Joy! When you serve God, God will give you everything you need and more, including money, but you must first prove that He is the only Master of your life.
Question: Does God bring Happiness?
Simple....Yes! That would be eternal Joy!
"When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my father and remain in His love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" John 15: 10-11.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Lost and Found
Have you ever lost something that meant the world to you? One day at Disney I thought I had lost my daughter who had wondered off, when I finally found her I hugged her and treasured her and never wanted to let her go. Sometimes when we lose things and then find them we want to let others know we found it. We are so excited to have whatever it was that we lost that we want to let the world know and we begin to treasure it even more than before.
Jesus told the parable of the Lost Son. The son decided that he had had enough living under his dad's rule that he wanted to get his share of the estate and move on. When he left he squandered all he had in far off lands on all types of sins. His father wasn't proud of what his son did, but he was still sad to have lost him and wanted him to return. Once the son had nothing left he humbled himself and came crawling back to his father. You would think the father would have scolded him for his foolishness, but instead he was so excited to have his son back that he wanted to throw a massive party in his son's honor. "for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now is found.' So the party began." Luke 15:24. This father had lost one of his most treasured gifts, his son, and was so delighted to have him back. The father had unconditional love for his son, and he showed him amazing grace.
God has this same unconditional love for all of us. Each one of us at some point in our life has been lost, or maybe right now as you are reading this you are the one that is lost. Well God yearns to have you back. "In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away." Luke 15:7.
God has unconditional love for all of his creation. He loves us as his own Son for He adopted us into His family through the death and resurrection of His Son. No matter what we have done, no matter how many sins we have committed, no matter how far we have strayed, God will show us His amazing grace when we return.
What is stopping you from experiencing His Amazing Grace? Turn from your sinful life, stop straying in worldly directions, and turn back to Him. Every time you lose something that means the world to you and later you find it, treasure that feeling you have for that is the same feeling God has when you are no longer lost.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see!
In this way you are no longer Lost, but Found!
Jesus told the parable of the Lost Son. The son decided that he had had enough living under his dad's rule that he wanted to get his share of the estate and move on. When he left he squandered all he had in far off lands on all types of sins. His father wasn't proud of what his son did, but he was still sad to have lost him and wanted him to return. Once the son had nothing left he humbled himself and came crawling back to his father. You would think the father would have scolded him for his foolishness, but instead he was so excited to have his son back that he wanted to throw a massive party in his son's honor. "for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now is found.' So the party began." Luke 15:24. This father had lost one of his most treasured gifts, his son, and was so delighted to have him back. The father had unconditional love for his son, and he showed him amazing grace.
God has this same unconditional love for all of us. Each one of us at some point in our life has been lost, or maybe right now as you are reading this you are the one that is lost. Well God yearns to have you back. "In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away." Luke 15:7.
God has unconditional love for all of his creation. He loves us as his own Son for He adopted us into His family through the death and resurrection of His Son. No matter what we have done, no matter how many sins we have committed, no matter how far we have strayed, God will show us His amazing grace when we return.
What is stopping you from experiencing His Amazing Grace? Turn from your sinful life, stop straying in worldly directions, and turn back to Him. Every time you lose something that means the world to you and later you find it, treasure that feeling you have for that is the same feeling God has when you are no longer lost.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see!
In this way you are no longer Lost, but Found!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Working Hard on Trust
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. But in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6.
Last week I had to remind myself to fully trust in the Lord, and not trust in my own Mathematical calculations. Brett and I are working hard and God is blessing us, BUT for a family of 6 it just doesn't always add up. And when it doesn't add up, it truly makes it hard to give freely to the needs of others. But Brett and I know we have been called to take care of those who are in more need than ourselves. "Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasures for you in heaven!" Luke 12:33a. We feel called not only to provide for our family, but for others as well. So, even though I know helping someone else will cut us close on being able to provide for our family, I trust in the Lord and know He will provide. The day after I struggled with my trust and giving of what we had, not of our abundance, God gave me this verse, "It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything." Proverbs 11:24. I trusted God, and we gave before knowing if we would have enough to even buy groceries, and in my trust in Him, He made a promise to provide for me. God is Good, and He will make straight my paths as well as yours..
Last week I had to remind myself to fully trust in the Lord, and not trust in my own Mathematical calculations. Brett and I are working hard and God is blessing us, BUT for a family of 6 it just doesn't always add up. And when it doesn't add up, it truly makes it hard to give freely to the needs of others. But Brett and I know we have been called to take care of those who are in more need than ourselves. "Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasures for you in heaven!" Luke 12:33a. We feel called not only to provide for our family, but for others as well. So, even though I know helping someone else will cut us close on being able to provide for our family, I trust in the Lord and know He will provide. The day after I struggled with my trust and giving of what we had, not of our abundance, God gave me this verse, "It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything." Proverbs 11:24. I trusted God, and we gave before knowing if we would have enough to even buy groceries, and in my trust in Him, He made a promise to provide for me. God is Good, and He will make straight my paths as well as yours..
Friday, April 20, 2012
Can't Buy Me.....
Yesterday my husband had a very funny text conversation that went like this:
Stephen: You know your from Plant City when.....
Brett: Your 8 year old son gets a tractor, and we didn't get it from Toys-R-Us!
This all started because Brett sent a picture to his buddy Stephen in Miami of our son on his mowing tractor. (So fitting, right?) Well as I watched him practice maneuvering this tractor around our yard, I couldn't help but think of the movie Can't Buy Me Love, the 80's flick with Dr.McDreamy, Patrick Dempsey.
In the movie, Dempsey, a nerd, had mowed lawns forever, saving for some big dream of his, but all of his life he had been in love with this Girl. This Girl wasn't any girl, she was the most popular, beautiful girl at their high school. There relationship started when Dempsey found out she needed money for something and he gave it to her in exchange for a date. Then he began buying her more and more things, but in the end Dempsey was found out and he learned money can't buy you love, only the relationship they had grown through a friendship could.
Just like you can't buy love, Psalms says you also can't buy eternal life. "There is no need to fear when times of trouble come, when enemies are surrounding me. They trust in their welath and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can pay enough to live forever and never see the grave." Psalms 49:5-9. If I could title this section of Psalms I would write in Big Bold Print: Can't Buy Me Life.
When we have money or riches we seem to think we can buy anything and everything. I see people trying to buy love, life, happiness, joy, friends, etc. all the time. But the problem is it may be there for a second, but it never lasts. You can't buy people and you especially can't buy God. It is all about the relationship. If you want any of these things you must invest yourselves in one another. You must make yourself adaptable and available to grow in a relationship, and then the love, life, joy, happiness, friendship, and peace will come. But there is no amount of money that can buy any of these. Money may be able to buy things, but It Can't Buy Me Life.
Stephen: You know your from Plant City when.....
 |
| I tried to flip it right side up, but sadly, I'm not tech savvy! |
In the movie, Dempsey, a nerd, had mowed lawns forever, saving for some big dream of his, but all of his life he had been in love with this Girl. This Girl wasn't any girl, she was the most popular, beautiful girl at their high school. There relationship started when Dempsey found out she needed money for something and he gave it to her in exchange for a date. Then he began buying her more and more things, but in the end Dempsey was found out and he learned money can't buy you love, only the relationship they had grown through a friendship could.
Just like you can't buy love, Psalms says you also can't buy eternal life. "There is no need to fear when times of trouble come, when enemies are surrounding me. They trust in their welath and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can pay enough to live forever and never see the grave." Psalms 49:5-9. If I could title this section of Psalms I would write in Big Bold Print: Can't Buy Me Life.
When we have money or riches we seem to think we can buy anything and everything. I see people trying to buy love, life, happiness, joy, friends, etc. all the time. But the problem is it may be there for a second, but it never lasts. You can't buy people and you especially can't buy God. It is all about the relationship. If you want any of these things you must invest yourselves in one another. You must make yourself adaptable and available to grow in a relationship, and then the love, life, joy, happiness, friendship, and peace will come. But there is no amount of money that can buy any of these. Money may be able to buy things, but It Can't Buy Me Life.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Words of Life
"These instructions are not mere words - they are life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you are crossing the Jordan River to occupy." Deuteronomy 32:47
The words of God bring life. No matter what you are going through in life, God can reach you with His Word. He gives instruction, encouragement, comfort, peace, strength, Wisdom, Discernment, and so much more all through His Word. He will grow a relationship with you through His Word and your prayers. And not only does Hiw Word bring this life, but He will bring you a long life that you will enjoy.
God started creation with His Word: "In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God." John 1:1. We are to hear His Word: "Joshua said to the Israelites, 'Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God." Joshua 3:9. We are to speak His Words: "Let the Words of Christ in all their richness live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." Colossians 3:16. We are to read His Word: "He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long as he lives." Deuteronomy 17:19. We are to obey His Word: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22. And because He lives within us, so His Word lives within us, we will grow closer to Him in this relationship, and in the end we will see His Word: "Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True. For He judges fairly and then goes to war. His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on Him and only He knew what it meant. He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God." Revelations 19:11-13.
God's word was here in the beginning and it will be here to the end. It is alive and active, giving life to all who obey it. The word lives in us because Christ lives in us, and we should obey the Word because it has become a part of us, not because it is the law. What's stopping you from hearing, reading, loving, seeing, speaking, and obeying the Word today? Have life and have it abundantly!
"Forever, O Lord, your word stands firm in the heavens." Psalm 119:89
The words of God bring life. No matter what you are going through in life, God can reach you with His Word. He gives instruction, encouragement, comfort, peace, strength, Wisdom, Discernment, and so much more all through His Word. He will grow a relationship with you through His Word and your prayers. And not only does Hiw Word bring this life, but He will bring you a long life that you will enjoy.
God started creation with His Word: "In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God." John 1:1. We are to hear His Word: "Joshua said to the Israelites, 'Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God." Joshua 3:9. We are to speak His Words: "Let the Words of Christ in all their richness live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." Colossians 3:16. We are to read His Word: "He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long as he lives." Deuteronomy 17:19. We are to obey His Word: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22. And because He lives within us, so His Word lives within us, we will grow closer to Him in this relationship, and in the end we will see His Word: "Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True. For He judges fairly and then goes to war. His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on Him and only He knew what it meant. He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God." Revelations 19:11-13.
God's word was here in the beginning and it will be here to the end. It is alive and active, giving life to all who obey it. The word lives in us because Christ lives in us, and we should obey the Word because it has become a part of us, not because it is the law. What's stopping you from hearing, reading, loving, seeing, speaking, and obeying the Word today? Have life and have it abundantly!
"Forever, O Lord, your word stands firm in the heavens." Psalm 119:89
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
When the Door is Open...Walk on Through
Moses was now 120 years old, and God had prepared the Israelites with 40 years in the wilderness to go in and conquer the promise land. Their trusty leader, however, was to stay back and not cross the Jordan because of His past unfaithfulness. The people of Israel had never been lead by anyone else. Before Moses they were slaves in Egypt. So, to be expected, they were nervous, anxious, and afraid, but God told them it was time to trust in Him alone. "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The LORD your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6.
God puts leaders in our lives to guide us, encourage us, strenthen us, and prepare us for the future. But even with leaders He still expects us to be able to trust in Him alone. At some point in our life He is going to open a door and tell us to walk through without the leader we were accustomed to. He wants us to trust that He will go before us through that door and lead us on the other side. When God opens the door He expects us to act immediately, never flinching in our trust, and remembering to be strong and courageous because He will never leave us nor forsake us. We must take that first step which will feel like a leap of Faith because that is what it really is...Faith that God is with us. "He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can open them." Revelation 3:7d. So, be strong and courageous, keep your eye on the cross, and follow obediently the pathway He leads you on. Because God will only open the door for so long, and if you don't walk on through with Trust, He may close it never to open it again.
God puts leaders in our lives to guide us, encourage us, strenthen us, and prepare us for the future. But even with leaders He still expects us to be able to trust in Him alone. At some point in our life He is going to open a door and tell us to walk through without the leader we were accustomed to. He wants us to trust that He will go before us through that door and lead us on the other side. When God opens the door He expects us to act immediately, never flinching in our trust, and remembering to be strong and courageous because He will never leave us nor forsake us. We must take that first step which will feel like a leap of Faith because that is what it really is...Faith that God is with us. "He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can open them." Revelation 3:7d. So, be strong and courageous, keep your eye on the cross, and follow obediently the pathway He leads you on. Because God will only open the door for so long, and if you don't walk on through with Trust, He may close it never to open it again.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Much Needed R&R
"Suppose all these things happen to you - the blessings and the curses I have listed - and you meditate on them as you are living among the nations to which the LORD your God has exiled you. If at that time you return to the Lord your God, and you and your children begin wholeheartedly to obey all the commands I have given you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you back from all nations where He has scattered you. Though you are at the ends of the earth, the Lord your God will go and find you and bring you back again." Deuteronomy 30:1-4.
God knew the Israelites would turn from the laws He had given them. Adam and Eve had already proved that. He knew they would worship other Gods, commit adultery, murder, lie, steal, fully disobeying Him. So, God told them in their disobedience He would scatter them across the earth and curse them for their negligence. But then He promised them if they ever decided to turn from their sins and obey Him wholeheartedly, He would restore them to the life He had planned for them. An abundant life.
Just like with the Israelites, God knows we will all sin in some way. He knows we will lie, cheat, abuse, commit adultery, hate, murder, covet, fully disobey, and turn our backs on Him. When we do this we will feel depressed, unsettled, far away, lost, lacking, and sometimes hopeless. We may feel like we only need a little rest and relaxation to be revived, but really what we are needing is a different kind of R & R. We need Repentance and Restoration. As we repent our sins and turn back to our God and Lord who loves us so much, He will begin to fill us with the fruits of the Spirit. "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law." Galations 5:22-23. The fruits of the Spirit will revive our lives and give us a wholeness, a new beginning, a solid foundation, and hope for the future.
SO what's holding you back from having all God has promised? Repent and be Restored!
God knew the Israelites would turn from the laws He had given them. Adam and Eve had already proved that. He knew they would worship other Gods, commit adultery, murder, lie, steal, fully disobeying Him. So, God told them in their disobedience He would scatter them across the earth and curse them for their negligence. But then He promised them if they ever decided to turn from their sins and obey Him wholeheartedly, He would restore them to the life He had planned for them. An abundant life.
Just like with the Israelites, God knows we will all sin in some way. He knows we will lie, cheat, abuse, commit adultery, hate, murder, covet, fully disobey, and turn our backs on Him. When we do this we will feel depressed, unsettled, far away, lost, lacking, and sometimes hopeless. We may feel like we only need a little rest and relaxation to be revived, but really what we are needing is a different kind of R & R. We need Repentance and Restoration. As we repent our sins and turn back to our God and Lord who loves us so much, He will begin to fill us with the fruits of the Spirit. "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law." Galations 5:22-23. The fruits of the Spirit will revive our lives and give us a wholeness, a new beginning, a solid foundation, and hope for the future.
SO what's holding you back from having all God has promised? Repent and be Restored!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Compassion
"You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." Luke 6:36
Compassion: deep awareness of suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.
Compassionate: Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others: Showing Compassion
To be compassionate, as God asks us to be, we must first have compassion. Each and every morning, along with Love, Joy, Wisdom, Grace, and Mercy, I pray for compassion. Not for God to have compassion on me, but for me to have compassion for the World. I want to always be able to see the hurt in the world. I want to be able to look through the eyes of Jesus and see those in need, in all types of needs. I want to see the lost, helpless, fatherless, motherless, homeless, childless, starving, addicted, hopeless, widow, unloved, and unwanted. But not only do I want to see them, I want to help them, hold them, clothe them, feed them, love them, care for them, cure them, give them hope, give them a future, encourage them, take them in, and most of all show them Jesus. Why, might you ask? Because Jesus did all of these things for me, and I want to be like Him.
"Since God chose you to be Holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12.
Compassion like love crosses all barriers, all borders, and all lines!
Compassion: deep awareness of suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.
Compassionate: Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others: Showing Compassion
To be compassionate, as God asks us to be, we must first have compassion. Each and every morning, along with Love, Joy, Wisdom, Grace, and Mercy, I pray for compassion. Not for God to have compassion on me, but for me to have compassion for the World. I want to always be able to see the hurt in the world. I want to be able to look through the eyes of Jesus and see those in need, in all types of needs. I want to see the lost, helpless, fatherless, motherless, homeless, childless, starving, addicted, hopeless, widow, unloved, and unwanted. But not only do I want to see them, I want to help them, hold them, clothe them, feed them, love them, care for them, cure them, give them hope, give them a future, encourage them, take them in, and most of all show them Jesus. Why, might you ask? Because Jesus did all of these things for me, and I want to be like Him.
"Since God chose you to be Holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12.
Compassion like love crosses all barriers, all borders, and all lines!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Suited up and Ready for Battle
"Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit to go out into the wilderness, where the Devil tempted him for the forty days. He ate nothing all that time and was very hungry." Luke 4:1-2
Right after Jesus was baptized and the glory of God came upon Him with the Spirit and God said Jesus was His Son in whom He was so proud - the Holy Spirit leads him into the wilderness to be tested. Why? Because when God sent His Son to this earth to be made fully human, He had to experience everything a human does, and aren't we tested and tempted?!
For forty days Jesus was tempted by the Devil (whom I promise is still alive and active today). The Devil not only tempted Jesus during these forty days, but Jesus was also left without food, a need that is essential for us to survive. He was probably burning and screaming from the inside. I can hardly go a full 24 hours without food before I am just crying from within.
"Then the Devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, change this stone into a loaf of bread.' But Jesus told him, 'No.' The Scriptures say, 'People need more than bread for life.' Then the Devil took him up ad revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment time. The Devil told him, 'I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and the authority over them - because they are mine to give anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you bow down and worship me.' Jesus replied, 'The Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God; serve only Him.' Then the Devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, 'If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, 'He orders his angels to protect you and guard you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.' Jesus responded, 'The Scriptures also say, 'Do not test the LORD your God.' Luke 4:3-12.
Jesus was tempted just as we are tempted everyday. His temptations fell into 3 areas:
-To provide for His own cravings, His own needs, to trust in Himself. Aren't we tempted to do this. Aren't we tempted daily to trust in ourselves and not the God who can provide for all of our needs?
-To have the whole world by worshiping the Devil. How many times do we fall into this trap. We think we can do evil and have the world, but where does that leave us eternally?
-To test the Word of God. (In which I hope you see the Devil knows as well, he himself quoted scripture.) But we are not to test the Word of God. The world and the Devil tries to prove to us that the Word isn't true and we should test it before we believe it. But how far does that actually get us? Are you willing to jump off that cliff?
Jesus, however, responded to each temptation with the Word of God that He trusted and knew to be true:
-"...people need more than bread for their life; real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:8. God will provide for all of our needs. He will quench our hunger. What we need more than food is His Word.
-"You must fear the Lord your God and serve Him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name." Deuteronomy 6:13. We can't have the world, by doing evil. We must only worship the one true God, and He will give us our hearts desires. He is preparing a kingdom for us where we can live for eternity.
-"Do not test the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 6:16. Don't test God. He is more powerful than anyone, and He deserves our worship and respect. Test Him and you will surely fail.
Jesus had God's Word stored in His heart. God's Word fought off the temptations from the Devil for Jesus, and it will do the same for us.
"When the Devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came." Luke 4:13. The Devil may leave you alone for a time, but don't think he is gone forever because he is just waiting for another opportunity. The Devil wants for us to fail; He wants to laugh in the face of God and say, "See, Kristen wasn't so faithful after all." But if we store God's Words in our heart we will have His armor around us and His sword in our hand, to fight off every advance of the Devil. "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11. "Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil....Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Ephesians 6:11,17.
If the Devil tempted the Son of God, what makes you think He won't tempt you? So be ready! What temptation does he hold over you right now? Look to the Word of God and store scripture in your heart, memorize it, and use them in defense against the Devils tactics and temptations. Be on guard! Would you go to war without your armor and gun? Don't go to war with the Devil either without be suited up and ready for battle.
Right after Jesus was baptized and the glory of God came upon Him with the Spirit and God said Jesus was His Son in whom He was so proud - the Holy Spirit leads him into the wilderness to be tested. Why? Because when God sent His Son to this earth to be made fully human, He had to experience everything a human does, and aren't we tested and tempted?!
For forty days Jesus was tempted by the Devil (whom I promise is still alive and active today). The Devil not only tempted Jesus during these forty days, but Jesus was also left without food, a need that is essential for us to survive. He was probably burning and screaming from the inside. I can hardly go a full 24 hours without food before I am just crying from within.
"Then the Devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, change this stone into a loaf of bread.' But Jesus told him, 'No.' The Scriptures say, 'People need more than bread for life.' Then the Devil took him up ad revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment time. The Devil told him, 'I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and the authority over them - because they are mine to give anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you bow down and worship me.' Jesus replied, 'The Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God; serve only Him.' Then the Devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, 'If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, 'He orders his angels to protect you and guard you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.' Jesus responded, 'The Scriptures also say, 'Do not test the LORD your God.' Luke 4:3-12.
Jesus was tempted just as we are tempted everyday. His temptations fell into 3 areas:
-To provide for His own cravings, His own needs, to trust in Himself. Aren't we tempted to do this. Aren't we tempted daily to trust in ourselves and not the God who can provide for all of our needs?
-To have the whole world by worshiping the Devil. How many times do we fall into this trap. We think we can do evil and have the world, but where does that leave us eternally?
-To test the Word of God. (In which I hope you see the Devil knows as well, he himself quoted scripture.) But we are not to test the Word of God. The world and the Devil tries to prove to us that the Word isn't true and we should test it before we believe it. But how far does that actually get us? Are you willing to jump off that cliff?
Jesus, however, responded to each temptation with the Word of God that He trusted and knew to be true:
-"...people need more than bread for their life; real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:8. God will provide for all of our needs. He will quench our hunger. What we need more than food is His Word.
-"You must fear the Lord your God and serve Him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name." Deuteronomy 6:13. We can't have the world, by doing evil. We must only worship the one true God, and He will give us our hearts desires. He is preparing a kingdom for us where we can live for eternity.
-"Do not test the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 6:16. Don't test God. He is more powerful than anyone, and He deserves our worship and respect. Test Him and you will surely fail.
Jesus had God's Word stored in His heart. God's Word fought off the temptations from the Devil for Jesus, and it will do the same for us.
"When the Devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came." Luke 4:13. The Devil may leave you alone for a time, but don't think he is gone forever because he is just waiting for another opportunity. The Devil wants for us to fail; He wants to laugh in the face of God and say, "See, Kristen wasn't so faithful after all." But if we store God's Words in our heart we will have His armor around us and His sword in our hand, to fight off every advance of the Devil. "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11. "Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil....Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Ephesians 6:11,17.
If the Devil tempted the Son of God, what makes you think He won't tempt you? So be ready! What temptation does he hold over you right now? Look to the Word of God and store scripture in your heart, memorize it, and use them in defense against the Devils tactics and temptations. Be on guard! Would you go to war without your armor and gun? Don't go to war with the Devil either without be suited up and ready for battle.
Friday, March 30, 2012
HiStory
My mom loves to research her heritage. She is forever looking up her genealogy trying to fill in our family tree. I, on the other hand, haven't cared so much. I've always thought, the past is in the past, and lets leave it there. But God shows us in the Bible that our heritage, and His heritage is very important. In Luke 3, God shows the importance of HiStory, and yes I put an emphasis on the "S" because it is His Story.
"Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli....David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Boaz. Boaz was the son of Salmon. Salmon the son of Nahshon....Shem was the son of Noah. Noah was the son of Lamech...Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God." Luke 3:23,32,36d,38.
In Jesus' HiStory we see that all genealogies have their stories, and these stories can comfort us, strengthen us, remind us, encourage us, and guide us.
*Jesus was a grandson to David, a man after God's own heart, "For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. And now, may it please you to bless me and my family so that our dynasty may continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!" 2 Samuel 7:28,29. And God did! *Jesus was a grandson to Boaz, who's mother was Rahab, the prostitute who saved the Israelite spies. "It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with all the others in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies." Hebrews 11:31. And God listed her in the Hall of Faith! *Jesus was also a grandson of Obed, who's mother was Ruth, a woman who showed true unconditional love and faithfulness to her widowed mother-in-law Naomi."But Ruth replied, 'Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" Ruth 1:16-17. And God blessed her richly.
*Jesus was also a grandson of Noah, the only follower of God in his generation. "So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him." Genesis 6:22. And God saved Noah and his family and began again.
But most importantly out of all these relationships, heritages, and genealogies: Jesus was the Son of God. "One day as the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you." Luke 3:21-22. And God saved us and gave us eternal life through Him.
Maybe it's time we learn from our own HiStory. Who were our grandfathers and grandmothers, what did they do?
God had a hand in everything from the beginning of time to the end, and He knew who would be in our past, who we could learn from, be encouraged through, and be guided by. "You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head." Psalm 139:5.
Now it's our turn to take a look back. Learn and Grow. For ultimately your Story was HiStory first!
"Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli....David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Boaz. Boaz was the son of Salmon. Salmon the son of Nahshon....Shem was the son of Noah. Noah was the son of Lamech...Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God." Luke 3:23,32,36d,38.
In Jesus' HiStory we see that all genealogies have their stories, and these stories can comfort us, strengthen us, remind us, encourage us, and guide us.
*Jesus was a grandson to David, a man after God's own heart, "For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. And now, may it please you to bless me and my family so that our dynasty may continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!" 2 Samuel 7:28,29. And God did! *Jesus was a grandson to Boaz, who's mother was Rahab, the prostitute who saved the Israelite spies. "It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with all the others in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies." Hebrews 11:31. And God listed her in the Hall of Faith! *Jesus was also a grandson of Obed, who's mother was Ruth, a woman who showed true unconditional love and faithfulness to her widowed mother-in-law Naomi."But Ruth replied, 'Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" Ruth 1:16-17. And God blessed her richly.
*Jesus was also a grandson of Noah, the only follower of God in his generation. "So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him." Genesis 6:22. And God saved Noah and his family and began again.
But most importantly out of all these relationships, heritages, and genealogies: Jesus was the Son of God. "One day as the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you." Luke 3:21-22. And God saved us and gave us eternal life through Him.
Maybe it's time we learn from our own HiStory. Who were our grandfathers and grandmothers, what did they do?
God had a hand in everything from the beginning of time to the end, and He knew who would be in our past, who we could learn from, be encouraged through, and be guided by. "You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head." Psalm 139:5.
Now it's our turn to take a look back. Learn and Grow. For ultimately your Story was HiStory first!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Living by Example
"Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone." James 3:14.
Faith that is only words can actually push people farther away from Jesus. When non-believers or new believers hear a person professing to being a Christian but not trusting in the Faith as a Believer they can get confused. So, just as we must prove our Faith by actions we must also prove we have turned from our sins and turned to God by how we live. "Prove by the way you live that you have really turned to God. Don't just say, 'We're safe - we're descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing. God can change these stones into children of Abraham." Luke 3:8. And when John the Baptist said to prove, he was saying to be an example. If one minute you are saying you're a Christian and then the next minute you are slandering someone or one minute you are wearing a Got Jesus shirt and the next minute chugging a beer, the people around you are probably thinking...Why should I be a Christian when they act just like me. How many of you have heard someone say, 'I'm a Christian because my mom was a Christian (it is impossible to be saved by your mother's faith), or I was brought up in a church I just don't attend anymore (who's keeping you accountable to God), or I believe in Jesus (well so does Satan), or Jesus drank wine so I can drink too (yeah, but where does it say Jesus got drunk)? Where's the example that exudes your faith, your turn from sins, and your turning to God?
When I first returned to my faith in Jesus, I thought all it took was believing in Him, not a life changing alteration. I didn't think I had to change my ways because I knew that Jesus loved me just the way I was. But when I would try to tell people about my new faith I would get eye rolls, a change of subject, or just disbelief. I couldn't figure out why they didn't trust me or believe me; I couldn't figure out why no one was seeing Christ in me. "Well self," I should have said, "Look in the mirror! Are you being an example of what you say?" I wasn't. I wasn't living by example. I was still the same person they knew before, nothing had changed. I had just added Jesus to my life, not made Jesus my life.
When we are a new person in Christ our old ways will pass away, and we are different and everyone should be able to see it. We are to be an example of Jesus, we are to do as He did. "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this to much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is." Romans 12:1-2. Are you ready to be new in Christ? Are you ready to be that light to the world, leading others to Christ instead of pushing them away? We already have the greatest example ever....Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Faith that is only words can actually push people farther away from Jesus. When non-believers or new believers hear a person professing to being a Christian but not trusting in the Faith as a Believer they can get confused. So, just as we must prove our Faith by actions we must also prove we have turned from our sins and turned to God by how we live. "Prove by the way you live that you have really turned to God. Don't just say, 'We're safe - we're descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing. God can change these stones into children of Abraham." Luke 3:8. And when John the Baptist said to prove, he was saying to be an example. If one minute you are saying you're a Christian and then the next minute you are slandering someone or one minute you are wearing a Got Jesus shirt and the next minute chugging a beer, the people around you are probably thinking...Why should I be a Christian when they act just like me. How many of you have heard someone say, 'I'm a Christian because my mom was a Christian (it is impossible to be saved by your mother's faith), or I was brought up in a church I just don't attend anymore (who's keeping you accountable to God), or I believe in Jesus (well so does Satan), or Jesus drank wine so I can drink too (yeah, but where does it say Jesus got drunk)? Where's the example that exudes your faith, your turn from sins, and your turning to God?
When I first returned to my faith in Jesus, I thought all it took was believing in Him, not a life changing alteration. I didn't think I had to change my ways because I knew that Jesus loved me just the way I was. But when I would try to tell people about my new faith I would get eye rolls, a change of subject, or just disbelief. I couldn't figure out why they didn't trust me or believe me; I couldn't figure out why no one was seeing Christ in me. "Well self," I should have said, "Look in the mirror! Are you being an example of what you say?" I wasn't. I wasn't living by example. I was still the same person they knew before, nothing had changed. I had just added Jesus to my life, not made Jesus my life.
When we are a new person in Christ our old ways will pass away, and we are different and everyone should be able to see it. We are to be an example of Jesus, we are to do as He did. "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this to much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is." Romans 12:1-2. Are you ready to be new in Christ? Are you ready to be that light to the world, leading others to Christ instead of pushing them away? We already have the greatest example ever....Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)