Reflections
Articles on this page:The Lamb That Was Slain
To Those Who Pray
Your Choice
The Word talks about Love
Trust
Things to Think On
Access into Grace
A Dark Road
Love
Learn from Trials
Thy Kingdom Come
It Is Well
Which Reality
Who is Jesus
Balance
In Faith
Back on Track
He's My King
Perfect Peace
Two Men
Attitude of the Heart
Can You Imagine
Not My Will
Peace
Bartimaeus
Immeasurably More
The Heavens
Eagles
March 6
March 5
March 4
March 3
March 2
March 1st
Febrary 29th
February 28th
February 27th
February 26th
February 25th
February 24th
february 23rd
February 22nd
February 21st
February 20th
February 19th
February 18th
Day 40, February 9, 08
February 8, 2008
February 7, 2008
February 6, 2008
February 5, 2008
February 4, 2008
Fasting
February 3, 2008
February 2, 2008
February 1, 2008
Day 31
Day 30
Day 29
Day 28
Day 27
Day 26
Day 25
Day 24
Day 23
Day 22
Day 21
Day 20
Day 19
Day 18
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1
No Greater Love
Add to your faith virtue
Waiting in Hard Times
Ascribing Great Worth
The Good Samaritan
Thoughts for 2007
Can the Church Contain God?
Intentional Investments
Faith and Truth
An Accommodating God
The truth about "Who You Are"
A Look at Jesus
A Personal Testimony
TRANSFORMATION
Scripture Message
The Fight
HE'S ALIVE
Are We Ready
God's Will
The Potential Bride
Marketplace Transformation
Just a Thought
The Lamb That Was Slain
Revelation 13:8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
I have been thinking of Jesus slain from the foundations of the world.... not just for a few hours. Thinking of every sin of every person who ever lived - every sin has been atoned. This is a free gift available to anyone who receives.
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To Those Who Pray
How beautiful each one of you are who pray and who bring good new to those whose heart is open; how beautiful are the feet of those who wear the shoes of peace; how beautiful are those who pray life to those who are dead, speak hope to those who are hopeless, pray health to those who are diseased, and share goodness to those who are in despair. May our God who reigns, reign with power and wisdom in your life throughout this week.. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!? Isaiah 52:7
. "And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!? Romans 10:15
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Your Choice
"14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey?whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:14-16It is all about free will ? You are free to come to the Lord Jesus and can choose to serve and trust in His ways. You can choose human understandings and personal desires or go against what your human brain says is ok, go against your preconditioned worldly ways and behaviors, go against your fleshly appetites, and make a human decision to say, "No." It's a huge victory each time our wills freely choose God's ways rather then trusting in human logic. Saying "no" to that which the flesh hungers is difficult, but we cannot walk on two sides of the road at the same time, we must choose. Let grace abound in you today as you choose to be Strong in the Lord and the Power of His might.
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The Word talks about Love
In recent days I have been receiving emails about this concern and that concern, some say, ?hold on to what is yours, get your double portion, reach your full potential,? I wonder where is love? Jesus asked Peter, do you love me? Peter answered yes, and again Jesus asked, "Do you love me? and again Peter responded, "yes? and a third time Jesus asked do you love me, and for the third time Peter responded yes.In these days of crisis, is the church preoccupied with strivings, double portions, and talking about city reaching? Have we been deceived with goose bumps and lofty ambitions that are motivating the church to rally for Christ's sake and have not loved? Is the church guilty of talking about love, praying for love, but not loving?
A city is taken when one person sincerely lays down his/her agenda to reach out to another, when one becomes a neighbor. Do you know a widow, an orphan, someone struggling with illness, someone poor in spirit, someone mourning; simply show them you care. Love your neighbors and your family, reach out to them with kindness, be Christ?s hands and feet.
Do you love Me? Do you love Me? Do you love Me?
John 21:15-19 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ?Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?? He said to Him, ?Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.? He said to him, ?Feed My lambs.? He said to him again a second time, ?Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? ?He said to Him, ?Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. ?He said to him, ?Tend My sheep.? He said to him the third time, ?Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ?Do you love Me? ?And he said to Him, ?Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. ?Jesus said to him, ?Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.? This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ?Follow Me.?
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Trust
Ps 91:14 - 16 was one of the verses I had read at my father's funeral. It is one of my favorites. Over these 6 years of trauma, I have had to learn trust. Trust, emerging from my history with God, keeps me afloat. The Word says, do not be anxious for anything but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make all your requests known to Him and He will give you peace. I believe when trust is presence, peace becomes like an invisible shield surrounding us; it is in fact like being in the eye of a storm. When there is no where we can run and no one else to whom we can turn, and circumstances looks as if we will surely be destroyed; the flesh screams panic but the always present God says, "be still and know that I am God." That stillness is a deep trust, a supernatural gift acquired only through fire. Seeing, remembering and believing the faithfulness of God when all circumstances scream evidences of certain doom, develops in us an inner trust and a submitted yielding by which God's will is free to be accomplished for His glory.Once the Lord showed me that the kingdom of God is like floating in the ocean. We must trust Him to keep us afloat and with His breath, blow us where He wants us to go. Trust.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
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Things to Think On
I was reading this, this morning and wanted to share it with you. It based on Philippian 4:8."Things to Meditate on"
1. Things learned - Christian practices
2. Things received - Christian blessings
3. Things heard - Christian blessings
4. Things Seen - Christian miracles
Thus not only are Christians to meditate on certain things, but they are to do certain things. Christianity is not a dead dry, formal human religion of religion of rituals, outward form, and show, but a divine living vital dynamic, liberating religion.
One without power to deliver men from sin, sickness, poverty, and want, now and hereafter,
IS NOT OF GOD.
Mt 7:7-11; 17:20;21:22: Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; 16;17-18; JON 14:12-15; 15:7; 16' 16"23-26; Hebrews 11; James 1
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Access into Grace
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 (King James Version)
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2 (King James Version)
The Lord illuminates, warms and sustains life like the sun. He protects and defends all who trust in Him, like a shield in the hands of a might man. The Lord gives grace and glory, first grace as a plant then glory as the fruit. No good thing will be will be withheld from those who walk uprightly. Our Lord will supply good things but never evil things.
To those who have been given permanent access into that grace surrounding Almighty God, wherein WE STAND, we rejoice in the hope, knowing God?s declaration over our lives. As long as we remain walking upright, the shield of God will remain to protect us, the radiance of God will continue to sustain us, and the grace of God will continue to supply our every want and need.
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A Dark Road
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10Have you ever been in a place where you can not think; a place where your questions out weigh answers; a place that seems hollow and void and where your voice is the only one you hear.
Many have survived trial after trail with only questions, but they continue to move forward; stopping or going back is not an option. This difficult and sometime long road is like a very dark night and few will avail themselves to journey on its small path. If given the chance, no one would ever travel on this rocky road. Everything changes on this path, your direction, your location, your destination, your perspective but most especially your heart. The mind perplexed not understanding, yields to trust; the will, loosed from worldly glamour, hangs on Christ alone for its? only source of strength; while the shattered emotions are established, with a deeper dependency on the love and reality of God.
Jesus walked from the garden, deserted by his followers, to the scourging post and on to the cross and into hell, before returning to His eternal heavenly home. By nature, humans want things to go well, to be easy and comfortable and some are not willing to endure the scourging and some do not want their souls to be crucified, but, it is only upon this dark rough road where the human soul is broken.
The few who journey this heart breaking road will think they have been removed from God?s side and from those around them, when in fact they are being drawn ever so close to the heart of God and are being repositioned for a new work. So, continue to stand, continue to trust, and look to Jesus who is your defense and your protection. Jesus moved through it all and so will you by God's grace.
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Love
?But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.?Have you ever been the undeserved target of someone with pent up anger and bitterness against you. Where did Saul get the idea David was against him? Was it something David did, or rather something Saul perceived? Was Saul jealous of David? Was a prideful envy squelching a once loving relationship?
We live in a fallen world where we are surrounded by injustices of all kinds and we can selfishly justify our actions. It is always a challenge when we build close relationships with others; people can neither love us enough nor fill our needs. Life is give and take, and Jesus taught us to surrender to love and to be merciful and kind to those who despitefully use us. When wronged we might say ?I don?t deserve being treated this way,? but Jesus didn?t deserve to die on a cross either. We must constantly surrender our soulish needs for the sake of love.
A kind old man took care of his sickly wife for over sixty-five years; in their life together they had endured many difficult circumstances, including the loss of their teenage son. In their old age, neither the difficulties nor the hardships seemed to be important. In the old man?s confused world, it was her loving arms caressing him that he remembered; it was her love that bought sweet comfort silencing his anxieties. It was the language of love that communicated into the dementia when words no longer could. Love is the most powerful force on the planet and can break every barrier.
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Learn from Trials
Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.We all have gone through trials and testing and many have come through even adversity. It was hard but you did come through. People are not born into a blessed state; they are born sinners with hearts and minds against God and His righteousness.
Those whom God is able to mold, will be those God will continue to grow and stretch. When we were young children, we all fell down many times before we walked and as children made many mistakes. We all went through hardships, disappointments, failed attempts which molded us into the person we ultimately have become.
When you fall over and over again, do you get up and try again, have you learned, or do you just stay there? There is preparation we must go through to build character, stamina, patience, and a strong dependence upon God. The word says, ?Train up a child in the way he should go? Training is hard work and stretching is painful.
When I was learning how to walk after my knee replacement surgery, the physical exercises were extremely painful. Day after day I needed to do a little more, work a little harder, bend a little further. Every day my muscles were being stretched and kept active so the muscles would not freeze, leaving me crippled. Each day was a little bit easier, until finally my leg was restored, healed and normal.
Training is hard work but you learned how to walk and talk and have suffered through many trials; being born into the kingdom of God was only the beginning, but becoming a healthy mature child of God takes hard work and endurance. God will finish what He starts, but we must cooperate in the training.
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Thy Kingdom Come
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.? Matthew 6:10 (KJ)"Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.? Proverbs 3: 7-8 (KJ)
?Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.? Romans 12:16 (KJ)
?Thy kingdom come? was spoken out of the mouth of God. The creator Emmanuel, God with us, has spoken, it will happen. His Kingdom come, His will be done in earth as it is in heaven!
So be not wise in your own eyes but fear the Lord and abstain from every worldly way. Just like the navel is the means by which a mother supplies nourishing life to the child within her womb; and just as marrow supplies necessary nourishing moisture to healthy bones; fearing God and abstaining from evil, brings nourishing life to each child of God who lives as God Himself showed us.
When you were a child, you spoke like a child and acted like a child, but when you became an adult, you put away childish things. When you were lost in your sin, deceived and blinded by this world, you sounded like the world and operated in worldly ways; but when you were saved, did you put away your worldly garment?
You are connected to God by a lifeline that supplies your every need. God?s kingdom culture provides protection and provision and you have actually been set apart for Kingdom purposes. Are you being used as a vehicle for His will to be effectively achieved? It is time to just say ?no? to the world; so mind not the high and lofted things but humble yourselves and deny that old man and allow God?s grace to facilitate every day of your life. Let His creative words, His amazing love, His great grace, His incredible mercy, His flawless wisdom, and His human humility flow through you, advancing His kingdom day-by-day and moment-by-moment.
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It Is Well
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 (New Living Translation)
?When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well.? It is well, with my soul. No matter what my lot, God alone has taught me to say, it is well with my soul. A Soul still hurts and tears still come, "but Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: if Jordan above me shall roll, no pang shall be mine, for in death as in life Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. But, Lord, ?tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, the sky, not the grave, is our goal, Oh trump of the angel, oh voice of the Lord, blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul." Words by Horatio G. Spafford 1873.
Begin, continue, and end every work, purpose, and plan with God. Keep your mind fixed upon Him and He will make your path straight. Self-sufficiency and self-confidence have been the ruin of mankind ever since the fall. Man's sin has been to live independently and without God in this world. Fully acknowledge God in every aspect of your life.
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Which Reality
Dearly Beloved, ? live in harmony with one another; love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord...? 1 Peter 3: 8-9, 12-15
When no one else sees, God sees. I remember when I was a child; I would hide under my covers, thinking no one could see me. Childish thoughts are innocent, but when we move from childhood into adulthood, innocent misunderstandings need to fade in light of the truth. The Lords see all things and is against all those who do evil so,?Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?? The Lord is your rampart and your shield; He is the lifter of your head and the guard around you. His rod and staff will comfort you; He goes before you and follows you all the days of your life. What good thing will He withhold from those He loves??
Good things in God?s eyes are different from good things in the world?s eyes. Everything you see was originally created good, but when sin distorted the elements of creation, humanistic brain washing distorted our minds. Do you see what God sees? Which reality are you looking at; the reality of the Kingdom of God, or the reality of this world? God is interested in your character; he is honing a bride for His son. Are life's difficulties increasing your spiritual strength and faith? Are you traveling on the road less traveled? Are we making tough decisions and resisting compromise with worldly ways? Is loving others the foremost thrust in your life? Is the world from under the blanket the world you perceive?
Be prepared to answer everyone who asks to give the reason for the hope you have.
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Who is Jesus
I received this in a email. It is worth readingWho is Jesus? _HE IS JESUS _WHO IS HE? _IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE. __
IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT THE NORMAL CONCEPTION; __IN PHYSICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN; __
IN ECONOMICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN WITH TWO FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD; __IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS, __
IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END; __
IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE
CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE; __
IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM; __SO, WHO IS HE? _HE IS JESUS! __JOIN ME AND LET'S CELEBRATE HIM; HE IS WORTHY. __
THE EYES BEHOLDING THIS MESSAGE SHALL NOT BEHOLD EVIL, THE HAND THAT WILL SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY SHALL NOT LABOR IN VAIN, AND THE MOUTH SAYING AMEN TO THIS PRAYER SHALL SMILE FOREVER. _
REMAIN IN GOD AND SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS. _AMEN __
IN GOD I'VE FOUND EVERYTHING! __
The Greatest Man in History _
Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. _
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. _
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. _
He had no army, yet kings feared Him. _
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. _
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. _
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. _
I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us! _
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Balance
?The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.? Proverbs 11:1-3Do you know how hard it would be to walk down a flight of stairs if you had lost your equilibrium? Life, as we know it, depends on balance and when these balances are disturbed noticeable consequences result. There are balances in nature, balances in eating, balances in nutrition, pressure balances, balance in walking, balance sheets, and balance in relationships. God first created man for himself, then He created a partner, then added children and then outreach. When God?s order is sustained restful balance will be maintain.
God never tugs and never gives you more than you can bear. His yolk is easy and His burden is light. He gently leads but Satan on the other hand, tugs hard and adds and adds and adds until there no longer is time to sit at the feet of Jesus, no longer time to spend with your spouse, no longer time to love on your kids; and we find ourselves falling down the stairs because life extremes have thrown our equilibrium off kilter. If we only ate carrots, we would turn orange. Well, if you are turning orange, stop eating so many carrots. All extremes are harmful and will disturb stability.
So how, as believers, do we keep and maintain equilibrium? Look to Jesus who humbly served, gently guiding and teaching those He loved. He neither hurried through anything nor had a thousand things on His plate, but He maintained peace as He trusted in His Father. God sees everything you are experiencing. Are you trusting Him to answers your questions, are you praying for His solutions to your needs, are you maintaining His peace in your daily life?
God?s word is true and trustworthy. Life is fragile and equilibrium can be lost if not careful. He has said He would care for you and supply every need. He has a plan for your life. Let God give you the accurate weights; they will always sustain balance.
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In Faith
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God? John 1:12_ NIVThe existence of something is reality and whether one knows of it or believes in it does not change fact. The cell is the smallest living thing and humans are composed of roughly 10 trillion cells divided into about 200 different types. Our muscles are made of muscle cells, our livers of liver cells, and there are even very specialized types of cells that make the enamel for our teeth or the clear lenses in our eyes. Long before you and I were aware of cells, they existed. I don?t know much about them and certainly can?t fathom the complexities of how they work, but whether I understand or not, believe it or not, accept it or not, they exist.
The same is true about heaven and hell. Heaven and hell are real places and just because someone doesn?t believe they exist, doesn?t negate the reality of their existence. The word heaven is mentioned 606 times in the NIV Bible, and hell or hades is mention 54 times in the KJ Bible. Jesus spoke of hell more then heaven.
A few years ago I read the book ?90 Minutes in Heaven.? The author was in a serious car accident and actually was pronounced legally dead, and for 90 minutes he was absent from this world but fully alive in heaven. His description of who and what he saw are truly amazing. My mother?s nurse, who previously had worked on the oncology floor of the hospital, had many experiences with dying patients. I asked her if there was any truth to the stories I had heard about people seeing angels etc. moments before death. She said, ?Oh yes, some would see family members or children they had lost in the room while others vividly saw angels.? They could see things she couldn?t.
Two real places Heaven and Hell. Heaven, a place where God will dwell with His created beings forever, a beautiful place, free from bondage, disease, pain and evil of all kinds, where love and goodness abound and life will be as originally designed.
Hell, was never meant for human beings but was a place designed for Satan and the fallen angels to receive their eternally punished. It is a place of torment, anguish, horror and regret, where the fires and thirst cannot be quenched.
God wills that none shall perish but all have eternal life; we all must choose either to be with our creator or separated from Him. Why would anyone choose not to accept this free gift of salvation? Why wouldn?t anyone accept purity over evil; love over hate, life over punishment, joy over grief and pain? Neither do I have all the understandings nor do I have all the answers to the mysteries of God, but I can and have accepted them in faith. Jesus offers heaven to each of us; it is His gift to you. Have you received it?
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Back on Track
And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD. For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Jeremiah 6:12-18 (KJV)We have all fallen short of the glory of God and all like sheep have gone astray. No matter if others say, ?that?s all right,? sin is sin no matter if one believe it or not. In this passage God?s people aren?t ashamed of their behavior and don?t know how to blush. What they are watching and doing doesn?t embarrass them anymore because they had grown tolerant of evil. No matter what the world thinks, there is a Holy God who says, ?There is a right road, walk on it.?
The flesh wants to do what the flesh wants to do, and the mind, most of the time, is in full agreement with the flesh. The Spirit of God says, ?No, stop, it?s wrong,? but the still small voice is being ignored. God has sent Godly leaders who proclaim truth; are we listening, are we turning off our TV or switching the channel? There are spiritual shepherds, as we have recently learned, who are preaching out of their woundedness rather than adhering to the Word of God.
In verse 16, God says, we are to stand by the way and see and ask for the ancient paths. We are not to go on, we are to go back. Go back to the ancient paths; go back to the Word of God. Remember when Isaac, in Genesis 26, was looking for water for his flocks; he went back and reopened the wells his father had dug. There he found fresh water for his sheep.
In a day when so much error is coming at us, stop, turn back to God?s Word, and listen to His voice. Do not let the flesh dictate what you should or should not do, but trust in God alone, always listening and responding to His still small voice. Relativism has brain washed much of America and put her off course and the only way for her to move forward is by turning back to her roots, once again becoming a nation under God.
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He's My King
This is one of my favorites. Take a minute to listen, but ponder Christ all day.http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/114/thats-my-king/
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Perfect Peace
?Open the gates, that the [uncompromisingly] righteous nation which keeps her faith and her troth [with God] may enter in. You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages).? Isaiah 26:2-4 Amplified BibleThen He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ?Peace, be still!? And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them,?Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?? Mark 4:39-40 (NKJV)
Perfect peace sustains a restful assurance even through the most difficult of storms? Peace from God comes when the heart and mind trusts Him completely. The natural heart and mind is fickle and jumps from one thing to the next constantly leaning on human understanding and human resources; but a heart and mind stayed upon Christ, securely rests in God everlasting strength, in His faithfulness and in His resources. Fear, anxiety, doubt, and lack cannot subsist in an environment of peace.
The disciples, some fishermen, were all too familiar with violent storms and instinctively responding out of their limited understanding, woke Jesus. Jesus arose and calmed the storm and turned to them and said, ?Where is your faith.? What a radical statement this must have been to the disciple. May I suggest that Jesus did not want them to quiet the natural external storm, but He did want them to quiet their internal storm of fear. Neither Jesus nor His disciples could have gone down with the ship; it was an absolute impossibility - how could a storm kill God. What is wind and rain, personal lack or life?s difficulties compared to God?
So trust in the Lord and hope confidently in Him forever. Those around you may be blind to God?s grace, but they will see God as you live in peace during the trials and difficulties in your life. If storms are unable to drown you and joy sustains you and Christ centeredness strengthens you, then who or what can destroy you? If you possess peace, you can quiet any storm.
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Two Men
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.? Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke23:39-43 (NIV)Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:9-11 (New International Version)
Two men, hanging beside Jesus both guilty and condemned to die; one was saved and the other wasn?t. The one looked hopefully upon Christ and asked to be remembered while the other mocked Him. Why do some yield and others don?t; are some more apt to submit than others?
Scripture says Jesus died for all mankind and has reconciled the whole world to the Father, and that we were predestined to be adopted by Jesus to himself. These verses clearly state God has reconciled and predestined mankind to Himself. God has opened the door and allowed access to those who believe, but to believe and become a child of God is still left up to each individual.
I believe the one thief gives us a clue why some yield and others don?t. Speaking to the other thief he said, ?Don?t you fear God?? Scripture says the beginning of wisdom is to fear God. I would imagine this man grew up in a Jewish home listening to all the teaching about Almighty God. Because Jews were awaiting their Messiah, he would have been familiar with the characteristic attached to the coming Savior. Could it be that the fear of God comes when one ponders God, and compares their own inabilities, inadequacies, and failures with God?s all sufficient holiness? When goodness is looking at us, we see our own lack. Could it be that this thief looked upon Jesus hanging next to him and received, perhaps for the first time, understanding that salvation was bigger than earthly battles with earthly foes? This Jesus hadn?t been in prison with the other criminals, there were no angry, hateful, vindictive words spewing from His mouth, and everything that was good seemed to be embodied in this man. Could he have for the first time understood he was gazing into the eyes of God.
The other thief appeared to be thinking only about himself and His anger spewed harsh and bitter words. At the cross that day, both men were reconciled to God but the one neither relinquished his bitterness nor humble himself; but the other understood he deserved death and asked to be remembered. Two men, one thief saw himself, the other thief saw God.
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Attitude of the Heart
Then David said to Nathan,"I have sinned against the LORD." 2 Sam 12:13 (NIV)Saul replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God." 1 Sam 15:30
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:33-37
Broken people typically do not concern themselves with appearances but rather demonstrate true remorse. Grief over their sin weighs so heavily upon them; their freedom can only come when forgiveness and reconciliation are granted. The heart reveals the essence of a person and out from that heart, flow words. If King Saul?s heart had been pure, his actions and statements would have indicated it; he was playing games with God, as if God wouldn?t care and would overlook it, but rebellion is rebellion and Saul?s heart was clear by word and deed.
King David and King Saul were two men with two entirely different hearts. One king grieved over his sin while the other king wanted to save face. King David cared about what God thought, while King Saul cared about what people thought; one was looking up, while the other was looking inward; one was focused on the Lord while the other was focused on himself. Fear of God vs. fear of man.
My sons made many mistakes growing up, and when I?d find out, their sincere tears, sad expressions and confessions spoke volumes to me. When they were rebellious, that too was very obvious; with little remorse, they would hide their guilt. Believers know the difference between right and wrong, and the natural tendency is to hide sin, masking the truth. If a mask is worn long enough the individual becomes lost to the pretense of the mask. God see beneath the mask, right into the heart; He alone has the power to strip away all pretence, flesh and bone and see truth. When we stand before God, He will look at our heart.
We all have been shocked when the evening news removes a mask of a highly regarded public leader. Their actions reveal the true state of their heart. There are heart issues in each of us as well; God knows we all will fall short of His glory so He provides forgiveness through the precious blood of His son, to all those who confess their sin. Real lovers of God are not masked. Their surrendered lives are beautiful in His sight.
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Can You Imagine
The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "YES, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matt 26:63-64 NIVCan you imagine if God separated Himself from you; if He removed His hand and let you have all the punishment for every error, mistake, sin, idol word, lie, manipulation, omission or thought you justifiably deserved? Can you imagine the lists upon lists of charges against you?
On the night before Christ?s death, he prayed sweating drops like blood. It was not because He knew He would be beaten, mocked, or spit upon; it was not because He knew the flogging would rip open a great portion of his flesh; it was not because He knew men would actually pull the beard out of His face and strip Him naked; it was not because he feared the sharp crown of thorns that would pierce His head, and it was not because He knew soon His hands and feet would be nailed to a cross and the excruciating weight of sin placed upon Him would be crucified.
Jesus had never been separated from His Father, ever. The moment was before Him when His pure heart would be infused with every evil from the beginning to the end of time and His Father?s face would turn from Him and looked away. How could He bare that? The anguish of separation was almost too difficult for Him, so He prayed, ?Take this cup from me.?
?Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" Matt 26-53-54
This was His destiny; His moment in time and He had the free will to choose His need or the Father?s plan. He could have asked His Father for help and help would have gladly come, but that would have been the end for us. There was no other Savior waiting in the heavenlies, there was not another redemptive plan, there was not another son; there was only one Savior, one plan and one son. That night He knew the weight was upon His shoulders and said yes to God and became our sin, separating Himself from His Father, for you. His love for you stretches beyond measure; He took all your errors, mistakes, sins, idol words, lies, manipulations, omissions and thoughts with Him into death and buried them once and for all.
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Not My Will
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. Isaiah 50:4-5 KJV (Prophetic word about Messiah)?O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps 118-97-105 KJV- (Prophetic psalm about Messiah)
Jesus loved God?s law and meditated upon it all day every day; God?s wisdom was far beyond that of His earthly teachers. Jesus knew more than all those who came before Him yet He still humbly served God, never departing from His Father?s instruction. The words of God were sweet to Him and their instruction gave Him understanding. God?s voice was the lamp that lit His path.
My father used to say, ?If you can benefit from my mistakes, why wouldn?t you take my advice and spare yourself?? Heeding advice from those far wiser then we is prudent. Taking advice means submission; not deciding for yourself what is best, but obeying another. My father had lived longer and had experienced much more than I, so to not take his advice was foolishness. What father, if his son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake? It was only logical to me to take the advice of my father who only wanted to spare me from pain and hardship and bless me with positive results and success.
Jesus didn?t need to learn, He was already wiser than any of his teachers, but because He was flesh and blood, He continually surrendered His fleshly desires to do His Father?s will. He could have exercised His free will and allowed His soul and flesh to have their way, but then he would have fallen into the same trap as Adam. He instead released every word, thought, need, and desire of His soul and flesh saying, ?Not my will, but your will be done.?
Morning by morning Jesus arose to spend time with His father; always inclining His ears to hear what the Father was saying. The perfect will of the Father could flow through Jesus to touch the world He loved. Christ received the words that brought hope to the weary; we too can be used by God. Take the Father?s advice and let His perfect will flow through you; receive the words that will bring hope to the weary.
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Peace
?Jesus wept.? John 11:35 (NIV)How can anyone cope with the loss of a child? Mrs. Lydia Bixby in 1864 received a letter from Abraham Lincoln expressing his sadness over the loss of her FIVE sons. Lincoln wrote, ?I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom." Wonderful words of compassion truly express Lincoln?s heart felt sadness, but yet only wonderful words.
Horatio Spafford, author of the great hymn ?It Is Well With My Soul,? and Mrs. Spafford lost their FOUR daughters in a tragic sea accident. The words of this father/songwriter testify of something that defies human understanding, called peace. This world can only offer beautiful words that bring little solace to hurting hearts; but for those who trust in the Lord, God?s protective peace supernaturally covers and gives inner strength to the suffering. God tenderly holds the hurting next to His heart; it is in this secret place, next to His heart, where peace is found.
When my brother died at the tender age of 16, I experienced and witnessed grief for the first time in my young life. The loss of my brother was absolutely horrible enough, but to imagine death multiplied by four or five, can only be described as unbearable anguish. A physical death of a loved one is hard but is not the only loss that ravages. The death of a marriage, business, personal hopes and dreams, close relationships, etc. implode lives as well. Know that PEACE is still there. Jesus comes close to the broken-hearted and tenderly held them; weeping with them.
The songwriter says that peace is like a river. When tragedy interrupts lives and grief hits, everything seems dark and depressed. Only God has the power to deliver someone out of this pit. A river of peace floods the banks of grief and despair and pushes through the rapids meant to destroy its victims, finally bringing them to the still waters where souls are restored and God?s goodness and mercies are plentiful. Peace is indefinable and unexplainable and only God provides it.
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Bartimaeus
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!? Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see. "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.Mark 10:46-52 NIV
? And the LORD said, ?My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh;? Genesis 6:3 (NKJV)
I was preparing to be a councilor for a Billy Graham crusade, when my son Joseph? asked me what I was doing. I explained to him why people needed to ask Jesus into their lives and asked him if he had ever done that. He said no, but someday he would. I said, ?what if you were walking home from school and the driver of a truck lost control, right as you were crossing the street. He said, ?I would quickly ask Jesus to be my savior before he hit me,? my response was, ?What if you didn?t have time.?
Desperate needy people do desperate things, and in the case of Bartimaeus, he was making a scene; He didn?t know if Jesus would ever pass his way again and didn?t want his only chance, to walk by him. He knew he was blind and somehow Jesus might possible bring him sight. What if he had said, ?oh, He?s busy"," I'm not worthy", "I don?t want to bother Him" or "maybe next time.?
?The Matrix? is a story about people who are virtually programmed and spiritually blind. They think they are living life, but in fact, are not. Going through their lives, they try to fix their own problems, solve their own dilemmas and live their own dreams, totally unaware of their robotical condition. Bartimaeus knew he was blind there was illusion.
The Word says that God?s Spirit will not always strive with man that we are to seek Him while He can found. We all have family and friends who are numb and desperately yelling in the matrix of their lives. The Jesus in you walks by them; are they reaching out? Are you leading them to the one who gives sight to the blind?
My sweet son Joseph went up to his bedroom; he came downstairs about 30 minutes later and told me what he had done. Jesus walked by and stopped at Joseph?s bedroom that day and as my little boy there kneeling by his bed spoke to God, God came into his room and into his heart and opened his eyes.
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Immeasurably More
?Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us? Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)Can an acorn tell you what it is like to be an oak tree, or can a child plunking away at a piano tell you what it is like to play Carnegie Hall? Imagination can take you only so far, but you do not know what you do not know. As we age, we continue to learn more about the things we didn?t know existed. I once used a typewriter, paper, eraser, envelope and stamp to send a message, now I used a wireless lap top computer with a 10.5 operating system, instant data correction spell check and email that instantly transfers messages to multiple receivers.
Continually humans are upgraded with new information; we are constantly learning. The Kingdom of God operates in the same manner. We see a need, we ask, the Spirit answers, we follow and God?s will is done. God continually gives us His solutions that far surpass our wildest imaginations and far exceeds our natural thinking. The more we see God responding, the more we desire to submit to His ways.It is the process of learning; God is teaching us.
Giving produces giving, the more you freely give, the more God freely gives back to you. In fact, he is the one who nudges you in the first place and when you are obedient , He is delighted to bless you abundantly. The same is true with righteousness. The more we bow, submitting to God?s requirements, the more righteous we become. I am not saying anyone is to be foolish, Heaven forbid, but we are to follow what the word of God tells us to do
Just as a walnut tree produces walnuts, we will only bare that which is in us. Luke 6 says righteousness is a matter of the heart. If the motive behind the action is wrong, then check your heart, but if the motive comes from a heart of loving obedience then the blessings will flow immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine.
The enemy would like to make us believe that if we give, we will not have enough, or if we submit to God?s ways, we will be not standing up for ourselves; but I say, God has a bigger plan for you; something more than you know. The acorn can become a majestic oak tree, and a child playing chopsticks, can perform at Carnegie Hall. It takes good soil and lots of practice.
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The Heavens
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities?his eternal power and divine nature?have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (New International Version)The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech and night-to-night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world In them He has placed a tent for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, and its circuit to the other end of them; and there is nothing hidden from its heat. Ps 19:1-6
As a small child I would lie on my parent?s veranda and count stars. My sister and I would find lots of animal and objects in the sky, but would fall asleep long before we had counted all the stars. I imagine David, while out nights in the fields, was a stargazer. Night after night he would tend his sheep and watch the stars. No telling how the heaven's beauty and majesty stirred questions in his young mind.
My dad was a builder so I grew up loving to watch things being made. For me, gazing into the nighttime sky brings me back to my childhood, when I wondered how all this was made. Questions like why are there stars, why are there planets, how is it they are all round, why are they spinning, what combinations of gases were used to make them shine billion of miles away and how big is space? Some have the idea everything we see today was created out of an enormous explosion, but my question is, where did all the matter come from for them to explode? The heavens present all sorts of questions and the only explanation I concluded is, there must be a creator. Then another question arises, if there is a creator then why did He create and for what purpose?
The scriptures say it was because God was showing His eternal power and divine nature. Without a doubt the one who set it all up has enormous strength, power and wisdom, not limited in any way, and absolutely couldn?t be human; he would be bigger than anything we know and not constrained by form. Who is He and where did He come from and could I possible approach such a being? Why would He create you and me and all the heavens if He didn?t want to show Himself and communicate with us in some way?
No matter what language is spoken, the heavens all speak the same language. People around the planet have similar questions; what are they concluding and are they looking for answers? If humans stop and ponder the heavens, the Holy Spirit will speak truth. God wants His creation to seek Him; He created the heavens so they would.
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Eagles
?Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions.? Deuteronomy 32:11 (New International Version)One of the most picturesque examples of God?s wonderful mentoring is found in Deut. 32:11. When the baby eaglets are ready, the mother eagle actually pushes her little ones, one by one, out of her nest. As the eaglet plummets from the cliff above toward the rocks below, the mother swoops beneath her little one catching it on her large majestic wings. The process continues until at last the eaglet begins to flap its wings catching an air current lifting it in flight. It learns by flapping its wings, it will stay suspended in air and once the baby has experience this, it will no longer need to be pushed out; he will, on his own, spread those grand wings and soar.
We can listen to the best instructors and learn the complexities of any given subject, but until we experience it, we cannot come close to real understanding. Experience is the best teacher. If the mother never pushed her young out of their towering nest high above earth, the baby would never learn how to fly. He could watch flying till he was blue but until he experience flight, he would not understand how being pushed out of the nest could possible lead to his good. It takes falling helpless, moving the wings he was given that finally produces flight. Basic instinct kicks in only after he is pushed out.
Leaders need not to smother their spiritual young and keep them in their nest, but are to release them to be everything God has intended for them. Those who are ready will catch the wind and soar. Resist the temptation to stay well fed in that comfortable warm nest. When the time is right, your spiritual guardian will push you out so you can soar on wings like eagles. God intended you to fly.
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March 6
?Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed?not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence?continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling?, Philippians 2:12When you look at Jesus you might observe that nothing ?normal,? by this world?s standards, fit the description of a king. He was born of a virgin, raised by a lowly couple in an impoverished little town and had a questionable origin. Mary and Joseph still had to pay taxes and they still had to live with the scorn from neighbors. Jesus worked, did nor wear a crown of gold and died a cruel death. It is directly opposite from this worlds qualifications of royalty.
Problems did not stop when Jesus came into the world, and life?s challenges did not stop at the cross. We have been brainwashed for a great portion of our lives and have had worldly indoctrination interjected into our minds which absolutely contradicts the principles of the Kingdom. Submission, righteous living and pure motives transform worldly believers into Kingdom dwellers. Problems will continue because we live in a fallen world. The kingdom of this world is corrupt but Jesus overcame by yielding His will for His Father?s will, so too, we must abide in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit?s power to transform us.
I remember mother?s washboard I used as a little girl. Mom had me lathered dad?s shirts with lava soap, scrubbing the collar on that ridged bumpy board, before putting them into the washing machine. It really cleaned those collars!
Well, we have dirt and years of ?stinken thinken? ground into us. Paul says to work out your salvation. He doesn?t say work for your salvation or work on your salvation but work out your salvation, and working out = exercise. Submission is very difficult until it becomes habit; the same is true with living righteously and taking thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.
What is God calling you to work out; a bad habit, a secret craving, a grudge, hard feelings toward a friend, a poverty mindset or a controlling manipulative personality? Jesus had many hurdles to overcome before taking His throne. We don?t often think of Christ as a man, but he had the same issues growing up as many of us have had. He had to constantly exercise yielding to His Father?s will, and not succumb to His own. He had to live with the same human temptations that we face. I wonder if the town folk ever moved past his mysterious birth. The temptation to snub those who looked down on His mom, or harbor resentment or unforgiveness toward them, must have been difficult for Christ the man, however he resisted. He is our role model, Let?s learn from Jesus and continue daily to excercise the will of God on earth as it is in heaven.
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March 5
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3?But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me". John 15: 26
For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 1 John 5:7
Peter begins by praising God; the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. Then in John 15, Jesus speaks of a comforter; three very distinct persons. In 1st John 5:7 the word ?one? means unity; the three are perfectly one in unity while yet three persons, Father Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity, one in number and individuality, One God the Father, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Ghost. ?There is one body and one Spirit?just as you were called to one hope when you were called one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.?(Eph 4:4-6)
Individually each is called God and collectively they are called God. The Father who is the head of Christ; the son who is the redeemer of mankind, and the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from both Father and Son and who will testify of Jesus, reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-8); guide you in all truth ? hearing and speaking (John 16:13); who will abide with you forever (john 14:16); who will teach and help you to remember (John 14:26); and who will show you things to come (John 16:13b).
Too many of us conglomerated the three Godheads into one. To break it down, let?s take a family of three, a dad, a mom, and a son. Let say they are the perfect family in every way and yet each have different qualities. The dad is wise and has the final say, the head of the family; the mom is nurturing and cares for her family, and the son is a great kid who just happens to be your best friend.
Jesus gave us access to the Father, so we can say ?Our Father? and come to him any time with our love, concerns and questions. I remember, as a child, I loved climbing into dad?s lap, having his loving arms hold me. I still love to go and just sit by him. His strength, love and authority give me such a sense of protection and I know his love for me is forever.
Jesus is much like a mom, who tenderly cares for her child, giving him all the necessary life tools, paving the way for her son to talk his father, and because of her great love for him, is constantly interceding for him. She doesn?t dwell on her son?s faults but only on what is good.
The son however is the one who?s your friend. The two of you talk and spend time talking about life and because he such a credible role model, you take his advise. You go to school with him and he stays your closest friend throughout life. If you were to ask him for help, he would help you; if while working on a science project, and you were to ask him to run to the store, he would; if you asked him to teach you how to dribble a basketball, he would; and if you wanted to play basketball, he would play ball with you. As both of you journey through life, accountability, love, strength and friendship only increases making the bond between the two of you even stronger.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three very distinct persons with three very distinct job descriptions yet, one in perfect unity. When you talk to God, which one of the three are you talking to? Which one do you go to with your troubles to get wisdom, which one will nurture and tenderly care for you, and which one will you go through the remainder of your life? Meditate on the three and let the Holy Spirit teach you about the Father, the Son and himself.
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March 4
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. Luke 22: 43-45
Desperate
Life is hard and at times our world seem to be whirling out of control. Each day brings another hurdle. During a particularly hard season in my life, I anguished to what seemed to no avail. If it had not been for the strength of the Holy Spirit, I would not have survived. My personal agony was at time more than I could bear. Second by second I would find myself praying for a little more strength and for my cup to be lifted. Jesus too, asked for His cup to be lifted but yielded to His Father.
When these seasons come, know, you are not alone, God will see you through but only by clinging to Him. Things may get worse before they get better; Jesus had to endure the cross. If you are battling pain, cancer, old age, rebellious kids or any of real life challenges; you are in company with Jesus.
Ps 34:18-19 ?The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them ALL.? The 23rd Psalm promises that even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you should not fear evil, for God is with you. Every one of us will have seasons of great afflictions but God promises He will be with us; you must hold on to that. When a hailstorm is pounding hard outside, as long as you remain inside you will be protected.
The word says lean not on your own understanding, my ways are not your ways. Surrendering and yielding, while in affliction, to God?s authority crucifies our flesh and allows God?s wisdom and purposes to be accomplished. I once heard a pastor say, ?God is not as concerned with our circumstances as He is our character.?
I often think of Jesus hanging on His cross with the sins of the world baring down upon Him, but then my sins are added to His load, making His pain all the more. It makes me cry to think it was because of my sinfulness He was afflicted but then, that same cross brings me encouragement because if He endured, so can I. Yielding to Him is the very least I can do.
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March 3
The Lord?s PrayerJesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:39-42
As He was accustomed, He went to pray perhaps in a familiar place. Do you have a favorite place in which you pray, someplace quiet without interruption away from all the distraction of this world? Someplace where it is just you and God?I believe prayer is our highest privilege and should be our highest priority. Jesus prayed seeking constant instruction in order to completely do His father?s will.
How will we know what to do less we ask; we need to be getting our instructions in the same manner as Jesus? I know a lady who asks God where she needs to go each day, and she simply does what He tells her. Someone will be exactly where He has described, so she approaches her with ease because she has been instructed what to do. This is a huge step that requires setting selective times away from the business of life to spend with God.
Is your life, your marriage, your family, your job grounded in prayer? How do we know the best way to take if we are not asking? The alternative to prayer is setting your own course of action, jumping in and working hard. The Word says if you are in lack, you are to ask; if you need help, you are to ask; if you need understanding, you need to ask; if you want to know what is His perfect will for your day, you need to ask. James says we have not because we ask not.
Jesus is the only one who could stand directly before God. How precious was prayer to Christ, it was like going home, going back into the heavenlies in which He came. Imagine God, who was totally complete, coming to planet earth and living amongst men. Going from Glory to a pit of sin, all because of love. No wonder He constantly was in prayer. He was caught in two worlds, both filled with those He loved. If God prayed so should we.
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March 2
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28 (NASB)
I believe God is sovereign but He is not the orchestrater of disasters. On 9/11, the twin towers in New York came down and thousands of people were hurt and killed. Was this in God?s sovereign plan, could God plan such a horrible disaster to bring us to our knees? That is not the God I know, but how can we explain such an event? When we are struck with real, painful life experiences we ask, "Where is He; I need Him so badly." In Phillip Yancey?s book Disappointment With God, Yancey tells the story of a woman who watched her twenty-year-old daughter die a painful death from cystic fibrosis. Both were believers. She said, ?I will never forget those shrill, piercing primal screams.? Where was God and why didn?t He stop this from happening?
We all have times when we want to run and hide, far away from life?s horrors. John the Baptist in prison sent his disciples to Jesus. Was he alerting Jesus of his imprisonment? Did John hope Jesus would come and rescue him? Jesus had said John was more than a prophet and the greatest man born of woman, so it would have been a natural assumption that Jesus might help him. Why didn?t He help John? God didn?t put John in prison, Herod did. Satan used Herod and Herodias to carry out his evil plan, because he delights in destroying God?s creation.
Heaven is not the enemy; fear, death, pain, sorrow, devastation, disease, divorce, are. This world is a war zone with real battles going on between good and evil. God is all-powerful but He will not force His will upon mankind. He may not force His will but He can and will work for the good of those who love him. He is able to make a horrible thing like cystic fibrosis end, changing mortality into immortality. He compassionately, tenderly carries those who are grieving, providing grace for them to endure. We will never understand the complexities of the battle, but we can trust Him.
He will give us the strength.
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March 1st
1 Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel?s right hand, making accusations against Joshua. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, ?I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.?Joshua?s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the others standing there, ?Take off his filthy clothes.? And turning to Joshua he said, ?See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.?
Then I said, ?They should also place a clean turban on his head.? So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the Lord stood by. Zechariah 3:1-5
The enemy constantly accuses us, we hear his false accusations in our head and too often believe the lies. The Lord said to Satan, ?I have rejected your accusations. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and way too often, when our past is thrown in our face, it induces fear and a twisted truth. A failure may masquerade as an evil when in fact it may be the very means God uses to clearly pinpoint the need for a savior. A savior who will take away the old filthy rags and give you a fine new garment.
For an unbeliever, this is good news, but for those who believe, it is a call to get rid of the old and put on the new. We all, at some point, were hopelessly lost and unable to recognized the depth at which we were deceived. We lived for self-satisfactions and thought ourselves fully capable of controlling our destinies. Too many of us barely escaped and if it had not been for Christ, we would have surely died. Remembering those days is one thing, but lingering in them is another; it is easier to do what you have always done rather then live in the new. The old is familiar and you know the ins and outs, but the new is unknown and requires faith. Everything you have ever done is stored in your mind and it is difficult when the world constantly contradicts your kingdom identity to resist your mind and hold fast to the truth.
I often ponder why Christ saved me? I never want to go back to that old life; the clothes I wore may have been beautiful in my eyes, but in God's eyes were worn, ripped, burned, faded, too small and smelled like mothballs. Why would I ever want to wear them again? I love the new clothes; they are beautiful and clean; no rips, no tears, every part was hand designed and made to fit.
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Febrary 29th
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV)However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
In the Ephesians? passage Paul, twice uses the word Holy. It is the same word but with two very different meanings. Paul uses a husband/wife relationship to make a spiritual comparison. Husbands are to love their wife AS CHRIST LOVES US and gave Himself up for her making her HOLY. The word HOLY refers to an object that is only sanctified when God Himself designates it as belonging to Him.
A man falls head over heals, courts and marries his love. She is the only one He sees? and just as she is the only one for him, he too, is the only one for her and mutual love binds the two in their exclusive relationship.
If a woman is truly loved, there is nothing she will not do for the one she loves, likewise, if a man is truly loved, there is no level of protection and care he will not provide. A godly marriage is a beautiful picture of Christ and His bride. Our husband, Christ, has washed His bride and presented her to himself as a radiant innocent virginal bride, without stain or wrinkle, HOLY and blameless.
This second use of the word Holy means, that which has been brought into relationship with God and designated by Him as having a sacred purpose or special significance to Him.
Your unconditional sacrificial lover has set you apart to be His own. You are His and He is yours. He has washed away your past because of His unfathomable love for you. There is a sacred purpose for your life that He designated you to fulfill.
The level of your love for God is proportional to the understanding of His love for you.
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February 28th
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.? Matthew 24:32-35The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me." Song of Solomon 2:13_
On May 14, 1948, Israel blossomed into a nation. Jesus said that this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. What generation, what things; the generation that understands that like the fig tree, which awakens in the spring from its dormancy into new life, we are to understand that winter is almost over, time is short and new life is coming.
Jesus, in the gospel of John, tells Nicodemus that the working of the Spirit is like the blowing of the wind; and just as our ears hear the wind, our spiritual ears are to hear the voice of the Spirit.
Nightly, the news broadcasts stories of wars and rumors of war, wide spread famines, contagious infectious epidemic diseases, natural disasters and nation against nation. We try not to think about it, trying to justify what is going on but, Jesus says we are to think about and know it is near, right at the door.
Are you ready? Have you loved well and forgiven much; have you spent time getting to know Jesus and trusting in His mercy; have you been a doer of the Word and not a hearer only; have you sincerely loved your spouse, your children, your friends and have you told them you love them? Have you prayed for those around you and spread seeds of life to others?
No one knows the date or hour and we are not to be concerned with the timing, but we are to be concerned about being prepared. We are to know this generation will not pass away until all that He has said, is fulfilled. Let the love of Jesus shine through you to someone while there is yet time, hear what the Spirit is saying and get ready.
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February 27th
The Promise?Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. Luke 6:20-23A (NIV)
It is not how much you know, it is how well you know it. How has Jesus moved into your life and how have you allowed Him transform you from the inside out?
This verse speaks to those who have Christ?s promise of happiness: the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and the hated. These promises are not for those who don?t have money, food or who are sad or friendless, but rather, those who spiritually bankrupted. It is a traumatic time when you first realize that no matter how capable or talented you are, you are utterly helpless and absolutely unable to do anything. You can?t change your circumstances and you can?t change the way someone else responds to you. You are misunderstood and totally unable to go back in time to change a thing and in desperation you cry out for a Savior.
The promise is for those who desperately need help and whose tears pool on the floor as they realize, perhaps for the first time, they?re starving to death and powerless to do anything about it. Nothing satisfies; no wealth, no fame, no success, no food... nothing... and there seems to be no future. They ask the question, ?Is this all there is??
The promise is for those who look in a mirror and see every sin and every failure tearing their hearts apart because they can not undo the past and aren?t able to heal the wounds. Their misery takes them to a cross on a hill where the only one who could possible help them hangs. Broken and beaten, with faces in the dirt, they sob, begging for forgiveness. And the promise is for those who are touched by His sweet hand and are shown His priceless mercy. And, as a small child trying to take his first step and falls, they are mocked and laughed at.
There will always be enmity between the followers of Christ and this world. A beautiful Savior reaches out to His creation with His promise of forgiveness, hope, love, kindness, mercy, grace, restoration, happiness and laughter. ? This promise is for you; embrace it.
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February 26th
The law is not based on faith; Gal. 3:12So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. Galatians 3: 24-25
Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Gal 3:5
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17
Laws, laws and more laws. Like buzzards waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting prey, the scribes and Pharisees watched Jesus that they might find some accusation against Him. Jesus asks the question, ?Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it? Then Jesus looked around? and instructed the man to stretch out his hand. Mark adds that he looked around with anger, being there was no answer, He healed the man.
The scribes and Pharisees had been raised under Jewish law, all 613 of them, a virtual ?to do? list. The Torah was considered the very word of God, and never would it have occurred to any Jewish person to disobey any portion of it. They had become robotical in their obedience to the law, so much so that the law itself bound them, leaving them oblivious to the Messiah around them.
If they knew all the prophecies and promises and were looking for the Messiah, then why didn?t they recognize Jesus? Even with Him living amongst them, talking to Him and listening to Him, they would not surrender their stubborn pride to embrace His life giving words. How could they witness miracle after miracle without believing. Their intractable stance was of more value then knowing and believing in their Messiah. They forfeited God?s grace to hold tightly to their law.
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February 25th
? To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word? Ephesians 5:26?And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'? Luke 3:37-39
The word ?new?, when referring to wine, means fresh or young, but
the word ?new? when referring to wineskins means renewal.
A wineskin was made of whole tanned goatskins where the legs and tails had been cut off and sealed. The new wine was poured into the large skin and during the fermentation process, carbon dioxide gas would stretch the skin to its limit. Once the wineskin was used it would loose its ability to stretch again, UNLESS it was soaked in water. Those who could not afford new skins would soak the old in water, regaining their elasticity. The water of the word renews and refreshes.
How do we stay flexible in whatever the Lord might be doing in our lives? Make it a priority to bath yourselves in the Word and digest what the Spirit of God is saying; it will have a renewing effect. The old might taste better and more defined and be more comfortable, but the fully alive fresh Word cannot be contained in old religion. God says ?wash with water through the word? and let the Holy Spirit lead you into faith by grace.
Jesus? radical gospel spoke to the poor, hungry, sorrowful, oppressed, scorned and sick. The gospel is freely given to all who believe. It is about loving your God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself. External man-made rules constraining grace bring burdensome yokes, enslavement and death; Christ?s message brings grace, forgiveness and life.
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February 24th
?Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?? Isaiah 40:13 (NIV)"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand, marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed Him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the right way? Who was it that taught Him knowledge or showed Him the path of understanding?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; he gently leads those that have young.
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
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february 23rd
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it," 1 Corinthians 12:27
How beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful to see believers work together in unity. How beautiful is the man, who flowing in the love of God, reaches out to a police officer guarding a city's park; asking how he could pray for him. The officer being sincerely touched by the kindness of the man receives the prayer. How do you think it affected the officer?
Another believer, taking time to reach out to a school secretary telling her of the group who had prayer walked around the school; the secretary is moved to tears. She never dreamed anyone cared enough to pray for their school.
Believers each taking time and sincerely reaching out to those around them, making a difference for the kingdom of God. How beautiful is the body of Christ who really love their neighbor, and lovingly, with grace filled hands, touch the community with the love of Christ. Share His love and pray with someone today.
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February 22nd
Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." Matthew 9:5-6 (NIV)Today I pray I will rest in the understanding that I belong to the one and only God. He is the all sufficient one, the author and the finisher of my faith, the one who never sleeps nor slumbers, the one who commands His angels concerning me and guards me in all my ways.
He is all holy, the God of all goodness and purity, the one who grants me new mercies every morning. He is the one who loves me beyond all measure and has washed every mistake and every sin away from me; cleansing me white as snow. He is the one who has authority to say, ?you?re healed? and ?your sins are forgiven.?
When I ponder God and eternity, I ask myself, who is like our God? Who demonstrates love like our God? Who has ever extended tender mercies and loving kindnesses like our God?? He is for me so who can separate us? Who would dare stand against my God or try to defeat the great Alpha and Omega. He has and is the final word, He is the creator of everything seen and unseen and He is Almighty God. He is for me so who can stand against me?
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February 21st
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)
?Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.? Phillippians 1:6 (NIV)
What is in a word? Look at the word ?sat?; Jesus sat down at the right hand of God. The priests in the temple never sat down. The temple had the brass altar, the laver, and the table of showbread, the altar of incense, the golden candlestick and the Ark of the Covenant. There were no chairs; a priest?s work was on going, never finished. Year after year they continually offered sacrifice for the sins of the people; their work was never complete. However, Jesus sat down because He completed His work, once and for all, past present future.
So, being confident with what HE began in you, HE WILL CARRY IT TO COMPLETION ?Wow! He is sitting beside the Father not worried, nor fretful, but completely confident that His sacrifice was and is sufficient for you and me; saving forever those who draw near. (Heb 7:25 NASB) The on-going saving work of Christ is ever present. He promises us that He will carry us through. His work is finished.
Rest in His faithfulness,
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February 20th
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.Psalm 23 (NAST)
In such a busy world with phones ringing, emails to be answered, appointments to go to, work needing to be finished, kids, meetings? interruptions hurry hurry hurry ? pause. step back, reflect on the hectic and sometime chaotic life you're living.
The Lord is your shepherd, rest. He makes me lie down in green pastures and gently walks with me beside the still waters, to restore my soul. Withdraw by yourself, away from the hustle and bustle, and just spend time with God; let the stillness of a green pasture gentle bowing in the breeze and the quiet trickle of a brook calm your soul. Allow His gentle hand to comb through your hair as you rest quietly at His feet. No instruction, just His quiet presence, His peace, His protection, His rest.
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February 19th
?Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:17-18 (KJV)The word ?vision? means revelation like one a prophet receives, and the words ?the people perish? do not refer to unsaved people, but means to cast off restraint. The verse is stating that without God?s Word people cast off restraints to indulge the sinful nature. I once heard a speaker on Focus on the Family who told a story of two men. Both men were serious followers of Christ, reading their bibles, studying the Word, praying and holding each other accountable, but one day they posed a question, ?What would happen if they were to stop everything for one week; no prayer, no time in the word, no alone time, no accountability; what would happen?? They both agree to the experiment. After one year, one of the young men was able to get back on track, but his friend never returned. The speaker, the young man who had returned, gave his testimony of how difficult it was to return and lamented the loss of his friend. Each society throughout history has had self -gratification attractively presented. Ultimately it traps people into paganistic living. Without a clear understanding of God?s plan, people, and not just lost people, cast off restraints to indulge the sinful nature, and just like the experiment of the two young men, some never return. The world attractions can deceitfully lure believers away from God. When troubles and life circumstances weigh on the soul, a believer can be tempted to abandon the committed life style and buy the lie. It is only understanding God?s revelation for your life and exercising discipline that will ultimately bring blessing and happiness. Don?t fall heir to the snares of the fowler. It is like a bear trap that will not only cut off your leg, but can kill you. Seek God's vision for your life. God has a vision for His people; those, who are call by His name are to turn from temporal gratification and trust Him for spiritual fulfillment and eternal joy. The revelation is God himself; and it is only He who will bring you eternal peace and happiness. Seek Him while He can be found.
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February 18th
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)Where is that place where freedom abides; the place where darkness is dispelled and God is glorified? How do we get there?
Over the years it has been my observation that freedom or bondage is in the mind. Life?s circumstances can dictate our attitude if we let it, but God has given believers the free will to choose how we will respond to any given circumstance. Before receiving Christ, our eyes were veiled and we were bound to the lies and deception of the devil; but at the moment we believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, we were set free to trust God?s word and act in faith. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ?No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.? Someone once said to me, ?No one can make you sad.? Low self esteem or sadness can only cripple us if we receive it. What you allow into your mind, determines your mind-set, direction and reaction.
In the parable about the seeds, I contend the seed that falls on fertile soil is the person who chooses to let the word of God transforms his or her life. The seed that get snatched away is the person who wants immediate gratification but when the rubber meets the road elects to return to the familiar, their strengths and abilities. The seed that falls on rocks and is scorched is someone who, under severe pressure, chooses to give up.
We are in a spiritual war zone, caught in between heaven and hell and our enemy?s aim is to steal kill and destroy. If his lies can deceive us into thinking any thing other than what God says about us, he has succeeded. I have seen passionate believers retreat when the battle gets too hard. For sure, life will be easier when passion is squelched, but God said in His word to fight the good fight and to keep standing. War is not easy and there will be casualties, but God says, ?do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.? I want to encourage you to adopted the mind of Christ and prevent Satan from steering you off course.
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Day 40, February 9, 08
?And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.?Luke 9: 1-2
?But He gives a greater grace therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Submit therefore to God Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.? James 4:6-8 (NASB)
The bogs of life
This morning we woke up to a clogged drain. Now a clogged drain must be unclogged before things can get back to normal. As I was praying about this clog, God open my mind to the nasty clogs that stop and prevent us from flowing freely.
Clogs prevent spiritual growth. Things like hatred, selfishness, quarreling, anxiety, division, harsh words, hopelessness, manipulation, drunkenness, depression, suicide, addictions, laziness, control, despair, lust and deception clog our system every day. None of these are from God. They exist all around us AND will continue to exist until they are put under the feet of Christ. Although they exist you have been given the authority to cast them out of your life and home in Jesus name, AND the freedom to stop them from operating in you life. The things that come at you are demonic. Christ did not create depression nor any of the others. Wake up church and resist Satan and he MUST FLEE from you. God?s word says it and God does not lie! Take authority over these ugly grotesque things that are blocking freedom from you and your family.
Note in James, submission comes before resisting. Tell yourself, ?I will submit to God?s ways.? Live in submission, humbleness, love, forgiveness, trust, faith, purity; use practical common sense, take time to think about what is happening- physically and spiritually, be balanced, choose to do what is right, be honest, keeping promises, give and take, be courageous in danger but also in your sufferings and determine to co-labor with Christ.
When you submit by following God?s directives, THEN, God gives the grace to resist the devil. It is hard work but you can do it. Practice submitting to God every day of your life and you will develop great spiritual muscle to resist the devil and his nasty bogs.
Ultimately, one by one these will be held captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus and will be flushed away under His foot; your character will expand through the testings and the light of Jesus will burn more brightly then ever.
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February 8, 2008
?And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God? 2 Cor 4: 3-4 (NIV)?Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don?t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don?t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.? 2 Cor 4: 3-4 (NLT)
The word is very clear, people who have not received the grace of God, have minds that are veiled. We often shake our heads with unbelief with how the world around us lives; however they are living the only way they know how. They live in the darkness of Satan?s deception, veiled from the truth of the gospel.
A veil according to Webster is a concealing curtain or cover of cloth, something that hides or obscures. You cannot see what you cannot see, and you do not know what you do not know!
I am a designer by trade and often specify a hard wood floor for dining rooms. After the hard wood floor is installed and clean, a rug goes down which covers the new floor, followed by the furniture. The floor beneath that rug is concealed, veiled. That floor is never going to be seen again unless the dining room table, the chairs, and the rug are removed, in that order. That is exactly how it is with people who are veiled. They are like that beautiful hard wood floor that has been covered first with the rug and then by all the stuff. It is not that they don?t want to see, they cannot see; the veil hides and obscures the truth. Not only do they have a veil covering the truth but they also have all the stuff of life on top of the veil.
We come by and present the truth to them and wonder why they just don?t see what we see. Their eyes are veiled. They are like that beautiful floor that is beneath the rug and the stuff. Not only can they not see what we are talking about, our message does not make sense to them because everything about the gospel is veiled.
If we are effective instruments used by God for His divine purposes, we ought to be building relationships with those still living in darkness. Jesus said, ?But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.? In short Jesus is saying build relationships with the lost, the wounded, those unable to walk on their own, those veiled and you will be blessed.
Have you ever wondered why, so many of us work outside the congregational church? The world is full of people who are lost lame, crippled and blind; the very ones Jesus told us to invite to the banquet. Loving relationships will gradually remove the stuff so God can remove the veil.
Pray God will use you to build a loving relationships and allow you opportunities to bring light into their darkness. Unless the veil is lifted, they will not see the light; unless the rug is removed, that floor is never going to be exposed. Remember that there is something very beautiful under all that stuff, God sees them as who they really are because He created them, but if they remain veiled, they not only are separated from Him but also miss their divine destiny- a double whammy.
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February 7, 2008
?The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,? Psalms 19:1-4 (NIV)?For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse?. Romans 1:20
Is there any part of creation that does not testify of God? What we see and what our senses tell us, we tend to believe. Our mind is not likely to gravitate toward the unseen, so typically our sub-conscious controls how we look at things. Take for instance, winter in South Dakota. Automatically we think cold, burr, and can?t wait till it warms up. However look deeper at winter and don?t focus on the negative but focus on the positive. Let?s look at how God?s invisible attributes are seen in winter.
I love the snow and how it covers all the ugly dormant ground beneath, I love to look at the geese swimming in the open water, I love to snuggle up in front of a warm fireplace, and love wearing beautiful sweaters that keep me warm. Where do I see God in these things, you may ask.
The snow covers the ground reminding me of how the blood of Christ has covered me making me as white as snow; the geese reminds me of the protection of God that is all around me, and when I am in open frigid water His protection is my covering. I see God in the warmth of a fireplace because great grace permits me to sit quietly in restful peace at the feet of Jesus. And finally my warm sweaters remind me of those my mother used to make me. She made me those sweaters to demonstrate her love for me; God loves me and has made all things new because He loves me. His love is never too big or small, it is always just right and it wraps around me and keeps me warm.
Perspective is how you look at things. Let the creation around you proclaim the work of His hands; there are so many clues that Somebody has designed it all, and that Somebody is a God who has chosen to reveal Himself through His creation. It is difficult not to experience God when the sun rises and the colors of morning cut through the night sky, or when you bite into a fresh peach on a warm summer day or hear your son play a piano scherzo by Chopin, or smell chocolate cookies in the oven. God saw what He had created and it was good. Look for God today; His evidences are all around you.
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February 6, 2008
Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ?Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.? But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, ?That?s blasphemy! Does he think he?s God?? Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, ?Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ?Your sins are forgiven,? or ?Stand up and walk?? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.? Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ?Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!? And the man jumped up and went home! Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority. Matthew 9:1-8How much power is there in forgiveness? Certainly more then enough to accomplish everything Christ was sent to earth to do. When Jesus saw the faith of the paralyzed man?s friends, he forgave the man?s sins; the question is,
? Is it easier to say ?Your sins are forgiven,? or ?Stand up and walk??
I can forgive someone of their sin toward me but God is the only one who has the power to erase that sin from ever happening. I, in my flesh, am unable to heal anyone, but God in a single word, is able to miraculously restore perfect physical condition. Eyes see, ears hear, the lame walk, dead men live and the possessed are delivered; it was never a question of faith for Jesus; it was a statement of His authority to forgive.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we too, are used as conduits of God?s power. His power is still touching people, and it is God?s power in us that enables us to forgive. Dr Menninger who started the Menniger Clinic, a psychiatric treatment and research center, once said that 80% of his patients would be fully healed if they would just forgive. Unforgiveness is like pouring battery acid over yourself hoping the other person will suffer. It only hurts you; unforgivenss gnarls its? evil roots into the soul till it takes over. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to forgive those who have injured you and let the nail pierced hands that forgave you bring healing. Forgiveness wasn?t easier for Jesus; it took everything He had to establish it, even His life.
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February 5, 2008
Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.LUKE 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
GOD DID NOT give laws commanding slavery, nor did He advocated oppressing people. It is un-Christ like for anyone to enslave oppress or keep another ignorant, prevent them from exercising their free will or taking away their rights. Jesus came to set the brokenhearted, distressed, troubled, blind and captives free from their enslaved condition. This liberty was to be proclaimed. Today there is little thought of slavery, yet there are people enslaved all around us; some physically, some emotionally, and some spiritually. Christ used the word bruised referring to those who are completely crushed and shattered in life, those oppressed and broken in body and soul, and have no desire to live. This oppression is slavery no matter what you call it and it is wrong.
Jesus came to set people free. You may ask where I see slavery? I see it in a abused wife or child who out of fear can not get away; a teenager who wants to commit suicide; an alcoholic; a drug or gambling addict; a man who cheats on his wife physically or through website pornography; a wife through silence ignoring her husband; or an actual person who is a slave of another for profit. Jesus came to set them free. The freedom Jesus speaks about is still available. Satan works through the mind, and if his message is believed, the enslavement hook is set. You are as bound as you think you are. Invite Christ to open the prison doors of your mind and let Him deliver you, heal you and set you free.
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February 4, 2008
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:1-13
Temptations of Christ in Luke
Jesus, one moment is being baptized and the sky opens and His Father announces, ?This is my beloved son?; the next moment He is lead into the wilderness and tempted for 40 days - a definite mountain valley emotional challenge. Jesus would have naturally been hungry so it is not surprising the devil tempted Him with food, which by the way was the original object of temptation. There are stones of flint and limestone on the mountains of Judea that resemble loaves of bread and Satan temps Jesus with turning the stones into bread. It wouldn?t have been a temptation for Jesus if Jesus were not able to do it but the devil tried to get Him to use His miraculous powers to supply his personal need.
Jesus only saw the needs of others, never His own. When He came to earth He had emptied Himself and did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped but took the form of a bondservant. Jesus? response, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, was exactly what Moses had spoken to the Israelites in the wilderness during their 40 years, Though Jesus was hungry, He knew the source of His life; it was not bread alone.
The second temptation takes place as Satan stands as the pseudo-ruler of the world. The condition was that Jesus bend His knee to the devil. Jesus? response was to quote Deuteronomy 6:13, where Moses is warning the people to resist temptation and worship God alone. Although Jesus would have regained world rulership, had he given into temptation, he would have obtained it by depending on Satan rather than on God. Jesus would not recklessly acquire our salvation through anything short of God?s perfect plan.
The third temptation Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple. This was about 700 feet above the Kedron valley or about half as high as the Empire State Building. Satan wanted God to jump off and command his angels to keep Him from smashing on the rocks below. Jesus could have called legions of angels who instantaneously would have come, but that was not God?s plan. Jesus would not change the timing of God?; He knew he must die on a cross for the sins of the world. Displaying supernatural feats was not the way followers were to believe in or accept Him. He responded with Deuteronomy 6:16, ?Do not tempt the Lord thy God.?
I often wonder how Jesus stayed in control of every thought and of everything that constantly pulled at Him, never loosing his patience, always giving and always perfect. And as I ponder it, I have come to conclude it was for us. He saw His church, His bride the one He loves. He resisted temptation for us so we may live with Him forever. What a amazing Savior we have.
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Fasting
Means to abstain from food that which caused the fall of man.Fasting humbles the soul before God - PS 35:13
Chastens the soul - Ps 69:10
And crucifies the appetites and denies them so as to give the entire time to prayer.
2 Sam 12:16-23, Matthew 4:1-11.
1. It manifests earnestness before God to the exclusion of all else. 1 Cor 7:5
2. Shows obedience
3. Gives the digestive system a rest - Matthew 6:16-18; 9:15;Lk 5:33
4. Demonstrates the mastery of man over appetites;
5. Aids in victory over temptation
6. Helps to attain power over demons;
7. Develops faith
8. Crucifies unbelief
9. Aids in prayer. Matthew 4:1-11; 17:14-21
All believers are supposed to fast, but no regulations or set rules are given as to how long or how often. That is determined by individual desire and needs ? Matthew 9:14-15; 1 Cor 7:5; Acts 13:1-5
Men (mankind) should fast when:
1. Under chastening ? 2 Sam 12:16-23
2. In need. Ezra 8:21
3. Under judgment. 1 Kings 21-27
4. In danger. Esther 4
5. When worried. Dan 6:18
6. In trouble. Acts 27:9, 33
7. In spiritual conflict. Mt 4:1-11
8. And when desperate in prayer. Acts 9
Hunger always leaves after a few days of a fast and returns after a long fast of about 40 days or when all toxic poisons have been expelled from the body. Any normal healthy person can fast this long without any harm. Starvation only begins after hunger returns in such cases. One must use water in long fasts and break the fast gradually.
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February 3, 2008
Psalms 61Oh God save me. The floods around me rise deeper and deeper. I sink in the mire and the waters are all around me, I have wept until I am exhausted, My throat is dry and hoarse, My eyes are swollen with weeping waiting for my God to act. But I keep on praying to you Lord. Pull me out of this mire, don?t let me sink deeper and rescue me from the deep waters I am in.
God you know how stupid I am, You know all my sins. Don?t let me be a stumbling block to those who trust in You; don?t let me cause them to be confused. How they scoff and mock me when I mourn and fast before the Lord
Now answer my prayers and rescue me as you promised. Now is the time you are bending down to hear. I praise God with my singing and my thanks will be His praise; for God hears the cries of His needy ones and He is ready with a plentiful supply of love and kindness.
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February 2, 2008
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable?if anything is excellent or praiseworthy?think about such things. Philippians 4:8 (NIV)There are two roads before us; one road is filled with all sorts of unpleasantries and challenges where the weight of life is burdensome. Problem after problem come to tear apart your confidence leaving only stress and worry. It is so easy for us to function as we have been conditioned by the world.
The other road is also difficult but in a different way. The road of faith is very challenging as well but without the falling back on human resource or the yielding to unbelief. It?s most difficult to live a life of faith trusting in an invisible God who has promised to provide and care for us. Humans, by nature, are used to solving their own problems and it almost seems wrong to not try.
Day by day and sometimes moment-by-moment worldly influences invading thoughts need to be surrendered, but if biblical principles are being followed and if we yield to God?s sovereign hand, then God obligates Himself to keep His promises. God is faithful and will do what He has said He would do.
What you fill your mind with is essential as you travel the road of faith. Are you looking at how big your problems are or seeing how big your God is. If you fill your mind with what is true, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy you will rise above circumstances into a place of rest, faith and trust.
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February 1, 2008
"By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." Heb 11:3 (NAS)"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." Deut 29:29 (NIV)
In the design process, a designer visualizes a design with its colors and textures long before anything is purchased or put into place; in fact, new creative ideas are conceived and born daily. Hebrews 11:3 says that God created everything there is out of nothing. There weren?t pieces of animal, mineral, and vegetable lying around to put together; creation was birthed out of a complete void.
As God?s conduits on earth, we are used in this same creation process. Have you ever seen your backyard garden before it was planted, a passion of yours come to pass or a living room filled and in your favorite colors? You saw it, and then you created it.
He sees then He speaks, and He speaks and reveals things to you. He has already seen it and has spoken it; His words will not come back void. The creative process has already begun. We are people of faith - seeing what we hope for; activate your faith and watch the spoken Word that has been revealed to you become reality.
Last week it snowed and as I was waiting at a stop sign, a snowflake fell on my windshield. It was a tiny elaborately detailed star, then another one fell; it was equally as small yet with a different shape. Each one was beautiful and uniquely made. It delighted me to see the beauty of His creation, and if it brought joy to me, I know it brought Him joy that I noticed. If He delights in making a snow flake that is here one moment and gone the next, then how much more does He delight in creating lasting things for those He loves? There is so much He want to give you. Listen and believe, ask and it will be given.
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Day 31
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."Philippians 4:6
God is true to His word. If He said it, He will do it. It has been my observance over the years that people don?t approach prayer confidently because of fear. How do we know the will of God and how do we know if God will answer? Why would God want us to pray if He didn?t intend to answer? God cannot be manipulated; He is the one who responds out of His love nature, achieving His best plan.
If we are honest with ourselves, we all want answers that achieve earthly ease and earthly ease is not what God desires. He is not as interested in our circumstances as He is in our ultimate end. The Israelites had to be in Egyptian bondage to become a nation. Think about it, when life is great, we aren?t desperately in need of God. It is only in our weakness that we cry out; so does that mean God sends prevailing trials? No, God is good all the time and cannot send evil to force us to respond to Him.
Unbelief is the problem. It is easy to believe in what we see, but extremely difficult to believe in what we cannot, especially when God may or may not do what we ask. It is not up to us to know how a prayer is answered, it is up to us to pray and it is God?s job to release answers. Submission and obedience are key; obediently we ask, trusting God to respond according to His master plan.
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Day 30
"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16I have a wonderful God whose name is LOVE. His name is wonderful, His name is protector, His name is provider, He is Almighty, and His name is Peace, Mercy and Grace. He is amazing!
His love defines me, His Spirit beckons me, His protection guards me, His provision secures me, His almighty presence surrounds me, His peace comforts me, His mercy rescues me, and His grace cleanses me. He is amazing! His name is love, He is the lover of my heart, the lover of my soul, the lover that calls me to be His own. His love lasts forever; a lover that knows and sees my potential. He is the lover who calls me his bride and draws me near. The unfathomable lover of all time loves me.
Love is His name.
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Day 29
Matthew 14:17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.If we were to give what you have, you may find God increasing your offering beyond your wildest expectation.
What could you do with a $5.00 iron bar?
A $5 iron bar can be pounded into a couple of $10 horseshoes. Or, that same iron bar can be pounded further into $350 worth of needles. Or, that same iron bar can be pounded even further to produce $250,000 worth of fine watch springs. It all depends on how much pounding is done.
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Day 28
"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance." Romans 5:3 (NIV)Trials are circumstances you have no control over, and everyone has them throughout their lifetime. Actually trials have come so your faith may be proved genuine. (1Peter1: 7) They are circumstances that happen which affect you and those around you either for good or bad; I have come to the conclusion that we move from one character building trial to the next.
As hard as it is, we must stand and resist attacks that are attempting to break us down and steal our joy. Will you give the enemy ground by believing his lies, will you let self-pity take over, or will you believe the Word? Be doers of the Word not hearers only. Stand in faith and do not be overcome with doubt and fear.
When arrows are flying from every direction around you, it is very difficult and humanly impossible to stand. Fear, sadness, despair, hopelessness, pain, grief, and a host of other evil spirits will try to destroy you. At times I would cry out to God saying, "Where else can I go? Where else Lord?" I swallowed Christ hook line and sinker and there is no one else who can help me. "If you Lord are not on my side, than who? I must hold on, I must hold on, help me Lord to hold on." In my anguish Christ's words connected with my soul, "My God my God, why have your forsaken me?" Jesus can identify with being alone in the hour of His greatest travail. Our cross will never be as heavy. You can endure God is faithful.
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Day 27
"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all." Luke 17:26-27"For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
In the days of Noah, wickedness was great and there were all kinds of sin in all places. The people corrupted God's worship and filled the earth with violence. They were self indulgent and filled with every form of wickedness.
Any one could see the wickedness of man was great: but God saw that every imagination, or purpose, of man's heart, was only evil. The heart was deceitful and desperately wicked, and there was no good among them. Their hearts were deceived and calloused; it was a heart condition. God does not see as we see, Humans look upon the flesh and are easily deceived, but God goes much deeper and sees the real truth as He looks into our hearts.
Are we living in a similar society, as in the days of Noah? Is our world with all its' glitz and glamour, filled with wickedness, violence and evil? Let us not be caught ignoring the warnings; guard your hearts from the marketing tools of this world; those tantalizing snares of the fowler that only bring destruction, and let the peace of God which passeth all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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Day 26
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!""Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10: 38-42
In a Martha world, busyness obligation and over commitment overwhelms us and leave little time to rest. If we truthfully examine our lives, we would find that commitments and responsibilities demand most of our time; it is as if our freedom has been lost.
Most people have several full time jobs including; occupation, spouse, children, parents, church work, ministry commitments, social obligations and personal physical care. There are only so many hours in a day so is there any wonder why stress related illnesses like heart disease, anxiety, depression, arthritis, alcoholism, high blood pressure and panic attacks are on the rise? Our busy schedules are hurting us and the stress is causing us to miss precious time with Jesus. Our jobs, family, and ministry are to be blessings not curses.
Jesus came to Mary and Martha's home and Martha missed it because she was busy with so many things. Mary on the other hand rejected the traditional responsibilities expected of her and joined the men on the floor at the feet of Jesus. She said no, by her actions, to the demands expected and refused to miss her time with Him. Jesus said, "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." I hope we hear the words to Martha and to us, Examine your life and don't be troubled with many things, only one thing is needed.
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Day 25
"Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." Acts 4:30 (NIV)Miracles, signs and wonders are for those who do not know the Lord. They make a profound explosion to those who need to see His reality.
"The Gallup poll at times in the past has attempted to define evangelicals as those who answer affirmatively to three questions: (1) whether they have been born again or have had a born-again experience, (2) whether they have encouraged other people to believe in Jesus Christ, and (3) whether they believe the Bible is the actual word of God. In 1980, about 19% of the adult population agreed with all three statements. In a recent Gallup Poll update in May of 2007, a quite similar 22% of all Americans agreed with all three statements.
Even more elaborate criteria have been used by other researchers. One research firm (The Barna Group) argues that individuals must answer positively to as many as nine different questions in order to qualify. Not surprisingly, only 7% of the U.S. adult population qualifies as evangelical using these restrictive criteria."
In the documentary "Supersize Me" there was a segment where the writer was showing the effectiveness of advertising. He presented a series of pictures to children and asked them to identify the people pictured. A few kids recognized the first picture; the picture was that grade school portrait of George Washington. The next picture was shown and not one could recognize the individual. The writer turned the picture around to the camera, and to my unbelief, it was a picture of Jesus. Not one of the children could identify Jesus. If I had not seen it, I would not have believed it. The writer showed the kids another picture, but this time all of the children knew the face, it was Ronald McDonald
Americans have gone throughout the world as missionaries yet in our own nation there is a huge population who have never heard of nor are able to identify Christ. Who will go to America? "But how will they know less we tell them?" God's miracles, signs and wonders open blind eyes to the reality of God, and whereby God is perfectly capable of doing all the work, He has chosen to work through us. We are to go into the world with the gospel.
Look around you, this nation needs you.
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Day 24
Psalm 133 A Song of David:Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (KJ)
I give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, and ?asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.? Col 1:1, 9-14 NIV
It is good for us to dwell in unity; it is like oil poured upon God?s anointed, from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet. Like the dew of Hermon, plentiful even in dry weather, saturating as rain upon the place God dwells. For in Zion, the place God established and dwells, God has commanded unity and eternal life. They were commanded by God, thus they will happen, and if you are among those who, ?Follow my decrees and careful to obey my laws you will live safely in the land. . 19 Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety. 20 You may ask, "What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?" 21 I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. 22 While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in. Leviticus 25:18-22 (NIV)
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Day 23
?How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.? Hebrews 2:3This morning as I was sitting besides my warm fireplace on this very cold day, I was thinking of our Father God having to watch His son?s death. I can?t imagine watching your child die a torturous death of any kind more so a cross. The song, ?When I survey that wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, all the vain things that charmed me the most I sacrifice them to His blood,? kept running through my mind. What love the Father has for us. There is very little chance that I would sacrifice my son for anyone, but God sent Jesus to die for those who had abandoned Him and had despised and rejected the law and His word.
And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; He was mocked, laughed at, despised and rejected by men, and we esteemed him not. He was nailed to a cross while the Father and the host of heaven watched; not one went to save Him. I wonder if they were tempted to help their Jesus.
The world is filled with millions who don?t believe there is a need to forgive sin, because they don?t believe in sin. Relativism erases conviction and humanism satisfies self-centeredness and replaces the need for a savior. So does that mean, if they don?t believe in God or the importance of salvation, that it isn?t true? Some argue the existence of God is real while others say it is fiction. It cannot be either or, it is either all true or all false and just because people do not accept Christ, doesn?t mean Christ wasn?t God incarnate who died for sin. And just because some do not call sin sin, doesn?t mean there is not an absolute right and wrong. So, if one does not believes in Jesus and their intellect has made them rulers? of their own life, how can we approach them with the message of such a great salvation.
For the agnostic and atheist, convincing arguments, in my opinion, will make no difference. Like us, at the moment when our eyes were unveiled, they too need the Holy Spirit to unveil their eyes to see Jesus and to grasp the enormity of His love. Love, prayer and the Word of God avail much and cannot come back void. The combination is a powerful force; put them together and watch God be God. He will accomplish and achieve His purpose for His glory.
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Day 22
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.? Matthew 6:24The Road to Life
The road to life is certainly not easy. Those who are just beginning think it will be smooth and pit free, but soon find robbers and thieves along the way. Huge forests are filled with snares and old friends lure you back into the comfortable and familiar. The road to life is lonely and is walked by putting one foot in front of the other, one day at a time.
There may be immediate successes as you travel forward. Those successes encourage you to go on. But what if the successes are not there? In the beginning of your travel, was there a healing or deliverance from your former bondages, was your thinking transformed and enlightened and did you realized there is something worth living for? Do not let the forest and the friends pull you back into the pit of despair or the luring arms of desire. Remember where you were before your rescue. Were you frightened and in despair? Were you tormented? Were you stressed and unhappy? Was there any hope in your life? Remember where you were. Were you being led to a place where there was peace and joy?
This road of life will lead you to a place of holiness where you will finally see face to face the one who has rescued you, the One who truly loves you and compassionately wants to take away all loneliness, despair, addictions and hopelessness.
You hear the world telling you, ?This is your last chance to have fun.? This enemy is trying to deceive you and is telling you a lie. Going back is for fools and doing so will only lead you back into bondage and death.
How do you know that the road ahead is not going to supply abundant joy and fulfillment? Could there be freedom, could there be love, could there actually be a purpose for your life? The answer is awaiting you. The question is, will you go? Will you go on this road in faith believing and trusting in this wonderful kingdom with a king who care for you? Will it be an easy passage? I can guarantee you that it will not be easy, but will it be worth it? I can guarantee you it will be worth it.
What are the enemies you must look for and stand firmly against?
Fear is one of the worst enemies that you will meet. He will keep you trapped and twist you inside out along with his friend anxiety. They will keep you awake at nights and tell you things will never get better.
Loneliness is another horrible enemy. He will tell you there is no one who will stand with you and how alone you are. He works through the father of lies telling you what you don?t want to hear.
Depression will try his best to kill you. He does not want you happy. He doesn?t want victory in your life and only seeks your destruction. He tells you life is not worth living and draws you down and spins you around and around in the darkness. He works with self-pity, causing you to see what is wrong with your life. These evil spirits tell you, ?life is too hard and you can't make it..? They want you to believe there is nothing for you.
Pride will rise up and say, ? I am perfectly capable of walking this road by myself.? He collaborates with human abilities to achieve impressive goals, until one morning you wake up and realize you have been detoured onto a road leading toward a dead end.
The road to life is not going to be easy. You must fight the enemies along the way who are trying to stop you. You see, you walk this road in faith trusting the promises the Savior has told you.
Which road will you follow; the road of the familiar things and dealings, all the things you have known, or are you going on the higher road? The high road will lead, mold, bring life and get you to your destiny. Your choice.
Choose this day who you will serve; this world and its ruler, or God Almighty. Believe in what is seen and familiar and you receive more of what you have. Believe in the Unseen and experience far more than you could hope or imagine. Will it be easy - no.
Nothing worth anything is easy.
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Day 21
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Matthew 24:7,8I took the following statics from the U.S.Geological Survey and World Hunger. No one wants to think about these numbers but scripture will be fulfilled, and the time for Christ?s return is near.
Have the birth pains begun? Are you ready for Christ?s return? Are your family and loved ones ready? We should live each day as if it were our last. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36
World Hunger is a major global problem. Already, at the dawn of the 21st century, 40 million men, women and children perish EVERY YEAR- from hunger, starvation, disease and malnutrition. Out of the roughly 100,000-150,000 who die every day around the world, roughly 40,000 of these are children. It is approximately 6,500,000 people every day.
In 1900, there were approximately 1 billion people inhabiting the earth. In January, 2008 the world's population is believed to have reached over 6,641,114,623 (6.6 billion).
Earthquakes
In 1990 there were 16,590 earthquakes worldwide with a range of magnitude from 1.0 to 7.9.
In 2000 there were 22,256 earthquakes worldwide with a range of magnitude from 0.1 ? 9.9.
In 2007 there were 28,688 earthquakes world wide with the same range of magnitude.
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Day 20
Marketplace - Your Job"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'. Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. John 4:35 (NASB)
When I began my business thirty-two years ago, there were neither books to read nor seminar to attend to show me how to be a Christian in the workplace. It was God and the Holy Spirit's faithful leading that kept me on track. I love to see how so many common circumstances had been experienced by so many of us. It helps to know that there are others who, like me, have been trained and are functioning exactly where God wants us to be. I am so thankful that we didn?t miss our ministry opportunity.
There are three very different categories of marketplace believers. There are business people who truly enjoy business and want to be there and have no desire ever to go into congregational ministry. There are business people, who want to get out of business and go into full time congregational ministry, and there are those who enjoy business, and who are very aware their work is ministry.
It seems to me that all workplace people start out finding a profession that interests them. Once employed, individuals begin to work in the field for which they are best suited, with hopeful intentions to succeed. This first group spends most of their lives developing skills and establishing themselves in their profession. God does not seem to play a big part in their everyday work life.
Then there are those, in the second group, who see beyond the physical reality of work and see God moving within their day to day. They want to involve Him in every aspect of their lives but they don't know how to mix Christianity and business. They feel like lone rangers and find little satisfaction in their work. These business people truly do not see their work as ministry. They cannot see how what they're doing could possible be achieving anything lasting. In their eyes they see effective ministry only in the church. This group gets frustrated with their jobs, and to satisfy their hunger for ministry, want to or sometimes leave business for full time "church" ministry. God may be calling some of them, but a great majority of these were designed for the marketplace; they simply can't see it.
Then there is the third group who are mature in who they are, and are confident in what they are doing. They actually see their work as their ministry and are aware that God is using them in the world or should I say "fields". They have jumped over the religious roadblocks, spiritual prototypes and man-made partialities to discovered their purpose outside the congregational walls. The harvest fields are very visible and they see the necessity of staying in the world where they can be the most effective. This category is the ultimate destination for workplace Christians. The challenge lies, in fighting the religious need of going inside the church walls, but remaining outside, in the world where they are being effectively used. Jesus said the He was leaving us here not to be of the world but to live in the world.
Marketplace ministry is hard work for this third group, because they often don't see immediate fruit for their spiritual labors. Fighting worldliness and remaining virtuous everyday is tough, but the daily opportunity to love and serve people is an awesome privilege and each day is filled with divine appointments of all kinds.
We need to focus on serving where we are best suited, working as unto the Lord and trusting Him to work out the details. Being a Christ centered ambassador in the world takes mature believers who fully lean on their close-knit relationship with the Lord.
I find it interesting that for over 32 years God has been teaching and showing me the importance of marketplace ministry. Although it has been risky to stay in the business world, God has held me fast and has never let me leave it. Looking back, it is where I belonged, even though at first it did not seem to be an effective ministry. There have been many heart to heart prayers with the Lord, over "Why can't I quit" until finally the Holy Spirit gave me understanding. When finally I relinquished my 'heart to minister inside a church' and trusted, that God knew what He was doing, my frustrations ceased. I believe we need to hear that it is ok to work, God can and does use us; in fact the fields are white unto harvest right now and we are the laborers.
In summary, this teaching is not new, but it encourages me to know others are walking the same path that I have walked. I am hoping that pastors will be stimulated to release marketplace teaching and encouragement to the 90% of the workplace ministers sitting in their pews.
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Day 19
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17"We are being changed from glory to glory. Be holy, because I am holy."
1 Peter 1:15
Seasons of Struggle
Have you ever been through years of heartache and pain where your entire world seemed to be tossed upside down; where your family, job and even ministry have been uprooted? "Lord, if only you had not allowed these things to happen," we cry.
Just like the Israelites' captivity in Egypt, I too have cried out for deliverance. It was during the trials and tribulational times in my life where I personally have seen God move His mighty hand in phenomenal ways. As I learned to trust Him for everything especially with impossibilities, I saw God divide torrential waters, destroy my enemies, and lead me by His Spirit to dry land.
We love to be comfortable and have life be somewhat normal, but life will never be normal. There is no such thing as normal. Change is inevitable and humans by nature resist change at any cost. However, when change does occur, we fight against it and often times give way to depression, isolation, and fear, along with other negative attitudes, which only tear away at us. It is in this uncomfortable place where our personal integrity is being honed and our faith is being strengthened. Human helplessness allows dependency upon God to be activated and dependency upon God keeps pride and fleshly abilities squelched.
Prayers for holiness, faith, trust, wisdom, endurance and courage are vital. Virtues like these must be maintained, especially during seasons of change. Perhaps a new family will replace the old; a new job will replace the old job and a new ministry will replace the old.
Only God knows; you can put your trust in Him.
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Day 18
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)God's love goes way beyond all understanding. A love that would go any place any time any circumstance to rescue His own. A love that endured to save those He created. There is no measure to His love; there is no distance, no height or depth that He will not go. Amazing love that continually protects, defends, looks after, befriends, walks with and leads.
John Newton, a moral pariah, who commanded an English slave ship wrote, "What amazing Love that saved a wretch like me." There is no one He will not love, and real joy comes as we dwell within the unsurpassable measure of HIS LOVE.
Have you ever been in a circumstance where there seemed to be no way out? Did you experience a supernatural solution that came just in the knick of time? Have you ever felt the goodness of His Love around you where you knew that no matter what, He would be there? Have you ever felt alone, and then heard that still small voice giving you courage to continue moving forward. Have you ever just missed disaster? Have you ever felt the love of a newborn in your arms or the laughter of those you love? God's fingerprints of love appear all over our lives. "Be still and know that I am God."
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Day 17
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45Jesus came because of love to serve; he came for the sick and the lost. He was a radical lover, compassion about those He had created, then left, charging us to do what He had done. Whenever we choose to isolate ourselves with other believers, rather then with those who do not know Christ, there should be a check in our spirit. It is God's will that we humble ourselves and submit loving to the service of others, keeping our eyes always fixed upon Jesus while following His example. We can learn so much from those who we have selectively overlooked and the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to real need if we are willing.
God requires more from us then the giving of material goods. As someone once said, "Put feet to your words." It is a privilege and a joy to serve the people God places around us; a reward that far outweighs the time and effort invested. I believe it is a Kingdom principle that commands a blessing.
Holy Spirit check our spirits and show us ways we can serve those we live and work with. Do not let us turn a deaf ear to the voices crying out in need. Help us to sacrificially give time and words of life, treasures lasting throughout eternity.
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Day 16
"And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life" He said unto him, What is written in the law? How does it read to you?? And he answered and said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all, your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; Do this and you will live. But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor" Luke 10:25-27.The young man, trying to justify himself, asked "Who is my neighbor." In other words, who must I love? We can all love people whose views are similar to ours, or who are sweet kind and pleasant to be around, but how about those who are on the other side of the political fence or the homosexual, transvestite or abortionist. Could they along with drunks and terrorists be classified as our neighbors? Should any of these be expendable and excluded from love? At any time, did Jesus ever let us off the hook regarding who we were to love? If we are honest with ourselves, every day we allocate worth to each person with whom we come into contact. Do away with selective loving and look upon every person through the eyes of God.
The question shouldn't be, "who do I need to love," but rather, "how can I love as Christ loved." We are to love our neighbor, our enemy, and those who despitefully use us. The Word says, God so loved the world that He gave His Son. It is not up to us to defensively argue or justify love, but it is up to us to live it.
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Day 15
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him." Mark 6:3 New International VersionIt is not easy to work with people who have watched you from childhood. It's very difficult for them to see past one's youth. Neighbors of Jesus couldn't see past His young familiar face; why would anyone think He had something life changing to say?
Our Human Nature tells us kids learn from adults, not visa versa. Children aren't supposed to have wisdom and understanding unless of course that child had lived in the heavenlies before the creation of the world and just so happened to be the creator Himself. But how would anyone have known or even suspected. Jesus' neighbors missed the opportunity to grow up befriending the King of all Kings. To them Jesus was just another carpenter's apprentice, someone they passed on the street or met at work. What could he have possibly shown them? No one told them He was the Messiah, no one suspected it; to them, he was simply a carpenter, Mary's boy. I raise the question, was anyone really watching for the Messiah? What would He have looked like? What were they expecting? It is hard to imagine how Jesus' neighbors could not see His goodness and perfection and wonder about Him.
There are people with God given giftings all around you. Don't let assumption fool you, he or she may be more than they appear.
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Day 14
One only needs to go through great grief, adversity or oppression to know the enormous hollow heartbreak of shattered dreams and dark tunnels. The Jews had been living for over a century with the nightmare of Roman oppression when Jesus emerged into history. Could this generation of Jews dare to hope that Jesus was really the Messiah? Could they actually put their faith in this Jesus of Nazareth to bring their deliverance from earthly oppression? During Christ's brief ministry, the Jews heard His teachings, witnessed amazing divine miracles, and had their hearts quickened by His great wisdom. Laying caution aside they allowed themselves to believe.Two such nameless men were walking on a road, totally perplexed on how the events of the recent days could have happened. How could this happen if Jesus was the Messiah, the one Jehovah would send to deliver them? Dismayed, sad, perplexed and somewhat forsaken these two men were joined by another who they did not know. To them Jesus was dead so no matter how the stranger looked or what He said, their limited minds could not comprehend. Their disappointment was so great that they may not have looked into His eyes and their shattered hearts only listened to the stranger's words but could not comprehend them. Overflowing with their grief, smashed hope and a sense of loss, their hearts yearned for a reversal. Just the thought of seeing Jesus alive was beyond their greatest hope and would have definitely defied every bit of human logic in them, but "Did not their heart burn within them, while He talked."
Night falls and as they sit and break bread, something familiar clicks. Have we not heard this? Could this be? How could this be? A recognition, a light comes on, a shutter flashes, an image becomes clear and poof He was gone. With only this one instant resurrection encounter, joy is refueled and hope becomes irreversible faith.
Sometime in our darkest moments we can not see or comprehend clearly. Lord give us a resurrection encounter that opens our eyes and changes our lives forever to the risen savior right beside us.
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Day 13
The Old Testament speaks of people who were unfaithful to God. They assumed the grain would come, the harvest would produce fruit and that they could live their lives as they wanted without consequence. Assumption is a deception; too often it is based on a lie from the enemy. The truth was there are consequences when you do not listen to God and are not submitted to His ways.God through the prophet Hosea says, "For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil and lavished on her silver and gold. Therefore I will take back my grain at harvest time and my new wine in its season I will also take away my wool and My flax given to cover her nakedness." Hosea 2: 8&9
God saw the religious unbelief of Israel and His response to their displaced worship was to remove His hand and let them provide for themselves. Less we see our human efforts as futility and acknowledge that it is God who protects, defends and supplies all our needs, we too may be left to defend ourselves.
I believe believers have come through a time where their faith has been tested. A season where battle after battle has been fought and many in the body are beaten, bruised, and weakened. Many have come to a place where their eyes have been opened to selfish ambitions and personal efforts. God is not interested in personal ambitions and efforts. He is building a kingdom and He desires us to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'' As humans we must be in need of mercy before we appreciate mercy; must be in need of grace before appreciating grace, and must become desperate for God before comprehending His reality and faithfulness. Trusting God when our eyes cannot see is difficult, but it must be an acquired ability in the days to come. Believing and trusting God to be God and holding Him to His word is an act of faith and we are called to be people of faith not sight.
Just as in the days of Hosea, restoration is available, let God's word hold you fast for God will "have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion and will say to those who were not My people, You are My people! And they will say, 'Thou are my God.'" We are His people and we can trust Him.
Do not let personal efforts, assumptions or religion steal a true relationship with the King of all Kings. Experiencing His supernatural provision, protection, grace, mercy and love is priceless. Trust in God and He will direct your path, do not worry or be anxious for anything, but pray and let the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
My prayer is that Christ will dwell in your heart by faith, that you will be rooted and grounded in love and may comprehend the breath, length, depth, and height of God's love for you. That you may know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge and that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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Day 12
" For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:13This morning I was listening to this wonderful song by John Michael Talbot and wanted to share it with you.
"Christ has no body now but yours. No hands no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes in which He moves compassion on this world - Yours are the feet in which He walks to do, yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, and you are His body. "
When I first realized my work was my ministry, my entire focus changed. It was more important to be excellent in every detail of my work, and offer the best interior designs I could. My excellence built a reputation for me that opened doors to new people who needed what I had to offer. Relationships grew and more opportunities open to me. As I loved and served people, divine appointments began to happen. My work availed to me more then just a fun way to make a living, but offered opportunities to witness and opportunities to show God's love and creative excellence. People listened and respected what I had to say. It no longer mattered to me whether I planted the seed, watered the seed or reaped the fruit; every step along the way was important because my clients were important. I saw them as God's human masterpieces loved by God; an entirely different perspective then I had previously seen them.
Let the Love of God open your eyes to those around you. Open your soul (mind will and emotions) to be empowering with Christ's love for everyone with whom you deal and offer your best in everything you do. Be God's hands and feet to love others as you have been loved.
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Day 11
"If you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live."Romans 8:13 New American Standard Bible
Psalms 106 tells of people who saw amazing miracles preformed both in Egypt and the Red Sea. To believe in God takes faith not sight and even though there were miraculous interventions the people still doubted.
How could people who had walked through the Red Sea on dry land ever forget the mighty strength of God? How could people who had seen deliverance from their Egyptian captives ever question God's love and protection for them? Over and over again God would demonstrate His mighty power, and over and over again the people would return to their human mindsets. Their mind, will and emotions enslaved them to their human limitations and dictated their realities.
One problem I see, as believers we were conditioned to live in a human world before we entered our life in Christ. Stepping out in faith believing in the Lord Jesus was our first step, but to grow in Christ takes many steps of faith. As children, we learned how to walk and as believers we must learn how to walk in faith. It takes lots of practice before we move into a mature faith and a confidence to trust our faithful God. Our souls fight us every step of the way because walking in faith goes against our human conditioning.
The Lord is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is an all powerful God who does supernatural things in a natural world. Faith invites God to demonstrate His wonderful reality into our lives. May you see the wonderful hand of God move in your life.
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Day 10
My dear friend is battling evil in Thailand like she has never seen before. Evil forces are real, and if they are in Thailand, they are also in the USA. Do not look on what you see, but look at the evidences of evil and intercede. Just because we cannot see demons and cosmic powers does not mean they do not exists. What keeps people oppressed? What is destroying marriage, our youth, and finances? What is causing depression and suicide? What is causing disbelief and anti-God movements? Why is there so much depression and corruption? Why are there so many people hurting, not receiving the care and parenting they need? What could be causing people to be so blind to the hope set before them? We may say that Satan is doing this, but Satan can only be at one place at a time. He is not omnipresent!If we believe in Christ by faith, then we need to believe his Word by faith. Evil principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts are real.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12 - New King James
But
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you." Luke 10:19 New American Standard Bible
Saints of God, it is our job to pray like never before for the unsaved who are bound to the hindering spirits of disbelief; the sick who are in need of healing; the oppressed in need of deliverance; families and neighbors in need of compassion, love, hope and a future. These same forces attacking our loved ones and neighbors are also attacking us. Do not be deceived, your intercession matters and is vital. Someone once wrote "There is nothing left to do but pray, but there has never been anything else to do but pray."
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Day 9
Love came to earth and lived amongst us and became man. Pure love was both the initiator and fulfillment of the perfect redemptive plan to restore what had been lost. Love was flesh and blood without spot or blemish. Love did not find equality with God something to be grasped. Love did nothing apart from His Father?s will. Love was unconditional and demonstrated. Love paid the price for all sins. Love was not boastful or proud Love was despised and rejected.Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Love will not die. Love always rejoices in the truth. Love never fails. Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love is a choice. Love wins. Love attracts and dwells in the light. Love walks in righteousness. God is love and Love never fails.
You are so loved - go then and love others.
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Day 8
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isaiah 53:3 (NKJ)My thoughts of Jesus on that final night of His life on earth bring pain. He was betrayed, beaten, despised, oppressed, rejected, abandoned, pierced, spat upon, scourged, and crucified. Is there anyone with whom He cannot identify?
Often the world presses in and there is a real sense that life's difficulties are far greater than we can deal with. We are bombarded all around with myriads of responsibilities and stress anxiety and worry seems to be part of life. I do not read in Scripture anywhere that Jesus was worried, stressed or anxious but always stayed submitted to the Father, unconditionally loving and teaching others.
When I think of Jesus I am also dumbfounded by His ability to be purposefully focused, never allowing the daily demands to weigh Him down. We all have been through difficult times in our life and after we recover we are more apt to identify and draw near to those with like difficulties. Jesus walked in our shoes; He identifies with us. Even at our breaking point when it seems the vise is cranking tighter and tighter around us, we can be assured that Jesus will be there to strengthen, help and bring us His protection. Call upon the name of Jesus and "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:7 (NLT)
Lord, keep us moving forward and give us strength to get through every struggle. Let us be disciplined not giving way to things of the enemy, help us hold our thoughts captive and resist evil. I know you will never give us more than we can handle.
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Day 7
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece." He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)A resent study reported researchers discovery of tiny nerves crisscrossing the spine that can be used to bypass crippling injuries. It is nothing short of revelation to imagine the central nervous system rewiring itself. These tiny nerves act much like a detour on a highway. Spinal cord injuries written off as irreversible may someday be repaired.
God created us in such a way that even tiny nerves stand by to repair if injured. Everything down to the smallest cell has purpose. Every believer is fully equipped with everything needed. There is little thought of breathing or the pumping of the heart or the sensitivity of a touch. The Psalmist write, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Cells in the right place doing the job they were designed to do; back up nerves laying in reserve; what a wonderful creative God we have working everything together for our good. When was the last time you sat down and gave thanks for all God has given you, the seen and unseen? And when was the last time you thought of how everything in life has meaning and purpose. The body is made up of many parts all necessary in order for the body to function as designed by God.
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Day 6
"You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived."Col. 3:7
My chains are off, I have been set free, my God and Savior has ransomed me, and like a flood His mercies rein, amazing love unending grace. These words from Chris Tomlin's song seem incomprehensible. I have been set free and my chains are off.
Britain abolished the slave trade 200 years ago. Its landmarks are an abiding legacy of cruelty. The dungeons on the slave ships can still shock, two centuries after their last inmates were freed. Damp and fetid immersed in darkness was the place where slaves were kept, while they made their appalling voyage over the ocean. Imprisoned and removed from homes and families, they were forced to adapt to a new way of life in captivity. I can only imagine how they wanted their chain to fall off. Kept in bondage day after day, they found release only through God's grace and mercy.
Scripture says, "You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived;" a life that kept you enslaved to things and feelings instead of to God. Things like anger, rage, malice, slander, gossip, cruelty, manipulation, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. There are people chained to these enemies, who are held captive and forced by the enemy to lose their original purpose and destiny with God.
Some in captivity begin to enjoy imprisonment and learn to adapt, but no matter what they think of their matrix the reality is that they were created for an entirely different life. Is there anything too big for God, who like a flood can pour forgiveness, peace, mercy, grace and love, upon them, breaking every chain, restoring healing and freedom. Freedom to go home and live.
Do you find bondage in your life? Resist ever being bound again and keep your mind in Christ Jesus who has ransomed you. You are free, be free indeed.
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Day 5
The disciples prayed, "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Acts 4:19-32 New International VersionTheir great desire was to bring healing and to demonstrate the power of God through miracles, signs and wonders. Their fervent prayer shook the prayer room and the Lord heard and answered their prayers and filled them with the Holy Spirit. They were given supernatural power to believe God for all things. Their new found courage enabled them to overcome all fears. The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead was alive in them and nothing could stop them from speaking of Jesus.
Faith had replaced fear. How many times has fear hindered or prevented believers from speaking boldly about Jesus. It is amazing how these men were one day hiding away and the next world changers. When cream is added to coffee the color changes. Nothing can take that cream from the coffee and it is impossible to revert it to the original state. The disciples were changed, they had a fresh fire and boldness to courageously leave that upper room and go into the entire world. God had poured into them and they were willing and eager to face danger speaking the word of God with a sense of confidence and fearlessness. That same Holy Spirit is in each believer - go change your world.
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Day 4
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:1-13
Temptations of Christ in Luke
Jesus, one moment is being baptized and the sky opens and His Father announces, ?This is my beloved son?; the next moment He is lead into the wilderness and tempted for 40 days - a definite mountain valley emotional challenge. Jesus would have naturally been hungry so it is not surprising the devil tempted Him with food, which by the way was the original object of temptation. There are stones of flint and limestone on the mountains of Judea that resemble loaves of bread and Satan temps Jesus with turning the stones into bread. It wouldn?t have been a temptation for Jesus if Jesus were not able to do it but the devil tried to get Him to use His miraculous powers to supply his personal need.
Jesus only saw the needs of others, never His own. When He came to earth He had emptied Himself and did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped but took the form of a bondservant. Jesus? response, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, was exactly what Moses had spoken to the Israelites in the wilderness during their 40 years, Though Jesus was hungry, He knew the source of His life; it was not bread alone.
The second temptation takes place as Satan stands as the pseudo-ruler of the world. The condition was that Jesus bend His knee to the devil. Jesus? response was to quote Deuteronomy 6:13, where Moses is warning the people to resist temptation and worship God alone. Although Jesus would have regained world rulership, had he given into temptation, he would have obtained it by depending on Satan rather than on God. Jesus would not recklessly acquire our salvation through anything short of God?s perfect plan.
The third temptation Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple. This was about 700 feet above the Kedron valley or about half as high as the Empire State Building. Satan wanted God to jump off and command his angels to keep Him from smashing on the rocks below. Jesus could have called legions of angels who instantaneously would have come, but that was not God?s plan. Jesus would not change the timing of God?; He knew he must die on a cross for the sins of the world. Displaying supernatural feats was not the way followers were to believe in or accept Him. He responded with Deuteronomy 6:16, ?Do not tempt the Lord thy God.?
I often wonder how Jesus stayed in control of every thought and of everything that constantly pulled at Him, never loosing his patience, always giving and always perfect. And as I ponder it, I have come to conclude it was for us. He saw His church, His bride the one He loves. He resisted temptation for us so we may live with Him forever. What a amazing Savior we have.
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Day 3
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. Acts 17: 26The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. Matthew 12:35-37 NIV
I read once that there are three things that never come back - time, words, and opportunity. God has put us exactly where He wants us to live at exactly this point in time. We have been designated for such a time as this in this particular city and state.
The life of a minute is 60 seconds; think back how quickly each second ticks away without much thought. Worldly opportunities come and go, but Kingdom opportunities are ever present. Time words and opportunity work together simultaneously. What we do with each moment is our choice. Our days are filled with actions and reactions and the complexities of how it all works is incomprehensible. We don?t have to understand how it all works, but we do need to comprehend what we say and do matters; your words and actions are not insignificant.
It is a privilege to show mercy and grace. Every day we have opportunities to extend a helping hand a listening ear, to restore peace and to be encouraging in loving ways. We can deliberately bringing Christ like response into every moment. I work in the marketplace and my days are filled with opportunities to impact this world and excel in what I do, whether I am working with an individual or simply giving my best.
Jesus influenced each moment of every day through the power of the Holy Spirit not His flesh. He has given to each of us this same Holy Spirit and has told us that this Spirit would help us to do what He did. His words and actions came out of His heart and there has never been anyone in history who has impacted the world more then Jesus Christ. Becoming aware of time, words, and opportunities, is vital for Spiritual growth
I pray that we all will make the most of our words, and opportunities in your neighborhoods and cities. The Psalmist said, "Cleanse my heart Oh God and renew a right Spirit within me." We wake up every morning with fresh opportunities and new mercies. Be expectant and make the most of this day and everyday.
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Day 2
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."Matthew 5:8-10 New International Version
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." Romans 8:18-20 New King James
Have the hills trees, animals, mountains and all of creation really been eagerly waiting for the peacemakers to be revealed? What an amazing revelation to think that creation has actually been waiting for people of peace to come into existence. One meaning in Webster's dictionary for arise is "to rise from a quiet, inactive, or subjugated state to become active, vocal, or rebellious."
Have you ever noticed when you are calm and approach situation peaceably, problems seem to diminish? Storms rage around us everyday at work and in our lives, but they can be silenced. My father never lets circumstances unravel him. He is a man of peace and he always seems to carry calm wherever he goes. Growing up, there was always an assurance that wisdom and clear direction would come from his advice. He moved in peace and he deposited peace wherever he went. He was a blessed man and those with whom he dealt were blessed by just being around him.
No one can make you angry disturbed sadden or disappointed; only you can give way to these monsters that only want to rob steal and destroy that peace that is guarding your heart and your mind. Arise from your quiet and step into this new day as a peacemaker extending peace to the world around you. Rest in His peace and let it fall like rain to others around you.
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Day 1
New King James Version "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."2 Corinthians 5:16-18
The old is gone and the new is before us. Yesterday and last year are behind us. OLD THINGS have died, have come to an end, they are no more, they no longer exist. It is a new day, a new chance, a fresh start, a miraculous opportunity to begin again. How we long, during the depths of our troubles, to leave the old and embrace the new; the troubles may remain but we can approach them with a new empowered mindset. Those deceptions that rob steal and destroy have no more authority than you give them.
It is a new season. Fix your eyes not what is seen but what is unseen and move forward into your future leaving the past behind. You are a new creature, all things are new. These new things are of God, and though temptations may surround you, the power of God in you has the capability to over come anything. You are reconciled to God and you are an ambassador of God in Christ?s stead.
I love the freshly fallen snow, those magnificent soft flakes that lay upon the evergreens. God looks upon you with eyes of love. You are a beautiful masterpiece of God?s creative nature. Let the fresh snow of grace fall upon your life so you may shine brightly reflecting the light of Christ.
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No Greater Love
Love came to earth and lived amongst us and became man. Pure love was both the initiator and fulfillment of the perfect redemptive plan to restore what had been lost. Love was flesh and blood without spot or blemish. Love did not find equality with God something to be grasped. Love did nothing apart from His Father?s will. Love was unconditional and demonstrated. Love paid the price for all sins. Love was not boastful or proud Love was despised and rejected.Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Love will not die. Love always rejoices in the truth. Love never fails. Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love is a choice. Love wins. Love attracts and dwells in the light. Love walks in righteousness. God is love and Love never fails. You are so loved - go then and love others.
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Add to your faith virtue
Make every effort to add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. His divine nature has given us everything we need and through Him we have been brought from death to life and filled with power of the Holy Spirit. There are seven virtues, four of them considered Cardinal virtues. Cardinal here means ?the hinge of a door?; they are the ones that are pivotal. Wisdom, Temperance or balance, Justice or righteous, and Fortitude or courage.So add to your faith, wisdom, balance, righteousness and courage. Be confident that you have been brought from death to life and the Holy Spirit is there to help you. Fight the good fight and abstain from fleshly lusts that wage war against your soul. He who has called you will provide the strength when you are weak and will make a way where there seems to be no way. His compassion never cease, they are new every morning.
He is faithful.
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Waiting in Hard Times
Waiting is probably the most difficult lesson we must learn. It takes lots of effort and much discipline. At times in my past, I had to examine what I believed even taking it to levels of who Jesus was, how He fulfilled every Messianic prophecy, and how my life was changed etc. Go back and look at your history. He was faithful to you then, is now, and will be forever. You are just waiting.I had a journal during the worst of times where I was completely honest with God and where I could vent all my pain. He is always there for you, He is just quiet. Take every thought obedient to Christ and do not let yourself go backwards. It is vital during difficult times to do what you can; get physical help if you need, sleep, and eat well.
As our bodies age they require more tender loving care. They are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we must take care of them. Remember God said through his prophet Isaiah "New International Version (NIV) "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:1-3 " God didn't say you weren't going to pass through the fire, He said, "you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Don't trust your emotions your mind or your heart, they are all deceived. In this hour God is expecting maturity in his bride. We are to trust his word alone and act in faith. What is unseen is more real then that which is seen. Trust in God and He will direct your path.
Go someplace special and sit and just rest. Seek his presence. I often times just sit in His presence not expecting to hear or say anything. It is a place a peace a place of rest. Go there and let God tenderly hold you.
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Ascribing Great Worth
What does it mean to ascribe worth? To me, it is to intentionally establish value on a person or thing. What God considers valuable may be something entirely different from what we consider valuable. This value system determines what we do. What is valuable; our neighbors, families, jobs, our home or cars etc. Is ascribing worth to someone or something an act of love? What takes precedence in our day, and is love the motivator behind our efforts throughout the day?
Imagine needing a new pair of glasses, and the time and energy it takes to find the right pair. One may try on many different frames before finally selecting one. We ascribe importance to our eyesight and appearance, so we undertake the task. The same hold true when looking for a place to live. Our homes, our time away from work is important to us so we hunt for the right place and spend our hard earned money for a place to live, and then invest time, energy, and money to make it our own.
Glasses and homes are things that are important, but will ultimately will be destroyed. What about people? A spouse, a child, a friend, a neighbor, how much are they worth? And while our eyesight and homes are important, Jesus did not put Calvary?s worth on things but on people.
How much is a neighbor worth? Is he or she worth your time and energy? The entire planet is full of hurting people who need to know the love of God, not through our talk but through our walk.
At the cross, Calvary?s love brought into focus the immensity of lavished love that proclaimed God?s great worth for us. It transcends all ordinary means of measurement.
Love must be the core essential that infuses and stimulates prayer. We are urged to love more fervently because love covers a multitude of sins. Love?s covering hides faults and bears burdens; it forgives and forgets. If I love someone I will pray for them. I will give attention to those things that I see as valuable. If prayers are not rooted in love, they are just a religious exercise. Is love the propelling force behind what we do?
A friend said, ?If we loved everyone around us all the time and were attentive to their needs, we wouldn?t get anything done.? That may be true, but that is what Christ did. He is calling each of us, to love, not necessarily to do, but to love. It may come as a smile, a ?well done,? a demonstration of grace, a helping hand, a forgiveness, an act of love, a prayer, but each day put on love. Wear God's glasses that allow you to see the true worth of a soul, and everywhere you go and with everyone you speak, ascribe worth and let God?s love which is inside you flow out to them all.
Colossians 3?13 & 14 ?Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
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The Good Samaritan
Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37I was beaten stripped and left for dead and the priests (pastors) and Levites (important Godly people) walked right by me, but Jesus found me and had compassion on me. He bandaged my wounds, poured oil and wine on me, and took me to a safe place and cared of me. He paid for everything and made arrangements for others to care for me with a promise of repaying them upon His return.
Then He said ?NOW go and do the same.?
At a special service in May hosted by Center of Life Church, The Lord said "honor", so I honored the two He instructed me to honor. The next morning I was reading this passage in Luke and the revelation hit that I honored those who have walked by me. Honoring Pastor Judy, who personally has blessed me, represented pastors and Michael, the guest speaker who actually did walk by. represented Important Godly people. By honoring them, I honored those who have dishonored me, those who have not seen into my heart or into my pain.
When pastors and leaders walk by I am left wondering what they see or what they don?t see. Doubt can come in and break apart the true image of how Jesus sees us. People in general are insecure, so to be overlooked is painful. These pastors and leaders are mere people, but Jesus is God. We seek something or someone visible to grasp, but 2nd Corinthians 4:18 says ?while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are see are temporal, but the things which are not see are eternal.?
I see danger in getting too enamored with ?famous? people, celebrities in the faith. If they don?t speak or recognize you, your sinful nature begins to play mind games. ?Overlooked again, not important enough, nothing special? and all the self-pity seeds go deep into an already very vulnerable spirit. If I am not secure in Christ alone, I will fall every time someone walks by. Ask the question, ?Do I want man?s voice or do I want Jesus? voice?? No one can truly know what God is doing throughout the universal complexities of a slit second. Perhaps He had me overlooked to protect me from a wrong word that could get me off track; overlooked because it was not God?s timing for me to receive that word; overlooked to refocus my attention on Him and not man; overlooked to be used as an instrument of forgiveness and unmerited love that would cause a shifting in the atmosphere. The one who is overlooked may be the one used to destroy evil in a human?s heart or a city?s stronghold. Who can understand the mind or the ways of God? To love and forgive those who overlook you is in actuality releasing all those who have not seen you or your pain. It is a prophetic act of the kingdom of God being released on earth as it is in heaven. No one really knows all about you but God; humans are way too constrained in this present world?s systems by flesh and time. There are too many people and not enough time or energy for every one to get the loving attentions they truly desire. Only God can go that intimately deep with each of us and only God desires to.
Remember the one who did stop to help, Jesus is His name. May He always be your constant focus and the well you draw from. Let your ears hunger for Him and His voice alone. He will never overlook you. Jesus sees deep into your heart past your fleshly veneer.
Jesus, You call me by name and I are yours. I am Your beloved daughter hidden in Christ until that day of Your return.
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Thoughts for 2007
At a conference I went to, called ?Start the Year Off Right Conference? prophetic voices in the body of Christ, including Dr. Peter Wagner, Chuck Pierce, and Dutch Sheets amongst others, encouraged the church and exhorted the church to focus on several areas they felt God had alerted them to, including:
1) Be open to new things in the church. Boldly declare out loud, ?change is good!? even if you don?t like change. God is continually doing new things and Jesus is relevant to every age.
2) Find your place in Christ?s body. This is the year to become corporate, in other words get on Christ?s team. Seeker friendly churches, focus too much on the individual. Your fulfillment will come when you work with others in the congregation and the body of Christ at large. As one speaker said, ?If we get corporate, the devil will go on valium!?
3) It?s time to do Romans 13:11-14, and apply these verses in our own sphere of influence.
11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (NIV)
4) It?s time for a revival of ?kindness? and ?compassion.? Pray for God to release more of this in your life.
5) It?s time to ?finish? what you start. This is the Joshua ?anointing.? He finished what Moses started and led the people into the promise land. God will help you finish what ?He? started because He is the one ?who makes you complete in every good work to do His will.? Heb. 13:21
6) This is a year for a resurgence of the Living Word, and a revival of taste for the written word. Open up your bible and see what God says through it!
7) This is the year to claim your children. The prodigals will come home!
8) Another speaker spoke on Islam saying these are dangerous times, but also times of opportunity. We need to stand with Israel at this time especially. ?Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,?? Psalm 122:6-9
9) This is the year of the altar. Before you take communion, ask God to forgive you and receive communion as a sign of His promise of cleansing.
10) Finally, ask God to make you a fit container for the ?new wine? of his Spirit this year. Even though the old wine was good, (the old traditions), there is always a need to ?hear what the spirit is saying to the churches, today.? Rev. 2:7, 11,17,29, 3:6,13,22 That doesn?t mean we throw out all the traditions, but it does mean we make way for new things.
Let this be your year to arise and shine!
Serving the King,
Pastor Bjorn, Hope Lutheran, Sioux Falls
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Can the Church Contain God?
Does God live in the sanctuary? Does his Presence hover over the altar, as it did over the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies, in Moses Tabernacle? Where can we find God?
Does He not live in his people? Are we not his vessels? Therefore when we go to work, don???t we bring his Presence with us? Didn???t Paul preach, ???Christ in you, the Hope of glory???? Didn???t he also say, greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world? We???re called to be the ???salt of the earth,??? because the earth no longer tastes good. We???re called to be the light of the world, because in the world there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Your witness has greater impact than you realize. God wants to impact your work station. Pray that He will use you in a mighty way. Pray with me: ???Father, open my eyes so I may see the opportunities around me. Give me wisdom and words to reveal Your Presence.??? In Jesus Name, Amen.
Pastor Bjorn Lervik
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Intentional Investments
I sense this is the time when we, the church, need to be intentionally and wisely investing our time, talents and resources into His Kingdom work. As Paul explained, let us set our eyes upon God???s goal and run with perseverance the race set before us. Dare to put all you are and have into the hands of God who is able to do far greater things than one can imagine. Offer to give Him your ???fish??? and ???bread??? and watch Him transform them into a banquet for His Kingdom on earth.
The heart of Command Two is to reclaim for Christ through prayer evangelism all that was lost including people, cities and institutions. Jesus' work is finished, as He has reconciled all things (Col. 1:20) to Himself. We believe in God's desire to work through prayer so that every student, school, business, marriage, child, mother, father, brother, sister can be reclaimed. Let us deliberately invest ourselves and agree with God so that we can reclaim what He has redeemed. We need to be people who will use our energies to become reflections of Jesus in all that we do. Pray that we come together in one accord as we dare to believe God for transformation!
Mary Kelly
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Faith and Truth
I am sensing a real heavy spiritual attack. Please pray for people to hold on to their faith. Pray for all deceptions to be broken off and pray that we will hold on to truth. Let faith arise!!!! Believers need to examine what they believe and by faith seal it in their hearts and minds.Faith in Jesus - He is not a rock, nor a wonderful set of rules, nor just a special man - Who was Jesus? Think. We need to know what we believe.
He fulfilled every prophetic word spoken concerning the messiah. He lived, he died, and he rose again. Over five hundred witnesses saw him after he had come back to life. By faith we believe. He either is the savior of man kind or he isn't. As for me, I choose by faith to believe that Jesus is the savior sent by God. Why, because sin is a real issue, and if there are consequences for sin - then we need a Savior. By Faith I believe he still lives and reigns and that He is coming back for us.
Faith in the Word - It is accurate. It has never been proved wrong. Archeologists are discovering that places which were recorded in scripture are actual places. The book of Daniel, which was once believed to be a history book because of its accuracy, was discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The dating of these scrolls proved that the book of Daniel was written before the events took place and was thus a prophetic book. We can conclude along with many other facts that scripture must be trustworthy. In faith we believe it. In faith we stand upon the truths that are contained within its pages.
Satan wants to take us away from a foundational truth that God is an all-loving, all-trustworthy, and an all faithful God, who wants a real relationship with his creation. Our busyness, our desire to do more and more is like fuel that drives us and when ignited, burns us up.
Truth -
Jesus says - His yoke is easy.
Scripture says - God is able.
Pray that we hold on to truth and pray that every deception and every world view that is in us, will be broken off so that God's truth will stand. What we feel is real to us, but it may not be truth.
In this time, we need to trust God's truth not our feelings or emotions. We need to stand on truth. May we all take a long look at ourselves and examine the heaviness that is in our lives. May God deliver us from evil. The word says in John 8:31-32 "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." Truth does not set us free, it is the understanding or the knowing of truth that sets us free.
We need to stop, sit down, and know the truth.
God Bless Us All as we pray,
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An Accommodating God
1 Samuel 8:18-2218 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."
As we journey through the bible together we come upon a Godly man by the name of Samuel, which is found in 1 Samuel. All throughout the scriptures God shows how a society or nation can be changed if just ONE godly man or women is willing to obey God. That is the case with Samuel. But what happens when the people do not want anything to do with God? Does He force His blessings on His loved ones? Unfortunately that's not how it works. Throughout my walk with the Lord, I have found that I can not ask God to bless me if I am defiant toward kingship in my life. Look at this story in 1 Samuel, here God's chosen people want to be just like everyone else. All the other countries have a king so why can't they? God Himself was reigning, He was their king, yet they wanted to be like everyone else. Yet all the other countries did not have God. They were living under the protection, provision or the favor of God.
How are we like the Israelites during Samuel's time? Do you long to be just like everyone else? Do you want to be blessed by God? God is an accommodating God. The people in 1 Samuel asked for a king and scoffed and wouldn't listen to Samuel's warnings, so God gave them a king. Read the rest of the story, it's not good, and was not God best nor His desire!
God wants to bless you. Do you want it? Are you willing to be different than then the people around you, your carnal desires and worldly systems around you? If so Thank God because God will accommodate your desire to be close to Him. Be blessed today. Be different!
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The truth about "Who You Are"
You are beautifully and wonderfully made. You are God's finest masterpiece. You are unconditionally loved and blessed of God. He has your name engraved upon His hands and your name written upon His heart. He will never leave you nor forsake you and nothing will ever separate you from His love, neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the past, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all of creation.If you have received God's free gift of grace, then You are forgiven, healed and redeemed and have been crowned with His loving kindness and His tender mercies. You have a purpose, which He planned before the creation of time for you to do. You are free to do good and not evil.
He has filled you with His Holy Spirit and you have been sealed for the day of your redemption. God created you in His own image to reflect Jesus. Because you have received Him, you have been given the right to be called son and daughter of God. You are precious in His sight and you are His.
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A Look at Jesus
This morning I was thinking about Jesus. I was reading Luke 8 and the story about Jesus and the storm. The disciples were actually fearing for their lives - that is why they awaken Jesus. Jesus asked them where their faith was.If he is with us, then what storm came prevail against us? Can God be destroyed in a storm? If we are with him then aren't we safe? Look at Jesus:
Jesus came to this earth. He was real.
He came telling of a kingdom
He came teaching and speaking the very words of God.
He came and was a storyteller and a interpreter of stories
He came casting out demons
He came to heal
He came to forgive sins
He had a purpose.
He had a mission
He came to tell of Good News.
There is a kingdom where there is hope - Where you can be free from the things of this world.
He came as a willing sacrifice for all, and for all who believe; to them he gives eternal life with him in his kingdom.
How then Lord, do we live in the world but not be of it, I ask. - Take every thought captive.
Today I pray that I will float in the understanding that I am with the only one who can rebuke all storms. Who can stand against our God? Who could defeat the Alpha and the Omega? The mighty God we serve is for us and he is on our side.
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A Personal Testimony
This is our testimomy of how God touched my husband. Our Lord is ALIVE and is performing miracles today - For His Glory.Don't ever let anyone tell you that prayer does not work. God is faithful to hear and to answer prayer. I want to share this with you our recent hand-print of God. May our Lord's tender mercies grace your lives.
Dick went into the hospital Monday March 28th. He has Congestive Heart Failure and was strongly advised to have a ICD (a pacemaker and defibrillator combo) put into his chest with connections into his heart. This devise would help to prevent sudden death and hopefully give strengthen his heart muscle.
He was taken to surgery around 1:00 PM that Monday and around 5:00 PM the doctor came out and told us that he had only been 2/3 successful. When the doctor had attempted to thread the third lead into Dick's vessel, he was unable to get through. The vessel was too frail and too narrow for passage. The vessel actually tore during the procedure, so Dr. Mohama stopped the surgery and closed him up. What to do next? We as a family had a decision to make. None of the options sounded good.
Needless to say, we had not wanted nor had prayed for this outcome. God was still in control, doing a greater work than we could have imagined. We prayed God would show us what to do. Dr. Jim Reynolds is a personal friend and is one of the finest heart surgeons in the US. Susan my friend and pastor advise me to call him. Monday evening I call him and he advised us to go into Dick's chest through the ribs and attach the third lead. Without this connection, sudden death was still very threatening. God is so faithful, if we pray and ask him, he will answer us. Our answer came to us by Dr. Reynolds when he advised us to do the surgery and said he would do it. My heart was immediately at peace. It was the right thing to do. He had told me that this was however one of the most painful surgeries there is, so we knew ahead of time that Dick had quite an ordeal still ahead of him.
Monday night Dick was in pain from the first surgery, but with medication was able to sleep. Around noon on Tuesday Dr. Reynolds walked into the room and told us that Dick would be going in at 1:00 PM. Just 24 hours after the first. Before taking him down, Mike, our oldest son, Dr. Reynolds, Dick and I all prayed together. The surgical team came and wheeled him away with a family tagging after. As we were giving our last kisses and goodbyes, the anesthesiologist asked us all to take hands and led the entire family in prayer.
Once again we found ourselves in the waiting room. Three hours later we were entering Dick's room where we found a very sick man. Everything had gone well and everything was attached and working, however he was waking up with every bit as much pain as we had been told. Horrible pain, so much so, that he could not lay down because the pressure of breathing was too heavy. All he wanted me to do was to pray. You know how sometimes you don't know how to pray so you just let the spirit pray through your heart. I found myself Tuesday night holding his head upon my chest while rubbing his back praying. The only position that was tolerable was sitting up. It was no more than one hour after that prayer that his nurse detected some strange noise in his chest and had talked to the doctor and had adjusted his meds. The pain became tolerable. Wednesday morning around 8:00 AM, thinking that healing had already come, I went home to shower and take a brief nap. Returning around 11:00 AM, I found that the pain had come back with a vengeance and Dick was in horrible pain once again. Wednesday was very long and very hard. He had not been able to lie down in bed. The chair had to be replaced with a recliner. We got him repositioned, but there was still little comfort. I laid in the bed right by his side trying to comfort him. At 2:00 AM I awoke the same instant Dick sat up in his chair proclaiming that his pain was gone. God's hand had touched Dick. I sensed the Lord saying "The tide has turned." I watched him get into bed, lay down and fall fast asleep. Dick was delivered from pain then and remains still to this day pain free. Thursday morning all his bodily functions began working. The hospital staff was able to get him up, walk him around, disconnect all the tubes and iv's. Instead of leaving Saturday or later, he was released Thursday afternoon and home for dinner. He remains weak and tired, but everyday he grows stronger.
God has been so close and so faithful. I have shared only some of the miracles that happened. How can I ever stop telling of the goodness of my God. He hears the prayers of the saints. He does not with hold his goodness from those he loves, His loving kindness and tender mercies do not cease because He is faithful. I am thankful that the outcome was good. I thank Him for giving Dick a testimony that defies human understanding. Only God can do such a thing. Only God.
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TRANSFORMATION
Transformation means to transform, to change. Believers are called to a higher standard. We are to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. What does that look like? Well, businesses would be thriving with fresh ideas and innovative thinking. Workers would be working harmoniously together and businesses would desire to generously give to the community and to the poor. Doing ones best every day would be the norm. People could meet for coffee to help one another and pray for each other. There would be no more destroying of one another to climb the imperial ladder of success. Success would be defined by how you have done your work in the eyes of God, rather than how much money you earned. Our community's workers would not be lacking, stressed, underpaid or overworked. In a transformed community, the entire community is working together for good, love abounds, and mutual respect is exercised.Will we ever see it; I dare to hope we can. Will it be universal in every city, someday in God's final plan. But I hope to believe that until that day, the church in every city can set our goals high and aim toward that higher standard. God is able to do anything through submitted and willing people.
It is our hopes that when we seek transformation for our communities,
God will:
** bring people together who will move into their neighborhoods and workplaces implementing and building relationships.
**put it in our hearts to increase prayer in their neighborhoods, schools, congregations and workplaces.
** show us that our communities are modern day mission fields where we have been called us to serve.
** marry our Christian's walk with our daily life.
** teach us how to bring His light into an environment that is mostly hostile.
** teach us about the power of prayer
We hope that God's people will see who they are in Christ and pray for God's presence to come and transform our communities.
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Scripture Message
Today I was reading from The Living Bible Romans 2. I want to share this with you.Romans Chapter 2
1"Well," you may be saying, "what terrible people you have been talking about!" But wait a minute! You are just as bad. When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are talking about yourselves, for you do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in justice, will punish anyone who does such things as these. 3 Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and overlook you when you do them, too? 4 Don't you realize how patient he is being with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see that he has been waiting all this time without punishing you, to give you time to turn from your sin. His kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.
5 But no, you won't listen; and so you are saving up terrible punishment for yourselves because of your stubbornness in refusing to turn from your sin; for there is going to come a day of wrath when God will be the just Judge of all the world. 6 He will give each one whatever his deeds deserve. 7 He will give eternal life to those who patiently do the will of God, seeking for the unseen glory and honor and eternal life that he offers. 8 But he will terribly punish those who fight against the truth of God and walk in evil ways--God's anger will be poured out upon them. 9 There will be sorrow and suffering for Jews and Gentiles alike who keep on sinning. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who obey him, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 11 For God treats everyone the same. 12-15 He will punish sin wherever it is found. He will punish the heathen when they sin, even though they never had God's written laws, for down in their hearts they know right from wrong. God's laws are written within them; their own conscience accuses them, or sometimes excuses them. And God will punish the Jews for sinning because they have his written laws but don't obey them. They know what is right but don't do it. After all, salvation is not given to those who know what to do, unless they do it. 16 The day will surely come when at God's command Jesus Christ will judge the secret lives of everyone, their inmost thoughts and motives; this is all part of God's great plan, which I proclaim."
17 "You Jews think all is well between yourselves and God because he gave his laws to you; you brag that you are his special friends. 18 Yes, you know what he wants; you know right from wrong and favor the right because you have been taught his laws from earliest youth. 19 You are so sure of the way to God that you could point it out to a blind man. You think of yourselves as beacon lights, directing men who are lost in darkness to God. 20 You think that you can guide the simple and teach even children the affairs of God, for you really know his laws, which are full of all knowledge and truth."
21 "Yes, you teach others--then why don't you teach yourselves? You tell others not to steal--do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery--do you do it? You say "Don't pray to idols" and then make money your god instead. 23 You are so proud of knowing God's laws, but you dishonor him by breaking them. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say that the world speaks evil of God because of you.
25 Being a Jew is worth something if you obey God's laws; but if you don't, then you are no better off than the heathen. 26 And if the heathen obey God's laws, won't God give them all the rights and honors he planned to give the Jews? 27 In fact, those heathen will be much better off than you Jews who know so much about God and have his promises but don't obey his laws.
28 For you are not real Jews just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the Jewish initiation ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a real Jew is anyone whose heart is right with God. For God is not looking for those who cut their bodies in actual body circumcision, but he is looking for those with changed hearts and minds. Whoever has that kind of change in his life will get his praise from God, even if not from you."
Romans 2:1-29 (TLB)
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The Fight
Lord give us a kingdom mentality. Like soldiers fighting, we are fighting everyday against forces that are unseen. Those forces that come against God and His purposes. Like in Iraq there are many who are killed and wounded. Spiritual soldiers are the same - Lord heal us from our wounds and let us live to fight another day. Help us to move toward that finish line and see the glory of God to see Victory. Protect those on the front lines and let them understand that they are more than conquerors.Some may say, "Lord I don't have time." Some may say, "oh Lord I can't be affective," and some may say, "I may get hurt or killed." Help us to see the troops in Iraq. Help us to see kingdom fighting as we look upon them. Do they say, "General, I don't really have time to fight today." Or do they say, "General I can't be affective." Or do they say, "General if I go out there, I might get hurt or killed." Praise God that He has raised up an army of committed men and women in the physical that have moved beyond the excuses and who are defending freedom. Help them God and protect them.
Give the spiritual army those same strengths. When busyness, false humility, or fear engages us, give us eyes to see and recognize it. Help us to fight excuses and to stand strong. To be the army of God advancing forward through the obstacles and through the futile attempts of Satan to exalt his evil. Instead of saying "I can't," help us say, "I can do all things through Christ who will strengthen me." Lord, Let your kingdom Come, Let your will be done. Let us see on earth the glory of your son. Let your Kingdom Come
Child of God, you signed up for the army, you said "here I am Lord, use me." Stand and fight. Enter into that kingdom mentality that will open your eyes to see what God is doing. Do you see the legions of angels? Do you see the hand of God? Do you see victory? Do you know that God has everything under His control? Do you understand that you are submitting to God when you pray? You are humbling yourselves and doing what God is wanting you to do. The work is hard and may carry physical dangers, but the benefits of laboring with Christ are eternal and cannot be measured.
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HE'S ALIVE
My dear friends,I can't imagine what it would have been like for the first disciples to have heard those words: "He's alive!"
Their closest friend, their deliverer, their healer, their king...three days earlier hanging dead,forsaken,on a lonely cross...their hopes and dreams hanging with him.
Fear. Confusion. Despair. It couldn't have been worse.
But now those glorious words that broke across the landscape like the first rays of dawn, "He has risen!"
EVERYTHING had changed. There was now nothing that could keep back God's promises from being fulfilled...nothing that could keep His kingdom from coming! Nothing that could seperate us from His forgiveness and love!
He had defeated every downward pull...even death itself!
I pray today that this fact...in the midst of all the trouble and hardship in the world today...will break open afresh in each of our hearts--giving new heaven-sent hope and power to go forward to each one of us who believe those words:? "He's alive!"
With much love in Him,
Paul L.
Kyiv, UA
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Are We Ready
People are hurting all around us. Although some may go to a church or talk to a pastor, the vast majority will not. They are more apt to turn to a neighbor, a friend, or a coworker.This really is a time for we who are Christians to be sensitive to the lost around us. I encourage you to encourage others to love their neighbors and co-workers, to pray and to be ready.
Galatians 5:14 "For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, You
Shall Love Your neighbor As Yourself"
Are you prepared to answer questions? Are we as the body of Christ in position?
Are we ready?
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God's Will
I was reading in Hebrews yesterday and this section (Heb 6:17-20) really spoke to me. God unchangeableness!!!! His purpose will happen. His will will be done. He is raising up a remnant people who are passionate to pray His perfect will in. I hold on to that. We are all really being hit. I expect that anyone of passion who is not being hit now is going to be shortly, but the attacks are upon us all. I rest inside the veil with Jesus. Holding on to the hope that His word is true. That His will will be done. I just close my eyes so I can see clearly what is actually true instead of looking at what is not real at all. Satan is so deceptive. The deeper I go with the Lord, the more evil I see satan to be.Back to top
The Potential Bride
I often find that God speaks to me through the ordinary things that happen I experience in life. My oldest son is a wonderful young man, who works so hard and gives his best in everything he does. Everyone loves Rob and there isn't anything he wouldn't do for anybody. He shows genuine love, goodness, kindness, and mercy to people all the time. That is who he is. There has been a young lady that he has cared about for years and at thanksgiving time she showed signs of sharing her attracted ness to him. He wooed her with flowers, candle light dinners, and notes when they first went together and now with a renewed chance, great expectations along with joy were arising.He is coming home for Christmas and flew into Minneapolis to see her before coming home to South Dakota. Last night I called his brother Richard who lives in Minneapolis to inquire when they were coming home and discovered that the young lady had not seen Rob. He had called and tried several times to see her or talk to her, but with not success. She absolutely was avoiding him.
As I listened to Richard, over the phone, telling me this, I found myself saying, "SHE DOESN?T DESERVE MY SON." When those words rang out of my mouth and reached my ears, I in part felt God's longing desire for mankind to know and love His son Jesus. He knows how wonderful Jesus is and He knows what a wonderful groom Jesus will be. He knows in full what this future bride would enjoy. He knows everything the groom has prepared for her and the immeasurable love the groom has to give her. What would the groom not give to His beautiful bride? What a wonderful son he is. How excellent he is in everything he does. How generally He cares and freely gives.
If only the bride could see Him as the father does. If only she would stop avoiding him and love him and experience love so deep, so long, so high, so wide. If only she would answer the phone, or open the door. The groom stands knocking and she is not answering the door. She avoids him. And at what point does the Father say "SHE DOESN'T DESERVE MY SON."
There is a world that doesn't deserve Jesus. They are blind to how wonderful He is. But God gave us His beautiful son, not because we deserved Him but because of His incredible love for us. That none of us shall perish.
Is there ever a time, when God says enough? For those who are perishing, time is short. Let us live in such a way that the lost will see JESUS in us.
It is my prayer that people accept Jesus as their Savior, that they stop avoiding Him, and answer the door.
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Marketplace Transformation
This was part of an article writen by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders/Int. Coalition of Wkplc Ministries. His ministry's mission is to help men and women see their work as a calling and ministry. Their goal is to encourage believers to move from a place of barely surviving on the job to transforming their workplace through an intimate walk with Jesus. Workplace is not just businesses, but constrution sites, hospitals, schools, homes etc.
We have their permission to pass this on to the Command Two reader.
To log in to Marketplace Leaders Web site, go to www.marketplaceleaders.org
They do offer a free tgif subscription
Article: MARKETPLACE TRANSFORMATION
"I believe one of the next great moves of God is going to be through the believers in the workplace". Dr. Billy Graham
"God is marshalling his people in the workplace as never before in
history. God is up to something." Dr. Henry Blackaby
The above quotes from Dr. Billy Graham and Dr. Henry Blackaby say it
best. There is a move of God officially taking place in the workplace
today! There is excitement in the air. God is moving among believers
who have never considered the workplace as a place of ministry. As
Fortune magazine puts it, ". Now they are getting organized and going
public to agitate for change."
A Movement about Transformation
What is this faith and work movement about? It's about changing the
20/80 rule in the body of Christ - to 80% of the people doing the work
of ministry. It's about reaching Christians in the "9 to 5 window" who
have been sitting on the sidelines and believe they are less than
equal to those in vocational ministry. It's about the transformation
of lives, workplaces, cities and nations!
Dr. Peter Wagner, church growth expert and observer of trends in the
body of Christ, recently said he finally realized why all of our
efforts to transform a city have failed. "We have attempted to
transform our cities for years without success. I now believe the
reason is because pastors and church leaders do not have the authority
to do so. That authority lies within those leaders in the workplace.
When we recognize and affirm the apostles in the marketplace we will
begin to see the transformation of cities."
Marketplace Leaders is Addressing the Greatest Need in the Movement.
Whenever I speak to a group I usually ask, "How many of you have been
intentionally trained by your church to apply Biblical faith where you
work?" In a group of 100 the number of hands that go up are between
five and seven. This confirms Your Work Matters to God author Doug
Sherman's research that revealed that 90-97% of Christians have never
been intentionally trained to apply their faith at work by their
church. The London Institute of Contemporary Christianity found that
47% of people they surveyed felt that sermons are irrelevant to the
world they live in daily. Additionally, surveys revealed that 50% of
Christians are dissatisfied with their work life. In other words, we
are not being equipped to see our work as a calling and a place to
experience the love and power of Jesus Christ.
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Just a Thought
Dear Readers,So many times, the Lord will give me something wonderful to meditate upon. Tonight as I was coming home, the thought came to me, Why did Jesus save me?? As I thought about it, it occurred to me that one of the reasons He saved me was because He wanted me to co-labor with Him. He wants laborers. Then I thought how awesome is it when we actually submit to Him completely and submit to His will so he can accomplish his will on earth through us. How wonderful to think that we can co-labor with the King of Kings. How blessed He must be, when the desire in our hearts are His desires and His purposes. He sees how He created me and He sees what I can accomplish through Christ's strength when I submit. He sees all of us this way.
But what about people who are so caught up with their own misfortunes and struggles? And what if I am not thinking of his desires but thinking about my own desires. Christ saved them to co-labor with Him too. The misfortunes and struggles are realities that distract us and get us off course. The Word says to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus. When irritations and stresses come my way, I need to take them captive, because they are diverting my eyes away from Christ and focusing them on myself. So, what do I do when stress and life's troubles that come my way? Trust Him and let faith arise in His abilities. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4: 6-7
It sounds so simple. "Could it be that easy?" If my eyes are on Jesus, and if I trust Him daily and am obeying His commands - "Can I actually accomplish what God destined for me?" Absolutely. I believe that He desire everyone to achieve certain things on earth. Maybe it is something big, maybe it is something small, maybe it is befriending a neighbor, or running a business, or teaching a class, or preaching a sermon, or helping a friend, or taking care of the elderly, or medically treating a patient, or interceding for a nation. All are important to God. Every job needs to be done. He saved you for a reason. Our lives have purpose. He loves you and wants you in relationship with Him. There is work to be done on planet earth. If not, He wouldn't have asked us to pray for laborers.
There are many people who are lost out there. The word says, "The fields are white unto harvest." There are many who are trapped in sin, and Jesus died to set them all free. He wills that none shall perish, and for all to have eternal life.
We can choose to labor with him, or labor for ourselves. To labor with Him brings blessings too numerous to count. Laboring for ourselves brings stress, anxiety, and momentary satisfaction. I would rather co-labor with Christ than to center my focus on myself and all that brings.
So in answer to the question "Why did Jesus save me," I might conclude that the main reason He saved me was just because he loves me. But another reason is because He sees beyond all my weaknesses and frailties and sees someone who He has beautifully and wonderfully made who will co-labor with Him on earth to accomplish His will. Isn't it awesome to realize that we are actually tools in the hands of the master carpenter.
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Sioux Falls, SD 57105
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©Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved
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