A lasting and powerful testimony is not done merely by one’s own self-esteem or personal will power, it is done by relying on a power outside of one’s self. A powerful testimony isn’t self-motivated or self-centered or done by human hands, methods or understandings but centered on a purpose driven and planned by God. Those people whose lives are self-motivated are never satisfied. They like coyotes that continue to search for something to satisfy and give them peace but everything, even religion, leaves them thirsty and hungry. But this is not all bad because their desire to find something lasting may lead them to find a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Acts 5:38-39
“So my advice is, leave these men alone. If they are teaching and doing these thing on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
1 Thessalonians 1:5
“For when we brought you the good news, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message.”
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
What the HECK!
You ever have one of those episodes where it seems like you are doing what God wants you do and then it seems like it has completely taken a wrong turn?
I know that is the way David felt when he was bringing the Ark of God back to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6). Here he was bringing the Ark of God back to God's people so they could be blessed and one of the escorts gets struck dead by God's anger for trying to stabilize the Ark of God.
You want to do what God wants but in your haste or passion it isn't necessary the way God wants something done or in the order God wants you or someone else to do it in. And when you try to force it to be done your way... you aren't in God's will. You are heading down that road marked of good intentions that lead only for a heartache. Thank God for his grace. Thank him helping us to steer us right and stand up again. Thank him for stopping the situation before it became even worse.
After the realization you hadn't done things the way God wanted them to, you probably become frustrated, sad, angry, and even thought God was upset with you. Your role or someone else's role wasn't what you thought it was suppose to be.
You find out that you were zealous and not careful with the position/role and responsibility God had given you. You assumed and ran with emotions as David had and it didn't turn out the way you expected. You even might have had to stare at some of your weakness and accept them along with opposition of those who came with you down this road or idea.
We all may have the zeal to do right but it's God's way or no way. Thank God he was there with his hand over our lives when we did go too far. When we were over zealous and assumed more then what we were suppose to take on. We said more then what we were suppose to say. We messed up but God does beautiful things with our mess ups too.
May the Lord help us all to be the person He wants us to be for today, in Jesus Name Amen.
I know that is the way David felt when he was bringing the Ark of God back to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6). Here he was bringing the Ark of God back to God's people so they could be blessed and one of the escorts gets struck dead by God's anger for trying to stabilize the Ark of God.
You want to do what God wants but in your haste or passion it isn't necessary the way God wants something done or in the order God wants you or someone else to do it in. And when you try to force it to be done your way... you aren't in God's will. You are heading down that road marked of good intentions that lead only for a heartache. Thank God for his grace. Thank him helping us to steer us right and stand up again. Thank him for stopping the situation before it became even worse.
After the realization you hadn't done things the way God wanted them to, you probably become frustrated, sad, angry, and even thought God was upset with you. Your role or someone else's role wasn't what you thought it was suppose to be.
You find out that you were zealous and not careful with the position/role and responsibility God had given you. You assumed and ran with emotions as David had and it didn't turn out the way you expected. You even might have had to stare at some of your weakness and accept them along with opposition of those who came with you down this road or idea.
We all may have the zeal to do right but it's God's way or no way. Thank God he was there with his hand over our lives when we did go too far. When we were over zealous and assumed more then what we were suppose to take on. We said more then what we were suppose to say. We messed up but God does beautiful things with our mess ups too.
May the Lord help us all to be the person He wants us to be for today, in Jesus Name Amen.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
You Were Made For Such A Time As This. (Body of Christ)
(Ephesians 2:10) "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
We have the power to deal with others through Christ and the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 13:4)
So we may bring God glory (Romans 1:5)
Don't entangle yourself with how others think of you but what God thinks of you! Don't entangle yourself with emotions that weigh you down and chain you up and try to deafen you to God's voice and God's purpose for you in these moments and times!
"You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, dear friends of Rome. God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people. May the grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:6)
You can only have grace and peace from God when you truly trust and obey God.
"All praise to the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer,you will also share God's comfort." (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
"For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom- if you want to know what God wants you to do- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do." (James 1:3-7)
Go to God. Tell Him your troubles and leave your concerns and worries with Him. He will remind you what to think on and to fully rely on Him. Then you will be able to comfort and encourage others as a servant and friend. And when troubles try to overtake your peace of mind and the testing seems too great, He will direct you by wise counsel (A pastor or a mature Christian).
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confidence expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:3-5)
Remember God's love is far greater then we can possibly imagine yet somehow (through God's Holy Spirit) we have the opportunity to experience it everyday of our lives no matter what problems and trials seem to present themselves. We have the opportunity to change and take another step in being the person and God wants us to be. People who see us are in wonder of how we can stay calm in such circumstances and when they ask you why you seem to not be bothered and negative by such trials, you can tell them that you have God, who far greater then theses temporary matters and concerns.
'People need more then bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.' (Matthew 4:4) "...Real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 8:3)
You and I must be in God's word everyday. When we read God's word and think on it, it will come back to us in our time of need. It will encourage us to continue on and to live the life God has called us to live. When we stumble, God's word can remind us of God's mercy and grace and quicken us to stand back up and walk again.
We can't go back and change something in the past or what we said or did. (If you hurt someone, humbly apologize and try to make it up to them.) If circumstances change that were beyond your control, don't try to carry the burden of trying to take on and understanding those changes. God knows what you and I are capable and not capable of handling at this moment in time but he also gives us insight and direction when changes do occur. If plans change, except those changes based on the insight you have been given and you will have peace and your burdens lightened.
I am finding that even if something was said or done in good intentions but wasn't intended in God's plan in the first place -you and I can't change God's plan. You and I can't stop the doors from being closed and the continual battle to come to a roaring halt.
We may not even realize God's plan destined for us and others because we are doing something that is biblically sound at the time- but in the scope of God's master plan, our role can be quite different then what we presumed in the first place. And when we come to this realization it can even be quite painful for a bit of time until we realize our true role in God's plan. God's word brings peace and lightens our load and shows us that even in times of good or bad He is with us.
You were made for such a time as this. May what we learn now from these experience never be forgotten, in Jesus Name Amen.
We have the power to deal with others through Christ and the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 13:4)
So we may bring God glory (Romans 1:5)
Don't entangle yourself with how others think of you but what God thinks of you! Don't entangle yourself with emotions that weigh you down and chain you up and try to deafen you to God's voice and God's purpose for you in these moments and times!
"You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, dear friends of Rome. God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people. May the grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:6)
You can only have grace and peace from God when you truly trust and obey God.
"All praise to the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer,you will also share God's comfort." (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
"For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom- if you want to know what God wants you to do- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do." (James 1:3-7)
Go to God. Tell Him your troubles and leave your concerns and worries with Him. He will remind you what to think on and to fully rely on Him. Then you will be able to comfort and encourage others as a servant and friend. And when troubles try to overtake your peace of mind and the testing seems too great, He will direct you by wise counsel (A pastor or a mature Christian).
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confidence expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:3-5)
Remember God's love is far greater then we can possibly imagine yet somehow (through God's Holy Spirit) we have the opportunity to experience it everyday of our lives no matter what problems and trials seem to present themselves. We have the opportunity to change and take another step in being the person and God wants us to be. People who see us are in wonder of how we can stay calm in such circumstances and when they ask you why you seem to not be bothered and negative by such trials, you can tell them that you have God, who far greater then theses temporary matters and concerns.
'People need more then bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.' (Matthew 4:4) "...Real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 8:3)
You and I must be in God's word everyday. When we read God's word and think on it, it will come back to us in our time of need. It will encourage us to continue on and to live the life God has called us to live. When we stumble, God's word can remind us of God's mercy and grace and quicken us to stand back up and walk again.
We can't go back and change something in the past or what we said or did. (If you hurt someone, humbly apologize and try to make it up to them.) If circumstances change that were beyond your control, don't try to carry the burden of trying to take on and understanding those changes. God knows what you and I are capable and not capable of handling at this moment in time but he also gives us insight and direction when changes do occur. If plans change, except those changes based on the insight you have been given and you will have peace and your burdens lightened.
I am finding that even if something was said or done in good intentions but wasn't intended in God's plan in the first place -you and I can't change God's plan. You and I can't stop the doors from being closed and the continual battle to come to a roaring halt.
We may not even realize God's plan destined for us and others because we are doing something that is biblically sound at the time- but in the scope of God's master plan, our role can be quite different then what we presumed in the first place. And when we come to this realization it can even be quite painful for a bit of time until we realize our true role in God's plan. God's word brings peace and lightens our load and shows us that even in times of good or bad He is with us.
You were made for such a time as this. May what we learn now from these experience never be forgotten, in Jesus Name Amen.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Keep Your Fork (Better Things to Come.)
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her."There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" came the Pastor's reply.
"This is very important," the young woman continued . "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.
"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Pastor.
The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!' So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them : "Keep your fork, the best is yet to come."
The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.
During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would Not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.
So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.
Remember to keep your fork.
Philippians 4:6 "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful then the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 18:4-5 "Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven and anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my half is welcoming me." (Childlike faith)
Psalm 34:7-8 "For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear Him, and rescues them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him! Let the Lord's people show Him reverence, for those who honor Him will have all they need."
"What's that?" came the Pastor's reply.
"This is very important," the young woman continued . "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.
"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Pastor.
The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!' So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them : "Keep your fork, the best is yet to come."
The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.
During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would Not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.
So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.
Remember to keep your fork.
Philippians 4:6 "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful then the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 18:4-5 "Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven and anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my half is welcoming me." (Childlike faith)
Psalm 34:7-8 "For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear Him, and rescues them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him! Let the Lord's people show Him reverence, for those who honor Him will have all they need."
Friday, September 21, 2007
Where Is The Hope? Christians that are Wounded.
There has got to be more then just pulling yourself out of bed each morning… and in some cases "each after noon". There has got to be more then just the "have to(s)" in life.
Where has this negative slant on life come from? Where is the life filled with expectation and love for others gone? Where is the daily assurance in Jesus Christ gone? When did the opinions of men and women become more important then God’s opinion of us?
Why is there more importance on the material things, which will soon find their way to a landfill? Why embrace worldly ideals, which will soon change like the wind? Why chase such things that will make you lost and empty? Why run a race that is on a treadmill? Why turn from Godly wisdom and understanding?
I am concerned for such individuals who seem to turn to from and/or choose something other then what God’s word states. I am not talking about being discouraged for just a few days or weeks but months and years.
When someone is discouraged and depressed for that long period of time I wonder what has happened to those people. What has happened to their faith that they think God has forgotten them or isn’t interested in them?
I don’t want to sound like an Eliphaz, where I am "as unreliable as a season brook that overflows its banks in the spring when it swollen with ice and melting snow but when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat. The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing there to drink, and so they perish in the desert. With high hopes, the caravans from Tema and from Sheba stop for water, but finding nothing, their hopes are dashed." (Job 6:15-21) I want to be of some help, hope and encouragement.
Have they denied the words of God?. I don’t know... but seems as if doubt has taken up permanent residence in their hearts. Some have fear and some don’t. Some just don’t care anymore. Some have grown impatient and hardened- setting themselves up for thoughts that God will never intervene on their behalf. I don’t ever what to experience what they are experiencing.
"As a face is reflected in the water, so the heart reflects the person." Proverbs 27:19
So is a man who thinks in his heart so he becomes…. Is this not true?
I can only imagine that the devil himself has carefully placed these debilitating false ideas into a welcoming wounded specimen where the victim hashes over them in some way or form until they become as if fact in their minds. Some people are even aware that these debilitating thoughts have come from the devil himself but they couldn’t care less. They have stripped off their armor accepting whatever comes.
Paul writes, "Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm." (Ephesians 6)
The devil has no power over you unless you give it to him! The devil is the father of lies. He tells you something, you know the opposite is true. If he wants to get in your face, "Tell him to go see your older brother, Jesus Christ, and your Father, God Almighty."
You say but my enemy is flesh and blood. I say, pray for your enemy and if you don’t have the power and love to pray for them then ask God for the power and love to do so. Why do we base our worth on how others treat us? I did this and made myself miserable. People are like grass; they are here today and gone tomorrow. God is forever and I know He thinks more of you then those who think negatively about you.
Helpful Scriptures:
Galatians 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."
1John 5:4 "For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory"
Psalm 37:5 "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. 37:6 He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. 37:7 Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."
Philippians 4:6-9 4 "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." 2:13 "For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him."
Philippians 1:29 "For you have been given no only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him."
Hebrews 10:35-36 "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 10:36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised."
Romans 8:26-27 "26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will."
1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,"
1 Corinthians 8:3 "But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for."
1 Corinthians 10:13 "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it."
Matthew 16:25-27 "25 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. 26 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds."
Colossians 1:23 "But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the good news."
A person conquers evil thoughts and desires when they think on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in place of honor and power. (Colossians 3:1-2)
Where has this negative slant on life come from? Where is the life filled with expectation and love for others gone? Where is the daily assurance in Jesus Christ gone? When did the opinions of men and women become more important then God’s opinion of us?
Why is there more importance on the material things, which will soon find their way to a landfill? Why embrace worldly ideals, which will soon change like the wind? Why chase such things that will make you lost and empty? Why run a race that is on a treadmill? Why turn from Godly wisdom and understanding?
I am concerned for such individuals who seem to turn to from and/or choose something other then what God’s word states. I am not talking about being discouraged for just a few days or weeks but months and years.
When someone is discouraged and depressed for that long period of time I wonder what has happened to those people. What has happened to their faith that they think God has forgotten them or isn’t interested in them?
I don’t want to sound like an Eliphaz, where I am "as unreliable as a season brook that overflows its banks in the spring when it swollen with ice and melting snow but when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat. The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing there to drink, and so they perish in the desert. With high hopes, the caravans from Tema and from Sheba stop for water, but finding nothing, their hopes are dashed." (Job 6:15-21) I want to be of some help, hope and encouragement.
Have they denied the words of God?. I don’t know... but seems as if doubt has taken up permanent residence in their hearts. Some have fear and some don’t. Some just don’t care anymore. Some have grown impatient and hardened- setting themselves up for thoughts that God will never intervene on their behalf. I don’t ever what to experience what they are experiencing.
"As a face is reflected in the water, so the heart reflects the person." Proverbs 27:19
So is a man who thinks in his heart so he becomes…. Is this not true?
I can only imagine that the devil himself has carefully placed these debilitating false ideas into a welcoming wounded specimen where the victim hashes over them in some way or form until they become as if fact in their minds. Some people are even aware that these debilitating thoughts have come from the devil himself but they couldn’t care less. They have stripped off their armor accepting whatever comes.
Paul writes, "Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm." (Ephesians 6)
The devil has no power over you unless you give it to him! The devil is the father of lies. He tells you something, you know the opposite is true. If he wants to get in your face, "Tell him to go see your older brother, Jesus Christ, and your Father, God Almighty."
You say but my enemy is flesh and blood. I say, pray for your enemy and if you don’t have the power and love to pray for them then ask God for the power and love to do so. Why do we base our worth on how others treat us? I did this and made myself miserable. People are like grass; they are here today and gone tomorrow. God is forever and I know He thinks more of you then those who think negatively about you.
Helpful Scriptures:
Galatians 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."
1John 5:4 "For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory"
Psalm 37:5 "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. 37:6 He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. 37:7 Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."
Philippians 4:6-9 4 "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." 2:13 "For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him."
Philippians 1:29 "For you have been given no only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him."
Hebrews 10:35-36 "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 10:36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised."
Romans 8:26-27 "26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will."
1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,"
1 Corinthians 8:3 "But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for."
1 Corinthians 10:13 "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it."
Matthew 16:25-27 "25 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. 26 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds."
Colossians 1:23 "But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the good news."
A person conquers evil thoughts and desires when they think on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in place of honor and power. (Colossians 3:1-2)
Friday, August 24, 2007
Taking on the Attributes of a Child
Steve Hanks (Sand Castle)
Proverbs 27:19 says: "As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person." Another bible translation says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so does he become."
Ever ask a child what they want to be when they grow up? It is always something like, "I want to be a fireman, a marine, a police officer, a doctor, an architect, a writer, an artist, a biologists, a …… You never hear a child say, "Well, if it works out and I have enough cash, I am going to be a _____, when I grow up. They all have definite answers not answers that sound like possibilities.
As the body of Christ we need to stop thinking of the possibilities of God and stand in what the word says. The definite answers from God are? A little child is resilient. We too need to be resilent.
Mark 4:23-25 Jesus says "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand! And be sure to the pay attention to what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand- and even more, besides. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be take away from them."
Another bible translation says:
"The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you."
A child accepts and believes what they are told by their parents- positive or negative. As adults we should accept and believe that in which comes from God. (Our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.) What does God’s word speak to you personally? What has the pastor of your church received from the Lord that speaks to your soul and understanding?
A child who cares only of what their parents thinks of them doesn’t care if others approval or disapproves of them.
In John 5:41 Jesus speaks to the Jewish leader and says "Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. For I have come to you representing my Father, and you refuse to welcome me, even though you readily accept others who represent only themselves. No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from God alone."
The Lord didn’t care what others thought about Him only what the Father thought of him. His focus was and is always on the Father. He committed and trusted everything to the Father and in doing so the Father gave Him victory. Through our child-like faith in Jesus Christ we too should not be entangled by the approval or disapproval of others but concerned only with what the Father and Jesus Christ thinks of us and it is only then we too have victory over opposition.
Where an adult sees only a scribbled picture on a page, a child sees a wonderful castle where all their unwritten scripts of imagination take place and are carried out.
Do you remember a time when you picked up the bible and tried to read it and could not comprehend its’ meaning? And it wasn’t until you gave your life to Christ and became a child of God that His Word started to make sense and came alive.
John 8:31 " Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
A child is free from the concerns of this life because they trust that their parents are going to make sure they are feed and taken care of. We too need too see that in the God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11:25 "Oh Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike."
Ask a child of a parent of faith, why they are disciplined by their parents and they will tell you that they get disciplined by their parents because their parents love them and want them to know the difference between right and wrong.
Proverbs 3:11 "My child, don’t ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."
Children delight in the natural wonders around them - where as the adult mind has forgotten to think about such simple pleasures. Ever see a child get excited over a sunset?
Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Where the adult mind sees as a routine and a chore, the child sees an adventure with a special someone they love.
Robert Duncan
1 Corinthians 13:7 "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
1 Peter 3:10 "For let Him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good- whether apparent or not] keep his tongue from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit)."
Being poor or rich has nothing to do with material possessions but what is in the heart and by who surrounds them.
When a child prays, it is simple and genuine.
Matthew 6:7 "When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!"
How easy a child believes in miracles but a mind of the world excuses them for luck and chance.
Romans 1:21 "Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they become utter fools instead."
Matthew 18:2 Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. Then he said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven."
Humble is a child when he/ she is shown his or her wrongs. Humble a child is when he/ she gives to another. Humble is a child who comes to the realization of the truth.
Psalm 10:4 "These wicked people are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead."
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Colossians 1:16 "Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see -kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him. He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together."
A child accepts this and knows this, how about you my friend?
Please add more if you would like:
Thursday, August 16, 2007
My Continued and Daily Surrender
I surrender my pride.
I surrender my understanding.
I surrender my hurt.
I surrender my shame.
I surrender my fear.
I surrender all that goes against the knowledge and power of God.
I surrender all, in order to gain all that God has to give me.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Fear of God Intervening
When God starts to move his Spirit in a congregation, people are either going to get very uncomfortable or they going to embrace what God has to give them.
Religious rituals or methods don’t limit God but you …the things you accept limit you from seeing how God wants to interact in your life. How you view God may also limit how you accept or not accept God’s blessings.
I have learned it is better to accept what God has to give you and I then pretend that you don’t need any growth, any correction, any giftings, any word, any healing from God. Someone who wants to believe they are perfect and don’t need anything from God is fooling himself or herself.
Also the things God may have to give us may not even be for us but for someone else. Yep. As soon as I said that some of you starting thinking why would God want to use me to give a message to someone else? You aren’t alone. I am pretty sure Moses and my other prophets thought the same thing. In fact I am almost certain. The other thing that may pop up in your mind is, if I tell this person or even congregation what God wants me to tell them… they are going to think I am crazy! And what if I am wrong?"
Check the Spirit. Did you bring it up or did God bring it up? Is it your issue or is it God’s issue? Does it come from the mind or does it come from the heart and love of Christ in you? Are you being a legalist or are you the hands and feet of Christ?
People are afraid of God intervening sometimes because they are afraid of what God might tell them. God intervenes in our lives everyday… but we tend to not recognize it.
It’s hard to imagine that if God didn’t use a stranger intervene in my life ... by giving a message they recieved for me from God, I’d probably not be the person I am today. I would be struggling with hate issues, maybe divorced, and not caring about a lot. When God's words spoke to me, they broke the emotional and psychological chains that imprisoned me. They not only freed me but gave me a rivived spirit. It sounds funny but he made me new again.
We all need a refreshing of the Spirit in our soul. I think every week would be good… Hum? Joking aside, isn’t that what is suppose to happen every week?
We go to church to worship but we also go to leave our burdens and to let God work in our lives.
That is why we are called the body of Christ. If we don’t allow God to work in our lives then how can we possibly be the body of Christ? If we submit to God then he can work, move and minister in our lives. If we don’t allow God to work, move and minister to us then we are just a group of people that meet together in some building to hear some preacher or minister or pastor speak to us. We might as well stay home and watch TV...… Do you want that?
God is endless and beyond any expectation that we may even hold up to him. God is beyond our understanding and he sometimes works through our limited understanding to give us more understanding about Him and his love for us.
God wants to work, move and minister to our lives. When you sing in church don’t just sing the words but sing them to the Lord. If you feel Him lifting up your hands, then lift up your hands. If you feel like dancing then dance but do this for God not for the benefit of those who surround you. Spend time at the altar - that is why it is there. The altar is not there just to look nice and hold flowers and provide a nice looking space between the choir, musicians, pastor and the congregation. What could you be ashamed of by taking a step and going to that altar? The altar it is there for you and me.
We all have to move by faith in order for God to work in the body of Christ. We can only please God by faith.
Faith is not about fearing God to intervene in our lives.
Religious rituals or methods don’t limit God but you …the things you accept limit you from seeing how God wants to interact in your life. How you view God may also limit how you accept or not accept God’s blessings.
I have learned it is better to accept what God has to give you and I then pretend that you don’t need any growth, any correction, any giftings, any word, any healing from God. Someone who wants to believe they are perfect and don’t need anything from God is fooling himself or herself.
Also the things God may have to give us may not even be for us but for someone else. Yep. As soon as I said that some of you starting thinking why would God want to use me to give a message to someone else? You aren’t alone. I am pretty sure Moses and my other prophets thought the same thing. In fact I am almost certain. The other thing that may pop up in your mind is, if I tell this person or even congregation what God wants me to tell them… they are going to think I am crazy! And what if I am wrong?"
Check the Spirit. Did you bring it up or did God bring it up? Is it your issue or is it God’s issue? Does it come from the mind or does it come from the heart and love of Christ in you? Are you being a legalist or are you the hands and feet of Christ?
People are afraid of God intervening sometimes because they are afraid of what God might tell them. God intervenes in our lives everyday… but we tend to not recognize it.
It’s hard to imagine that if God didn’t use a stranger intervene in my life ... by giving a message they recieved for me from God, I’d probably not be the person I am today. I would be struggling with hate issues, maybe divorced, and not caring about a lot. When God's words spoke to me, they broke the emotional and psychological chains that imprisoned me. They not only freed me but gave me a rivived spirit. It sounds funny but he made me new again.
We all need a refreshing of the Spirit in our soul. I think every week would be good… Hum? Joking aside, isn’t that what is suppose to happen every week?
We go to church to worship but we also go to leave our burdens and to let God work in our lives.
That is why we are called the body of Christ. If we don’t allow God to work in our lives then how can we possibly be the body of Christ? If we submit to God then he can work, move and minister in our lives. If we don’t allow God to work, move and minister to us then we are just a group of people that meet together in some building to hear some preacher or minister or pastor speak to us. We might as well stay home and watch TV...… Do you want that?
God is endless and beyond any expectation that we may even hold up to him. God is beyond our understanding and he sometimes works through our limited understanding to give us more understanding about Him and his love for us.
God wants to work, move and minister to our lives. When you sing in church don’t just sing the words but sing them to the Lord. If you feel Him lifting up your hands, then lift up your hands. If you feel like dancing then dance but do this for God not for the benefit of those who surround you. Spend time at the altar - that is why it is there. The altar is not there just to look nice and hold flowers and provide a nice looking space between the choir, musicians, pastor and the congregation. What could you be ashamed of by taking a step and going to that altar? The altar it is there for you and me.
We all have to move by faith in order for God to work in the body of Christ. We can only please God by faith.
Faith is not about fearing God to intervene in our lives.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
What Does Your Character Resemble?
With all that taken place this past week with the failed car bombs in England I am thankful to God that no one was hurt or killed. Why do these radical Muslims want to kill innocent people?
These individuals are well educated people, ABC news reported that they were doctors. Doctors are to save lives not take them away. Radical Muslims want to rule the world through whatever means -through terror, murder, political position, their wife's womb, etc. What is here that is so worthy having?
These radical Muslims are under the impression that they will get some reward by killing us but what do they truly represent when they do such acts and what message do they send to people who are not Muslim?
People's actions tell others who they are as people and if they represent Muslims then what kind of poster boy image are they sending to the rest of the world about Muslims? What is the character they represent?
Killing someone is a sin and if you practice sin then you are not free. You are a slave. You are tethered to chains that you can not brake and hell is your only destination without the help of the real Messiah, the real King of kings and Lord of lords. Let's take it John 8:21-59.
21 Later Jesus said to them again, "I am going away. You will search for me and die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going." 22 The Jewish leaders asked, "Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, 'You cannot come where I am going'?" 23 Then he said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins." 25 "Tell us who you are," they demanded. Jesus replied, "I am the one I have always claimed to be. F38 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is true." 27 But they still didn't understand that he was talking to them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will realize that I am he and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me ? he has not deserted me. For I always do those things that are pleasing to him." 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
31 Jesus said to the people F39 who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, 'set free'?" 34 Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because my message does not find a place in your hearts.
38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father." 39 "Our father is Abraham," they declared. "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were children of Abraham, you would follow his good example. F40 40 I told you the truth I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham wouldn't do a thing like that. 41 No, you are obeying your real father when you act that way." They replied, "We were not born out of wedlock! Our true Father is God himself." 42 Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can't you understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to do so! 44 For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me!
46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Anyone whose Father is God listens gladly to the words of God. Since you don't, it proves you aren't God's children." 48 The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?" 49 "No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father ? and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God wants to glorify me. Let him be the judge.
51 I assure you, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" 52 The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say that those who obey your teaching will never die! 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Are you greater than the prophets, who died? Who do you think you are?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I am merely boasting about myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who says these glorious things about me. You say, 'He is our God,' 55 but you do not even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But it is true ? I know him and obey him. 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad." 57 The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham? F41 " 58 Jesus answered, "The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!" F42 59 At that point they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple.
These individuals are well educated people, ABC news reported that they were doctors. Doctors are to save lives not take them away. Radical Muslims want to rule the world through whatever means -through terror, murder, political position, their wife's womb, etc. What is here that is so worthy having?
These radical Muslims are under the impression that they will get some reward by killing us but what do they truly represent when they do such acts and what message do they send to people who are not Muslim?
People's actions tell others who they are as people and if they represent Muslims then what kind of poster boy image are they sending to the rest of the world about Muslims? What is the character they represent?
Killing someone is a sin and if you practice sin then you are not free. You are a slave. You are tethered to chains that you can not brake and hell is your only destination without the help of the real Messiah, the real King of kings and Lord of lords. Let's take it John 8:21-59.
21 Later Jesus said to them again, "I am going away. You will search for me and die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going." 22 The Jewish leaders asked, "Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, 'You cannot come where I am going'?" 23 Then he said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins." 25 "Tell us who you are," they demanded. Jesus replied, "I am the one I have always claimed to be. F38 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is true." 27 But they still didn't understand that he was talking to them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will realize that I am he and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me ? he has not deserted me. For I always do those things that are pleasing to him." 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
31 Jesus said to the people F39 who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, 'set free'?" 34 Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because my message does not find a place in your hearts.
38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father." 39 "Our father is Abraham," they declared. "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were children of Abraham, you would follow his good example. F40 40 I told you the truth I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham wouldn't do a thing like that. 41 No, you are obeying your real father when you act that way." They replied, "We were not born out of wedlock! Our true Father is God himself." 42 Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can't you understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to do so! 44 For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me!
46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Anyone whose Father is God listens gladly to the words of God. Since you don't, it proves you aren't God's children." 48 The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?" 49 "No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father ? and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God wants to glorify me. Let him be the judge.
51 I assure you, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" 52 The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say that those who obey your teaching will never die! 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Are you greater than the prophets, who died? Who do you think you are?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I am merely boasting about myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who says these glorious things about me. You say, 'He is our God,' 55 but you do not even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But it is true ? I know him and obey him. 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad." 57 The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham? F41 " 58 Jesus answered, "The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!" F42 59 At that point they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
He Rejoices Over You and Me: An Encouraging Note
It is amazing to think that we, who are his, are rejoiced over by God. Some may say it is our song (our lives) that sing to the Lord but why do our lives sing to the Lord?
We sing because it is the love song God sang to us at the beginning and continues to sing to this day.
God helps us realize in our humbleness that we need Him, we weren’t able to get through all the situations and events in our lives without him, he’s the one who gives us peace, the one who makes us truly happy and he makes all things possible. When we are troubled he pleads with us to come to him so we don’t get carried away in our own ways and our own understandings. He is the one who delivers us and restores us from all things. He helps us see that we can come before him even though He is Holy. He is not about religion but relationship. The more we are allowed to understand his splendor and majesty and his authority the more we see how grateful we should be… He sings to you and me everyday if we just look to him. He helps us see the wonders of his love. We seem so small in the universe or scope of things yet he sets us on his knee and listens. (He even listens when he knows we won’t listen when it’s his time to speak.) Through his son, Jesus Christ, we have an unbreakable line of communication and friendship. We are saved by His love alone.
Listen to God’s song that He is singing to you and glorify Him in all that you do.
Zephaniah 3:17
For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song.
We sing because it is the love song God sang to us at the beginning and continues to sing to this day.
God helps us realize in our humbleness that we need Him, we weren’t able to get through all the situations and events in our lives without him, he’s the one who gives us peace, the one who makes us truly happy and he makes all things possible. When we are troubled he pleads with us to come to him so we don’t get carried away in our own ways and our own understandings. He is the one who delivers us and restores us from all things. He helps us see that we can come before him even though He is Holy. He is not about religion but relationship. The more we are allowed to understand his splendor and majesty and his authority the more we see how grateful we should be… He sings to you and me everyday if we just look to him. He helps us see the wonders of his love. We seem so small in the universe or scope of things yet he sets us on his knee and listens. (He even listens when he knows we won’t listen when it’s his time to speak.) Through his son, Jesus Christ, we have an unbreakable line of communication and friendship. We are saved by His love alone.
Listen to God’s song that He is singing to you and glorify Him in all that you do.
Zephaniah 3:17
For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Actions Speak Louder then Words
A friend from church sent me this one. It's pretty good!
His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college.
He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it.
One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat.
The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.
Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.
By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.
About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.
Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.
How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?
It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy.
The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.
Everyone chokes up with emotion.
When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."
"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!"
His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college.
He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it.
One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat.
The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.
Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.
By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.
About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.
Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.
How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?
It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy.
The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.
Everyone chokes up with emotion.
When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."
"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!"
Friday, June 01, 2007
Toss out Your Presumptions.
The world is full of presumptions or judgements.
I bet even you make presumptions on people by the way they dress, talk, walk, or act.
Presumptions cause us to act out of personal judgements instead of fact. Presumptions of others limit enrichment in our lives. It causes us to put up walls and barriers instead of welcome mats.
I am not saying make a buddy with everyone you see… common sense should tell you that - but ask yourself if you are acting "this way or that way" to someone based on presumption or fact?
Jeremiah 1:4
"The LORD gave me a message. He said, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world."
"O’ Sovereign LORD," I said, "I can’t speak to you! I’m too young!"
"Don’t say that," The LORD replied, "for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
Then the LORD touched my mouth and said, "See, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against the nations and kingdoms. You are to uproot some and tear them down, to destroy and overthrow them. You are to build others up and plant them."
You see if we make presumptions about God and ourselves how can we build up others and plant them in the faith of Christ Jesus? How can we stand up for what is right and stand up against what is wrong? How can a person live according to God’s will if they don’t trust what God says?
Pride and presumption - Jonah suffered from pride and presumption. He didn’t want to go to Nineveh because of his own pride and presumption. His presumptions of God caused him to run away and his pride only made him think about himself and not God’s plan for mercy for the people of Nineveh.
"I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you would cancel your plans for destroying these people. Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive because nothing I predicted is going to happen." Jonah 4:2
People make presumptions of others based on blessings and tragedies. Take the story of Job for example. Job lost all his children and riches and came down with a terrible case of boils and had to leave his home and sit outside the city where people dumped their trash. His friends thought God was cursing Job because he had sinned against God but they were wrong.
Job 42:7 "After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite; "I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not been right in what you said about me, as my servant Job was. Now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not been right in what you said about me, as my servant Job was."
Just because this or that has happened to a person don’t make presumptions and especially not about God.
Isaiah 55:8 "My thoughts are completely different then yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher then your thoughts."
Here are two other warnings to keep in mind when it comes to presumptions about ourselves.
1 Corinthians 10:12
" If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin."
James 4:11
"Don’t speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize each other and condemn each other, then you are criticizing and condemning God’s law. But you are not a judge who can decide whether the law is right or wrong. Your job is to obey it. God alone, who made the law, can rightly judge among us. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to condemn your neighbor?"
So presumption ends with God’s wisdom and we build up and plant others in Christ Jesus as we live in that wisdom.
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness." James 3:17
I bet even you make presumptions on people by the way they dress, talk, walk, or act.
Presumptions cause us to act out of personal judgements instead of fact. Presumptions of others limit enrichment in our lives. It causes us to put up walls and barriers instead of welcome mats.
I am not saying make a buddy with everyone you see… common sense should tell you that - but ask yourself if you are acting "this way or that way" to someone based on presumption or fact?
Jeremiah 1:4
"The LORD gave me a message. He said, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world."
"O’ Sovereign LORD," I said, "I can’t speak to you! I’m too young!"
"Don’t say that," The LORD replied, "for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
Then the LORD touched my mouth and said, "See, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against the nations and kingdoms. You are to uproot some and tear them down, to destroy and overthrow them. You are to build others up and plant them."
You see if we make presumptions about God and ourselves how can we build up others and plant them in the faith of Christ Jesus? How can we stand up for what is right and stand up against what is wrong? How can a person live according to God’s will if they don’t trust what God says?
Pride and presumption - Jonah suffered from pride and presumption. He didn’t want to go to Nineveh because of his own pride and presumption. His presumptions of God caused him to run away and his pride only made him think about himself and not God’s plan for mercy for the people of Nineveh.
"I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you would cancel your plans for destroying these people. Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive because nothing I predicted is going to happen." Jonah 4:2
People make presumptions of others based on blessings and tragedies. Take the story of Job for example. Job lost all his children and riches and came down with a terrible case of boils and had to leave his home and sit outside the city where people dumped their trash. His friends thought God was cursing Job because he had sinned against God but they were wrong.
Job 42:7 "After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite; "I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not been right in what you said about me, as my servant Job was. Now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not been right in what you said about me, as my servant Job was."
Just because this or that has happened to a person don’t make presumptions and especially not about God.
Isaiah 55:8 "My thoughts are completely different then yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher then your thoughts."
Here are two other warnings to keep in mind when it comes to presumptions about ourselves.
1 Corinthians 10:12
" If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin."
James 4:11
"Don’t speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize each other and condemn each other, then you are criticizing and condemning God’s law. But you are not a judge who can decide whether the law is right or wrong. Your job is to obey it. God alone, who made the law, can rightly judge among us. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to condemn your neighbor?"
So presumption ends with God’s wisdom and we build up and plant others in Christ Jesus as we live in that wisdom.
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness." James 3:17
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
The Spiritual Reality We Don't See and Waiting For Our Answer to Prayer
Do you know there are individuals out there that can see the spiritual realms around them?
Sometimes I can sense evil but I can’t literally see the source of it. Sometimes I feel God but can’t literally see God. I bet you have felt it too a time or two in your life. Some however can actually see not just feel the presence of evil that lurks or possesses an environment or a person’s life. Some can also actually see God’s angels, the river of God flow through a place, and even Jesus in visions and dreams, - not just feel the presence of God that lives or surrounds an environment or a person’s life. Not saying that feeling the presence of God isn’t powerful enough because it is very powerful and maybe just AS powerful.
We as Christians often think of two levels. The level we live in right now and the level where Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us but we hardly think of the level in between. The level where unseen battles are played out between angels and fallen angels. (I think God’s angels like it that way for they only want to glorify God and not themselves. That is the way it should be for Christians too, that our works and actions would glorify God and not us.)
"When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of the sheep, he doesn't just sit down and eat. He must first prepare his master's meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.'" Luke 17:7-10
Some may think, why bring up this unseen reality where battles are fought between angels and fallen angels for it isn’t mentioned all the much in the church today. What is the purpose in bringing it up?
Well this is my reasoning. Do you pray and when you pray does it seem that your prayers don’t get answered? Does it seem at times that it takes a long time for your prayers to get answered? Do you start to wonder and search for reasons why God might not be answering your prayers? Do you ask God, "Have I done something to upset you?"
Sometimes our prayers don’t get answered for a lot of reasons. Reasons beyond our understanding. Reasons that only God holds. Reasons that have to do with perfect timing and the perfect will of God.
It’s often frustrating when your prayers don’t get answered immediately. It’s even more trying when the situation you are praying for is pounding on your heartstrings. We cry out, "Father God why aren’t you taking care of this?"
It’s like our prayers are in this prayer chrysalis and we are just waiting and waiting for this beautiful monarch answer to burst forth and so we can feel that everything is how it should be once again.
Some may think that being a child of God means instant answers to prayer. Heck our brother Jesus is on the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. We are allowed to come bounding into the throne room whenever we want because of Jesus spilt blood on Calvary. Our Father, creator of the universe, made us from the dust of this earth so nothing is impossible with Him. And both our Father and our brother Jesus have got plenty of angels to watch over us. Why the hold up?
When I get headed in this mindset I have to remind myself of what it says in the book of Daniel, Chapter 10.
"When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils. On April 23, as I was standing beside the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightening, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people.
I, Daniel, am the only one who saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing. But they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there alone to watch this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. When I heard him speak, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.
Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, "O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling with fear.
Then he said, "Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for the twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come."
Paul writes in his letter to the church in Thessalonica, "We wanted very much to come, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus when he comes back again. For you are our pride and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:18
We must continue to believe that God hears our prayers even though it seems nothing is happening. Armies of angels are fighting to ensure your prayers are answered in accordance to God’s will and to bring you to the full assurance of God’s love for you. Remember our prayers may be answered in ways that are unconventional in our ways of thinking.
Here’s an example. An evangelist and his family were traveling on the road from one church to another. They had no more money and just the gas in the gas tank. They prayed that God would see them through. They were on a highway when very angry man flagged them over to the side of the road. They pulled over to see what was wrong and the father got out. The angry man marched over to their car and pulled out his wallet and said, "I don’t know who you are or why I am doing this but I have to give you this!" The angry man gave the father one hundred dollars and before the father could thank him, the angry man marched back to his car and speeded away.
May you stay strong in the faith of The Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Jeff Johnson
Sometimes I can sense evil but I can’t literally see the source of it. Sometimes I feel God but can’t literally see God. I bet you have felt it too a time or two in your life. Some however can actually see not just feel the presence of evil that lurks or possesses an environment or a person’s life. Some can also actually see God’s angels, the river of God flow through a place, and even Jesus in visions and dreams, - not just feel the presence of God that lives or surrounds an environment or a person’s life. Not saying that feeling the presence of God isn’t powerful enough because it is very powerful and maybe just AS powerful.
We as Christians often think of two levels. The level we live in right now and the level where Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us but we hardly think of the level in between. The level where unseen battles are played out between angels and fallen angels. (I think God’s angels like it that way for they only want to glorify God and not themselves. That is the way it should be for Christians too, that our works and actions would glorify God and not us.)
"When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of the sheep, he doesn't just sit down and eat. He must first prepare his master's meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.'" Luke 17:7-10
Some may think, why bring up this unseen reality where battles are fought between angels and fallen angels for it isn’t mentioned all the much in the church today. What is the purpose in bringing it up?
Well this is my reasoning. Do you pray and when you pray does it seem that your prayers don’t get answered? Does it seem at times that it takes a long time for your prayers to get answered? Do you start to wonder and search for reasons why God might not be answering your prayers? Do you ask God, "Have I done something to upset you?"
Sometimes our prayers don’t get answered for a lot of reasons. Reasons beyond our understanding. Reasons that only God holds. Reasons that have to do with perfect timing and the perfect will of God.
It’s often frustrating when your prayers don’t get answered immediately. It’s even more trying when the situation you are praying for is pounding on your heartstrings. We cry out, "Father God why aren’t you taking care of this?"
It’s like our prayers are in this prayer chrysalis and we are just waiting and waiting for this beautiful monarch answer to burst forth and so we can feel that everything is how it should be once again.
Some may think that being a child of God means instant answers to prayer. Heck our brother Jesus is on the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. We are allowed to come bounding into the throne room whenever we want because of Jesus spilt blood on Calvary. Our Father, creator of the universe, made us from the dust of this earth so nothing is impossible with Him. And both our Father and our brother Jesus have got plenty of angels to watch over us. Why the hold up?
When I get headed in this mindset I have to remind myself of what it says in the book of Daniel, Chapter 10.
"When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils. On April 23, as I was standing beside the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightening, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people.
I, Daniel, am the only one who saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing. But they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there alone to watch this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. When I heard him speak, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.
Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, "O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling with fear.
Then he said, "Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for the twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come."
Paul writes in his letter to the church in Thessalonica, "We wanted very much to come, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus when he comes back again. For you are our pride and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:18
We must continue to believe that God hears our prayers even though it seems nothing is happening. Armies of angels are fighting to ensure your prayers are answered in accordance to God’s will and to bring you to the full assurance of God’s love for you. Remember our prayers may be answered in ways that are unconventional in our ways of thinking.
Here’s an example. An evangelist and his family were traveling on the road from one church to another. They had no more money and just the gas in the gas tank. They prayed that God would see them through. They were on a highway when very angry man flagged them over to the side of the road. They pulled over to see what was wrong and the father got out. The angry man marched over to their car and pulled out his wallet and said, "I don’t know who you are or why I am doing this but I have to give you this!" The angry man gave the father one hundred dollars and before the father could thank him, the angry man marched back to his car and speeded away.
May you stay strong in the faith of The Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Jeff Johnson
Monday, April 23, 2007
What Do You Allow to Define You?
The Anvil
by Jeff Johnson
In a barn sat a large heavy block of iron. Its top was flat and smooth and on one side stuck a cone like shape. A man saw the unique piece of iron sitting along side the road at one time and thought it would be useful somewhere around his farm so he brought it home and set it his barn. It had sat there gathering dust until one day a new owner of the barn began using it to rest his saddle on after ridding his horse. This continued for sometime until the barn began to settle unevenly and needed to be propped up by something underneath one of its back corners. The owner of the barn looked around and saw the strange block of iron. He thought the block of iron was exactly what was needed to make the back corner of the barn level again. The owner of the barn jacked up the corner of the barn up and set the large block of iron under the corner and then slowly let the barn’s corner to rest on the iron block. The large block of iron sat there for sometime again until the barn burned to the ground in an unfortunate accident. Now another man had seen this block of iron in the ashes of the barn and took it. This same man owned a house on a large lake. Eventually the man became very wealthy and bought a large boat but the dock he had wasn’t big enough so he built a larger dock and used the large block of iron as a dock anchor for his big boat. The iron block sat there many years tied to one boat after another. The wealthy man that owned the dock then went bankrupt. Eventually the dock began to rot and fall apart sending the block of iron to the lake bottom. It sat there with no particular purpose in the dark depths.
There then was a long harsh drought at the lake. The lake level dropped drastically exposing the iron block. Four young men seeing it sticking out of the muddy muck brought it to the lakeshore. There they rinsed it off and scrubbed it down. Needing cash, one of them got the idea to sell the iron block on ebay. They all agreed.
A man who worked metals saw the block iron on the Internet. It reminded him of a block of iron he had made for a particular purpose. It somehow found it’s way off the back of his pick-up. He had never forgotten that block of iron for it was perfect for what he made it for. With the sweat and blood money of life he bought the block of iron. When the man saw it he shook his head, it was his block of iron but he could tell it was used for a lot of things it wasn’t intended for. He brought the iron block into his shop. Placed it on a hard rock of stone and said, “Now I’ll show and remind you what you were intended for.” He took black rod of steel out of a glowing orange burning furnace and laid it on the flat smooth surface of the block of iron. The end of the hot redden rod radiated. The man hammered the rod with his heavy steel mallet and as he did sparks of unstable metal retreated to the ground below. Back and forth from mallet to furnace, the rod began to flatten and soon took the shape of a blade of a sword. When the man was done shaping the sword with his mallet, he baptized the blade of metal in a bath of water. The bath filled with hot bubbles and then discharged a cloud of steam vapor. Immersed in water for a while the blade cooled. The man then took the blade out of the water and looked back at the block of iron and smiled, “You see you were born to build with me.”
The man then went to a moving sharpening stone and as the two worked together, the blade became sharp enough to show a reflection of the master.
What do you allow to define you? Is it the possessions you own? What you dress like? Is it your friends you hang around with? Is it your current job? How others treat you? How you feel about yourself or what emotions you feel?
What do you allow to define you? When you allow something to define you, you are being controlled by that something.
The Spirit of God had our pastor say this statement. You see if it makes sense to you.
“Fear not man (that includes yourself) who can destroy your body but fear He who can destroy your soul in hell.”
Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they can not touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Not even a sparrow worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him then a whole flock of sparrows. If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.”
We often fear things that don’t really matter when it comes to our soul. If we allow people or things to control our lives and not God to guide and direct our lives - we are on the path of destruction but if we fear and/or highly respect God and He will save our soul and give us peace no matter what comes.
Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” Matthew 6:21
When we put things higher then God and hold onto things (even worries and anxieties), and/ or leave God out of our thinking - we are allowing those things to control us.
Jesus said, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:39
Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life- whether you have enough food, drink and clothes. Doesn’t life consist or more then food and clothing?” Matthew 6:24
Jesus continues in Matthew 6:31 “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”
Matthew 5:3 Jesus says “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.”
In simplicity, God made you. Life started by Him and begins with Him. Your real purpose and life are in Him. He defines you and without Him you are lost.
by Jeff Johnson
In a barn sat a large heavy block of iron. Its top was flat and smooth and on one side stuck a cone like shape. A man saw the unique piece of iron sitting along side the road at one time and thought it would be useful somewhere around his farm so he brought it home and set it his barn. It had sat there gathering dust until one day a new owner of the barn began using it to rest his saddle on after ridding his horse. This continued for sometime until the barn began to settle unevenly and needed to be propped up by something underneath one of its back corners. The owner of the barn looked around and saw the strange block of iron. He thought the block of iron was exactly what was needed to make the back corner of the barn level again. The owner of the barn jacked up the corner of the barn up and set the large block of iron under the corner and then slowly let the barn’s corner to rest on the iron block. The large block of iron sat there for sometime again until the barn burned to the ground in an unfortunate accident. Now another man had seen this block of iron in the ashes of the barn and took it. This same man owned a house on a large lake. Eventually the man became very wealthy and bought a large boat but the dock he had wasn’t big enough so he built a larger dock and used the large block of iron as a dock anchor for his big boat. The iron block sat there many years tied to one boat after another. The wealthy man that owned the dock then went bankrupt. Eventually the dock began to rot and fall apart sending the block of iron to the lake bottom. It sat there with no particular purpose in the dark depths.
There then was a long harsh drought at the lake. The lake level dropped drastically exposing the iron block. Four young men seeing it sticking out of the muddy muck brought it to the lakeshore. There they rinsed it off and scrubbed it down. Needing cash, one of them got the idea to sell the iron block on ebay. They all agreed.
A man who worked metals saw the block iron on the Internet. It reminded him of a block of iron he had made for a particular purpose. It somehow found it’s way off the back of his pick-up. He had never forgotten that block of iron for it was perfect for what he made it for. With the sweat and blood money of life he bought the block of iron. When the man saw it he shook his head, it was his block of iron but he could tell it was used for a lot of things it wasn’t intended for. He brought the iron block into his shop. Placed it on a hard rock of stone and said, “Now I’ll show and remind you what you were intended for.” He took black rod of steel out of a glowing orange burning furnace and laid it on the flat smooth surface of the block of iron. The end of the hot redden rod radiated. The man hammered the rod with his heavy steel mallet and as he did sparks of unstable metal retreated to the ground below. Back and forth from mallet to furnace, the rod began to flatten and soon took the shape of a blade of a sword. When the man was done shaping the sword with his mallet, he baptized the blade of metal in a bath of water. The bath filled with hot bubbles and then discharged a cloud of steam vapor. Immersed in water for a while the blade cooled. The man then took the blade out of the water and looked back at the block of iron and smiled, “You see you were born to build with me.”
The man then went to a moving sharpening stone and as the two worked together, the blade became sharp enough to show a reflection of the master.
What do you allow to define you? Is it the possessions you own? What you dress like? Is it your friends you hang around with? Is it your current job? How others treat you? How you feel about yourself or what emotions you feel?
What do you allow to define you? When you allow something to define you, you are being controlled by that something.
The Spirit of God had our pastor say this statement. You see if it makes sense to you.
“Fear not man (that includes yourself) who can destroy your body but fear He who can destroy your soul in hell.”
Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they can not touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Not even a sparrow worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him then a whole flock of sparrows. If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.”
We often fear things that don’t really matter when it comes to our soul. If we allow people or things to control our lives and not God to guide and direct our lives - we are on the path of destruction but if we fear and/or highly respect God and He will save our soul and give us peace no matter what comes.
Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” Matthew 6:21
When we put things higher then God and hold onto things (even worries and anxieties), and/ or leave God out of our thinking - we are allowing those things to control us.
Jesus said, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:39
Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life- whether you have enough food, drink and clothes. Doesn’t life consist or more then food and clothing?” Matthew 6:24
Jesus continues in Matthew 6:31 “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”
Matthew 5:3 Jesus says “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.”
In simplicity, God made you. Life started by Him and begins with Him. Your real purpose and life are in Him. He defines you and without Him you are lost.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Sharp Words That Get To You
When the other children woke up next morning (They had been sleeping on piles of cushions in the pavilion) the first thing they heard- from Mrs. Beaver- was that their brother had been rescued and brought into camp late last night; and was at that moment with Aslan. As soon as they had breakfast they all went out, and there they saw Aslan and Edmund walking together in the dewy grass, apart from the rest of the court. There is no need to tell you (and no one ever heard) what Aslan was saying, but it was a conversation which Edmund never forgot. As the others drew nearer Aslan turned to meet them, bringing Edmund with him.
"Here is your brother," he said, "and- there is no need to talk about what is past."
Edmund shook hands with each of the others and said to each of them in turn, "I’m sorry," and everyone said, "That’s all right." And then everyone wanted very hard to say something which would make it quite clear that they were all friends with him again - something ordinary and natural- and of course no one could think of anything in the world to say. But before they had time to feel really awkward one of the leopards approached Aslan and said,
"Sire, there is a messenger from the enemy who craves audience."
"Let him approach," said Aslan.
Pages 138-139 "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" By C. S. Lewis
What is in the past let stay in the past. Think about that for a moment. If you are holding onto the past you will always be stuck emotionally in the past.
Colossians 3:13
"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."
Edmund was spoken to about his actions. As Christians, we all know when God has corrected us on something in our lives. We can feel it inside our soul. And it isn’t our business to know what God has said to others just to us. We should just to be glad that God is working in each of our lives.
Proverbs 3:11
"My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."
Third party evolvement. If you didn’t hear it come out of mouth of the person who spoke it then it wasn’t for your ears to hear. A third party, meaning well or not meaning well could easily manipulate or misunderstand the content in which something is spoken by someone else. If someone has said something negative about you then let it be his or her idle word against your silence in Christ.
(Remember it is not our silence, you and I want to stand in because our silence has a tendency to breed thoughts and emotions that lead to sin and a poor representation of Christ.) We want to stand in the silence of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies."
Matthew 12:35-36
"A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. And I will tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every word you speak. The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."
Luke 6:45
"A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say."
Matthew 5:11-12
"God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too."
Here's a hand to get back onto the ROCK of Christ my friend.
"Here is your brother," he said, "and- there is no need to talk about what is past."
Edmund shook hands with each of the others and said to each of them in turn, "I’m sorry," and everyone said, "That’s all right." And then everyone wanted very hard to say something which would make it quite clear that they were all friends with him again - something ordinary and natural- and of course no one could think of anything in the world to say. But before they had time to feel really awkward one of the leopards approached Aslan and said,
"Sire, there is a messenger from the enemy who craves audience."
"Let him approach," said Aslan.
Pages 138-139 "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" By C. S. Lewis
What is in the past let stay in the past. Think about that for a moment. If you are holding onto the past you will always be stuck emotionally in the past.
Colossians 3:13
"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."
Edmund was spoken to about his actions. As Christians, we all know when God has corrected us on something in our lives. We can feel it inside our soul. And it isn’t our business to know what God has said to others just to us. We should just to be glad that God is working in each of our lives.
Proverbs 3:11
"My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."
Third party evolvement. If you didn’t hear it come out of mouth of the person who spoke it then it wasn’t for your ears to hear. A third party, meaning well or not meaning well could easily manipulate or misunderstand the content in which something is spoken by someone else. If someone has said something negative about you then let it be his or her idle word against your silence in Christ.
(Remember it is not our silence, you and I want to stand in because our silence has a tendency to breed thoughts and emotions that lead to sin and a poor representation of Christ.) We want to stand in the silence of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies."
Matthew 12:35-36
"A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. And I will tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every word you speak. The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."
Luke 6:45
"A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say."
Matthew 5:11-12
"God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too."
Here's a hand to get back onto the ROCK of Christ my friend.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Letting the Chains Fall Off
We are spiritual vessels - if we want to admit it or not. We are vessels made to hold the things of God. We have a choice to live in freedom and obey Christ or do evil. We practice and fill ourselves with evil, we will soon find ourselves in chains.
"You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." Galatians 6:7-8
Imagine a foam cup. The same kind of foam cup people carry coffee in around the office or juice at birthday party. Take the same foam cup and pour some acid or gasoline in it and it will melt and decay right in front of your eyes.
We are the same way. We seek and fill our souls with the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - we stay in great shape. We have peace and feel free but if we fill our soul with doubt, hostility, jealousy, outbursts of anger, self-ambition, sexual immorality (to name a few) we are going to harvest the consequences of decay and even death.
I could say "Don’t doubt! Don’t do this and don’t do that! But it wouldn’t do any good.
Jesus says "All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not do what I say. John 14:23-
While we were growing up, we showed our love and respect to our parents/ caregivers by listening and obeying them right? God isn’t any different. Jesus said the Holy Spirit is here to "convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgement. The world’s sin is unbelief in me." John 16:8. God will punish and correct His creation just like any caring loving parent or caregiver would and does. He wants all his creation to live in freedom by not doing what is evil but doing what is good.
If people don’t want to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior then there is no reason to obey Jesus. There are some that want to believe but doubt has shackled them to a ship heading in to it’s last sunset. For those I say pray, pray that God will release you from that doubt and give you encouragement to believe that Jesus is KING! But for those who don’t want to believe and don’t want live as Jesus told us to live, I feel sorry for them because they will only reap decay and death. And it will be their choice and no one else’s.
The Holy Spirit is to convince our family and friends of their need for Christ in thier lives. He can be blunt as a sword or soft and gentle. He can soften any heart because he created it. Our loved ones won’t however be able to receive empowerment from the Holy Spirit however until they chose to follow Christ and are open to his spiritual giftings.
Jesus says this: "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." John 14:15-17
"In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy." Acts 2:17
You know when Jesus left and the Father of Heaven sent the Holy Spirit it was the beginning of the last days. We are living in the last days. And in the last days things are suppose to get worse not better. However wouldn’t you like to be reassured and have peace knowing God is with you and is taking care of you?
Jesus says "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace of the world." John 14:27
To have peace from God is to be FREE! Free from the bondage that only wants to destroy us. And it is only in that freedom that we can see what is most important in God’s plan for others and ourselves.
"For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
So I advise you live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.
These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, self-ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another." Galatians 5:13-24
Dark spiritual chains can be put on in a hurry if you allow yourself to lead instead of the Holy Spirit.
Friends, Family, Christians Brothers and Sisters – come to Christ. Get rid of those chains that so easily want to entangle and entrap you. Friends/Family if you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior– do so. Let God raise you up and direct you so you will inherit eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Let Him be your strength, encouragement and peace for all your days ahead. Trust in Him. Christians Brothers and Sisters, if you haven’t already, ask Jesus for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon you so you may grow to the full expression of Christ that God wants and intends for you to be and WATCH THE CHAINS COME OFF! Thank You Jesus! Thank you Father! Thank you Holy Spirit!
"You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." Galatians 6:7-8
Imagine a foam cup. The same kind of foam cup people carry coffee in around the office or juice at birthday party. Take the same foam cup and pour some acid or gasoline in it and it will melt and decay right in front of your eyes.
We are the same way. We seek and fill our souls with the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - we stay in great shape. We have peace and feel free but if we fill our soul with doubt, hostility, jealousy, outbursts of anger, self-ambition, sexual immorality (to name a few) we are going to harvest the consequences of decay and even death.
I could say "Don’t doubt! Don’t do this and don’t do that! But it wouldn’t do any good.
Jesus says "All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not do what I say. John 14:23-
While we were growing up, we showed our love and respect to our parents/ caregivers by listening and obeying them right? God isn’t any different. Jesus said the Holy Spirit is here to "convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgement. The world’s sin is unbelief in me." John 16:8. God will punish and correct His creation just like any caring loving parent or caregiver would and does. He wants all his creation to live in freedom by not doing what is evil but doing what is good.
If people don’t want to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior then there is no reason to obey Jesus. There are some that want to believe but doubt has shackled them to a ship heading in to it’s last sunset. For those I say pray, pray that God will release you from that doubt and give you encouragement to believe that Jesus is KING! But for those who don’t want to believe and don’t want live as Jesus told us to live, I feel sorry for them because they will only reap decay and death. And it will be their choice and no one else’s.
The Holy Spirit is to convince our family and friends of their need for Christ in thier lives. He can be blunt as a sword or soft and gentle. He can soften any heart because he created it. Our loved ones won’t however be able to receive empowerment from the Holy Spirit however until they chose to follow Christ and are open to his spiritual giftings.
Jesus says this: "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." John 14:15-17
"In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy." Acts 2:17
You know when Jesus left and the Father of Heaven sent the Holy Spirit it was the beginning of the last days. We are living in the last days. And in the last days things are suppose to get worse not better. However wouldn’t you like to be reassured and have peace knowing God is with you and is taking care of you?
Jesus says "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace of the world." John 14:27
To have peace from God is to be FREE! Free from the bondage that only wants to destroy us. And it is only in that freedom that we can see what is most important in God’s plan for others and ourselves.
"For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
So I advise you live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.
These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, self-ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another." Galatians 5:13-24
Dark spiritual chains can be put on in a hurry if you allow yourself to lead instead of the Holy Spirit.
Friends, Family, Christians Brothers and Sisters – come to Christ. Get rid of those chains that so easily want to entangle and entrap you. Friends/Family if you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior– do so. Let God raise you up and direct you so you will inherit eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Let Him be your strength, encouragement and peace for all your days ahead. Trust in Him. Christians Brothers and Sisters, if you haven’t already, ask Jesus for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon you so you may grow to the full expression of Christ that God wants and intends for you to be and WATCH THE CHAINS COME OFF! Thank You Jesus! Thank you Father! Thank you Holy Spirit!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Feeling the Negative Vibes?
May you see past that the anger you receive and see it as it really is.... It is difficult. It even more difficult when you feel the emotions of resentment from a brother or sister in Christ. The vibrations shake our emotions and cause us to want to accept ideas and thoughts that we shouldn't. These vibrations shake our emotions because of the strong sinews we are all tied to when we belong to each other and Christ.
"But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God." Colossians 2:19
It is true, when one of us is hurting or not understanding we who surround this person tend to feel their negative vibes. We are no different then when a drop of moisture hits a puddle of water making a ripple but the difference is where we place our feet when the drop of moisture strikes the surface of that puddle.
If it is in the seas of Adam (our flesh) we will feel the effects of the ripple but there is a way not to feel the effects of someones negativity. In this pool of water a rock is always constant no matter if we choose to believe or not to believe. Standing on the rock, when the ripple comes - our ways of handling the situation will be entirely different. The rock of Christ is always present and He allows us to see the vibration around us for what it is- without causing us to react in the ways of the flesh. The ways of the flesh are to get into a defensive mode. Some people lash back out, some get depressed or some just retreat emotionally all together.
"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
The negative vibrations may come circle the rock of Christ but the rock doesn't move and either do we if we are standing on Him. Then we are able to act according to the Spirit and express the love of Christ in all His fullness without worry, fear, depression, sadness, judgement, hate anxiety and anger.
Yes there are some people who are able to disconnect themselves from someone else's negativity but it isn't always constant and it has nothing to do with standing on the rock of Christ. It has everything to do with selfishness. They may not care when it comes to someone they dislike but when it comes to someone they love or admire -watch out. They can be quickly turned.
When you see the ripple of anger, resentment or negativity coming towards you, take a moment and step on the rock of Christ. Don't depend on your own fleshly understandings and fall into those knee jerk reactions but seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit which God gave you when you accepted Christ into your life.
"Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:14
In Christ, the world will see the light.
May you find and walk in all His ways,
Jeff
"But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God." Colossians 2:19
It is true, when one of us is hurting or not understanding we who surround this person tend to feel their negative vibes. We are no different then when a drop of moisture hits a puddle of water making a ripple but the difference is where we place our feet when the drop of moisture strikes the surface of that puddle.
If it is in the seas of Adam (our flesh) we will feel the effects of the ripple but there is a way not to feel the effects of someones negativity. In this pool of water a rock is always constant no matter if we choose to believe or not to believe. Standing on the rock, when the ripple comes - our ways of handling the situation will be entirely different. The rock of Christ is always present and He allows us to see the vibration around us for what it is- without causing us to react in the ways of the flesh. The ways of the flesh are to get into a defensive mode. Some people lash back out, some get depressed or some just retreat emotionally all together.
"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
The negative vibrations may come circle the rock of Christ but the rock doesn't move and either do we if we are standing on Him. Then we are able to act according to the Spirit and express the love of Christ in all His fullness without worry, fear, depression, sadness, judgement, hate anxiety and anger.
Yes there are some people who are able to disconnect themselves from someone else's negativity but it isn't always constant and it has nothing to do with standing on the rock of Christ. It has everything to do with selfishness. They may not care when it comes to someone they dislike but when it comes to someone they love or admire -watch out. They can be quickly turned.
When you see the ripple of anger, resentment or negativity coming towards you, take a moment and step on the rock of Christ. Don't depend on your own fleshly understandings and fall into those knee jerk reactions but seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit which God gave you when you accepted Christ into your life.
"Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:14
In Christ, the world will see the light.
May you find and walk in all His ways,
Jeff
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Nothing Can Separate Us From Him
Running in the dark or enlightened by transparency.
Nothing can separate us from Him
All things lead to Him. It’s like a circle with no course.
You can be up high or at your lowest low.
Nothing can separate us from Him.
Condemned by certain emotions or inflicted by other’s rhythms.
Humble and lamented…
Nothing can separate us from Him.
In a crowded room or stranded alone…
Judged or favored it really doesn’t matter… what is human opinion?
Nothing can separate us from Him.
Accused, slandered, stabbed and spit on…
Rest, peace, and at ease in heaven’s best…
Nothing can separate us from Him.
A good laugh or a salty tear
Hard boiled or a deep breath…
A tall glass of water or scorching flames…
On a roller coaster or mistaken as a punching bag
Nothing can separate us from Him
A record player or a song maker
Nothing can separate us from Him.
Ignorant or filled
Nothing can separate us from Him.
Jeff Johnson
Nothing can separate us from Him
All things lead to Him. It’s like a circle with no course.
You can be up high or at your lowest low.
Nothing can separate us from Him.
Condemned by certain emotions or inflicted by other’s rhythms.
Humble and lamented…
Nothing can separate us from Him.
In a crowded room or stranded alone…
Judged or favored it really doesn’t matter… what is human opinion?
Nothing can separate us from Him.
Accused, slandered, stabbed and spit on…
Rest, peace, and at ease in heaven’s best…
Nothing can separate us from Him.
A good laugh or a salty tear
Hard boiled or a deep breath…
A tall glass of water or scorching flames…
On a roller coaster or mistaken as a punching bag
Nothing can separate us from Him
A record player or a song maker
Nothing can separate us from Him.
Ignorant or filled
Nothing can separate us from Him.
Jeff Johnson
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Cheating and Adultery Are NOT Okay
Yesterday I was tempted to write a fiery commentary about an article I tripped over on MSN entitled, "How European Men Don’t Get Caught in Adultery." I started to read the article trying to understanding why someone might want to read such an article.
I don’t know how far I read but the more that I read the angrier I got in disbelief. Thinking back on it sounded like something right out of Satan’s twisted handbook…. It is all right to have adulterous relationships if it doesn’t make you feel guilty the next day and you tell the woman you are having this adulterous fling with that you are married first.
I think most Christians would see that the article sat heavily on the "I" or "Me" concept. Those who don’t know the "I" or "Me" concept, it’s all about satisfying one’s own flesh not about doing what is right in God’s sight.
Another concept was, adulterous relationships are everyday things and very uncomplicated in Europe. The other woman or women are told that this is just a sexual fling nothing more. The other woman agrees and they happily carry on like nothing has ever happens afterward.
The last one I read had to do with. "It is all right to lie and cheat if the one I am lying and cheating on doesn’t find out." - It won't hurt anyone unless they find out.
I don’t know if they had this one (because I didn’t read the entire article) but I am hearing about this one too lately. "It is all right to have sex with someone else if my spouse is having sex with someone else too and we both know each others additional sex partner(s)."
I know these ideas have been around A VERY LONG TIME but they have only been around A VERY LONG TIME because they seem to work when it comes to snaring us and persuading us into sinful acts.
God says, "Do not commit Adultery" (Exodus 20:14)
God says, "Do not testify falsely against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16)
God says, "Do not covet your neighbor’s wife." (Exodus 20:17)
In the Old Testament people were stoned to death if caught in adultery. "If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death" (Leviticus 20:10)
Some would say that these laws were only for the Jews but in the New Testament Jesus, who is the Savior and the Son of God for all people (Jews and non- Jews) says:
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, "Do not commit adultery." But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if it is your eye- even if it is your good eye- causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body then for your whole body to be thrown into hell." (Matthew 5:27)
I will not judge a person who commits adultery for we have all been sinful but I will share this event that is told to us in John 8
"Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?"
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!"
Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, "Where are you accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?"
"No, Lord," she said.
And Jesus said, "Neither do I, Go and sin no more."
Why does God want us to be faithful to our spouse? He knows what damage it does to the family and you. He knows trust is not easily repaired or fixed. He knows such acts cause the spread of sexual transmitted diseases such as HIV, AIDS, Herpes and cervical cancers. When you do such acts, it shows we only have the values of the world and are no different then the rest of the world when we do such acts. And if we can’t be faithful to our wife, how can be faithful to God? God is only looking what we are looking for.
Would you want a spouse who cheats on you? How can God’s love and the expression of that love be shown if we are no different then the rest of the world.
I couldn’t stay married to someone who was unfaithful.
When we do the twisted dark things the world tries to say is okay we are not acting as children of God but children of the dark prince of this world. The dark prince of this world doesn’t care for his children. When these people who have denied Christ, by their actions go before God, the devil who cheered them on will then turn on them and accuse them of al their sins. Satan will probably laugh at all those who have the nerve to try to accuse him for all their shame and evil. If he says anything at all to them he will probably say something like; "You are sending yourself to hell." It will come very apparent that they didn’t have to do the dark and lustful things that were conveniently suggested.
I will say this again for your benefit and for your benefit ALONE.
"I used to think the Satan/ the Devil was fiction but then I asked God if the devil was real and one night in my sleep the spiritual vial was opened for me to see the Satan- the dark prince of this world. He is not the beautiful angel he once was. The portrayal of him being red is not that far off. His being looks as if it has been scorched to redness. I remember his eyes were very perching and menacing and I would be lying to say he wasn’t frightening. He has a very strong presence. Darkness and flames seemed to reflect on his being. I tried to look away from him as much as I could like Frodo trying to look away from the great evil eye of Sauron in the Lord of the Rings movies. Then heard a blood-curdling scream. It was like it was right next to my bed and I immediately woke up. I think I sat straight up in bed. I listened. My wife was still sleeping soundly beside me. It was obvious it wasn’t the children. Trembling, I prayed for God to watch over my house and eventually I fell back to sleep.
Don’t be fooled! There are many things we can not see. The Lord God is the only way. There you find and draw your strength from Him.
If you are being adulterous, Jesus would say to you, "Go and sin no more."
Oh… and there is a reason why God says don’t concern yourself with things of this world. You get less uptight that way.
I don’t know how far I read but the more that I read the angrier I got in disbelief. Thinking back on it sounded like something right out of Satan’s twisted handbook…. It is all right to have adulterous relationships if it doesn’t make you feel guilty the next day and you tell the woman you are having this adulterous fling with that you are married first.
I think most Christians would see that the article sat heavily on the "I" or "Me" concept. Those who don’t know the "I" or "Me" concept, it’s all about satisfying one’s own flesh not about doing what is right in God’s sight.
Another concept was, adulterous relationships are everyday things and very uncomplicated in Europe. The other woman or women are told that this is just a sexual fling nothing more. The other woman agrees and they happily carry on like nothing has ever happens afterward.
The last one I read had to do with. "It is all right to lie and cheat if the one I am lying and cheating on doesn’t find out." - It won't hurt anyone unless they find out.
I don’t know if they had this one (because I didn’t read the entire article) but I am hearing about this one too lately. "It is all right to have sex with someone else if my spouse is having sex with someone else too and we both know each others additional sex partner(s)."
I know these ideas have been around A VERY LONG TIME but they have only been around A VERY LONG TIME because they seem to work when it comes to snaring us and persuading us into sinful acts.
God says, "Do not commit Adultery" (Exodus 20:14)
God says, "Do not testify falsely against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16)
God says, "Do not covet your neighbor’s wife." (Exodus 20:17)
In the Old Testament people were stoned to death if caught in adultery. "If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death" (Leviticus 20:10)
Some would say that these laws were only for the Jews but in the New Testament Jesus, who is the Savior and the Son of God for all people (Jews and non- Jews) says:
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, "Do not commit adultery." But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if it is your eye- even if it is your good eye- causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body then for your whole body to be thrown into hell." (Matthew 5:27)
I will not judge a person who commits adultery for we have all been sinful but I will share this event that is told to us in John 8
"Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?"
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!"
Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, "Where are you accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?"
"No, Lord," she said.
And Jesus said, "Neither do I, Go and sin no more."
Why does God want us to be faithful to our spouse? He knows what damage it does to the family and you. He knows trust is not easily repaired or fixed. He knows such acts cause the spread of sexual transmitted diseases such as HIV, AIDS, Herpes and cervical cancers. When you do such acts, it shows we only have the values of the world and are no different then the rest of the world when we do such acts. And if we can’t be faithful to our wife, how can be faithful to God? God is only looking what we are looking for.
Would you want a spouse who cheats on you? How can God’s love and the expression of that love be shown if we are no different then the rest of the world.
I couldn’t stay married to someone who was unfaithful.
When we do the twisted dark things the world tries to say is okay we are not acting as children of God but children of the dark prince of this world. The dark prince of this world doesn’t care for his children. When these people who have denied Christ, by their actions go before God, the devil who cheered them on will then turn on them and accuse them of al their sins. Satan will probably laugh at all those who have the nerve to try to accuse him for all their shame and evil. If he says anything at all to them he will probably say something like; "You are sending yourself to hell." It will come very apparent that they didn’t have to do the dark and lustful things that were conveniently suggested.
I will say this again for your benefit and for your benefit ALONE.
"I used to think the Satan/ the Devil was fiction but then I asked God if the devil was real and one night in my sleep the spiritual vial was opened for me to see the Satan- the dark prince of this world. He is not the beautiful angel he once was. The portrayal of him being red is not that far off. His being looks as if it has been scorched to redness. I remember his eyes were very perching and menacing and I would be lying to say he wasn’t frightening. He has a very strong presence. Darkness and flames seemed to reflect on his being. I tried to look away from him as much as I could like Frodo trying to look away from the great evil eye of Sauron in the Lord of the Rings movies. Then heard a blood-curdling scream. It was like it was right next to my bed and I immediately woke up. I think I sat straight up in bed. I listened. My wife was still sleeping soundly beside me. It was obvious it wasn’t the children. Trembling, I prayed for God to watch over my house and eventually I fell back to sleep.
Don’t be fooled! There are many things we can not see. The Lord God is the only way. There you find and draw your strength from Him.
If you are being adulterous, Jesus would say to you, "Go and sin no more."
Oh… and there is a reason why God says don’t concern yourself with things of this world. You get less uptight that way.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
That is SOME BREAD!
One of my favorite things to eat is bread, with butter. I have noticed however that bread is only good if you have something to drink with it. Bread tends to be like a dry donut that makes you instantly thirsty after a couple of pieces.
There are all kinds of breads. Grain breads, Garlic, Sourdough breads, wheat, ryes, poppy seed, French, Artisan, etc, etc…. There are also the breads the world eats and tries to convince us to eat.
Those who have eaten those types of breads know they don’t satisfy but leave an individual looking for something more.
It reminds me of one of the quotes in one the Lord of the Rings movie when one of the orcs says, "All we have eaten is this stink'n maggoty bread!"
The sad fact is some continue to eat the breads of the world that disguise themselves as something new, something sweet and fulfilling but really all they get in the end is a dry mouth stuffed with stale moldy bread that will slowly poison, burden and leave them blind. Sounds harsh but what do you expect from the world that only wants to feed the flesh and not the soul?
John 6:35 Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst."
Now that is some bread I love to savor. It is fulfilling and doesn’t leave me thirsty.
John 6:63 Jesus said,
"It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you don’t believe me"
The bread that man makes doesn’t satisfy and is useless but the bread God makes is fulfilling and everlasting. We choose what to feed on. God doesn't feed us with he knows is unhealthy and leaves us unsatisfied. It is us who makes that choice.
Proverbs 16:26 says,
"It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on."
Christians, who have a genuine zest to delight themselves in God, are driven not by the things of this world but their relationship with God and by the ways God reveals and shows himself.
I am constantly amazed how God reveals himself to me.
Take this last Sunday, I came up to the front for prayer for a relative. The man visiting the church, I prayed with was a total stranger and as he prayed with me he said, "I was just told just that your name is Jeff. Is your name Jeff?" I said, "Yes". The Holy Spirit had told him my name. I think he was more amazed then I was but I was delighted to be reminded that God is present and not in some far distance place when we come before him with our prayer requests. I am still smiling at the thought of the moment and find it very encouraging. Thank You Father God.
Luke 12:21 Jesus says,
"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."
I will never get enough of Father God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He is endless.
Religion is probably one of the worst breads you can eat of this world. When I say religion I am not talking about Faith in Christ. I ate from religion for a short while. It made me very thirsty and hungry and blind. I fought and walked myself right into a dark closet and became very lost in my own foolish thoughts and ideas but thanks to God’s mercy and compassion, Jesus came and got me. God help me to never go back to those chains again.
I now try to focus on God and not myself and what I see going on around me. I try to stay humble. I try to remember things are not always what they seem or appear to be. People have bad days. We get sick. Forgetting your wallet and having to go home and get it may have just saved your life from that terrible car wreck on the way to work. I try to depend on His Holy Spirit to move and motivate my life. I speak with God and try to be thankful for all the things He has done and I think I have gained a deeper appreciation and desire for Him in our growing relationship.
He’s definitely the bread I can’t go without in life. I hope it is the same way with you!
There are all kinds of breads. Grain breads, Garlic, Sourdough breads, wheat, ryes, poppy seed, French, Artisan, etc, etc…. There are also the breads the world eats and tries to convince us to eat.
Those who have eaten those types of breads know they don’t satisfy but leave an individual looking for something more.
It reminds me of one of the quotes in one the Lord of the Rings movie when one of the orcs says, "All we have eaten is this stink'n maggoty bread!"
The sad fact is some continue to eat the breads of the world that disguise themselves as something new, something sweet and fulfilling but really all they get in the end is a dry mouth stuffed with stale moldy bread that will slowly poison, burden and leave them blind. Sounds harsh but what do you expect from the world that only wants to feed the flesh and not the soul?
John 6:35 Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst."
Now that is some bread I love to savor. It is fulfilling and doesn’t leave me thirsty.
John 6:63 Jesus said,
"It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you don’t believe me"
The bread that man makes doesn’t satisfy and is useless but the bread God makes is fulfilling and everlasting. We choose what to feed on. God doesn't feed us with he knows is unhealthy and leaves us unsatisfied. It is us who makes that choice.
Proverbs 16:26 says,
"It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on."
Christians, who have a genuine zest to delight themselves in God, are driven not by the things of this world but their relationship with God and by the ways God reveals and shows himself.
I am constantly amazed how God reveals himself to me.
Take this last Sunday, I came up to the front for prayer for a relative. The man visiting the church, I prayed with was a total stranger and as he prayed with me he said, "I was just told just that your name is Jeff. Is your name Jeff?" I said, "Yes". The Holy Spirit had told him my name. I think he was more amazed then I was but I was delighted to be reminded that God is present and not in some far distance place when we come before him with our prayer requests. I am still smiling at the thought of the moment and find it very encouraging. Thank You Father God.
Luke 12:21 Jesus says,
"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."
I will never get enough of Father God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He is endless.
Religion is probably one of the worst breads you can eat of this world. When I say religion I am not talking about Faith in Christ. I ate from religion for a short while. It made me very thirsty and hungry and blind. I fought and walked myself right into a dark closet and became very lost in my own foolish thoughts and ideas but thanks to God’s mercy and compassion, Jesus came and got me. God help me to never go back to those chains again.
I now try to focus on God and not myself and what I see going on around me. I try to stay humble. I try to remember things are not always what they seem or appear to be. People have bad days. We get sick. Forgetting your wallet and having to go home and get it may have just saved your life from that terrible car wreck on the way to work. I try to depend on His Holy Spirit to move and motivate my life. I speak with God and try to be thankful for all the things He has done and I think I have gained a deeper appreciation and desire for Him in our growing relationship.
He’s definitely the bread I can’t go without in life. I hope it is the same way with you!
Monday, March 19, 2007
God's Desire for You.
The Trophy’s of Grace came and visited our church this last Sunday from Teen Challenge. One of the favorite scriptures of the men was "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37)
We must have a desire for God and through this desire grows a Godly love for others.
I asked God this question recently, "How can people desire you if they have really no idea or concept of who you are?"
And this is the illustration that came to mind. The love a husband gives to his wife shows how much he desires her and from that desire comes understanding to the wife that her husband REALLY loves her. That understanding gives their relationship strength and if her heart truly understands the love her husband has for her she will be holding her husband’s hand through richer or poorer and sickness and health. There will be a strong trust there.
God’s desire is the same way. God wants us to know how much He desires us so we can understand how much He truly loves us no matter what life brings because He is holding our hand as we go through it.
We submit to God just as a wife submits to her husband. I think the word "submit" has been twisted over the years. But submit means that we give ourselves and it is only when we give our lives to God (no matter in bad or good times) that we can truly see God’s love act in our behalf in our lives.
God’s desire is for us to know Him but we can only get to know Him if we submit our lives to Him.
Philippians 4:11
Paul, who submitted his life our Lord Jesus Christ, writes, "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need."
It is for richer or poorer isn’t it? But notice how Paul writes the word "happily".
He was happy no matter if he was rich or poor. He was happy if he had no food in stomach or plenty of food in his stomach.
Paul knew none of the things of this world would satisfy him but his relationship with God would. He also knew "things" don’t just fade or lose importance in time but tend to become a burden. He also probably knew that things could also take the place of God in a person’s life.
Take the rich man who wanted follow Christ. Christ told him to sell everything he had but he couldn’t do it? Why? What was more important to the man? Christ wanted to show the man that his things were more important then God? God’s desire to have a relationship with Paul was the only "thing" that gave him peace and assurance for his everyday life.
Do you have that kind of peace and assurance? God wants to give it to you! He desires a relationship with you!
You say, "I can’t! You have done some things that God wouldn’t approve of?" Well so has the rest of the human race? You say "I got to get myself right with God first?" Well get yourself right with God by asking God forgiveness of your sins and asking God’s son, Jesus Christ into your life for he is the only one who can make that change within you. Jesus became a sacrifice for our sins. He, as Lord and Savior, sits at God’s right hand interceding for us everyday. He lives to give us an ever changing life and eternal life. Jesus Christ is our Priestly Lord and King. Ask him for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon you and may God bless you in the full knowledge and love of God. In Jesus name Amen!
We must have a desire for God and through this desire grows a Godly love for others.
I asked God this question recently, "How can people desire you if they have really no idea or concept of who you are?"
And this is the illustration that came to mind. The love a husband gives to his wife shows how much he desires her and from that desire comes understanding to the wife that her husband REALLY loves her. That understanding gives their relationship strength and if her heart truly understands the love her husband has for her she will be holding her husband’s hand through richer or poorer and sickness and health. There will be a strong trust there.
God’s desire is the same way. God wants us to know how much He desires us so we can understand how much He truly loves us no matter what life brings because He is holding our hand as we go through it.
We submit to God just as a wife submits to her husband. I think the word "submit" has been twisted over the years. But submit means that we give ourselves and it is only when we give our lives to God (no matter in bad or good times) that we can truly see God’s love act in our behalf in our lives.
God’s desire is for us to know Him but we can only get to know Him if we submit our lives to Him.
Philippians 4:11
Paul, who submitted his life our Lord Jesus Christ, writes, "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need."
It is for richer or poorer isn’t it? But notice how Paul writes the word "happily".
He was happy no matter if he was rich or poor. He was happy if he had no food in stomach or plenty of food in his stomach.
Paul knew none of the things of this world would satisfy him but his relationship with God would. He also knew "things" don’t just fade or lose importance in time but tend to become a burden. He also probably knew that things could also take the place of God in a person’s life.
Take the rich man who wanted follow Christ. Christ told him to sell everything he had but he couldn’t do it? Why? What was more important to the man? Christ wanted to show the man that his things were more important then God? God’s desire to have a relationship with Paul was the only "thing" that gave him peace and assurance for his everyday life.
Do you have that kind of peace and assurance? God wants to give it to you! He desires a relationship with you!
You say, "I can’t! You have done some things that God wouldn’t approve of?" Well so has the rest of the human race? You say "I got to get myself right with God first?" Well get yourself right with God by asking God forgiveness of your sins and asking God’s son, Jesus Christ into your life for he is the only one who can make that change within you. Jesus became a sacrifice for our sins. He, as Lord and Savior, sits at God’s right hand interceding for us everyday. He lives to give us an ever changing life and eternal life. Jesus Christ is our Priestly Lord and King. Ask him for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon you and may God bless you in the full knowledge and love of God. In Jesus name Amen!
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