A Witness of the LIGHT

Oil Painting by Jeff Johnson

As I was thinking about a name for a painting, “A Witness of Light” came to mind.

I have seen the Light of men. I have seen Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Matthew 6 says those with a pure heart will see God.   I saw Jesus in a vision and the effects of seeing Him instantaneously changed what was going on inside of me.  I went from discouragement to joy, the instant Jesus smiled at me. The Creator smiled…

You know Jesus doesn’t even have to say a word- for He has said and paid for everything for us with his blood and resurrection.  Jesus smiled and like a gate of goodness pouring forth- my discouragement left me and I began to laugh.  

Sounds insane?  I think for the most part -wonders are insane.  They can’t be explained.  The world loves to explain things away that it can’t understand but God doesn’t fit in the confines of human wisdom and understanding.

I have seen the Light of men and women on several occasions so I don’t have the excuse, defense, reasoning for not believing in Jesus Christ.  But in saying this--- I do not share this for my benefit (though my soul has benefited greatly from what no human eye has seen) but I share for the benefit of you! Yes you!

I share with those who haven’t seen.  I share with those who haven’t believed.  I share with you that you may believe in my testimony and turn to Jesus and believe in Him as your Lord and Savior and He may come and live within.

Jesus says we are Christians are the light of the world --not because we are the Light but because we have the Spirit, the flame of God, living within us.

“John was not the Light, but came to testify about the Light.” John 1:8

We, just like John, are testifiers of God….

Jesus said, “While you have the Light, believe and trust in the Light [have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it], so that you may become sons of Light [being filled with Light as followers of God].”  Jesus said these things, and then He left and hid Himself from them.  John 12:36 AMP

We are individuals, where we do what John 12:36 say – Our souls inside these earthen vessels are being empowered and clothed with God’s glorious light.  Our soul is the only thing we take with us when we leave this earth- - our bodies will turn to dust and join the earth.  So we must… invest our soul in what is everlasting- The Everlasting God who clothes our soul with His Everlasting Spirit… the mysterious glory of God.  The Spirit of God that the world isn’t looking for…

Jesus speaks of a time when we enter heaven but the only ones allowed in heaven are the ones who have the Spirit of God living in them.  Their soul, no longer clothed with the flesh of this world is clothed with the Spirit of God-- and the only one to give the Spirit of God to us all is Jesus Christ- in whom we need to place our faith.

Jesus said, “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of my message] will not continue to live in darkness.” John 12:46 AMP

Jesus also said, “But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are –accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].” John 3:21 AMP

We are prompted by God’s Spirit to live life beyond the constraints of our often frustrating faulty human understanding.  That we may be testifiers of God’s goodness because we have experienced it and rely on it daily…

In a dream I was on a double-decker bus.  I was up on the top deck with no rails or no real seats… We headed up this steep mountain slope.  There was a steep drop off on one side of the bus and steep cliff on the other…. The bus swerved back and forth as it rolled up this snaking slope.  The bus driver drove fast around the curves and it felt as if the bus would tip.   I thought, “What is the bus driver thinking driving this fast on this narrow road?  Someone is going to fall off the edge.”

Seeing a child next to me I instinctively held tight on to him until we reached a white city with breathing pools of water.

It was then I saw all my fretting was for not.  

Sometimes in this narrow snaking road of life we think, “What is God thinking?”

During those times we must hold onto our childlike faith- seeing God, full of goodness, has everything under control- so fret not.  Doing this will help us continue to be testifiers of the LIGHT living within us.

 

Those Inspired by God Inspire Others Part 2

 

Who INSPIRES you?  How do others INSPIRE you? 

As I was guided on this devotion God gave me a banquet of inspiring individuals.   There were biblical figures like Joseph, David, and Moses.  There were writers like the Apostles Paul and John and C.S. Lewis.  There were local athletes like Becky Hammon who said, "I just first want to thank my Heavenly Father -for none of this would be possible without Him." And there were friends - some who a have passed through the veil of this life into eternity.  One friend recently called me out of the blue.  He sold everything and went on a walk with God.  Backpack strapped to his back and guitar in one hand he obediently walked where God told him to go.  He said, "Jeff, God really took care of me.  I didn't have to sleep one day on the streets."  Now married, he lives in Arizona, has written a book, works at a Christian camp, and enjoys views of the mountains

I find people who INSPIRE others and "awaken" OTHERS to the reality of God's love- are those
who are encouraged and inspired by God.

What do we know of those who INSPIRE us?

• They are resilient.... they can occasionally be oppressed but WATCH OUT!  They can come back stronger in their faith then before -for they trust in the LORD and their strength comes from the LORD.
• They have a godly perspective.
• They are in the Word of God.   They read it and abide in it.  They depend on it.   
• They pursue what God has put in their hearts regardless to human opinions, ideals and obstacles.
• They look to God who is their constant help.
• They seek God for guidance.
• They know God makes a way where there seems to be no way.  
•  They see and recognize it's God who appoints whoever He wants to His purpose regardless of human ideals, abilities, traditions or opinions. 
•  They cannot help but give glory to God for all he does in their life.
•  They are ambassadors for Christ.  
• They inspire others in their goodness. 
  

We as human beings do not produce godly goodness by ourselves.  Godly resilience doesn't come naturally.  Even the Christian hope, love and genuine faith do not come by us naturally.

God is the one who puts that faith in us... does he not?  He gives us that measure of faith that we might seek Him and find Him.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." JEREMIAH 29:13


And In Him that seed of faith grows... but if we depart from him we can do nothing good.
  
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." JOHN 15:5

GOD is LIFE.   HE gives LIFE. 

Jesus said,  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." JOHN 14:6

Look at this carefully.... You and I without Jesus are miserable creatures.   Without Jesus we do not have eternal salvation in heaven.   Without Jesus we have no way in which to follow.   Without Jesus we have no truth in which to stand and can believe in when in troubles come.  And LIFE of peace and security and fulfillment is always beyond our reach without JESUS.

Without God there is no WAY, there is no TRUTH, and no LIFE.

Jesus is the way.  He is the one who is to guide our lives.  He is our shepherd.   Everything has life through Him.  I have found the truths of God are trustworthy.  They are an anchor to the lives to those who hold on to them.  And they are much deeper and richer and powerful then any one of us can imagine.  They go far beyond what we can see and understand in natural woman or man.   God’s truths are eternal and they are for our souls which are eternal.  That is why we all must understand nothing on this earth can satisfy- for our eternal souls can only be satisfied by what is eternal.

JESUS GIVES LIFE....  HE GIVES HOPE AND INSPIRATION!  HE gives our lives light, goodness and resilience.

Ever say or hear "Be better, do better, get stronger, be more righteous...." that is all useless non-sense without the reassuring godly perspective that comes from a continual relationship with God.   Has the Spirit of God ever fallen short to our sure will power, strength, determination and foolish pride?    
Of course NOT!

Ever smell a delicious warm meal being cooked and prepared?  Would those mouth watering aromas fill the air without being exposed to heat?
 
Does a delicious warm meal cook itself?   Of course not....  It has to be cooked/ exposed to the heat.   It has to be prepared by someone who knows how to cook it.   It is so with our lives.... God has put all the unique ingredients into our being.  God is the master cook.  He knows how to bring out the delicious aromas of our life.  He knows how to make our lives taste good.   He is the one who needs to work through us. 

I was reminded by the Spirit just a second ago of this passage. "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." Ephesians 5:2

Think about this statement for a moment by Jesus,  "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves." JOHN 14:11

What is Jesus saying here?   He and the Father are ONE.   They work TOGETHER. 
Jesus is saying LOOK at the RESULTS of the Father and I as ONE.  What does that say about us and God?  It says we NEED GOD  to be our source of hope and inspiration.  

2 Corinthians says, "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing," 2:15

How can we be the aroma of Christ unless we are allowing God to work and inspire our lives?
 
God help us to remain in and abide in His amazing love. 

GOD INSPIRED 
We know the word of God is "inspired by God" but what does "inspired" really mean.

Come with me for a moment to Ezekiel 37.  Think about this for a moment...   Who's words did Ezekiel speak when he spoke to the dry bones that covered the valley floor?  Did he speak his own words or GOD'S WORDS?
  
Ezekiel spoke what God had him speak to the dry bones.  The bones began to rattle and come together..... flesh and muscle covered them.  Ezekiel spoke again what God had him speak ...and breath came into those bodies.  And before Ezekiel knew it there stood a great vast army before Him.

Ezekiel spoke God's words which made those bones come together- covered those bones with muscle and skin and gave those bodies life.

We were headed for death... we were as hopeless and uninspired as those scattered bones.  But when a person spoke what God had told them to speak, what happened to our life that was headed for death?  LIFE!  
   
"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."  1 THESSALONIANS 1:5 

God wants to INSPIRE US making us productive children of God but sadly we don't give him the time and attention he deserves to inspire us.   Then there is the thought by some that we have everything we need - so why take the time to spend with God but that is erroneous thinking.  Yes we have the Holy Spirit in us, if we have accepted Jesus Christ to be LORD of our life, but have you allowed the roommate of your soul to speak to you and encourage and inspire you?  

Again who is the MASTER cook?  Who can bring out the delicious aromas GOD poured into your soul's make-up when HE created you?  You or God?   Do you know God's plans for you?  Do you know what is to come tomorrow?  God does?  So let HIM prepare and inspire you for what is to come. 

May God be our INSPIRED lives.

An Effective Witness Part 1

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“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

In other words it’s always “the heart of the matter.”

Where is the heart living?  What scales is it using to weigh the matters of life…  the temporary or the eternal…the human or the spiritual… the sacrificial or the self-seeking?

Is the heart living in the past…? Is the past bleeding to the canvases of the present…?

Fleeting are the moments in life yet some of us haul some moments as stones of burden.   These experiences have seeded the fields of a person’s life and now produce wild inedible yields.  Instead of being burned and tilled into the ground to be used as nutrients for more productive satisfying harvests, they pile up like briar patches growing and mounding over the previous growth.  It soon becomes so high it becomes impassible for anyone to come out or in. 

On the other hand some treasure moments that will soon be forgotten.   They take up space like old trophies in a display case- never making room for what is to come.  Those who hold such things don’t seem to see the luster of those times and achievements are gone.  The polishing days are over.  

It is true… “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.” Proverbs 14:10

And though there is a time for everything under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1), I find we can’t live in yesterday.  Yesterday can be a nice shaded step for today…. but of course how we look and examine yesterday will determine how we walk in today and tomorrow.  We can only pack so much in our suitcase in this trip of life. 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5

In all your ways submit to him… in whatever you may be going through (no matter positive or negative) we are to submit to God. I find that is the only way I keep my heart with all diligence.  We aren’t full of the pride of life nor are we full of the self-pity.

We are vessels… not overfilled with our plans and thoughts (which might never take place) and no room for God’s input but vessels filled and stirred up by God in all he created us to be in Him.  

When a sculpture looks at piece of marble to carve his masterpiece in – he doesn’t just pick any piece out of the stone yard.  He takes in account all the different characteristics of the stone.  

Our creator, who formed us in our mother’s womb – knew exactly what your talents, abilities, likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses were going to be.   He waited for us to turn our life over to Him so he could skillfully work on what he intended us to be in this life....  Note for that to actually happen we actually had to submit to the sculpture’s skillful and caring hands.   Yeah watch out for those novices, they may take a swing and you may end up as shattered pieces on the floor.   
 

The sculpture speaks of the artist…

Think about Michelangelo’s sculptures…  What do they speak of?
 

When we look at Michelangelo’s creations, we don’t see the material it is made of but what he wanted the material to turn into.  

Do we just look at the raw outer facades of people and ourselves?   What does God, the Creator, the artist, see in us?  What is he crafting us into?   Do we allow God to glorify himself in us?
   

Romans 8:30 says... “to those whom he justified, he also glorified.”

We were created in the image of … who?

Yet we cannot glorify God in our life unless we give our lives to him- DAILY!

Giving our life to God, we experience the reality of God, but also we become more conscience of how God wants us to live.  We hopefully see life in a new way.  We see what truly matters and is lasting and take that path he planned for us to glorify him.  

“God’s ways and thoughts are higher then our ways and thoughts.” Note Isaiah 55:8-9

God wants us to become spiritually prosperous in himself -who is eternal, unchanging and ALWAYS… unlike the rest of this world which is temporary and leaves us chasing the wind.   Rat race… rat race… rat race can’t you see that big cat of this world chasing you?

I look at the people of God in the bible.   They were called to live sacrificial lives and in their obedience God made their way and path clear.  They weren’t chasing the wind.  It was abundantly clear God was with them.  Do you think this would have happened without their submission and obedience to God?

They submitted themselves to God and in this submission had confidence in God.

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.” Psalm 18:25-26

How do you see God?

Jesus said  "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”  Matthew 6:22-23

Is your eye pure? Do you trust in the word of God, knowing it is pure…? 

Do these words fall flat in your ears? Do you melt at certain words? Are you humbled by certain words? Are you comforted by certain words?

What is God to you? He is faithful even though you fail in your faithfulness? Is he out to get you? He is for you or against you?  Is he your Rock, Fortress, Shield, Comfort, peace when there is no explanation for such wonderful things?

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 

Do we ask... "God... what do you want me to get out this experience called life”?

You save the humble
    but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
    my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
    with my God I can scale a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
 He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.  Psalm 18:27-36

This task of life is a delicate balance…. we as Christians seem to have to keep our thoughts away from pride and ignorance on one side and doubt and pity on the other… Yet as we walk on this balance beam of life, we seldom realize God is right there holding our waist. He wants us to stretch out our arms with confidence and abandonment in him and take flight.   He whispers, “I have you, trust me.  Do a cartwheel or two.  Jump… leap… I will show you what you are capable of doing with me…. “

Some of us stand off stage…. waiting for our time on the stage of life not realizing we are already standing in full view of the audience of the world.  The conductor of life (God) motions to us. We realize the attention we now suddenly have... The conductor says,  “Watch me- not them.  For I have wrote a beautiful score for your life.”  He lifts his finger... and we start to sing.

Give God all you are and see what HE DOES….

Hope this blesses and encourages you this day.

     

  

Fueling Up

Are we everyday fueling up at the right refueling station so we can bypass the other stations?  We will fuel up with whatever comes if we don't fuel up and top off with what God has for us first.

And would it not be wonderful for those who missed their opportunity to fuel up or didn't have a relationship with God to receive your goodness and godliness that you received first thing from the Lord? 

We receive the life giving water from God which gives us conviction not to compromise to the opinions, ideals and world around us but be that salt and light God has called us to be. 

Speaking the Truth as a Disciple of the Lord 1

What is a Disciple of Lord?
A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ.  Jesus says: "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  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.  And how do you benefit it you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?  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."  Matthew 16:24-27

Readers forget Jesus hadn't gone to the cross yet so this concept of carrying your cross meant to Jesus listeners "that the person carrying the cross was going to die."  They were on a death march to be crucified on the cross in which they carried.

Notice Jesus' words "You must put aside your selfish ambition, and shoulder your cross and follow me."   We as Christians know to put aside our selfish ambition is to deny what our flesh wants us to do and do what Christ has called us to do.

A person who isn't a Christ follower lives according to the flesh instead of the Spirit.  A person who shoulders their cross not only identifies with Christ but gains greater understanding and power to live according to the Spirit.  Life doesn't become some pointless cycle but a journey- to experience all that God has planned for us.

A disciple of Jesus Christ never forgets to see their "need" for Jesus Christ in every moment of their day of their lives.  They submit to God's authority and majesty and follow humbly behind God.  I say "behind" God because he prepares the way for us.  And we forget who we are called to be in Christ if we get lost in ourselves and try to control the direction of our life with our own selfish wants and ambitions.  We lose the power of God to work in our life because we are trusting ourselves and not God.

Having this "cross" illustration helps me understand that as we grow a deeper trust in God/ Jesus Christ and mature in his love - we don't just lose our life but gain a deeper relationship with God.  And having this relationship with him will supernaturally let us glorify him because we will be "in" him.

Don't Lie, Speak the Truth.
Pardon my redundancy.  I am going to repeat some things I posted in the last posts as God is continuing to build and expound upon these words he has given.

“Therefore putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.   Be an angry and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.  Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Ephesians 4:25-28

Telling the truth to your neighbor can be tough, it's even tougher if we are going about it in the wrong way.   Even telling another Christian what they are doing is wrong can be rough.

Note: Take careful care approaching and addressing those still young in Christ especially in "clothing".   Sometimes those young in Christ need to see what is appropriate and what is not by what is modeled by their peers.  (I am not talking about dressing in suit and tie or dress down to your ankles.   I dress in cargo shorts, t-shirt and flip flops.)  If what is inappropriate continues - those close to that individual and even a leader need to gently encourage them to find something more appropriate in their wardrobe.  Maybe even a good shopping opportunity!  

Reasons Why We Don't Want to Speak the Truth to Someone:
1. We don’t want to hurt their feelings.  
2.  Out of fear of conflict.
3.  Afraid to lose them as a friend.
4.  Afraid their heart won’t be receptive to what we need to tell them.
5.  What we say will have little or no affect.   They simply don't care.
6.  Because we really don't care all that much for them.... if that is true, check your spiritual vitals with God. 

Three things come to mind in speaking the truth with your neighbor.   They are a doctor, Jesus' approach to the woman at the well and Queen Esther.

A doctor would not tell a patient that they didn’t have cancer or some other kind of sickness out of some fear of how they might react.   A doctor would tell them the truth - of course a good bedside manner would certainly help and that is where Jesus and Esther come to mind.

How is Your Bedside Manner?

Jesus/God the great physician, how did Jesus approach the Samaritan woman at the well? (John 4)
He was humble.  He related to her water situation and how Jews and Samaritans worshiped the same God and then he presented the truth about himself and her life.

How did Queen Esther deliver the bad news to her husband, King Xerxes, that the man he trusted, Haman, was going to kill the Jews, which also meant he could kill her family and her?   What were the things she did to earn the king’s respect and a listening heart? Haman was an evil man and if she allowed anger and fear to get the best of her she wouldn’t be able to function or speak up to save her people or herself. 
 

Esther sought God who knows all hearts.  She prayed, asked for prayer and fasted so she might find favor in the king’s sight when she approached him without invitation.  Granted an audience of the king she wasn't self-righteous but humble.   She wasn’t hasty in her "immediate" request.  She was patient and respectful towards the king and even to Haman.  She showed a genuine interest in the king and what was important to him as king.  She was generous.  The king seeing goodness and godliness in her asked of a request from her “twice”.   Talk about God opening a door so she may plead for her people and herself.   She presented a beautiful banquet of all her goodness and godliness by her actions and she reaped favor for her and her people by the goodness she sowed.  Goodness and godliness she could not have given if she didn't trust God.  She trusted in God which produced godly actions.

When you disciple someone and share the Lord with someone you and I are stimulating something within that person.   How we live and how we deliver the truth to someone will make an enormous difference in how they receive what we are saying.   What we sow is what we reap.

Speak the Truth in humility and love and compassion for that person to whom we speak. Pray for the souls God will have you speak to in this life.  Pray that when you speak, the words will be from the Holy Spirit.   Some will except the truth you speak about God and needing Jesus and some will not but there will be no denying that what you speak is powerful.    We are to love the person but hate the sin.

Are you a thief?

“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were seal for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:28-30

Are you a thief and don’t know it? A thief is one who steals. A thief doesn’t do what is good… he steals what is good.  God says, “You must not steal.”  
         

After God made me take a real good look at this passage, it made want to watch my mouth even more and want to speak only good things about others and into and over people’s lives.   I would easily robe someone of right thinking and stimulate negatively by what I said or did or even stood around and agreed to.
 

You know that saying “If you have nothing good to say…say nothing at all”?

It’s easy to say nothing at all.  It’s easy to complain.  It's easy to drop connotation.   It’s more difficult to find something good to say.   It’s more difficult to look out for people’s best interests instead of our own.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

This is very important! Think about it! Does what you say tear down or build up.   Does it give God glory or does it not.   Those who don't know any different will follow in your negative opinion and follow you in your sin.  Follow you in presumption and opinion instead of fact. How about when you  give hurtful information that doesn't need to be heard about what others think of them?  That is not building up.  What we sow will either steal from or gift the receiver of our actions.  People's minds who aren't constantly seeking and submitted to the Lord will meditate and feed off your words and actions- so what actions and words are you feeding them to build them up in the knowledge and glory of the Lord? 

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7

Not only is our negative actions a total disregard for God's word but it is a sign of doubt and unbelief.  It is proof the word is not in our heart only in our mind.  If we knew better we would see we were not just disobeying God's word but treating the blood of Christ, which saved us from hell, as if it were common and unholy.  God's blood!  That should really make us shudder.
 

You and I cannot please God unless we have faith.  What we speak will determine what we believe in our heart.     Do we really believe God’s word when we murmur and complain and speak negatives about others?   Don’t let Satan put those negative things into your mind and you speak them without thinking.  Speak them not understanding the consequences.  Speak them not realizing what it will do to the person to whom we speak.  Satan is the thief you are not.  He is the destroyer you are not.  You are to be a child of God who refuses to let the world corrupt you.   That is what you were called to be and he (God) has given you, as the body of Christ, the power be that as you submit to his authority and love.

A righteous person lives by faith.  We are to trust God and walk humbly with God and live in the truth, the way and the light.  Curses and blessings are not right to come out of same mouth.   We are to walk in and pay attention and take heed of what the Spirit is saying.  We are the body of Christ not the body of some other identity.  We are to act differently then the world.  We are to draw from God’s unlimited resources to do what is right because what is in the vine should come and bear good fruit on its branches. We should be mindful of the present and the future.

What do you say to or about your siblings in Christ?  What do you say to your neighbor? 

Do you say and stand up for what is right or do we fall into the flesh?  Do we have fear your neighbor's response more then we fear God?  If no stands up for what is right who will?

We are to tell our brothers and sisters the truth especially if they are not being reverent towards what God's word says..  We are to humbly tell our neighbors the truth   We are to speak good things over people and into people’s lives.  We are our brother’s keeper, liability partner and we are to speak and warn each other of the righteousness we are to live not as religious sand paper full of abrasiveness but in love and humility. 
 

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  Bear one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. “ Galatians 6:1-3

What are we stimulating in those around us.  Are we edifying and imparting grace?  The same grace God has given us?

Renewed Out of the Status Quo

“You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it useful again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.   You are a light of the world- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” Matthew 5:13-14

You know how some people need their coffee in the morning.  I need God’s Spirit to renew me every day.  It’s like opening the windows first thing in the morning and letting God’s Spirit to blow out all the stuffy stench.   God’s guided word in the morning is a breakfast that isn’t too heavy and isn’t too light but keeps me going and focused throughout the day.   For me just living in the status quo is no encouragement at all.  I might as well be an electric car trying to fill up at a gas pump.

We only draw the warmth, goodness and boldness of God when we are in God’s light not the status quo of the world.  The moon would not be visible at night if it wasn't in the path of the sun's light would it?  We have to determine what we are going to stand in.  Is it going to be God's love, mercy, and power or darkness?

Jesus says:

“If you are thirsty, come to me!  If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.” John 7:38

Obviously if we aren't trusting Jesus then the water of the Holy Spirit isn't going to flow out from within.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  Luke 6:45
  
Belief/Faith, not doubt, keep the lights on in the glowing city.   When we humble ourselves and put God first and he lifts up our soul.
 

We look and anticipate God to direct our heart.  (After all he is the author and perfecter of our faith.)   Then as we receive, our hearts will be keeled and steered by God even in the dark storms of life.  Our hearts, knowing his heart, won’t want to turn wayward to useless things and ventures because they will be secure and satisfied in God with a healthy dose of respect.  We will know God’s heart and we will be all that God wants us to be.     

Don’t Make it Complicated. “God Loves You.”

No I haven’t become lax or negligent on the Good News of Jesus Christ but there is a time to share the Good News in more detail and depth as the Spirit gives and there are other times when we need to feed the people of God’s affection in actions of love and in the simple but powerful truth that God loves them.

We at times would all love to beat people over the head that they need Jesus but in what motive are we doing that in? We want to set people free but the Spirit must guide our actions as well as our words. If not done in love it is worthless. Zeal is great but is the zeal in the humility of God’s love or something else?

I remember my grandmother saying to us grand-kids when we were teenagers, “God loves you.” Our response not really understanding this truth would say, “I know Gram.”

Sometimes loving actions and the simple truth make a bigger impact then trying to stuff the Spiritual steak and potatoes of the message of the Good News through people’s ears. I think we also make “God loves You” into the mentality of a bummer sticker on some old grandma’s car but it is NOT. Think about it. “God loves you” is probably the most powerful statement in thought. And if said in the sincere humble love that has been nurtured and matured and delivered by the Holy Spirit, it is the finest aged wine ever tasted.

I know from personal experience that I often put up walls when I felt preached to and people who already feel like outcasts- feel like greater outcasts because the message isn’t delivered in a real genuine loving manner or their heart has not been prepared to receive the message. Instead of hands helping to them out of the ditch of their robbers throw them in, they are given a swinging banter of religious verbiages instead which are not help at all- good intentioned or not.

Live in God’s love and when God wants you to speak he will guide the your words and the length and depth of the words you will speak.

How did you come to Christ? Think about it. Did God make you feel like you had to jump through hoops to be loved by him or did he make himself approachable to you? Why? How? How did the God make himself approachable to his chosen creation? What made it so you could freely come to him and give your life to him?

Remember Colossians 1:19-

“For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in the Christ, and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own body. He has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News…”

God made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. Man will never have peace apart from God. Man will fight and wage war against man and cause other men to go to war for them and against them because they don’t have God’s peace in them, which is only born and matured in and from God’s love.

Just because God reconciled everything to himself does not mean men reconciled themselves to him. Humanity will always separate themselves from God by their thoughts and actions… innocent or not… ignorant or not.

God’s heart is for his creation- he is available to the lowest of the low. He made it possible with his love and the evidence of that love was signified in the blood on the cross so it could be seeded and grown in the hearts of men. He healed you and birthed you of his Holy Spirit who now empowers and calls you to live according to his love.

When people’s hearts are stubborn and hardened and far from God -throwing seed on the ground does nothing if loving actions don’t come with or before it. The Holy Spirit guided actions and words that come forth out of the vessel of man are like the warmth of the sun thawing the frozen ground. People may know God by the little measure that he has planted inside them but that little measure of a seed will only grow when they allow God’s love to grow in them. (Know not just “of” God but “know” him and know him more intimately.)

I did not know Christ even though I had a religious tradition of celebrating his birth every Christmas. I would pray to God and still knowing how far I was from him he answered but I did as the bible said, I did not even thank him and continued on my path of ignorance and stupidity.

The Father drew me in by his love and faithfulness and when his cleansing light came into my life with my choice of surrender and submission to him I became a changed man and the realization of my debt to Jesus Christ became very real.

That is way Jesus says, “For people can’t come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me.” John 6:44-46

The Father gives the Son (Jesus Christ). The Son becomes the Shepherd and the Shepherd gives the Holy Spirit who gives all who trust and believe in the Son (Jesus Christ) have eternal life.

Human effort accomplishes nothing. I have found only by submission, a humility that allows God’s peace to find a seat in our soul, and the growing understanding of God’s love in the depths of our heart- does many powerful things despite the hardness of circumstances, situations, actions and words in this life.

May you as well as I know God’s love greater in our hearts and live in his love so we may have peace, and the power to act graciously and mercifully. May we live and endure spiritually and mindfully in Christ while we are here on this earth. May we let go of ourselves and or own ways of thinking and doing in order for God to able and secure us in his ways of doing things. May we become less and he more. Let us not become arrogant, or blind, or complacent. Let us not become doers by our own means and understanding where the rules of men emerge and God’s love becomes absent in our ways. Let us honor God with our lips and our heart. Let us worship God in Spirit and Truth. –In Jesus Name Amen.

Remember God welcomes the lost. Don’t make it complicated. You and those around you are better off if you remember the simple but powerful message that “God is Love.” Those who trust and believe in this simple message will be productive in the Spirit of the Lord.

Scriptures: Colossians 1:19-23, Romans 1: 19-22, 2 Peter 1:5-9, John 6:44-46, 1 John 4:7

Shining Wisdom

Ever read the first couple of chapters of proverbs and what it says about wisdom? Wisdom is wonderful but it only wonderful with the right heart and mindset.

Satan has Godly wisdom but it is useless because it is not carried out in love. He twists God's wisdom just as he does the principles of God's love. He takes God's wisdom and uses to maim, wickedly condemn, encourage flames of pride, to be "politically correct" and cause division amongst followers in Christ and those in this world. Satan hates to see peace in God's chosen creation and he rather use God's wisdom to steal, kill and destroy.

Wisdom is not presumption or hunch or supposing or take a jab in the dark. It's not unfairly using someone's past against them. Those only do more harm then good.

Godly wisdom is trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not depending on your own understanding. It is seeking his will in all you do and having him direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5-6) God's wisdom provides an opening or portal of light and many sometimes that opening is not just for the person who receives that wisdom but also for the person who gives that word of wisdom. He/she who uses God's wisdom in love sees the precious positive affects it can cultivate. I find many times in teachings I am not just teachings those around me but God is teaching me as well.

Remember Job and his buddies? They presumed the reason for Job's gigantic misfortune was because of some kind of sin Job had not confessed.

Remember Peter asking Jesus if the man was blind because the man's parent's sin or the man's sin? And Jesus replies "He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him." (John 9) We were born spiritually blind so the power of God could be seen in us after God has touched us.

Remember the Jew's who knew God's word but were blind to their own Savior standing before them? (John 8) Remember where your true insight comes from.

Remember you can speak God's word in not the right mindset and cause more hurt and damage then healing and insight? God's word is a sword. It is sharp. (Hebrews 4:12) You respect a knife when you are using it do you not? Do you love the word of God to use it correctly? Are you listening to the direction of Holy Spirit as he guides you through the spiritual operation of life or are you doing it to prove your own point? Sometimes we don't even need to be proving a point but we ignore God's wisdom because we are focused and wrapped up in other things in life and we see with human eyes instead of Spirit-filled eyes. That is when we stumble. (Proverbs 4:12)

God said everything is useless if not done in love. True useful wisdom goes hand in hand with love. If your are spewing God's words of wisdom because of irritability and religion then you have lost the entire point. What are you trying to prove? God can't prove himself? Guard your heart for it affects everything you do. (Proverbs 4:23) Remember love is patient, kind, not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It doesn't demand it's own way. It is not keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices when the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. (1 Cor 13:4-7) We can go to church and gain all this great knowledge about God but if we don't embrace it and share it in a loving manner then it is wasted.

I suppose that comes partially with maturity as well..... Oh Lord have mercy. I don't mean you become suddenly boring but you are earnest and humbly passionate about God's powerful ways of grace. True wisdom brings down walls doesn't help put more up.

God's wisdom in God's love is true, honorable, right, pure, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8) God's wisdom gives an individual integrity. It isn't about pleasing the norms of society.

Godly wisdom seat belted into Godly knowledge brings joy. (Proverbs 2:10-11)

True wisdom shines the light of Christ.
"The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day." (Proverbs 4:18)

Love for Christ’s Sake

About a decade ago an individual was mentoring me in a public school setting. Well… at least I say they were supposed to “mentor” me but about half way through this experience I simply could not take the actions of this individual anymore and quit the experience. I knew if I quit the experience it would be a very difficult to get another experience because the university officials in charge of the program warned us of that fact during orientation. In fact I believe the individual who set me up with this individual knew from the very beginning that this individual was not the best candidate for a mentoring experience but simply didn’t care and before the end of the experience I simply wanted out. In fact I returned all the items I had used and graded one morning and left a note saying I would not be returning. I had come home everyday from the experience discouraged, emotionally beat up, and felt incompetent almost in everyway in my field. What I did was never good enough to this person. When I tried to ask for input or advice on a topic I was looked down upon harshly. There was no sense of cooperation from this person. I was treated as an offensive outsider trespassing on their territory. I was treated as if I was pushed on them when they had the opportunity to say “No thank you” from the very beginning. This person might have had all the talents necessary for their field but this individual was no mentor. A mentor is someone who builds you up, helps you make corrections and adjustments, supports you when you are challenged and then steps back and let’s go so you can be all that you were meant to be but this person was cruel, unsupportive, disrespectful, unsympathetic and challenged me not just every step along the way but challenged every part of my being to try to stay positive until I was physically sick and emotionally exhausted and had hardly any joy in the field I wanted to work in.

I was not a Christian at the time. I had considered myself a “Christian” up to this point but I was not born again and did not do what I knew God wanted me to do. This person who was suppose to be mentoring me, however, was suppose to be a “Christian”. They were a member of a church and happened to be a “friend” of a friend of the family and this friend of the family happened to my Sunday school teacher in my elementary years and pastor’s wife. This family friend was also one of the very people who saw my gift at an early age and encouraged me but the person mentoring me showed me that they saw “nothing” in me by their actions.

Thank God I was confused of what a Christian was suppose to be and wasn’t looking for what a “Christian” is suppose to be or else I might had gotten very angry and said to myself, "If this is what a “Christian” is suppose to be, I want no part of it!" Thank God I had other models of what a “Christian” was suppose to be even though I didn’t see it with my worldly eyes at the time. Thank God even though I couldn’t see with me worldly eyes, my memories latched on and held onto those “Christian” actions. And God, I hope the person who was mentoring me realized what kind of witness they were not to just me but those in their field and classroom. I hope that they have had a change of heart towards others like myself. I thank God that He gave me another mentor named Mr. Ball and an assistant named Mrs. Riez, who saw me as teacher and treated me as an equal and partner and showed me I could be successful. God does bless those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God does bless those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. (Matthew 5:4-5)

For the love of Christ… love for Christ’s sake.

You are the only bible some people will ever read. You are a witness for Christ.

We are to live “clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people.” We are to “let our lives shine brightly before people.” We are to not be selfish. We are not to try to make others smaller or unimportant or make ourselves more important. We are to be humble. We aren’t only to think about our own affairs but be interested in others too and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing, he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2)

And even though we are to be humble, Philippians 1:28-29 says we are not to be intimidated by our enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege to trusting Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.”

We have been given the privilege of trusting Christ… It is privilege to trust in Christ. Do you remember what it felt like to not trust in God? Were you at peace before Christ came into your life? There was hardly any peace and the peace that you did get didn’t last very long.

We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves but that is impossible to do if we don’t have trust in Christ. “For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. “ 1 John 5:4

Jesus says in Matthew 5:43 “You have heard the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who prosecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and unjust, too. If you love only those who love you what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Perfect love is what? God is perfect love. “God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the Day of Judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us. We love each other as a result of his loving us first. “ 1 John 4:16-19

We have all read 1 Corinthians 13,
“If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

Things are only useful and successful when the love of Christ is in action not us trying to do the work ourselves. One may plant and the other may water but God makes the seed grow. God let’s people see. God gives the nourishment to grow in his love.

Our faith is dependent on God. Our love that shows our faith is dependent on God. God is the one in charge not us.

All things are possible through Christ but it is for God’s glory for all things to be done. We need to be in obedience to God for Christ’s sake. We are witnessing for Christ -for the world to acknowledge Christ not us.

The moon reflects the sun, it doesn’t produce it’s own light but it shines in the night sky anyway. The moon cannot help but reflect the rays of the sun because it is in the sun’s path. That is how we are. If we are in the Son’s path, the path of Jesus Christ, we can't help but glorify Him. BUT walk off that path ever so slightly and we will only find and sit in the shadows of ourselves, like the rest of the world and how their opinions are “as” or “more” legitimate then everyone else’s.

The only opinions that really count are God’s and his opinions stand and outlast anyone else’s.

Love of Christ’s sake.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand it’s own way. Love is not irritable, and keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Growth, Boldness, Vine & Wine

Currently I have been trying to grow some red grapes in our backyard. We bought a grape vine early this spring, dug a hole and planted it in some good soil and covered and surrounded the area with a layer of mulch. It has been watered everyday and gets plenty of sunshine but so far it has only grown about 4 feet and is covered with leaves. Come to find out while reading a magazine, grape vines need poor soil to produce grapes… and if you coddle them you’ll get just what we got… lots of leaf and vine and little else. Grape vines I guess thrive in gravely, sandy, calciferous soil that hardly retains moisture and holds little if any fertile soil. Sounds a lot like the natural surroundings we have here in Texas… in short we tried too hard and got poor results.

Who would of thought a grape vine would grow fruit in such poor conditions?

This reminded me of Jesus:
“Yes I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:5-8

Jesus came to earth to face what kind of conditions? You might say the soil conditions were pretty stony, hard and unfertile. In fact it lacked the soil type to keep people from getting thirsty and satisfied. Some would even agree the conditions were extremely turbulent.

Jesus is the vine of life. A person who tries to grow on any other vine or a counterfeit won’t just produce any good fruit but will suffer greatly and will even suffer eternity if they don’t find Christ before they leave this life.

Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.” John 15:1-4

Without Jesus we can do nothing of good in this world. This world’s soil type is a hard, gravely, sandy, unfertile and certainly keeps many thirsty - metaphorically speaking.

The world being so however…. Is a great place to grow “Christ-centered fruit.”

It is a great place to mature us, Christians, as we remain “connected” to the “Vine” and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The conditions regardless if they are favorable or not in our eyes, will have a favorable moment if we are willing and listening to what God has us to speak at the precise moment he wants us to speak or act. Sometimes it takes boldness but that boldness is not dependent on our perception of ourselves or those we are speaking to but God’s understanding of that person or people we are to speaking/witness to.

Witnessing should come as natural as breathing… but as human beings we like to THINK too much! Agreed??? Witnessing should come from a Christ-centered love that is not based on self-perception or a pre-determined, laid out plan but you merely being a vessel of Christ’s love.

Sometimes we are blessed by being this vessel but this vessel shouldn’t get any credit for merely doing what it was designed to do.

“And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is suppose to do. In the say way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty’.” Luke 17:9

God did not make you into a robot or some copy of someone else. He doesn’t want you to follow some “Way of the Master” method. He made you, the person you are, to witness to the people he had planned for you to come into contact with long ago. (Remember God knew his people in advance.) God wants you to be yourself not someone you are not and God will do the rest.

Building on the WORD:
“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere –“ Acts 1:8

“For it won’t be you doing the talking- it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:20

“This will be your opportunity to tell them about me. So don’t worry about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply!” Luke 21:13

“For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you the 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. “ 1 Thessalonians 1:5

“With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.’ You are a witness of all these things. And now I will send you the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised.” Luke 24:47

“For in him we live and move and exist. As one of your poets says, ‘We are his offspring.’ Acts 17:28

“For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:3.

Fruit into Wine: When it comes to the moving of God, God can make water into wine. (John 2) He can do the same in us. Fruit is instant and wine is quickly created and poured out of an individual for all to see and enjoy. Often it defies and challenges human understanding and rational.

Our lives are changed in a moment. We, as vessels, once used for things we were no intended for, found our true purpose. The transformation from old wine skin to new wine skin was instantaneous when we surrendered our life to Christ. (Everything was made new again.)

The old was replaced by a new spirit and heart -for the old would not hold up during the fermentation process of the new wine that is made with the new fruit that grows under the watchful eye of the master gardener.

The fruit is tested and tasted and turned into wine to be shared with the less fortunate. The taste is either sweet to those seeking a better life or it bitter to those who have given up conscious, morality and life is self. (Matthew 9:17, Luke 5:38-39)

And let us remember with every taste/test of a wine thief, we know we are becoming aged to perfection.

Let us make the most of every opportunity for doing good. Let us not act thoughtlessly but try to understand what the Lord wants us to do in every opportunity or changing condition…. Let the Holy Spirit fill and move us in the correct manner and action. We are God’s ambassadors, God’s perfected wine in Christ, so let us ask that he give us the boldness to speak - as we should and pour out God's love. (Ephesians 5:15-18, 6:19-20)

I am not a wine drinker but I enjoy the good wine that is poured out of others. It is full of character and glimmers with beauty.

The Witness in You

Heading to the surf?

Do ever think about your witness? If you are Christian, you probably do pretty often but it tends to be pushed aside with everyday life.

We stand in lines … grocery stores, post offices, coffee shops, county and governmental departments, movies theatres, airports, the occasional amusement/ water-park, home improvement stores, clothes stores, and pharmacies.

We sit… on buses, in planes, in carpools, in doctor and dentist offices, auto repair shops.

We imagine the day without any inconveniences. We go to A. B. C. D. and home again. We mind our own business. We get in and get out. We live in our little world… some smaller then others.

But what happens when the unanticipated happens, when the unplanned occurs, when there is a pump in the road, when the TomTom of your day unexpectedly goes wacko? When the unforeseen and unpredicted make an untimely visit? That flat tire happens? The undesirable for some reason picks you?

What do you do? What do you think?

Do you think the devil is really trying to mess up my plans today? Do you think I really have some bad luck today? Do you think God has painted a target on your backside telling the enemy- try this servant? Do you get frustrated and angry? Do you get hostile? Does fear flare up inside of you? Do you try to hide or retreat or withdraw? Do you go into panic mode or automatic “I got everything under control mode”?

Do you ever look around in those times to think maybe God has something for me to do here or has me here for a specific reason?

Maybe God wants me to talk or witness to someone? Our actions speak a lot about who we are. Our actions speak a lot about the person God has made us to be. Our actions speak a lot about God if we are willing and watchful to be his hands and feet.

We may not be some famous preacher, or evangelist, or even a great speaker but we are who God made us to be for certain moments and for specific individuals that he had chosen long in advance for us to talk and reach.

Seeds… sometimes we are just that - in a person who is willing to listen. We are seeds but with enough watering those seeds will grow and they will their FIND TRUE LIFE in CHRIST.

For some of us witnessing means we have to be bold, aggressive and strong and - boldness, aggressiveness, and strength doesn’t fit our self-description of ourselves but God disagrees.

You know there are different levels of boldness, aggressiveness and strength? God did not just put those different levels within us but he has also put grace, love, compassion and humbleness in us as well.

He made us uniquely different and that uniqueness in Christ’s love is what matters most. We all have different experiences so we may reach different individuals and God makes us qualified even when don’t share some of those different and even difficult experiences.

The people in this world are confused. They don’t know what they believe? They really struggle with the concept of faith – for one because not many of us have taken that step forward and said, “I believe because I have seen.” I believe because I had asked and it was taken care of.” I believe because what seemed impossible became possible.” I believe because I am not the same person I was before I came to Christ. I believe because I spoke to him this morning or a few moments ago."

Some of us have seen the devil, have seen demons, have seen angels, have seen Jesus Christ, had visions and dreams from God and have personally felt the power and gentleness of God.

God is real and his son Jesus Christ is real. Don’t feel shy about saying “I used to think people who talked like this were crazy but now I know what I used to doubt is REAL.” Don’t feel embarrassed to say, “Some would consider me a religious nut but craziness and hype don’t last for this LONG! In fact I remember thinking of others who spoke to me, like I am talking to you right now, were crazy or on something but now I know different”

People have no concept what is their ticket into heaven or hell. People believe things we have spoken about are as true as fairy tales. People believe that if they are a good person then they will make it to heaven. What makes them a good person? I don’t know a single person who is as “good” as Jesus Christ “who” has died for our sins so if we trust and believe in him then we will live for eternity in heaven. People don’t know their life purpose is held in the hand of Jesus Christ, if they just come to him. Not some saint or statue or tree or animal, or walking path or getting a certain number of individuals to accept their religion but Jesus Christ is they way into heaven and life. Some don't even know the power we have in Jesus Christ but that is for another time.

Unfortunately the world and its foolish ideas and false religions have confused many and they simply don’t care anymore. Their take is “whatever happens… happens.”

But Gods seeds of truth, hope and nourishment are just a few words and actions away if we stay focused and open to clues that are shared and said.

Have you ever noticed when we share spiritual matters with others, pieces of information tend to fit into a puzzle even if those pieces of information seem to be brief. Sometimes the puzzle pieces are pretty dark and sometimes they are pretty outstanding but what makes that puzzle work (to our knowledge and without our knowledge) is Christ.

Remember sometimes it isn’t always positive but if we trust God, stay humble and remain genuine we see much more about God, this world, and this life. It’s not about us. It’s about Jesus, his love and how he made a way for us to share heaven with him.

So the next time the unexpected happens. The unforeseen occurs, the untimely makes a visit or the person who you last expect to be speaking to stands in line with you or sits beside you….

Remember God makes you qualified in his life not what we think makes us qualified.

May God give you all the words and actions you need for his glory and that person's soul.