Alone With God

Mat. 13:23 “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up onto a mountain apart to pray. And when evening had come, He was there alone.”

We live in a culture were we are constantly on the move. We race against time to get things done. There seems to be not enough hours in a day to finish what we start. Jesus, went about His day working to meet the needs of people. Healing, feeding, comforting  and forgiving people who recognize their helpless condition. Yet, He made time to be alone with His Father. How much more necessary is it that we take time out of our day to be alone with God. Time to read His Word, time to meditate of His love, time to worship Him, time for Him to search our hearts, and time to petition Him for our needs and the needs of others. With the demands of the day, it is not always easy to slip away to be alone with God, but it is imperative that we do. When we get alone with God we are able to enter into His presence to pour out our hearts, refresh our spirits, and know the mind of God. With purpose, let us put aside those things that distract us, and draw nigh to God, for He has promise to be there for us. 

The East from the West

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.”-

“to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them” God’s love is unconditional. He loves people and desires that people will follow Him. He sent His Son to earth to live and die on a cross that our sins may be cast in the sea of God’s forgetfulness. He rose from the dead that we may experience new life in Christ. His mercy does not over look sin, but His mercy will forgive sin to those who will yield their hearts to Him. To those who keep His commandments and come unto to Him that He may give us rest. His covenant is for us to humble ourselves before the presence of Him and He will take our sins and remove them as far as the east is from the west, never to be remember again. We look back and see how sin destroyed our lives and separated us from His fellowship, but the Lord is Great is mercy to them that fear Him, and will not bring up our past that is under the blood. His blood covers a multitude of sins and are never remember against us again. 

The Eyes of the Lord

1 Pet. 3:12 “ For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

God is not a respecter of person, but He does have favorites. He give to every person the ability to choose right and wrong, He does not predestinate a person’s choice. His eyes show favor to them that are of a contrite heart, a heart that desire to seek God first in the everyday things of life. The righteous, are those who seek to live in harmony with God, love His commandments and choose to follow them. He listens to the the prayers of those who seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness. We don’t always understand His answers and providence, but we can arrest assure that He cares for those who love and serve Him. Those who choose to live a life of wickedness and make choices that are selfish and self-serving, God will strive against them to turn from their wicked ways and repent. Such who resist Him, will face His judgment. For those who desire to live for God, His eyes will rest on them to do them good. 

Stand Before God

Rev. 20:12 “ And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”-

The reality is that we all will stand before God and give an account for the life we lived. There will be no exception, from the beggar in the street, to the kings and rulers that sit in high places. God is keeping a record of our life.  Did we live it to glorify God, or did we live to just please ourselves and our carnal desires? The work of salvation, accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord is written in the Book of Life. Have we experience the new birth? Have we been born again? These are the “works” that determine our eternal destination. There will be no excuses and no augments when we stand before God. There is no hiding for the books will reveal our works. It is sobering to think that we all will give an account after this life is over, and only that done in the Name of Jesus will matter. Standing before God does not have to be a fearful event. If our hearts have been cleaned by the blood of Christ we can stand boldly in that day knowing that we are a child of God and have a conscience void of condemnation. 

To Know God

1 John 2:3,4 “And hereby we know that we know Him: if we keep His commandments.

He that saith, “I know Him,” and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him.”-

To know God, is to abide in truth. Keeping God’s commandments is to follow the teachings of Christ to abstained from sin, love those who hate you, and to worship Him with all our hearts. If we love Him we will not do things that bring displeasure to Him. God hates sin and commands us not to do things that are evil, wicked and selfish. To know Him is to walk in light and not live in darkness. If our lifestyle is living to please the flesh and satisfy selfish desires then we have deceived ourselves in thinking we know God. We are living a lie if we have hate in our heart toward our neighbor. We are far from perfect. Life can be frustrating and things happen that can cause us to become bitter and resentful toward others. But knowing Christ is to have His love and Spirit that helps us overcome these feelings that invade our life. If we walk in the the light as He is in the light we can have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Christ will give us the powers to forgive and remain faithful to keep His commandments. Let us live to please God and keep His commandments.

Days of Trouble

Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.”-

We live in a troubled world. History records that every generation has suffered troubles that seem to be worse than as the years continue. No doubt, we live in trouble days. Truth and His Word is no longer the fiber of our country. It is troubling to hear that many are walking away from what was once considered to unchanging truth. Good is evil, and evil is good. In trouble days, we need a Stronghold. We need someone who is able to work miracles in these trouble days.  

Encourage Others

Acts. 4:36 “And Joses, who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, “the Son of Consolation”), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,”

Our personalities are shape genetically and environmentally. The influences that surround us often determine who we are. Barnabas had a way of bringing hope and cheer to those around him. He was a man who looked at life with the glass half full, instead of half empty. He lived after his name. He was a man who encouraged others in the faith. To those who had little, he gave of his own means, to those who others did not accept, he went out of his way to befriend them. No doubt, Barnabas’s personality was shaped also by knowing Jesus. Jesus, the One who changes lives and influences personalities to be kind and giving desires that everyone have a heart the will encourage others to look to God when things get hard. We all can be like Barnabas, bring hope to the hopeless, and encouragement to others who are going through tough times.

God Has Called Us

Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”

Everyone has a calling, everyone has a job to do. God has given us each talents or desires to be something for God. Jesus admonition us to occupy till He returns, keep busy working for the Kingdom. Go forth into the world and live the life that God has called us to. We all are called to live for God and to let our light shine in a world that is darken with sin. We are not called to live as the world, but to live in this world the life of holiness. (1 thess 4:7) The job we have or the work we do may take on various facets. Some are called to minister the Word and some are called to serve the needs of people, others are called to build shelter, or educate the masses. There are many vocations that God may call us to, and He wants us to fulfill our calling to the glory of God. Do them as unto the Lord, and not unto man. What ever God has put into your hand, do it with all your might. (Ecc. 9:10). Let us live worthy of the work that God has called us to do.

Showing Kindness

Eph. 4:32 “and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”-

Kindness is manifest through our action, attitudes, and words. Being kind is done on purpose and with sincerity. True kindness can not be acted out. It comes from a heart that knows the kindness of God. A heart that has experience the forgiveness of sin. We owed a debt we could not pay, but God in His loving kindness paid the debt, showed us mercy and gave us a second chance. It is not always easy to be kind to some people. People who are mean spirited, and use cutting words to hurt people make it difficult to be kind to. More than likely, people like this have been hurt or treated ill in the past. They don’t know what it means to be kind. As Christian, we have the opportunity to show the Kindness of Christ to others by showing acts of mercy, and speaking words of kindness. Let others see Christ in you, even when it is hard to love. It is Christ alone that gives us the grace to be kind one to another and to those who need the love of God. 

To Know The Father

John 8:19 “Then they said unto Him, “Where is thy father?” Jesus answered, “Ye neither know Me, nor My Father. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also.”

To know the Father, one must know the Son. For the two are the same in One. He who came from heaven was sent from the Father. To know the Father is to know that Jesus came to earth born of a virgin, fully human, yet the conception of this new born was quicken by the Holy Spirit that brought life. Jesus, the God-Man, perfect and without sin. He came to reveal the Love of the Father that we may also know God as our Father. Sin separated us from the Father, but to those who believe in the salvation of Christ have become sons of God and now have access to the Father’s throne. To know the Father, is to know love, grace and mercy. He is a good Father, and every blessing we receive comes from Him. May we find rest in knowing the Father from above. 

We Believe

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in His name.”

What does it mean to believe in the Name of Jesus? Many believe and history records that there was a man who walked this earth and His name was Jesus, but to believe in His Name is to believe and accept that He came to save us from our sins. Darkness fills the world because the heart’s of men are darken by the sin in their lives. Believing that Jesus is the Light that will dispel the darkness and bring a person out of sin is to believe in His Name. To those who believe in His name, and have received Him into their lives, He gives them power over sin. Sin no longer has its hold, we are set free from the bondage of sin. Where we were once blind, we now see because we believe. We believe in God the Father, we believe in God the Son, we believe in the Holy Spirit, we believe in the Three in One.  In the face of opposition, and the progressive movement of our day, we must not forget who it is that brings life and we who received Him can stand in this day and know whom we have believed in, and He is able to keep us unto the day of His coming. 

Nothing But the Blood

1 peter 1:18a,19 “For ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”

Nothing but the blood of Christ is able to redeem us back to God. No amount of money or means can buy eternal life. Unless we keep our minds and hearts focus on things above, it is easy to get our affections set on the things of this world. We are surrounded with messages that wealth is a sign of a successful life. The world values its worth on how much it can gain of this world’s goods. God looks at us with tender loving care.  We all are precious in His sight and His love for us is so great that He gave His Son to die for the sin(s) that separates us from Him. His precious blood that was shed on the cross is worth more than any earthly treasure on earth. We don’t have to be anyone special in this world, or have riches of this world to get God’s attention. His love reaches all who will come to Him, believe that He is the One to make us in His image. “Silver and gold, have I none, but such as I have I give unto thee”.

Rejoice in His Word

Psalm 119:14, 15.16 “  I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Thy precepts and attend unto Thy ways. I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy word.”

Sometimes reading and mediating on God’s Word is like a sword. It pierces the heart with convictions and reveals what lurks in the shadows when the light of His Word searches the soul. Rejoicing is not the first emotions that comes to my mind. His law, His commandments show us how sinful we are, and how bad we need a Savior. His Word does not leave us without hope. The testimony of the Lord is to show us that we don’t have to live in darkness and sin, that we can rejoice that He has provided a way to live and to live more abundantly. His Word becomes light that shine before us, leading us day by day to walk close to Him. We have a heart of gratitude, we give Him praise for giving us His Word that we can learn to walk in His precepts. His Word, that became flesh can now dwell in our hearts and fill us with joy beyond riches. 

Go in Peace

Luke 7:48,50b “ And He said unto her, “Thy sins are forgiven… Thy faith hath saved thee. Go in peace”

The wonder of having sins forgiven. Who is this that can forgive sins. He is not a mere man, but the High Priest for all who will come to Him and bow at His feet. It matters not our station in life, our social economic state, or our physical condition, Jesus, He who forgives sins desires to speak the words, “Go in peace”. When the burden of sin is lifted from the heart and guilt and condemnation are gone, peace comes and fills the heart with contentment. Knowing that God now sees us as new creatures, washed by His love, we can go and face life with peace that the world cannot give. Real peace, the gift of God comes only through knowing Jesus, knowing that God’s love reaches any heart that is willing to humble themselves and be a servant of the Master. He is the God of peace in a world of turmoil. 

Giving Thanks To God

Col. 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by Him.”- 

In everything you do, give thanks to God. Life brings a lot of ups and downs and it is tough to give thanks when the hard times come. I have never been in need where I was in a state of starvation, or where I would lay my head for the night. God has not allowed me to go through such testing. I would pray that even if He had me go through such difficult times, that I would still be thankful to God for His love and mercy. An attitude of a thankful heart is to give praise to God for all things. For all things work together for good to them that love God and are called to fulfill His purpose in our lives. For our purpose in life is to glorify the Father, and to give thanks in everything. Yes, even in times of distress and unpleasant situations. Knowing that nothing happens by chance, that God is in Control and we can rest and be thankful that He knows what is best. 

The Mind Set of Jesus

Phil 2:5.8 “ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,… He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—even the death of the cross.”-

The mind set of Jesus was always on serving others. He, who is the Son of God became human flesh to serve and die for humanity’s sins. The mind of Christ is to seek the will of the Father, to humbly submit to the needs of others, preferring others before self. This radical mind set is foreign to the philosophy of the world that promotes self gratification and self importance. Seeking to make a name, to make it to the top, climbing the ladder of power and popularity. Such is the mind of this world. Followers of Christ, that have the mind of Christ have picked up the cross, crucifying the flesh with all of its sinful desires that they may serve God and others as obedient servants of God. 

Looking For a City

Heb. 11:10,16  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God…Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a City.”

This world is not my home, I’m only passing through. Looking for a City that is not made by human architect. Man has achieve remarkable skills and technology to make habitats that are beautiful and stunning, but they will all pass away with time. God, has built a City that will not fade away, a City where the light of day and night is Christ Himself. This City, John saw coming down from the heavenly skies. A City where the streets are made of gold. We need to look beyond this world and set our eyes on things that are eternal. God has prepared a place for those who choose to believe, those who are faithful to trust God. For God will be faithful to us if we keep our eyes on that City.

Christian Anger

Eph. 4:26a, 32 “ Be Angry…and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”-

In a perfect world, everyone would put aside their own wants and even their dignity to keep peace. It is natural to be angry when wrong is inflected and our shelf image is wounded. The natural tendency is to strike back, and inflict pain to those who say and do things that hurt. Anger is a natural emotion that in itself is not sin. As Christians, we have a choice how we are going handle our anger. Paul says that we are not to let our anger become bitter and malicious. Jesus, our God and Savior has shown us how we are to act in the face being treated wrongly. React with kindness, forgive those who despiteful use you. Show the same forgiveness to others that Christ has shown you. Such choices are not natural, they are super natural and come through the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. We can lay our head down each night knowing that God has given us a heart of forgiveness and our feelings of anger can be given to God.

Avoid Temptation

Luke 22:40 “And when He was at the place, He said unto them, “Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”-

Temptation often comes to us unaware, but it does not have to take us unprepared. Maintaining a state of mind and heart to always pray will help us guard against the persuasions and enticements that Satan entreats us with daily. We are most tempted when we are drawn away by the lure of satisfying our own desires and wants. A desire for ease or pleasure, and the want of fame or riches face us each day. Temptation to rely on our own strength and abilities to do what needs to be done. Peter failed to stay alert and pray, he entered into temptation when he drew his sword to defend Jesus. He was relying on his own zeal and might, even though he was defending truth. Prayer is the key to resist and avoid given in to temptation. We should not allow ourselves to fall asleep spiritually. Be instant in prayer, always be God conscience and ready to make the right choices when temptation comes.

Christian Perfection

Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect.”

What does it mean to “Be perfect” I read in a devotional this morning:

“it’s not possible to have perfect motives. We love the Lord and others, but our motives for how we live the Christian life are sometimes mixed with our desire to be valued or praised.”

This author’s opinion is that being perfect does not mean that we can always do things with a perfect motive. Jesus, the God-Man who walked this earth tells us that it is possible to be perfect. Is it possible to always make choices with the motive to please God? Can a Christian not always seek the Kingdom of God first in the way they behave, act, or react? As human beings, we live in a broken down human body that  are subject to the elements of this world. We make mistakes, our bodies grow weary and often our judgment in the choices we make our influences by the state of our mind when it reaches it’s limitation of handling stress. But is it not possible, when we have full control of our faculties to make choices with the intentions of always pleasing God? I believe that Christian perfection, the work of sanctification can give a person a heart that is always perfect toward God. Paul writes in the book of Romans to give yourself as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our service to God. It is this consecration to God and the infilling of the Holy Spirit that allows a person to always make choices that are perfect in the sight of God. Let us asked ourselves, Why do I do the things I do? Let God examine our heart and determine weather they are perfect before Him.

Deliverance from Suffering

Hebrews: 1135b, 39 “…and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. -And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise,”-

Deliverance from God is not always escaping trails and difficult situations. When we pray for deliverance and still suffer hard times, does God still answer prayer? No doubt, many who suffered persecution for their faith, prayed that God would answer their cry for deliverance. There were some that were saved and their were others that still were tortured. These are questions that I truly don’t have a good answer. Accepting God’s will in all matters of prayer is submitting to His sovereign will. God is able, but it is not always His will. I don’t know why God chooses some to suffer and others to be delivered, but believing God is in control and He knows best is to demonstrate a faith beyond seeing a deliverance from pain and suffering. By faith, we can trust God that all things are working according to His will and purpose.

Vanities of Vanities

Ecc. 1:2 “Vanity of vanities,” saith the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”-

Man strives to gather the riches of this world, but at the end of life it is all left behind. The vanity of seeking this world’s treasures. We become keenly aware of it fertility when we take our last breath on earth. Life goes on and the world continues to function as if we were never there. What is left behind is a memory for those who also will come to the end of their lives and look back to ask, “What was my purpose, what legacy will I leave to the next generation that follows?” Is our life being lived in vain? Are we spending our time gathering earthly treasures? God who created all things, made us for a purpose and our short life on earth is to bring glory to Him. He knows each of us by name. It is beyond my imagination to think that out of the billions of people walking this earth, that He takes notice of each one us, and has a purpose for our existence. We walk not this earth in vain. Let us set our affection on things above, may we look to Jesus who give us a reason to live.

To Be Likeminded

Roman 15:6,7 “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus, that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

To be likeminded is to have a common goal and desire. To think with the same purpose and outcome. When everyone works together there is strength in unity. This is the essence of collaboration and team work. It is the ability to lay aside your own wants and desire and look to the common good of all. It was the prayer of Paul that Christians look to Christ as the focus of unity. According to Christ Jesus, what was essential and most important? In everything we do, it was to glorify the Father. As a body of believers, it is our purpose to be focus on eternal matters, keep our eyes and mind on things eternal. United together in our goal to keep Christ first and foremost in our hearts and mind.

The Living Bread

John 6:51 “ I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven. If any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever; and the Bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

As a young child growing up in the Catholic faith, I always pondered the purpose of communion. I recall the priest lifting up a wafer that represented the bread, which takes away the sins of the world. The meaning of this symbolism did not reach my heart until I was a teen seeking to know God through a personal relationship, and not through the rituals of church liturgy. I came to understand that Jesus, the Bread of life not only came to die for the world, but came to die for me. What a revelation I got when my eyes were open and I saw Jesus as my personal Savior who gave of his flesh, shed His blood that I may know forgiveness of sin. Yes, I went often to confession, and told the priest all the things I did I thought were bad, and there was a measure of peace that I had unloaded my guilt on someone else who was able to resolve my sins by have me say a few “Our Father and Hail Mary” prayers, but this was peace was only temporary. What a revelation it was in my life when I found out that I could always have this peace. That Jesus, the source of life could provide eternal life if I would only believe in Him. I know their are many who find comfort in their Catholic faith, and I respect that, but I did not find real satisfaction in life until I was able to partake of the Bread of Life. Life has never been the same.

Fishers of Men

Mark 1:17 “And Jesus said unto them, “Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”-

The calling of Jesus is for us to be “fishers of men”. People need to know that God cares and desires a relationship with humanity. The analogy that Christ uses implies that there is a purpose in life beyond making a living and surviving. Our purpose is whatever occupation we find ourselves in is to point people to God. To be a “fisher of men” we must be willing to let down the net, to let people know that God is good and He came to die for our sins and give us a new life. Learning to “fish for men” requires that we follow Jesus in His steps, and have the love and compassion that He has.

Doing Good

Gal 6:9 “And let us not be weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Doing good is a nature response of a Christian who is desiring to live close to God. The motivation to do good is not driven by what we can get back in return. But we desire to see the fruit of our labor as we reach out to see others find Jesus. We can become weary of not seeing our efforts bare fruit. We sow the Gospel seed by showing kindness to those who don’t know Him. We also show others that we don’t live unto ourselves, by carrying each others burdens. We cannot give up our efforts in doing good to others and to those who are of the household of faith. We may not see or reap in this life, but in due season, God will give the increase.

Our Manner of Living

Philip 1:27 “Only let your manner of living be as becometh the Gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you or else am absent…”-

How we live out weighs what we say. The words we speak can be powerful, but it is the actions behind our words that speak to the integrity of who we are. If we say we are Christian, and a follower of Jesus Christ, then our manner of living should reflect the Spirit of Christ. It matters not if we are in company or alone, our behavior is consistent to the life we profess. The popular saying, “What would Jesus Do?” is very relevant to how a Christian should live. We are saved by grace, but it is grace that allows us to live in a manner that reflects the teaching of Christ. God who is able to save us by His grace, is also able by His grace to help us live in a manner that shows forth His love and mercy. 

The Cup to Drink

John 17:11b, 18:37b “The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?”…To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.”

What is in the cup? We all have a cup filled with life and purpose. God has given us each a cup to drink and to this end were we born. What is life about and why am I here in this world? This question is asked from people from all parts of the world and from every station in life. We only live once on this earth, and God has allowed us to be apart of this world. The providence of God has filled each one of our cups to fulfill His will and to glorify Him. It is up to us weather we will be willing to drink of the cup He has given us. Life happens and it is no accident for God is in full control. “I care not today what the morrow may bring, if shadow or sunshine or rain, The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything…” Not everyone’s cup is the same, but knowing it is God who fills it, makes it easier to drink and knowing that our lives can be used for the cause of God to see His Kingdom come to pass. 

Profitable Servant

Philemon 1:11 “ In time past he was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me..”-

A profitable servant of God is one who is a positive influence for the cause of Christ. He has purpose and will invest his life to see the kingdom of God on earth. A profitable person has an attitude that is positive and optimistic. They are not a burden, but rather willing and wanting to give an extra hand to help carry the load. They are not dead weight in the church having to be catered to and served. They find ways to help others who are in need without always being ask. One cannot be profitable if they are always taking and not giving. They don’t drain the resources of God’s people with petty problems. Being profitable to the work of God happens when we are willing to put our wants aside and reach out to others in need.

God Hath Said

Get 3:1 And he said unto the woman, “Yea, hath God said, ‘Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

God speaks to us in many ways, and knowing the voice of God can sometimes be difficult to discern. His Word speaks clearly what He desires of man. His Word speaks of love and mercy, but it also speaks of obedience to His commandments. We are to abstain from the appearance of evil. His commandments tells us to flee youthful lust and sin not. God has said, “Thou shalt… and thou shalt not…” Satan is a master of deceit, and will begin to have us question what God has already made clear. We live in a world where people are always questioning the validity of God’s Word. To appease their own sinful desires, they twist the Word to say what they want it to say. They call good, bad, and bad, good. Satan has perverted the meaning of love and have deceived many into doing things that are unholy. Let us not be fooled by Satan, but let us believe what God hath said. For it has been written, and He has spoken.

Run To Him

Prov. 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe.”-

I remember as a new freshman at high school running home fearing for my life. It was customary and sad to say tradition to initiate incoming freshman to the school. So, every day I ran home to avoid being caught. Unfortunately, I was finally corner in the boy’s restroom. Satan is out as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He intimates, frightens, and pursues the righteous into doubting God. He chases many into a corner and causes them to make unwise decisions. He is a master of fear and will tempt us to give in to unbelief. But with every temptation, God has provided a way of escape. He is our tower of refuge. When Satan begins his chase, we but have to run to His tower of protection. God’s grace is available to all who will run to Him. We need not fear the enemy of our soul if we are abiding in God’s strong tower. 

Inheritance in Christ

1 Peter 1:4 “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you,”

The inheritance that I receive from my mother and the inheritance I leave my children will fade away with the passing of time. It may buy a few things and may provide for a more comfortable life, but the inheritance of this world is corruptible, it will all turn to dust. After we pass from this life, the trails and temptations will also fade away. We have been promised a new hope, a new beginning. Through Christ, we have inherited eternal life, this inheritance will not fade away. The treasures of life are truly that which pertain to the Kingdom of God. We are not of this world, we are only passing through. Our final destination is Heaven, it is our inheritance in Christ.

This World

John 17:14,15 “ I have given them Thy Word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

This world is no friend of grace. The world stands in opposition to all that is godly, holy, right, and despises those who declare an absolute truth. The world is driven to please the pleasure of the flesh, it has no regard to the commandments of God. Christian’s world view comes from the teaching of Christ and the Holy Spirit that leads the believer into all truth. The Bible is the final word of what is morally right and wrong, and the world does not like what it has to say. It goes against their own fleshly desires to satisfy self. Therefore, the world rejects God’s Word as absolute truth. We are not to behave as the world does, even though we live in this world we are to remain from the world’s inclination to satisfy the base desires of the sinful flesh. It was the prayer of Jesus that we be kept from the love of the flesh. This world will pass away, but the Word of God will remain and every knee will bow and confess that He is Lord of all.  

Count Our Blessings

Psalm 139:17.18 “How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with Thee.”

Count our blessings one by one, it will amaze you how high you can count. Remembering to count is often forgotten when we are in the mist of things happening that cause us despair or stress. It seems at times that everything is going wrong and nothing seems to be going the way we like it to go. Broken vehicle, flooded basement, late for an important appointment, car accident, and many other things that happen because we live in a broken world. But God, who knows what we are going through and sees our frustration still shows His love to us in many ways. The good things He provide cannot be numbers, they are as the sands of the sea. We should stop and start to count when it seems that all is falling apart. Daily He floods us with His benefits and His love is everlasting. Take time today and begin counting. 

Let Our Light Shine

Matt. 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”-

There is a light within each one of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The presence of God in the life of a person is manifest in the way we act and react to people and the circumstance around us. Our light ( the witness of Christ) is to reflect the Spirit of Christ in the way He treated others and responded to life’s happenings. It is sometime easy to forget when we are in the middle of conflict, or people are not treated us right to remember that we are the light of the world. People don’t always deserve respect, but we treat all people with respect because the light within us compiles us. Letting our light shine is to also reveal to others that Jesus is the answer to life’s questions and He alone is able to forgive sin and remove guilt from the heart. The light will reveal to others that there is hope in this world and we need not fear tomorrow. In a day where there is so much uncertainty in our world, may we let our light shine, and bring some sunshine into a world that is darken by sin. 

In Our Weakness

2 Corinth 12:9 “And He said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”-

The power of God is able to work in us when we come to the place that we are depended on Him to be our strength. God has given us talents and abilities to accomplish many things, but when we come to the end of our human abilities, God is still there to take it beyond what we are able to do. We must always give our best it whatever we do, but our best is to depend on Him to provide the help we need to go beyond the human. In times of difficulties and hard places when life takes us to a dead end with no where to turn, God’s grace opens a door where there seem to be no door, His grace parts the sea when we don’t see a way out. Sometimes God just has to remove the things we have been leaning on, knock the props from under us, so we can realize that we must have Him to be our helper and strength. In our weakness, God shows us that we can be strong when we put our trust in Him.

Turning to God

Ezekiel 18: 28 “Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live: he shall not die.”-

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life- Turning to God is the way out of sin and despair. Sin is a willful transgression against the known will of God. This is the sin that man is accountable for. We live in vessel made of clay and any transgression from perfect that resulted without choice is covered by the blood of Christ. Sin that is committed by our will and choice is also covered by the blood, but it must be confessed. if any man sin (willfully) we have a advocate, a mediator, who is Christ Jesus. With the mouth confession is made to to God and He in His love and mercy will forgive so that we can continue to live. Repenting of making wrong choices is the way we stay alive. Turning to God for forgiveness is the right choice. It is His will that we sin not, but if we do, He provides a way back.

He is Faithful

Lamentation:3:22b,23 “…because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness

He is Faithful to in His Love. The faithful love of God is seen in how He provides for those in need. His love is often taken for granted for He is always there even tho we don’t always sense His presence. As the sun rises in the morning each day with certainty we can be assured that the faithfulness of God will be with us. Through the difficult time that we face and the hard decisions that we must make, God is faithful to help us do what is right. His love is never failing and He will faithfully direct us in the path we should follow. Learning to lean on Him, for He is faithful and true to keep us from falling and going astray. 

Constantly Abiding

John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever”-

Constantly Abiding. The Holy Spirit’s presence in this world was made possible because Jesus came and provide a way for us to have access to the Father. The Spirit has always been active in the world, but it was not until Jesus came that the Spirit’s fullness was able to abide in those who walked with God. The Spirit was with and directed all those that lived Godly live before Christ came, but the Holy Spirit did not indwell the believers until the day of pentecost. The prayer of Jesus makes it clear that He had not yet come to dwell, but that He would come. The promise was to believers in Christ who had been saved through believing in the Name of Jesus. It is for us all today for our high priest has prayed to God the Father who always hears the prayers of His Son. He abides, He abides, every day and everywhere. He is constantly abiding in the hearts of those who keep His commandments.

God of Mercy

Psalm 136  “His mercy endureth for ever.”

He is a God of mercy and compassion. He is good, God above all gods, Lord of all, His mercy reaches across the oceans, to the ends of earth, to the moon and back, it is unmeasurable. In loving kindness, His mercy reached down to me and lifted me out of my despair and hopelessness. Lost in sin, the mercy of God sent His Son to die for me and gave me a new hope and new purpose. I now look at His creation and give thanks for all that He is and all that He is able to do. The Heavens declare His glory and show forth His mercy to all generations. May my children see the mercy of God and give thanks. May they see that life without God is meaningless. May their children also know that His mercy endures forever. 

Rendering our Hearts

Joel 2:13 “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth of the evil.”

Rendering our hearts is more than just a lay me down to sleep prayer. To render the heart is to demonstrate a contrite and broken heart. A heart that is in mourning and grief stricken for the way it has treated God. A render heart will cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness. It realized that it has grieved it’s Maker and has brought displeasure to the One who loves them. A sincere heart will come to God with a minds eye to only please the Father. We may try and come to God and bargain with Him, but God is not interested in burnt sacrifices, He wants a heart that has been rendered and surrendered to the His will. May we turn from our sinful ways of doing things our way, and turn to God, who is merciful and mighty to heal a heart that has been rendered.

Called Unto Holiness

1 Thess 5:23,24 “ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you; He also will do it.

Called unto holiness is more than just a song we sing in church. It is more than just a doctrine that is held by many churches that hold to the teachings of John Wesley. It is a Bible experience that every Christian can have. We strive daily to live in holiness, but God calls us not only to strive but to obtain the experience of being blameless before God. To be sanctify wholly is an experience of God’s grace by shedding in our hearts the Holy Spirit who purges out the carnal sinful nature. The whole of our body, soul and spirit can be made pure by the indwelling presence of God. This is the prayer that Paul gives to those who have come to Christ for salvation and forgiveness. He prayed to God that our hearts would be remain pure and holy until we see Christ face to face. The God who called us to holiness is faithful to answer prayer to anyone who is willing to let God sanctify them wholly.

He Alone is God

Psalm 86:10 “For Thou art great and doest wondrous things: Thou alone art God.”-

He alone is God. In all the earth there is none greater than the great three in one. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Holy, holy, holy is He and worthy of all our praise and worship. There is no God compared to Thee on God, no not one. The gods of this world appeal to our earthly flesh and passions to serve them, but God appeals to our soul and spirit. He works in ways that are beyond our imagination. He is God alone who is in control of world affairs and no matter who our world leaders are, He is greater and nothing that happens will change who He is and what He allows to happen. He alone is God and in Him alone will I put my trust.

Lay Down Our Time

1 John 3:16. Hereby we perceive the love of God: because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

The love of God is seen in those that profess His name when compassion is demonstrate by the way we give to others. If we hold back what God has given us then we have yet to perceive the love of God. If God’s love lives within us, we will show forth this love in the way we treat others and give as God blesses. Giving to help others is more than putting money in the offering plate. As needful as that is, we show our love to others by giving of our time and sacrificing things we might enjoy doing to help someone who needs our attention. Time is a valuable commodity. Our lives consist of time we spend on this earth. How we use our time reveals what is important to us. May we be willing to lay down our time to help the brethren who is in need.

Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:35 “ But love ye your enemies, and do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest; for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”-

It is not within human nature to love someone who hates you and is out to make life miserable for you. Loving your enemies requires a divine act of God. It requires that we say “No” to hate and “Yes” to love. It is a choice we make. We take sides with that which is good and holy. Being tempted to retaliate when someone does us wrong is a normal reaction as we try to defend our dignity and self worth. Being hurt and being tempted to hurt back is the part of the human nature that Jesus tells us that we must resist. He reminds us that Love conquers all and loving those who despitefully use us is possible when we know that God also shows mercy and forgiveness. Forgiving is not forgetting, but it does take resentment out of the heart and puts a love that passes human understanding. We love, because God first loved us.

Dead to the World

Col. 3:2,3  “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”-

Dead to the world means that the world no longer holds any attraction. We hold on loosely to the material things of life and the temporal. Prestige and earthly power is but a vapor when compared to life in eternity.  Being “dead” in Christ implies that we have been to the cross. Once again, we have made the choice to pick up it up and follow Him, even the death of the cross. Our sins have been nailed, the old man has been crucified, and we are now made alive, a new creature. Being alive in Christ means that our desires and affections are focused on Christ and the teaching of His word. We find pleasure in serving Him and doing His will. Tho the earthly pleasure of this life have some appeal, they are nothing compared to what God has to offer. For in Him is life and the reason we live.

Conforming to the Cross

Phil 3:10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death,”

Conforming to the cross of Christ implies that one also comes to realization that the sin of self must die. The Cross, the emblem to those who bare the marks that they belong to Jesus. “Pick up your cross, and follow me” are the words Jesus spoke to those desired to see God. The cross is not some magical amulet, that we carry around to ward off evil and danger. The cross is an emblem that reminds us that Jesus died for us, giving us the hope of eternal life. We too can take the way of the cross, giving up sin and the things of this world that are in opposition to the way God wants us to live. We go forth daily baring the cross of Jesus showing others that the cross is our hope and salvation. It is the cross, the blood of Christ that was shed on that cross that empowers us to live victoriously. We conform to the cross in our lives, so when others see us, they see Christ.

Talking to God

2 Chron 6:19 “Have respect therefore to the prayer of Thy servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which Thy servant prayeth before Thee:”

Basically, prayer is just talking to God. When we say, “I’ll be praying for you”, we are telling that person that we will talk to God about them and their needs. Prayer implies that there is a relationship established. It is not likely that we would be approaching strangers and start up a conversation. That is not to say that we never do, but it is not something we normally do. But, if we see someone we know, we visit and talk about what is happening. Having a relationship with Jesus, gives us an open door to talk to Him at anytime of the day. Continue always in prayer is to continue to speak to Him no matter where we are or what we are doing.  Depending on our needs, this conversation with God can take on different facets as we enter into conversation. God desires us to come to Him and make our needs know, He hears our voices as we lift them up heavenward. It is good to take time out of the our busy day to talk to God, putting aside the busyness of our day and just have an intimate talk with Him. May we always have an open heart and listen to the voice of God and take time to stop what we are doing and have a quiet visit with the lover of our soul. 

Be Anger, and Sin Not

Eph. 4:31.32 “ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Becoming angry is seen as an out of control emotion. Normally when one becomes angry it is because someone else has inflected pain or has treated us wrongly or carelessly. Becoming angry can also happen when we see an injustice take place, someone is hurting or abusing someone else. Anger is a normal human emotion, but God’s word says to put away anger. In the work of holiness, or sanctification, God deals with us about our carnal anger that stirs within our heart when things don’t go our way, or when someone has treated us wrongly. The Holy Spirit removes carnal self from the throne of our life and put the love of God that constrains us to treat others with love and kindness. Not all anger is carnal, but we must always beware of the reasons we are angry and allow the Holy Spirit to direct us in our actions and behavior. We can be anger at what sin does and how it destroys lives, but we must be careful to direct our anger toward the sin, and not the person, who God loves and desires to save and forgive. “Be angry, but sin not”

A Prisoner set Free

Psalm 146:7-8“…the Lord looseth the prisoners…The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind; the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down;…”

Sin is binding, it shackles us with chains that keeps us from being free to serve God the way we should. A prisoner to sin, we live in bondage to Satan who keeps us trapped by deceiving us into thinking that leaving the pleasures of sin will take the fun out of living. The carnal nature enjoys the lust of the flesh, but the fulfilling the lust of the flesh drive us further into a prison that keeps us trapped. Sin leads to a life style that keeps us from serving God in righteousness. Jesus came to set the prisoner free, He has the keys of life that will give us real freedom. Freedom to worship God is the Spirit of holiness. Freedom to be what God wants us to be. His grace, causes the chains of sin to loosen and break. We don’t have to be a prisoner of sin, we can be set free if we choose to live in truth. He is truth and the Truth shall set us free.

No Longer Strangers

Debt. 10:17,18 “ For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and a fearsome, who regardeth not persons nor taketh reward. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger in giving him food and raiment.”

We often take caution when a stranger is seen. We don’t know anything about this person, we don’t don’t know anything about their character. They have not proven themselves to us, so we approach them with caution. Caution is good, but rudeness is uncalled for by anyone who names the Name of Christ. We our representatives of God’s house and are to treat all people kindly without regard to their station in life. It matters not who they are or what they have to offer, the love of God constrains us to reach out and give to others who are in need or in want. Let us put aside our prejudice and judgement and execute compassion to those who are strangers among us. May they seen the love of God and turn their hearts toward Him. No longer strangers, but friends among us. 

Stagger Not

Romans 4:20 “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God,”-

There were time in Abraham’s life that he did stagger, but ultimately he choose to put his faith in God to work out his life. There are times in our life that we face situations and think that we can handle them without consulting God or asking God for help. We put a lot of faith in our own ingenuity and cleaver planning. God did give us a thinker to use, but faith will reach out to God as we use the brain that God has given us. When it is all said and done, we give God all the credit and praise Him for what He has done. Faith is not some magic formula or power that will give us what we want. Faith is to believe God that He has all things in His hand and knows what is best for us. Even tho we cannot see it for ourselves, faith will carry us through. By faith, we can live victorious lives and stagger not at the promises of God.

Forever Interceding

Roman: 8 26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

He is forever interceding to God the Father. Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father, died and shed His blood that we now access to the mercy seat of God. The Holy Spirit, who is our comforter, knows what we are facing and knows our needs, takes our feeble words and make intercession for us to the Father. It amazes me to think that God cares enough to listen to a lone voice among the billions of people that live on the earth. He is God and the Holy Spirit is a God of omnipresence. He is everywhere and knows everything. We need not fear because there is always someone who is praying for us. Others may have moved on with their prayers, but the Holy Spirit is always interceding in our behalf. There is One who is always praying.

The Treasures of our Heart

Luke 12: 34 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

The passion of the heart can be found in what we treasure the most. To what do we give the most attention? What comes first in life? We live in a culture and society that values material wealth. Nice cars, big houses, fine clothes, expensive jewelry, and possessing things that will soon decay and fade away. The treasures of our heart reveals the depth of our love for God. What we seek first demonstrates what is most important to us. Jesus taught us to first be seekers of God and find our treasures in His will. Knowing God and His love is the greatest treasure one can have. When we come to know Him, He puts in our heart a desire to serve others, revealing His love through us. The things of this world become secondary, they are the things that God will add unto us as we seek Him first. May our treasure always be to know Him and love Him more each day. 

Passing the Torch

Psalm 78:6,7 “that the generation to come might know them, even the children who should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children, that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.

Passing the torch of God’s word and the way of holy living. The desire of every parent who is serving the Lord is to see their children follow God. We raise our children to listen to the voice of God, and to follow His commandments. Worldly influences are always going to be there for every generation. We all see the world differently and work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Culture is always changing and how we simulate our faith within the culture must stand against God’s word. God’s word does not change, and His commandments are not suggestions based on how relative they are to the culture we live in. Sin is still sin. Passing the torch to our children in hopes that they see that God is holy, and Christ is the Savior who died to make us holy. Anything less than this means the torch has been dropped. Let us not forget the works of God. Keep the torch burning.

Words of Kindness

Isaiah 50:4 “The Lord God hath given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.”

Words of kindness does not take special talent to administer to other. There is the gift of helps, but speaking kind words to others is given to all who love Jesus. There is tough love that speaks to the truth of people’s behavior, but it is for the purpose of helping that person see themselves and make an effort to change. A person that loves God is always looking for opportunities to show kindness and speak encouragement to others. It may be words of appreciate, or words that uplift to help others enjoy their day. Even in times when we feel that we are being spited, we can “hep cups of cold water” to let them know that love and kindness can overcome evil. We live in world where we face trouble and circumstance that can be discouraging, Jesus came to bring good tidings and His desire is for those who follow Him to spread the news that God cares and He is the answer for those who are weary and heavy laden. 

Serving the Lord with Gladness

Psalm 100:2 “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing!”

Serving the Lord, following Him is not always easy. Everyone in life faces situations in life that are hard. Those who serve the Lord will often face undue persecution because we live in a world that despised anything that rebukes their sin and lifestyle. The world is no friend of God and any friend of God is an enemy of the world. But serving the Lord is not hard when you know that He is always with you, even when the road is difficult to travel. Gladness is an attitude that God gives us when life gives us a lemon. We know that God can take something that is bad and turn it into good. Entering into His presence, wherever that may be with a glad heart. Know that He is the giver of all good things. rejoice and sing unto the Lord for He is Good. He is love, and His love is everlasting. Serving the Lord is not a chore when Gladness fills the heart. 

Facing Temptation

James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,”

Temptation is common to all men. We all face temptation to choose to do right or choose to do wrong. Adam and Eve were tempted to partake of the forbidden fruit. Their faith in God and their commitment to trust God was tested. God tempts no man to do evil, but in every temptation He provides a way of escape. He does allow circumstances to come our way that will test the fiber of our faith in Him. Satan tempts us to do wrong for the soul purpose of destroying our soul. In the fiery trails of life when we are at the crossroad of making choices to trust God or give in to our desires, James says to rejoice and count in all joy. We have once again been given an opportunity to show our love to God when we choose to do what is right. Trails and temptation deepens our walk with God. Experiencing victory over temptation give us a level of spiritual maturity that will help us become stronger in the face of future attacks. In times of temptation, let us put on the mind of Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to choose that which is right and holy. 

Now I See

Luke: 24:14, 31 “But their eyes were held, that they should not know Him…And their eyes were opened and they knew Him…”

“I once was blind, but now I see” are words from the well know hymn, Amazing Grace. There are many things that can keep us from seeing the kingdom of God. Sin is probably the most common reason. Blinded by Satan and living in darkness, we are blinded to the spiritual world of the unseen. Heaven is a fairy tale, a myth handed down from generation to generation. Heaven is not real, but only the imagination of humanity. We also can be blinded by following false teaching and being led in a path of error and deceit. Blindness to knowing Him, also occurs when we have our eyes on the problem and forgetting who He is. To have our eyes open to see, we must take time with God. We must let His words burn within us and speak to us. Our eyes of understanding will be illuminated as we tarry before Him. 

Think on These Things

Philip 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.”-

bringing every thought into captivity, think on these things. Our minds speak when no one is watching, the things we allow our mind to think can be a powerful influence in the way we act. Satan uses our mind to tempt us in ways that is unseen by others. We must recognized that He desires to control our thoughts and what we think. Paul realizes that potential danger, and admonished us to focus our attention on things that are good. Don’t allow Satan to put thoughts in our mind that will draw us away from God. That is why we must discern what we put into our minds. The eye in the gateway to the mind and heart. What we allow ourselves to see and entertain can cause our minds to think thoughts that are unholy , unjust, and of a bad report. Let us be careful of what we see and read and listen to, recognize what is of God and what is not of God. 

Triumph in Christ

2 Corinth 2:14 “ Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ and who maketh manifest through us the savor of His knowledge in every place.”

To triumph is to achieve victory which causes us to shout with joy and satisfaction. The joy of victory is manifested by our spirit as others see that it is Christ who gives the victory. Success in life comes when we allow Christ to work through us and in us. The actions we manifest shows others that we have been with Christ. His life is lived through us and we smell of His fragrance in every place we go. The way we treat others, the kindness we show when we are treated wrongly. It is God that causes us to be sweet when the carnal self desires to lash out. Our behavior and actions speak louder than words. It is the true essence of who we really are. To be victorious, we allow Christ to be our savor in every situation and place we go.

The Comfort of God

2 Corinth 1:4 “who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.”

God gives that we may pass on the blessings He gives us. In times of difficulties and hard places, God Comforts us extending His love and care. His love reaches us and give us peace in times of trails and sadness. Life is filled with things that go wrong and we find ourselves alone with our problems. But God, who sees our despair and our heart ache comes to us in ways that are beyond comprehension. His desire is that we would extent this comfort to others in their pain and suffering. As part of the body of Christ, we reach out to each other and also reach out to those who need the Lord. Those who are going trough trouble waters and difficult times. Showing comfort to others is just often a kind word, financial aid, being there to led a ear, and of coarse, praying for them. God cares when we hurt and He care when other hurt. We live in a hurting world that needs the comfort of God.

Bread of Life

John 6:66 “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.”

Following Jesus will not make you rich of the things of this world. The earthly bread of this life will pass away and eating that bread will only bring temporary satisfaction. Following Jesus is to eat of the Bread of life that lives on beyond this life. Many serve God because they believe that God will give them the desires of their heart and fill their lives with the material things of this world. Known as the prosperity gospel, people are fooled into thinking that being a Christian means that we now have a right to ask anything in His name and He will give it to us. Many of those who followed Jesus, followed Him for the loafs and fishes. They were not willing to take up the cross and follow Him to death. There are those who come to the crossroad in their lives to give it all to God or keep living for self. Those who choose self only want the bread of this earth, Those who choose the cross want the bread of heaven. 

Walk in the Spirit

Gal. 5:16,25 “This I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh…If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

To walk in the Spirit is to live in the Vine. We fight temptation to gratify the flesh. The fleshly desires always puts self first. It looks, reaches, and takes to please the carnal self. As Christians, God forgives the sins of the flesh, but desires that we no longer live in our sins. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to live a life that will surrender self to God. Walking in the Spirit is to surrender our will to the will of the Father. He enables us to say “Not my will be done, but thy will be done” As long as we stay surrendered to God, He gives us the grace to resist the lust of the flesh. As we walk (obey) in the Spirit, we consecrate all that we our to Him. Holiness does not free us from being tempted to lust after the flesh, it empowers us to make the choices that keep us from falling. We can live a life free from the lust of the flesh as long as we walk in the Spirit and stay connected to the Vine.

A Lamp with Oil

Matt 25:3 “They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them”

A lamp without oil is useless. Religion without the presence of God is also useless. Being ready for the returning bridegroom is more than having a form of religion. Professing to be a Christian goes beyond the dressing of going to church or being raised to believe certain truths. The wise that have their lamps filled with oil are those who have trusted Christ for salvation and depend on the merit of the blood of Jesus to cleanse their heart from all unrighteousness. Being ready is to have your vessel (your heart) filled with God’s love and living in His presence in every situation and circumstance we find ourselves in. A lamp filled with oil is to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts, leading us in our daily walk with God. “Fill my lamp Lord, and help me never to be without”. 

God's Love

1 John 4:19 “ We love Him, because He first loved us.”

God is love. The central message to man given by Jesus is that the Father loves sinners. Jesus, the Son of God, God in flesh demonstrated His love to us by giving His life on the cross, dying so that we no longer have to live in the darkness of sin. His love reached down to fallen man and brought him out of the miry clay of sin, restoring him back into the image of God. Because God loved us first, we now know how love works, and Jesus being our prime example came to show us how to love others. God is love, and He wants us to live each day with love in mind. Keeping His commandments is not grievous, for the love of God motivates and inspires us to please the one we love. “He loves me, He loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so”. And, the greatest of these is love. 

Giving Back

1 Chron 29:14, 17 “..For all things come from Thee, and from Thine own have we given Thee… As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things;..”

Hold loosely to the things of this world. We came into this world with nothing and we will leave it with nothing. From dust we came and to dust we will return. God has made us stewards of what we have. He has blessed us with life and strength to provide food and shelter. The things we have will fade away with time and only that done for Christ will last when this life fades away.  The things we have are given to us by God, He is our great provider. We take what He has provided and the desire of our hearts is to give all things back to Him. We consecrate our life to Him in full surrender to all we have. It is more than just giving back the temporal things of this world, but the greatest offer we can give Him is the offering of our life. He blesses us in many ways, and my heart is grateful and willing to give back to Him anything He desires. 

With A Great Heart

Mark 14:6, 8a  And Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on Me…She hath done what she could;…”

Everyone has limits on what they are able to do. We all have expectations of ourselves and others. We measure what can be done by our abilities and our willingness. God sees our willingness to serve and then gives us the help we need to fulfill His will. Our limitations are caused by many things that are beyond our control. God does not see what great things we have done, but the great heart we do it with. A great heart will give it their best and leave the rest to God. The attitude of a heart for God is to give all we have to Him. He will take what we give Him and multiply it hundred fold according to His will. Jesus desires that we just do what we can do, and then believe Him to tell the rest of the story.

God's Grace

Romans: 5:15 “But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one Man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.’-

Essential truth from the Bible is that we are all born in sin and need Jesus to forgive and save us from our sin. It is God’s grace, unmerited favor given to man that he might have eternal life. His grace reaches down to all humanity and this gift is offered to any who will take it. This truth is not renegotiable, not up for debate and cannot be interpreted in any other way. Sin keeps us from God, His grace, through Jesus redeems us back to God. “I was lost in sin, but Jesus took me in, He’s a wonderful Savior to me.” “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see” “Tho sin aboundeth in my heart, His grace aboundeth more” The song list can go on forevers. Thank God for His grace.

Light Afflictions

2 Corinth 4:17 “7 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”-

Trails, afflictions, hard times often seem like they never end. They seem to weigh heavy and sometimes we feel as tho they are crushing us to the ground. For the moment, it would seem that life is more than we can bare. Yes, we are trouble on every side. But it light of eternity, these afflictions are but a moment in time that will come to pass. How small and insignificant they will be when we look back and realize that they were but a vapor that came and went. When we consider that eternity is forever, and what we face today is but for a moment, we don’t need to despair. Hold on, keep the faith, keep believing, for we live not for this world, but for the world to come. 

The Silent Witness

1 Thess 1:8b “…but also in every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad, so that we need not speak anything.”

The silent witness. Spreading the Gospel of the Word is more than just audibly speaking. The greatest witness we can have for Jesus is to be an imitator of Him. Our faith in God is seen in the way we show others the love of God by the way we treat our neighbors and by the things we do and don’t do. Others seeing how we live will see that there is more to serving God that just talking about it. We are the living Bible to many who know not Christ. When we claim the Name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior and walk contrary to His Word, it speaks of hypocrisy. Being a true witness for Christ must first be seen in the way we live. God opens doors for us to speak and the Holy Spirit is there to help us speak the truth of the Gospel, but the real witness we show the world need not speak anything. The silent witness speaks volumes. 

Work in Progress

Eph. 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath beforehand ordained, that we should walk in them.-

We are a work in progress. He is the Potter we are the clay. The work continues daily and each day we become more like Jesus. We must be willing to submit our lives into the hand of God. He is the master of taking something that is worthless and making it valuable. Sin in our lives marred His work. He desires that we live spotless from the world and walk in good works. The works of Satan hinders the development of His workmanship. There are things in our lives that He wants to remove and change. He will show us the way to go and the way to walk. As a new creation in Christ, He changes our lives to reflect His image. It will change the way we think. Our lips will speak only what pleases Him, we abstain from that which is evil and unholy, we walk in holiness and our fruit of our lives is seen in the way we treat others. This is a work in progress, He is still working on me.

God Alone

Isaiah 37:20 “…You are the Lord, You alone.”-

There is only one God and He is Lord of all. God alone created heaven and earth, God alone took man from the clay of the earth and formed him into His image. God alone is all we need when life gets stressful and the worries of life load us down. When trouble comes are way, God alone is able to make a way through and help us walk the path before us. The problems we face are real and there are many who have fallen because they have failed to trust God alone. They have relied on their own strength or earthly means to help them. They failed to pray and seek God alone. In the dark times, when we cannot see our way through, we can turn to God who is Lord of all, and He alone will be there to meet our every need.

Living in Truth

John 8:31 ““If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”-

Living in Truth is to abide in Him. Free from sin. There are those who teach because we are born in sin and have a sin nature that we cannot live a life without sinning. Sin is part of the human nature and to say you do not sin is to say you are not human, and no one is perfect. This teaching is contrary to the teaching that Christ gives the Jews as they defended their claims to know the Father. It is true that we are all born in sin and by birth are sinners. For all have sin and come short of God’s glory. Being free from sin is not humanly possible for deliverance from sin is only made possible because Jesus died on the cross to pay our debt of sin. Accepting Him as Savior, we now abide in Him, we are now living in the Vine. We now live in truth for He is Truth. As long as we live in Him we can be free from living a life of sin. Sin no longer abides, we are no longer in bondage or enslaved to Satan, He is no longer our father, we have a new Father, a heavenly Father that sets us free from the sin bondage that Satan had on us. A life free from sin is made possible through the blood of Christ and abiding in Him. 

Dead with Christ

Col 2:20a, 3:12 “Therefore if ye be dead with Christ ..., holy and beloved, as the elect of God, put on hearts of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering,”-

Being dead with Christ gives life a whole new meaning. The deeds in our life are no longer measured by keeping certain laws of what we eat, or the relics we cherish as sacred. The life that we now live in Christ is demonstrated by our actions toward one another and to those who don’t know Him. It is the fleshly tendency of man to be critical and hard. When others interfere with what we want or get in the way of our desires we become impatient and intolerable with them. Paul says that if you have taken up the cross of Jesus and have been crucified with Christ you no longer act that way. Action in speech and attitude reveal what is in the heart. As believers in Christ, we are to show kindness in situation that normally would irritate us. Instead of being critical and oppressive, we are to show mercy and long suffering. Let us pray that God will help us to have the heart of Christ and live in such a way that God would be pleased.