Seek Good

Seek good, not evil, that you may live.  Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. ~ Amos 5:!4

God never leaves us, but when we step towards the evil ways of the flesh, you have taken steps away from God; not the other way around.  He is heartbroken.  Only God, and God alone can save you from yourself so that you can keep sharing the good news of the gospel with others.  I feel the need here to explain what I believe evil really is defined as in biblical terms because in today’s world I feel like we label something “evil” only when it fits our description of horrific, murderous, or violent.  However, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, evil is – “morally reprehensible, sinful, wicked” and in the bible, evil is anything that is outside of God’s nature, or commands….so basically sin.  With that definition, we have all been evil and have the ability to be evil.  We live in a broken world.  So really, Amos is saying, “seek good, not sin, that you may live” and the only way we can do that is by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and let the indwelling of the Holy Spirit lead our lives.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any desires of your heart that are of this world and not from God.  We may have to give up some people, things, and situations in our lives that aren’t exactly encouraging us on our spiritual journey, but instead presses in closer to the flesh’s desires.  Sometimes becoming a follower of Jesus and seeking good means stepping out of relationships and habits we have.  When we seek good, we tend to treat others the way we want to be treated and our God-like character begins to shine.  We love people no matter who they are, or what their past may look like.  To seek good is, once again, a heart issue.  Whatever, or whoever you worship can lead you down a good path, or an evil/sinful path.  Who, or what do you worship?  This scripture also indicates that you cannot treat people unjustly and then claim to be a follower of Jesus.  We must be ambassadors and care givers for those who are the most vulnerable.  We must love ALL people the way God loves us.  We cannot pick and choose who we love in Jesus’ name.  We must be obedient to His ways and dealings with people just as He has been lovingly gracious to us.  You cannot act evil, or against God’s ways, and expect to live in His blessings.  He is nearer to us when we are obedient and we are more Christ-like and live a better life when we walk in His goodness and ways through the Holy Spirit working inside us.  The Israelites would waver back and forth between obedience to God and rebellion.  Amos had to remind them to love good and hate evil.  Just because they knew they were God’s chosen people, I think they just always assumed they could do whatever they wanted.  However, they had to turn from their religious piety and their double lifestyle many times.  You cannot be inhumane and then expect to find favor with God.  Let’s pray that we would always seek good and not evil.  Let’s talk the talk AND walk the walk for everyone to see.  Let’s put people first. ~ Amen

Blessed Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ~ Matthew 5:9

Avoiding arguments and conflict by “sweeping it under the rug” often ends up in big blowouts later.  Jesus didn’t expect, or want us to be doormats, but peacemakers try everything in their power to reconcile broken relationships in a loving and respectful manner.  We are not called to avoidance; we are called to actively and lovingly look for resolution.  This is not easy and does not always happen, but we are called and expected to try.  You don’t have to agree with someone to have peace.  Contrary to what the world says, or how people often act, you can lovingly and respectfully disagree in a peaceful way.  Reconciliation is a key component to peace.  After all, Jesus was about the business of reconciliation when He died on the cross for our sins.  He brought peace to my life through His sacrifice and He made right my relationship with God.  In the same way, when we try to reconcile our broken relationships by sacrificing our selfishness for peace instead of being self-righteous we exhibit Christ-like character.  This can only be done through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His work in us.  I cannot show the peace of God without first having a relationship with Him. I cannot bring others to salvation through Jesus Christ and give His peace without having a relationship with Him.  Worldly peace is not the same as Godly peace.  Worldly peace is often temporary and circumstantial while Godly peace is lasting, internal and can calm our spirits even in the midst of difficult circumstances.  We can be vessels of peace when we lie down our need to be right and lean into Him for guidance in our world and our relationships.  Sacrificing attitudes and embarrassing forgiveness for others shows an act of kindness and peace that only the Holy Spirit living inside you can bring.  Let’s pray for the peace of God to flood our hearts and lives so that we can bring reconciliation and harmony to our lives and the world around us. ~ Amen 

Ever Present

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. ~ Psalm 46:1-2

In the face of insurmountable circumstances, God is still by your side.  You can run to Him for peace, comfort, and strength even in the midst of your world falling apart.  Now don’t get me wrong; I am not going to act like this is an easy thing to do.  When we see natural disasters that leave people utterly destroyed; or when we watch loved ones lose children to death for no reason; or when the loss of a job leaves you panicking, I don’t think Psalm 46:1-2 is going to jump right to memory and I would even say that praying in those moments is extremely hard.  However, I do know this – I have gone through tragedy in my life that didn’t make sense and things have happened to me that were outside of my control.  At the moment, in the day, maybe in the week following all I could muster was “Jesus” under my breath and through my tears.  I have even yelled at Him and felt like I wrestled with Him during sleepless nights, but I do know the only way I’ve been able to make it through these storms is through my faith.  I have hope.  It may not sound like much, but I have hope because I know that I know without a shadow of doubt and deep down in my heart that God has me.  He always has me.  Sometimes He is sitting with me, sometimes He is protecting me, sometimes He is giving me peace through the chaos and sometimes He is testing me, but He never leaves me.  He can take my screaming and shouting tantrums directed at Him because I know that God understands my pain and my anger and He can take it.  He can take yours too.  During one particular tantrum, I screamed, cried, tore my hair out (literally was pulling my hair I was in such distress) and finally just prayed myself to sleep.  God gets it.  He loves you.  He can handle it.  Take your severe pain to Him.  He wants to help.  I don’t understand why we go through hard, horrific, heart wrenching pain, but I know He gets it.  He went through it.  Life on earth is not fair, but what happened to Jesus on the cross wasn’t fair either; and He’s God!  The world hasn't been perfect since the fall of man, and it won’t be perfect again until Jesus comes back and fixes it.  I have hope because I have faith.  Faith in a good God.  Not any faith.  Not a god on a ledge kind of faith, but a living God who died and conquered death so that I could have victory.  I have heard Him.  I have felt Him.  He has been with me when I thought I couldn’t do it.  He met me and He will meet you.  I don’t know how people do life without faith and hope.  I know that He will be with me in any future loss, or disaster.  Do you know Him?  If not, pray, just ask Him to reveal himself to you.  I promise He is waiting and He won’t let you down.  And if you do know Him, run to Him.  Trust Him.  He’s got you. ~ Amen

Rejoice Today

The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. ~ Psalm 118:24

The very fact that you woke up this morning means you should be thankful and joyful for another day.  The Lord has blessed you with another day to be His hands and feet in the broken, and hurting world.  You have another day with friends and family.  Another day to squeeze your spouse, kids and grandkids.  Another day to celebrate and enjoy His creation He made for you.  Psalm 118 is a praise psalm that the Jewish people sung during their feasts and other joyful celebrations.  The verse is also a thanksgiving for their victories and deliverance from their enemies.  It’s a psalm of joy, thanksgiving, praise and triumph for any and all special days.  For any day!  Every believer can rejoice and be thankful for the day Jesus Christ beat death, the grave, and fulfilled the law.  Everyday is a joyous day since we now have victory in Jesus Christ!  Over everything – even death!  Everyday we can rejoice in God’s mercies being new; that we have fresh opportunities to honor, praise and glorify God.  God’s supply of mercy and grace for us never fails, or runs out.  Everyday we can rejoice that God will be with us in the good, bad and ugly.  We do not have to go through life in this broken world alone.  Everyday we can rejoice that He hears our prayers and answers them.  He may not always answer the way we want Him to, but “no”, or “wait” is still an answer.  We can rejoice everyday for the battles He lets us have victory in and for the spiritual growth they may bring.  Jesus tells us to rejoice in every day, be thankful and do not worry about tomorrow and don’t let your past define you – today is the day.  Rejoice!  I love this verse!  I try to remember to recite it every morning driving into work and it automatically lifts my soul.  Thank you Jesus! ~ Amen

Every Creature

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” ~ Genesis 1:28

This verse outlines our responsibility to this earth and our God given authority over the animals and everything in it.  In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were commanded, or charged with the task of keeping the world orderly and to increase in number.  We were basically told to make babies and enjoy all the animals as pets.  The original design was for us to be in paradise and dwell with God.  But fast forward to the fall of man in Genesis 3 and we see the original plan has been altered.  However, we are still in charge and have a responsibility to take care of what God has given to us realizing that it is not ours, but His.  Our responsibility is to take care of the animals, this earth, and our children to the best ability we can.  We are to “subdue” the earth, or “bring under control” this world; which, if you look around, we could do a better job of.  This doesn’t mean that we force people to do, or act the way we want them to, but we should help each other with getting our own affairs under control.  Our tempers, our tongues, our pride, our greed; to keep the sins of the world at bay in our own lives so we can be lights for His glory to others.  Most of the time if you are subduing something, or someone, you are taking the intensity, anger, or hostility from the situation, or person.  We can bring about peace.  Peace to our children, our home and our world.  To have rule over the animals is not only a command to control the animals, but to protect them and to be good stewards of the natural world.  Yes, the natural world and the creatures in it were designed for our pleasure in beauty and to put food on our tables, but we are to protect them and defend them against mankind's own desires of pure sport.  Animals were not created by God for us to decorate our homes with.  So let us bring peace to the world and let us take care of God’s creation so that we may all be found to be good stewards of this place we call earth. ~ Amen

Rather Than

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal, daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. ~ 2 Samuel 6:20-21

He was being a bit sarcastic here.  David had every right to celebrate, but to one of his wives, Michal, he was going a bit over the top.  Michal may not have had the best relationship with her dad, King Saul, but she didn’t exactly have a stellar marriage either.  She was stuck between a rock and a hard spot; after all, she did fall in love with the person her dad was trying to kill – so David wins, but does he have to gloat about being the chosen king also?  It was another blow to the house Michal grew up in.  Regarding her family, and certainly her dad, wasn’t this going to put a bigger target on David’s back?  This story intrigues me because we don’t see a lot of marital spats in the bible, but while doing a bible study years ago I came across this story and it stuck with me as a lesson in communication and grace.  Because Michal came at David for being over the top, she ended up being shunned by him and they never had relations as a married couple again.  No marriage runs its course without having highs and lows, and disagreements, but we need to always assume our spouses intentions are good until proven otherwise.  Now listen to me!  I am not giving excuses for abuse of any kind – physical, emotional, or verbal, and I am not excusing adultery.  God is saddened by all of that and doesn’t ask anyone to subject themselves to abuse and stay in that relationship.  Sometimes, contrary to how you may have been raised, divorce IS the only way out of certain situations.  However, outside of abuse and as much as it is possible with you, good, solid biblical counseling should be our first line of defense before throwing in the towel to our commitment and covenant not only to our spouse, but to God.  Let me be the first to say that if you are being physically abused – GET OUT!  However, in this story, David was celebrating and dancing in order to give glory to God for choosing him as king over Saul.  He was expressing his faith and devotion to God, and not trying to throw anything in Michal’s face.  Oh if only she would have approached him humbly instead of angrily and if only he had tried to see why she felt the way she did; things may have been better for their marriage.  How often do we throw daggers at our spouse when we think they have done us wrong without understanding their heart, or intention?  May we all learn to have a little more grace, communication and humility when dealing not only in our marriages, but in our relationships all together. ~ Amen

Whoever Believes

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16

Many followers of Jesus would say this verse sums up the Christian faith.  My salvation is rooted in God’s love for me, and my acceptance of what Jesus did on the cross for me.  Period.  Back in the Old Testament there were lavish sacrificial offerings being made all the time to atone for people’s sins yet nothing could ever completely satisfy our need for forgiveness, and God had only one plan that would redeem us to Him.  This is the foundation of the Chistian faith:  that God loves us so much that He came to earth in human flesh and died for us on the cross as the final sacrifice that could cover our sins and redeem us back to our Creator.  I am wanted, and YOU are wanted so much by God that He was willing to have part of himself, His son, beat and horrifically murdered.  I can’t fathom giving up one of my sons to be murdered for the betterment of the human race hoping everyone would accept this gift.  No way!  The story doesn’t stop there!  After His brutal death, Christians believe He rose on the third day and ascended to heaven; He essentially beat death, and the grave.  The Christian who holds Jesus’ life and resurrection as true, and who accepts Him as their Lord and Savior will one day have an eternal home with Him.  Just as with all mankind before us, we will all pass away one day and for those of us who are Jesus followers, we will be with Him for all eternity instead of the alternative known as hell.  We need Jesus.  I need Jesus.  I was created by the Creator of the world to bring HIm praise and glory, and I have failed many times.  Hard.  I need Him to rescue me.  I believe wholeheartedly in the bible, the crucifixion and the resurrection of my Savior not only for the hope He brings me here on earth, but also so that I could live in eternity with Him. ~ Amen

Seas Established

The earth is the Lords’, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. ~ Psalm 24:1-2

As much as I love my home (I call it my little piece of heaven), my children, and my husband, none of them are truly mine.  The rightful owner of everything I have and everyone I love is God.  He even owns me.  I am his child; I am not my own.  The fullness of earth, and all its contents belong to God, and He is essentially loaning us everything, and all people that roam the earth.  We are but steward’s, or managers of what He has given us, and how we take care of those things, and this earth matters to Him.  He has uniquely designed this world, and all of nature to take care of itself, and us, and for our benefit to enjoy.   There is no doubt that we live in a broken world due to Adam and Eve’s first sin and the fall of man, but God still owns it – ALL of it.  I have heard it said that earth is the devil’s playground, and while Satan does roam to and fro looking for those he can devour (1 Peter 5:8), he does not own the earth.  He cannot do what God does not allow for some greater glory that will be reflected by God.  David also is astounded by the fact that God could establish the earth upon the waters.  According to Genesis 1:2 the earth was “without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep (waters).  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”  Furthermore, Genesis 1:9-10 says, “And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.”  We were blessed with a specifically detailed, uniquely designed earth to live in by an all powerful and loving God.  While we are to be good stewards of this earth and the things, and people God loans us, we need to remember that He is the ultimate invisible sustainer of the universe and us.  Let us enjoy and rejoice in God’s goodness and this extraordinary place we call earth. ~ Amen

Loose Chains

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:  to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? ~ Isaiah 58:6

The spiritual act of fasting doesn’t get a lot of traction these days.  Fasting is giving up something (typically food) in order to focus on God for such reasons as repentance, guidance, or as an act of dependence on God.  However, like with every spiritual discipline, fasting can be done in a manner that is unpleasant to the Lord.  The Israelites were in the habit of fasting and going through religious rituals and then complained when God didn’t improve their situation immediately.  They expected to follow the rules and in turn thought they could force God’s hand to their demands.  But just like with all spiritual growth, this once again, is a heart issue.  Isaiah was telling the Israelites that God doesn’t just want the act, the motions of religious rituals followed, but God wants our hearts.  I think the message is clear – I don’t care what rituals you are doing, but why are you doing them?  To fast and pray only for selfish gains while others are suffering around you while you oppress them is highly hypocritical.  Fast to be closer to God; to gather His wisdom and insight; to find out how to help others and not just yourself.  The Israelites were using fasting as a means to an end, but fasting is a practice that should be used as a tool for personal spiritual growth.  God is not a genie in a bottle who can be controlled by fasting.  Notice in verse 3 of Isaiah 58 how arrogant and prideful the Israelites seem, as if God owes them any favors. Now in verses 4-6 of the same chapter you see why God may be withholding His blessings and favor, for you cannot ask God for help and be part of the problem by lacking to love people.  God expects His followers to be part of the solution.  We need to be sure that our hearts are right before we go before God demanding He meets our every need through rituals. Rituals don’t make your heart right; your obedience, attitude and humility do.  God wants your heart.  The Israelites continued in their quest to do what was right in their own eyes and to be spiteful and nasty toward each other while expecting blessings from God.  Oh Lord, help me to keep a pure heart and treat others the way you would want me to treat them.  Open my eyes to the many blessings you have given me and let me come to you with a loving and clean heart. ~ Amen

Really Dwell

But will God really dwell on earth with men?  The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you.  How much less this temple I have built! ~ 2 Chronicles 6:18

Despite the magnificent and glorious temple Solomon built for the Lord, Solomon recognizes that God’s infinite nature is much bigger than a building.  God is not contained to space, structures, or time.  He is everywhere all the time.  The structures, or building man have made over time as temples and churches for God are great symbols and places to go worship, don’t get me wrong, but God can be, and should be worshipped anywhere.  You can pray, sing, praise and thank God anytime and anywhere.  Buildings are not the church; we are – His people.  Yes, church is important to our faith as gathering places of fellowship, but God is not confined there.  His greatness and goodness is felt and seen throughout the Old Testament in many physical forms such as the pillar of cloud and fire, the burning bush, even the parting of the Red Sea just to name a few, but God’s presence can be felt when you drive your car, enjoy nature, or even during your daily tasks.  I love that I have a designated church building where I can go be with fellow Christians and worship together, but God is not confined to that building and as such, I have the opportunity to commune with Him wherever I am.  It is not important the building, or temple you worship God in; it matters how your heart responds to God.  It matters how you love God and love people outside of the building.  It’s our heart God seeks to have no matter the place you worship.  To think that God only meets you in a church is to limit God, but He is limitless.  Don’t confine God’s infinite vastness and goodness.  Learn to enjoy His presence everywhere. ~ Amen

Blessed Mercy

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ~ Matthew 5:7

A merciful heart is a compassionate and forgiving heart.  Is that you?  Unfortunately, Christians don’t always live up to this and therefore tend to be more like the world than Christ-like. We tend to hold grudges and hold onto hurt.  We are quick to talk about compassion and forgiveness, but are not great at dishing it out.  We talk the talk, but don’t always walk the walk and people are more interested in our actions than our words.  They are watching.  Being merciful is a result of spiritual growth that allows us to deal with the hurt, pain and suffering when we are wronged.  Dealing with the sin towards us in this broken world the way Christ has dealt with us.  We are all suffering and sinners in this world and how we deal with it is a measure of growth and the Holy Spirit in us.  A merciful person doesn’t beat people over their heads with their sin, or continue to hold things over people’s heads about what they may have done, or what they deserve, but instead they open their arms to them and show compassion and forgiveness.  Isn’t that what Christ does for us?  Isn’t that what He did for us on the cross?  He opened His arms and paid the price for my sins, no questions asked.  No hard feelings.  As a follower of Christ, we are to do the same.  Not so we can be doormates, but that we can be light in a broken world and the same mercy can be shown to us.  Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness.”  God grants us new mercies everyday because we are all sinners.  Will we be merciful to those in need?  To those who have hurt us?  I need mercy everyday and so do the people in my life.  Without mercy we would be a bunch of miserable people without real relationships.  We would be holding hurts and thinking only of ourselves.  If I wasn’t shown mercy by people in my life, I would be all alone.  No one deserves to be all alone and unforgiven.  As much as I have been given mercy, a pardoning of my wrongs and compassion, I pray Jesus would help me show His goodness in the same way. ~ Amen

Refresh Weary

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. ~ Jeremiah 31:25

We live in a busy world.  Busier than it’s ever been and one that demands more time and energy from us than most of us have.  There are daily chores, family life, work, kids, sports, friendships that need tended to and then the struggles and trials of life that inevitably hit.  This verse particularly comes at a time when the Israelites were facing exile and hardships.  The Israelites struggled for years; they were a people who understood the struggle of daily life.  Having been punished and now in the middle of striving, God tells Jeremiah that he will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint even when they may feel defeated.  God is our only real source of replenishment and complete renewal.  No one can fill you up like God can.  If you are looking to others to refresh you, you will always be let down.  Only God is able to completely fill your mind, body and spirit with what you need.  He created us; He knows exactly what we need and promises to give it to us if we would come to Him.  Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  God offers comfort to all who are burdened.  You will feel exhausted at some point in life and only God can give you rest and satisfy you.  Israel was a hard-hearted people who oftentimes were disobedient, yet God still promised to give them hope and grace.  Your God wants to restore you.  Come find the true restoration you want; only God can give it to you.  For many years Israel wavered back and forth with God and He still promised them restoration; don’t you think He’ll do the same for you?  Bask in the deep love and compassion God has for you even when you stumble, and let Him give you strength and rest. ~ Amen

Great Encouragement

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. ~ Philemon 1:7

Do you refresh people?  Do you make them feel good when they leave your presence?  Are you quick to help others?  Are you generous?  Philemon was a wealthy man who lived in Colossae and who became a follower of Christ through Paul’s ministry.  He often held church gatherings in his own home and helped out financially to others whenever he could and word of his encouragement made its way to Paul’s ears while Paul was still in a Roman prison.  Intent on encouraging Philemon to continue in his faith and growth, Paul writes to Philemon to tell him how proud he is of him and to keep up the good work.  Like most wealthy landowners, Philemon had slaves and one of his slaves was in trouble and in need of forgiveness and Paul wanted to encourage Philemon to treat his slave with the same kindness he gave to others in hopes that Philemon would be quick to forgive Onesimus.  An escaped slave of Philemon, Onesimus had gone to Rome and sought Paul out at the prison he was held at and became a follower of Jesus under Paul’s mentorship.  The slave wanted to reconcile with Philemon and Paul decided to write a letter to Philemon on Onesimus’ behalf pleading for the same love, kindness and generosity he has shown to others.  Paul considers Philemon a dear friend and brother in Christ, so I am sure he had to know Philemon would take his request sincerely.  The book of Philemon ends without us not knowing if Philemon took Onesimus back; however, most bible scholars agree that Philemon not only took him back with open arms, but went a step further and freed him as his slave.  In verse 21, Paul writes, “Confident of your obedience, I write to you knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”  This one verse leads many to believe Philemon freed Onesimus as his brother in Christ now and no longer a slave.  At the core of this verse is love, encouragement, support and forgiveness.  Philemon, refreshed Onesimus’ soul when he could have held anger and resentment against him and made his life really hard.  May we be as refreshing to others as Philemon was. ~ Amen

Delightful Difficulties

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknesses.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Whether being persecuted, imprisoned, or both, and even with a “thorn in my flesh”, Paul delighted in his difficulties.  How can that be?  Why would anyone delight in hardships?  Because Paul understood that God’s grace was all he needed to endure everything down here.  Paul understood that God’s strength and will was working through his weaknesses.  His weaknesses actually made him stronger because of the dependance he had to rely on from God.  God’s power is shown through Paul’s weaknesses making him a very useful tool for God’s glory.  Because Paul relied on God’s supernatural power, his own natural weaknesses became bearable.  Paul had been a persecutor of Christians and had experienced a transformative awakening on the Damascus Road and was converted instantly.  He went from Saul, the Christian executioner, to Paul, the one God favored.  Paul understood that God gave him the gift of grace, unmerited favor, by dying on the cross for him while He was a wretched murderer and sinner.  He understood He did not deserve the grace God showed Him.  He knew this and it rocked his world.  But to keep Paul humble, God allowed a “thorn in the flesh”; which is never really disclosed to us other than a pain, or hindrance that we know Paul asked God to take from him numerous times and God’s answer was no.  So instead, Paul boasted of his weaknesses because he understood that is when Christ’s power becomes obvious.  Visible to others.  Felt by us in our weaknesses.  A testimony for others to see.  Our weaknesses bring Him glory when we seek God.  When we seek God through insults, we show the power of kindness and self-control by holding our tongues.  By delighting in our struggles while trusting God and praising Him we are being the best witnesses we can be for Him.  ~ Amen

Heart Test

It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon Spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David.  He succeeded in everything he undertook.  But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. ~ 2 Chronicles 32:30-31

Tests.  Nobody likes them.  Tests are meant to measure our knowledge, skill, and capability.  No one likes to feel inadequate, but often that’s how tests make us feel.  Then you have the medical tests that make us anxious as we wait to hear if we are healthy, or not.  Negative result, positive result – all so overwhelming.  What if I told you life is a test?  A test of our character.  It only makes sense that once in a while God would test us for His glory and to purify, or refine our hearts.  In today’s world it’s easy to get comfortable and complacent in our beliefs.  Most people aren't pushing you to answer, or act how you say you believe because we’ve all just accepted everything.  No one wants to offend anyone, so we let everyone do, say, act and believe whatever/however they want with no questions.  Intent on building His followers' character to be more like His own, God will test us and intentionally pull back and withdraw, or be silent in order to see what is truly in our heart.  Hezekiah was a successful king and had destroyed idols and brought worship back to God and celebrated when He watched God intervene and save Judah from the Assyrians.  So now, after much success from God, God wanted to see how Hezekiah would respond to these Babylonian ambassadors on his own.  Would he give credit where credit was due?  The sneaky attitude of pride crept into Hezekiah’s heart and he began to show all his kingdom and treasure to the ambassadors as if he had done this all by himself.  Instead of giving God the glory, Hezekiah took the glory.  The truth of the matter is we can all be swayed into loving the things of this world more than God.  We all have had idols take the place of our God as number one for a time.  It’s so easy to put Christ on the back burner when things are going our way in life.  Sometimes our priorities get mixed up and shuffled around.  The tests God gives us are not about head knowledge, they are about heart and soul knowledge.  They are character building tests and we all have areas of weakness.  Fire, while extremely dangerous, can also be used to refine and purify metals and golds.  In the same way, God may use fire to refine us.  You may experience deep, profound, unthinkable loss to watch it grow into a beautiful and spiritual awakening months, even years later that never would have taken place without devastation first.  God's tests come in many different forms, and some we may not even notice, but life is a test.  A test of your character and loyalty given any situation.  Being tested does not mean you're being punished.  Being tested means God sees you and wants to use you for His greater purposes.  In this world there will be many tests.  I strive to pass them all! ~ Amen 

Consistent Love

Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. ~ Psalm 119:89

The word ‘forever’ as an adjective means permanent, or unchanging, and according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary it also means “for a limitless time”.  God’s word is established and eternal; it cannot be changed; it is finished; complete.  Done. Period.  God is the same yesterday, today, three years ago and forever.  I can believe in God’s sovereignty, goodness, and faithfulness forever.  I can trust that God’s ways will never change, and His love will never change.  My hope and guidance for my life here on earth is rooted in the unchanging word of God.  I know God’s word because I read the Bible to see what God’s word tells me and to glean wisdom and understanding that will never change.  While the rules and laws of our world change on a yearly basis, God’s word cannot and will not be modified.  You want to know what He thinks, or thought about something then open up the Bible and soak it in.  His ways and thoughts will never change.  Being rooted in God’s word will bring you great peace as you will have a sincere sense of consistency.  Consistency because God’s love, faithfulness and goodness doesn’t change regardless of the chaotic world we live in, or even regardless of the crazy life we may live.  God’s love for you looks the same whether you’re a faithful follower, or have messed up big time.  His word is settled.  He cannot change!  His love cannot change.  Yes, there may be consequences, but His love is not conditional; it’s consistent.  It cannot be improved upon.  God’s word and love is unchangeable and we need to be reading God’s word everyday to help us wade through the difficult and hard times.  Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of our God endures forever.”  This world, planet earth, one day will be no more, but God’s word will remain.  It’s set in heaven forever.  He’s will, will be done. ~ Amen

All Hours

As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.  Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. ~ Psalm 55:16-17

David wrote this Psalm when he was in the middle of trying, stressful and difficult times; yet he still trusted that God heard him and would help him.  David is in great distress as a former friend has rebelled and become a powerful leader in Jerusalem and has conspired against David while destruction and violence rules.  There now seems to be enemies of David all around and he has become fearful.  He is living in such a state of fear that he is crying out to God for deliverance.  Never underestimate the power of crying out to God in prayer.  Prayer is one of the best weapons we have against the powers of evil.  Prayer moves things in spiritual realms we cannot see and moves mountains we otherwise would not be able to move.  When we cry out to God, we are acknowledging that we can’t do life on our own and need His help.  God loves it when His children come to Him in prayer.  He longs for it.  He wants to help.  Don’t let prayer be your last resort, but instead, let prayer and praise be your first response in times of good, plenty, joy, difficulty, pain and sorrow.  God cares.  God listens.  God loves you.  Prayer can calm a storm, calm a heart, and give peace to your mind and soul.  Not all religions have a God that is relational and wants to be your help, but as followers of Christ, the privilege of prayer has the ability to move lives in miraculous ways.  David knew this.  He trusted God to hear him and to know his voice, and to save him.  Life throws all of us curveballs and instead of running from our fear, or troubles, we need to run to God in prayer and wait for His faithfulness to make everything work out for the good of those who love Him.  Magnify your prayer life.  Prayer goes where we cannot and changes circumstances we have no control over.  Prayer is powerful and supernatural. How often do you go to God first?  Make it a habit and you’ll be blessed, and your spirit will be at rest even in the midst of chaos. ~ Amen 

In Motion

When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the son of man is glorified and God is glorified in him.” ~ John 13:31

By washing the disciples' feet, even Judas’ who Jesus knew would betray Him, we have a solid definition of servanthood and love even in the midst of our enemies.  Earlier in John 13 it says that the devil had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus (John 13:2), and Jesus knew that, but He still loved Judas.  God is love, and since Jesus was God on earth, Jesus is love.  God has to be consistent with himself as God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was sorrowful of what he knew Judas was about to do.  He loved him.  However, Jesus knew that this betrayal would set things in motion for Jesus’ death and God’s ultimate plan.  He knew when Judas left the upper room at the Last Supper the implication of the next few days even though the disciples had no clue.  The beginning of the end of God’s redemptive plan had begun.  As fully human, a whirlwind of emotions must have enveloped Jesus – anger, love, confusion, sorrow, compassion, fear, anxiety and hope, but He knew that through the cross He would be glorified, or lifted up for the sake of mankind.  My guess is that Judas also had a lot of emotions when he left the dinner table where Jesus sat knowing what he was about to do.  Longing to say good-bye, but not knowing how.  Everything has been set in place.  God will be glorified through His son, Jesus.  The sacrificial lamb.  God’s son will honor him and because of their unique “one-ness” He will also glorify himself.  Jesus then calls the disciples his “little children” and gives them the new command to replace the others – love one another.  I believe Jesus is still glorified today when His children unapologetically love one another.  Jesus was the ultimate model of love; the cross represents an agape love that only Jesus could have fulfilled.  He was glorified and God was honored.  Now we, as followers of Christ, must love one another not when we feel like it, but always.  It’s not optional.  It’s a command from the one who gave His life for you. ~ Amen

Troubled Betrayal

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” ~ John 13:21

Let’s be honest, being blind sided by betrayal is highly hurtful, but to know it’s going to happen and still choose to love and forgive that person is down right supernatural.  No one expected Judas to betray Jesus, he was one of the 12, he was the treasurer, he took care of the poor, why would anyone think Judas would betray Jesus?  Greed.  Some scholars also believe that Judas may have become disillusioned with Jesus because they didn’t always see eye to eye and Judas was a bit prideful and arrogant; which prevented a deeper relationship with Jesus.  For 20 pieces of silver (approximately four months wages back then), and expected praise for denouncing Jesus, Judas betrayed our Lord and Savior only to wish later that he could take it all back, but it was too late.  This may have led to a demonic possession and a full on spiritual battle that Jesus allowed to help further and fulfill His mission of redemption of mankind.  When Judas realized the religious and political leaders were discussing the plan of crucifixion for Jesus, he became overcome with grief.  He tried to return the silver to no avail and in a matter of hours was taking his own life due to intense grief of what he had done. Had Judas just waited it out a week instead of taking his sorrow into his own hands, he would have surely been overwhelmed with joy, peace and gratitude for Christ. God’s plan of redemption for mankind was carried out.  God’s plan for your life will continue even through hurtful experiences like betrayal.  You can trust in God even in the middle of hurt and sorrow.  If Jesus had to experience love and sorrow at the same time, we should expect to experience it also.  But He will see us through. ~ Amen

From Infancy

From infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ~ 2 Timothy 3:15

Timothy had been raised and brought up in faith by his mother and grandmother.  He was raised in a home of God fearing and faith filled women.  He was taught and instructed by these women through the Jewish scriptures and was often in the local synagogue.  We, as parents and grandparents, should make this our top priority in life – to raise and instruct our children in God’s word and to raise them according to God’s will above all else.  To show them how to have a real relationship with Jesus and introduce them to Jesus’ ways. The best gift we could ever give them is Jeus.  The world is going to present them with all kinds of ideas and they will even tell them to “do what makes you feel good regardless of others”, not to mention that at least once they’ll hear the horrible lie that many believe…. “you're worthless”.  We need to be sure they know how to tell the difference between their Creator’s voice and their enemy’s voice.  The world will tear them down enough; they need to know they have someone in their corner ALL the time.  We need to bring them up the way God would want us too; not the way the world would.  This is a confusing place, and the devil uses it as a playground.  We need to make sure our children are bought up in truth and we must make sure they find their identity in Him.  Do not leave your child’s, or grandchild’s soul, or identity up to the world; that will only lead to heartache, disillusionment and disappointment.  The world has baggage to leave our loved ones, but Christ wants to take that baggage.  There is stability, wisdom, and a great sense of love and purpose that will cultivate and grow when you teach your littles about Jesus.  The ultimate choice will be theirs as to whether to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, or not, but if we don’t bring them up with Him, who will?  How will they ever know?!  The world sure isn’t going to tell them.  The world is distorted in their beliefs and we want our children to be able to make wise decisions that will lead them to redemption and salvation.  Don’t leave it up to someone else.  Show them today! ~ Amen

Rid Yourselves

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit.  Why will you die, people of Israel?  For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord.  Repent and live! ~ Ezekiel 18:31-32

Our Creator, the Lord God Almighty, longs to spend eternity with each and everyone of us.  Just as He said this to the Israelites, He would say the same thing to us thousands of years later.  It’s a plea from the heart of God to turn from the sin of the world and repent so that we may live an eternity with Him.  Our God does not long for people to die apart from Him, but it’s our choice.  I once heard it said that, “God is a gentleman.  He won’t push himself on you, or force you to believe in Him.  The choice is yours, but just as there are natural consequences here on earth for our behavior, there are also eternal consequences, so choose wisely.”  Sin equals death apart from God, why would you choose that when He wants so much more for you?  We live in a world full of sinful behaviors:  lust, greed, anger, jealousy, adultery, stealing, and lying just to name a few, and just because we decided to follow Jesus these temptations didn’t magically go away.  We live in a broken world.  However, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, repent and turn our hearts to God, and trust Him, He promises to meet us and give us new hope and life.  We must be intentional everyday to dwell in the things of God instead of the world and we must guard our hearts.  If you have never put your trust in God, or asked for His help out of sin, I urge you to now. Repent, turn from sin and watch God give you a life you have never experienced before. ~ Amen

Paths Straight

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Believing in God is one thing, but to trust God with my whole heart is next level.  Sometimes He has allowed fiery trials that make me wonder if He’s anywhere near, or listening to my cries.  How can I trust when this hurts so much and doesn’t seem helpful?  He is good.  He is sovereign.  He is trustworthy because He is perfect; He cannot be untrustworthy.  He is the beginning and the end; the one true God; the maker of Heaven and earth and the reason I have breath in my lungs.  My existence relies on Him.  I can trust Him.  And to trust Him with my heart means that my whole being will trust Him – all of me.  My emotions and my feelings may not believe I can trust Him, but I can consciously choose to trust Him no matter how I feel.  I must choose to trust Him even when the circumstances hurt.  There are bigger pieces and more to the jigsaw puzzle of our life than we can see.  Our minds are only allowed to understand the natural world, but God works in the supernatural; which means we are not privy to how He makes things work.  We all understand things differently, where God only has one way to think; the right way all the time.  We all have different perspectives that can change and evolve; God's ways are the same yesterday, today and forever.  God’s ways and His understanding is better than mine and when I choose to trust in His ways He will make all my paths straight.  Straight right directly to Him.  There may be some bumps in the road and storms to still go through, but my path will lead me to Him.  If you don’t think you know how to live the best way you can in God’s understanding, then I suggest you dive into the bible.  God’s inspired scripture can tell you how to live.  My suggestion would be to start with the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament and then read the four main gospels in the New Testament of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to get a good picture of Jesus.  Pray God will reveal himself to you and pray that you will learn to trust Him.  I promise He will meet you. ~ Amen

Very Purpose

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:5-6

We are being prepared for our eternal destiny everyday in some way while we are still here on earth.  God is shaping us and molding us daily down here and when bad things happen to us, we have the Holy Spirit to walk with us. Sometimes what goes on down here on earth is devastating, but as followers of Jesus we can be confident of the goodness that is waiting for us eternally because of our faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  I must be willing to walk and live by faith in this temporary body while living in my temporal home.  I am away from God, not in his physical and literal presence, while I am in this body on this earth, but one day all of that will be reversed.  I will be with my Lord for eternity and apart from this temporary body.  I will have a new body and I will dwell in my forever home because I walked in faith with the Holy Spirit and my purpose here on earth will have been fulfilled.  We waste a lot of time worrying and thinking about our future here on earth, but what does your eternal future look like?  Are you confident you’ll be in the presence of God?  Life is precious and life is short.  Live for God’s  glory and will.  The death of our body here on earth means our soul is finally going home to heavenly bliss.  Death on earth equals doom and gloom, but for the believer death should equal hope, peace and unexplainable joy. ~ Amen

Broken Walls

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. ~ Provers 25:28

Oh the world of gluttony!  That’s where I personally like to live.  I am being totally vulnerable here when I tell you that I have pretty good self-control in my life except for one area …. I love food!  I am a self-proclaimed “foodie”, but what I really am is an overeater.  Big portions and seconds are not uncommon and it’s something I have to work at almost every time I eat.  To let our worldly desires overtake us and to have no control of our spirit is like a city with no fortified walls up as defense.  The city is an easy target and can easily be taken over.  The same thing can happen to us when we let our own actions and emotions run wild; we run into sin and ruin as we are, by nature, sinful people.  We don’t stop the harmful behavior, but instead let it run wild instead of reigning it in.  Our defenses are down and our city is right for the devil’s picking.  Many people who have been in trouble with the law got in that predicament because of lack of self-control.  Trouble came in through the front gate and there was no resistance.  You cannot produce a rich spirit filled life if you do not have self-control.  The opposite of control is chaos and nothing lasting, or of good measure comes from chaos except more chaos and confusion.  I hate to say it, but sometimes our worst enemy is ourselves.  When we give up and let our emotions, feelings and spirit run free we will end up with heartache at the end of a long journey.  Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”  Our hearts and spirits are inherently misleading.  We  need to rule over them.  You need to resist your flesh and obey the Lord’s ruling over your life.  Put your desires aside and ask God for help.  Build your defenses and walls with prayer and bible study.  You cannot reign in your heart on your own.  You will need help.  Ask Him.  Ask godly friends and family to help you.  Identify where you need help.  Take over your mind.  Ask God for strength and He will provide. ~ Amen

Dear Children

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.  You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ~ 1 John 4:1-4

The enemy of your soul, Satan, only has as much power of your life and thoughts as you allow him to have.  Once you become a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit makes a home inside you that when called upon, the devil has to flee.  The devil likes to fill our heads with negative thoughts and our hearts with fear, but the Holy Spirit’s power in us is much bigger than any negative thought, or fear so call it on his help in the name of Jesus.  We are overcomers because of our faith.  However, this isn’t just a verse on overcoming temptation and fear.  It’s also an instruction and warning to us about the importance of discerning false teachings and prophets.  Too many teachers, or religious beliefs make the claim “that we’re all getting to heaven,  just maybe with a different belief" and that is so wrong.  That’s what John means when he says to test it. Not everything is from God even if the moral compass is clean.  Be careful!  There are many out there who want to speak on behalf of God, but what do they say about Jesus?  Who do they say Jesus is, or was?  Pay attention!  Test their knowledge of scripture and salvation.  Just because someone knows the bible doesn’t necessarily mean they know Christ.  There is head knowledge as literature and there is God’s inspired word.  How do they define the bible?  Test them.  Don’t blindly accept everything.  Know the truth and test what you are not sure of.  Live free of fear and temptation from Satan and live in obedience to the faith of Jesus Christ. ~ Amen

Remind People

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. ~ Titus 3:1-2

I don’t like to get into political discussions.  At all. In fact, I will leave the room once someone brings them up.  I just feel like the majority of citizens have clothed themselves and placed way too much of their identity in their political beliefs.  We tend to try to destroy someone’s character if they don’t believe just like us.  I have seen families being divided for years because of varying viewpoints.  The fact that families, and longtime friendships can be destroyed based on personal political preferences proves that everyone, followers of Christ included, need to work on the very principles Paul was telling Titus about in the above verses.  I don’t always agree with our government leaders, or even the President of the United States, but I do understand that God has allowed them to be our leaders for some reason, and I need to trust Him…as in God.  I may not always understand, or like the laws of the land, but as a follower of Jesus I am to obey them to help keep some sort of order to the land.  It is not my job to argue the law, it is my job to follow the law and let God judge who, and what He needs to judge when He feels the need to do so.  As followers of Jesus, we need to live in obedience to how God instructs us to live and God will take care of the rest.  Titus was told hundreds of years ago to remind the followers of Jesus how to act and hundreds of years later we still have to be reminded.  We still don’t have it right.  And if I dare say, here in the 21st century, our social fabric and standards are declining at a rapid rate as we become obsessed with ourselves, our own feelings, and our own needs and wants over those of our neighbors.  We have become hardened to the laws of the land; we are disobedient when things don’t go our way; we slander anyone who looks, thinks, or acts differently than us; we drive into our garage and quickly close the door even though we see our neighbors needing help bringing the groceries in; no one holds the door open for the people behind them anymore; and loud, contentious riots in the name of justice are anything but peaceable.  As followers of Jesus, we are to put others first; watch our tongues; be humble and do not quarrel; be obedient; be encouraging, gentle, peaceful and courteous.  Our world notices our attitudes and actions and they are watching.  Dare to be different. ~ Amen

Generous Prosper

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. ~ Proverbs 11:25

I am glad our God is a generous God; generous in love, mercy and grace.  No matter how many times I foul up, God continues to be generous in His character.  That’s just who He is.  He can’t help it.  In the same way, followers of Jesus are called to be generous, and this doesn’t just mean with your money, or resources.  How about your time?  Are you generous with kindness, grace, forgiveness?  We tend to associate the word generosity to wealth, or financial gain, but Christ meant it as giving out of what you have.  You can be generous with other things and talents besides just money.  Giving someone a compliment, a sandwich, a ride to the store, forgiveness you may think they don’t deserve, an encouraging word – all of these are counted as generous, and when we help others, we help ourselves.  In helping others, our mood changes, we become happier, we feel a sense of joy, and might even catch ourselves smiling.  We water our souls.  When you feel a nudge to be kind, encouraging, or generous, act on it.  You cannot outgive God, and He will, in turn, bless you.  God created man to do life together and to lift each other up. There is no better way to do that than to be generous with what you have and loving people through your gifts and talents.  God doesn’t expect you to spend a ton of money, or time, but he does expect you to work with what you have.  It’s a genuine attitude of giving from the heart that God wants.  It’s a heart issue at the core; not a financial issue.  If you want to be blessed, you must bless others.  We reap what we sow.  When you plant seeds of kindness, encouragement and blessing, you will reap kindness, encouragement and blessing.  The same is true if you plant seeds of anger, bitterness and jealousy; expect to get the same crop back.  God expects His people to take care of each other as He has taken care of us.  Be a cheerful giver. ~ Amen

Reaches Heaves

Your love Lord, reaches to the heaves, your faithfulness to the skies! ~ Psalm 36:5

I love the imagery of this verse; “reaches to the heavens” and “to the skies” basically means God’s love and faithfulness never end.  They are endless attributes of God’s character.  God’s love and faithfulness towards us has no limit.  He does not run out.  As a follower of Christ, God will always love you and be faithful no matter your past, present, or future.  God never fails to provide these things to us.  He may not give us what we want, but He always gives us what we need.  Matthew 6:26-34 says, “ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  I often pray, “Lord, please provide for all we need and let us have enough,” and He has never failed me.  When I don’t get what I think I need, I just figure God told me no for a reason and I must have all I need.  Vast and wide are the skies and the heavens; that type of measurement we cannot fathom – this is God’s faithfulness and love to us. God’s love is not only humongous;  it is limitless – without end.  God’s faithfulness means He will keep His promises.  In today’s world people may disappoint you and their words may be no good to you anymore.  They’ve let you down so much in life that you don’t believe a word they say.  You don’t trust anyone.  Not anymore.  God promises to be loyal and faithful, and keep His promises!  He has to; it’s who He is.  He has promised to be with us forever and to love us forever.  God showed His generous gift of love and faithfulness when He chose to use His own son as a sacrifice to be brutally murdered for us so we could be reconciled to Him.  He was faithful to redeem and restore our relationship if we would accept His son.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe I will, or could ever, sacrifice a child in hopes that someone would have a relationship with me.  But that is our God.  That is Jesus.  That is love and faithfulness fulfilled.  It is our privilege to accept this great gift and our responsibility to be faithful in telling the world of God’s great and limitless love. ~ Amen

Enduring City

For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. ~ Hebrews 13:14

Most people who claim to be followers of Jesus know that whatever city you live in, the state you live in, the country you live in and even earth itself is not our permanent home, but boy do we hold tightly to the things of this world.  When was the last time you thought about your eternal home over your earthly home?  We are to be transient people here on earth as this planet was never meant to be our permanent home, or where we will find lasting treasures.  We can have an impact on the cities we live in by showing God’s love, grace and mercy to others, but we need to guard ourselves into thinking like the world thinks about materialism and getting comfortable here.  The city of our future and eternity is with God and His angels in the heavenly realms.  Revelation 21:2 says, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”  Boldly live differently here on earth; be comfortable in being persecuted for your beliefs; your rewards will be great in your eternal home.  Live differently and serve others.  I need to be reminded on a daily basis that his home is a temporary landing spot; it’s not my forever home.  I live in an older home and would love to do some remodeling, but one day the question “why?” crossed my mind.  After all, this home will probably outlast my time on earth, so why should I get sucked into spending time, money and resources remodeling my physical home if I don’t really need to? Please know this was a personal revelation; remodeling your home is not a bad thing to do in of itself, but my personal thinking had become a little skewed.  I was in the head space of comparing myself to others and that is a lie from the enemy…..so the light bulb moment was a good one for me.  This is all temporary and will not matter in the end.  I should be more about spending my time, money and resources furthering God’s kingdom instead of trying to keep up with my neighbors.  After all, I should be sharing the gospel with my neighbors instead of being in competition with them.  That’s what we, as followers of Christ, need to be in the business of – showing compassion and making a difference so that many will know eternity in heaven. ~ Amen

Very Good

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.  And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day. ~ Genesis 1:31

The world was created by a perfect God; which means everything created has no flaws, or defects.  A  masterpiece was created “good” in its original design, beauty and order.  God gave it His stamp of approval – very good.  We see that after almost everything God created He stated ‘it is good’, but in verse three of Genesis 1, after everything was complete, including man, that’s when the creation was labeled ‘very good’.  The animals got along with each other and roamed freely; the air was unpolluted; mankind had dominion over everything and best of all, man was created and meant to walk with God on a daily basis.  This verse is a reminder of the goodness that God created in the world and that same goodness can be seen today.  Years after the fall of Adam and Eve, even though sin became part of our world, God’s goodness can still be seen in his provision and faithfulness.  In the end, Christ will put everything right and we will marvel at the ‘very good’ state of this world once again with the second coming of Christ when creation and Jesus' followers will be restored back to the original state of creation.  God’s creation was made with purpose and inherently good and all that will be made new once again.  Today we should look at the world for the beauty and order that God intended us to enjoy.  God marvelled at His creation and everything was intentional and meaningful.  Our ultimate fulfillment is in Christ and our purpose is to love Him and love people.  This is ‘very good’. ~ Amen

Better House

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. ~ Ecclesiastes 7:20

So much of the Bible gives us instruction and guidance on how to live here on earth and how to relate to others, but this verse reminds us that our ultimate density is death and we shouldn’t lose sight of that reality.  Many of us live selfish lives based on ambition, greed, and materialism instead of serving others and living for the eternal rewards once we pass away.  We should be living and showing Christ down here so that our destiny in the after life has more treasure than what we have accumulated here.  We would be wise to embrace the truth that we will all perish, but we tend to be scared to think, or even talk about the end.  There is wisdom in the house of mourning.  You can learn a lot about your character through the death of a loved one, a job, or even a dream.  Death can come in many different forms, but as followers of Jesus, we need to remember that death is not only the end, but a beautiful beginning.  When we were born we were born into a sinful world, but as followers of Jesus, when we die, our final hope and faith will be made complete and there will be no more sorrow, or tears.  This verse emphasizes that while there is time for feasting and celebration there is great wisdom in mourning that we would not learn, or know elsewhere and by being a child of God we can rejoice in both the feasting and the mourning.  Having a healthy view of life and death is what this verse ultimately begs for us to have.  We must live a life for Christ and trust Him here while spiritually preparing for the end; which will one day catch up to us all. ~ Amen

Those Kind

Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves. ~ Proverbs 11:17

My grandma used to say, “You’ll catch more kindness with honey than you will with manure.”  Growing up, I never really understood what she was saying until I was in about the 8th grade.  I got into a fight with my best girlfriend and she started being downright mean.  I don’t even remember what the fight was about, but I do remember plotting revenge against my friend and my grandma overheard me telling someone my plan; which I can’t remember now either.  Next thing I heard was her song and dance about kindness.  I decided not to do anything and let my friend continue her attack without responding.  About a week later, she had shut her mouth and moved on.  Two weeks later we were friends again.  I believe my taking the high road by not responding back made my friend have no choice but to look at herself.  She apologized for her nastiness and we moved past it.  It’s easy to get sucked into wanting to hurt those who hurt us, but Jesus would tell us to be kind, and merciful even to those who are cruel to us.  It’s easy to be nice to those who are nice to us, but it takes extra grit and will power to be kind to those who are hurtful.  None of us were meant to do life alone, so why be cruel?  Being cruel will just isolate you from people, and leave you miserably alone when we were created as relational beings.  The only way to practice kindness is to interact with others and to treat them like you treat yourself.  Interaction with others is the best indication of our character.  Are we kind to others?  Are we encouraging?  Are we helpful?  When you do these things you are showing Christ and will benefit the same from others.  However, if you tear people down, think only of yourself and tend to turn the other way when help is needed you will reap the same from others.  Kindness will reap a harvest of friendships while being cruel will leave you lonely.  Give kindness and mercy. ~ Amen

Firm Forever

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. ~ Psalm 33:10-11

The fact of the matter is you were created to live forever; beyond this life.  Plans of mankind change and evolve from one year to the next, but the Lord’s plans and purposes are firm and one of those plans is to have us with Him forever.  I know we all have plans for our life here on earth, but have you ever thought about what your forever eternity will look like?  I know where I will be spending eternity and as a follower of Jesus I also know that God has great plans for me down here on earth.  I am a planner.  I am not good at spontaneity and I love schedules.  Saying this, there have been many times when my planned day has been interrupted and I have become frustrated.  I have to remind myself often that my plans may not have been God’s, and so sometimes I need a divine interruption.  God allows my plans to succeed as long as they don’t interrupt His plans for my life.  Once my plans start to derail from His there is usually a disruption in my path.  God sometimes allows us to derail for a while and then when we get to the dead end of our own plan, He gently guides us back.  The loved one who is off living their life for themselves, if they are a follower of Jesus, may be allowed to hit rock bottom for God’s glory, purposes, and plans later.  Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declared the Lord.  Being mindful. Being prayerful and trusting God’s plans are best will bring you patience and peace instead of frustration and anxiety.  What plans do you have today?  Is there room for a divine interruption, or will you become frustrated?  And where do you plan to spend your forever?  God would love it to be with Him. ~ Amen