Why Do We Lack?

I was going to write about patron client privilege but then God whispered this to me as I was driving.

“God is my provider.”

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” Psalm 54:4

We lack.   We hunger.  We thirst.  We fret.  We tire.  We doubt.  We fear.  We are unsettled. We are unsatisfied.  Because we don’t know or remember God is our provider, God is our help, God is the sustainer of our soul.

I know that is easy to say but to know... to know is all another matter entirely.    We all have these unsettling moments in our life but what stops the emotional earthquake?  What stops the walls from closing in?  What stops the landslide from overcoming?   What calms the storm on the rocky seas of life?  When do we suddenly stop walking in the deserts of this life and start walking in God's pastures of goodness?

Is God over our circumstances?  Another brother in Christ and I were talking about this… the conflicts, difficult circumstances, the let downs, betrayals, sideswipes, misunderstandings, the heaviness of life, the temptations, disappointments, loss, are all mended and ramified when we do what?

How does the dark shadows flee and the waters become clear?

The answer is when we turn to God.   He is the light that overcomes the darkness.   It’s in those trying times we become closer to God and dependent upon God.  Is this not true?

Right... we could simply give up but when we turn to God, He enriches us in those circumstances.

Without God we are a just like a bird with a broken wing, hopping around -trying to deal with the situation by our own means.

Do we really believe God’s goodness and unfailing love pursues us all the days of our life? Psalm 23:6

Jesus says “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3

Do we show and tell God our need or do we just suck it up, deal with it, suffer in it?

Is God, Jehovah Jireh of our life?

Spiritual famines in our life come when we assume some kind of control or everything is out of control but in reality God is in control and nothing is out of control if we allow him to have control. 

The walls may crumble and fall, the clouds may give no rain, but all things that are inconsistent are not God.   It's easy to say we walk by faith not by sight but often we rely on sight, sight that blinds us to the enrichment God wants to bless our soul with.  Things that often can not be described in words.

We must be careful.  Our perceptions and imaginations fail us.  We see two hundred things to be done, an ailment, a loss of a job, a child needing money for college tuition where we are so overwhelmed and frazzled- we forget to bring God onto the balancing scales of our life. 

We say how come the Israelites couldn't remember God leading them through the vast and dreadful wilderness, the thirsty and waterless land with its venomous snakes and scorpions and bringing a gushing stream of water from the hard rock?  Maybe they too got carry away in the cares of this life. 

Are we as forgetful?  It could be the very root of why we lack.   

Doesn't God say?

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

 
Remember our words have power.  Just as we can speak goodness and life into our life and other people’s lives we can speak things into our life that God doesn’t wish, desire or want for us or others. 

God is our provider and sustainer.   He always has.   The reason we speak foolish things into our and other peoples lives is because we are either uneducated about what God wants for our life or have forgotten who GOD is to be in our life.   Are we to walk this life alone?  Of course not! What kind of encouragement would that be in Christ Jesus. 
 

God will supply what?

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

What about evil?

"If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling.  For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.  They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.  You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.  When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue them and honor them.  I will satisfy them with long life and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91:9-16

By His stripes we are what?

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

He gives you what?

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Think about Peter and the coin in the fish (Matthew 17:27).  The flowers in the field.  The birds of the air (Matthew 6:25-34). 

As you can see we are not just talking about material and physical needs here but what our soul needs.  Just this morning I woke to the words,

 "Your kingdom come your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". Matthew 6:10

Then as I pondered this God's Spirit gave me another verse.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

I wondered if the word "will" was the same type of "will" in both verses.  I found it was.

God's will is to be our sustainer.  He provides because He cares and loves us.

You know what I find interesting...  Him being our sustainer is us looking to Him.   It makes sense doesn't it?  I mean how can we seek God's hand of provision if we aren't looking to his hand. We lack because we do not look to Him.  We lack because we do not ask Him.

People often mess this up... people look to people, money and things to fulfill what they lack.  In other words we love people, money and things expecting to get a return on our investment and we stumble and hurt when this doesn't happen.   We even occasionally blame God for the failures and letdowns.  God says to love Him with all our heart, all our mind, all our strength and all soul and there we are assured our needs will be met.  We are assured His will be done for us and in us which we find is truly good, acceptable and perfect.  The world thinks this is crazy.  How can one have peace and sanity in hard times but what they don't realize... it's not the circumstances that sustain us but God.  And what is most awesome of all is His will carries on into eternity as we trust Him.
    

Is that not something to smile about?  If not, genuinely ask God to make this a reality in your heart today.

In God's Country Pt.2

                

In the last post, I shared with you how individuals and churches around the world are on the doorstep of a spiritual famine...  and unfortunately there are individuals and churches that have already stepped through that door.  

We spoke briefly of the causes of spiritual famine but let's look at them in a list.

1.     Sin. “Sin separates us from God.  Our sin alienates God in our life.” Isaiah 59:2

2.     Unbelief.   “Is a harden heart that doesn’t sincerely seek God”. One might say unbelief is being “estranged” from God, like a husband and wife don’t “intimately know” each other anymore.  They are estranged.  Hebrews 11:6

3.     Worldliness.  “Trusting in, consuming and participating in things that don’t give you spiritual substance for endurance and strength.  You reflect the world’s ideals and values more then God’.” Isaiah 55:2  

4.     False beliefs.  “They trust in anything but God.  They trust in their abilities, possessions, money, other so-called gods, and so forth ” Isaiah 8:19-22

5.     Self-satisfaction. “You seek only your own self gratification.  Its like being that cloud passing over dry land and giving no rain.   You are no longer salty or a light to the world.” Matthew 5:13-16

6.     Testing God. “Not obeying and/or reverencing the Lord God.” Deuteronomy 6:15-17.   You become indifferent to the things of God.  You compromise to things you know are wrong.  Example: Some churches have said homosexuality isn't wrong when the word of God is clear it is wrong.  Personally: You have sex out of marriage.

Exempt from the causes of spiritual famine/hunger is God trying his servants to make them reflect His goodness such as Job 23:8-10 and when the Father could not look at Jesus because he became our sin offering on the cross.  His presence was no longer felt.  Jesus felt the spiritual famine of not having the presence of the Father with Him.

“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?’ that is ‘MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?’” Matthew 27:46

What one experiences in spiritual hunger and famine.  

Do you know the LORD's words in Amos 8?

"The time is surely coming," says the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine on the land- not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD.  People will stagger everywhere from sea to sea, searching for the word of the LORD, running here and going there, but they will not find it.  Beautiful girls and fine young men will grow faint and weary, thirsting for the LORD'S word.  And those who worship and swear by the idols of Samaria, Dan, and Beersheba will fall down, never to rise again." Amos 8:11-14

The soul of person and a soul of nation prospers only in the WORDS OF THE LORD.   The words of GOD don't have to disappear for people not to hear them- an individual maybe able to read the print but who gives them their meaning?  GOD.  So when one does not seek GOD- they can't understand and discern their meaning in their soul.  Our Creator created us to live on the WORD of GOD.

Jesus said,

 "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

 We thirst without "meaning" of God's word.   We indeed grow faint and weary not able to "hear."

As Romans 10:17 says,  

 ^"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

    

The absence of "hearing" (from God) leads to spiritual famine and hunger.  Again nothings prospers without God's "living" word in our life.

NOTE 1:
One feels the monotony/pressures of life. 
Faith becomes religion not a relationship with God. 
Looking for the next best exciting thing. 
Looking for the next thing that might give rest to soul.   
Their soul compass hinges on their own understanding not on God and the promises of God.
They thirst for God. (Pslam 84:2)

NOTE 2:    
One has a total loss of sustaining hope and joy because of the absence of God. (Psalm 51:12) 

God’s word being withheld.  
No spiritual food to feed one’s soul.   
No deep fulfilling insight is given. 
Having to continually be reminded of the basics. 1 Corinthians 3:2   

NOTE 3:   
 God’s Spirit is withheld.  
 Many fall asleep spiritually.  
 Dreamers die.  
 There is no renewing of the mind.  
 Don’t know God’s will which is good, pleasing and perfect. 1 Corinthians 11:30

Is it TOO LATE to step off that doormat and step back through that door? 

The answer is in the word of God but the invitation isn’t a lasting one – for the Lord will return and by then it will be too late.  (We see this in story of the five wise and five foolish virgins. Matthew 25)

Jesus tells the Laodicea church, “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.  I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.  Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:20-22

RELIEF from SPIRITUAL famine and crisis is FOUND…. 

1.     ONLY in GOD.  People must turn to GOD/ Jesus Christ. (John 10:9-10)

2.     When we turn away/admit and repent of our sinful behavior.  (Romans 3:27-28 & Micah 6:8)

3.     When we seek God’s mercy, who forgives us and gives us sufficient grace to endure and overcome.  Through drawing close to God, He breaks our oppression, depression, bondages and temptations.  (Micah 6:8)

4.     When we walk humbly with God in Spirit and truth (the word).  Seeing your value and purpose is in God not the things of this world and the circumstances in your life.  (Micah 6:8)

5.     Know this life is temporary.  Don’t give up.  Know an everlasting relief from spiritual famine is COMING when God takes us to heaven. (John 11:25)

Who Do You Want Sup With?

The last post, we spoke about communion.  How it reminds us of the everlasting covenant we have with God because what Jesus Christ has done for us (Hebrews 12:24).  Through this covenant we can have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10).  We do not just have salvation (eternal life in heaven) but as children of God we can accept the gifts, blessings, promises and miracles of God.  We can even bestow those blessings on others through prayer, word and action. 

 ^“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17-18

We can accept God’s authority over our life in faith- not the lies and deception of the devil. We can see in the NEW as HIS new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).         

And since we have crossed the line to have allegiance with God, we need to be more aware of the thief/Satan who comes to steal, kill and destroy.  Be aware of the cunning serpent who is sometimes very subtle with his suggestions, only for the unexpecting individual to find themselves in a swift current moving away from godly thoughts and actions. No matter how unpleasant this may sound we are in a war. Seduction and intimidation and manipulation are not off limits to Satan who unleashes these fiery of flaming arrows to see if he can swallow/devour and/or overwhelm us. He knows what buttons to try.  So be careful of what thoughts come to seed worry, anxiety, presumption, pride, lust, legalism, depression and so on... Careful of what might be trying to entice and influence your flesh.  Be careful of what is trying to divide.  Satan knows what happens to our assurance as a witness for God when we see ourselves guilty and lacking in the sight of God.  We become ineffective and those we could help spiritually fall asleep, become spiritually sick and even lose faith. Our tendency is to look inwardly to self in the midst of spiritual conflict but we are to look outwardly to God who quenches the evil tactics of the devil. We are to submit and humble ourselves before God and the evil will subside and cease and He will lift us up. (James 5:7). 

And if we do sin. Ask for forgiveness and turn away from sin.

"For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself.  That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way, but when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians 11:29-32 

We must be cognizant of WHO (God) or who (Satan) is trying to feed us spiritually? Is the spiritual food LIFE or is it death?

As I was thinking about all this and how it relates to communion and God’s covenant I was reminded of a section in Revelation. 

“I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.  I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.  Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:19-22

You see this church Jesus was speaking to had become lukewarm.  They had gotten used to and comfortable with sin and in so doing acted and behaved much like people lost in the sinful appetites of world. They had become “indifferent” and spiritually dull.  They were no longer living and dependent on the spiritual riches of God. They had disregarded their covenant with God for the temporary things of this world. Their spiritual tastebuds had forgotten what REAL food tasted like.  In fact Jesus says to them, “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.”  They had allowed themselves to be deceived. 

They were not eating from God’s LIFE giving covenant but death.  In love, Jesus rebukes them that they may turn from their foolish and blind ways.  That they may come to their senses and partake of covenant of the LORD who is LIFE not the false empty temporary things of this world that don't last or satisfy.   

And who doesn’t want the lasting and eternal things of God which are joy, peace, love, hope, mercy, grace, truth, faith…..

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21

Acknowledging God pt.3

Jesus Christ, the Lord, says “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.” Matthew 10:32

Important?  Why?  Jesus is the only way to the Father of Heaven.   If you want to be in heaven after this life and if you want to experience God’s love more.... then just in things we already take for granted such as the sun and the rain, food, water, etc  (Reference Matthew 5:45) then we must acknowledge Jesus Christ.

We take many things for granted that the Father of all creation does for us everyday and yet our Father in Heaven wants to bless us more with his "assuring" love but we can't receive that assurance in his love if we don't acknowledge Jesus Christ above all things in life.

For Jesus Christ made the way for us to experience a deep meaningful relationship with God the Father (The Father of all Creation) and have eternal life.  A relationship that is so deep and meaningful that it transforms us.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 

Jesus said,  "But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food.  Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you.  For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose." John 6:27 

Jesus said, “Yes, I am the gate.  Those who come in through me will be saved.  Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.”  John 10:9
 

Receiving A Mighty Relationship through our Shepherd Jesus Christ.

Jesus is only way for soul to receive true peace, assurance, joy, love, hope, encouragement and conviction to stand in faith at all times.   Through Jesus, our LORD, we receive what is not possible in our human strength and understanding. 

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.   He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.   Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.   You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.   My cup overflows with blessing.  Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”  Psalm 23

Again, we cannot find the spiritual, physical blessings, the comfort and encouragement from God unless we acknowledge God and follow Jesus Christ.   Jesus and the Father and Spirit are one.  So as you follow Jesus you are actually following the Father.  Difficult concept for most of us to understand but God is beyond our understanding.

Philip, one of the disciples of Jesus, said to him, "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied."

Jesus replied, "Philip, don't you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!  So why are you asking to see him? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?   The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.  Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.  Or at least believe because of what you have seen me do."  John 14:8-11

Jesus was God and is God.   He could lay down his life (he could let his physical body die) and pick it up again.   He knew it wasn't the physical body that was most important but the soul in which lives in the body.  For God made both the body and soul.   The body to carry the soul but the body was never to last.  The soul was to last into eternity.

Life of Faith

“So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6

Life is short but those who know God know this is not the home of their soul… this life is a very brief experience compared to eternity.   So we need to look at life as a trip, an expedition, a mission, and even an adventure.

But no trip would “be”  and no trip would be “transformed" into a healthy and successful experience without faith in a well respected, experienced, caring, and trustworthy guide- a shepherd.

Jesus is that guide!  He is that shepherd.   He knows this world and He created this world.   He sees all the good and all the evil.  He sees the prideful, the humble, and the needy.  He sees those who want to know Him and those who don’t want to know Him.  He knows us.  He knows what will give us peace, challenge and stretch our faith, stimulate us, and show us things we wouldn’t even imagine but again we can’t receive from Jesus (God) unless we seek and acknowledge Him. 
      

Preparing Your Soul

We as humans sometimes have tendency to believe we have immortality when it comes to this life… like we can just select the restart button and start again but in reality our life here is fragile and can be taken from us without warning.  There is no restart button.  No one knows the number of his or her days only God.   

Think about it.... is your soul prepared to leave this life and be taken into the next?  What kind of relationship do you have with the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are you acquainted with him? Do you know HIM?  Have you lost touch with Him?  Do you even know Him?   Do you trust Him?  Do you have his Holy Spirit within you and working in you?  What do your words and actions say about your relationship with God?
 

Jesus says, “… the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that is thrown into the water and gathers fish of every kind.  When the net is full, they drag it up onto the shore, sit down and sort the good fish into crates, and throw the bad ones way.  That is the way it will be at the end of the world.   The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the godly, throwing the wicked into the fire.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Do you understand?”  Matthew 13:47-51

How does God define the godly or the wicked?  The godly do what is right; they obey God, they love God’s mercy, and have Jesus as their shepherd. 
 

“No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Doing right starts with coming to God in repentance for the wrongs we have done. We already know in our heart what is wrong and right even though we try to justify it but no amount of human justification will count when it comes to God.  Doing right is acknowledging our daily need in Him and drawing from his goodness and godliness which is LIGHT.  (You can't have this if you don't trust him as your Shepherd.)
  

Jesus said “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:20-21

Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12
 

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” 1 John 1:5

 "But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. " 1 John 1:7

(Remember your eye is a lamp.  Luke 11:34-36)

God's children come to the light and live in the light.  Have you come to the "light"? Do you repeatedly come to the "light" everyday? Do you walk and see in the "light" of God?

The wicked don’t do what is right, they don’t love mercy (giving it or receiving it) and they don’t walk with God.

Jesus speaking about himself says this about the wicked:

 “......... But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.  Their judgment is based on this fact:  The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.”  John 3:18-19

Now I want to share some things with you.  I am not sharing them for my benefit.  They are not to trample the good grass and muddy up the waters or make you feel cheated but to share the reality of heaven and hell in hopes to encourage you and stimulate you to acknowledge God and continue to acknowledge God in your life.

I know there is a heaven and a hell.  I know there is God who is the Father and Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.   I have seen Jesus.  I have experienced his smile.  His smile instantly stopped my tears caused by hurt and filled my heart with unexplainable joy.  I have seen the glory of the Father and the smoke that comes out from underneath his royal shimmering robe as he walked in front of me.  I know the Holy Spirit lives in me for once I could not understand the bible and now I can.   He has taught me things in private, I could not possible know myself. 
 

I know there is a hell because it was partially unveiled to me.  I heard the blood curdling screams rising out of hell and saw Satan himself standing over it.  Frightening it was to just hear a tiny evidence of it and see the orange casting shadows of the flames below. 
  

I know there is a heaven because I have seen the warm yellow light in the open doorway of my invitation from God- and I cheerful excepted his invitation!  When I get glimpses of heaven it is the same yellow light that fills heaven and vegetation there.  I have seen the blue sapphires of God’s throne, which I must admit gave me God fearing shivers of reverence when I was shown what the blue sapphires where…

Proof and encouragement and conviction from God comes only with acknowledging God.  Bad things happen in life but it is who we turn to that makes the greatest impact in our life.  We can turn to ourselves or turn to God. 

This is important!  Acknowledging God gives you something godly in turn.  It’s a promise!  And I have found it to be true. Look!

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.   God bless those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  God blesses those who are gently and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.   God bless those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.  God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  God blesses those who hearts are pure, for they will see God.   God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.   God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”  Matthew 5:3-10

Again- you can’t receive and live in these things unless you acknowledge and trust God for them.

God’s Spirit is omnipresent but He can’t live in “us” unless we give our life to God not the "god" we created in our mind but the one true God.
 

 Jesus says “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

The Holy Spirit will lead you into ALL truth.   That truth is not just his priceless deep wisdom but what he wants to literally show us to give you assurance of your salvation in heaven.  Truths we can't even imagine.  I believe God shows himself and pieces of heaven and the aspects of the spiritual to encourage us and in return we can encourage to others.   You will be able to share those things with others and edify, exhort, and encourage others in the Lord.


In your acknowledgement of God, You have all that Psalms 23 says.  

We can invest ourselves totally in this life.   We can trust in the things of this life but they will fail us.  We can try to make, create, and invest in every man made safety net but they will mean nothing in the end.  They will be nothing when it comes to saving your soul.  (Which is matters most!)

 Jesus said, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" Matthew 16:26

We need to be invested in Jesus Christ.  That means we have allowed him to come in and work in our lives.   The extent (non-existent or living) relationship with the Lord will determine our eternal destination…. heaven or hell.  This world can take a lot of things from us and most of them are worthless but our eternal investment in the Lord Jesus Christ is something no one can take away.

Empowering the Vessel & the Soul

 Jesus said, “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

As an art major I have had many projects I was assigned to in college which ended up in the waste bin.  I would start them and then the professor would tell me to insert this or that until they no longer were "my" art pieces or what I purposed for them.  They had turned to someone elses.  They were "directed" by someone else other then me.

Who directs your life? You, others, God?  God is our creator.  We forget that.  We seem to assume God's role and create our own purposes- which usually don't make us feel very satisfied and in the end have terrible results if we never acknowledge our Creator in this life.

We are God's art piece but we can allow ourselves, others and Satan to create something God didn't intend for us -which is a life that doesn't acknowledge it's creator, who he really is, and is full of disobedience and sin.  It is even turns hostile towards God, God's word and the Holy name Jesus Christ.   And if the creation doesn't acknowledge God and turn to God then God has no choice but throw that soul and body into the burning pit of hell.

The is really a piece of clay with a body.   When we allow God to live and work in us, he not only transforms us but empowers us by his love.   Which has wonderful lasting effects on our life and other people's lives.

Jesus says, “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.”  Matthew 10:38

This is called denying one's self.  If you put importance just on you, you alone and the things around you and not on God then you can’t live in and be empowered by God.  If your mind is stuck on the conditions of your body or your circumstances then your soul cannot be empowered by God.  To be empowered by God you must acknowledge God. 

People, so focused and dependent on their own flesh, deeds, wants and own understandings -  can’t receive God's help and empowerment to meet their every spiritual need.   His goodness and godliness won’t come out of you if you aren’t hooked up to him.  They won't come to you and live in if you don't stand still and let his words make an impression in your heart.

God empowers the soul to see and do greater things then thought possible regardless of conditions and human understandings.

Jesus continues with, “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 is our life.... We were created by him and for him and we need to acknowledge Him.  He knows exactly why we were built and made.  He should be the one who shapes and molds our life.  So even if this shell of a body dies and breaks the soul shall continue to live in Him and with Him.

“Destruction is certain for those who argue with their Creator.  Does a clay pot ever argue with its maker?  Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you are doing it wrong!’  Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be!’” Isaiah 45:9

So who knows us better then the one who created our body and soul?  Let us acknowledge and trust God and see what goodness and godliness comes out.

“Praise the Lord; Praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.” Psalm 68:19

Acknowledging God pt. 1

God has been talking to me about the focus of acknowledging Him.

First, is it the true God we believe in or just some diluted and watered down and version of God?  Is it just some of his attributes we believe in and not all of them?  It is easy to believe God is love but how about God that sends people to hell, even people we consider “good”?  We forget “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious stand.”  And “we are only made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.” Romans 3:23, 22 

Second, there is a difference between “where” and “how” we acknowledge God.  Is it only in the head or is it in the heart as well?

Hope lives in the mind but in order for hope to be a steadfast convinced hope not a wavering hope, it must be combined with the faith and love of God that lives in the heart/soul.  Think, no one can genuinely truly praise God with no heartfelt praise for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.    

David says, “Praise the LORD!  I will thank the LORD with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.  How amazing are the deeds of the LORD!  All who delight in him should ponder them.  Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.  His righteousness never fails.  Who can forget the wonders he performs?  How gracious and merciful is our LORD!  He gives food to those who trust him; he always remembers his covenant.”  Psalms 111:1-5

The manner in which we acknowledge God will either bring honor to his name or not honor to his name.  Is He held up in reverence and respect in our life?

The way in which we acknowledge God will not only affect and impact our personal life but will affect things in the present and what’s to come- in a magnitude and scale that we can only imagine.   Some things most of us don’t even think about because we consider ourselves so…“small” when it comes to the scope and magnitude of the world at large but in reality our role is much greater then we can even grasp.   If we just live in God (that trust in God) then we will shine because we are trusting “in” the source of light. 

Jesus says: “I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  John 8:12

“I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

The “quality” and “quantity” of acknowledgment we give to God in our lives will echo in positive and negatives ripples like a stone being dropped in a large quiet pond.   The positive and negative ebb and flow of the ripples are conditional on the acknowledgment that is given to God by the maker and receiver of the ripples.   If one meditates very little on who God is and what he had done and what he is capable of accomplishing then what do you thinking the quality of their mindset will be?

A marriage won’t last the difficult times if there is a lack of acknowledgment in God.   A lack of acknowledgment in God causes selfishness, compromise and acceptance of worldly ideals to creep in.   And before you know it, the gremlins multiply and take over.    

The lack of acknowledgment in God opens wide the gates in which sinful wants of the flesh and temptations by Satan are allowed to roost and play.  The effects are destructive and harmful.

Acknowledging God is a commitment and trust in God and that commitment and trust helps a couple endure many difficult times BUT if there is not commitment and trust in God by both husband and wife, the marriage will not endure and will fail.   A failed marriage will have negative affects on their children and these affects may even be passed down to their children’s children -IF there is no acknowledgement of God in those generations.   Acknowledgement of God brings about obedience in God and breaks the curses of the previous generations and brings about blessings.   

The current condition of United States is another example of acknowledging and not acknowledging God.  It was built on the principles and morals of God but has not only stopped acknowledging God for fear of a small minority but has taken down anything that has to do with the one true God.  Ten commandments, crosses, prayers and scriptures have been taken down from government buildings and presidential and war memorials.   This nation has continued to compromise in the principles and morals God has set up for a successful nation which the founding fathers of the United States wished for us to keep so it would remain strong. The founding fathers were Christian.  They would want their nation to continue acknowledging God so the freedoms they dearly cherished would be kept for … Their quotes can be found at http://www.wallbuilders.com

And since we (as a nation) have not acknowledged God, the freedoms God has given us- have now started to turn to curses.  The major lack of acknowledgement to God has allowed our government and individuals to twist laws for mere human sinful wants - resulting in a moral, ethical and financial decay and the break down of our nation.   

The book Deuteronomy, Chapter 28 in the bible says it “all” to what will happen to nations built on God and what will happen to that nation that stops acknowledging God.  

I encourage you to read Deuteronomy 28:1-67.  Circle the things that United States used to do and what they don’t do and how it relates to acknowledging and not acknowledging God.   The unfortunate part is some people are too young to even remember when United States didn’t have to barrow money from other countries.   They don’t remember when the “alternative” lifestyle (gay and lesbian) was kept out of sight and view and considered shameful.   They don’t remember when abortion wasn’t spoken about as a common practice.  They don’t remember when United States used to “win” wars instead of give up.   They don’t remember when there wasn’t AIDS and HIV.   They don’t remember when United States wasn’t worried about terrorist threats.  They don’t remember when United States used to manufacture it’s own products.  They don’t remember when business used to be closed on Sundays for the “Lord’s Day” to go to church and spend it with family.  They don’t remember when God’s name was respected on television and not used as a curse word.    

See the affects of not acknowledging God?  Old fashion it is not but sinful and more sinful has this nation has become with little if any acknowledgement of the one True God – Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.