There are people in this world that I love so deeply and fully that it
is impossible to adequately express that love. For a few their
relationship with my--and their--Savior's love breaks my heart. I have
prayed many a wordless prayer of only tears on their behalf. And will
continue to do so. Yet the Savior--as He weeps with me--always reminds
me that I need not worry. His love is a greater love than mine. And His
glory is a greater necessity than anything I could desire.
_____________________________________________________________
To be dishonest when I pray to Him about my needs and concerns is to
reject His plea to "cast all your cares on Me, for I care for you." And
to doubt that He cares is to give a voice to the roaring lion.
______________________________________________________________
Sometimes I think, "I had a small answer to prayer today." How "small"
is it I wonder to have a God who even listens to what I say, let alone
lovingly responds? I experienced a miracle today.
______________________________________________________________
Why do we feel embarrassed at times to ask others for prayer? We should
feel embarrassed when we don't ask. Pride doesn't produce too many
answers to prayer.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Simple Things
I met Jesus today:
A friendly smile and "good morning."
A thank you for a small thing that probably didn't even merit a "thank you."
An opportunity given to me to help someone else in the smallest of ways
A touch on the arm that said "I'm glad you're here. Reachable."
A note that said "you are loved."
A word of encouragement.
An unexpected gift
A friendly smile and "good morning."
A thank you for a small thing that probably didn't even merit a "thank you."
An opportunity given to me to help someone else in the smallest of ways
A touch on the arm that said "I'm glad you're here. Reachable."
A note that said "you are loved."
A word of encouragement.
An unexpected gift
It always causes me to reflect at the end of each day--how many
opportunities did I miss this day to touch someone's life for Jesus? And
now the day is gone. But, ah, tomorrow . . .
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
We
miss an awful lot of blessing each day because we forget a simple
truth: The omnipresent, Creator God who rules and "inhabits" the
universe--and beyond--is in the details of our everyday lives. Are you
looking for Him there? The smallest details of your life and mine are
orchestrated by His hand of love and wisdom. You did not have one
coincidence today.
And I do mean "orchestrated." Did you spend your day and miss the music--miss the symphony He played for you? "Life is a symphony . . ."
And I do mean "orchestrated." Did you spend your day and miss the music--miss the symphony He played for you? "Life is a symphony . . ."
Monday, January 26, 2015
He Is
In your earthquakes He is your Rock.
In your storms He is your Strong Tower.
In your battles He is your Captain and your Shield.
In your straying He is your Pursuing Shepherd.
In your faithlessness He is your Constant Companion.
In your sorrow He is your Comfort.
In your darkness He is your Light.
In your need He is your Jehovah-Jireh.
In your sadness He is your Laughter.
In your confusion He is your Peace.
In your weariness He is your Rest.
In your labor He is your Strength.
In your worry He is your Joy.
In your journey He is your Guide.
In your emptiness He is your Satisfaction.
In your guilt He is your Mercy.
In your inadequacies He is your Grace.
In your doubts He is your Truth.
In your loneliness He is your Friend.
In your poverty He is your Wealth.
In your fear He is your Covering Wings.
In your falls He is your Everlasting Arms.
In your death He is your Resurrection and your Eternal Life.
In your storms He is your Strong Tower.
In your battles He is your Captain and your Shield.
In your straying He is your Pursuing Shepherd.
In your faithlessness He is your Constant Companion.
In your sorrow He is your Comfort.
In your darkness He is your Light.
In your need He is your Jehovah-Jireh.
In your sadness He is your Laughter.
In your confusion He is your Peace.
In your weariness He is your Rest.
In your labor He is your Strength.
In your worry He is your Joy.
In your journey He is your Guide.
In your emptiness He is your Satisfaction.
In your guilt He is your Mercy.
In your inadequacies He is your Grace.
In your doubts He is your Truth.
In your loneliness He is your Friend.
In your poverty He is your Wealth.
In your fear He is your Covering Wings.
In your falls He is your Everlasting Arms.
In your death He is your Resurrection and your Eternal Life.
He is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him through a life of obedient faith.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Choosing a Master
Everyone
has a master. And there are only two to choose from. And the person who
thinks that he's the master of his own life has been maliciously, and
incredibly deceived by the wrong master.
The question is who do you want for a master? Whom will you serve?
Do you want to serve the master that is a liar, a deceiver, and a murderer from the beginning? And guess who's on his "hit list"? Or do you want to serve the Master who is the Truth and the giver of eternal life.
Do you want to serve the master who tempts you into believing that the temporal can fully satisfy leaving you with an appetite for emptiness--that will fill you up, you think? Or do you want to serve the Master who says that if you choose to follow Him, your treasures will never fade nor rust nor lose their value nor be lost. He is the Master who promises that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be eternally full--eternally satisfied. Beyond appetite.
Do you want to serve the master who deceives you into thinking that your evil is good thus deepening your darkness and compounding your judgment? Or do you want to serve the Master who promises that, as you walk in the Light as He is in the Light, all things will work together for your good? He is the Master that promises that even if men do evil against you, He will turn it into good.
Do you want to serve the master whose goal is for you to spend eternity in a place of torment that was prepared for him and his angels--not for you? Or do you want to serve the Master who has promised, "I'm preparing a place for you, a room in My Father's house, so that where I am, you will be also--for all of everlasting. And He promises to come and get you when it's time for your home-going--to guarantee the "trip" is secure and free of fear.
Do you want to serve the master who uses guilt to stain your memories of yesterday and fear to stain your imaginations of tomorrow? Or do you want to serve the Master who says that all your yesterdays He is immersing in His goodness and mercy and all your tomorrows will be filled with His presence. He is the Master who promises that yesterdays tears will be eternal rejoicings. He is the Master who IS your Shepherd every moment of every day--the Master of green pastures, still waters, restored souls, filled banquet tables, overflowing cups of blessing, a rod and staff of comfort. He is the Master that promises that His mercies are new every morning. Yes, every morning. New.
Do you want to serve the master who seduces you to, in the name of self-love and freedom, callously and deliberately hurt all those who love you the most, those whom God put into your life that you might love them unconditionally? And, oh, how he loves then to fill your heart with the fear that "the other shoe is going to drop," that "it's payday someday," that you "will reap what you sow." Or do you want to serve the Master who so overwhelming spreads His love in your heart that you spontaneously love all those He has brought into your life--no matter what they do? And, oh, how He loves to fill your heart with tenderness, kindness, and an eagerness to forgive as you have been forgiven.
Do you want to serve the master who has absolutely no love for you--in fact he hates you; the master who has no concern for your well-being now or eternally; the master who twists you into doing his evil work to the detriment of others--and yourself--knowing personally that no rebellion against God has ever succeeded? Or do you want to serve the Master who loves you even when you are being an unfaithful servant; the Master who promises to give you all the strength you need each and every day to do His work of love; the Master who promises you that when you rely on His strength, allow Him to yoke yourself to His power, He will give you an eternal "Well-done" for having done so? Yes, He promises to empower you and then thank you for using His power to be a faithful servant. To reward you for it! And He is the Master whose service is rest.
One master promises you freedom and enslaves you in his chains.
One Master calls you to be a bond-servant and then you find yourself set free.
No man can serve two masters.
Choose you this day whom you will serve.
The question is who do you want for a master? Whom will you serve?
Do you want to serve the master that is a liar, a deceiver, and a murderer from the beginning? And guess who's on his "hit list"? Or do you want to serve the Master who is the Truth and the giver of eternal life.
Do you want to serve the master who tempts you into believing that the temporal can fully satisfy leaving you with an appetite for emptiness--that will fill you up, you think? Or do you want to serve the Master who says that if you choose to follow Him, your treasures will never fade nor rust nor lose their value nor be lost. He is the Master who promises that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be eternally full--eternally satisfied. Beyond appetite.
Do you want to serve the master who deceives you into thinking that your evil is good thus deepening your darkness and compounding your judgment? Or do you want to serve the Master who promises that, as you walk in the Light as He is in the Light, all things will work together for your good? He is the Master that promises that even if men do evil against you, He will turn it into good.
Do you want to serve the master whose goal is for you to spend eternity in a place of torment that was prepared for him and his angels--not for you? Or do you want to serve the Master who has promised, "I'm preparing a place for you, a room in My Father's house, so that where I am, you will be also--for all of everlasting. And He promises to come and get you when it's time for your home-going--to guarantee the "trip" is secure and free of fear.
Do you want to serve the master who uses guilt to stain your memories of yesterday and fear to stain your imaginations of tomorrow? Or do you want to serve the Master who says that all your yesterdays He is immersing in His goodness and mercy and all your tomorrows will be filled with His presence. He is the Master who promises that yesterdays tears will be eternal rejoicings. He is the Master who IS your Shepherd every moment of every day--the Master of green pastures, still waters, restored souls, filled banquet tables, overflowing cups of blessing, a rod and staff of comfort. He is the Master that promises that His mercies are new every morning. Yes, every morning. New.
Do you want to serve the master who seduces you to, in the name of self-love and freedom, callously and deliberately hurt all those who love you the most, those whom God put into your life that you might love them unconditionally? And, oh, how he loves then to fill your heart with the fear that "the other shoe is going to drop," that "it's payday someday," that you "will reap what you sow." Or do you want to serve the Master who so overwhelming spreads His love in your heart that you spontaneously love all those He has brought into your life--no matter what they do? And, oh, how He loves to fill your heart with tenderness, kindness, and an eagerness to forgive as you have been forgiven.
Do you want to serve the master who has absolutely no love for you--in fact he hates you; the master who has no concern for your well-being now or eternally; the master who twists you into doing his evil work to the detriment of others--and yourself--knowing personally that no rebellion against God has ever succeeded? Or do you want to serve the Master who loves you even when you are being an unfaithful servant; the Master who promises to give you all the strength you need each and every day to do His work of love; the Master who promises you that when you rely on His strength, allow Him to yoke yourself to His power, He will give you an eternal "Well-done" for having done so? Yes, He promises to empower you and then thank you for using His power to be a faithful servant. To reward you for it! And He is the Master whose service is rest.
One master promises you freedom and enslaves you in his chains.
One Master calls you to be a bond-servant and then you find yourself set free.
No man can serve two masters.
Choose you this day whom you will serve.
The Righteous Man
The Righteous Man:
"Do not fret because of evil doers. Be not envious toward wrong doers. For they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herbs." No man no matter his earthly power can thwart the plan of God to do good for His people. The most magnificent pile of earthly treasure has an eternal value of zero. Do not fret or envy."If God be for us, who can be against us?" If He is your Savior and Lord, you are the richest person on the earth.
"Trust in the Lord and do good." It is easy to tell how much a man or woman truly trusts God--do they live a life committed to doing good for others or getting "good" for themselves? Trust and obey.
"Do not fret because of evil doers. Be not envious toward wrong doers. For they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herbs." No man no matter his earthly power can thwart the plan of God to do good for His people. The most magnificent pile of earthly treasure has an eternal value of zero. Do not fret or envy."If God be for us, who can be against us?" If He is your Savior and Lord, you are the richest person on the earth.
"Trust in the Lord and do good." It is easy to tell how much a man or woman truly trusts God--do they live a life committed to doing good for others or getting "good" for themselves? Trust and obey.
"Feed off the faithfulness of God." Whose ability to meet your needs
are you relying on? Regardless of your circumstances are you content? "O
taste and see that the Lord is good."
"Delight yourself in the Lord." Is your only priority to please Him? "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice."
"Commit your way to the Lord." Are you more concerned with what you believe He should be doing for you or are you more concerned with what you should be doing for Him? Do you follow Him? Or do you expect Him to follow you wherever you decide to go? "Though none go with me, still I must follow. No turning back; no turning back."
"Be still in the Lord and wait longingly for Him." Rest. Patiently. Do you believe that God's best is worth waiting for? "They that wait upon the Lord shall find their strength renewed."
The righteous: A life of faith, trust, obedience, a hunger for righteousness, delight, commitment, stillness, and longing. "Trust also in Him and He will do it."
"Delight yourself in the Lord." Is your only priority to please Him? "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice."
"Commit your way to the Lord." Are you more concerned with what you believe He should be doing for you or are you more concerned with what you should be doing for Him? Do you follow Him? Or do you expect Him to follow you wherever you decide to go? "Though none go with me, still I must follow. No turning back; no turning back."
"Be still in the Lord and wait longingly for Him." Rest. Patiently. Do you believe that God's best is worth waiting for? "They that wait upon the Lord shall find their strength renewed."
The righteous: A life of faith, trust, obedience, a hunger for righteousness, delight, commitment, stillness, and longing. "Trust also in Him and He will do it."
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Doing
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Do the right thing today in word and deed. Obedience is "I love You."
Do the right thing today in the right way. Let all your words and deeds be full of grace and truth.
Do the right thing today in the right way and for the right reason. "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" He intends for your most "mundane" activities to be full of His glory--resonating His presence and your love for Him who is your Savior--full of grace and truth.
Do the right thing today in word and deed. Obedience is "I love You."
Do the right thing today in the right way. Let all your words and deeds be full of grace and truth.
Do the right thing today in the right way and for the right reason. "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" He intends for your most "mundane" activities to be full of His glory--resonating His presence and your love for Him who is your Savior--full of grace and truth.
"This is the day"
_________________________________________________________________________________
The will of God for you today: "Admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. See that no man repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.."
__________________________________________________________________________________
Enjoy your day today--living in the presence of your loving Father, walking hand in hand with your loving Savior and Brother, filled with the empowering presence of the faithful Spirit. Going to be a marvelous day.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The will of God for you today: "Admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. See that no man repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.."
__________________________________________________________________________________
Enjoy your day today--living in the presence of your loving Father, walking hand in hand with your loving Savior and Brother, filled with the empowering presence of the faithful Spirit. Going to be a marvelous day.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Sound Doctrine
Unless you live a life consistent with what you claim to be true, no one
is obligated to believe you. What you say will never be more true than
the life you live.
Paul told Timothy two thousand years ago that people will not endure sound doctrine. That's because sound doctrine demands a life that demands endurance. It's easier to turn away from the truth and turn aside to myths. And people always do both--accept that the truth is a lie and then embrace the lies as truth. We live in a world that believes in fables. And they think they are the wise ones to do so. How heartbreaking to see people who have turned from the only truth that gives life meaning and then to spend the rest of their lives looking for "the meaning of life."
And they love their Aesops--teachers who are almost always incredibly "spiritual" nice guys; teachers who redefine truths to satisfy their misdirections--never relying on Scripture as the source of truth; teachers who take the truth out of context and claim as true extra-biblical sources. They teach desires. And really, isn't there basically only one idol--myself. Teach a man a myth that makes him god over his own life, and you will fill your "church."
Of course, the important question is what does God call me to do in the midst of such a self-blinded world? "But you, be sober"--cool, calm,collected, and alert--no matter how condescendingly they call you a fool, no matter how vehemently they dismiss the truth, and no matter how arrogantly they expound their myths--the truth will stand. The only word that is eternal is His Word. Do not be intimidated or shaken by their rantings or impressed by the number of their followers. "Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it."
"But you, . . . endure hardship." What they refuse to endure, you must endure through the strength that He has promised you. Promised. "Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Don't become entangled in the world." Exult in hope of the glory of God. Exult in your tribulations because they pour into your heart the deep love of God. Exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ--you have been reconciled to Him; no longer His enemy, you have been transferred into the kingdom of His Dear Son. Forever. Endure.
"But you . . . do the work of an evangelist." The Spirit of God can wield the Word of God and break the most arrogant, confused, rebellious heart. Think: Nicodemus, the Apostle Paul. C.S Lewis. You. The list is endless. Lift Him up. Watch Him draw unto Himself. Don't give up. "Do the work." And if they won't listen to you, work from your knees.
But you . . . fulfill your ministry." Use the gifts God has given you--whatever they may be--to serve Him What He has called you to do is your God-ordained ministry. And it's as important and vital to the kingdom as any other ministry. Like Paul, be poured out, fight the good fight--wrestle with the enemy; don that armor every day; finish the course--run the race to the end; keep the faith--guard your heart with the bulwark of God's peace.
May your life reflect the deep love you have for His appearing. May your life reflect that what you believe is eternal truth. The greatest danger that a darkened world faces is the absence of light.
Paul told Timothy two thousand years ago that people will not endure sound doctrine. That's because sound doctrine demands a life that demands endurance. It's easier to turn away from the truth and turn aside to myths. And people always do both--accept that the truth is a lie and then embrace the lies as truth. We live in a world that believes in fables. And they think they are the wise ones to do so. How heartbreaking to see people who have turned from the only truth that gives life meaning and then to spend the rest of their lives looking for "the meaning of life."
And they love their Aesops--teachers who are almost always incredibly "spiritual" nice guys; teachers who redefine truths to satisfy their misdirections--never relying on Scripture as the source of truth; teachers who take the truth out of context and claim as true extra-biblical sources. They teach desires. And really, isn't there basically only one idol--myself. Teach a man a myth that makes him god over his own life, and you will fill your "church."
Of course, the important question is what does God call me to do in the midst of such a self-blinded world? "But you, be sober"--cool, calm,collected, and alert--no matter how condescendingly they call you a fool, no matter how vehemently they dismiss the truth, and no matter how arrogantly they expound their myths--the truth will stand. The only word that is eternal is His Word. Do not be intimidated or shaken by their rantings or impressed by the number of their followers. "Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it."
"But you, . . . endure hardship." What they refuse to endure, you must endure through the strength that He has promised you. Promised. "Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Don't become entangled in the world." Exult in hope of the glory of God. Exult in your tribulations because they pour into your heart the deep love of God. Exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ--you have been reconciled to Him; no longer His enemy, you have been transferred into the kingdom of His Dear Son. Forever. Endure.
"But you . . . do the work of an evangelist." The Spirit of God can wield the Word of God and break the most arrogant, confused, rebellious heart. Think: Nicodemus, the Apostle Paul. C.S Lewis. You. The list is endless. Lift Him up. Watch Him draw unto Himself. Don't give up. "Do the work." And if they won't listen to you, work from your knees.
But you . . . fulfill your ministry." Use the gifts God has given you--whatever they may be--to serve Him What He has called you to do is your God-ordained ministry. And it's as important and vital to the kingdom as any other ministry. Like Paul, be poured out, fight the good fight--wrestle with the enemy; don that armor every day; finish the course--run the race to the end; keep the faith--guard your heart with the bulwark of God's peace.
May your life reflect the deep love you have for His appearing. May your life reflect that what you believe is eternal truth. The greatest danger that a darkened world faces is the absence of light.
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