It's not hard to look around you and see that "the standard" by which people live by is constantly changing...and not for the better. It's ironic that it is still referred to as a "standard" though, considering it is always changing. Webster defines "standard" as "an idea or thing used as a measure, norm, or model in comparative evaluations". So since our standard has changed so much over the years, we started to call it "today's standard". In some areas where technology has improved the way we can do things, I can understand and appreciate how standards have changed. But when you start looking at the moral decay of our country/world, we need a wake up call about how much we have allowed things to change.
It is almost hard to to even say we have a standard in some areas of life anymore. It seems like if the right people complain, then all of the sudden the standard changes. Take for example marriage. Marriage was always (since the beginning of time) between a man and a woman. Not because one day someone decided it should be, but because that was the way it ALWAYS was. It was designed by God, and He set the standard. However, we as humans think we can just change the standard on something like that. We get a group of people who want to challenge something and all of the sudden something that always was, is no longer. And people say "well now there is a new standard", but I would argue that, because there really isn't. What there is is a loss of a standard...and now the new standard will change again and again and again. Because as soon as the next group complains, it will get changed again, and so on. And where does is stop. We have lowered the standard on so many moral issues that they are hardly moral issues anymore. They are more like immoral issues. We have changed laws that have been in effect for so long on topics that make no sense...like legalization of drugs, abortion, and even underage sex. I was shocked to once find out that kids can have sex after a certain age (and it's not 18) and parents can't do a thing about it. What?? We can allow kids to make those kind of choices, but they can't vote? Please explain that to me! But again, it's because we have lowed the standard to ridiculous levels in many areas of our society.
So I will ask the question that is the title of this blog....what is the standard? Are you using the world to set the standards in your life, or are you allowing God? Are you allowing your standards to slip and change when it makes your life easier? Or do you stand firm on God's word, hard or not? Let's face it, humans are selfish at the core. And we, when left to our own devices, will make selfish choices that will lead to our own destruction. Blindly walking into the traps that the enemy has set for us because they look attractive to our flesh. It's time for this to stop. It's time for God's people, and God's church, to stop accepting the lower standard because it's "easier". It's time for truth to be spoken behind the pulpit, and instead of worrying about it offending someone who might stop tithing, we pray that it will touch someone's heart and they will turn from their sins. It's time to stop changing the church to fit the world and act like the men and women God has called us to be...those that will change the world. Never stop speaking in LOVE....but at the same time, NEVER stop speaking the TRUTH.
Revelation 21:8 sets a standard, and it doesn't beat around the bush to do it. It says it boldly and bluntly. It says "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death". And this is my own take on this verse, so you can accept this or not...but the "cowards" that I think that verse refers to are the people who started to go against God and accept the world's standards. The ones who once called a sin a sin...but then started to come into agreement with the world by saying things like "well maybe that's not that wrong". If God's word says it's wrong, then it's wrong. You can sugar coat abortion by saying it's not murder, you can muddy up marriage by saying you don't have to be a man and a woman, you can say premarital sex and living together is ok because it's not hurting anyone....you can paint the picture to make it look however you want. But at the end of the day, we better all remember this...it was never our picture to paint. Whether you believe in God or not, He exists, He created this world, and He set the original standards. And when we go against them, we are going against Him.
If you have allowed your standards to slip like I once did, then ask Him to wake you up! Ask Him to open your eyes and your ears so you can see the decay going on around you that you were becoming comfortable with. Let the Holy Spirit convict your heart and change you into who God created you to be. And be bold, speaking the truth in love!
God, thank You for Your standards. Please forgive us for accepting less that Your standard. Help us to stand firm on Your Word, Your Truth and Your Standards! And let the light that You can produce in us be seen by others. In Jesus name, Amen
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
Looking around...asking God
Today as I sat in the airport waiting to travel I looked around and asked God this question, "Do you have an assignment for me today?". I couldn't help but think that there has to be someone around me that needs to hear about God today. So rather than sit in my own little world with my headphones on, which would be so easy to do, I want to ask God to use me...allow me to see this as an opportunity. But to be honest, we don't have to be sitting in an airport to ask God that question. It's a question that we really should be asking Him every single day of our life, every time we step outside of our home. There are hurting and lost people everywhere we go....but do we look for them?
You have a story...I have a story....and someone out there needs to hear it. If God found you somewhere, and showed up in your life, then you have the answer that someone is looking for. Even if your story isn't one of despair that God brought you out of, you still have a story about how God sent His son in love to rescue each one of us from the world we live in. So share that story.....
Mark 16:15 tells us to "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation...". It was God's plan from the very beginning for His word to spread through the lives of those who believe in and worship Him. It's just one of the ways we honor him. I love how 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT) says it, it says "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it". The verses before that talk about not worrying about suffering for God, instead, let people see Him in your life and tell people about Him. What an amazing way to face life. And ONLY He can give you the strength to face life like this.
So today...tomorrow...and all the days to follow, if God has granted you another day on this earth, then ask Him what He wants you to do with it. Who does He need you to share your story, or His story, with? Be on guard, and always be ready to put into words what He can do for someone who needs Him to interrupt their life, and rescue them from whatever this world is trying to burden them with.
God, thank You for trusting us to spread your word. Help us to seek to do this more for you, and help others with the love and hope that you offer to each of us. Allow our lives to speak louder than our words, but when the time is right, please give us the right words to help someone who is in need of You. In Jesus name, Amen
You have a story...I have a story....and someone out there needs to hear it. If God found you somewhere, and showed up in your life, then you have the answer that someone is looking for. Even if your story isn't one of despair that God brought you out of, you still have a story about how God sent His son in love to rescue each one of us from the world we live in. So share that story.....
Mark 16:15 tells us to "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation...". It was God's plan from the very beginning for His word to spread through the lives of those who believe in and worship Him. It's just one of the ways we honor him. I love how 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT) says it, it says "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it". The verses before that talk about not worrying about suffering for God, instead, let people see Him in your life and tell people about Him. What an amazing way to face life. And ONLY He can give you the strength to face life like this.
So today...tomorrow...and all the days to follow, if God has granted you another day on this earth, then ask Him what He wants you to do with it. Who does He need you to share your story, or His story, with? Be on guard, and always be ready to put into words what He can do for someone who needs Him to interrupt their life, and rescue them from whatever this world is trying to burden them with.
God, thank You for trusting us to spread your word. Help us to seek to do this more for you, and help others with the love and hope that you offer to each of us. Allow our lives to speak louder than our words, but when the time is right, please give us the right words to help someone who is in need of You. In Jesus name, Amen
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Step Out In TRUST!
There are 2 words in the English language that I personally feel like we throw around way too much. Actually, I'm sure there are more than two, but these are the two I think about the most. One is love, and the other is trust.
We say "I love...." about almost everything. And when I hear people talk like that I often think to myself, "do you really? do you really love that thing, or that car, or even that person?" Love is a powerful and strong word. And when I think about God's love, and I compare that to our human love, which most of the time is conditional, I often wonder would people sacrifice for that thing they are saying they love so much? God did, and that to me, is the real meaning of love. That I would be willing to sacrifice in the name of love, just like God sacrificed His son for us. Would you?
Then we have "trust". A phrase we throw around way too much in the U.S. is "In God We Trust". It is a motto, not at true statement of trust anymore. If we really trusted IN God this country would be a completely different place. But people also will tell their friends or loved ones they trust them. But yet they know if it came right down to it, and they really had to put their trust in that person, they would second guess that trust. We say the word trust a lot, then we have a backup plan just in case. When you have a backup plan for those "just in case moments", then you have just proven that you really don't trust.
I made these statements because we have become conditioned people. We throw words like this around so much that we have almost become desensitized of their real meaning. And then when we talk to God, or we come into situations that really require us to love and trust Him, we will say we do, as we will try to do things in our own power or have a backup plan. True trust in God is exactly that, it's 100% trust. We can't kind of trust God. When we do, we give Him enough power to kind of do a work in our lives...and that is not how God works. Our faith and our trust have to be in Him and Him alone. Proverbs 3:5 says "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart...". Psalms 56:3-4 says " When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid...". 1 John 4:8 says "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear..." Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." And Psalms 13:5 says "But I have trusted in your steadfast love..." The ongoing theme here is that God is trustworthy. His love is trustworthy. His plans are trustworthy. His abilities are trustworthy. And our hope in Him is trustworthy. I don't care what your circumstances look like, our God is trustworthy. And the very thought of you fully figuring that out, and fully trusting God, frightens the enemy. Our trust in God destroys the enemies power over our life. When we figure out that if it looks bad, God can make it good. If it looks confusing, God can bring peace. If it looks dark, God can shed His light on it. And if it looks hopeless, God can deliver hope....when we figure these things out, we put our foot on the neck of satan and we come out victorious! And the only thing we did to accomplish this was fully put our trust and our love in the One who deserves it.
Don't invest your emotions, your thoughts or your plans in things that can, and probably will, fail you. It is not worth it. Invest in the One who already invested in you. He gave His son not only to offer a way to true forgiveness, but also to show us how His love and trust is unmeasurable. He has done what nobody else would do for you. At a point when He knew there would be times you didn't even deserve it, He sacrificed His love (His Son) to show you love.
Trusting God also requires hearing God, and acting upon what you know He is saying to you. When He calls, be prepared to trust Him enough to step out. If He sees that you trust Him in the small things, He will show you that you can trust Him in the big things. And sometimes those big things call us out of our comfort zone. They are meant to stretch us and grow us....and they are meant to bring us to a deeper level of trust and love with Him. Like I said, His love and trust is unmeasurable, so as He continues to call you into deeper waters, trust that He wouldn't call you there if He didn't already have a plan for you. Honor Him today with your trust and see what He can do with that.
God, thank You for being so trustworthy. Today, I honor You with my trust. I want to boast of my trust in You because I know it is the one thing I can invest in that benefits my future and the future of other. Holy Spirit please continue to help us step out as we are called by God, not in fear, but in trust. In Jesus name, Amen.
We say "I love...." about almost everything. And when I hear people talk like that I often think to myself, "do you really? do you really love that thing, or that car, or even that person?" Love is a powerful and strong word. And when I think about God's love, and I compare that to our human love, which most of the time is conditional, I often wonder would people sacrifice for that thing they are saying they love so much? God did, and that to me, is the real meaning of love. That I would be willing to sacrifice in the name of love, just like God sacrificed His son for us. Would you?
Then we have "trust". A phrase we throw around way too much in the U.S. is "In God We Trust". It is a motto, not at true statement of trust anymore. If we really trusted IN God this country would be a completely different place. But people also will tell their friends or loved ones they trust them. But yet they know if it came right down to it, and they really had to put their trust in that person, they would second guess that trust. We say the word trust a lot, then we have a backup plan just in case. When you have a backup plan for those "just in case moments", then you have just proven that you really don't trust.
I made these statements because we have become conditioned people. We throw words like this around so much that we have almost become desensitized of their real meaning. And then when we talk to God, or we come into situations that really require us to love and trust Him, we will say we do, as we will try to do things in our own power or have a backup plan. True trust in God is exactly that, it's 100% trust. We can't kind of trust God. When we do, we give Him enough power to kind of do a work in our lives...and that is not how God works. Our faith and our trust have to be in Him and Him alone. Proverbs 3:5 says "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart...". Psalms 56:3-4 says " When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid...". 1 John 4:8 says "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear..." Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." And Psalms 13:5 says "But I have trusted in your steadfast love..." The ongoing theme here is that God is trustworthy. His love is trustworthy. His plans are trustworthy. His abilities are trustworthy. And our hope in Him is trustworthy. I don't care what your circumstances look like, our God is trustworthy. And the very thought of you fully figuring that out, and fully trusting God, frightens the enemy. Our trust in God destroys the enemies power over our life. When we figure out that if it looks bad, God can make it good. If it looks confusing, God can bring peace. If it looks dark, God can shed His light on it. And if it looks hopeless, God can deliver hope....when we figure these things out, we put our foot on the neck of satan and we come out victorious! And the only thing we did to accomplish this was fully put our trust and our love in the One who deserves it.
Don't invest your emotions, your thoughts or your plans in things that can, and probably will, fail you. It is not worth it. Invest in the One who already invested in you. He gave His son not only to offer a way to true forgiveness, but also to show us how His love and trust is unmeasurable. He has done what nobody else would do for you. At a point when He knew there would be times you didn't even deserve it, He sacrificed His love (His Son) to show you love.
Trusting God also requires hearing God, and acting upon what you know He is saying to you. When He calls, be prepared to trust Him enough to step out. If He sees that you trust Him in the small things, He will show you that you can trust Him in the big things. And sometimes those big things call us out of our comfort zone. They are meant to stretch us and grow us....and they are meant to bring us to a deeper level of trust and love with Him. Like I said, His love and trust is unmeasurable, so as He continues to call you into deeper waters, trust that He wouldn't call you there if He didn't already have a plan for you. Honor Him today with your trust and see what He can do with that.
God, thank You for being so trustworthy. Today, I honor You with my trust. I want to boast of my trust in You because I know it is the one thing I can invest in that benefits my future and the future of other. Holy Spirit please continue to help us step out as we are called by God, not in fear, but in trust. In Jesus name, Amen.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
What Is Peace?
What is "peace"? Webster's dictionary defines peace as, "freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions" or "a state of tranquillity or quiet". And as "peaceful" as both of those things sound, the true definition of peace does not suggest how you obtain it. I personally think Philippians 4:6 and Isaiah 26:3 do however. Having peace is the desire of each and every person on this earth. I don't know anyone who would ever say otherwise. Stress and anxiety are not fun things to have to deal with or experience. And for a person who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus, stress and anxiety, when left undealt with, can lead to depression and hopelessness. But am I saying that only non-christians can deal with these feelings, absolutely not. Just because you have entered into a relationship with Jesus does not mean that you automatically have learned how to trust Him fully and live in His peace. If the enemy was able to torment you before you found Christ, then He is not just all of the sudden going to leave you alone because you found Christ. Defeating satan in this way will ONLY happen when our will is broken (the flesh) and God's will is chased after. And even once you have done that, you still have to learn how to daily lay things down at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to carry your yoke. (Matthew 11:28-30)
So why did I reference Philippians 4:6 and Isaiah 26:3? Because when these 2 verses are put together, not only do they define peace, but unlike the Webster definition, they also tell you how to obtain peace. Philippians 4:6 says "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God", and Isaiah 26:3 says "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!". So based on these 2 verses what is peace and how do we not just "have" it, but LIVE in it? By fixing our thoughts on God, by staying thankful for what He has already provided, and by not allowing things to make us anxious because we know that not only can we make our requests known to Him, but we can TRUST Him. That is the God we serve, that is the peace He wants us to live in, and that is not a human plan to obtain it...it's God's plan. Who better would know how to keep a human mind and emotions in a state of peace than the One who created us? You can read all the self help books you want. You can try all the latest gimmicks to keep yourself in a state of peace....and you can become exhausted trying it without God. But if you really want to feel rest and feel peace, than you need to crawl up into the lap of your Heavenly Father and lay down your anxiety, make known your needs, wants, desires, problems, issues, stressful situations and heavy loads....then fully trust Him to guide you and direct you down a path of least resistance as you learn to surrender these things to Him.
God does not want us to live in a stress filled, defeated feeling life. How can we enjoy our time with Him if this is how we walk around feeling? He desires for every moment we spend with Him to be intimate, deep and peaceful. It's the very reason He literally invites us to cast our cares on Him. (1 Peter 5:7) He knows when we can come to Him and cast down all the things this world is trying to load us down with, then we can enjoy His presence. And when we can enjoy His presence in our secret time with Him, we will find out that it won't just stay in the secret place. Exodus 33:14 is a promise from God that says "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest". So even as we walk around in this sin filled, problem filled, world, we can do it in a state of peace and rest.
I found this peace and rest at the age of 40. I walked around "knowing" Jesus all my life, but waited until the age of 40 to learn how to fully trust on, rely on and find peace in God. Do I still face problems in my life, absolutely. But the difference now is that I KNOW I don't have to face them alone. I also don't try to tackle them on my own, and I don't move without His instructions. I spend time with Him when I face something and He ALWAYS gives me wisdom, love and answers...and I give Him my trust. And that is how He gives me peace. I will trade the stress, worries, problems and sins of this world for His peace any day. And 2 years ago when I fully did that my life was never the same again. I invite you to fully experience ALL that God has for you by allowing Philippians 4:6 and Isaiah 26:3 to become a way of life for you.
God, thank You for taking care of my past, my present and my future. I pray today that people will learn to trust You fully and find peace and rest in You. Help those that are tormented by the enemy to trade in his ways for Your ways and let others witness the transformation that You can make in our lives and desire what You have waiting for them. In Jesus name, Amen.
So why did I reference Philippians 4:6 and Isaiah 26:3? Because when these 2 verses are put together, not only do they define peace, but unlike the Webster definition, they also tell you how to obtain peace. Philippians 4:6 says "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God", and Isaiah 26:3 says "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!". So based on these 2 verses what is peace and how do we not just "have" it, but LIVE in it? By fixing our thoughts on God, by staying thankful for what He has already provided, and by not allowing things to make us anxious because we know that not only can we make our requests known to Him, but we can TRUST Him. That is the God we serve, that is the peace He wants us to live in, and that is not a human plan to obtain it...it's God's plan. Who better would know how to keep a human mind and emotions in a state of peace than the One who created us? You can read all the self help books you want. You can try all the latest gimmicks to keep yourself in a state of peace....and you can become exhausted trying it without God. But if you really want to feel rest and feel peace, than you need to crawl up into the lap of your Heavenly Father and lay down your anxiety, make known your needs, wants, desires, problems, issues, stressful situations and heavy loads....then fully trust Him to guide you and direct you down a path of least resistance as you learn to surrender these things to Him.
God does not want us to live in a stress filled, defeated feeling life. How can we enjoy our time with Him if this is how we walk around feeling? He desires for every moment we spend with Him to be intimate, deep and peaceful. It's the very reason He literally invites us to cast our cares on Him. (1 Peter 5:7) He knows when we can come to Him and cast down all the things this world is trying to load us down with, then we can enjoy His presence. And when we can enjoy His presence in our secret time with Him, we will find out that it won't just stay in the secret place. Exodus 33:14 is a promise from God that says "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest". So even as we walk around in this sin filled, problem filled, world, we can do it in a state of peace and rest.
I found this peace and rest at the age of 40. I walked around "knowing" Jesus all my life, but waited until the age of 40 to learn how to fully trust on, rely on and find peace in God. Do I still face problems in my life, absolutely. But the difference now is that I KNOW I don't have to face them alone. I also don't try to tackle them on my own, and I don't move without His instructions. I spend time with Him when I face something and He ALWAYS gives me wisdom, love and answers...and I give Him my trust. And that is how He gives me peace. I will trade the stress, worries, problems and sins of this world for His peace any day. And 2 years ago when I fully did that my life was never the same again. I invite you to fully experience ALL that God has for you by allowing Philippians 4:6 and Isaiah 26:3 to become a way of life for you.
God, thank You for taking care of my past, my present and my future. I pray today that people will learn to trust You fully and find peace and rest in You. Help those that are tormented by the enemy to trade in his ways for Your ways and let others witness the transformation that You can make in our lives and desire what You have waiting for them. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
What Drives You?
When you were coming to work today, or the last time you were in a car, did you go by the speed limit? If you did, what made you do that? I think there really are 3 kinds of people in this world. There are those that do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. Then there are those who do the right thing out of fear of being caught if they did the wrong thing. And last, there are those that know there is a chance they may get caught, but they are still going to do the wrong thing any chance they get. So that was my reason for asking about abiding by the speed limit. Was it because the sign (the law) says to go a certain speed, or was it because you know there could be a law enforcement officer around any corner, and you don't want the consequences of going against the law? Sadly enough there a lot of people who have the 2nd mindset. And so today if that might be you, then I want to challenge you to search your heart and get honest with yourself about "what drives you"?
A lot of people don't think about what drives them, and their defense on a topic like this would be, "what does it matter as long as I'm doing the right thing?". So I want to take a moment to explain why that matters. See this blog isn't about temptation as much as it is about what protects you when you are tempted? The bible tells us we ARE going to be tempted....so how will you handle it? Is your desire to please God what drives you to fight back temptation, or is it your fear of getting caught? The enemy has a hard time "breaking" a person whose desire is to please God, but if he knows that your only fear is getting caught, then he will eventually get you to get past that fear and take a risk. A risk not worth taking. We HAVE TO place our focus on Christ! The world is full of distractions, and by the world, I mean the enemy that is in it. He wants to knock your focus off Jesus. He wants to get you to forget what drives you and get too busy to stay connected to God. He wants to put just enough in front of you that you will slip...and then slip a little more...and a little more. The slow progression is his specialty. But it is our job to use spiritual wisdom to recognize what he is up to and call it out. Rebuke his plans in Jesus's name and get away from the temptation or the mindset that he is trying to get you to fall into. The mindset that "it's ok", and "you deserve this", and "it's not that wrong", and his personal best..."don't worry, you won't get caught". ALL LIES!
I hear a lot of people claim that the bible is nothing but a book of rules, or do's and don'ts. However, it is those same people who fail to realize that when you get behind the wheel of a car, you are confined to a "bunch of rules...a bunch of do's and don'ts". Do they let that stop them from driving, I highly doubt it. The rules you need to follow when driving are put there to keep you and others around you safe. They are restrictions that need to be there so you don't go out of control and hurt yourself and others. And hardly anyone would argue that. However, we have a God that loves us so much that He gave us a book of instructions (not rules). And in it He has laid how much He loves us, how much He is there for us, and how much He does not want to us to do things that will hurt ourselves and others around us. Not just in the now, but for all eternity. So our choices to "do the right thing" should truly be motivated by loving Him back. If He loved and cared for us enough to give us these instructions, then isn't the least we could do is study them, place them in our heart, and do the right thing for the right reason?
I don't know what you face, I only know what I have faced in my own life. And I have faced temptation, broken relationships, pain, hurting others and the worst of all, hurting God. And I can tell you that the ONLY reason my life went in those directions is because I bought into the lies of satan. I did not let my desire to please God drive me, I let my desire to please myself and feed my desires drive me. And I paid dearly for those decisions. BUT, thank God that is NOT the end of my story. I serve a God who is gracious and loving. I serve a God that gives 2nd chances and longs to restore you. I serve a God who wants to help me do it right...and reap the benefits of that. And when you switch your desires to pleasing Him, you open doors of blessings and favor that can't even be explained. But most of all, you defeat the enemy on a daily basis...and remove ANY power he had over your life.
God, thank You that You are a God of redemption. Thank You for not giving up on us. I pray today that people will search their heart on what drives them, and turn to You. Holy Spirit help us defeat the enemy before he even can take one step into our lives...and help us do that by living a life that pleases God. In Jesus name, Amen.
A lot of people don't think about what drives them, and their defense on a topic like this would be, "what does it matter as long as I'm doing the right thing?". So I want to take a moment to explain why that matters. See this blog isn't about temptation as much as it is about what protects you when you are tempted? The bible tells us we ARE going to be tempted....so how will you handle it? Is your desire to please God what drives you to fight back temptation, or is it your fear of getting caught? The enemy has a hard time "breaking" a person whose desire is to please God, but if he knows that your only fear is getting caught, then he will eventually get you to get past that fear and take a risk. A risk not worth taking. We HAVE TO place our focus on Christ! The world is full of distractions, and by the world, I mean the enemy that is in it. He wants to knock your focus off Jesus. He wants to get you to forget what drives you and get too busy to stay connected to God. He wants to put just enough in front of you that you will slip...and then slip a little more...and a little more. The slow progression is his specialty. But it is our job to use spiritual wisdom to recognize what he is up to and call it out. Rebuke his plans in Jesus's name and get away from the temptation or the mindset that he is trying to get you to fall into. The mindset that "it's ok", and "you deserve this", and "it's not that wrong", and his personal best..."don't worry, you won't get caught". ALL LIES!
I hear a lot of people claim that the bible is nothing but a book of rules, or do's and don'ts. However, it is those same people who fail to realize that when you get behind the wheel of a car, you are confined to a "bunch of rules...a bunch of do's and don'ts". Do they let that stop them from driving, I highly doubt it. The rules you need to follow when driving are put there to keep you and others around you safe. They are restrictions that need to be there so you don't go out of control and hurt yourself and others. And hardly anyone would argue that. However, we have a God that loves us so much that He gave us a book of instructions (not rules). And in it He has laid how much He loves us, how much He is there for us, and how much He does not want to us to do things that will hurt ourselves and others around us. Not just in the now, but for all eternity. So our choices to "do the right thing" should truly be motivated by loving Him back. If He loved and cared for us enough to give us these instructions, then isn't the least we could do is study them, place them in our heart, and do the right thing for the right reason?
I don't know what you face, I only know what I have faced in my own life. And I have faced temptation, broken relationships, pain, hurting others and the worst of all, hurting God. And I can tell you that the ONLY reason my life went in those directions is because I bought into the lies of satan. I did not let my desire to please God drive me, I let my desire to please myself and feed my desires drive me. And I paid dearly for those decisions. BUT, thank God that is NOT the end of my story. I serve a God who is gracious and loving. I serve a God that gives 2nd chances and longs to restore you. I serve a God who wants to help me do it right...and reap the benefits of that. And when you switch your desires to pleasing Him, you open doors of blessings and favor that can't even be explained. But most of all, you defeat the enemy on a daily basis...and remove ANY power he had over your life.
God, thank You that You are a God of redemption. Thank You for not giving up on us. I pray today that people will search their heart on what drives them, and turn to You. Holy Spirit help us defeat the enemy before he even can take one step into our lives...and help us do that by living a life that pleases God. In Jesus name, Amen.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Don't Allow Sin To Bury You!
John 10:10...."The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly". What will it take for the world to ever understand the seriousness of this verse? Why and how can we become so blind to the plans of the enemy? Desensitization, that's how! What do I mean by that? SIN! The enemy has a plan and he hopes with all the evil that is in him that you don't see it. He hopes to distract you with temptation, fun, sin, gluttony, selfishness, lies, and anything and everything this world has to offer you. Which in the end is emptiness. This world has nothing to offer, and the enemy is a liar, but people keep falling for it. And the number one reason they do is because they learn how to tune out the voice of the Holy Spirit.
My pastor spoke about 2 things in his message last Sunday that I want to touch on. One was the non-believer, and two was the unbeliever. He talked about how Jesus rebuked the unbeliever so often in the bible, but not the non-believer. What is the difference? The non-believer is someone who has never accepted Jesus. They are the ones we would say are "lost". They have not discovered and accepted the beautiful gift of Jesus Christ, and the cleansing power of forgiveness, grace and mercy. So until they do, they don't know what they are missing. It is sad how many people walk around as a non-believer. But then there is the unbeliever. Who is this? This is the person who did discover Jesus. They did accept His gift of eternal life and they do know Him, but then they choose to stop believing. Oh they may not stop believing in Jesus himself, but they may stop believing in some of His principles. They may choose to stop believing in the "some" of the words of the Bible. They may stop believing that the Holy Spirit is sent to guide them and they may choose to guide themselves. And why did Jesus rebuke them, because they know better. They have "tasted and seen", and they have turned their backs on God's truth. These people may still attend church, they may still call themselves Christians, and they may even still serve. But what they won't want is for Psalm 139:23 to be real. They will not want God to search their heart because they know He will find sin and a desire for sin. And He will find that the sin they desire has been exalted above Him. The most dangerous place for sin to be. We all sin....every single day. But it is when we choose to sin and keep that sin in our life that we exalt it above God. And I don't care what excuse you say, that is the truth. God hates evil (Psalm 97:10) and sin is evil. We know sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2), so if we choose to keep a sin in our life, then we are choosing to separate ourselves from God. There is no other way to put it. It is a black and white issue, not grey. And how can I speak so boldly about this issue? Because I chose sin in my life at one time, while I said I was a Christian. I made that horrible decision to separate myself from God and I allowed the enemy to not only have a place in my life, but to wreak havoc on my life. And it was not until I got right with God and gave Him full access to cleanse my heart of sin, guilt and shame that I was able to experience His fullness again, or maybe even for the first time ever.
But this is my word to "Christians" who are choosing to live in sin....you have no idea how much the enemy is shutting you up because of your own sin. It is the plan of the enemy to allow Christians to bury themselves in sin so deeply that they will NOT be able to speak out to others about their sin. And that is what I see every day. People being so passive about sin, and the truth of sin and death and hell, because they know the sin they have in their own life. Wake up Christians!! Stop playing in sin and repent and ask God to forgive you not only for your sin, but for falling into the trap of the enemy so he could shut you up. People need to know the truth and God needs truth tellers. NOT HATERS, truth tellers. But until you let Him search your heart, get honest with you, and change you, the enemy will always have his foot on your neck shutting you up when the truth needs to be spoken. I know, I've been there. And that is why I pray fiercely about this issue. If you have fully surrendered and chosen God over sin, then you to have defeated the enemy! So please join in praying for the spiritual eyes and ears of God's people to be opened... and for obedient hearts to emerge!
God, thank You for Your life changing power. I plead with You today to step in and interrupt intentional sin that is going on in the lives of YOUR people. Show them the destruction of it and how much it is desensitizing them to the sin all around them. Then change them from quiet, shameful people, to mighty warriors of truth.....IN LOVE!! In Jesus name, Amen
My pastor spoke about 2 things in his message last Sunday that I want to touch on. One was the non-believer, and two was the unbeliever. He talked about how Jesus rebuked the unbeliever so often in the bible, but not the non-believer. What is the difference? The non-believer is someone who has never accepted Jesus. They are the ones we would say are "lost". They have not discovered and accepted the beautiful gift of Jesus Christ, and the cleansing power of forgiveness, grace and mercy. So until they do, they don't know what they are missing. It is sad how many people walk around as a non-believer. But then there is the unbeliever. Who is this? This is the person who did discover Jesus. They did accept His gift of eternal life and they do know Him, but then they choose to stop believing. Oh they may not stop believing in Jesus himself, but they may stop believing in some of His principles. They may choose to stop believing in the "some" of the words of the Bible. They may stop believing that the Holy Spirit is sent to guide them and they may choose to guide themselves. And why did Jesus rebuke them, because they know better. They have "tasted and seen", and they have turned their backs on God's truth. These people may still attend church, they may still call themselves Christians, and they may even still serve. But what they won't want is for Psalm 139:23 to be real. They will not want God to search their heart because they know He will find sin and a desire for sin. And He will find that the sin they desire has been exalted above Him. The most dangerous place for sin to be. We all sin....every single day. But it is when we choose to sin and keep that sin in our life that we exalt it above God. And I don't care what excuse you say, that is the truth. God hates evil (Psalm 97:10) and sin is evil. We know sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2), so if we choose to keep a sin in our life, then we are choosing to separate ourselves from God. There is no other way to put it. It is a black and white issue, not grey. And how can I speak so boldly about this issue? Because I chose sin in my life at one time, while I said I was a Christian. I made that horrible decision to separate myself from God and I allowed the enemy to not only have a place in my life, but to wreak havoc on my life. And it was not until I got right with God and gave Him full access to cleanse my heart of sin, guilt and shame that I was able to experience His fullness again, or maybe even for the first time ever.
But this is my word to "Christians" who are choosing to live in sin....you have no idea how much the enemy is shutting you up because of your own sin. It is the plan of the enemy to allow Christians to bury themselves in sin so deeply that they will NOT be able to speak out to others about their sin. And that is what I see every day. People being so passive about sin, and the truth of sin and death and hell, because they know the sin they have in their own life. Wake up Christians!! Stop playing in sin and repent and ask God to forgive you not only for your sin, but for falling into the trap of the enemy so he could shut you up. People need to know the truth and God needs truth tellers. NOT HATERS, truth tellers. But until you let Him search your heart, get honest with you, and change you, the enemy will always have his foot on your neck shutting you up when the truth needs to be spoken. I know, I've been there. And that is why I pray fiercely about this issue. If you have fully surrendered and chosen God over sin, then you to have defeated the enemy! So please join in praying for the spiritual eyes and ears of God's people to be opened... and for obedient hearts to emerge!
God, thank You for Your life changing power. I plead with You today to step in and interrupt intentional sin that is going on in the lives of YOUR people. Show them the destruction of it and how much it is desensitizing them to the sin all around them. Then change them from quiet, shameful people, to mighty warriors of truth.....IN LOVE!! In Jesus name, Amen
Monday, January 11, 2016
Ready, Set, Grow....
I once heard it said that in many things in life you are either moving forward or falling behind, there is no such thing as "standing still". If you think about that it is very true. I mean, in a race you do not have to start moving backwards to lose the race, you just have to stop progressing forward. Well, I believe this is what God wants from us too. He does not want us to reach a point with Him where we become complacent and stop trying to grow in and through Him, or even grow closer to Him.
What you receive when you come to Jesus is a new identity, an authority in the name of Jesus to overcome satan, and a place with God in Heaven...but this is not where things should stop for you. Coming to Jesus lays the foundation for the growth that can and will come to you for all the rest of your days on this earth. In one aspect it is very much like going through school. When you started the first grade you didn't know nearly as much as you did when you graduated high school. It was a yearly progression of getting smarter and smarter. Why, because you kept learning and applying what you learned. Each year you were taught something a little harder than the year before, and when you graduated high school the things you learned in the 1st grade should have seem so basic. Your walk with Jesus should be very similar, only not just in knowledge. Your knowledge of Him, your faith in Him, your walk with Him and your witness for Him....all of these things should move to a new level the longer you walk with Jesus. Many things will grow this in you too. Some of this will come through trials you walk through, some will come through blessings you receive and some will come through being stretched by God. But the point of it all is to take you to a new level with Him. I've said this many times before, but just because God meets us where we are, does not mean He wants to leave us where we are. He knows how much better our lives will get as we continually grow and draw closer to Him. The funny thing about that type of growth is that it really means we become weaker so He can become stronger in us. We also recognize the weakness in our "flesh" and rely on His strength to get us through. Which is the opposite of the world's views. The world tells us to toughen up, get stronger and tackle things on our own. Overcoming something because Jesus got you through it gives you a story to share with others. A story of hope, a story of victory and a story of God's promise not just to you, but to anyone who wants to receive Him and rely on Him. But when you do something on your own, you get to tell others about what you did and pat yourself on the back for it. But you have nothing to offer them. Sure you can say "well this is how I did it", but that does not mean the next person can do what you did...or that they even should. But when you can tell someone this is what God did for me and Him promise is that He can and will do it for you too, well now you have given something real to someone. And now they can experience God on their own too.
1 Timothy 4:15 says "Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress". What are "these things" that it is talking about? It's the learning and applying of God's ways. Learning and teaching through the scriptures, receiving the gifts God has for you, and "setting an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity". These are things that will grow you, but they are also things that will allow others to see growth in you. Not a growth you have to go around and tell others about, but one that will make them wonder what has changed you, and want to experience it for themselves. When we grow because of our relationship with Jesus then He is the one that should always get all the credit. And when we can point others to Him, then we have helped grow the kingdom. And that is when the personal things that we have experienced become about others, and not just you.
So as you enter into this new year, try not to be complacent with where God has you, but instead run your race to the best of your God given ability. And start each new day with the words "ready, set, grow..." as you enter into your time with God.
God, thank You that it is Your desire to grow us. Thank You that through that growth other will see You in us and it allows our lives to point others to You. Please Holy Spirit help us to desire growth with and in God as much as we desire the air we breath. Help us to chase after You with all of our heart and never be "satisfied" with where we are because we know with You there is always more. In Jesus name, Amen.
What you receive when you come to Jesus is a new identity, an authority in the name of Jesus to overcome satan, and a place with God in Heaven...but this is not where things should stop for you. Coming to Jesus lays the foundation for the growth that can and will come to you for all the rest of your days on this earth. In one aspect it is very much like going through school. When you started the first grade you didn't know nearly as much as you did when you graduated high school. It was a yearly progression of getting smarter and smarter. Why, because you kept learning and applying what you learned. Each year you were taught something a little harder than the year before, and when you graduated high school the things you learned in the 1st grade should have seem so basic. Your walk with Jesus should be very similar, only not just in knowledge. Your knowledge of Him, your faith in Him, your walk with Him and your witness for Him....all of these things should move to a new level the longer you walk with Jesus. Many things will grow this in you too. Some of this will come through trials you walk through, some will come through blessings you receive and some will come through being stretched by God. But the point of it all is to take you to a new level with Him. I've said this many times before, but just because God meets us where we are, does not mean He wants to leave us where we are. He knows how much better our lives will get as we continually grow and draw closer to Him. The funny thing about that type of growth is that it really means we become weaker so He can become stronger in us. We also recognize the weakness in our "flesh" and rely on His strength to get us through. Which is the opposite of the world's views. The world tells us to toughen up, get stronger and tackle things on our own. Overcoming something because Jesus got you through it gives you a story to share with others. A story of hope, a story of victory and a story of God's promise not just to you, but to anyone who wants to receive Him and rely on Him. But when you do something on your own, you get to tell others about what you did and pat yourself on the back for it. But you have nothing to offer them. Sure you can say "well this is how I did it", but that does not mean the next person can do what you did...or that they even should. But when you can tell someone this is what God did for me and Him promise is that He can and will do it for you too, well now you have given something real to someone. And now they can experience God on their own too.
1 Timothy 4:15 says "Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress". What are "these things" that it is talking about? It's the learning and applying of God's ways. Learning and teaching through the scriptures, receiving the gifts God has for you, and "setting an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity". These are things that will grow you, but they are also things that will allow others to see growth in you. Not a growth you have to go around and tell others about, but one that will make them wonder what has changed you, and want to experience it for themselves. When we grow because of our relationship with Jesus then He is the one that should always get all the credit. And when we can point others to Him, then we have helped grow the kingdom. And that is when the personal things that we have experienced become about others, and not just you.
So as you enter into this new year, try not to be complacent with where God has you, but instead run your race to the best of your God given ability. And start each new day with the words "ready, set, grow..." as you enter into your time with God.
God, thank You that it is Your desire to grow us. Thank You that through that growth other will see You in us and it allows our lives to point others to You. Please Holy Spirit help us to desire growth with and in God as much as we desire the air we breath. Help us to chase after You with all of our heart and never be "satisfied" with where we are because we know with You there is always more. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
A Dark Past, But A Bright Future
I've alway found it interesting that Luke 4:24 tells us how Jesus said "no prophet is accepted in his own country (or hometown)". And until I truly got serious about my relationship with Jesus that verse simply meant to me that people from Jesus' hometown didn't take Him serious, they didn't truly believe He was who He said He was. But then once I really turned my life around and started not just following Jesus, but really chasing after Him, that verse had a whole new meaning.
Never be worried about what people who know your past will think of you once you come to Jesus. Just let them know He is the reason you have changed, and that is the reason the change is real. Don't ever let other people's doubt or negative comments affect who you are in Christ. If you have a rough past, then it's more than likely that some people will doubt you. But it's also more than likely that those are going to be people who have never really experienced the life changing power of Jesus in their own life. It is not up to you to prove yourself to them. As long as you are proving to God how serious you are about your relationship with Him then your newly formed character and the changes God is making on the inside of you will speak for itself. Sometimes the enemy will place self condemnation on you and make you feel like you have "prove" you are different. Don't fall in that trap. Yes, part of the process for you may be going and apologizing to some people you have hurt along the way, but a heartfelt apology and proving yourself are two different things. Just be obedient to God when He calls you to something, and walk out the path He is laying before you. Don't let words of hate, words or doubt or even words of condemnation from your past stop you. Those are all things from the enemy sent to trip you up. Focus on Him and do ONLY what you can do, then let God do the rest. It is a part of the building of faith and trust in Him. He will always look at what is going on on the inside of you, and as you let Him change that part of you, then what you do on the outside will naturally change too. In 1 Samuel 16:7 God told Samuel, "...For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart".
Remember, He does not expect perfection, but He does expect commitment. You have now entered into a relationship with Him, so make it a monogamous one! If you try to serve the world while you're serving Him then it will not work. This is where many people fail. They want to hang on to parts of their past while attempting to serve Him. In Revelation 3:16 this is what God is referring to as "lukewarm", and He makes it very clear how displeased He is with that. Let those who are watching you change see you step completely out of your past. Leave it where it belongs...behind you! Step into what God has for you and allow your life to be a living testimony to those around you. You never know, some of those doubting people may be some of the same people who either come to know Jesus, or get more serious about their relationship with Him because of the changes they have seen in you. God can always use your messed up past, and the changes He is doing in you, to get people to turn to Him. Keep your focus on Him, live a life that is pleasing in His eyes, and leave the rest up to Him. He is a good good Father, and He is always with you!
We will never be ridiculed as much as Jesus was, and we will never have to endure what Jesus endured. So when it gets hard, and sometimes it will, just remember that Jesus came as a man so He would understand what we go through. He did that so we would always be able to say, "If He could do what He did, then I can get through this".
God, thank You for Your life changing power and Your life changing plans. Help those that come from a rough past, as they turn their life around. Send people into their life to encourage them and lift them up so that the positive voices they hear are always louder than the negative ones. Bring them peace and help them trust in You as You transform the inside of them, and that transforms the outside of them. And as always, help it lead even more people to You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Never be worried about what people who know your past will think of you once you come to Jesus. Just let them know He is the reason you have changed, and that is the reason the change is real. Don't ever let other people's doubt or negative comments affect who you are in Christ. If you have a rough past, then it's more than likely that some people will doubt you. But it's also more than likely that those are going to be people who have never really experienced the life changing power of Jesus in their own life. It is not up to you to prove yourself to them. As long as you are proving to God how serious you are about your relationship with Him then your newly formed character and the changes God is making on the inside of you will speak for itself. Sometimes the enemy will place self condemnation on you and make you feel like you have "prove" you are different. Don't fall in that trap. Yes, part of the process for you may be going and apologizing to some people you have hurt along the way, but a heartfelt apology and proving yourself are two different things. Just be obedient to God when He calls you to something, and walk out the path He is laying before you. Don't let words of hate, words or doubt or even words of condemnation from your past stop you. Those are all things from the enemy sent to trip you up. Focus on Him and do ONLY what you can do, then let God do the rest. It is a part of the building of faith and trust in Him. He will always look at what is going on on the inside of you, and as you let Him change that part of you, then what you do on the outside will naturally change too. In 1 Samuel 16:7 God told Samuel, "...For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart".
Remember, He does not expect perfection, but He does expect commitment. You have now entered into a relationship with Him, so make it a monogamous one! If you try to serve the world while you're serving Him then it will not work. This is where many people fail. They want to hang on to parts of their past while attempting to serve Him. In Revelation 3:16 this is what God is referring to as "lukewarm", and He makes it very clear how displeased He is with that. Let those who are watching you change see you step completely out of your past. Leave it where it belongs...behind you! Step into what God has for you and allow your life to be a living testimony to those around you. You never know, some of those doubting people may be some of the same people who either come to know Jesus, or get more serious about their relationship with Him because of the changes they have seen in you. God can always use your messed up past, and the changes He is doing in you, to get people to turn to Him. Keep your focus on Him, live a life that is pleasing in His eyes, and leave the rest up to Him. He is a good good Father, and He is always with you!
We will never be ridiculed as much as Jesus was, and we will never have to endure what Jesus endured. So when it gets hard, and sometimes it will, just remember that Jesus came as a man so He would understand what we go through. He did that so we would always be able to say, "If He could do what He did, then I can get through this".
God, thank You for Your life changing power and Your life changing plans. Help those that come from a rough past, as they turn their life around. Send people into their life to encourage them and lift them up so that the positive voices they hear are always louder than the negative ones. Bring them peace and help them trust in You as You transform the inside of them, and that transforms the outside of them. And as always, help it lead even more people to You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
A Prayer For The Hurting...
Father, first off I want to thank You for the goodness that is around us. Never do I want to address You in a prayer, even when it is about the darkness we can see, and not thank You for Your goodness that we know is around us. If it were not for Your goodness then this place we live in, this corrupt world, would be absolute chaos. So even when it looks like things are out of control, I thank You that You are still in charge.
Father, I want to especially lift up hurting people today. God please help those that are experiencing pain they could never possibly expect...whether it be due to loss, due to a change in circumstances, or due to the evil of this world personally affecting their life. God you have seen the events that have hit our town in the past 24 hours and my heart hurts for the people who have been affected by this. But God it also brings me back to the reality that this type of thing happens to people every day, but when it's on the other side of the country or the world it doesn't feel as real, but it is. And I'm sorry that it had to hit so close to home for my heart to hurt this bad for the families and friends involved. Please God send down Your peace, Your compassion, Your love and only the comfort that You can bring people in times like this. Father I know You personally, and I know what it feels like to feel Your love when I'm hurting....so I'm asking You to please love and comfort those that are hurting today. Please do it through Your people by having us reach out and show Your love, and please do it in the supernatural way that only You can do. Please allow them to feel Your presence in their life. Let them know that You are there. Please don't allow these horrible things that have happened to create even more anger and more hate. I pray people will turn to You for comfort even when answers don't seem to be there.
And God I lift up those that being attacked by the enemy so badly that doing evil things seems to be the only way out. I lift up those that are tormented and I curse the demonic attacks against them in the name of Jesus. I pray that the voices that speak lies into their minds would be quieted in the name of Jesus, and I pray that light would pierce through the darkness they are in BEFORE they do something they will regret. God, help those that are mentally unstable and allow them to find the healing and relief that comes from knowing You. Heal their minds and their hearts before the hurt that is in them causes them to want to hurt someone else. And let their miraculous story of healing be a hope to others that are being tormented....letting them know that there IS hope in You God.
I thank You for the people You send to those that are hurting in hard times, and I pray today that Your people will be Your hands and feet as we do for those that are in need. May we love like You, forgive like You, show grace and mercy like You...and turn to You for strength.
I pray all these things in complete trust and absolute love. In Jesus name, Amen
Father, I want to especially lift up hurting people today. God please help those that are experiencing pain they could never possibly expect...whether it be due to loss, due to a change in circumstances, or due to the evil of this world personally affecting their life. God you have seen the events that have hit our town in the past 24 hours and my heart hurts for the people who have been affected by this. But God it also brings me back to the reality that this type of thing happens to people every day, but when it's on the other side of the country or the world it doesn't feel as real, but it is. And I'm sorry that it had to hit so close to home for my heart to hurt this bad for the families and friends involved. Please God send down Your peace, Your compassion, Your love and only the comfort that You can bring people in times like this. Father I know You personally, and I know what it feels like to feel Your love when I'm hurting....so I'm asking You to please love and comfort those that are hurting today. Please do it through Your people by having us reach out and show Your love, and please do it in the supernatural way that only You can do. Please allow them to feel Your presence in their life. Let them know that You are there. Please don't allow these horrible things that have happened to create even more anger and more hate. I pray people will turn to You for comfort even when answers don't seem to be there.
And God I lift up those that being attacked by the enemy so badly that doing evil things seems to be the only way out. I lift up those that are tormented and I curse the demonic attacks against them in the name of Jesus. I pray that the voices that speak lies into their minds would be quieted in the name of Jesus, and I pray that light would pierce through the darkness they are in BEFORE they do something they will regret. God, help those that are mentally unstable and allow them to find the healing and relief that comes from knowing You. Heal their minds and their hearts before the hurt that is in them causes them to want to hurt someone else. And let their miraculous story of healing be a hope to others that are being tormented....letting them know that there IS hope in You God.
I thank You for the people You send to those that are hurting in hard times, and I pray today that Your people will be Your hands and feet as we do for those that are in need. May we love like You, forgive like You, show grace and mercy like You...and turn to You for strength.
I pray all these things in complete trust and absolute love. In Jesus name, Amen
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Carriers....Not Storehouses
There are so many things that God offers to us, and when we allow ourselves to receive them it truly is life changing. The greatest of all is His love, but beyond that He also offers His forgiveness, His grace and His mercy...and these are the very things that set Christ followers apart in a world full of "religions". There is nothing like experiencing the love of God. Words can't explain that moment when you first come to grips with Him loving you enough to send His own Son to be punished and die for your sins. Then, through that gift, you get to experience His forgiveness. (John 3:16-21) A feeling that is honestly hard to explain until you have felt it. It's realizing that I have spent years of my life hurting Him, and in a moment He is ready for me to turn my heart over to Him and accept His forgiveness. And then comes His grace and mercy that is new for us every day. (Lamentations 3:22-23) It is THE hope that God is there for me all the time, not just when I'm having a "good day". He loves me enough to show me grace when I need it and give me mercy when I don't deserve it. It is the definition of unfailing and unconditional love.
But the one thing I used to be very bad about, and I have noticed a lot of other Christians can be too, is that we become "storehouses" of these things once we receive them from Jesus....but we shouldn't be. We were never intended to receive all these amazing gifts from God and then just to sit on them. We are called to be carriers of these things and to hand them out to others as freely as God hands them out to us. If we really are a representation of God's light to the world, then we have to love, forgive, and show grace and mercy to others as He does to us. And when we do begin to live in this "attitude" toward others, then it will also keep us humble. It can be quite easy to become puffed up and prideful when we walk in God's forgiveness but forget that we are called to offer that same forgiveness to others. 1 Peter 4:10 says "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God". And Colossians 4:6 tells us to "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one". In fact, there are many scriptures that cover this topic, pointing out the importance of us offering forgiveness, grace and mercy to others. Do you think maybe God covered this so well in His Word because He knew as humans this would be an area we could really find ourselves struggling in? I think so. It can be quite easy to allow a spirit of offense to come over us and forget that the very thing we ask God for daily, we don't want to offer up to someone else. It's the very thing that causes us to build up walls, become bitter, walk around hurt and open doors up for the enemy to move into our life. But it doesn't have to be. In our own strength we can struggle bad in these areas, but when we allow Him to flow through us, and surrender that spirit of offense over to Him, we can be distributors of all the things we need from Him daily.
I know the joy that God can bring into my life when I decide to give out as much grace and mercy as I need from Him. It really is a choice too. Only you can decide to give it, or hold it in. But as for me, I would rather be a carrier than a storehouse. I am completely undeserving of the love, forgiveness, grace and mercy He has shown me....and even more undeserving of the blessings and favor He has shown me, so why wouldn't I want to demonstrate Him to others in this same way. Without Him I am nothing, and due to my ugly past I can tell you that I would be on my way to hell if it wasn't for Him. I have no right to hold things over someone else's head that they have done when He isn't holding the things I've done over my head.
God, I can't thank You enough for the undeserving, unending love, grace and mercy You have shown me. Please help me be as much like You as I can be in this area of my life. I want to distribute the same love, grace and mercy to others that You allow me to receive from You. And I want represent You well in this area of my life so others will see the difference You can make. Help me not make it about me, but always point others to You! In Jesus name, Amen.
But the one thing I used to be very bad about, and I have noticed a lot of other Christians can be too, is that we become "storehouses" of these things once we receive them from Jesus....but we shouldn't be. We were never intended to receive all these amazing gifts from God and then just to sit on them. We are called to be carriers of these things and to hand them out to others as freely as God hands them out to us. If we really are a representation of God's light to the world, then we have to love, forgive, and show grace and mercy to others as He does to us. And when we do begin to live in this "attitude" toward others, then it will also keep us humble. It can be quite easy to become puffed up and prideful when we walk in God's forgiveness but forget that we are called to offer that same forgiveness to others. 1 Peter 4:10 says "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God". And Colossians 4:6 tells us to "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one". In fact, there are many scriptures that cover this topic, pointing out the importance of us offering forgiveness, grace and mercy to others. Do you think maybe God covered this so well in His Word because He knew as humans this would be an area we could really find ourselves struggling in? I think so. It can be quite easy to allow a spirit of offense to come over us and forget that the very thing we ask God for daily, we don't want to offer up to someone else. It's the very thing that causes us to build up walls, become bitter, walk around hurt and open doors up for the enemy to move into our life. But it doesn't have to be. In our own strength we can struggle bad in these areas, but when we allow Him to flow through us, and surrender that spirit of offense over to Him, we can be distributors of all the things we need from Him daily.
I know the joy that God can bring into my life when I decide to give out as much grace and mercy as I need from Him. It really is a choice too. Only you can decide to give it, or hold it in. But as for me, I would rather be a carrier than a storehouse. I am completely undeserving of the love, forgiveness, grace and mercy He has shown me....and even more undeserving of the blessings and favor He has shown me, so why wouldn't I want to demonstrate Him to others in this same way. Without Him I am nothing, and due to my ugly past I can tell you that I would be on my way to hell if it wasn't for Him. I have no right to hold things over someone else's head that they have done when He isn't holding the things I've done over my head.
God, I can't thank You enough for the undeserving, unending love, grace and mercy You have shown me. Please help me be as much like You as I can be in this area of my life. I want to distribute the same love, grace and mercy to others that You allow me to receive from You. And I want represent You well in this area of my life so others will see the difference You can make. Help me not make it about me, but always point others to You! In Jesus name, Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)