S.O.A.P. for Today

Ways. Work. Walk.

2012-02-07T00:01:00.000-06:00

Scripture:

Leviticus 14:13-18 He is to slaughter the lamb in the holy place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. (14) The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. (15) The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand, (16) dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the LORD seven times. (17) The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. (18) The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for him before the LORD.

Observation:

Why did Aaron and his sons need to be cleansed and set apart? Although all the men from the tribe of Levi were dedicated for service to God, only Aaron's descendants could be priests. They alone had the honor and responsibility of performing the sacrifices. These priests had to cleanse and dedicate themselves before they could help the people do the same.

The ceremony described in Leviticus 8 and 9 was their ordination ceremony. Aaron and his sons were washed with water (Leviticus 8:6), clothed with special garments (Leviticus 8:7-9, 13), and anointed with oil (Leviticus 8:12). They placed their hands on a young bull as it was killed (Leviticus 8:14-15), and on two rams as they were killed (Leviticus 8:18-19, 22, 23). This showed that holiness came from God alone, not from the priestly role. Similarly, we are not spiritually cleansed because we have a religious position, reputation, or title. Spiritual cleansing comes only from God. No matter how high our position or how long we have held it, we must depend on God for spiritual vitality.

Application:

How does this apply to me? We see the practice of placing some of the blood of the sacrificial animal "on the tip of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot" in Leviticus 14:14 and 14:25 in the cleansing ritual of one who has experienced healing of a skin disease. Though the situations calling for this ritual are dramatically different, the symbolism is intriguing in both. If one considers the ear a symbol of hearing, the thumb a symbol of working, and the toe a symbol of walking, one can regard this action as indicating that priests (and later cured "lepers") are now commissioned and established to listen to God, to work for God, and to walk with God.

Every morning and evening, I pray over my wife and kids and I plead the blood over their right ear, right thumb and right toe. This is believing God to protect their WAYS (ear, mind), their WORK (thumb, what they do this day), and their WALK (toe).

Moses would then apply anointing oil, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, over the blood on the priests right ear, right thumb, and right toe. This is symbolic of the Holy Spirit responding to the blood and giving us the strength to keep our ways (minds) pure, our work holy, and our walk righteous.

I believe strongly in the importance of pleading the blood of Jesus over our loved one's: body, soul and spirit as well as over their mind, work and walk. There is power in the blood of Jesus, and the person of the Holy Spirit. Remember, the Holy Spirit always honors the blood of Jesus!

Some have tried to teach AGAINST pleading the blood saying it is begging God for this. I couldn't disagree more. If I am in court and I "plead the 5th amendment" I am not begging. I am claiming my legal right; a right that a great price was paid for me to have. The same is true when you "plead the blood of Jesus". It is a legal right that Jesus paid for you to have by His death on the cross! Use that right today!

Prayer:

"Lord, help me to understand the importance of the blood of Jesus in my every day life. I recognize the need to apply the blood to my body, soul and spirit. Help me also to be reminded to apply the blood to my right ear, right thumb and right toe. I want to be everything that you want me to be. Right now, I plead the blood of Jesus over my children's (call them by name) body, soul (emotions) and spirit (where they commune with God). Also, I plead the blood of Jesus his/her mind, work and walk. The following prayer is something I want to learn to pray daily:

God be in our minds and in our understanding.
God be in our eyes and in our seeing.
God be in our mouths and in our speaking.
God be in our hearts and in our living.
God be in our ears and in our hearing.
God be in our hands and in our doing.
God be in our feet and in our walking.
God be with us now in our departing.

I ask this in Jesus' name, amen!"

Rivals

2012-02-06T00:01:00.000-06:00

Scripture:

Exodus 20:23-24 Remember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival Me. (24) "Build for Me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to Me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build My altar wherever I cause My name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you.

Observation:

Why were specific directions given for building altars? God's people had no Bible and few religious traditions to learn from. God had to start from scratch and teach them how to worship him. God gave specific instructions about building altars because he wanted to control the way sacrifices were offered. To prevent idolatry from creeping into worship, God did not allow the altar stones to be cut or shaped into any form. Nor did God let the people build an altar just anywhere. This was designed to prevent them from starting their own religions or making changes in the way God wanted things done. God is not against creativity, but he is against us creating our own religion.

Application:

As I read this text, v. 23 jumped off of the page at me, and challenged me. "You must not make any idols of silver or gold to RIVAL Me."

What do I have in my life that challenges God for my heart? What fights to sit on the throne of my life? What am I unwilling to die to? What do I continue to make excuses for? What keeps me from completely, wholeheartedly serving the Lord?

These are legitmate questions that must be answered for the man or woman of God. God is a jealous God and does not want us to allow rivals to His Lordship in our life.

Money, lust, power, greed, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, anger, relationships...are of these are things that can attempt to move Jesus off of the seat of autority in our life. Today, my hearts desire is to listen to the Holy Spirit of God as He points out God's rivals in my life!

Prayer:

"Lord, I am so thankful for Your Word and the challenges that Your Spirit brings into my life every day. As I read and meditate on these verses today, I am aware of RIVALS that I have allowed in my heart. Today I confess of them, and make efforts to remove these from my life completely. I want You to be on the throne of my life. I do not want anything that will block the flow of Your Spirit in my life. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Christ IN you

2011-12-13T07:12:00.000-06:00

Scripture:

Colossians 1:27 (MSG) God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message.

Colossians 1:27 (NIV) To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Observation:

The false teachers in the Colossian church believed that spiritual perfection was a secret and hidden plan that only a few privileged people could discover. Their secret plan was meant to be exclusive. Paul said that he was proclaiming the entire message of God, not just a part of the plan. He also called God's plan a "message . . . kept secret for centuries and generations past," not in the sense that only a few would understand, but because it was hidden until Christ came. Through Christ it was made open to all. God's secret plan is "Christ lives in you"-God planned to have his Son, Jesus Christ, live in the hearts of all who believe in him-even Gentiles like the Colossians. Do you know Christ? He is not hidden if you will come to him.

Application:

The Virgin birth is more than just another Christmas story; it illustrates just how close God wants to get to you. In fact, He's asking you the same question He asked Mary, "Are you willing to let me move in?"

Throughout scripture it's always been His desire to get close to His people. He told the disciples, "I am in you" (John 14:20). Paul prayed, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts" (Ephesians 3:17) John says, "Those who obey… live in him, and he in them" (1 John 3:24). Paul wrote, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27), then he added: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). And Jesus said, "If any one… opens the door, I will come in" (Revelation 3:20).

In the Old Testament God was with Adam and Eve in the Garden… He was with Abraham, and even called him His friend… He was with Moses and the Israelite.

But as a believer He's in you - and He'll keep growing in you, and as He does, He comes out in what you say, how you act and the decisions you make.

Do you struggle with bitterness, worry, habits and fear? Not Jesus! And because He lives in you, you have access 24/7 to His limitless power! That's how come Paul writes about "striving according to His power, which mightily works within us" (Colossians 1:29). What's in you? "His power!" What more do you need? Remember when the Angel appeared to Mary and she said, "Be it done… according to your word" (Luke 1:38)? Make that your prayer this Christmas!

Prayer:

"Lord, yesterday I studied how You are WITH ME as Immanuel. Today, I am so thankful that you are IN ME as Christ, my Savior and Lord. I am so thankful that you are being formed in me, and I am daily striving to allow Your character to be seen through my words, choices, attitudes, etc. I ask today, as Mary did, 'Be it done according to your Word.' Thank you Lord, for giving me the great HOPE that I have today. In this day, I refuse to be bitter, depressed, discouraged, or in despair. Because you are my hope, I will savor this day and realize that you will provide my daily bread. You have provided me already with new compassion and mercy, they are new every morning. You have given me my breath. Your Word says in Job 34:13-15 "He's the one who runs the earth! He cradles the whole world in his hand! (14) If he decided to hold his breath, (15) every man, woman, and child would die for lack of air." I understand that you hold my life in your hands. You are giving me the breath to breathe at this very moment, and as long as I have your breath, I have YOUR hope. I love you Lord, and I am so thankful that you are IN ME. In jesus' name, amen!"

Let Judah lead the march

2011-12-08T08:38:00.003-06:00

Scripture:

Numbers 2:9 The total number of men assigned to Judah, troop by troop, is 186,400. They will lead the march.

Observation:

Numbers 2 gives the specific arrangement and disposition of the tribes, and lists the number of each tribe and where they were to be positioned. It is seen from this arrangement that the vanguard and rear guard of the host had the strongest forces-186,400 and 157,600 respectively-with the smaller tribal groupings within them and the tabernacle in the center.

To each tribe, then, there was given a specific place and function, and each was to be in his divinely appointed place. It is not difficult to see shadows of New Testament patterns here. The apostle Paul says, "Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called" (1 Corinthians 7:20), and "You are the body of Christ, and members individually" (I Corinthians 12:27).

The words in verse Numbers 2:17, "everyone in his place," provide the direct link with these New Testament references. The Danites, for example, were behind the others in most of the march; yet they were good fighting men, and therefore particularly fit for that position. They were needed there to ward off surprise attacks from the rear. The tribe of Judah was to lead the march into battle. In every battle, Judah was to go first.

Application:

Judah, in Hebrew, means: "the praise of the Lord." When you understand this meaning, we get a clear picture of what God is telling His Children.

"Praise" should always go first into every battle. It doesn't matter how great the struggle or the storm, go into the storm with praise in your heart that flows out of your mouth. God is giving His complaining, whining, belly aching children an alternative. Praise and thanksgiving! Their tendency was to go into battle complaining about "not enough food" or "no beds" and how they "needed a new leader". God knew that they would never be who God created them to be if they didn't start sending Praise (Judah) first into battle.

Many times I find myself going into a battle not with praise, but with complaining, and words of fear, or doubt. God is showing me today, through His Word that I need to have His praise in my mouth, at all times, but especially heading into a battle.

The whole pattern in Numbers 2 presents a vital picture:

Here are the people of God on the move, with the ark of the covenant in their midst, the Word of the living God at the heart of everything, as it were, directing all the operations and sending forth its influence in grace and power. And a church with the Word of God at the heart of its life is a church that will advance purposefully, because it is one that has life and influence. It is certainly no accident that, later in the ongoing story of Israel (Joshua 2:10-11), when the Canaanite tribes heard of the advancing host of Israel, their strength was turned to water within them because they knew that in the midst of these Israelites was a real and living God, a mighty God who did exploits for His people.

What a blessed people we are! God's Word in our midst and hearts, and praise to our God going before us. I can't help but be victorious with that combination! Amen?

Prayer:

"Dear Lord, I am so thankful for your Word today. I am so challenged with the thought of entering each battle, struggle or storm with 'Praise' and not complaining. Please forgive me for the times that I have allowed a wrong spirit to develop within me. Also, for the times that I have been more of a complainer than a praiser. You deserve my praise. Today, I choose to emphasize praise and thanksgiving. I will also continue to hide your Word in my heart, and declare it victoriously while praising. When I enter a battle with praise and thanksgiving, I am declaring to the enemy that 'the battle is not mine, but it is Gods!' I love you Lord, and thank you for the blessing of today. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Shake it off!

2011-12-07T07:18:00.001-06:00

Scripture:

Act 28:1-6 Once everyone was accounted for and we realized we had all made it, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. (2) The natives went out of their way to be friendly to us. The day was rainy and cold and we were already soaked to the bone, but they built a huge bonfire and gathered us around it. (3) Paul pitched in and helped. He had gathered up a bundle of sticks, but when he put it on the fire, a venomous snake, roused from its torpor by the heat, struck his hand and held on. (4) Seeing the snake hanging from Paul's hand like that, the natives jumped to the conclusion that he was a murderer getting his just deserts. (5) Paul shook the snake off into the fire, none the worse for wear. (6) They kept expecting him to drop dead, but when it was obvious he wasn't going to, they jumped to the conclusion that he was a god!

Observation:

The island of Malta is 60 miles south of Sicily. It had excellent harbors and was ideally located for trade. The islanders on Malta were of Phoenician ancestry.

Dawn brought sight of land for Paul and his shipmates, They did not know that it was Malta. A beach on the land looked like a safe place to ground the ship. What they didn't know was that beneath the waters was a treacherous reef. They cut the four anchors, loosed the rudder ropes, and hoisted the mainsail. Then it happened. The prow of the ship stuck fast in the shoal and the stern was battered to pieces by the surging waves. There was nothing to do but abandon ship and grasp anything afloat to aid in swimming ashore. Paul and the other prisoners barely escaped execution. The soldiers wanted to kill them, fearing they would swim away and, once on land, would slip out of their grasp. Julius, the centurion, stepped in. Luke tells us that he wanted to save Paul. Was this allegiance to his duty to deliver the apostle to Rome, or in gratitude for what he had done to save their lives? I think the latter. He knew that they would not have made it if it had not been for Paul's leadership, prayers, and the blessing of his Lord. The apostle had made another friend. The account of what happened on Malta is further evidence of how the Lord will use everything for His glory and our effectiveness.

But something happened to Paul while building the fire that was even more convincing than his practical helpfulness. A viper was forced out of a crevice in one of the pieces of wood by the heat of the fire. It fastened itself to Paul's hand. This was a vivid picture: a leaping fire, the apostle in chains, a serpent dangling from his hand, and the natives of the island, as well as Paul's shipmates, looking on in horrified fright. The natives who had kindly greeted the survivors now expressed the superstition of their culture. The viper's attack was surely the just punishment of one they perceived to be a murderer on the way to his execution.

Paul, with customary calmness, shook the viper off his hand and went about his duties of helping others. The natives watched, waiting for his hand to swell and death to come. After a long time, when Paul was still joyously alive and active, the natives decided that this was no murderer but a god!

Application:

How does this apply to my life? There are several things that I would like to note:

Paul was still alive because of God's favor! Every where Paul went, he had enemies because of his preaching, but he also had dependable, trustworthy friends. I want to live my life so that God is able and willing to give me favor with men. There are so many things that need to be done in God's kingdom, but he is looking for men and women who will love the Lord God with all of their "heart, mind, soul, and strength" and "love his neighbor as himself." When we do that, expect God to reward that type of love with favor with God AND man.

Secondly, Paul never thought work was below him. He didn't have to, but he got right in and helped start the fire and bundle sticks. True, godly, pure leaders are not lazy. They are willing to do anything it takes to make someone or something successful!

Thirdly, as he placed wood onto the fire, and very venomous snake latched on to his hand and attempted to poison Paul. The poison SHOULD HAVE killed Paul. In fact the villagers watched and waited for Paul to die. He didn't! He shook off the snake into the fire. I noticed it said that the snake "wouldn't let go." It was stubbornly, and potentially fatally, latching onto Paul and refusing to let go. If Paul hadn't of shaken it off into the fire, I believe it would have killed him. But by faith, he took action and did something about the snake.

As I read that, God spoke into my heart that there are things in our life that poison our spirit and and stubbornly hold on to us. It could be failures from the past, it could be offenses from years gone by, it could be dislike or hatred of a person, it could be unforgiveness...again, I could go on and on. But the bottom line is, I must shake that poisonous creature into the fire. It is time to move on! It is time to walk in victory and to stop making excuses for the reason that I am allowing that poison into my life. I must adjust my attitude and begin to live like Jesus in every area of my life. How long will I allow the poison to effect my relationships with: my wife, my children, my co-workers, my church family, my friends? It is time to take action! It is time to move past your past! God can and will use your past today and in the future, if you stop allowing the poison to effect your spirit. King David cried out, "Lord, renew a right spirit within me" and God did. He will do the same for me!

Prayer:

"Lord, once again, I need your help. As I daily read your Word, you are showing me areas that I need to allow your Holy Spirit to work on inside of me. There are too many times that I allow a poisonous situation or person to stay attached to my spirit for days, weeks, months or years. This ought not to be! A poisonous spirit hinders my relationship with you and every other relationship that I have. Please forgive me for not "shaking the snake into the fire" and moving on joyfully with my life. I ponder, linger, relive situations where I have been hurt over and over again. I am sorry Lord, I am wrong. I cry out to you like King David did many years ago, 'create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Right now I make the decision to shake this poison off of my life and spirit and I will live victoriously. The way I shake this off of and out of my life is through your Word, prayer and meditation. I STOP talking about how I was wronged, and instead talk about how blessed that I really am. I decide today to focus on the good things in my life. I do that through thanksgiving and praise. Thank you Lord for revealing this to me this evening. I love you Lord, and thank you for helping the poison to be removed from my life! In Jesus name, amen!"

Am I a Barnabas or a Job's Comforter?

2011-12-06T06:48:00.001-06:00

Scripture:

Job 19:1-3 Then Job replied: (2) "How long will you torment me and crush me with words? (3) Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me.

Observation:

Violence begets violence. Job expected his friends to help him. Instead, they turn into his tormentors. The issue is between him and God, not between him and them. Why do they add to his torture?

With all of the supports of the past and the present taken from him, Job can appeal only to the future. If only he could engrave his case in stone, he knows that ultimately he will be vindicated. Suddenly, in a flash of prophetic insight, Job knows that God is alive and will be his redeemer as well as his mediator and vindicator. While he is yearning for that moment, the reality of his torment takes over again. Turning back to his friends, he warns them that they too are open to God's wrath because of their cruelty toward him. The initiative now belongs to Job.

Application:

As I read the text this morning, verse two troubled me, "how long will you torment me and crush me with your words?"

Job is going through a crisis like very few have ever known. All of his children had died, he had lost all of his wealth, as well as his health. His wife was blaming God and telling him that he should just "curse God and die!"

At least he had friends...but his friends who had come to comfort him are not being very comforting. They are tormenting him and crushing him with their words. They weren't very symphathetic, nor were they encouraging.

The Japanese have a saying: "One kind word can warm up three winter months." In the book of Acts, Barnabas speaks words of encouragment to a young man by the name of John Mark. He reached out to him to encourage him. Don't we all need that?

So many times God can use you to reach out to somebody. You know all of us find stress and difficulty in life and you can speak a word to a person, do something for them, believe in them, reach out and meet a physical need.

Sometimes, just a note. You know a written thing is sometimes better than a verbal one and I'll tell you why. Because when you write it you'll probably express your feelings better and the recipient will have it to go back to when he needs it and read it again. I know when you get a written word of encouragement, you keep it. When you get a note that tears you up, you tear it up. The human heart needs encouragement and Barnabas was a man who knew how to do it. Job's friends had no idea how to do it. Quite the contrary actually.

What a contrast. Job being tormented and crushed by the words of his "friends" and John Mark receiving booster shots of encouragment from Barnabas early in his career. Mark had a problem and Barnabas said, "Let me help you fix it."

My question today is, "Are you a Barnabas type of person, or a Job's comforter type of person?" Do people feel refreshed after being around you, or drained? Are you careful with your words or careless?

I pray that no one will ever say of me that my words have "crushed them" or "tormented them" because of my lack of compassion. I want to be an encouragement to everyone that God brings my way today. As you read this, why not ask the Lord, "who can I encourage today" through a text message, facebook, or email. Being careful applies to facebook as well. Too often, Christian people don't sound like Christian people by their status updates. They try to make a point more than pointing someone to Jesus.

Help us Lord!

Prayer:

"Lord, forgive me for the times that my words have tormented or crushed. That is not Your purpose or will for my life. Help me today to be an encouragment to someone. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Arranging my mind

2011-12-02T08:45:00.000-06:00

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Observation:

Paul had faced suffering, trials, and distress as he preached the Good News. But he knew that they would one day be over, and he would obtain God's rest and rewards. As we face great troubles, it's easy to focus on the pain rather than on our ultimate goal. Just as athletes concentrate on the finish line and ignore their discomfort, we, too, must focus on the reward for our faith and the joy that lasts forever. No matter what happens to us in this life, we have the assurance of eternal life, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away.

It is easy to lose heart and quit. We all have faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to think about giving up. Rather than quitting when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on the inner strength that came from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16). Don't let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job. Renew your commitment to serving Christ. Don't forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today's pain. Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment.

Application:

A 90-year-old widow was moving to a nursing home because she was legally blind. On the elevator when a nurse began to describe her new room, the elderly lady exclaimed, "I love it!" "But you haven't even seen it yet," said the nurse. "That doesn't matter," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide ahead of time! Whether or not I like it doesn't depend on how the furniture's arranged. It's how I arrange my mind that's important, and I've already decided to love it. Every morning when I wake I can choose to dwell on the parts of my body that no longer work, or give thanks for the ones that do! Every day is a gift, so as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the blessings of each new day, and all the great memories I've stored away." What an attitude!

Old age is sort of like a bank account; you get out only what you deposit. In fact, all stages of life are like a deposit. If you deposit lots of good stuff early on, you'll be able to withdraw it later when you need it. So - what are you depositing today?

Read again Paul's words from today's text: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Prayer:

"Lord, I love the attitude of the 90 year old lady. She had already decided that she would enjoy her new room even before she had seen it. Why? Because she started out the day DECIDING and DETERMINING to enjoy whatever that day brought. She savored every moment that she had. Oh God, please help me to do the same thing. Please forgive me for the days that I have allowed to pass me by without savoring the moments. I am a blessed man, and I take so much for granted. Today, I determine that I will bask in and savor each moment. I deposit memories of blessings, even the seemingly small things. I will draw from those memories in days to come. When I go through a struggle, help me to remember what I am depositing today. In Jesus' name, amen!"

God pleasing Meditation

2011-12-01T08:17:00.000-06:00

Scripture:

Psalm 104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.

Observation:

You can learn how to follow God by meditating on his Word. This means spending time reading and thinking about what you have read. It means asking yourself how you should change so you will live as God wants. Knowing and thinking about God's Word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what he says.

Application:

There have been times when I have gone to see my Doctor and he tells me that he needs to change my medication. He will then make adjustments to my medicinal intake. In today's verse, I hear the Holy Spirit speaking to me, "You need to change your meditation. You need to make adjustments to your emotional intake. I need to change what I am dwelling on each day. I need to learn to trust in the Lord, and dwell on His goodness.

There's an old Greek proverb that says, "The bow that is always bent will soon break."

Deep-seated worry can be harmful to your emotional and physical health. Dr. Charles Mayo, the founder of the Mayo Clinic, wrote this about worry: "Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the digestive system, and the entire nervous system. I've never known a person to die of overwork, but many who died from worry."

Our English word "worry" is derived from the old German word wurgen, meaning "to choke." The term has come to be used to denote "mental strangulation" to describe the harmful effects of worry.

I would like to share with you a few quotes that I have gathered that speaks about worry:

"Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you." -- Anonymous

"God never built a Christian strong enough to carry today's duties and tomorrow's anxieties piled on the top of them." -- Theodore Ledyard Cuyler

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength." -- Corrie Ten Boom, cited in The Best of BITS & PIECES

"Worry is the interest we pay on tomorrow's troubles." -- E. Stanley Jones

"Let us not bankrupt our today's by paying interest on the regrets of yesterday and by borrowing in advance the troubles of tomorrow." -- Ralph W. Sockman (1889-1970), minister, B&P 8/22/03

The opposite of worry is TRUST. Whenever we approach a situation, we can grab it by the handle of trust or the handle of worry.

Trust and worry are mutually exclusive. You can experience one or the other but not both at the same time. God has promised to love us and to take care of us. He has promised that all things will work together for our good (Romans 8:28). He has invited us to cast our burdens upon Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

Whenever we worry we are suggesting that God cannot be trusted, that He can't fulfill His promise. Many evangelical Christians would never commit adultery, steal, or commit gross sins of the flesh, but at the same time, they are chronic worriers. You will not have victory over your worry until you admit that worry is a sin. Worry must become our ENEMY and not our FRIEND.

And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing." (Luke 12:22-23, NASB)

All the water in the world however hard it tried, could never, ever sink a ship unless it got inside. All the hardships of this world, Might wear you pretty thin, But they won't hurt you, one least bit ... Unless you let them in.

Are you a worrier? If you're like a lot of people, worry just might be one of the things that makes life miserable. It's not uncommon for people to lose sleep, drop weight, develop "nervous tics," suffer ulcers or other gastric disorders, or get pretty sick in other ways, all from worry. Worry just might be one of the elements that feeds a grand variety of mental and emotional disorders. And even though we don't usually diagnose things this way, worry is the cause of countless spiritual maladies as well.

Some people waste time worrying about things they really cannot change. Perhaps the point is this: if something is within your ability, do something about it.
If it's not, try changing yourself first, by developing new abilities, then attacking the problem. Remember one thing above all else - worry doesn't fix anything. In fact, worry will add an extra burden to any problem. It clouds the mind, wrecks the emotions, and kills the spirit. How does a befuddled, nervous, spiritually dead person accomplish anything worthwhile? You've got to get a handle on worry.

How can you get a handle on worry? By changing your MEDITATION. Change what you allow to dwell in your mind. As I have already mentioned, if you went to a doctor for a physical problem, he would probably give you some medicine. If after a few days the medicine didn't work, the doctor would CHANGE YOUR MEDICATION to something else. That is exactly what we as Christians need to do. What we have been meditating on leads to worry and anxiety so Jesus, the great Physician, wants us to CHANGE OUR MEDITATION.

What is meditation? In its simplest form, it is what you dwell on in your mind. If you are a worrier, then you are dwelling on, or meditating on, your problem. When you change your meditation, you change what you are dwelling on. Stop dwelling on your problem, and start dwelling on your problem solver, Jesus Christ!

Some people seem more prone to worry than others, but it's possible for anyone to reduce the extremes. Legitimate concern can serve as a powerful motivator. The fact that we care deeply about some issue is a positive. Worry, however, paralyzes us, and leaves us powerless. Try to figure out if you can do something or not. If so, do. If not, don't. Either way, worry isn't the answer, but trusting your faithful God is!

One day a man is walking through a park and stops to observe a dad who is tossing his child up in the air and catching him. He noticed the child seemed so calm, and had very little fear at all of falling to the ground. The man walks over to the dad and ask him why the child remains so relaxed although he is out of control. The father says "It's because we have a history. We've played this game before, and I've never dropped him."

My friend, remember the history that you have with God. He has never dropped you, and HE'S NOT GOING TO START TODAY!

Prayer:

"Lord, I am so thankful that I can trust You. So many times I wondered how we were going to make it through a situation, but You are always faithful and good. May I meditate on that today. I truly want my meditation to be pleasing to you today. If it isn't, then I will change my meditation. In Jesus' name, amen!"

The arrival of TITUS!

2011-11-30T08:51:00.001-06:00

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 7:5-6 When we arrived in Macedonia province, we couldn't settle down. The fights in the church and the fears in our hearts kept us on pins and needles. We couldn't relax because we didn't know how it would turn out. (6) Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus.

Observation:

Think about what Paul wrote. He was facing trouble on the outside, as well as internally. His heart was full of dread and fear, then God sent a great gift! What was the gift? Titus. The name Titus means "nurse." A Nurse is a great help and assistance to a doctor. He/she many times are the hands, words, and care of the doctor extended. The nurse represents the doctor.

Application:

Some of the people around you, even successful ones, are dying on the vine for lack of encouragement. Solomon writes, "How delightful is a timely word." (Proverbs 15:23) Isn't that true? It's delightful to receive a timely word. The Message says, "The right word at the right time - beautiful!"

Encouragement brings emotional healing, restores hope by putting the problem into perspective, and makes the day more bearable. Is there someone you know who needs encouragement? A prisoner trying to stay strong in a hostile environment while repaying his debt to society? A divorcee trying to rebuild his or her life? A breadwinner who's out of work, worried about their family? A widow who needs companionship? A servant of God labouring in an obscure and difficult ministry? Everyone is struggling with something - so everyone needs encouragement.

William Barclay writes, "One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement… it is easy to laugh at men's ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of such discouragers. But we have a duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word."

Paul writes: "Outside, trouble was on every hand… within us, our hearts were full of dread and fear. Then God who cheers those who are discouraged refreshed us by the arrival of Titus. Not only was his presence a joy, but also the news that he brought" (2 Corinthians 7:5-7 TLB).

Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Jesus is the great physician, the doctor. Every doctor needs a Nurse. God is looking for "Titus’" to step into situations and bring joy, cheer, encouragement, refreshment, and good news to those who are down trodden and feel like giving up. So many people are battling deep pits of despair, discouragement and depression. There is a great need for Titus’. There is a great need for Nurses in the kingdom of God.

The question that I asked myself after reading these verses was, "when I arrive at a place, do I bring encouragement? Do I bring joy? Good news? Do I refresh those who I come in contact with?" Or, am I messenger of bad news, discouragement, and do people avoid me because of my negativity?

I hope and pray that I am a nurse (Titus) for the great physician. God knows in my heart, that is what I desire! But desire left alone, isn’t effective. I must allow it to drive me to action!

So, be a Titus - encourage someone today. Amen?

Prayer:

"Lord, as I said above, my heart's desire is to encourage someone today. I believe that you will bring people in my path, divine appointments, that need some help because they are battling discouragement. May I be ready and willing. In Jesus name, amen!"

Just for TODAY!

2011-11-29T09:16:00.001-06:00

Scripture:

Luke 11:2-4 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. (3) Give us each day our daily bread. (4) Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'"

Observation:

Notice the order in this prayer. First, Jesus praised God; then he made his requests. Praising God first puts us in the right frame of mind to tell him about our needs. Too often our prayers are more like shopping lists than conversations. These verses focus on three aspects of prayer: its content (Luke 11:2-4), our persistence (Luke 11:5-10), and God's faithfulness (Luke 11:11-13).

God's provision is daily, not all at once. We cannot store it up and then cut off communication with God. And we dare not be self-satisfied. If you are running low on strength, ask yourself, How long have I been away from the Source?

Application:

Max Lucado says, "Worry is to joy what a vacuum cleaner is to dirt; you might as well attach your heart to a happiness-sucker and flip the switch."

Jesus said, "Don't get worked up about… tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." When it looks like things are falling apart, Paul reminds us, "Every detail in our lives… is worked into something good" (Romans 8:28 MSG). When it seems like the world's gone mad, don't forget God "existed before anything else,… and He holds all creation together" (Colossians 1:17 NLT). When worry whispers, "God doesn't know what you need," remember God promised to "take care of everything you need" (Philp 4:19).

Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." You won't get the wisdom or resources to handle tomorrow's problems till you need them. When we "go confidently to the throne… [we'll] find kindness, which will help us at the right time" (Hebrews 4:16).

Over a century ago Charles Spurgeon said: "Enough for today is all we can enjoy. We cannot eat, drink, or wear more than today's supply of food and clothing. The surplus gives us the care of storing it and the anxiety that someone might steal it. One staff aids a traveler; a bunch of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is as good as a feast, and more than gluttony can enjoy. Enough is all we should expect; a craving for more is ungratefulness. When our Father doesn't give you more, be content with your daily allowance."

As Author Bob Gass said, "Just for today, I'll enjoy each moment to the fullest and try not to tackle my whole life's problems at once. Just for today, I'll try to improve my mind by learning more than I know; I'll read God's Word faithfully for it's my source of wisdom and strength. I'll be particularly sensitive to those Scriptures that require personal obedience, corrective action, and greater commitment. Just for today, I'll be agreeable, try to look my best and make sure my words are "seasoned with grace." Just for today, I won't find fault or try to change or improve anyone - except myself. Just for today, I'll have a plan and a goal. I might not follow them exactly but I'll have them nonetheless. By doing that I'll save myself from two enemies - hurry and indecision! Just for today, I'll develop my character. I'll do someone a good turn and keep it secret; if anyone finds out it won't count. Just for today, I'll do something I don't naturally want to do, thereby train my spirit to rule my flesh and my will to rule my emotions. Just for today, I won't be afraid to love or to risk; I'll take steps of faith that stretch me beyond my present comfort level, try to enjoy all God's blessings, and believe that every seed I sow in His Kingdom will be multiplied back to me many times over. This is how I'll live - just for today!"

Prayer:

"Lord, thank you for providing me with daily bread. You always take care of me. You always make "all things" beautiful in your time. Forgive me for doubting. I choose today to trust you. I give my needs to you, and thank you for Your provision. Your truly are Jehovah-Jireh, my provider. You promise to give me JUST ENOUGH for today...my daily bread. In Jesus' name, amen!"

In the Midst of the Fire

2011-11-18T09:32:00.001-06:00

Scripture:

Daniel 3:24-25 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." (25) He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."

Observation:

It was obvious to those watching that this fourth person was supernatural. We cannot be certain who the fourth man was. It could have been an angel or a preincarnate appearance of Christ. In either case, God sent a heavenly visitor to accompany these faithful men during their time of great trial.

God's deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was a great victory of faith for the Jews in captivity. They were protected from harm, they were comforted in trial, God was glorified, and they were rewarded. Let us determine to be true to God no matter how difficult the pressure or punishment. God's protection transcends anything we could imagine.

Application:

The phrase that really spoke to me this morning is, "walking in the midst of the fire" I am so thankful that Jesus doesn't bail out on me when I am going through the fire.

Over and over again I read in the Scriptures that God spoke in the storm, walked with His children through the fire, stayed with them through the lions den, led them across the Red Sea, knocked down walls, walked with them in the valley to face giants, stood with them as they were martyred, and I could go on and on. I am so thankful that in today's text God was seen "within the fire..." I am not alone when I face difficult times. Even if I feel alone. I walk by FAITH and not FEELINGS.

God never promised that we wouldn't have difficult times. In fact, quite the contrary. Jesus said in John 16:33 (msg) "I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

The Word says in Isaiah 43:2-3 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you. (3) For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."

One of my favorite songs is "Through the fire" by the Crabb Family. The words are powerful:

So many times I've questioned certain circumstances
Or things I could not understand
Many times in trials, weakness blurs my vision
And my frustrations get so out of hand
It's then I am reminded I've never been forsaken
I've never had to stand the test alone
As I look at all the victories, the Spirit rises up in me
It's through the fire my weakness is made strong

And He never promised the cross would not get heavy and the hill would not be hard to climb. He never offered victory without fighting but He said help would always come in time. Just remember when you're standing in the valley of decision and the adversary says give in Just hold on, our Lord will show up and He will take you through the fire again

I know within myself that I would surely perish
But if I trust the hand of God, He'll shield the flames again

Thank the Lord that He is "in the midst of the fire!"

Prayer:

"Lord, when I read Daniel 3and saw the words "in the midst of the fire" I wanted to shout hallelujah as I was once again reminded how many times you have walked with me through the fire. You promised me that I would make it through the fire, and that you would be with me. You have never broken Your Word to me, and you never will because Hebrews 6:18 says 'God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go.' Thank you for that truth Lord. I will make it through this fire because you are WITH ME! In Jesus name, amen!"

A life of Thanksgiving or Complaining?

2011-11-17T07:41:00.000-06:00

Scripture:

Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], (15) That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

Observation:

Why are complaining and arguing so harmful? If all that people know about a church is that its members constantly argue, complain, and gossip, they get a false impression of Christ and the Good News. Belief in Christ should unite those who trust him. If your church is always complaining and arguing, it lacks the unifying power of Jesus Christ. Stop arguing with other Christians or complaining about people and conditions within the church; instead, let the world see Christ.

Our lives should be characterized by moral purity, patience, and peacefulness, so that we will "shine brightly" in a dark and depraved world. A transformed life is an effective witness to the power of God's Word. Are you shining brightly, or are you clouded by complaining and arguing? Don't let dissensions snuff out your light. Shine out for God. Your role is to shine until Jesus returns and bathes the world in his radiant glory.

Application:

We don't realize that when we complain, we are saying that God isn't caring for us like He should. We rob Him of the praise and Thanksgiving that He so deserves.

We complain about the price of groceries instead of offering Him thanks that we can afford to buy food.

We complain about our spiritual struggles instead of offering Him thanks that Jesus died on the cross for my salvation.

We complain about the price of gasoline instead of offering Him thanks that we have a vehicle.

We complain about how messy our families are instead of offering Him thanks that we have a family.

We complain about how much our kids fight instead of offering Him thanks for our children.

We complain about our country instead of offering Him thanks that we live in the greatest nation in the world.

We complain about our spouse instead of offering Him thanks that we are married.

We complain that we don't feel very well instead of offering Him thanks that we are alive.

We complain that we don't make enough money instead of offering Him thanks that we have more wealth that a large percentage of the world

We complain about the traffic jam on the interstate instead of offering Him thanks that we are not causing the jam due to car problems or an accident.

We complain about the music of our church instead of offering Him thanks that we have the right and freedom to worship God in our church

We complain about the problems that have to be fixed in our house instead of offering Him thanks for our house.

We complain about how busy we are today instead of offering Him thanks for this day

I could go on and on. I can very easily become a complainer. That is why my theme verse is Psalm 118:24, "This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." I have to remind myself often that I choose to be full of thanksgiving and not complaining… TODAY. I have to take one day at a time. I often teach on how we need to enjoy each season of our lives. Well, I actually believe that we need to enjoy each minute of each day, or each season of our lives. How do we do that? Develop an attitude of gratitude.

Prayer:

"Lord, please forgive me for the times I have taken your blessings for granted. I fail to praise You like I should for everyday blessings I take for granted. But then, when one thing doesn't go the way I think it should, I easily turn to complaining. Thank You for making me aware of this. I choose today to live a life of thanksgiving, not of complaining. In Jesus name, amen!"

Distress, Debt, Discontent

2011-11-10T09:03:00.001-06:00

Scripture:   

1 Samuel 22:1-2 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. (2) All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 

Observation:

Until now David had been alone, but at this juncture in his life he gathered people around him. The first to come were "his brothers and all his father's house" (1 Sam 22:1). There was a unity to the clan or family that made this a natural move, but they were also now in danger from Saul who might be expected to attack them merely because they were David's family. As society has moved from a pastoral to an urban culture, and from a sense of corporateness to the prizing of the individual, there have been losses as well as gains. One loss is the strong support system that families are capable of providing for their members.

The second group that was drawn to David did not seem as attractive, for they were people who were drawn to him because of common troubles. They had been made into a family not by blood ties but by suffering similar problems. While the one-sentence description in the text is not exhaustive, it paints a clear picture of David's four hundred men as "everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented" (1 Sam 22:2). The establishing of the monarchy had not solved all their problems and had probably created new ones, and these were the people caught in the social upheaval. It's easy to see why they accepted David as their captain.

While the group bore no resemblance to the elite unit that David had commanded for Saul, they made a contribution to his preparation for being king. They taught him the problems of the common people. Had he stayed in the palace, eating with the king and enjoying the company of the prince, he would have never been able to understand the people who came to him. When people suffer they discover others who are suffering and are able to communicate with them at a deeper level than is ever possible for those who have not shared the experience.

Application:

How do these verses apply to me? I want to take a look at each "group" that assembled with David.

First of all, the distressed. The Greek word used here means: a narrow place, confinement or disability: It refers to hardships and anxiety especially brought on from disobeying the Lord but also from general social and political conditions.

So, the distressed in the Cave of Adullam were those who were "boxed in" with a disability or a "narrow-minded" view of things. They were those who have been in disobedience to the Lord for various reasons. How often has my narrow-mindedness brought me into distress? I must allow my hardships and anxiety to drive me to God's presence, and not from it.

I know people who are "narrow-Minded" in the style of music that they will worship to, that there is only one translation that is worth anything and if you don't use that one, than you are wrong. Some are narrow-minded in how to deal with people, in how you are supposed to lead people, in their opinions. I could go on and on. I can become "distressed" because of my narrow-mindedness which leads to hardships and anxiety.

Secondly were those in debt. The Greek word used here means: A verb indicating lending or interest, serving as a creditor. It refers to a person who has made a loan, It means those who lend or charge excessive interest.

So, those who were in debt represent those who have not put the Lord in charge of their finances. Instead of looking to God, they looked to credit, or high interest abuse of people. It all adds up to a lack of integrity in their finances. It is so tempting to use credit cards to get what we want right now.

Instant gratification is a lack of self-control that has gotten many folks in a mess financially. In fact, it has pushed entire Countries into messes that the government has to start "bailing out."

The very basics of giving my finances to God is to start giving. Some want to argue that paying tithes isn't a New Covenant principle so many use that as an excuse not to give anything. God's heart is giving, not receiving or being tight fisted. God blesses the giver, not the stingy. Help me Lord, to be a better steward of the blessings that you have given me.

Finally, there were those who were the discontented. The Greek word used here means: bitter (literally or figuratively); also bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly: angry, chafed, discontented, heavy.

So, those who were discontented were people who were bitter and extremely angry. We are living in a very angry culture. From road rage, to school shootings, home invasions, and drive by shootings.

God is looking for a people that will raise the standard of living and be salt and light. We cannot be salt and light when we act like those who do not know Christ. There are many angry, bitter people in God's Kingdom. We must allow the Lord to change our character and attitudes. And give our bitterness and anger to Him daily!

Prayer:

"Lord, please help me today. I have been distressed, in debt, and discontented at various times in my life. That is not a great place to me, in fact it is very troubling. I need to lean on you today to make sure that I don't go there again because of my lack of self-control and sour attitude and disposition. Jesus, I want to live, act, talk, walk, think and love like you do. I thank you that you can, and are, using my experiences that I have had in each of these categories of people to help others. You never waste pain, you always use it to assist others if I will allow you to do so. I honor you today, and choose to make every effort to keep my life from becoming distressed, in debt, and discontented today. In Jesus name, Amen! "

Permissible yes, but is it Beneficial?

2011-11-09T07:13:00.001-06:00

Scripture:  

1 Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.  1 Corinthians 10:23-24 “Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. (24) Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.  

Observation:  

Sometimes it's hard to know when to defer to weaker believers. Paul gives a simple rule of thumb to help in making the decision: We should be sensitive and gracious. The goal here is not a general hypersensitivity that worries about what others might possibly think. Rather, it is a genuine awareness of others and a willingness to limit what we do when there is a real possibility of misunderstanding and offense. Some actions may not be wrong, but they may not be in the best interest of others. We have freedom in Christ, but we shouldn't exercise our freedom at the cost of hurting a Christian brother or sister. We are not to consider only ourselves; we must also consider the needs and perspective of others   

Application:  

Apparently the church had been quoting and misapplying the words "I am allowed to do anything." Some Christians in Corinth were excusing their sins by saying that:  (1) Christ had taken away all sin, and so they had complete freedom to live as they pleased, or  (2) what they were doing was not strictly forbidden by Scripture.  

Paul answered both these excuses:  (1) While Christ has taken away our sin, this does not give us freedom to go on doing what we know is wrong. The New Testament specifically forbids many sins (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) that were originally prohibited in the Old Testament (see Romans 12:9-21); Romans 13:8-10).  (2) Some actions are not sinful in themselves, but they are not appropriate because they can control our life and lead us away from God.  (3) Some actions may hurt others. Anything we do that hurts rather than helps others is not right.  

I am troubled by the attitude that some Christians have of "everything is permissable" or "it isn't sin so why shouldn’t I do it!" Too often, we become selfish in our decisions and "liberty's." We don't care who we hurt or how much our testimony is affected, because I can do, and WILL DO what I want to do. The whole time Jesus is saying, "You are the salt of the earth" and you are the "light of the world" so desiring for His children to get back to living for Him AND for others.  Jesus COULD have called angels from heaven to come and deliver Him from the cross, but He showed self-control, and died to his way, and the RIGHT that He had, by putting the needs of other's before His own.

My friends, I want to live that way. I don't want to be a stumbling block to those around me who are seeking Jesus because of my freedom or liberty. There are simply some things I WILL NOT DO, not because it is sin, but because I want Jesus to be seen in me, and way too often, the world, those not living for Jesus, has seen hypocrisy in the followers of Christ because of "freedom!" To say, "I'll do it if I won't to" is living for myself, and selfish.

Too often we put our own desires over the desire of Jesus for His children to be influencers in this increasingly evil world. We need Light to penetrate the darkness. But too often we have allowed darkness to influence the Light of Jesus in us. It happened to God's Children (Israelites) in the wilderness, and it is happening again in the day we live.  When we are more concerned about my rights, freedom's and liberty's than we are for letting Jesus be seen in our words, decisions, and actions, then we have become selfish and living for ourselves and not Christ!

As Paul said, “all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." Forgive us Jesus and help us!  

Prayer:  

"Jesus, please forgive me for the times I have put my desire over Your desire and the needs of this world to SEE YOU in our life. I want You to be seen in my life today in everything I say, do or show. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Slow Fade

2011-11-08T09:17:00.001-06:00

Scripture:

2 Samuel 12:7-9 (MSG) "You're the man!" said Nathan. "And here's what GOD, the God of Israel, has to say to you: I made you king over Israel. I freed you from the fist of Saul. (8) I gave you your master's daughter and other wives to have and to hold. I gave you both Israel and Judah. And if that hadn't been enough, I'd have gladly thrown in much more. (9) So why have you treated the word of GOD with brazen contempt, doing this great evil? You murdered Uriah the Hittite, then took his wife as your wife. Worse, you killed him with an Ammonite sword!

2 Samuel 12:9 (ESV) Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

Observation:

As a prophet, Nathan was required to confront sin, even the sin of a king. It took great courage, skill, and tact to speak to David in a way that would make him aware of his wrong actions. When you have to confront someone with unpleasant news, pray for courage, skill, and tact. If you want that person to respond constructively, think through what you are going to say. How you present your message may be as important as what you say. Season your words with wisdom.

It was a year later, and by then David had become so insensitive to his own sins that he didn't realize he was the villain in Nathan's story. The qualities we condemn in others are often our own character flaws. Which friends, associates, or family members do you find easy to criticize and hard to accept? Instead of trying to change them, ask God to help you understand their feelings and see your own flaws more clearly. You may discover that in condemning others, you have been condemning yourself.

Application:

I have been blessed immeasurably by the Hand of God. I have a beautiful, godly wife who loves me very much. I have the best kids in the world who have never given me even a moment of trouble. Our family is blessed with good health, we live in the greatest country on the face of this earth. I pastor an awesome church with some of the greatest folk in the world. I could go on and on...but suffice it to say I am blessed. The Word of God says:

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

What great gifts He has blessed my life with! God had also blessed King David with such great blessings, but yet he failed God miserably and had given an "occasion for the enemies of God to blaspheme" the Lord. What happened to this dynamic, anointed man of God? The problem is found v. 9. David somehow had begun to despise the Word of God. Nathan asked him "why have you DESPISED the Word of the Lord?" "Why have you treated the Word of God with brazen contempt?"

The Hebrews word "despised" used here is bazah: A verb meaning to hold in contempt or to despise. The verb means to hold in disdain, to disrespect. It can mean to prefer something more than the thing despised, e.g., Esau's birthright (Gen_25:34), or not to treat something with proper respect.

David despised the Word of God by not respecting it like he should. He preferred the PLEASURE of his sin over PLEASING God. He decided to do what he wanted and not what God wanted. You can read many of the Psalms and see how much David loved God and His Word. But during this occasion he DESPISED God's Word and it cost him just about everything. This despising of God's Word didn't happen overnight. It was a "slow fade..." Please read slowly the words to the song by Casting Crowns, "It's a slow fade."

Be careful little eyes what you see, It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings, Be careful little feet where you go For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow  It's a slow fade when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray. Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid When you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day. It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade  Be careful little ears what you hear. When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near. Be careful little lips what you say. For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray  It's a slow fade when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray. Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid. When you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day  The journey from your mind to your hands. Is shorter than you're thinking. Be careful if you think you stand. You just might be sinking  It's a slow fade when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray. Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid. When you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day. Daddies never crumble in a day. Families never crumble in a day

When you begin to DESPISE the Word of God, and you choose PLEASURE of sin over PLEASING God remember that didn't happen overnight. Somewhere, some how, you began to DESPISE the Word of God, and you didn't stop it when you could. Why don't you right now spend some time in God's presence and determine the stop the slow fade, and ask Him to forgive you for the slow fade that has been going on in your life for some time. You call out to Him...He will hear and respond! Go ahead...why don't you do it right now!

Prayer:

"Lord, like David, I have allowed a slow fade to take place in my life. There was a time in my life where I would be broken when I chose the PLEASURE of sin over PLEASING you. I'm not broken very often anymore. Please forgive me. I know that godly sorrow brings about true repentance. I choose today to stop DESPISING Your Word. I give Your Word top precedence in my life today. I choose to allow it to guide my paths and choices today. I love you Lord, and return to the Joy of Your salvation in my life. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Contentment and Gratitude!

2011-11-07T09:32:00.000-06:00

Scripture:

Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Observation:

David said, "Praise… God… and… magnify Him with thanksgiving," because gratitude has:

(1) Driving power. Paul says, "Thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory" (2 Corinthians 2:14 NCV). Thanksgiving helps you make the hard decisions. It gives you courage to believe against all odds.

(2) Reviving power. Listen to what Paul says, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "Don'tever stop thinking about what is… worthy of praise…. And God, who gives peace, will be with you" (Philippians 4:8-9 CEV). Stopping regularly to recall God's goodness restores your perspective and strengthens you.

(3) Striving power. Gratitude gives you the "uumph" to move ahead. Paul could "press on" because his goals included:

knowing Christ: Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward."

preaching in Spain: Romans 15:24 "I'm planning my visit. I'm headed for Spain, and expect to stop off on the way to enjoy a good visit with you, and eventually have you send me off with God's blessing."

seeing a lost world saved: Romans 10:1 "Believe me, friends, all I want for Israel is what's best for Israel: salvation, nothing less. I want it with all my heart and pray to God for it all the time."

(4) Arriving power. When you reach your destination, you'll find you've developed selflessness and humility. That's because gratitude is nothing more than telling God and those around you, "Thanks. I couldn't have done it without you!"

Application:

When Dr. Robert Schuller, founder of California's Crystal Cathedral, was growing up, drought ravaged their family farm. They prayed for rain that never came. His dad, who normally harvested 100 wagon loads of corn, reaped only a half-wagon full.

Schuller says, "I'll never forget it. His calloused hands holding ours as he looked up and prayed, 'Thank you Lord, I've lost nothing. I've regained all the seed I planted in spring.' While other farmers were saying, 'We lost 90 or 100 loads,' my father told me, 'Never count the might-have-beens or you'll be defeated. Never look at what you've lost, only look at what you've got left.'"

Good advice! Too many times we get caught up in REGRETS and what MIGHT HAVE BEEN, and we don't give God the thanks that he is deserving of, and we find ourselves "wallowing" in self-pity and before long depression begins to settle in.

Today, why don't you purpose in your heart to be THANKFUL for everything that God has blessed you with.

Do you know what the word CONTENTMENT really means? It means, "wanting what God has blessed you with." Not "coveting" what you do not have. Paul said that he had LEARNED to be content. You learn CONTENTMENT by developing an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE towards what God has placed in your life. You will NEVER develop gratitude as long as you camp out in the land of WHAT COULD HAVE OR MIGHT HAVE BEEN. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Why not start it off with thanksgiving for you HAVE LEFT!

Prayer:

"Lord, You have blessed me in so many ways. I choose today to refuse the regrets that try to rob praise from my lips and thoughts. I can't do anything about regrets, but I can take inventory of my life today, and realize how blessed I really am. As I begin to count my blessings, and name them one by one, I am overwhelmed with gratitude! Thank you Jesus! Amen!"

Convinced!

2011-11-03T09:08:00.000-05:00

Scripture:

Romans 8:35-39 (Message) Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: (36) They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. (37) None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. (38) I'm absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, (39) high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Observation:

Verses 35-36 were written to a church that would soon undergo terrible persecution. In just a few years, Paul's hypothetical situations would turn into painful realities. This passage reaffirms God's profound love for his people. No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are, we can never be separated from his love. Suffering should not drive us away from God but help us to identify with him and allow his love to heal us.

These verses (v. 35-39) contain one of the most comforting promises in all Scripture. Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, and even death. These sometimes cause them to fear that they have been abandoned by Christ. But Paul exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of his unconquerable love. Nothing can separate us from Christ's presence. God tells us how great his love is so that we will feel totally secure in him. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid.

Application:

Nothing or no one shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, no homelessness, not bullying threats, not back stabbing, nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic,...not one thing you can thing of and add to this list. Today and tomorrow, you will not be separated by God's love! Jesus LOVES you. Isn't that wonderful to know? In EVERYTHING that you may be facing at this very moment God says, YOU "are more than a conqueror!" How? "Through HIM who loved us." I am more than a conqueror, not through anything that I have done, but through Jesus. I watched a video a few years ago that said, "That's my king." I would like to share some of those words with you, and remind you of WHY you are more than a conqueror!

My King is the key of knowledge, He's the wellspring of wisdom, He's the doorway of deliverance, He's the pathway of peace, He's the roadway of righteousness
He's the highway of holiness, He's the gateway of glory, and He's the master of the mighty. He's the captain of the conquerors. He's the head of the heroes. He's the leader of the legislators. He's the overseer of the overcomers. He's the governor of governors. He's the prince of princes. He's the King of Kings. And He's the Lord of Lords. That's my King

His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough
His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy. And His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable, He's incomprehensible. He's invincible. He's irresistible. I'm trying to tell you, the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. Let alone a man explain Him
you can't get Him out of your mind. You can't get Him off of your hands. You can't outlive Him. And you can't live without Him.

The Pharisee's couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree, And Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him. And the grave couldn't hold Him. That's my King!

He always has been, and He always will be. He had no predecessor, and He'll have no successor. There was nobody before Him, and there'll be nobody after Him
you can't impeach Him. And He's not going to resign.

He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's God's Son. He's the sinner's Saviour. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He's the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour.

He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek. That is MY KING!

Hallelujah! I got excited just typing that! My friend, that is why NOTHING you face today, tomorrow, in the coming days, weeks or years, that will separate you from the love Jesus Christ! Because you are more than a conqueror...THROUGH HIM, my King! Is He your King? If not, why not ask Him to be right now!

Prayer:

"Lord, I am so thankful today that you have made me more than a conqueror. I am victorious not because of anything that I have done, but victory is through You. I confess that I have been fearful and confused at times in the midst of difficult times, but I am reminded right now that You are my King, and I am MORE than a conqueror. Nothing...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that I face today can separate me from your love, or your purpose for my life. I acquiesce to you today. I choose to walk and live by the nudge of the Spirit. I choose to allow you to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in my life today. I can face whatever today holds THROUGH you. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Persuaded!

2011-11-02T08:29:00.001-05:00

Scripture:

2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Observations:

In spite of the suffering that might have caused Paul to despair, he affirmed his confidence in God's protection. This was not a claim to strong faith; rather, it was a trust in one so powerful that even a weak faith was sufficient. Paul based his confidence in Christ on his intimate relationship with him. Paul knew the one in whom he trusted with personal knowledge; he knew Christ so well that no earthly experience could break the bond of love by which Christ held him. If your situation looks bleak, give your concerns to Christ because you know him and love him. Realize that he will guard all you have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

"For I know whom I have believed" - means, "trusted." The idea is, that he understood the character of that Redeemer to whom he had committed his eternal interests, and knew that he had no reason to be ashamed of confiding in him. He was able to keep all that he had intrusted to his care, and would not suffer him to be lost:

Isaiah 28:16 But the Master, GOD, has something to say to this: "Watch closely. I'm laying a foundation in Zion, a solid granite foundation, squared and true. And this is the meaning of the stone: A TRUSTING LIFE WON'T TOPPLE."

"He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." A literal translation of this statement could read, "Keep the good deposit," or "guard the faith." Here the idea shifts to that of the gospel as a rich treasure to be guarded. And that is our ministry, too. That's why Bible study is so important. I like to think of the Bible as a rich treasure-a veritable gold mine of history, poetry, literature, wisdom-all the Word of God to us. It is to be kept and guarded, not by putting it in a vault or under glass, but "by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." That is, by ingesting it through reading and study, so that it guards us as we guard it. Evangelist Dwight L. Moody once said to a young person: "This Book will keep you from sin-or sin will keep you from this Book." While the power is not in the Book but in the Holy Spirit, the treasure is worth guarding.

Application:

With the phrase "keep that which I have committed unto Him" Paul is wanting each of us to be confidant in the keeping power of God. I believe with all of my heart that, (1) Paul knew that God would protect the souls of those converted through his preaching; (2) Paul trusted God to guard his own soul until Christ's second coming; also, I believe (3) Paul was confident that, though he was in prison and facing death, God would carry out the Good News ministry through others such as Timothy. Paul may have expressed his confidence to encourage Timothy, who was undoubtedly discouraged by the problems in Ephesus and fearful of persecution. Even in prison, Paul knew that God was still in control. No matter what setbacks or problems we face, we can trust fully in God.

This verse has always been such an encouragement to me. Because I KNOW who my Lord is, because I KNOW how loving and caring He is, because I have SEEN His goodness in my past, because I HAVE EXPERIENCED His forgiveness and restoration, because I have BENEFITED from His miraculous provision, because I have MADE IT through fiery trials...(and I could go on and on)...I am PERSUADED that He is able to do whatever His Word says He will, and that He is able to KEEP that which I give to Him. I am still tempted to take back what I give to Him, but I must remind myself everyday that God has never let me down, never forsaken me, never abandoned me, and He will not start today. He truly is in control of my life...even when I can't see Him. But when you become PERSUADED that He is able...you won't need to feel or see Him. Again, that only comes through a personal relationship with Him...DAILY...and through that relationship you can know Him, and then you WILL be persuaded!

Prayer:

"Lord, today I truly KNOW whom I have put my belief and confidence in. And because I know you, I am persuaded that you are able! Even when the enemy of my soul attempts to bring fear, confusion, and turmoil, I choose to declare my faith and confidence in You. Because I KNOW...I truly am PERSUADED! I love you Lord, and thank you for our HIS-STORY together. Even if I don't feel or see you today, I know that I know that I know that You are caring for me and watching over me. I commit myself right now to that care...with CONFIDENCE. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Double-Mouthed Sword

2011-10-31T11:03:00.001-05:00

Scripture:

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Observation:

The Word of God is not simply a collection of words from God, a vehicle for communicating ideas; it is living, life-changing, and dynamic as it works in us. With the incisiveness of a surgeon's knife, God's Word reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both good and evil. The demands of God's Word require decisions. We must not only listen to the Word; we must also let it shape our lives.

Application:

What is the significance of the “two-edged sword” referred to in Hebrews 4:12? If you start looking, you’ll find out this phrase regarding a “two-edged sword” appears all over the New Testament, so it must be pretty important. For instance, when the apostle John received his vision of Jesus on the isle of Patmos, he said, “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (Revelation 1:16).

Notice that this “two-edged sword” came out of Jesus’ mouth! Why would Jesus have a sword in His mouth? Shouldn’t the sword have been in His hand? The phrase “two-edged” is taken from the Greek word distomos and is unquestionably one of the oddest words in the entire New Testament.

Why is it so odd? Because it is a compound of the word di, meaning two, and the word stomos, which is the Greek word for one’s mouth. Thus, when these two words are compounded into one (distomos), they describe something that is two-mouthed! Don’t you agree that this seems a little strange? So why would the Bible refer to the Word of God repeatedly as a “two-edged sword” or, literally, a “two-mouthed sword” ?

The Word of God is like a sword that has two edges, cutting both ways and doing terrible damage to an aggressor. Ephesians 6:17 calls it “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”. The term “word” is taken from the Greek word rhema, which describes something that is spoken clearly, vividly, in unmistakable terms and undeniable language. In the New Testament, the word rhema carries the idea of a quickened word.

Here’s an example of a rhema or a quickened word: You are praying about a situation, and suddenly a Bible verse rises up from inside your heart. At that moment, you are consciously aware that God has given you a verse to stand on and to claim for your situation. You’ve received a word that came right out of the mouth of God and dropped into your spirit! That word from God was so sharp that it cut right through your questions, intellect, and natural logic and lodged deep within your heart. After you meditated on that rhema, or that quickened word from God, it suddenly began to release its power inside you. Soon you couldn’t contain it any longer!

Everything within you wanted to declare what God had said to you. You wanted to say it. You want to release it out of your mouth! And when you did, those powerful words were sent forth like a mighty blade to drive back the forces of hell that had been marshaled against you, your family, your business, your ministry, your finances, your relationship, or your body.

First, that word came out of the mouth of God. Next, it came out of your mouth! When it came out of your mouth, it became a sharp, “two- edged” — or literally, a “two-mouthed” — sword. One edge of this sword came into existence when the Word initially proceeded out of God’s mouth. The second edge of this sword was added when the Word of God proceeded out of YOUR mouth!

The Word of God remains a one-bladed sword when it comes out of God’s mouth and drops into your heart but is never released from your own mouth by faith. That supernatural word simply lies dormant in your heart, never becoming the two- edged sword God designed it to be.

But something happens in the realm of the Spirit when you finally rise up and begin to speak forth that word. The moment it comes out of your mouth, a second edge is added to the blade! Nothing is more powerful than a word that comes first from God’s mouth and then from your mouth. You and God have come into agreement, and that agreement releases His mighty power into the situation at hand!

So begin to willfully take the Word into your spirit by meditating on it and giving it a place of top priority. This is how you take the first necessary step in giving the Word a “second edge” in your life. Then when you are confronted by a challenge from the demonic realm, the Holy Spirit will be able to reach down into the reservoir of God’s Word you have stored up on the inside of you and pull up the exact scripture you need for that moment. As that quickened rhema word from God begins to first fill your heart and mind and then come out of your mouth, it becomes that “two- mouthed sword” described in the Scriptures. That’s when demons start to tremble in terror!

Prayer:

"Lord, I am so thankful for your Word, that doulbe-edged sword that is powerful, quick and sharp. There is dunamis power in Your Word. As I read it, You are speaking it from Your mouth. When I speak it out loud from my mouth is when it becomes double-edged sword with great power. I want to read it, memorize it, believe it, and speak it. In Jesus' name, amen!"

I am LONELY

2011-10-25T06:56:00.001-05:00

Scripture:

Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."

Observation:

Everything in Creation was “very good” (Genesis 1:31) except the loneliness of Adam. “It is not good for man to be alone” points to the basis for marriage: (1) to provide companionship; (2) to carry on the race; (3) to help one another and bring out the best. The word “helpmeet” (Genesis 2:18) refers to helper: one that meets his needs. This companion was not found anywhere in animal creation, thus showing the great gulf that is fixed between brute creatures and human beings made in the image of God. God made the first woman out of the flesh and bone of the first man, and He “closed up the flesh in its place” (Genesis 2:21, NKJV). The verb “made” in Genesis 2:22 is actually the word “built,” as one would build a temple. The fact that Eve was made from Adam shows the unity of the human race and the dignity of woman. It has been remarked that Eve was made, not from the man’s feet to be trampled by him, or from his head to rule over him, but from his side, to be near his heart and loved by him.

Adam had named all the animals that God had brought him (Genesis 2:19), thus showing that the first man had intelligence, language, and speech. Now he names his bride “woman” (in the Heb. ishshah which is related to ish meaning “man”). Thus, in name and nature, man and woman belong to each other. How wonderful it would be if every wedding were performed by God. Then every home would be a paradise on earth.

Application:

A nationally syndicated columnist writes: "I'm lonely and it saddens me. How could I not have enough friends? It seems as though every woman's friendship quota is filled and she's no longer accepting new applicants. It's easy to fill your day with work, but it's not enough." And if you think it's bad for women, 90% of men report that they don't have one close friend! Mother Theresa said, "Loneliness is modern-day leprosy and people don't want others to know they're lepers."

Throughout Genesis we read, "and God saw that it was good." It's a recurring theme - that is, until God created Adam. Then He said: "It isn't good for… man to live alone." Think: even though the fall hadn't yet happened and Adam was enjoying uninterrupted communion with His Creator, because he was without human companionship God said it wasn't good.

Inside every one of us there's a void that only God can fill. But since the Bible says, "We're all connected to each other" (Ephesians 4:25 TM), there's also a people-shaped void that God won't fill. And nothing else can either - not jobs, houses, cars, or money. The One who created you for connection says, "Do not be interested only in your own life… be interested in… others" (Philippians 2:4 NCV).

So, the answer to loneliness can be found in reaching out: in finding an unmet need and pouring ourselves into it. Or as the jingle of one communication's company goes: "Reach out and touch someone." Go ahead, try it - you'll be glad you did!

Loneliness can make you do things you wouldn't ordinarily consider. And if you travel for a living you're particularly vulnerable. For example, a motel room far from home can become the breeding ground for affairs, pornography, drugs and alcohol. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time has caused many a man and woman to fall. David prayed, "Turn to me and be gracious… for I am lonely." (Psalm 25:16)

You can live beyond Satan's reach by:

(1) Staying close to God. When you're lonely, distancing yourself from Him doesn't make sense. Jesus said: "I am the vine… you are the branches… you cannot do anything without Me" (John 15:5 CEV). Jesus is your source of strength and wisdom; He's the One who can meet all your needs.

(2) Coming out of hiding. Get involved in some aspect of ministry. Be willing to be more transparent by getting to know others and letting them get to know you. When you spend time around people who care about you, loneliness ceases to be an issue.

(3) Reaching out. Focusing on yourself is a guaranteed way to feel isolated. Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." Instead of throwing a pity-party for yourself, reach out to those in need by giving of yourself, praying for them and loving them unconditionally.

(4) Forgiving those who've hurt you. Feeling sorry for yourself and harbouring grudges leads to bitterness. Forgive, turn it over to God, let Him deal with the offender and get on with your life!

He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him. Matthew 6:33

Somewhere beyond loneliness there's a contentment that's born of necessity. It's when doors seem to close in the natural realm that they suddenly swing open in the spiritual realm and you begin to see the possibility of having the kind of relationship with God you never had before.

Prayer:

"Lord, You understand lonliness. In the Garden of Gethsemane, in an extrememe of sorrow, your friends, disciples, left You. On the cross you asked Your Father 'why have you forsaken me?' You felt the emotion of lonliness. Because of this You sent the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter and You promised we would never be alone, or abandoned. Holy Spirit, You can also bring friends into our life as You direct our steps. I ask You to encourage and strengthen that one today who will read this blog and feel so very alone. Help them to know You have a plan still, for their life. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Mary, Martha, Lazarus or Judas?

2011-10-24T09:32:00.001-05:00

Scripture:

John 12:1-3 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. (2) So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. (3) Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Observation:

Essence of nard was a fragrant ointment imported from the mountains of India. Thus, it was very expensive. The amount Mary used was worth a year's wages.

Application:

Today I would like to share a devotion I read from author and pastor Max Lucado. It really spoke to my heart today:

If God has called you to be a Martha, then serve! Remind the rest of us that there is evangelism in feeding the poor and there is worship in nursing the sick.

If God has called you to be a Mary, then worship! Remind the rest of us that we don't have to be busy to be holy. Urge us with your example to put down our clipboards and megaphones and be quiet in worship.

If God has called you to be a Lazarus, then testify. Remind the rest of us that we, too, have a story to tell. We, too, have neighbors who are lost. We, too, have died and been resurrected.Each of us has our place at the table.

Except one. There was one at Martha's house who didn't find his place. Though he had been near Jesus longer than any of the others, he was furthest in his faith. His name was Judas. He was a thief. When Mary poured the perfume he feigned spirituality. "The perfume could have been sold and given to the poor," he said. But Jesus knew Judas's heart, and Jesus defended Mary's worship. Years later, John, too, knew Judas's heart, and John explained that Judas was a thief (John 12:6). And all these years he had been dipping his hand in the treasury. The reason he wanted the perfume to be sold and the money put in the treasury was so that he could get his hands on it.

What a sad ending to a beautiful story. But what an appropriate ending. For in every church there are those like Martha who take time to serve. There are those like Mary who take time to worship. There are those like Lazarus who take time to testify.

And there are those like Judas who take, take, take, and never give in return. Are you a Judas? I ask the question carefully, yet honestly. Are you near Christ but far from his heart? Are you at the dinner with a sour soul? Are you always criticizing the gifts of others yet seldom, if ever, giving your own? Are you benefiting from the church while never giving to it? Do others give sacrificially while you give miserly? Are you a Judas?

Do you take, take, take, and never give? If so, you are the Judas in this story.

If you are a Martha, be strengthened. God sees your service.
If you are a Mary, be encouraged. God receives your worship.
If you are a Lazarus, be strong. God honors your conviction.
But if you are a Judas, be warned. God sees your selfishness.

Prayer:

"Lord, turn on the searchlight of your Spirit into the deepest areas of my heart today. See if their be any wicked, selfishness within me. I want to serve, and worship you with conviction. Please help me to die to self today, and walk as the new creature You have created me to be. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Two questions for the Storms of life

2011-10-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

Scripture:

Mark 4:37-40 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. (38) But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" (39) And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (40) He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

Observation:

The "lake" is the Sea of Galilee, a body of water 680 feet below sea level and surrounded by hills. Winds blowing across the land intensify close to the sea, often causing violent and unexpected storms. The disciples were seasoned fishermen, who had spent their lives fishing on this huge lake, but during this squall they panicked.

The Christian life may have more stormy weather than calm seas. The disciples needed rest, but they encountered a terrible storm. As Christ's follower, be prepared for the storms that will surely come. Do not surrender to the stress, but remain resilient and recover from setbacks. With faith in Christ, you can pray, trust, and move ahead. When a squall approaches, lean into the wind and trust God.

Application:

The Disciples are in the midst of a severe storm. There are two questions that I believe are asked during all of life's storms. One is asked by the disciples, the other by Jesus. Let's look at them:

"Don't you care?" "And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38b NAS).

Have you ever been there? I have! "Don't you care about me?" "Why don't you do something?" "I thought you loved me." When we question if God cares, what we are really questioning is God's love. "God if you really loved me you would do something." "If you loved me you wouldn't have allowed this to happen." "If you loved me I wouldn't have any problems."

What the disciples didn't understand was that it was God's love that allowed them to be in this trial. In love God wanted them to see His power. In love God wanted them to increase their faith. In love God wanted them to his faithfulness to them. So, does God care about you? We know He does! "Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7 NAS). God wants us to know that He cares. Now we can answer the first unanswered question. Does God care about me? Yes, He cares for me because He loves me!

"Why are you afraid?" This time it is Jesus asking the question. "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, 'Why are you so afraid?'" (Mark 4:39-40a NIV).

The disciples asked Jesus a question and now he asks them a question. Jesus often answers questions with questions. Let's ask ourselves this question. Why are we afraid?

There are three basic fear reactions.

1. Anxiety over our helplessness

The disciples weren't able to do anything about the storm. I'm sure they tried bailing out the boat before waking Jesus. They were helpless to do anything. When we are helpless to do any thing (not in control) then we become anxious and that produces fear.

2. Anxiety over failure

We have failed before and therefore we fearful of failing again. The next failure might be terminal. When we fail we think of ourselves as failures. We don't understand that God's plan for our lives involves some failures. We have to come to the end of ourselves before we can begin to trust him. For the Christian failure doesn't have to be terminal.

2. Anxiety over the future

This is the fear of the unknown. Like, fearful of getting older. Fearful of leaving the predictable life behind for the unpredictability of following God. These things bring us fear. But most of all we are fearful because we forget God. God tells us, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10 NAS).

There are five promises found in Isaiah 41:10:

I am with you.
I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
I will help you.
I will uphold you.

Prayer:

"Lord we all face storms in this life. During each storm the enemy will try to convince us that You no longer care for us. He will whisper lies into our spirit man. We must know that we know that You are a GOOD God, and that You truly care for us. When I am rock solid on that fact, then my faith will flourish even in the midst of a test. Today, I declare my faith in You and Your Word, and I am persuaded that You do care for me very much. Thank You for this. In Jesus name, amen!"

What is "pouring out" of my mouth?

2011-10-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

Scripture:

Hebrews 13:15 Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name.

Observation:

Since these Jewish Christians, because of their witness to the Messiah, no longer worshiped with other Jews, they should consider praise and acts of service their sacrifices—ones they could offer anywhere, anytime. This must have reminded them of the prophet Hosea's words, "Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises" (Hos_14:2). A "sacrifice of praise" today would include thanking Christ for his sacrifice on the cross and telling others about it. Acts of kindness and sharing are particularly pleasing to God, even when they go unnoticed by others.

Our lips should confess God's name in praise. Yet, in your typical day, how many times do you hear God's name used profanely? Christians should turn their frequency toward praise! Praise God early in the day before the rush, then again in the hurried middle, and at the end as business winds down. Offer Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise.

Application:

Billy Graham wrote, "Ingratitude is a sin, just as surely as is lying or stealing or immorality or any other sin condemned by the Bible." He then quoted Romans 1:21, one of the Bible's indictments against rebellious humanity. Then Dr. Graham added, "Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness."

We can read much about thanksgiving in the book of Colossians. The apostle Paul had never been to the church in Colosse, but he had heard all about it from Epaphras. He knew it was a church under attack by false teachers, so he prayed fervently for this congregation (Colossians 1:9-14; 2:4-7).

Among his requests, Paul asked that they would give joyful thanks to the Father because He had rescued them, moving them from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His Son (1:12-13).

Then he told them to make sure and: Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, . . . and be thankful. —Colossians 3:15

We too need to be thankful for what Christ has done for us.

Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. Warren Wiersbe illustrated this problem in his commentary on Colossians. He told about a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, who was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process, his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him.

Let's take time often to recall how God has rescued us from eternal death and has given us eternal life through His Son. May we "continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

Prayer:

"Lord, this question really challenges me today. 'What is pouring out of my mouth?' Is it thanksgiving? Crankiness? Praise? Complaining? Your Word says that 'out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.' So what is pouring out of my mouth will tell me a lot about my heart. You have blessed me in so many ways. Please forgive me for the times that complaints have spewed from my mouth more than praises. Thank You that You have come to my RESCUE! I too often take that for granted. Today, my heart is full of praise, now I want it to 'pour out of' my lips! In Jesus' name, amen!"

Don't lose your SONG!

2011-10-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:20 Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

Observation:

When you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks. Take heart—in all things God works for our good if we love him and are called by him (Rom_8:28). Thank God for the strength he is building in you through the difficult experiences of your life. You can be sure that God's perfect love will see you through.

Application:

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.

The problems began when Chippie's owner decided to clean Chippie's cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She'd barely said "hello" when "ssssopp!" Chippie got sucked in.

The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie -- still alive, but stunned.

Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.

Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.

A few days after the trauma, the reporter who'd initially written about the event contacted Chippie's owner to see how the bird was recovering. "Well," she replied, "Chippie doesn't sing much anymore -- he just sits and stares."

It's hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over . . . That's enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart.

When we develop the habit of complaining instead of doing what God's Word tells us to do in Ephesians 5:20, we will lose our song. My challenge to all of us today is to develop the habit of praising God, IN SPITE OF the situation. He is deserving of our praise.

Louis Albert Banks tells of an elderly Christian man, a fine singer, who learned that he had cancer of the tongue and that surgery was required. In the hospital after everything was ready for the operation, the man said to the doctor, "Are you sure I will never sing again?" The surgeon found it difficult to answer his question. He simply shook his head no. The patient then asked if he could sit up for a moment. "I've had many good times singing the praises of God," he said. "And now you tell me I can never sing again. I have one song that will be my last. It will be of gratitude and praise to God." There in the doctor's presence the man sang softly the words of Isaac Watts' hymn, "I'll praise my Maker while I've breath,/ And when my voice is lost in death,/ Praise shall employ my nobler power;/ My days of praise shall ne'er be past,/ While life, and thought, and being last,/ Or immortality endures." He refused to LOSE HIS SONG!

Wow! What an attitude of gratitude! That is the way that I want to be. It all comes down to a matter of faith. How much do I trust God

William Carey had much faith in God. Listen to a little bit of his story:

After William Carey was well established in his pioneer missionary work in India, his supporters in England sent a printer to assist him. Soon the two men were turning out portions of the Bible for distribution. Carey had spent many years learning the language so that he could produce the scriptures in the local dialect. He had also prepared dictionaries and grammars for the use of his successors.

One day while Carey was away, a fire broke out and completely destroyed the building, the presses, many Bibles, and the precious manuscripts, dictionaries, and grammars. When he returned and was told of the tragic loss, he showed no sign of despair or impatience. Instead, he knelt and thanked God that he still had the strength to do the work over again. He started immediately, not wasting a moment in self-pity. Before his death, he had duplicated and even improved on his earlier achievements. He refused to LOSE HIS SONG!

Joe Scriven was a missionary from Ireland to Canada, working among the Iroquois Indians. He was joined by his fiancé who was also from Ireland. Just before the wedding, she was killed in an ice accident. Joe buried her with his own hands, and a broken heart. A year later, in a letter to his mother, he reflected, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer." Joe was on the road to triumph, even though there were times when the road was rough. He refused to LOSE HIS SONG!

Having lost in a fire virtually everything they owned, the Spafford family made new plans, including a move from Chicago to France. Horatio Spafford planned the trip for his wife and four daughters to be as trouble-free as possible. To transport them from America to France, he booked passage on a huge ship, and made sure they had Christians with whom to fellowship in route. He planned to join them a few weeks later. In spite of much careful preparation, Mr. Spafford's plans suddenly dissolved when the ship carrying his loved ones was rammed by another vessel and sank, carrying his four beloved daughters to the bottom. Anyone who has ever had their plans disrupted by the hand of God can understand Spafford's plight. The next time you are in church,turn to the words of the great hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul"--words he penned as his ship passed over the watery grave of his four daughters! He refused to LOSE HIS SONG!

Vance Havner told a story about an elderly lady who was greatly disturbed by her many troubles--both real and imaginary. Finally, someone in her family tactfully told her, "Grandma, we've done all we can for you. You'll just have to trust God for the rest." A look of absolute despair spread over her face as she replied, "Oh dear, has it come to that?" Havner commented, "It always comes to that, so we might as well begin with that!"

Prayer:

"Lord, help me to continue to put my trust, faith, and hope in You. Situations will try to steal my joy, but I must keep on singing, over everyting. Help me to choose to give thanks instead of complaining. There is power in the attitude of gratitude. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Pulling down STRONGHOLDS

2011-10-18T07:37:00.000-05:00

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. (5) We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

I want to share verse 5 in several translations:

(BBE) Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ;

(ESV) We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

(GNB) we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.

(KJVR) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

(MSG) We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

Observation:

We, like Paul, are merely weak humans, but we don't need to use human plans and methods to win our battles. God's mighty weapons are available to us as we fight against the devil's "strongholds." The Christian must choose whose methods to use—God's or the world's. Paul assures us that God's mighty weapons—prayer, faith, hope, love, God's Word, the Holy Spirit—are powerful and effective (see Ephesians 6:13-18)! These weapons can break down the proud human arguments against God and the walls that Satan builds to keep people from finding God. When dealing with people's proud arguments that keep them from a relationship with Christ, we may be tempted to use our own methods. But nothing can break down these barriers like God's weapons.

Application:

What a powerful Word from God. You may be reading this blog, and you have been under attack from satan. Maybe you are battling depression, despair, discouragement, worry, fear, doubt, etc. What makes it worse, is that the enemy attacks many times through our MINDS using our imaginations, and other peace-attacking distractions to keep our mind from being in PERFECT PEACE with and on God.

In fact, listen to what Isaiah 26:3 says, (AMP) 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.

God reminds us that we will walk in PERFECT PEACE if and when our minds are set and fixed on Jesus. That is why all of hell attempts daily to get our minds on imaginations (what if's), that lead to worry and other faith destroying, peace-attacking issues of the mind.

A couple of "take aways" from these verses:

The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will." (2 Corinthians 10:3, MSG)

God has provided the tools we need to live a God-life. "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5, MSG) What tools? The Word of God, prayer, the name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, praise and worship, just to name a few.

Using God's tools moves us to maturity. "Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity." (2 Corinthians 10:6, MSG)

I found the following prayer some time back on the internet. Why don't you take the following prayer and add it to your arsenal of attacks against the enemy, and pray it DAILY:

Prayer:

"Father, teach me to wage spiritual war in your manner, and not according to the world. Guide me to live, and to fight, argue, deal with conflict, with weapons of the Spirit and not weapons of the flesh.

Be my strength, Lord, when I am up against the wall – and I decide, by faith, to respond with weapons of the Spirit and not react with weapons of the flesh. Bring me, Father, to a point where I no longer have any confidence in the flesh, but my confidence is only in you.

Lord, teach me, guide me, compel me, train me – fill me with Your grace – so that when I face conflict, when I face discouragement and temptation, when I collide with an obstacle - I rely upon you and your way. I acknowledge you have given me the power and authority to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of You.

So, rather than getting into arguments, I can point to the truth - and I can state the truth. Help me to state the truth in my own life - and work on those areas where I am out-of-sync, where I am in sin, winking at that which is wrong.

Lord, I commit to taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Show me how that works; show me how to do that, and develop within me the discipline and the habit of doing this.

Please prompt me and guide me to fit every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. No stray thoughts, no wandering thoughts, not allowing emotions to rule my thoughts or actions or moods - even taking my impulses and subjecting them to you.

Lord, make me ready to use the tools you provide to clear the ground of every obstruction, so that you may build my life as an obedient life - matured into the Father of the Faith that you want me to be. I trust that, despite my sin you will build me into a mature believer who is obedient to you, serves you and constantly looks for your work in others. In Jesus' name, amen!"

50/20 Vision

2011-10-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Scripture:

Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Observation:

Now that Jacob (or Israel) was dead, the brothers feared revenge from Joseph. Could he really have forgiven them for selling him into slavery? But to their surprise, Joseph not only forgave them but reassured them, offering to care for them and their families. Joseph's forgiveness was complete. He demonstrated how God graciously accepts us even though we don't deserve it. Because God forgives us even when we have ignored or rejected him, we should graciously forgive others.

God brought good from the brothers' evil deed, Potiphar's wife's false accusation, the cup-bearer's neglect, and seven years of famine. The experiences in Joseph's life taught him that God brings good from evil for those who trust him. Do you trust God enough to wait patiently for him to bring good out of bad situations? You can trust him because, as Joseph learned, God can overrule people's evil intentions to bring about his intended results.

Application:

The life of Joseph was anything but peaceful. It was filled with youthful folly, broken dreams, and the mean-spirited actions of others. Yet he remained a man remarkable for his lack of bitterness or regret, always seeing God as the "Great Engineer" behind even the worst of circumstances. Genesis 50 and verse 20 shows us how we should view our struggles…through 50/20 vision.

What is 50/20 vision? The understanding that Joseph had concerning what he was going through. He knew that it was meant for evil, but God meant it for good in order to bring about a lasting victory. Regardless what you go through, ask God to help you see the struggle in light of Genesis 50:20, 50/20 vision.

In a final confrontation with his brothers, Joseph graciously noted, "You meant it for bad; God meant it for good."

The theology packed in that statement is astounding. 'God meant it for good means:

You can accept the past -- No sin, no action, no choice on your part is too big for God to handle – or too big to be worked for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His name. Just ask Joseph; Better yet, ask his fearful and famished brothers, who were forced to rely on him for survival.

You can embrace the present -- There's no need to play the 'what if' game. The past is gone, and no energy you expend will ever change it. The future is in God's omnipotent hands, so you're free to focus on the present. Your job is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, trusting Him to forgive the past and transform the future. Martyred missionary Jim Eliot once wrote, "Wherever you are, be all there," not living in the past and not fantasizing about the future. God wants you in the present because that's where His grace will flow.

You can look expectantly toward the future -- Even if you make mistakes today, God still controls your future. Walking in the Spirit, you can live life to the fullest, unafraid of making mistakes and unconcerned you may stumble into some terrible circumstance that takes you out of God's control. Even when things appear to be terrible, you can trust that God is working out some divine plan through you.

Always remember…

· No matter how bad things get -- God is still able to bring good out of it. Today, thank God that nothing – no disaster, no delay – is bigger that his ability to turn it into something good and godly.

· Thank God and let go - Thank God that He is sovereign over your past, your present, and your future.

· Give God the circumstances, disasters, hindrances, hurts, and sins from your past;
· Give God your current situation, your disasters, hindrances, hurts, and sins of today;
· Praise God that he can work anything in your future for godly good, that you can walk in confidence that there is nothing anyone can do to you, or anything you can do that will be beyond the reach of God's Grace and redemption.

· Look for God's hand -- Walking by faith means you see God's hand even in the most difficult of circumstances. You trust in his ability and his willingness to transform the bad into godly good. God is not limited by people's motives; in other words, it does not matter why someone hurt you, God can still transform a deliberate, mean-spirited situation into something for his good. So today, why don't you purposely look for and recognize the Divine Presence of God. Regardless how you FEEL, know that God is in the middle of the FIRE with you, just like He was in the Old Testament story of the Three Hebrew Children.

· What will you allow God to change? – There it is: some situation, or event, or person in your life who, as far as you can tell, 'meant it for bad.' How do you think God meant it for good? Ask God what he wants you to do with this situation (event or person). When he answers, do it. God used Joseph's pain from his family to save his family from pain and starvation. God will use your current pain to help someone who is in pain. That you can count on.

I pray today that we will begin to look at our current situation with 50/20 vision. Yes, it might have been meant for evil…BUT GOD isn't finished working yet! He is the AUTHOR and the FINISHER of our faith. He is the ALPHA and OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END.

Philippians 1:6 says that we can be CONFIDENT of this, that He that BEGAN a good work in you will COMPLETE it until the day of Jesus Christ. God always FINISHES what He starts! He's still working in you and for you!

Prayer:

"Lord there are things that we all face that the enemy brings along to try to destroy us. His purpose is to stop us in our tracks, and to give up all hope of completing God's plan in our life. Joseph faced attack after attack, but he kept his faith in You, AND his HOPE remained constant. Why? Because he had 50/20 vision, 'this thing was meant for evil, but God will turn it around for good. I choose to live that way today. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Worry is a Joy sapper!

2011-10-14T07:15:00.000-05:00

Scripture:

Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. (7) Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

Observation:

Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility; we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.

Application:

When worry comes knocking at your door, stop it on the porch, otherwise it'll move in and take up residence. The Word of God says that we can, "Throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are His personal concern" (1 Peter 5:7).

Isn't that wonderful; God really does care, about the things that worry you and prey on your thoughts. He cares about them more than you do. Not a single nagging, aching, worrisome, gut-wrenching, blood-pressure-raising thought escapes His notice. Because you are His personal concern, you never disappear from His screen.

Worry is like a rocking chair; it uses up all your energy, but where does it get you? Leo Buscaglia writes, "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy."

Dr Charles Mayo of the famous Mayo Clinic says, "There's a growing mountain of evidence to suggest that worry is the chief contributor to depression, nervous breakdowns, high blood pressure, heart attacks and early death. Stress kills. I've never known a man to die from hard work, but I've known a lot who died from worry."

Author Bob Gass says, "Mathematically speaking, it doesn't make sense to worry. Psychologists tell us that roughly 30 percent of what we worry about never happens; another 30 percent has already happened; 12 percent is about unfounded health concerns, and an additional 20 percent involves 'sweating the small stuff'. That leaves only 8 percent. Think about that! We worry 92 percent of the time for no good reason at all, and if Dr Mayo is right, it's killing us."

What qualifies as a worry? Anything that drains your tank of joy… anything you can't change… anything you're not responsible for… anything you're unable to control… anything that frightens and torments you… anything that keeps you awake when you should be asleep. All of that 'stuff' needs to be transformed from your worry list to your prayer list!

What's the answer? "Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected… and the God who gives peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:1-8). That's God's answer to worry!

Give each worry, one-by-one, to God! The more you practice doing this, the more exciting your walk with Him will become. You'll be amazed at how easily He handles things that overwhelm you. Always keep these three things in mind: (1) He's able to handle it. (2) He's willing to handle it. (3) He's waiting for you to give it to Him.

Prayer:

"Lord, I have a tendency to worry about things that I know You have covered. I give it to in prayer, but then take it back so I can worry some more. Worry saps so much of the Joy that You want to give to Your people. It hinders peace, it attacks faith. It raises blood pressure. And it really doesn't change a thing, it only makes it worse in our minds. So today, I am turning my worry list into a prayer list. In Jesus name, amen!"

What does the word "Temptation" mean?

2011-10-13T07:06:00.004-05:00

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (TM) No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

Observation:

In a culture filled with moral depravity and sin-inducing pressures, Paul encouraged the Corinthians about temptation. He said that (1) temptations happen to everyone, so don't feel you've been singled out; (2) others have resisted temptation, and so can you; (3) any temptation can be resisted because God will show you a way out.

God will aid you in resisting temptation by helping you (1) recognize those people and situations that give you trouble, (2) run from anything you know is wrong, (3) choose to do only what is right, (4) pray for God's help, and (5) seek friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted. Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory (2 Timothy 2:22).

Application:

Background and Meaning of the Word ‘Temptation’:

• The same Greek word (Peirasmos) is used for ‘temptations’ (Mat 6:13, 1 Cor 10:13, Jas 1:13) and ‘trials’ (Jas 1:2,12, 1 Pet 1:6).

• Meaning of the word – To put to proof by experiment of good or experience of evil

• to scrutinize, entice, discipline, examine, prove, try, tempt

• It is important to make a distinction between two meanings within this one word.

◦ On one hand, it signifies an attempt to entice someone into evil. (Often translated as temptations)

▪ Satan is the ultimate source of all desires and actions contrary to God.

▪ is the tempter. (Mat 4:3, 1 Th 3:5)

◦ On the other hand, it indicates a testing which aims at spiritual good. (Often translated as trials)

• This bible study is detailed description of ‘temptation’ in its negative significance.

Purpose of Temptation:

• To undermine God’s plan and will (Gen 3:4-5)

• To stray man from God’s way (John 10:10)

• Temptation at its core, is to deny the authority of God and to seek our independence from God.

What are the ways of Temptation?

• Temptation starts in heart and mind, in our deepest motives and desires. (Jas 1:14-15)

• 1 John 2:16 talks about three most fundamental means of temptation. – “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

◦ Lust of the flesh

◦ Lust of the eyes

◦ Pride of Life

• These three fundamental principles summarize any temptations we may face in our daily lives.

• Satan used this devices to tempt Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

◦ Lust of the Eyes – “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye..” (Gen 3:6)

◦ Lust of the Flesh – “…tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye..”

◦ Pride of Life – “…and also desirable for gaining wisdom (like God)…” (Gen 3:5-6)

• Satan use the same devices to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. (Mat 4:1-11)

◦ Lust of the Flesh – “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Mat 4:3)

◦ Lust of the Eyes – “the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.” (Mat 4:8)

◦ Pride of Life – “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.” (Mat 4:9)

Prayer:

"Lord thank You for teaching me to pray, 'lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.' As we begin this study of temptation, help my heart to be aware of the snares daily sets in my path. I need to walk in the Spirit so I will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. I need the boundaries of Your Word so I will not look at things that affects my relationship with You negatively. And above all else I need to guard my heart, because that is where the pride of life will try to show itself. Today I am aware of Your Spirit as I live by Your nudge! In Jesus' name, amen!"

The Blessing of RAIN

2011-10-12T07:01:00.000-05:00

Scripture:

Job 5:8-10 "If I were in your shoes, I'd go straight to God, I'd throw myself on the mercy of God. (9) After all, he's famous for great and unexpected acts; there's no end to his surprises. (10) He gives rain, for instance, across the wide earth, sends water to irrigate the fields.

Observation:

Job’s three friends came to comfort him, but they ended up criticizing him! Each of them used the same argument in one way or another: (1) God blesses the righteous and afflicts the wicked; (2) God has afflicted Job; (3) therefore, Job must be wicked. Of course, their thinking seemed logical, but it was not spiritual. Mortal human beings are far too ignorant to understand fully the ways of God. For us to fit God into our own little “theological boxes” is to limit Him and make Him less than God.

We must keep in mind that these friends did not have the full revelation that we have in the NT, showing more fully that suffering is not always caused by sin, and that, through our faith in Christ, we can turn suffering into glory. It is a dangerous thing for believers to “explain the ways of God” to other believers if they do not understand God’s Word and God’s ways.

In his first speech, Eliphaz argues that Job is a sinner (Job_4:7-11). He bases his thinking on a special vision he once experienced (Job_4:12-21), so we might say that Eliphaz argues from personal experience — the hard “facts of life.” Bildad picks up the argument in Job_8:1-7 and very bluntly states that God does not do things unjustly. In Job_8:8-10, Bildad argues from tradition, and then quotes a series of “old sayings” to support his argument.

In the midst of Job's "friends" speaking to him, three verses jumped out at me as I read these verses this morning, Job 5:8-10, our verses for today. It speaks of God giving rain, and waters to irrigate the fields. Have you ever thought about what a blessing rain is?

Application:

Picture yourself as a farmer in the Near East, far from any lake or stream. A few wells keep the family and animals supplied with water. But if the crops are to grow and the family is to be fed from month to month, water has to come on the fields from another source. From where? Water will have to be carried in the sky from the Mediterranean Sea, over several hundred miles and then be poured out from the sky onto the fields. Think about that, the water has to be CARRIED. Have you ever wondered how much that would weigh? Well, if one inch of rain falls on one square mile of farmland during the night, that would be 27,878,400 cubic feet of water, which is 206,300,160 gallons, which is 1,650,501,280 pounds of water. That's heavy.

So how does it get up in the sky and stay up there if it's so heavy? Well, it gets up there by evaporation. That's a nice word. What's it mean? It means that the water sort of stops being water for a while so it can go up and not down.

Then, it has to get down and that is called condensation. What's that? The water starts becoming water again by gathering around little dust particles between .00001 and .0001 centimeters wide.

There’s only one problem, the Mediterranean Sea is salt water. That would kill the crops. So, the salt has to be taken out. So the sky picks up a billion pounds of water from the sea and takes out the salt and then carries it for three hundred miles and then RAINS the billion pounds of water on the farm. God couldn’t just DUMP it because it would overflow everything and everyone. The raindrops have to be big enough to fall for one mile or so without evaporating, and small enough to keep from crushing the wheat stalks.

How do all these microscopic specks of water that weigh a billion pounds get heavy enough to fall? Well, it's called coalescence. That means the specks of water start bumping into each other and join up and get bigger. And when they are big enough, they fall.

My friends, now you can see why Job's friend said that rain on the earth is UNSEARCHABLE. Now think about this for a moment. If RAIN is an unsearchable blessing of God, how many other blessings has He poured out upon us without us even realizing it. Whatever you may be battling today, please know that the same God that sends rain can send victory your way TODAY!

Why don’t you take just a moment wherever you are, and think about the blessings of God that you may have taken for granted. I have often taken rain for granted, and failed to see it as an unsearchable gift from God. Meditate on that for a moment.

Prayer:

"Lord, I am so thankful for Your unsearchable blessings. Rain is someting that I honestly take for granted. I know there are many other daily blessings that I never stop to think about, or "thank you" for. Today, I will be more aware of Your blessings. I love You and thank You. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Be Attitude #8: Persecuted and blessed

2011-10-11T07:02:00.001-05:00

Scripture:

Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV) "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (12) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:10-12 (TM) "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. (11) "Not only that--count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. (12) You can be glad when that happens--give a cheer, even!--for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Observation:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom. The progress from one beatitude to the next is obvious here. Being a peacemaker by practicing justice and love and living by kingdom standards is initiating a confrontation with society which can be taken as a judgment. To will God's will is to be different from those who will their own will. This is the way of the Cross in which God's will cuts across the will of humanity. The kingdom is breaking into time, calling persons to be disciples of Christ, living by His mercy and love. The response of humanity is either repentance and faith, or rejection and persecution. The King Himself came as the "suffering servant," as one who identified with humanity in its problems without altering His own relation with the Father, thereby calling us to the kingdom of the Father. This confrontation led to the Cross, a fact which led Paul to say, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2Ti_3:12, KJV).

Application:

Meaning of Word ‘Persecuted’:

To be pursued, follow after, suffer, chase after, to run after with hostile intent, to hunt. Persecution and all the variations of this word are used in the bible approx. 76 times. The word has a strong meaning of being followed or chased after. It is like a continuous, ruthless chase to hunt down the prey!

Bible Verses about Approach to Persecution:

1 Peter 3:13-14 – “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.”

1 Peter 4:12-14,16,19 – “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name….So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

Phil 3:10-11 – “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Romans 8:18 – “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Beatitudes: Great Paradox:

This last beatitude is the most striking and contradictory of all the beatitudes. For how can you rejoice or be blessed, when you are going through insult, persecution, suffering, even death for doing good or right? Yet, Jesus very clearly proclaims ‘blessedness’ for those who are being persecuted for the sake of righteousness. He also mentions similar message in Matthew 10:16-28.

For the first century Christians, persecution was a norm rather than an exception.

Peter and Paul, the first apostles to Jews and gentiles, also reiterate and often desire for sharing and participating in suffering with/for Christ. (check out bible references above)

It should be noted that it is not in the suffering or pain, we rejoice, but it is in the hope of God’s glory to be revealed.

We, Christians however, rejoice in their suffering for the righteousness, due to the fact that we participate in suffering of Christ, that we bear his name, and that we will be overjoyed when Christ’ glory will be revealed in us. It is our privilege to suffer with Christ.

It is not the suffering, but the Cause that makes a Martyr.

People may say that this is absolutely absurd. yet, we all believe in a idea of pain and suffering for future joy. A good example of this is a ‘child-birth’. Mother goes through immense pain and struggle, with pain intensifies as the time comes nearer. For her, the present pain is not worth comparing with the joy she will experience in her child. Nobody finds it strange, in fact, women long and desire motherhood. Her focus is not on the suffering, but the joy that her child will bring.

We find it difficult to grasp rejoicing in suffering because we have not seen the complete picture. Even among many Christians, there is a growing tendency to focus on earthly blessings. (It is not to say that one should not desire good in this life.) But Jesus (and first disciples) always focused on future hope and glory.

There are parts of the world, where people are being persecuted for Christ. For them, following Christ means suffering, rejection and even death. They are blessed or privileged to share in suffering with Christ.

We may not go through physical persecution or suffering, but we all feel being constantly chased after by the enemy of Christ. When we pursue righteousness, we may find being constantly running or fleeing from the spiritual forces, who are after us to knock us down.

The Promise: Blessed Hope:

However, this is not the end. Jesus offers those who are persecuted for his name, the inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven. At present, we don’t see it, yet we believe in it and we rejoice in that hope and future. (Romans 8:24) Paul rightly say that our present sufferings are not even worth comparing with the glory that will be manifested when Christ will return.

Prayer:

"Lord, I pray for the persecuted church all across this world. There are christians today who are suffering because of their choice to follow You. Would you miraculously set them free if they are in jail. Would you encourage them and give them peace. May each of us begin to daily callout to You for the persecuted church across the globe. Also, those reading this blog today, who are being revivled at work or school, maybe even in their family because they are a christian, would you bless and strengthen them today. In Jesus' name, amen!"