It rained last night. That is an exciting event here in the Texas Hill Country because when it rains, it usually rains hard and it comes with thunder and lightening and wind. We are on our 50th something day of temperatures in the 100’s. It has been one hot, dry summer - definitely one of the hottest since we moved to Texas. Plants are looking pretty dry, brown and dead BUT I think things are going to start to cool down some soon.
It is amazing how it can rain only for a short time and everything starts to green up again- even the plants in the garden are happier when they receive the rains from the skies then the hose. The ground also remains damp and moist longer when it rains verses when you water it with a sprinkler. That is something you don’t have to think about all that often growing up in the mossy Pacific Northwest.
Water it beneficial for survival but so is spiritual water for a Christian.
I am talking about the living water you receive when you accept Jesus Christ into your life- the Holy Spirit. It is what makes you THRIVE as a follower of Jesus Christ.
The world would like nothing more then to bleach and chlorinate your faith for the rest of the world. It would like nothing more for you to follow its customs and doctrines. It would like nothing more for you to muddy the lines between Christianity and this world so people don’t know the difference.
I am not going to “water down” my faith for the rest of world because I cannot help but to speak about God. He gives me excitement about life and peace in troubling times. He provides when the world says there is no way to provide. God cures when the world says there is no cure. He is wonderfully God even when in times where I have been so wonderfully awful. So often lately I feel as the prophet Jeremiah wrote, “And I can't stop! If I say I'll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in!” Jeremiah 20:9
God wants us to live out our faith in the “fullness” he intended.
God does not want your faith to be dictated by the “tap water” of this world. He wants you to drink, eat, breathe and move in his “spiritual nutrients” that are beneficial to your life as a Christian.
If we are 90% water (correct me on that if I am wrong) then wouldn’t it make sense in our Christian walk, that we live on at least 90% on what God provides - not just physically but spiritually as well?
Jesus shows us if we come to him we will never be thirsty again but if we look to the world to quench our thirsts we will become thirsty again. The world makes us thirstier! It is always trying to find new things to catch our attention but the new things never satisfy and they don’t last. They are just old shadows of previous things and themes. God, as I have said before, over shadows all the things of this world and makes them unimportant and even useless in the mind of a Christian.
Jesus says, “But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life." John 4:14
Religion gets old but God does not get old. God only gets old in our lives if we set limits on God in our lives. You want life to get thirsty real quick don’t expect anything from God. If you want your cup overflowing then seek God.
Jesus said, “You must love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Matthew 22:37 Do you ever wonder why he said that?
I believe he said that because with God you can never lose in the end, you are satisfied, and you will never have any personal regrets.
Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:25-26
Do you ever wonder why he said that?
Are you going to exchange your soul for reputation? Are you going to exchange your soul for money and profit? Are you going to exchange the useless stuff of this world for what God has to offer and give? Are you going to exchange the knocks-offs and idols of this world for the real God and Savior - who offer you the Spirit to overcome all things including death?
If you are holding out on God in any part of your life, you will not experience all that God has in store for your life- not only that but the parts you are clinging to and holding back from God will slowly fall apart.
In my time being a Christian I have seen people cling onto things in their life, that they knew God had a problem with, and slowly they were led away from God, their family and friends by those things.
I have seen and heard stories of people working hard to gain riches and some kind of reputation only to find it worthless and waste of time and energy- fortunately they found Christ through someone living out their faith.
How can we possibly be salt and light to anyone if we are swaying this way and that way in the oceans of humanity and not being consistent?
I am not judging or condemning my brothers and sisters in Christ but I have a genuine concern for those who are whish washy with their faith. Ask yourself where is your heart, mind, and soul? Where are your eyes looking?
God does not want His people to be lukewarm Christians. Jesus said it himself:
Revelation 3:15- 19 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, `I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference.”
Don’t be ashamed of your faith in Jesus Christ. There is nothing to be ashamed about! He is Lord. He is the only Savior and way into heaven for all our friends and family. He is the one who gave you His Spirit so in Him you may overcome the world.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
You cannot be on the fence when you are a Christian. If God has told you something in his word and/or through his Holy Spirit then you better not just listen but there better be some follow through.
Not saying you will never makes mistakes but when you do make mistakes you make those mistakes “right” by apologizing to the person you have wronged and then apologizing to God.
Be consistent, up front, genuine and humble.
1 Peter 2:1-3 “So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing. You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.
John 1:13 “They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan--this rebirth comes from God.”
For the passion and drive come from God and to continue in the passion and drive we must stay with God for the garden hose water of the world just won’t do.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
For Whom God is Calling and Called
This is something for those in Christ and those God is calling but haven’t come to him yet. This is also a bit of a warning and reminder for you to hold on to as things start to unravel and there is a line drawn in the sand.
Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Note: Even though man may condemn our Christian faith and want to control what we can and cannot say, always stay true to the word of God. Even though they will take more and more things of “religious” symbolism down this should only strengthen your faith.
Rom 8:2 For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.
Rom 8:3 The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
Rom 8:4 He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.
Note: Remember this, for this action affects everything you do.
Rom 8:7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.
Rom 8:8 That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
Rom 8:9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)
Rom 8:10 Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God.
Rom 8:11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.
Rom 8:12 So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.
Note: This does not just include sin but letting fear take residence in you. Trust not in what you see but God.
Rom 8:13 For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live.
Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Rom 8:15 So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family calling him "Father, dear Father."
Rom 8:16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children.
Rom 8:17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures--for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
Rom 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.
Rom 8:19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.
Rom 8:20 Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse.
Rom 8:21 All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
Rom 8:22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Rom 8:23 And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
Rom 8:24 Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already
have something, you don't need to hope for it.
Rom 8:25 But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.
Rom 8:26 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.
Rom 8:27 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.
Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Rom 8:29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.
Rom 8:30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory.
Rom 8:31 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Rom 8:32 Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?
Rom 8:33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself.
Rom 8:34 Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.
Rom 8:35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?
Rom 8:36 (Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.")
Rom 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved
us.
Rom 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and
life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.
Rom 8:39 Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Note: Remember this in the days to come. Fear only God. Trust in God. Know even in the “darkest days” God is with you.
Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Note: Even though man may condemn our Christian faith and want to control what we can and cannot say, always stay true to the word of God. Even though they will take more and more things of “religious” symbolism down this should only strengthen your faith.
Rom 8:2 For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.
Rom 8:3 The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
Rom 8:4 He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.
Note: Remember this, for this action affects everything you do.
Rom 8:7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.
Rom 8:8 That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
Rom 8:9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)
Rom 8:10 Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God.
Rom 8:11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.
Rom 8:12 So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.
Note: This does not just include sin but letting fear take residence in you. Trust not in what you see but God.
Rom 8:13 For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live.
Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Rom 8:15 So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family calling him "Father, dear Father."
Rom 8:16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children.
Rom 8:17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures--for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
Rom 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.
Rom 8:19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.
Rom 8:20 Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse.
Rom 8:21 All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
Rom 8:22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Rom 8:23 And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
Rom 8:24 Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already
have something, you don't need to hope for it.
Rom 8:25 But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.
Rom 8:26 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.
Rom 8:27 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.
Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Rom 8:29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.
Rom 8:30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory.
Rom 8:31 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Rom 8:32 Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?
Rom 8:33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself.
Rom 8:34 Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.
Rom 8:35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?
Rom 8:36 (Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.")
Rom 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved
us.
Rom 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and
life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.
Rom 8:39 Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Note: Remember this in the days to come. Fear only God. Trust in God. Know even in the “darkest days” God is with you.
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