Unseen Eternal

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18

We live in a world of the here and now always trying to gain more in the least amount of time.  Often we are a people of short sightedness and have little time for the waiting game.  We want to acquire wealth, success and money so that we can live a comfortable, oftentimes, materialistic lifestyle.  Short sighted only to what we can see and touch.  The same goes for our periods of trials and difficulties.  We get short sighted and can only see how we are suffering instead of seeking and praying to God while waiting for healing and restoration.  We can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.  We don’t see how God could make anything beautiful out of our pain, or loss.  But He can and He often does.  The things of and in this world are all temporary.  Even if your pain, affliction, or earthly wealth last all the days of your life - it is still temporary compared to our eternal glory.  Your life will ebb and flow, have ups and downs, but this is not all there is and it’s not even the end.  The apostle Paul understood this principle and urged believers that if you keep an eternal perspective, you will understand that everything will come to an end - our earthly possessions, our earthly troubles and trials and even our bodies.  Everything outside of eternal and spiritual realities will come to and end.  Only the spiritual world will live on.  Eternal means forever and these eternal realities cannot be lived here on earth.  Believers will not have eternal difficulties, but they can have eternal hope.  Believers will not have eternal wealth, but they can have eternal joy.  Believers will not always have strife, one day they will have complete peace.  The world and all that is in it will perish, but believers of Jesus will live an eternity with their Maker where the world’s realities will be no more.  Put your faith, trust and hope in the fact that your trials will one day be no more.  Hope.  Hope for a better future, and know that this is not all there is to life.  The here and now will pass away. A new sunset will appear, a new trial will arise, but neither will last forever. Let us keep our eyes and hearts focused on our eternal perspective so that we can live a hope filled life here on earth. ~ Amen

Yourselves Testify

You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but am sent ahead of him.’  The bride belongs to the bridegroom.  The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.  That joy is mine, and it is now complete. ~ John 3:28-29

How often have you wondered about your role in life as a follower of Jesus?  John the Baptist knew he was sent ahead of Jesus to prepare the way for Him.  He was considered a best friend of Jesus’ and was excited to be part of the plan.  Are you excited to be part of His second coming plan, or do you just sit idly by awaiting His return?  How have you planned and prepared yourself and others?  Do you tell them of the good news that is the gospel?  Following John’s example, we should be humble and full of service to others so that they may see Christ in us.  Not for our own glory, but for His glory so that Christ can do work in the people that we meet.  We are called to have great influence in this world not for self gain, but so that people can see Christ in us and repent and turn their lives to Him.  Joy is when we see souls of loved ones and friends make the decision to follow Jesus.  True joy.  When God is lifted high in our lives people take notice and we find fulfillment in being a soul winner for Christ.  John the Baptist knew he must be humble and obedient for Christ to shine through him for others to see.  We must become less worldly and more humble and Christlike to win souls for his glory.  Humbling ourselves for his use and happily taking a back seat to Jesus’ will in our lives.  In this world and culture of self-gratitude and promotion, we need to be mindful that Christ has paved the path for us and share that news with others.  Life is not about us, it’s about Him.  Every role, every position we have has been granted by God for His purposes - not our own. There is no greater service to God than to humbly love others, plant the seed of the good news and step aside to watch the Holy Spirit takeover.  Let us be an example like John and put our best foot forward by humbly preparing the way for Jesus’ return. ~ Amen

 

Seasoned Salt

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. ~ Colossians 4:5-6

People are drawn to others who make them feel heard, respected, important and who make them feel genuine.  Boy, I have a lot to work on here myself.  Each of us knows people who we are happy to be around and people who we dread to interact with.  Most of us are drawn to positive and uplifting people, not negativity and complaining.  Then there are the people who don’t share your same values and morals; how do you treat them?  How do they see you?  What kind of message do we send them?  Man, in a world of  “my way, or the highway”, and in a country where it seems like we’ve forgotten that it’s okay to think differently, I hope I come across as kind and caring no matter who I speak to.  Some people will only come to know Jesus through my actions and words.  That’s scary.  That’s a big pill to swallow.  Lord, help my heart be prepared to be genuine and authentic to everyone in love.  There is no room for judgement.  We must love people for who they are and where they are in life.  Christ died for them just as much as He died for me and I pray I never pass up an opportunity to speak of God when prompted by the Holy Spirit.  We must be ready.  Every word that comes out of my mouth must be full of grace and life for those I might run into.  Many people will come in and out of our lives, yet some of them may still not have seen, or heard Jesus.  Ouch!  How tragic.  I am not saying that every conversation has to be about your salvation, or God, but every conversation should make the other person feel good and make them wonder what is so different about me.  Sometimes it’s about planting little seeds of kindness and compassion that later become watered, take root and grow into a big stalk of faith.  Let us never miss an opportunity to speak of and act like Jesus.  No judgement here. ~ Amen

Have Given

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ~ Luke 10:19

When Jesus sent His disciples out to proclaim the good news of God and His coming He also gave them a small taste of His power and authority.  We know that in Genesis Satan came to Eve in the form of a snake to deceive her and now in the verse, again, snakes and scorpions are used as a metaphor for the devil.  We know that the demons and the devil have to submit to the Lord.  They tremble; they cannot stand Jesus.  Power and authority has been given to every follower of Jesus through the Holy Spirit that will make the devil flee.  We can fight our spiritual battles and know that God will answer us.  We need to meditate on God’s work, be prayerful and thankful for what He has done and is going to do and we need to remember that we have victory over our sinful nature.  There are dark forces in this world and Satan would like nothing more but to destroy you, but you have the power to fight back.  Fight!  Just as Jesus gave His disciples power to overcome the enemy, we as believers must embrace that same power.  The enemy has plans to destroy your life, but God can turn what the enemy plans for bad and turn it into a beautiful work of art and good.  Through our salvation and because of what Jesus did on the cross, we are no longer bound by the world, or sin.  We have the power to overcome.  It is not by our own power, but only through Christ can we trample evil and wickedness.  The evil one has no authority over us anymore as followers of Christ.  Let us show him who is boss!  Let us take back our families, homes, and communities and trample the evil and wickedness out.  When you are afraid….stomp it out!  When you feel hopeless….stomp it out!  When you are tempted….stomp it out!  When you feel yourself getting sucked down by the weight of the world….stomp it out!  Let us use the authority and power to defeat the enemy and give God all the glory. ~ Amen

Their Destiny

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is set on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ….~ Philippians 3:19-20

Our world is full of self-indulgence.  Too many people try to fill their lives with things that they think will make them happy only to find themselves unsatisfied in a matter of time.  They are insatiable.  For people who only rely on themselves and this world will never be completely satisfied.  They have no hope beyond their worldly pursuits.  In the end, their pursuit of selfish desires mixed with their denial of Jesus Christ will lead them to an eternity apart from God and will end in destruction.  These unbelievers have rejected God and sought to find peace in their earthly flesh.  They try to fill the void in their life with the world's pleasures only to be led to despair.  Instead, believers of Christ walk in His ways, trust and hope in the things to come and drink from the well of life that will bring victory and joy.  Forging ahead through life in prayerful and right living, we believe and know that everything will work out in the end.  Understanding that this world is our temporary home, believers don’t get swayed by the pursuit of worldly happiness.  We know our real rewards will be in heaven given to us by our Creator and the Maker of the universe.  There will be some who will have rejected God in order to pursue their selfish desires.  We are called and expected to be different as followers of Jesus.  Selflessness should be part of our being and we should live humbly seeking God’s ways and desires over anything this world has to offer.  Paul urges believers to follow his example in Philippians 3:17, Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.  Be faithful, be on guard, do not let people sway you from the truth.  Keep vigilant and close to God.  Just as Jesus warned the New Testament churches that there would be many false teachers, the same is true today.  Be awake.  Be alert.  Let us keep our minds and hearts on the things of God, which will never pass away. ~ Amen

Great Love

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ~ 1 John 3:1

It astounds me that the Creator of the universe calls me one of His children.  Through my acceptance, belief and faith that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and rose again I have gained favor with the same God who tells the wind where to blow.  And I have a hope and a love that no one can take away from me.  Being a child of God means I never have to walk this world alone and I have tremendous hope knowing all things will work out for my best in the end.  Weathering storms of life can be less difficult as I've acquired a whole army of brothers and sisters to help.  The Holy Spirit has made a new home in my heart and gives me peaceful guidance and direction when I ask and listen.  Jesus has shown me the way to live in a broken world.  When we become part of Christ’s family, we put our old ways and attitudes up and put on a new armor.  We become co-heirs of a greater kingdom and God’s love and grace are poured out on us.  What kind of God sacrifices His only son for people who may not even acknowledge Him?  My God did.  My God loves me so much that He wanted to reconcile my relationship to Him by sacrificing His perfect son.  That is unspeakable and unfathomable love.  All that God ever bestowed on Jesus is now for me also.  People, don’t do life alone without hope and a love that covers a multitude of sins.  The world does not know this kind of love, peace, hope and forgiveness because the world hasn’t accepted Jesus like believers have.  If you haven’t checked Jesus out and all that He wants to do for you, I ask you to just say a simple prayer to Him.  Just ask Him to reveal himself to you and see if He doesn’t come through.  Jesus wants you to be part of His family.  What do you have to lose?  Basically nothing.  Jesus, if you could reveal yourself to this reader today, what would you say?  When you become a child of God,  you will desire a purer and holy life and you will be guided by the grace and love of the Holy Spirit.  The world may not know us, but we will know each other for our love.  Let us rejoice in our new family! ~ Amen

More Grace

But he gives us more grace.  That is why scripture says:  “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” ~ James 4:6

In chapter four of his book, James is scolding and warning the believers of the church on how they have been acting towards each other.  They have looked no different from non-believers in the way they fight, covet, back bite each other and go after worldly pleasures.  Without realizing it, they have put God in the back seat and have taken their lives back over without submitting to Him first.  They have sort of lost their way, got off track, became distracted by their own desires and pleasures.  In essence, they became prideful and thought they could do life on their own; their way.  They became cheaters of their faith and therefore, took a step back into their old worldly ways.  James tells them to snap out of it!  You can not be best friends with the world and still live as God has commanded you.  However, there is good news.  God is in the business of grace for His children and it never runs out. When we have turned away from God and put our life in the ditch, God is there waiting for our return.  When we realize we have gone astray, if we repent and humbly come back to God with a sincere heart, He is more than willing and able to show us grace.  The gift of unmerited favor is poured onto us and He draws near again.  He lifts us up and we get a fresh start.  He delights in giving grace to the humble who come back.  No questions asked.  However, be warned, if as a follower of Jesus you stray too far and do not come back humbly on your own accord, one day God may use His own method to get your attention.  God always gives us opportunities to come back on our own, but if we don’t take those opportunities, in His timing, He may use a method of His choosing to bring you home.  He will leave the 99 to find His lost one.  So stay humble and submit to what God has for your life.  Let us be mindful of how we act and where our loyalty lies so that we may always be covered in God’s grace. ~ Amen

Work Impartially

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. ~ 1 Peter 1:17

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are accepting and believing that He has paid for your sins and the Holy Spirit begins to transform your heart, mind and life to want to live in accordance with God’s ways.  This way of thinking and living is counter intuitive to how the world wants you to live and your judge on the matter no longer becomes the world, but God himself.  No one else’s opinion should matter.  The world would have us live for ourselves, but as believers of Jesus, we should live in hope, holiness and out of a deep respect for God.  Being a child of God, we know that He has good things in store for us, but we must remember that He will judge us all fairly for our time here on earth and our actions, or the way we lived.  Not that our salvation can be taken from us, but that our heavenly rewards will be justified.  We don’t fear God out of a terrified state, but we should fear God as an act of reverence, respect and awe.  We should want to live a God pleasing and God fearing life when Christ takes His rightful place in our hearts.  2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Living lives set apart from non-believers will have its challenges when we live in such a self-centered world, but we must learn to love people and God first.  We should not fit comfortably into the world’s view of things.  We should act humbly and learn to walk the way God desires.  Our hearts should not desire monetary growth for personal gain, but we should long for spiritual growth and a profound reliance on our Creator.  Let us live differently so that our hope and light will attract others for His glory. ~ Amen

Sincere Love

Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ~ Romans 12:9

So many of us use the word “love” casually.  We love hot dogs, we love a certain band, we love our new jeans, and I really love your new hair cut!  What happened to the word “like”?  Because believe me, my love for my children is not the same love I have for a piece of cheesecake.  Do not love as the world loves.  As Christians, we are to love genuinely, sincerely, and authentically.  We should not have a fake attitude of love, but love out of genuine care and act as such towards people in meaningful ways.  We are then called to hate evil; not people, but the sin - let me be very clear about that.  God loves all people, but He hates sin and we are called to do the same.  Living in a world and society where there is so much confusion about right and wrong we need to spend a lot of time in prayer and making sure we know God’s word.  Morals and values have shifted so much that what used to be wrong is now considered acceptable and what used to be right is now considered close mindedness.  Make sure you know what God’s word says and continue to love and pray for people with a genuine heart, but loathe sin.  Having eyes and ears like Jesus and seeing the world and people as He does brings a fresh perspective to how we are to live.  Finally, we are told to cling to what is good, or stick to it and hold to it.  As children of God, we are supposed to be lovers of good.  When we hold onto what is good and righteous according to God, we become transformed and can touch others in our lives with that same goodness.  We must love moral goodness and hate evil because it is the destroyer of good.  Let us love people, hate sin and cling to the goodness of God’s authority so that we may be lights to a dark world. ~ Amen

Built House

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. ~ Matthew 7:24

During his sermon on the mount, Jesus tells a parable, or story of two men who build houses.  One man built a house on rock and another man built his house on sand.  When the storm came, the house on the rock could withstand the pressure while the house on the sand collapsed.  The man who built his house on the rock was considered wise while the other man was considered foolish.  Well of course!  Who builds houses on shifting material?  The point of the story is that foundations matter.  In order to have a strong, steady and stable home the foundation must be of solid and sturdy material, or else the house won’t last long.  The same is true of our lives.  Our spiritual and worldly lives.  The spiritual meaning of the parable is that we are each building a life that is either stable, or shaky.  The proper foundation for life is God’s word and Jesus’ teaching and not just listening to them, but acting on them and living His word out.  In today’s culture it is easy to get turned around and swayed by the world and our flesh.  Our human nature and reactions are often contradictory to what Christ would have us do.  We have to be intentional about following His ways even when they seem hard and don’t make sense to us.  A wise man will follow God’s ways no matter the pressure of the world because he trusts God.  A life lived with God as the foundation will be much more stable, protected and steadfast when the storms of life come their way.  When the world’s house on sand gets caught in a storm it often crumbles and leads to destruction as there is no sure foundation, faith, or trust in the life they have built.  Do you want a strong, anchoring, trustworthy home?  Anchor yourself and your life in Christ.  Do not build your house on the way of the world that changes at a moment's notice.  Let us build our homes, families, work, church and communities on the firm foundation of God’s word and truth.  The wise man has faith and hope here and a life of everlasting love, peace and hope for the next. ~ Amen

Your Commands

I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. ~ Psalm 119:19

Until I reach my heavenly home with Jesus, I realize that I am a soul living in a temporary body in this temporary world.  I am making a pit stop, if you will, for the sole purpose of bringing glory to God by living for Him and praising Him.  This earthly home will be destroyed one day and followers of Jesus will be with their Maker in their eternal home forever.  I pray I will not be worldly driven, but divinely driven and live a life pleasing to no one else other than God.  To be his hands and feet in this world and bring others to know Him as their Lord and Savior.  To desire to hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.  Seeking to live in God’s ways of obedience, trust, patience, love and humility are my ultimate goals instead of living according to the desires of this world and my flesh.  The truth is I should act differently than the world and I should feel a little uncomfortable down here when I am following God’s commands, for His ways are higher than our own and the world’s.  However, I get complacent and sometimes I act just like everyone else.  It’s easy to get sucked into selfishness, gossip, whining and an entitled attitude, just to name a few.  That’s why I try to start each day off with my quiet time; to dive into prayer and God’s word.  The word of God, the bible, should be my instruction manual on how to live life and how to live according to God’s guidance, direction and wisdom.  There will be times of confusion and discord on earth, but as followers of Jesus, we can find the truths and stability for right living in the bible.  We should look, act and respond differently than the world does.  We should find great strength, hope and direction in God’s word when faced with struggles and confusion.  Instead of getting caught up in the desires of our flesh and the arguments of the world, we need to remember that this is our temporary residence and that our true home is with God in HIs kingdom.  We should seek God’s guidance and His alone, not the world’s, to live a righteous life in a broken world.  Let us ask God to reveal His word and truth to us so that we do not fall into the world’s ways.  Turn to God and ask for a deep desire for His guidance and trust in Him. ~ Amen

Were Willing

But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. ~ John 6:20-21

We will all go through storms in our lives.  Do you invite Jesus into the mess, or do you become fearful?  God stands ready, willing and able to calm our fears and lead us through every difficulty we face.  He is waiting for the invitation.  As our Creator, our Father, and as God, He has the power to direct His children and even desires to be called upon to deliver us from and through trials.  The disciples were terrified as the storm raged on and they were in the middle of the sea; it didn’t look good, but Jesus walked on the water to calm them and reassure them that they don’t need to be afraid.  In the hours before the storm, the disciples had witnessed Jesus feed thousands with a minimal supply of fish and bread so you think they would have tremendous trust in Jesus instead of being fearful.  After all, Jesus was the one who sent them across the sea, but sometimes there are trials even in our obedience and God longs for you to ask for His help and trust Him.  Sometimes difficulties are tests of faith God has ordained.  In storms that seem insurmountable, God longs to show you HIs faithfulness and goodness.  By the disciples being “willing” to take Jesus into the boat “immediately” the boat reached their destination.  In my own experiences, I have felt comfort, complete peace and strength when I lay my fear, hurt and storm at Jesus’ feet.  Things may not always work out the way I want them too, or in my timing, but they do work out.  Sometimes God allows difficulties and trials in our lives so that we must lean into Him.  We must call on Him and trust Him in those times in order for our faith journey to grow.  Let us not get discouraged, or become fearful in our trials, but let us call on Jesus and trust that He will lead us to our destination. ~ Amen

Sober Mind

The end of all things is near.  Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ~ 1 Peter 4:7

Prayer is the most powerful tool we have in our arsenal to help us navigate the ways of this world.  Prayer can go where we can’t.  Prayer can soften hearts, help us stay alert and give us power to walk through our most difficult days.  In a world of confusion and despair, being alert and prayerful in all things gives us sound judgement where things seem less than fair.  Because we are living in the last days, the days before Christ comes back and makes everything right, we should be alert and prayerful that we are living godly lives for His glory.  Instead of living for the world and ourselves, we should pray that God would help us make the most of our time here for His kingdom.  We should not be wasteful, or stingy with our time, but giving and loving to those around us.  We need to have clear minds and hearts so that we are ready for the judgement when Christ fulfills his promises in the end.  Be courageous in your walk with the Lord and be prayerful that you are living according to his ways.  Have clear thinking and be on alert for the devil who wants nothing more but to destroy your faith and life.  It is to our advantage to give glory to God all our days through our devotion and faithful living for God’s glory, not our own.  The small acts of obedience, love and humility can have significant impacts on the world around us.  We don’t have to move to Africa, give up our possessions, or build mega churches; start prayerfully where you are now and show God’s love and kindness to your fellow neighbor as we await the coming of Christ.  Invite people into your home, your church, your lives and let them see Christ in you.  For His glory.  Love one another, be self-controlled, be loving and generous, humbly serve others and be patient.  These small gestures showered in prayer can turn hearts to be ready for the glorious return of Christ.  Let us be ready and make the most of our time while we await His return. ~ Amen

Numbered Days

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.” ~ Psalm 39:4

David’s prayer to God is a prayer all followers of Jesus should ask so that we can keep our eyes fixed on the important eternal values instead of the fleeting and temporary values of life on earth.  Our lives here on earth may be nearly 100 years, if we’re lucky, but God’s heavenly realms will last forever - a limitless amount of time.  More time than our minds can fathom.  Our life is a detour on earth and not our final home.  We have been given a mission while here and we must make the best use of our time and skills to love God and love people.  I also hear David’s plea in this prayer to help him deal with difficulties and life’s challenges by reminding him that his life on earth is short.  When confronted with so much evil, wickedness and worldly stresses of an uncertain life, we need help remembering sometimes that this is all temporary.  We will one day overcome this world and what will they say at the end of your life?  That you made the most of every opportunity to show Jesus?  That you were a successful, or greedy business partner?  That you didn’t have time for your family as you were a workaholic?  That you were helpful, or kind?  Or were you a miserable soul?  Our days are numbered and our time here is short.  We need to be about the business of Jesus.  He deserves the glory and honor and He wants us to help spread the Good News and lay the difficulties at His feet.  What is most important to you?  Is it important to God?  Being mindful of our days and time and how we use them is important; it can even be life changing for someone you come in contact with.  Your smile, your voice, your encouragement and maybe even just your presence can make an impact.  Let’s be mindful of our days for God will lead us home one day soon. ~ Amen 

Sovereign Lord

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation….” ~ Luke 2:29-30

Jesus is our salvation and Simeon knew it.  Jesus was just a little infant newborn when Mary and Joseph brought him to the Temple in Jerusalem for purification and to register him as their first born son.  Simeon was a righteous and devout man who loved God, obeyed His commands and loved His people.  He knew that the Israelites had been waiting for a Messiah and since he was such a godly man, God promised Simeon that he would not pass away until he saw the Lord.  Wow!  Can you imagine what it must have been like to be physically holding the baby Jesus?  An ultimate privilege of trust.  The Savior of the world.  Israel’s wait was over.  And just like that, Simeon was ready to pass away as he now knew everything would be okay.  Jesus would somehow fix everything.  Simeon didn’t know how, but he knew everything would be made right again for Israel and all to come.  We can have that same assurance today. Jesus will make everything right. Of course we know that in the end we win, but even in our waiting Jesus is everything we need.  He is our Provider.  He is our Comforter.  He is our Faithful Father.  He is our peace during a storm and so much more.  Jesus is our salvation and our redeemer back to our Father God.  As much as this life has to offer, I am satisfied because of and through Jesus.  Because of Him I live, move and have my being.  Jesus made my life complete when He reconciled me back to God.  Nudging Jesus’ little fingers and looking at that sweet baby face, Simeon knew his life was made complete and Jesus was the reason.  We can have that same feeling and hope when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior and when we feel His presence in our lives.  Let us share this good news of Jesus with the rest of the world so they may have the same hope as Simeon did and we do now. ~ Amen

Pride Humbled

The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will today disappear. ~ Isaiah 2:17-18

Our arrogant, prideful and superior view of ourselves often leads to destruction and loneliness.  No one wants to be around someone who always thinks they are right, belittles others ideas, or opinions, or always has to have the better story and last word.  In the Old Testament, Israel acted very arrogant because they were God’s chosen nation and figured that meant they could do whatever they wanted, but then when God disciplined them they got all upset.  Arrogance annoys us because it annoys God.  After all, who do you think you are?  Time and time again God opposes prideful people in the Bible and exalts the humble.  God doesn’t call us to be arrogant, but quite the opposite, and so why would anyone exalt themself?  When you are arrogant and proud you have forgotten your true place in life and it’s just a matter of time before God will remind you.  He is God.  We are not.  To be arrogant is to slap God in the face and tell Him you don’t need Him, but one day we will be forced to be humble before our Almighty God.  The arrogant and prideful tend to live for themselves and their own haughty ambitions and desires.  Oftentimes they are more judgemental than helpful and more full of themselves than the one who they claim to serve.  In the end, God will be the only rightful and sovereign God standing and deserving all mankind’s praise and glory.  Arrogance and pride will be destroyed and ultimately everyone will bow down before Him.  Philippians 2:10-11 says, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Will you be forced to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, or is He your Lord now?  The nations and all the people of the world will know the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  Those who once were arrogant and prideful will be silenced and reminded that they are subject to God’s will and will be judged accordingly.  It is a powerful reminder that God alone will be triumphant and no one else will be able to boast.  Those who relied on themselves will see the destruction of their ways by God’s authority and power.  Let us all humble ourselves now and give God the authority and supremacy in our lives that is His and His alone. ~ Amen

Fruit Tree

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.  She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ~ Genesis 3:6

Obedience.  Sometimes sin looks so yummy and fun.  Surely I can have one small taste and no one will be the wiser.  Ah!  In a “me first” world, it’s easy to get caught off guard by our physical wants.  It’s tempting to do for me what I want and me alone.  With so much now considered morally right when it used to be considered morally wrong, who really knows what sin is?  So much confusion.  As long as I am happy and no one else gets hurt it’ll be okay….right?  We all have a tendency to look at sin the way Eve did – it will meet a need; it’s pretty and it won’t be harmful (a downright lie from the devil).  I mean how bad can it be if it’s helpful, pretty and makes me smart?  The thing about sin is that it doesn’t matter how it looks; if God told you not to do it, don’t do it!  It’s sin when you disobey God no matter how shiny the package; how big the raise; or how badly you want it.  Having societal rules and law enforcement help keep our communities in some kind of order.  The same is true of God’s rules when it comes to our spiritual lives.  Sin and disobedience wreck havoc on our spiritual lives and sometimes has a ripple effect for our families and those we love.  That’s what happened with Eve and her husband, Adam, when they disobeyed and brought sin into this world.  The consequential ripple effect will last for the rest of mankind. We became separated from God (physically); the ground became cursed and we now have to work and labor for our needs; we became mortal beings and would experience pain, sickness and death all of which were not part of God’s original plan, and now we have sin to be on guard against.  Sin and disobedience always leads to some sort of spiritual death.  The good news is Jesus came and died on the cross for my sins and rose again so that I could ask for forgiveness and be in right standing with Him again.  I want to  make it a priority to listen to God and stay away from the shiny sins of this world.  ~ Amen

Soothing Tongue

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. ~ Proverbs 15:4

“The tongue is the smallest muscle in your body, but it’s the most deadly.”  My mom used to say this and I never really understood what she meant until middle school when I realized that age group can be so mean to each other.  Most words out of pre-teens are hurtful, mean, sarcastic and just plain rude all in the name of fun.  Words can be hurtful, but they can also be encouraging.  Which ones roll off your tongue?  The years have come and gone, but some of those hurtful words are still with me from middle school.  I couldn’t tell you what I had for dinner last Thursday, but I remember the words and feelings I felt in the 7th grade when I was told “no one loves you” because I stood up for a friend.  Years later, as I have grown older, I can see how my own words have helped grow my children, or deeply cut them.  I wish I could say that I have always been a champion for my spouse and my kids, but I have torn them down and watched their eyes swell with tears more times than I would like due to some remark of mine.  This is something I am personally conscious of and work on intentionally although I have to tell you it is not easy.  I want my words to bring life and encouragement to people.  I desperately want to give hope and healing in times of pain and grief.  How can I show love if my tongue is a deadly weapon?  We need to be careful how we yield that fleshy sword.  I want to breathe life into situations and people who are struggling.  I want to be a positive influencer.  I want to be gentle and peace giving, even in my anger and disappointment.  I don’t want to break spirits; I want to lift them up.  I want to build people up.  Enough tearing each other down; there is already enough of that.  I want to bring truth, encouragement, hope and love.  I want to speak positively over everyone and every situation.  Let us be wise people with gentle and encouraging tongues and let us learn to bite our tongues when we feel them wanting to go rogue as deadly weapons.  Lord, help me control my tongue and let wholesome, encouraging words roll off it! ~ Amen

Former Generation

“Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned, for we were born only yesterday and know nothing and our days on earth are but a shadow.” ~ Job 8:8-9

The story of Job in the Old Testament is a story of a righteous man who experiences tremendous suffering and then has discussions with three friends who come to comfort him, but they really end up giving him their thoughts as to why he is suffering.  In the above verse, Bildad, one of Job’s friends, tells Job that he should ask the elders for their advice and wisdom as maybe he can learn from them.  True, we can learn from the mistakes and pasts of others, but when going through seasons of difficulty, the best thing anyone can do is seek God and trust Him.  Our lives are often filled with tests from God and when we use our human knowledge to try and figure things out we often become frustrated because we don’t understand His ways.  That’s why we are called to trust.  We have to search, seek and trust God in difficult times and remember that our problems here, and our life are temporary.  While things seem bleak and you feel forgotten, trust that the Lord has you and He is faithful.  I have to remember that His ways are higher and I am limited in my wisdom as a human being, but I can trust that there is always a purpose and a reason.  We can seek godly counsel, wisdom and advice from Godly people, but we must take everything prayerfully to God.  There will always be trials and tests that sometimes God even allows for the purpose of refining us.  Job’s friends believed in retribution theology – the theology that if you sin, punishment falls on you and so Job must have sinned.  He must be wicked.  But we know that Job is blameless and he is not being punished for sin, but rather being tested to demonstrate his loyalty and faith in God.  Suffering is not always a punishment.  Sometimes it’s a test.  How will you respond?  1 Peter 4:19 says, “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” Trust and do good always.  Let us be as strong, loyal and faithful as Job and keep in mind that this life is temporary.  We will be home soon. ~ Amen

Instruct Another

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. ~ Romans 15:14

We are called to help each other out, to be relational beings and good to each other.  There is no room to let each other fall and flounder through this life alone.  It is our job to be kind, good and helpful to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  Paul was convinced that the Roman Christians had a good grasp on their faith and was instructing them to help each other out.  We need to be doing the same thing today.  Paul was encouraging these believers to continue the good work of being reputable and helpful.  In today’s world of self-reliance, gender confusion and living for one’s self (just to name a few lies) we would do well to lovingly keep each other accountable and to be generous and helpful to our brothers and sisters in Christ so that we may encourage each other to keep up the good fight.  What would our world see if all believers treated each other with unconditional love and goodness?  Our light would be so bright that the world would have to take notice and many would be attracted to Christ.  We live in a world of discord and discouragement, but we could and should be the kindness that Paul saw in the Roman Christians.  We need to dive into the word of God, ask Him for His wisdom and show His love to this broken world by first taking care of fellow believers.  The church and God’s family cannot grow without us being kind, in God’s word and able to instruct and help others to live a godly life.  No, we are not perfect; we are a work in progress; we will, and do mess up, but if we try to live a moral life pleasing to God filled with love and encouragement, our churches, families, work places, communities and world would change.  May our hearts be softened to each other and may we help each other grow in faith for the glory of God.  Spiritual growth through knowledge and encouragement for ourselves and others should be the business we are about.  To listen with an open heart of love and to instruct each other with God’s word is one of the greatest blessings we can give each other.  No one needs superficial kindness; they need love and encouragement grounded in God’s word.  Building each other up in godly wisdom is priceless. ~ Amen

Sanctify Through

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul encourages believers that God will not leave them, that He is faithful to continue the work He has started in them.  That is good news for us today also – God was, is and always will be faithful.  It’s part of His character.  You do not have to do this walk of life by yourself.  A sanctified believer is a person set apart; a changed heart that wants to live godly, but it’s important to know that this is a lifetime pursuit as God works in our lives to be more Christ-like.  For all of us there will be stumbling blocks; we live in a fallen and broken world, but God is and will be faithful to sanctify ALL of us - our soul, body and spirit.  There is great hope knowing that even when I am not faithful to Him, if I come to Him and repent, He will be faithful to give me peace so that I can continue on.  I am not discarded because of my doubts, or screw ups.  I can come to Him and He will be faithful to finish His work in me. The fact of the matter is that we cannot live a life always obedient to God without His faithfulness.  He will help us and equip us to live godly lives and a truly changed heart pursues that goal, but we are all sinners and without His faithfulness we would never make it to the glorious end He has for us and we would never be the person He has created us to be.  We can not have victory in Jesus without His faithfulness and His work in us; we are His to mold.  Let us hold on to this great truth that we are never alone and we will be made perfect in Him because of His faithfulness.  Not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus has done and what God works in us.  Glory to God!  It doesn’t depend fully on me; He will complete it! ~ Amen

From Everyone

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. ~ Luke 12:48

Just as some have been given much in resources, you can also be given much spiritually in the way of abilities and skills.  These blessings from God are for us to use to further His kingdom, not our own.  Are you a good teacher?  A good encourager?  A good leader?  A prayer warrior?  Do you know what your spiritual gifts are?  If you are a follower of Jesus, He is concerned with how you use these gifts more than He is concerned about what you have, or what you don’t have.  He is telling us that we should not compare ourselves to others, but be responsible with what He has given us in both wealth and spiritual gifts.  At Jesus’ return, we will either be rewarded, or disciplined for how we used what we were given.  He expects us to be faithful and good stewards of the Master’s gifts.  For followers of Jesus, this command is not only in regard to our physical talents, but how are you using your spiritual gifts to further the church of Jesus Christ?  The church is made up of many parts just like our body and when you are not using your spiritual talents to further the church’s mission, you are being irresponsible no matter how big, or small your talent may be.  The church cannot function the way Christ intended when not everyone is participating.  Just like when one part of our physical body is broken, or sick our body cannot function as a whole unit; the same is true of the church.  1 Corinthians 12:12 says, ‘There is one body, but it has many parts.  But all its many parts make up one body.  It is the same with Christ.”  How we lead, teach and use our gifts honoring God over our own ambition matters.  If we do not take this responsibility seriously, God will punish and judge us harshly.  However, when we use what God has given us, we will be given even greater responsibility.  It’s not about you, or your glory and comfort; it’s about representing your Master in a holy and faithful manner.  God doesn’t ask you to worry about what you don’t have, but to be good stewards and leaders of what you do have tangibly, or spiritually for His glory.  Let’s bring Him great glory and be thankful for all He has given us. ~ Amen

Invisible Image

The Son in the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ~ Colossians 1:15

The word firstborn is a little confusing in this verse as it is not referring to birth order, but rather signifies Jesus’ position over God’s creation.  The firstborn in biblical times had many great privileges, rank and rule compared to the rest of the siblings.  Being firstborn comes with supremacy, power and great responsibility; it is more than birth order.  Jesus was, is, and always will be.  Jesus’ existence was established before creation as He became part of the Holy Trinity.  Therefore, if Jesus was the image of the invisible God and part of the Holy Trinity (God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit), He was established long before the creation of Adam and Eve.  While down here on earth, Jesus was able to demonstrate how we are to treat each other, how we are to love each other and how we are to behave as ambassadors for the kingdom of Christ.  Years later, we can still look and follow Jesus’ example of how to live a life that is pleasing, right and good all for the glory of God.  The human race was created in the image of God.  Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”  With this being said, we can assume that God created humanity very different from the animal world for a specific reason and purpose.  We were created to be perfect, but at the fall of Adam and Eve when sin entered the world, we became tainted.  Being the perfect image-bearer of God, Jesus also became the only perfect and blameless human to be the sacrificial lamb to bring God’s people back to Him.  Jesus was “God in a bod” who than became the perfect firstborn to give His followers wisdom, guidance and goodness through the cross.  Let us try our best to be great representatives and image bearers of our great God for this broken world. ~ Amen

Overcome Evil

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ~ Romans 12:21

My human instinct is to become angry, defensive and resentful when someone hurts me.  However, as a follower of Jesus, I am called to be kind even to those who hurt me, even if it’s intentional.  Polishing off evil with evil back just doubles the evil and doesn’t accomplish anything.  On the other hand, when we approach evil with kindness we open the door to forgiveness and stop the offender in their tracks.  Evil cannot do anything but fold under goodness.  It’s like a shock to Satan’s system and thwarts his plan.  It’s like putting out a fire. Good always overcomes evil.  Man alone does not have the capability to overcome evil, but the Holy Spirit in you can give you the power, and the strength to choose goodness over evil every time.  Jesus chose goodness for all mankind who have accepted Him when He died on the cross for us while we were still great sinners.  John 3:16 says, “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.”  We can now be free from our evil pursuits and attitudes through the Holy Spirit who lives in us as followers of Jesus Christ.  Our character should change to be Christ-like and Christ-ruled.  We have the power to overcome our adversary when he wants us to act in an angered, or evil manner.  Christ should be who we now imitate and we let Satan win over our emotions when we give way to evil instead of showing the same love Christ has shown us.  Do not let others' evil transform, or taint the work Christ is doing in you.  Do not respond to evil with evil, but with goodness through the Holy Spirit.  Evil reaps evil and goodness reaps goodness.  Do not respond to evil with more evil.  Instead, give it to Christ and let Him deal with it.  When you do not return evil, you become the conqueror.  Your heart stays clean.  You give Christ His rightful spot.  We are a light for Him when we do not become angry, or upset over the injustices toward us, but instead show goodness and kindness.  Who can argue with kindness and love for those who persecute you?  No one.  They would look foolish.  Do not give into the world’s ways of responding to evil.  Respond the way Christ would so that you may have a peaceful heart, attitude and life.  Lay the evil hurt at Christ’s feet to deal with and show mercy. ~ Amen 

Trustworthy Handling

So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ~ Luke 16:11

Money, whether you like it, or not, controls most of our world and is a big part of our daily lives.  Too much and we can become arrogant and prideful; not enough and we can become afraid and stingy.  Both the rich and the poor can become greedy and money can taint our hearts' attitude toward life and others.  When someone needs help, do you officer what you can whether in plenty, or want?  When someone has success are you happy for them, or does resentment set in?  Money quickly becomes a heart issue and since God is in the business of our hearts it’s no wonder that He sometimes uses money as a test.  If I squander my worldly wealth. What will I do with my spiritual gifts?  If I hold on to my money with a tight fist, what does that say about my trust in God?  Give money God’s rightful place in your heart and you’ll likely be more apt to shrewd dealings, greed and selfishness instead of showing kindness, love and generosity.  True riches refers to the spiritual blessings and rewards that God gives his faithful servants; these are the riches we should be striving for over worldly wealth.  A steward who is Christ focused remembers that all we have in this world is actually on loan to us from God.  We should be using what he has blessed us with to further His kingdom instead of being greedy.  We should be trying our best to further His Kingdom; not build our own.  Instead, we should be asking God to open our eyes on how to faithfully use what He has blessed us with to better His kingdom no matter if we have little, or much.  Let us be more concerned with our spiritual walk than our wallets. ~ Amen

Once Were

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ~ Colossians 1:21

I am a sinner.  Yep, that’s right and hard to admit.  I don’t like that I am, but we all are.  In fact, we are born with a sinful nature and whether you like to believe it, or not, we all have the capacity to do some pretty evil things.  I know we don’t like to talk about it, we’d rather keep that reserved for the heinous crimes committed, but we all have the capacity; don’t kid yourself.  I also know that some of us deal with sin that is so secret we pretend it doesn’t exist, but our hearts and souls know different.  I like to categorize my sin, but God says sin is sin.  I don’t like to think of myself as evil, but we all are when we sin.  I don’t like to think of me being apart from God, but when I sin, I am.  I can’t imagine how much I hurt God’s heart when I choose to disobey, or sin.  I can’t imagine how much evil God sees on a daily basis.  I don’t ever want to think of myself as an enemy of God, but sometimes I am.  I need His love, mercy, grace and forgiveness every single day of my life.  I am not perfect and will never claim to be.  I will continue to fight against the sinful ways of this world and my flesh everyday.  I will strive to keep my mind, heart, hands and soul pure.  I am conflicted with myself the most when I let too much of the world creep in.  I was born a sinful creature, but I will not let that define me.  I have to be mindful of what I listen too, watch, reach and how I act.  I can choose to be a child of God in any and all circumstances, or choose to be a child willed by my flesh and this world.  I know my God loves me and the good news is I have been redeemed and reconciled back to Him through what Jesus did for me on the cross.  I am made perfect in His image for His glory, for this time and I am overwhelmingly grateful He helps me choose Him every day – sin, or no sin.  Let’s continue to walk in His grace and mercy everyday and put our sinful behavior behind us.  Let us rejoice because our sin does not have to define us.  We are who He says we are and we can rely on His help at any time, anywhere.  Glory to God! ~ Amen

Have Opportunity

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. ~ Galatians 6:10

The family of God is supposed to look out for one another; have each other’s backs; help each other out when others can’t, don’t, or won’t.  The church should never leave one of their own behind; there is no “estrangement” welcome in the church of Jesus followers.  We are family.  If I have the means to help out a brother, or sister in Christ, I must step in and help.  I have no excuse.  If I can’t show the same love, compassion and kindness Christ has shown me, what good am I?  There will be times when I will need help and the first place I should be encouraged to ask help from is my fellow believers and the church.  The outside world does not have the same bond with me that the church family should.  If we can’t go to fellow believers for help, where can we go?  If we can’t show kindness to our own family, what does that truly say about us so-called “Christians”?  I dare say, sometimes we are quicker to help the unbeliever before helping a fellow sister, or brother.  We tend to be more judgemental of each other than giving.  We need to turn that around.  In our intentional effort to love each other in the church, hearts of non-believers would be softened and even drawn to our example of Jesus.  My salvation was given to me as a good deed and gift from my Lord, Jesus Christ, and to show His goodness and love to others I need to show my faith by doing all the good I can, when I can, to all I can and especially to my brothers and sisters in Christ.  A lot of people assume that if you are a believer, you need to be giving and blessing outside of the church walls, and while that’s true, Paul also reminds us not to leave each other behind.  Take care of each other in Christ.  Take care of your family.  Just because we are a follower of Jesus doesn’t mean we may not need help from time to time.  Look in your house of worship for needs first and bless them. ~ Amen

Master Reply

His master replied, “Well done good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!” ~ Matthew 25:21

Best friends in high school, Ann let me use her VW Rabbit to get back and forth from work for a week while my car was in the shop.  I remember my dad’s voice in the back of my head, “return whatever you borrow back better than when you received it”.  So, I washed her car inside and out and filled it with gas before I drove it back to her.  To say she was grateful would be an understatement.  She knew I didn’t make all that mess in her car, but I wanted to show my appreciation.  She didn’t have to let me borrow her car and I wanted to let her know how appreciative I was.  The Creator of the universe expects the same from His children.  We should be good stewards of what God has given us and we should return praise, worship, and honor to God for allowing us to enjoy so many blessings.  Nothing we have is ours.  Everything is on loan.  We need to be respectful of it and show God appreciation and respect for all.  We need to take care of our stuff.  Through our faith we are saved, but how we take care of what God has given us down here has eternal rewards in heaven.  We must treat others as God treats them; we must use our money for the good of God’s kingdom; we must love God more than ourselves and by doing so we will have done a good job taking care of what God has entrusted to us.  We are not called to be lazy servants.  We are meant to use our talents, time, resources and abilities to further God’s kingdom.  This verse is not only about money and possessions, but about how we used your opportunities, gifts and talents for God’s glory.  The Lord is looking for good and faithful servants to rejoice over.  I want to be one of them!  A good and faithful servant in want, or in plenty, I desire to be God’s servant. ~ Amen

Spirit Worshipers

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. ~ John 4:24

Our spirits long to worship something.  Everyone has some void in their lives they are trying to fill and when you become a follower of Jesus and realize that’s what you’ve been missing, your soul feels complete and you cannot help but worship God.  Our soul worshipping Him delights the Lord.  The place, time, or whether in nature, or in a building does not matter.  God is spirit and can be worshipped anywhere at any time.  God is not confined to space, or time.  True worship comes from the heart with an attitude of awe and reference for the Creator of the universe and the one who holds your life in His hands.  Just going through rituals and practices of worship because that’s what you’re supposed to do is not what God wants.  As a follower of Jesus, you now have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you and God wants your heart felt, genuine worship – spirit to spirit, regardless of rituals.  Once again, it’s a heart issue.  In John 4 we find the story of the Samaritan woman who is often seeking her acceptance in wrong relationships and so Jesus explains to her that the acceptance she longs for can only come through a relationship with God and that anyone can worship Him with a genuine heart no matter where they physically are, or what their past looks like.  Going up a mountain to worship God, or watching the Jews travel to Jerusalem to worship was how the Samaritan woman was taught, but Jesus throws her whole ritualistic worship ideals into the trash and tells her He only wants genuine worship.  Heart felt worship.  Let our worship be full of genuine humility, respect and thankfulness instead of rituals and religion.  Let our worship be a blessing to our very real, relational God. ~ Amen

Still Before

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. ~ Psalm 37:7

To be still before the Lord is to surrender and submit to His will for your life.  To rest and trust in what He is doing and give up the worry and anxiety you may be feeling.  It’s a conscious choice not to get worked up and to give yourself to Him.  To remain faithful and obedient to Christ so that you may find rest in what He is doing.  Those who are turned from Him, or seem to prosper in their wickedness should be none of our concern.  I know; it's hard to watch non-believers prosper in this world while you may be struggling, but we have to remember that our hope and life is eternal and we must trust that God is working in our lives for our better even when we don’t feel, or see it.  The wicked will get their just reward at the judgement day and it’s not our place to judge.  The worldly gain of the wicked is temporary while our joy will be made complete in eternity.  To trust in the Lord and live a righteous life will lead to a restful soul; not a lazy soul, but a soul revived, renewed and refreshed with His peace knowing that He is, does, and will take care of you.  We are called to wait on the Lord, be patient and be silent as God works out His plans for your life.  Waiting can be painful, but waiting on God grows our faith and trust.  He has us.  We don’t need to run after the things of this world.  We need to run to Him.  Rest in Him.  We should not worry, fret, be anxious, or compare ourselves to people who have worldly success as that energy takes our focus off of God and what He is doing in our lives.  We must stay focused on Him.  Let us rest in the Lord and trust His ways in our life and not waiver. ~ Amen

Makes Different

For who makes you different from anyone else?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? ~ 1 Corinthians 4:7

The fact of the matter is that we have what we have because God gave it all to us.  Our first job was given to us, our first breath was given to us, our home on this earth God allowed us to have.  It’s all His and we are to take care of it.  God allowed us to have everything around us; we did not do any of it on our own.  There is no such thing as a “self-made” man.  The Corinthian church prided themselves on their talents, spiritual gifts and merits, but Paul reminds them to deflate their egos and recognize that everything comes from God.  No one is better than the next and it’s no different now in the 21st century.  We are all God’s creation and have been given many different talents, spiritual gifts and merits and none of us have done this on our own.  In humility we need to remember that God has given us every good thing.  We each have different possessions and spiritual gifts and in God’s eyes, one is no better than the other.  No ministry is better than another, no outreach is better than another, and no pastor, or minister is better than another (as long as they stay true to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ); they are all good gifts to the people from God alone.  We have no right to boast about our gifts, but should work as a team to spread the Gospel of Jesus.  Just like all our body parts have different jobs to make up our glorious working body, the same is with the church.  Some of us have the gift of discernment, some have the gift of prophecy, some have the gift of hospitality, and some have the gift of encouragement and prayer, but they are all important and needed to bring glory to God.  We are all unique and cannot, or should not boast about what we do, or what we have; it all comes from God.  Let us humbly walk before God and be thankful for everything He has given us and use our gifts, talents, and resources to benefit His kingdom. ~ Amen

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