Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
If we fear death or redicule or even what others think of us because of our walk with Christ then we can not be disciples of Christ.
In order for us to truly walk with christ we must die to ourselves and what the world thinks of us. In doing this we obtain the freedom to speak what “Father” wants spoken. Many people miss what is said to them by the Holy Spirit because of the fear they carry of what others think of them. Some simply ignore what is being said while others openly and willingly disobey what they are told to do or speak. It is time we, as the body of Christ, begin to listen to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to us in this hour that we may obtain our freedom and become true disciples of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jn 15:18-19). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Fences to Freedom
Many of us grew up in households where we were told how worthless we are or how we would never amount to anything. In response to this we would build fences to protect ourselves from those who hurt us. Later in life as we meet new people and they, not knowing of our fences, cross those boundaries and hurt us. Again we build fences to protect ourselves. We keep building fences till one day no one can reach in to us because of all the wire and hurt we have.
C.S. Lewis talks of giving all of yourself to Christ in his book “Mere Christianity”. My question is how can we give all to Christ if we are hiding behind our fences? The answer is, it is not possible to give it all or in some cases even part of it to Him. Christ wants all we are and all we ever hope to become that He may make us into what He wanted us to be in the first place. In doing this He grants us true joy and peace in all we do and through all of life’s good and bad times. The only way we can obtain this is to begin to climb those fences and take a chance on our hearts running free and beginning to care once again about ourselves and people in more than a what can you do for me fashion. Once we climb those fences and get from behind them we can give all there is of ourselves to Christ and He will give all there is of Himself to us.
C.S. Lewis talks of giving all of yourself to Christ in his book “Mere Christianity”. My question is how can we give all to Christ if we are hiding behind our fences? The answer is, it is not possible to give it all or in some cases even part of it to Him. Christ wants all we are and all we ever hope to become that He may make us into what He wanted us to be in the first place. In doing this He grants us true joy and peace in all we do and through all of life’s good and bad times. The only way we can obtain this is to begin to climb those fences and take a chance on our hearts running free and beginning to care once again about ourselves and people in more than a what can you do for me fashion. Once we climb those fences and get from behind them we can give all there is of ourselves to Christ and He will give all there is of Himself to us.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Perfect love
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” Hester Prynne gave birth to a child of an adulterous situation. The child, Pearl, was born and was very healthy and beautiful as most babies are. Her mother dressed her in the finest clothes she could make. Hester, being a seamstress, made the clothes very well. The author goes on to say that there was no way for the baby to be pretty because it was born into a sinful situation and that nothing good could come out of a situation like that. In my own life I can attest to how God can take a sin filled life and transform it into something of beauty and joyful. How He takes a past of sin and wreckage and turns it into His glory.
There are many in churches today, like the crowd in the book, who throw words of stone that kill the spirit instead of words of love that heal. Sin should never be condoned in our churches, but it is our job and responsibility as Christians to love the back slider back into a healthy relationship with Christ and with the body. Scripture says that Satan is the accuser of the brothers. I suggest to you that when we begin to throw words of stone at those who are weak and back slidden we are being used to do Satan’s bidding not God’s. Personally, I think it is time we stop allowing Satan to use us the way we do and become the strong right arm of Christ we are called to be and learn to love people where they are and how they are, instead of expecting perfect actions from them while excusing our own inadequacies. Today we should make a vow before God to love sinners, be they back sliders or totally lost, with the same compassion that Christ does.
I pray one day we can become without spot and wrinkle and be blameless before God so the Son will return. Until that day let Jesus’ words ring true. John 8:7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
There are many in churches today, like the crowd in the book, who throw words of stone that kill the spirit instead of words of love that heal. Sin should never be condoned in our churches, but it is our job and responsibility as Christians to love the back slider back into a healthy relationship with Christ and with the body. Scripture says that Satan is the accuser of the brothers. I suggest to you that when we begin to throw words of stone at those who are weak and back slidden we are being used to do Satan’s bidding not God’s. Personally, I think it is time we stop allowing Satan to use us the way we do and become the strong right arm of Christ we are called to be and learn to love people where they are and how they are, instead of expecting perfect actions from them while excusing our own inadequacies. Today we should make a vow before God to love sinners, be they back sliders or totally lost, with the same compassion that Christ does.
I pray one day we can become without spot and wrinkle and be blameless before God so the Son will return. Until that day let Jesus’ words ring true. John 8:7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Living Transparent
In C.S. Lewis's "The Great Divorce" there are two kinds of people in the book. The people in hell are ghostly and have no substance. They tend to be unhappy and make excuses for not being happy instead of facing reality. The people who are in heaven are solid and filled with joy and compassion. They work hard to convince the ghostly people to stay in heaven and find the joy they seek. The solid people are naked and are perfectly happy being this way. This is a great analogy for how we as Christians should be during each and every day of our lives here on earth. I do not mean we should go without clothes, but we should live our lives as though we had nothing to hide. This is actually shown in scripture as well in the fact that Adam and Eve did not know they were naked until sin entered the world. Gen. 3: 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they ?knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves ??loin coverings[1]. Adam and Eve had nothing to hide from one another until they ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Then they hid themselves from God and from each other. If we live our lives completely open and transparent we obtain freedom. The simple fact that there is nothing anyone can hold against us since everyone knows it all anyway shows one of the many ways our honesty and transparency allows our freedom from bondage. James 5:16 Therefore, ?confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be ?healed. ?The effective ?prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.[2] If we are not transparent there is no way we will ever be obedient to this passage and in not being obedient to God's word in any part we lose part of the blessing it is to walk with Christ. By being transparent with each other we will know how better to pray for each other and in so doing we can obtain the promise of healing from this passage. Through this healing we find our hearts filled with the joy and love of Christ. Do not allow your blessing of this promise to be withheld because of your own pride or because you are afraid of allowing others to see the real you. Without the real you there is no transparency and without transparency there is no healing.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Laying Down Your Life
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
What does laying your life down really mean? Is it simply to physically die for someone? I think there is much more to it than that. I think it is more appropriate to say it means to lay down your pride and your reputation and everything you live for in order to help a friend. To me this is truly laying down your life. I wonder what this world would look like if all Gods children started living their lives from this perspective?
What does laying your life down really mean? Is it simply to physically die for someone? I think there is much more to it than that. I think it is more appropriate to say it means to lay down your pride and your reputation and everything you live for in order to help a friend. To me this is truly laying down your life. I wonder what this world would look like if all Gods children started living their lives from this perspective?
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Guardians of Truth
I wonder what the difference would be if we as Gods kids started seeing ourselves as guardians of Gods word? While guarding it finding out what it says for our lives, instead of trying to find out from a selfish stance what Gods word says for me? I think we should begin to look at Gods word as the true gift it is and begin to accept the fact that God has called His people to be guardians of truth, which is His word, instead of always asking what’s in it for me. We can guard the word by allowing the Spirit of God to write it on the tablets of our hearts as He explains it to us. And then repeating it as the Holy Spirit shows us not as our lmited minds can comprehend.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Too Many Minds
In the movie “The Last Samurai” Tom Cruise is being taught how to fight with a sword and he is told he has too many minds. He is thinking of the sword and the people watching him and of the enemy. He is instructed to only have one mind.
I wonder how many Christians need to heed this same advice when it comes to Christ. We tend to try to pray and worry over money. We attend church thinking of what’s for lunch. We read our bibles and think about work or our spouse and any other number of things. God wants us to have but one mind. The mind of Christ that is stayed upon Him in all things Spiritual as well as material and emotional. Be one minded in your pursuit of God and find the peace and the tranquility that your heart desires.
1Co 2:16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
I wonder how many Christians need to heed this same advice when it comes to Christ. We tend to try to pray and worry over money. We attend church thinking of what’s for lunch. We read our bibles and think about work or our spouse and any other number of things. God wants us to have but one mind. The mind of Christ that is stayed upon Him in all things Spiritual as well as material and emotional. Be one minded in your pursuit of God and find the peace and the tranquility that your heart desires.
1Co 2:16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Jesus The Lion
Jesus The Lion
In this writing I am going to attempt to show the many faces of Jesus but mostly focus on the lion part as described above. To many people today try to portray Christ as a feminine man in many aspects but I am here to show how Jesus was very much a mans man and we need to quit trying to feminize Him.
Many times I hear Jesus portrayed as a meek and humble man, which He was. We know He was loving and caring to the sick and spoke profoundly about taking care of the widows and orphans. But, what about the rest of what scripture says about Jesus? Does it not call Him a lion? Does scripture tell us that he ran people our of the temple
Mat 21:12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
I would dare say this is not the actions of a man who is purely meek and mild but is more like a lion with the fierceness it would take to run that many people out of the temple. Webster’s says this about lions,
Lion
LI'ON, n. [L. leo, leonis, Gr.]
1. A quadruped of the genus Felis, very strong, fierce and rapacious. The largest lions are eight or nine feet in length. The male has a thick head, beset with long bushy hair of a yellowish color. The lion is a native of Africa and the warm climates of Asia. His aspect is noble, his gait stately, and his roar tremendous.
Rev 5:5 and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."
Hos 5:14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away, and there will be none to deliver.
I really like the last line of the description of a lion as, to me, it perfectly describes Christ in all He did here, “His aspect is noble, his gait stately, and his roar tremendous.” Jesus was not a man that just walked around and worried over hurting peoples feelings, he was a man that spoke truth at all times and let the Holy Spirit’s conviction deal with each person. This is shown very clearly in Matthew 19:16 – 22. This is the story of the man that came to Christ and ask how he could earn his way to eternal life and Jesus told him to sell everything he owned give it to the poor and come follow me, but the man could not do that because of his love of his possessions. I dare to say this man got his feelings hurt and was very disappointed in the fact he could not earn his way to heaven.
Or maybe a better example of someone getting their feelings hurt would be Peter in Mat 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." Now I dare to say that Peter did not enjoy this statement at all and was probably embarrassed as all the disciples where present and most probably heard Jesus tell him this. And it would be a safe bet that Peter’s feelings where hurt in a big way over this.
Now having shown where Jesus was very much a lion in His walk on earth I want to make it clear that Jesus did everything in love and was not out to make people stumble with the harsh words He did use time to time. His goal, as always, is to get people to open their eyes to the truth of what is and to follow Him in truth instead of in their own perceptions and knowledge. He came that all may know the “Father” and have eternal life as stated in John 3:16 – 17.
I pray through this writing we can return to the knowledge that Jesus was very much a man in all He did and said and was not in anyway feminized as many try to make him out to be today.
In this writing I am going to attempt to show the many faces of Jesus but mostly focus on the lion part as described above. To many people today try to portray Christ as a feminine man in many aspects but I am here to show how Jesus was very much a mans man and we need to quit trying to feminize Him.
Many times I hear Jesus portrayed as a meek and humble man, which He was. We know He was loving and caring to the sick and spoke profoundly about taking care of the widows and orphans. But, what about the rest of what scripture says about Jesus? Does it not call Him a lion? Does scripture tell us that he ran people our of the temple
Mat 21:12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
I would dare say this is not the actions of a man who is purely meek and mild but is more like a lion with the fierceness it would take to run that many people out of the temple. Webster’s says this about lions,
Lion
LI'ON, n. [L. leo, leonis, Gr.]
1. A quadruped of the genus Felis, very strong, fierce and rapacious. The largest lions are eight or nine feet in length. The male has a thick head, beset with long bushy hair of a yellowish color. The lion is a native of Africa and the warm climates of Asia. His aspect is noble, his gait stately, and his roar tremendous.
Rev 5:5 and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."
Hos 5:14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away, and there will be none to deliver.
I really like the last line of the description of a lion as, to me, it perfectly describes Christ in all He did here, “His aspect is noble, his gait stately, and his roar tremendous.” Jesus was not a man that just walked around and worried over hurting peoples feelings, he was a man that spoke truth at all times and let the Holy Spirit’s conviction deal with each person. This is shown very clearly in Matthew 19:16 – 22. This is the story of the man that came to Christ and ask how he could earn his way to eternal life and Jesus told him to sell everything he owned give it to the poor and come follow me, but the man could not do that because of his love of his possessions. I dare to say this man got his feelings hurt and was very disappointed in the fact he could not earn his way to heaven.
Or maybe a better example of someone getting their feelings hurt would be Peter in Mat 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." Now I dare to say that Peter did not enjoy this statement at all and was probably embarrassed as all the disciples where present and most probably heard Jesus tell him this. And it would be a safe bet that Peter’s feelings where hurt in a big way over this.
Now having shown where Jesus was very much a lion in His walk on earth I want to make it clear that Jesus did everything in love and was not out to make people stumble with the harsh words He did use time to time. His goal, as always, is to get people to open their eyes to the truth of what is and to follow Him in truth instead of in their own perceptions and knowledge. He came that all may know the “Father” and have eternal life as stated in John 3:16 – 17.
I pray through this writing we can return to the knowledge that Jesus was very much a man in all He did and said and was not in anyway feminized as many try to make him out to be today.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Happiness or Joy
Happiness is based on circumstance and is very fleeting as it comes and goes with the tide. Most people seek happiness through trying to make their circumstances better instead of seeking God to obtain the Joy that He wants to give us all.
Happiness is the selfish pursuit of what I want.....
Joy is the selfless pursuit of what God wants!
In today's society people look to things to make them happy. Some look to a spouse or bf/gf. Some look to work, houses, cars, money and the list goes on. In doing this they are seeking what the world says will make them happy and in so doing are being very selfish in this pursuit. Scripture tells us to seek God first in all things.
Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Seeking Gods joy allows us to obtain that which our hearts seek which is the true joy of the King not the fleeting happiness of a circumstance.
Happiness is the selfish pursuit of what I want.....
Joy is the selfless pursuit of what God wants!
In today's society people look to things to make them happy. Some look to a spouse or bf/gf. Some look to work, houses, cars, money and the list goes on. In doing this they are seeking what the world says will make them happy and in so doing are being very selfish in this pursuit. Scripture tells us to seek God first in all things.
Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Seeking Gods joy allows us to obtain that which our hearts seek which is the true joy of the King not the fleeting happiness of a circumstance.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Commitment
Commitment is learning every negative thing there is to know about your spouse and loving them anyway.
In today's society people walk around mistaking infactuation with true love and when they get married and see all the faults they call an attorney. It is a sad thing that people today do not understand commitment because with this mentality they, also, turn to God only when it is convienent to them or they are in trouble. Honor your commitments no matter how bad it hurts to everyone and especially to God.
Num 30:2 "If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Num 30:3 "Also if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and binds herself by an obligation in her father's house in her youth,
Num 30:4 and her father hears her vow and her obligation by which she has bound herself, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she has bound herself shall stand.
In today's society people walk around mistaking infactuation with true love and when they get married and see all the faults they call an attorney. It is a sad thing that people today do not understand commitment because with this mentality they, also, turn to God only when it is convienent to them or they are in trouble. Honor your commitments no matter how bad it hurts to everyone and especially to God.
Num 30:2 "If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Num 30:3 "Also if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and binds herself by an obligation in her father's house in her youth,
Num 30:4 and her father hears her vow and her obligation by which she has bound herself, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she has bound herself shall stand.
Focus on God
I wonder how many things we allow to take our focus off God and place it on the things around us? I know I have been very guilty of this in my life especially where women are concerned. For me they took Gods place on the throne of my heart and I focused on them instead of God and in so doing I lost the women as God is a jealous God. I long for nothing more than to keep my focus on God and stop looking at the things going on around me. Scripture tells us so long as we focus on Christ we will have peace and satan wants nothing more then to steal our peace, which means he will do anything and everything to get your focus off God. It is time we keep our focus on God and stop letting satan move it to other things.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Heart of a Man
Why is it that we judge a man by his appearance instead of what is inside him? this morning I was watching the news and they are talking about how a presidential candidates appearance means so much to his campaigne. I find this is also true in every aspect of life such as when a person is looking for a mate the first thing they do is look for appearance and in many instances today the appearance and infatuation are mistaken for love and many problems ensue after the two are married. It saddens me that we have become so shallow that we gauge a mans worth by what he wears instead of by what he stands for.
Isn't it time that we start gauging our leaders and everyone else based on what they stand for instead of how they appear and what they say?
Isn't it time that we start gauging our leaders and everyone else based on what they stand for instead of how they appear and what they say?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Depression
1Ki 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
1Ki 19:3 And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
1Ki 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."
1Ki 19:5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, "Arise, eat."
1Ki 19:6 Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
1Ki 19:7 The angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you."
1Ki 19:8 So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
1Ki 19:9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
1Ki 19:10 He said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
1Ki 19:11 So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
1Ki 19:12 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.
1Ki 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
1Ki 19:14 Then he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
1Ki 19:15 The LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram;
1Ki 19:16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
Elijah was a fraid of dying! Why, he would be afraid of this after all the miracles God had performed through him is amazingly human. We all have our weaknesses and they will be exploited as often as possible.
Due to the fear Elijah became depressed and wanted to die. He begged God to kill him. Inspite of this depression God used Elijah to teach Elisha and to anoint two kings before he took him by a chariot of fire.
God can use you even in the midst of your depression!
1Ki 19:3 And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
1Ki 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."
1Ki 19:5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, "Arise, eat."
1Ki 19:6 Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
1Ki 19:7 The angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you."
1Ki 19:8 So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
1Ki 19:9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
1Ki 19:10 He said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
1Ki 19:11 So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
1Ki 19:12 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.
1Ki 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
1Ki 19:14 Then he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
1Ki 19:15 The LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram;
1Ki 19:16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
Elijah was a fraid of dying! Why, he would be afraid of this after all the miracles God had performed through him is amazingly human. We all have our weaknesses and they will be exploited as often as possible.
Due to the fear Elijah became depressed and wanted to die. He begged God to kill him. Inspite of this depression God used Elijah to teach Elisha and to anoint two kings before he took him by a chariot of fire.
God can use you even in the midst of your depression!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Focus
Mat 16:20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
Mat 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
Mat 16:22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You."
Mat 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
What we focus on determines our destination and our actions. If we focus on worldly things or the cares of this world then we will reap the rewards of the world. If we focus on Christ and on "Father" then we gain heaven's blessings and reap the rewards there of. What are you focused on today?
Mat 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
Mat 16:22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You."
Mat 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
What we focus on determines our destination and our actions. If we focus on worldly things or the cares of this world then we will reap the rewards of the world. If we focus on Christ and on "Father" then we gain heaven's blessings and reap the rewards there of. What are you focused on today?
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Prayer for Enemy
Psa 61:6 You will prolong the king's life; His years will be as many generations.
Psa 61:7 He will abide before God forever; Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.
David prayers for the king to be spared and have a long life even though at this time the king is trying to kill him. In todays society of self before anyone or anything I wonder how many of Gods people actually love their enemies enough to ask God to spare their lives instead of wishing them harm in the depths of their hearts. I know I was guilty of this for a very long time and did not even realize it, but it is now time that Gods people begin to truly show the Love of Christ and the only way to do that is to love the unlovable and that especially means those who mean to do us harm.
Psa 61:7 He will abide before God forever; Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.
David prayers for the king to be spared and have a long life even though at this time the king is trying to kill him. In todays society of self before anyone or anything I wonder how many of Gods people actually love their enemies enough to ask God to spare their lives instead of wishing them harm in the depths of their hearts. I know I was guilty of this for a very long time and did not even realize it, but it is now time that Gods people begin to truly show the Love of Christ and the only way to do that is to love the unlovable and that especially means those who mean to do us harm.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Tablets of Your Heart
Pro 3:3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Truth is Gods word and we need to write His word on the tablets of our hearts that we may stand in the hour of wickedness. It is time we all begin to learn the truths of Gods words in such a way that we live them out in our daily lives. In order to do this we must know Gods word in our hearts and let it grow and mature us until such a time as God deems us ready to attain the calling to which He has called all of us too.
Truth is Gods word and we need to write His word on the tablets of our hearts that we may stand in the hour of wickedness. It is time we all begin to learn the truths of Gods words in such a way that we live them out in our daily lives. In order to do this we must know Gods word in our hearts and let it grow and mature us until such a time as God deems us ready to attain the calling to which He has called all of us too.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Burdens
Mat 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Mat 11:30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
If Jesus' burden is light and ours is heavy and scripture tells us to cast our anxieties on him then why do we walk around bound to our worldly cares? Let go of your burden today and take Jesus' that you may walk in peace and true harmony with Christ.
Mat 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Mat 11:30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
If Jesus' burden is light and ours is heavy and scripture tells us to cast our anxieties on him then why do we walk around bound to our worldly cares? Let go of your burden today and take Jesus' that you may walk in peace and true harmony with Christ.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Why Me?
Many times I have heard this question and even asked it once or twice myself and the answer is very simple.
2 Cor. 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Many times we go through very huge problems and what seems like insurmountable trials but God promises that none of our pains will ever be wasted. ( This statement from Rick Warren ) Our problems are always used for Glory so long as we can admit we are weak in these areas and need His help in getting over them and then being able to tell others we went through it. People are encouraged by our over coming weakness not by our strengths. Your weakness is your humanity and today we need to start sharing our humanity with others.
2 Cor. 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Many times we go through very huge problems and what seems like insurmountable trials but God promises that none of our pains will ever be wasted. ( This statement from Rick Warren ) Our problems are always used for Glory so long as we can admit we are weak in these areas and need His help in getting over them and then being able to tell others we went through it. People are encouraged by our over coming weakness not by our strengths. Your weakness is your humanity and today we need to start sharing our humanity with others.
True Worship
John 4:23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
I have always thought of worshipping in Spirit as just that spiritual worship but there is a verse in the Bible that tells us there is more to it than that. Romans 12.
Roman 12:1-2Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.
When we truly offer ourselves as sacrifices to God then we are truly worshiping God in spirit.
Truthful worship is just that. You have to be open and honest with God in order to worship Him and honor Him. People wonder why their prayer lives are not what they should be. 9 times out of 10 this is the reason. They are closed off so they do not get hurt any more thus they are not being honest with God. When we decide to open our hearts and allow God to SHARE our pain and not just tell Him about it then we begin to worship in truth.
How are you worshiping today?? Do you fulfill these two verses of scripture with your worship of God?
I have always thought of worshipping in Spirit as just that spiritual worship but there is a verse in the Bible that tells us there is more to it than that. Romans 12.
Roman 12:1-2Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.
When we truly offer ourselves as sacrifices to God then we are truly worshiping God in spirit.
Truthful worship is just that. You have to be open and honest with God in order to worship Him and honor Him. People wonder why their prayer lives are not what they should be. 9 times out of 10 this is the reason. They are closed off so they do not get hurt any more thus they are not being honest with God. When we decide to open our hearts and allow God to SHARE our pain and not just tell Him about it then we begin to worship in truth.
How are you worshiping today?? Do you fulfill these two verses of scripture with your worship of God?
The Trap
It has occurred to me that one of Satan’s biggest traps for Gods people is how others see us. I was seen as nothing but a drunk and drug addict for the majority of my life and in some circles to this day people still see me that way, they do not see what God has made me into. What about the flip side of this. People seeing us as great and special while in our hearts we know we aren’t or think we aren’t. I am certain there are many people out there that can relate to one or both of these. The question is are we strong enough to break free from how the world sees us or do we go on through life believing we are the useless person that others say that we are. Jesus calls us out of the world, which in part, means we are not to go by what the world says we are. That includes Christians who do not see what God sees. God sees us as His children and worthy of His Son dying on a cross for us. Satan does not have the power to undo that in reality, so he tries to undo it in our minds and in our self-esteem. Don’t allow Satan to undo the gift that has been given to me and you.
Principles
I have been pondering a question these last days that has truly troubled me. The question is "What does it mean to utterly devote yourself to a moral set of Christian principles?" This question has some very deep implications and even more over tones to it.
The first thing you have to decide is what are Christian Principles. Understand I am talking bible principles not doctrinal principles. The simplest way I know to explain Christian principles is to quote 5 verses of scripture. Matthew 22: 36 - 40 states 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." This states basically, Love God first, Everyone else second and yourself last. and notice what verse 40 states. Everything in bible from cover to cover hangs on these 2 things. That is a very powerful statement but it also says here are your Christian principals.
So what does it mean to devote yourself completely to these things? Devotion to God is be willing to do anything He tells you no matter what it makes you look like in other peoples eyes and no matter how much hurt you have to go through to achieve it.
Devotion to others?? Going out of your way to help those who need help even to the point of putting yourself out or doing without so someone else can have enough. This is a statement many will disagree with but if you read your bible especially Matthew 6: 26`Look at the birds that fly in the air. They do not plant or cut or keep any food. Yet your Father in heaven feeds them. Are you not worth more than birds? 28And why are you troubled about clothes? See how the flowers grow in the fields. They do not work or make cloth. This tells us we are not to worry about our own well being as "Father" will take care of us.
Do we live our lives this way?? Most don't. I know I have at times and have not at times. Mostly it depends on the situation and who is involved. Devote yourself to God and His principles today and live the life God called you to live. All the promises of the bible come true at this point in our walks with Christ.
The first thing you have to decide is what are Christian Principles. Understand I am talking bible principles not doctrinal principles. The simplest way I know to explain Christian principles is to quote 5 verses of scripture. Matthew 22: 36 - 40 states 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." This states basically, Love God first, Everyone else second and yourself last. and notice what verse 40 states. Everything in bible from cover to cover hangs on these 2 things. That is a very powerful statement but it also says here are your Christian principals.
So what does it mean to devote yourself completely to these things? Devotion to God is be willing to do anything He tells you no matter what it makes you look like in other peoples eyes and no matter how much hurt you have to go through to achieve it.
Devotion to others?? Going out of your way to help those who need help even to the point of putting yourself out or doing without so someone else can have enough. This is a statement many will disagree with but if you read your bible especially Matthew 6: 26`Look at the birds that fly in the air. They do not plant or cut or keep any food. Yet your Father in heaven feeds them. Are you not worth more than birds? 28And why are you troubled about clothes? See how the flowers grow in the fields. They do not work or make cloth. This tells us we are not to worry about our own well being as "Father" will take care of us.
Do we live our lives this way?? Most don't. I know I have at times and have not at times. Mostly it depends on the situation and who is involved. Devote yourself to God and His principles today and live the life God called you to live. All the promises of the bible come true at this point in our walks with Christ.
Perfection
One of the greatest fallacies of man today is not believing God can use them right where they are. God created man imperfectly on purpose, thus He knows we will fail at times. Our problem is we don't think God can use us unless we are perfect. God can and will use us right where and how we are if we let Him. He longs for us to trust Him and know that He knows we are not perfect in all we do. His heart is not for our perfection of actions, but perfection of love in Him. This perfection comes when we admit we are human and He is God.
Love: The One Way Street
I have heard it said many times that love is a 2 way street. I am here to differ with this statement. My Bible tells me love is patient; love is kind, love believes all things, endures all things, ECT… of course this is paraphrased from 1st Corinthians 13. I can not find anywhere in there that love has to be returned. This says that love will last through anything no matter what.
Jesus came and died for you and I on a cross before we where capable of true love. He loved me before I loved Him. Is this the 2 way street of love?? Or is it the one-way street known to those of us who KNOW who Jesus is and what he did for us on that cross. Is your love a one way or two way street??
Jesus came and died for you and I on a cross before we where capable of true love. He loved me before I loved Him. Is this the 2 way street of love?? Or is it the one-way street known to those of us who KNOW who Jesus is and what he did for us on that cross. Is your love a one way or two way street??
Men and Women
Our society today has lost God’s view of people. Women today are raised with the mentality that men are the enemy and are taught how to manipulate men with their feminine ways. Men are raised with no respect for women what so ever. They view women as objects of desire who are here for the man’s enjoyment only.
I was raised by a man who, to my best recollection, never said one positive thing about women in general. When I was 8 or 9 I found his stash of playboys and was lead off into many years of pornography. Through this I developed the above mentioned attitude towards women and kept women around me in my life who would permit me to keep this attitude by their actions. Sadly it has taken me almost 40 years to realize the realities of what we are doing to our society through this kind of mentality.
We have become a self-destructive society because we are constantly fighting each other through our selfish outlooks and lack of understanding of why God created us in the first place. God created man, in general, to rule over God’s creation. This means men and women both. When God created Adam and Eve He created them differently so they would complement each other. They were never meant to do or achieve the same things. It is time we as a society begin to relearn why God created us and why He created us the way He did. Did God create man to use women for sex and sexual desires?? I don’t think so, but He did create man with a strong desire for sex that the human race would not die out. Did God create women to manipulate men through this desire?? I seriously doubt it. He did create them to make up for the areas of life where a man is weak, areas such as nurturing and caring for those who are hurt and dying. It is not that men are not capable of this, but we are not capable of it on the level women are. A man and a woman truly working together show the realities of the image of God. No man nor woman alone and show this image completely because God did not put His entire image in either sex. It is time we return to the realization that we are not whole without each other and that God created us to be like Him together.
True Marriage is of God
How much hurt are you willing to take in order for "Father" to teach your spouse something?
How many Christian marriages end because one or both partners are unwilling to suffer so the other can learn some valuable life lesson? I know in looking at my current marriage and my past marriages I am very guilty of this. This question was asked of me recently and it really hit home. How much hurt am I willing to endure so Lori can learn something "Father" is trying to teach her? Before a few days ago my honest answer had to be none because of my selfish self-centered nature, but now I can honestly say she is worth what ever suffering I must go through. The reason for the change is I have been a very selfish person in my marriages until a few days ago. Now I know the realities of what I was and have to make those changes in order to have a happy marriage and a Godly marriage. The same is true for Lori and all spouses. We as the spouse must be willing to endure pain so our spouse may learn from "Father" and the Holy Spirit.
How many Christian marriages end because one or both partners are unwilling to suffer so the other can learn some valuable life lesson? I know in looking at my current marriage and my past marriages I am very guilty of this. This question was asked of me recently and it really hit home. How much hurt am I willing to endure so Lori can learn something "Father" is trying to teach her? Before a few days ago my honest answer had to be none because of my selfish self-centered nature, but now I can honestly say she is worth what ever suffering I must go through. The reason for the change is I have been a very selfish person in my marriages until a few days ago. Now I know the realities of what I was and have to make those changes in order to have a happy marriage and a Godly marriage. The same is true for Lori and all spouses. We as the spouse must be willing to endure pain so our spouse may learn from "Father" and the Holy Spirit.
Lonely
There are many times that I miss my wife or other loved ones throughout the course of each week of my life. I find myself getting very depressed and longing to be with them and to be able to hold my wife in my arms and love on her. It occurred to me this morning that “Father” goes through much the same thing waiting on us to come and spend time with Him in prayer and in His word. He misses us and gets lonely for the company of His child. It is time we stop neglecting “Father” and start blessing Him with our presence and love instead of only running to Him with requests of a selfish nature. The Bible clearly states God has feelings and thus He can very easily get lonely for your company. Go to Him today and just spend time loving Him. Ask Him today what you can do to love on Him or what you can do for Him today instead of what he can do for you. Is “Father” lonely for you today or have you been there to let Him know you love Him?
Laying Down Your Life
John 15: 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.
What exactly does it mean to lay your life down for someone? We all know the literal meaning of dying for a friend, but I think this goes a lot deeper than just the literal meaning. We lay our lives down by being willing to accept punishment for something that we did not do in order to show our love for our brothers and sisters. We lay our lives down by giving beyond our means to those who need help and not concerning ourselves with the fact that they may be using the help for selfish reasons.
True love shows up when the person knows we know they are not doing what is being said and we help anyway in love and not in judgment.
This is how Jesus has helped all of us. He met me where I was when I was at my worst. He met all of us at this place in our lives that we may grow in Him. He did not withhold His blessings from us because we abused or misused them, he blessed us anyway knowing we would not do what was suppose to be done.
My prayer is that “Father” would teach me to give of myself as He gave of Himself to me.
What exactly does it mean to lay your life down for someone? We all know the literal meaning of dying for a friend, but I think this goes a lot deeper than just the literal meaning. We lay our lives down by being willing to accept punishment for something that we did not do in order to show our love for our brothers and sisters. We lay our lives down by giving beyond our means to those who need help and not concerning ourselves with the fact that they may be using the help for selfish reasons.
True love shows up when the person knows we know they are not doing what is being said and we help anyway in love and not in judgment.
This is how Jesus has helped all of us. He met me where I was when I was at my worst. He met all of us at this place in our lives that we may grow in Him. He did not withhold His blessings from us because we abused or misused them, he blessed us anyway knowing we would not do what was suppose to be done.
My prayer is that “Father” would teach me to give of myself as He gave of Himself to me.
Life or Death
Proverbs 18: 21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
It occurred to me today on my way home from church that God the "Father" showed us this at creation. Gen. chapter 1 talks about the Creation of the earth and the plants and animals, but notice in the there all it says is "And God said" then it happened. Whatever God said it happened. God said let there be light and the sun came up. God said let us make man in our image and Adam came forth out of the dust. God said Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky and these things to happened. Here is life in the tongue. God spoke and life came into being.
You say where is death then?? Gen. chapter 3 shows us death in the tongue. Again this is all God said. God said let the serpent crawl on his belly and he does to this day. God said the woman would bring forth children in pain and I think they will all agree that this happens. God said the ground will bear thorns and thistles and Adam will have to work for his food from then on. Walk into any long standing woods and see all the briars and thorns everywhere.
Now a little closer to home again. When we talk down to people it kills their spirits but when we talk to people like we would to Christ it uplifts and encourages them. I am quite certain no one would tell Jesus he was a wimp cause he cried over Jerusalem. I am just as certain no one would tell Jesus his faith was lacking when He asked "Father" to remove this cup from me or better yet when He asked "Father" why have you forsaken me. It is time we begin to talk to each other as we would to Christ himself and learn to give each other the benefit of the doubt and give love and encouragement instead of kicking people when they are down.
Are you an encourager or a kicker?
It occurred to me today on my way home from church that God the "Father" showed us this at creation. Gen. chapter 1 talks about the Creation of the earth and the plants and animals, but notice in the there all it says is "And God said" then it happened. Whatever God said it happened. God said let there be light and the sun came up. God said let us make man in our image and Adam came forth out of the dust. God said Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky and these things to happened. Here is life in the tongue. God spoke and life came into being.
You say where is death then?? Gen. chapter 3 shows us death in the tongue. Again this is all God said. God said let the serpent crawl on his belly and he does to this day. God said the woman would bring forth children in pain and I think they will all agree that this happens. God said the ground will bear thorns and thistles and Adam will have to work for his food from then on. Walk into any long standing woods and see all the briars and thorns everywhere.
Now a little closer to home again. When we talk down to people it kills their spirits but when we talk to people like we would to Christ it uplifts and encourages them. I am quite certain no one would tell Jesus he was a wimp cause he cried over Jerusalem. I am just as certain no one would tell Jesus his faith was lacking when He asked "Father" to remove this cup from me or better yet when He asked "Father" why have you forsaken me. It is time we begin to talk to each other as we would to Christ himself and learn to give each other the benefit of the doubt and give love and encouragement instead of kicking people when they are down.
Are you an encourager or a kicker?
Illusion of Control
The illusion of control is one of the biggest hindrances to our ministries today. We spend our time seeking numbers to tell us what group of people to go after or to let us know exactly when we should do this or teach that.
It is the hope of all men to be in control of their destinies, but God says tomorrow is not promised to us. It is the desire of all men to be in control of their lives on a day-to-day basis, but God says to submit and He will bless you with the desires of your heart. The reality is control is but an illusion for mankind as there is but one who has control and His name is Yaweh.
The Sadducees and Pharisees suffered from this same delusion. They spent their lives trying to prove the teachings of Jesus wrong because it meant they had to let go of control and the things they had been teaching and accept the fact that there was no control. They held onto control so hard that it cost Jesus His life.
It has occurred to me that this is why people fear change so much. It is not that they never want anything to change, it is simply they do not want to let go of their illusion of control. In order to let go of control they have to admit the reality of their lives and face the fact that they are sinners. This scares people so bad that they are willing to put the Son of God on a cross and spit on Him so they will not have to admit what they already know deep in their hearts, they are not in control.
Control is nothing more than a defense we have set in place in order to stop people from seeing the pain we are in, because if we allow them to see our pain we may become vulnerable and in order to do that we must take a chance on getting hurt one more time. This is a chance most people are not willing to take because they are so focused on self that no one else truly matters. Thus they continue in the illusion that they have some power and control over their lives and over the people around them and in so doing continue to hurt themselves and everyone around them.
Control is but a wall for people to hide behind so they do not have to show the world just how scared they are and just how bad they truly feel about themselves. In achieving this they also hide these things from themselves. This allows them to begin to lie to themselves which in turns allows them to start to lie to God. This gets them into a state of turning from God and seeking relief in other ways such as work or drugs, or T.V. ect…
Control is but an illusion that allows a person to fool themselves and others into thinking they are more powerful than they actually are.
It is the hope of all men to be in control of their destinies, but God says tomorrow is not promised to us. It is the desire of all men to be in control of their lives on a day-to-day basis, but God says to submit and He will bless you with the desires of your heart. The reality is control is but an illusion for mankind as there is but one who has control and His name is Yaweh.
The Sadducees and Pharisees suffered from this same delusion. They spent their lives trying to prove the teachings of Jesus wrong because it meant they had to let go of control and the things they had been teaching and accept the fact that there was no control. They held onto control so hard that it cost Jesus His life.
It has occurred to me that this is why people fear change so much. It is not that they never want anything to change, it is simply they do not want to let go of their illusion of control. In order to let go of control they have to admit the reality of their lives and face the fact that they are sinners. This scares people so bad that they are willing to put the Son of God on a cross and spit on Him so they will not have to admit what they already know deep in their hearts, they are not in control.
Control is nothing more than a defense we have set in place in order to stop people from seeing the pain we are in, because if we allow them to see our pain we may become vulnerable and in order to do that we must take a chance on getting hurt one more time. This is a chance most people are not willing to take because they are so focused on self that no one else truly matters. Thus they continue in the illusion that they have some power and control over their lives and over the people around them and in so doing continue to hurt themselves and everyone around them.
Control is but a wall for people to hide behind so they do not have to show the world just how scared they are and just how bad they truly feel about themselves. In achieving this they also hide these things from themselves. This allows them to begin to lie to themselves which in turns allows them to start to lie to God. This gets them into a state of turning from God and seeking relief in other ways such as work or drugs, or T.V. ect…
Control is but an illusion that allows a person to fool themselves and others into thinking they are more powerful than they actually are.
How Far is to Far
I have been contemplating this for some time now and I wonder how far is too far to go to show Jesus to someone? Do we stop at a word? Or maybe at a ride to work? Or maybe we stop at going to their house once a week to give them a bible lesson and a meal. How far is too far?
I ask this because I wonder sometimes do we go far enough? Jesus left heaven for us and, that in and of it self, is a LONG way to go. Then he stayed with us for a little over 33 years and he taught those around him of the things of heaven and hell moving about the country depending solely on his heavenly father to provide for him and guide him in all he did and said. Then he took that one step that no one else would or could. He stepped onto a cross for us. So my question is, “If Jesus can go that far, how far is to far for us?”
Are we willing to put ourselves in harms way for the cause of furthering the message of Christ? What about giving up a child as Father did so we would know? How far are we willing to go and how far is to far?
The answer to this question will be different for everyone, but it is well worth asking in this time of year when we are celebrating the day he left heaven and took that long step for us. The day our salvation truly began. The birth of Jesus in a little manger many miles from where I sit at this moment writing this he began asking, “How far is too far?”
I ask this because I wonder sometimes do we go far enough? Jesus left heaven for us and, that in and of it self, is a LONG way to go. Then he stayed with us for a little over 33 years and he taught those around him of the things of heaven and hell moving about the country depending solely on his heavenly father to provide for him and guide him in all he did and said. Then he took that one step that no one else would or could. He stepped onto a cross for us. So my question is, “If Jesus can go that far, how far is to far for us?”
Are we willing to put ourselves in harms way for the cause of furthering the message of Christ? What about giving up a child as Father did so we would know? How far are we willing to go and how far is to far?
The answer to this question will be different for everyone, but it is well worth asking in this time of year when we are celebrating the day he left heaven and took that long step for us. The day our salvation truly began. The birth of Jesus in a little manger many miles from where I sit at this moment writing this he began asking, “How far is too far?”
Grieving the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:30 - 32
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you..
I have had many people ask what is grieving the Holy Spirit. Verse 31 tells us exactly what it is. If we ware full of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander and performing all sorts of malice then we are grieving the Holy Spirit.
Verse 32 shows us how to please the Holy Spirit. Be kind and compassionate to others and forgive them no matter what they do just as Christ forgave us when we was yet sinners. This is probably the single most hindering thing in the church today. Lack of forgiveness. This applies to our marriages and every part of our life. Once we learn to Forgive those who hurt us then we can stand in a right relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit.
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you..
I have had many people ask what is grieving the Holy Spirit. Verse 31 tells us exactly what it is. If we ware full of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander and performing all sorts of malice then we are grieving the Holy Spirit.
Verse 32 shows us how to please the Holy Spirit. Be kind and compassionate to others and forgive them no matter what they do just as Christ forgave us when we was yet sinners. This is probably the single most hindering thing in the church today. Lack of forgiveness. This applies to our marriages and every part of our life. Once we learn to Forgive those who hurt us then we can stand in a right relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Greed
Greed can come in many forms. The obvious ones are centered around money or material things. We have all heard sermons on these and how they affect our lives, but what about those other things we think we can not live without? Things such as computers and internet access? Many today spend hours and hours online playing video games or surfing the internet. I am guilty of this right now in my life. Try taking the internet and video games away from them. You can bet there would be a fight over it because these things have become like idols to that person. Do we not grab onto things we are greedy for and hold with everything we have? Become selfish and non tolerant of things that threaten to take these things away? Let's get it a little closer. What about people? What about a spouse who is so over bearing that he or she is jealous of anything the other person does other than spend every free moment with him/her? Who wants to control every move the other person makes because they are so afraid of losing what they have and even have suspicions of infidelity and other imagined things because of the jealousy? And in the end push their spouse or loved one away? Are these not forms of greed as well? Is it not the same spirit that causes us to look to money or material things with lust in our eyes that causes us to become so jealous of our loved ones that we try to trap them behind a wall and keep them there? I know for me this has been true for to many years. Is this true for you today?
Freedom II
Luke 7:37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
David writes of his love of God yet he still sinned by committing adultery and then murder. Paul wrote 3/5's of the New Testament and talks about love of God and each other, yet he had a thorn in the flesh in the form of a messenger of Satan. True freedom comes from the knowledge of your humanity and faults while knowing Jesus loves you anyway and says you are worthy. Become free today by allowing Jesus to show you your humanity.
David writes of his love of God yet he still sinned by committing adultery and then murder. Paul wrote 3/5's of the New Testament and talks about love of God and each other, yet he had a thorn in the flesh in the form of a messenger of Satan. True freedom comes from the knowledge of your humanity and faults while knowing Jesus loves you anyway and says you are worthy. Become free today by allowing Jesus to show you your humanity.
Freedom
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
In stating this I am saying when we get to the point that we can look in ourselves at those things that we fear the most, such as past abuse or bad relationships and realize what we did wrong in them, then God gives us the ability to be free. Many people say well I am honest, but the truth is very few people are willing to be totally honest with them-selves and because of this they can not be honest with God. A for instance, a woman who has been raped that has never forgiven the rapist is in bondage to the rape and will never be free until she gets honest with herself about how bad it hurt her and then honest with God with her emotions and how she has responded to the rape. Once this happens she can then forgive the rapist and gain her freedom from the rape. Once the freedom is gained then you can know true happiness. Satan keeps people in bondage because we are so afraid to allow others to see who we really are and how much we hurt as well as how afraid we truly are. If you want your freedom from anything, the key is honesty with yourself and with God. Once you get honest freedom is right around the corner.
As per my story on this site I was raised in an abusive household and have lived a life full of pain and intolerance. One of the main reason for this kind of life is I cared so much about worldly things such as someone calling me a name or crossing lines that the world says should never be crossed by getting to close to me physically or asking to personal a question. I have recently learned that once we gain the knowledge and understanding that worldly things are meaningless, and yes this includes instances of personal attacks or abuse, then we can obtain true freedom and truly become the holy people God has called us to be.
It is not the ones who hurt us that holds us back but it is ourselves who live in bondage to the past hurts and fear of future hurts that prevent us from being holy today.
Allow God to open your eyes today and show you where your freedom lies.
In stating this I am saying when we get to the point that we can look in ourselves at those things that we fear the most, such as past abuse or bad relationships and realize what we did wrong in them, then God gives us the ability to be free. Many people say well I am honest, but the truth is very few people are willing to be totally honest with them-selves and because of this they can not be honest with God. A for instance, a woman who has been raped that has never forgiven the rapist is in bondage to the rape and will never be free until she gets honest with herself about how bad it hurt her and then honest with God with her emotions and how she has responded to the rape. Once this happens she can then forgive the rapist and gain her freedom from the rape. Once the freedom is gained then you can know true happiness. Satan keeps people in bondage because we are so afraid to allow others to see who we really are and how much we hurt as well as how afraid we truly are. If you want your freedom from anything, the key is honesty with yourself and with God. Once you get honest freedom is right around the corner.
As per my story on this site I was raised in an abusive household and have lived a life full of pain and intolerance. One of the main reason for this kind of life is I cared so much about worldly things such as someone calling me a name or crossing lines that the world says should never be crossed by getting to close to me physically or asking to personal a question. I have recently learned that once we gain the knowledge and understanding that worldly things are meaningless, and yes this includes instances of personal attacks or abuse, then we can obtain true freedom and truly become the holy people God has called us to be.
It is not the ones who hurt us that holds us back but it is ourselves who live in bondage to the past hurts and fear of future hurts that prevent us from being holy today.
Allow God to open your eyes today and show you where your freedom lies.
Encouragement
When we have someone who encourages us there is nothing we can not do.
When we have someone who tears us down there is nothing we can do.
When we have someone who tears us down there is nothing we can do.
Dreams
How many of us have dreams that “Father” has given us or desires to serve God in certain ways?? I would be willing to bet most of us if not all. This being the case how many times do we settle for less than what God has shown us He wants. We see something that doesn’t look quite right but it is a way to get to where we are suppose to go so we do that instead of waiting on God. Abraham did it and got Ishmael instead of Isaac. I was thinking of how we settle for things in our lives that is not exactly what God wanted for us. Some of us, and yes I use us cause I am guilty here, settle for a spouse we think we want, but deep down we know it is not what God wants. Some of us settle for a little house in the forest when we should be in an apartment in the city telling people about Jesus. Others settle for jobs making hundred’s of thousands of dollars a year instead of getting into the pulpit where God called them too. I have decided I will not settle for less on my dreams any more. I will follow the visions the Lord has for my life and seek His face in all I do. Will you come and follow Jesus’ dreams for you
Children as Examples
We all look for people to follow and look up to in our lives. In fact we spend so much time looking up that we miss one of the greatest examples of how we are to come to God. This example is our children. Matthew 18:2-3 says (2) then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, (3) and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus tells us to become as small children to enter heaven, so let's look at the example children give.
First the obvious, they come when called and follow the leading of their parents not knowing where the parents are going. These are sermons that I have heard taught many times. Is this all our children are and do?? I think not. Do they not have personalities? Don’t they wonder about things and get excited about things? When you tell your child your taking them to McDonalds do they say, “ho hum?” It’s a safe bet they do not. So why do we as adults say ho hum over the greatest thing that ever happened? Jesus is what I am talking about. Why do adults go ho hum when Jesus shows up? You say I do not do this!! I ask are you sure?? When there is work to be done do you show up enthusiastic or do you say ho hum? When there is a church board meeting do you show up excited or do you say ho hum? My bible tells me where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name I will be there. Jesus shows up and you say Ho hum.
Children do not ALWAYS follow when told, nor come when called. So what does this tell us about ourselves in relation to God? Do we always follow His lead?? Do we always come when He calls?? I can’t speak for anyone but me and I know my answer to these is NO. Our children show us how we ourselves respond to God, and our reactions show us how our disobedience hurts God just like the disobedience of our children hurt us.
There is one major difference between adults and children... that difference is children are teachable and most adults are not. We as adults do not like to be wrong or show that we do not know it all because we may have to show a chink in our armor to those around us and even become vulnerable to them. Children do not care if they do not know they simply ask and search out the answers no matter what it takes or where they have to look. Can we be like children and become teachable again? Jesus said if we do not then we will not make it to heaven. Are you as a small child? Are you teachable?
First the obvious, they come when called and follow the leading of their parents not knowing where the parents are going. These are sermons that I have heard taught many times. Is this all our children are and do?? I think not. Do they not have personalities? Don’t they wonder about things and get excited about things? When you tell your child your taking them to McDonalds do they say, “ho hum?” It’s a safe bet they do not. So why do we as adults say ho hum over the greatest thing that ever happened? Jesus is what I am talking about. Why do adults go ho hum when Jesus shows up? You say I do not do this!! I ask are you sure?? When there is work to be done do you show up enthusiastic or do you say ho hum? When there is a church board meeting do you show up excited or do you say ho hum? My bible tells me where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name I will be there. Jesus shows up and you say Ho hum.
Children do not ALWAYS follow when told, nor come when called. So what does this tell us about ourselves in relation to God? Do we always follow His lead?? Do we always come when He calls?? I can’t speak for anyone but me and I know my answer to these is NO. Our children show us how we ourselves respond to God, and our reactions show us how our disobedience hurts God just like the disobedience of our children hurt us.
There is one major difference between adults and children... that difference is children are teachable and most adults are not. We as adults do not like to be wrong or show that we do not know it all because we may have to show a chink in our armor to those around us and even become vulnerable to them. Children do not care if they do not know they simply ask and search out the answers no matter what it takes or where they have to look. Can we be like children and become teachable again? Jesus said if we do not then we will not make it to heaven. Are you as a small child? Are you teachable?
Character or Comfort
This is a choice we have to make each and every day of our lives. Do we chose to be comfortable in our lives and walk through each day as we are or do we chose to build our character by owning our weakness and working to become more Christ like in our everyday walks? If we chose comfort we will be mediocre Christians and never fulfill what God has planned for our lives. If we chose character then we will endure whatever is required for us to build our character into a Christ like character. Understanding endurance is what we do when we face the fact that in every problem in our lives there is one common denominator..... and of each of us that is me. You are the one thing that is always involved in every problem that has ever befallen your life. Does this mean no one else does anything wrong?? No, but it does mean there are things you could have done better or different and admitting this and facing this reality and being willing to see the truth of yourself is the beginning to building a Christ like character.
Eph. 4:13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him. (CEV)
Eph. 4:13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him. (CEV)
Walking To Calvary
I wonder how we would have handled walking down the road to Calvary carrying a cross after we had been beaten so severely we no longer looked human. I know I have a tendency to want to complain when I hurt and have people, women, baby me when I am hurting. Jesus was alone on that road. Today, I hurt from ailments I have from medical conditions, but my little pain is nothing compared to the pain I caused Him the day He made that walk for me. We all know Jesus suffered severely. I wonder how much of that suffering I caused. I know He had to reach a long way to get me to His cross and on my knees and I know I have been the recipient of more forgiveness than any one person deserves. I, also, know I could never walk the walk He did, but He walked the walk I am walking now. His love is so strong that He endured all my sin that I have committed to this point in my life as well as all the sins I will commit till the day I die on Himself the day He died. For this I will be eternally grateful. Never forget the suffering Christ did for you on the cross so long ago that you may know peace and love beyond anything imaginable to those who have never experienced it
Bondservant
In the movie Lord of the Rings: the Twin Towers, the character, Gollum, longs to have his precious ring back. He loves that ring so much that he enslaves himself to Frodo Baggins in order to be close to it.
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting.
James calls himself a servant here. The literal translation is a slave or bondservant.
Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionary says it this way:
G1401
δοῦλος
doulos
doo'-los
a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.
I wonder how many of us have ever loved anything that much. Does our love for our lord, Jesus, allow us to be bondservants to Him or does our pride prevent us from submitting to His will in all things? Today God calls us into a relationship with Him that surpasses all that is known from the past. It is through this relationship and our willingness to be bondservants that we are empowered by God to fulfill the great commandment and the Great commission at the same time. It is time that we begin to love God more than ourselves that we may learn to be bondservants to Him and honor Him in all we do and say. Learn to depend on Him as a servant depends on his master for everything to survive.
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting.
James calls himself a servant here. The literal translation is a slave or bondservant.
Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionary says it this way:
G1401
δοῦλος
doulos
doo'-los
a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.
I wonder how many of us have ever loved anything that much. Does our love for our lord, Jesus, allow us to be bondservants to Him or does our pride prevent us from submitting to His will in all things? Today God calls us into a relationship with Him that surpasses all that is known from the past. It is through this relationship and our willingness to be bondservants that we are empowered by God to fulfill the great commandment and the Great commission at the same time. It is time that we begin to love God more than ourselves that we may learn to be bondservants to Him and honor Him in all we do and say. Learn to depend on Him as a servant depends on his master for everything to survive.
All in All
I
You took me from the depths of despair
You showed me love beyond compare.
You guided me through the anger and pain
You gave me grace and mercy with no disdain
You knew me when I was to weak to stand
You gave me strength and a helping hand
You know everything I have ever done
You forgave each and every one
You told me to walk in your ways
I said yes Lord because,
You are my all in all
II
You guide my every step
You comforted me as I wept
You come descending as a dove
You come looking for all my love
You freely give all you are
I said thank you Lord because,
You are my all in all!
You took me from the depths of despair
You showed me love beyond compare.
You guided me through the anger and pain
You gave me grace and mercy with no disdain
You knew me when I was to weak to stand
You gave me strength and a helping hand
You know everything I have ever done
You forgave each and every one
You told me to walk in your ways
I said yes Lord because,
You are my all in all
II
You guide my every step
You comforted me as I wept
You come descending as a dove
You come looking for all my love
You freely give all you are
I said thank you Lord because,
You are my all in all!
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