A Merry Heart

Prov.15:13,15- A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:…he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

We have just finished celebrating the birth of Christ and the words, “Merry Christmas” will be stored away until next year. To make merry is to give cheer and create an atmosphere of celebration. A merry heart will cause one to smile and bring cheer to others. We rejoiced because God sent His Son to earth to be a Savior and give hope to a world without hope. It is amazing what a twinkle of eyes and a smile on a face can do to lift the hearts of others. People all around us face things in life that are daunting and uncertain, but a merry heart can bring cheer to all who despair. The life of a Christian should not be one on doom and gloom. Yes we face trails and live in difficult times. but God is able to make our heart merry even when Christmas is over. 

His Merciful Kindness

Psalm 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord.

It is hard to focus on the things that are good in life when all seems to be going wrong. A loved one is sick and maybe even terminal, relationships are strained between those who were once friends, the cares of life to provide food, shelter, security have been threaten. Where is the kindness of the Lord? Why is His presences seem to be so far away? We only need to look beyond the surface of our troubles to see that God’s merciful kindness is great toward us. I take no pleasure on looking on others that may be suffering, therefore I should be thankful. For even in their suffering, God has a plan for each life. Regardless of my plight in life, I only need look to God and be thankful for who He is and what He has given. Tho I may walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil or think no evil, for He is with me. He is my Jehovah, my provider, my shield and defender. In whom shall I fear. When the last page of my life is written, may it be said, that God is good and His kindness is from everlasting to everlasting. 

All Things Are Passed Away

2 Corinth 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The old things before coming to Christ are those things that kept us from being one in Christ. What are those old things? We all have things in our past life that were contrary to God’s will and His purpose. The old habits of sin and living each day thinking only of ourselves. Paul also refers to the old things as the old man. The old man desires to hold on to the old things. The new man who is now in Christ now sees the world through a different lens. His ideas are no longer shaped by the viewpoint of a Godless culture, but are formed by understanding the principles of God’s word. All things in life are now based on what God’s word has to say. The things we now do, we do for the sake of glorifying Jesus and living our lives in His footsteps. We follow a different path, our hearts no longer seek to please self, but to reach out to please others with love and kindness. This is the transformation that take place in a person’s life when he becomes a new creature in Christ, and all things are passed away, and all things become new.

The Lord Is In This Place

Gen 28:16 …he said, Surely the Lord is in this place…

The presence of God is everywhere, He is not restricted by time and physical boundaries, He is omnipresence. But, there are times in our lives that His presence is especially noticeable. We sense His presence in the place of worship, He comes in a special way during times of private devotions, when it is just you and God. In the solace of your heart, His Spirit sweeps over you as a sweet aroma fragrance. You bast in His love and His glory is all around you. Jacob was afraid when God came, He was running and He knew that God knew what he had done, but we need not fear. We can come boldly to the throne of God and bow before Him and let His grace fill our lives. Yes, God is everywhere and knows everything, but having Him visit your heart and touch your soul is greater than gold and the honeycomb. Surely the Lord desires to visit you in a special way. 

Seeking The Lost

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

We all are lost. We entered this world not knowing that sin is rooted in the heart of all that are born to this life. Our personality may be formed and taught to be pleasant, good natured, and even kind, but the nature of sin still lives within each one of us. Like sheep without a shepherd, we wondered about life trying to find our way. The great shepherd of our soul, the Son of God came to earth as a man to seek and save us who are lost. The problem with most people is that they don’t think they are lost. They don’t accept that they need a God, for they are a God unto themselves. God sent His Son to give His life for the world. His coming was not just for a selected few who He choose to save. Being saved is to believe that we are lost and to believe that we can be found by believing in the only begotten Son of God, Jesus.

Self Made Man

1 Corinth 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am:…

There is no such thing as a self made man in God’s kingdom. We are but dust of the earth and nothing but mud. The world give accolades to those who take account of their own life and by the might of their will and determination make themselves successful in the riches of this world. Such is admirable, but success in the eyes of God is not measured by popularity or the gain of material things. Many have come to realize that there is more to life than what appears on the surface. The greatness of a person’s life happens when God is given control of one’s life. It is the grace of God that truly makes us great in this world and the world to come. We may never be notices or have a large bank account, but God, who is rich in mercy has made it possible for us to be the person He desires us to be. We must be willing to give what we have to Him, and He will do the rest.

Passing All Understanding

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We go through life not understanding many things. We ask ourselves, “I just don’t understand why, If I only understood the reason?”. Life and the unexpected happens and life throws a curve ball. We are tempted to think that God does not care. Some lash out at God for allowing unwanted things to cross their path. Then Jesus comes, and peace like a river attend our way. The peace of God over shadows the things in life we don’t understand. It exceeds our understanding or the need to understand. His peace keeps us from despair and defeat. Our hearts and mind reach out in faith, believing that God has all things in His control. God sends us the assurance that all is well. We become anxious for nothing, giving thanks in everything. We give thanks for the peace that floods our soul even when we don’t understand. 

Filled With The Holy Spirit

Acts. 9:17 …the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

The Bible is filled with scripture where believers in Christ are filled with the Holy Spirit after they have turned their life over to Christ and their sins have been forgiven. The Day of Pentecost is a historical event that demonstrates that the Holy Spirit desires to indwell all believers to equip them to live a victorious life in Christ. Empowering them to preach the gospel of Jesus without fear of man. This is the foundation principle of holiness. A Holy God through the Holy Spirit, living in and through those who name the Name of Christ. There is no formula, or procedure manual showing how this takes place. It is  base on Bible teaching, that God will not dwell in an unclean vessel. The vessel must be sanctified before it can be filled. This is the Wesleyan doctrine. Believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved. Consecrate and surrender your life to the will of God, and the Holy Spirit will come to all who trust and obey.

He Dwells Within Us

1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

How do we know that God can live within us? How do we know that we are part of the branch, living in the vine? Jesus promise that the Comforter would come and would dwell with us and in us after He would ascend and go to the Father, He would lead and guide us into all truth. We don’t fully understand how God, who is one can be three. Many analogies have be given to demonstrate this wonder, but they seem to come short of the mystical possibility that God manifest Himself in three personas, each part of the Godhead, and yet individual entities. The Spirit of God bears witness, or testifies with our spiritual nature that we are of God. All that confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that He came to die for our sins can have this witness in their heart. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, Elohim, have condescended to earth to dwell with in our hearts. Emmanuel, God is with us, can be a reality within each one of us if we but let Him in.

Thy Sins Forgiven

Luke: 7:48,50 And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven…Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

“By faith are you saved, not of works lest anyone should boast” Paul, the Apostle would later pen as he wrote his letter to the Romans. Our sins whether they be few or many, small or big all separate us from having a right relationship with God. Everyone born into this world is in need of forgiveness. The Pharisee who works diligently to live righteous by following all the rules given by God and conjured by man is still a sinner in need of forgiveness. The good moral person who seeks to please others by doing deeds and works worthy of praise needs forgiveness. For all have sinned, and have come short of God’s approval. “There is none righteous, no not one” (Roman.3:10) We all owe a debt we cannot pay by any works we can do. Christ came to pay the debt, He did not owe, we needed someone to take our sins away. Jesus, the Son of God has the power to say, “Thy sins are forgiven” for He is God and He paid the price that we may have the peace of God.

The God of Host

Amos 4:13  For, lo, he that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares unto man what is his thought, that makes the morning darkness, and treads upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is his name.

Have any mountains to climb or tunnel through? Need someone to calm the winds at sea? Someone who can turn darkness into light? Do you ever wonder if God sees you among the billions who live on this plant? Not only does He see all that we are facing, but knows our every thought and desires to dwell with us and in us. He is the God of host, Jesus is His name. What a beautiful name, a Name above every name. Life is a mixture of good and bad. Sin is to blame for most of the tragedy that happen in life. The difficult things we face everyday happen for a reason. Sin may be to blame, or God may be allowing us to be tested. Whatever the reason, if we turn to Him, He will take these things in our lives and turn them into something good. He is able to do the impossible, we just have to let go and let Him have His way.

Do What is Right

2 Kings 22:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

When presented to do what is right, Josiah did what he felt was right. He followed his conscience in a day when God’s word was put on the shelf. True that our conscience can be misplaced by erroneous teaching, but left allow, God puts within each one of us a desire to seek the truth and do what is right. Sin has tainted the nature of our desires, and the carnal nature that we are born with seeks to gratify self in the face of doing what is good and acceptable to God. Paul speaks of this dual battle in the hearts and mind of people. The battle of doing what is right, when the desire to please self is present. As the Word of God came to Josiah in his day, so does the Holy Spirit come to us to lead us into all truth. We can choose to do what is right and take a stand against sin in our own life. Through Christ, we no longer have to live in condemnation, Through His blood we can have full salvation from sin and victory over sin in our lives. The nature of sin can be crucified with Christ and we can live each day with a pure conscience knowing the power of sin no longer has dominion over us, walking in the light of God.  

Beautiful Creation

Ecc 3:11  He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:…

It’s a beautiful morning, the sun shining through the morning brisk air heating up the surface of the land. In His time, He chose this morning to allow the beauty of creation to shine into my life. Not every morning is this way, but in His time everything in life is planned and created for His glory. We were all made beautiful and in the image of God. Made to love and desire Him. We seek beauty in this world and a measure of beauty can be found through relationships and His creations, but true beauty is found when we seek Him with all of our hearts. How beautiful it is to walk with God to live in His presence. We live not for the beauty of this world, but for the world to come.

Give Thanks

1 Thess 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

On this Thanksgiving day we take time off from our daily work activities and give thanks for the bountiful blessings that God has provided. It is a season of giving thanks not only to our Creator, but to all who have impacted our lives and made a difference. We have so much to be grateful. It is easy to give thanks for the material things in our lives that are all around us. We give thanks for the roof He provides over our head, the bread we eat each day, and for the many extra things that are beyond necessities. But life is more than the things that He provides, but also for the people He brings into our lives. Paul says, “giving thanks to God always for you”. Close relationship are truly one of the greatest blessings that God gives us. As we celebrate this season of Thanksgiving, let us pause to give thanks for family, friends, and for those around us that put a smile in our lives.

Sing Unto The Lord

Psalm 98:1b, 4 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things:…Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Worshiping God is demonstrated in many ways. We enter into the house of God expecting Him to meet with us. We express our love and faith by giving Him praise. He is worthy of worship and it is only right that we make a joyful noise, rejoicing by singing praises to Him. True worship of God is more of an attitude of spirit than a physical demonstration of emotions. We can sing with gusto and lift our hands toward heaven all we want, but if our heart is in rebellion against God, then we worship in vain. For to obey is better than sacrifice, or giving lip service by speaking words of praise. God is pleased when we recognize His holiness, His majesty, His greatness, but coming to Him with a song that has been places there by Jesus Christ is what He desires. Let us enter into His gates with thanksgiving in our heart, and worship Him for who He is and what He has done in our lives. 

Love Life

John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Most people love life. We don’t relish the day that our bodies fail us and death’s door knocks. Death is our enemy and we go to any means to preserve life on earth. So, the words of Christ appear to go contrary to human nature. Surely Christ did not imply that we should hate living and pray for death to take us. Christ was not speaking of our physical body, but our eternal soul. The spiritual life that God instills in each one of us. What really matters in this life? If we live for this world and the material gain, we will lose what really matters. Seek first the Kingdom on God, and God will take care of all our material needs in this life. We must be willing to die to the temporal life of the pleasure of sin and the want of material gain. Dying to self goes contrary to how the world lives. Everyone is out to make sure number 1 is taking care of first. If we are to know real life, we must die to our selfish desires to please ourselves, and allow Christ to give us new life, eternal life, life that sets it’s affections on things above and not on things of this world. Let us love life. Life in Christ. “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain”

Trouble Times

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

We all go through trouble times. We face things in life that bring uncertainty. We become anxious, and our hearts become fearful of the “What if’s” of life. Our minds are filled with “If only” we would had done it differently. Then there is the trouble of the soul when God seems to be afar off and it appears we are all alone facing life’s unwanted circumstances. Where is peace? Will trouble never cease? In times like this we need Jesus, we need a comforter that will calm life’s trouble waters. In the eye of the storm, the Holy Spirit is there, sent by the Father to bring peace and assurance that He will never leave us or forsake us. His promise is for those who love Him and keep His commandments. He knows our heart and knows our desire to live for Him. He said, He will not leave us comfortless. He will come, and where Jesus is, there is peace.

The Eyes of God

Ezk 8:12 …for they say, the Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth.

The heart is desperately wicked that it is blinded to fact that those that sin against God cannot hide from Him The things done in secret are open to God. He sees us even when we think we are all alone. There is nothing done in secret. The eyes of the Lord pierce beyond the walls and mask we hide behind. He sees beyond the outer shell of what others see, He knows the thoughts and indents of our heart. He is a jealous God and will not accept partial obediences. We cannot serve Satan and do the works of evil doers and still claim to serve the One true God and call ourselves Christians. He is a God of love and mercy, but He will not tolerate sin in our lives. If we sin, we must repent and return unto Him. He will not turn away a heart who seeks Him with all their heart. Like the Father of the prodigal son, He welcomes us with open arm and delights in our return. But we must leave behind the life's sinful pleasure and selfish gratification if we hope to see the grace and mercy of God extended.  

The Sinless Life

1 John3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

The teaching of John Wesley concerning the life of holiness is that Christians do not sin if they are living and abiding in Christ. The doctrine taught by Wesley is founded on Biblical teaching given to us by the Apostle John. Sin, a known transgression against the known will of God, a refusal to do what is right and a total disregard to the commandments of God. The desire or temptation to sin is not  a transgression. Humanity with all of its short comings will fail in judgement and may not always rise to occasion or expectations of others. The flesh is subject to illness, which weakens the body and mind to not always act and think correctly. The sinless life is made possible when one totaling yields themselves in full surrender, allowing the Holy Spirit to take full control of their heart and life. John Wesley called this Christian perfection, or the work of sanctification. The sinless life is for us all today, if we trust and truly pray for the fullness of His blessing to fill our hearts.

In The Beginning

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

His words says it, therefore I believe it! God created the universe, all of space and time. Science explains this creation as a “Big Bang” The master of all creation put into motion space and time, and hurled out the galaxies with all its stars. The universe declares the glory of God and His handy work. We serve a powerful God, who not only holds the world in its hand, but desires a personal relationship with man. He desires to walk and talk with us. In the vastness of His universe, He condensed to come to earth and give His life for you and me. How great is our God, how great is His name. From the beginning of creation, He had me on His mind. Who am I that He should watch over me and care for my needs. In the beginning God loved you and me. 

Heaven is Real

Rev. 22:4  And they shall see his face…

Is heaven real? Heaven is not only a physically place made ready by God for those who have loved and served Him, but it is also a state of mind, and spiritual experience. We all strive to be ready at the end of life to spend eternity in heaven with our creator. “Entering into the gates for the first time, O what glory that will be.” To see Jesus face to face and be with Him forever and ever is what heaven is all about. No tears of sorrow will be shed and death will not exist. The curse of sin will be gone and we will have bodies made new and perfect. Heaven is real and it is the desire of all believers to some day see Jesus in all of His glory. Until then, the kingdom of heaven can dwell in our hearts by faith in the One who preparing a place for us there. 

The Doors of My Lips

Psalm 141:3  Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips

We are often tempted to speak our mind, not realizing that the words we say can be cutting or hurtful. Speaking harshly and vehemently in anger is not consistent with one who is filled with the Holy Spirit and manifesting the fruits of the Spirit. We are creatures of emotion and there are things that strike a cord in our hearts that may cause us to demonstrate indignation. The classic example is the words Jesus spoke when He saw that the House of God was turned into a den of thieves and a place to sell merchandise for profit. His words were filled with emotion and passion as He turned over the merchants tables. I become indignant when someone lies to my face and the temptation is to lash out with ridicule and disapproval in a manner that is self servicing and unkind. Yes, such behavior needs to be dealt with in a way that results in a positive outcome, but often many are outranged because they have lost control of the situation. Dealing with our reactions and saying words that we would regret later can be done when we allow the Holy Spirit to put a guard on our lips. Seeking wisdom from above before we speak or react to a situation that hits us the wrong way. Human emotions are real, but so is God, and He is able to set a watch before our mouth, and speak only those words that would please Him.

My Song Brings a Smile

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

I’m not a very good singer, but my heart sings for joy when I think of the goodness of God. We don’t always feel like singing, but the song He puts in our heart propels us to continue on regardless of the circumstances that we may face. As the song writer writes, “I have a song that Jesus gave me, It was sent from heaven above. There never was a sweeter melody, Tis a melody of love” It is a song that puts a smile on our face. We don’t always feel like smiling and life has a way of wiping the smiles off our face. But we don’t trust the world to bring us happiness, but we trust in Him, the one that causes us to rejoice and to sing unto we smile again. 

Who is This?

Mark 4:39,41  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm…What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

They knew Him as a teacher and friend, but there was something very special about this Jesus. Being in His presences, they would sense that this was not any ordinary man. The words He spoke would slice deep into the heart’s of man, they would bring comfort to the suffering, healing to the hurting, and peace to the trouble heart. What manner of man was this that He also controls the elements of the world. Who among men can speak the words and all of nature listens and obeys. It is Jesus! He is the One! He calms the raging sea within our hearts, He brings peace when we are tossed and driven in life’s stormy sea. It is Jesus, who came to this world not only to teach and guide us into all truth, but to give His life that we may experience the peace of God that passes all understanding. Who is this man? He is God, He is my Savior, lover of my soul.

River of Life

Jer. 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,…

Drought comes to everyone, Times of distress and unbearable heat. The survival of a plant will depend on it’s source of water. The plant whose roots can tap the water that flows underground, or the plant that can draw from a river near by can survive the heat. The heat of the pressures of life, the heat of conflict, the heat of loss, or the heat of temptation. A tree that reaches the true source of life, and touches the fountain of living water is able to survive the testing of trust. Those who put their trust is God, and not in man’s ingenuity, God will not only keep them from withering  away, but they will continue to bear fruit, and their lives will show the radiance of God’s glory. The heat is indiscriminate, it will affect the ungodly and the godly. Bad things do happen to godly people, but the godly have been planted by the source of living water. They will survive, they will overcome, they will flourish. don’t let the heat of this world destroy you, spread your roots and tap into the River of Life.

The Sheep and Goats

Matt. 25: 40 …Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

What separates the goats from the sheep? The goats put themselves 1st before anyone else. They will do it their way, no matter who it hurts or how it is done. They have little regard to the needs of others because they are engross with their own needs. They have not humbled themselves at the feet of Jesus and allowed Christ to become Lord of their lives. The sheep see humanity through the eyes of God. Helpless and needy. Their righteous exceeds that of the pharisee, their hearts live to please God in everything they do. They treat people with kindness and understanding, going the second mile without expecting compensation. These are the sheep who follow the shepherd. They will hear the call at the day of judgment, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Dwelling in the House of God

Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

Dwelling in the house of God is more than going to a building were we gather together to sing and hear the word of God preached. To dwell in God’s house is to live in His presence, to behold the glory of God in the world around us. I don’t always feel like going to church. There are days, I would rather be alone with my thoughts, contemplating the things of God. We call it the house of God because it is a place we come to worship, but the true temple of God resided in our hearts. It is from this temple that we seek and desire to behold His beauty. To worship Him in the beauty of His holiness. The thing I desire and enquire most in life is to know that my life is pleasing to God and that my priorities in life are inline with His perfect will. It is important to seek God in the place we gather together and asked that He come and meet with us, and we should not forsake the assemble of God’s people, but make no mistake, going to church will not grant you eternal life. We our the temple of God, He must dwell in us. 

He is Faithful

1 Thess 5:23,24 …your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless…Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.

Standing before God without blame. Without guilt or fault seems like an impossibility considering our human frailties. We are so prone to give in to our human weakness and taking sides against ourselves does not come natural. God has called us to live a life that is without sin. It is a standard that seems to be unreachable considering the world we live in with all the bad influences we are surrounded with each day. How is this possible? Is it just something we strive for, or is it a life we can actually live? The scripture indicates that such a life is possible only when we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit leads and empowers the believer to trust in God and guides them into truth. If we quench not the Spirit, He is faithful to keep us blameless, without spot or wrinkled. It is the blood of Christ that atones for our sin, but our will must stay submitting when the Spirit leads us. To refuse the Spirits, is to quench the Spirit. The Faithfulness of God will always be there, but we must believe that He is faithful.

Gentle Shepherd

Isaiah 40:11 1 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

“Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, help us find our way” We live in a world where on every side we are bombarded with conflicting opinions. The authority of God’s Word continues to be challenged by skeptics and by those who desire to be a god unto themselves. On the right, are those who would bind us with chains of legalism and have you live according to a set of rules beyond what God requires. On the left is the ever danger of every man doing what is right in their own eyes, living to please and satisfy the lust of the flesh. Without a shepherd to guide and led us, we are easily led astray to follow a path that will led us to destruction. If there is ever a day that we need a shepherd, today is the day. “Gentle Shepherd, there is no other who can show us the way and lead us into life eternal” 

The Book of Life

Rev. 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Names in the book of life are inscribe there when we confess our sins through Christ, and give our hearts to God. But scripture seems to indicate that it is possible to have our names removed. What a tragedy to have walked with God and to have known forgiveness of sin to end life with your name no longer found in the book of life. In that great judgement day, the books will be open, and our names will be called. “Enter in thou good and faithful servant”. Words that will ring out through eternity. Keeping our names in the Book of Life requires that we be overcomers. An overcomer is someone who has yield their lives in full consecration to the Holy Spirit. One who walks in the Spirit and depends wholly on the power of God to resist temptation, using the shield faith to deflect the darts of the enemy. An overcomer cannot do this in his own human determination or strength. It is not by works that we are saved, but by His grace. His grace extends to where our will allows God to work. Keep your name in the book of life, say yes to the will of God. 

The Might of God

Judges 6:14, 16 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might… And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

It does seem at time that the task before us is greater than us. We go forward in our might trying figure out how to solve the problem. The issues in our life seem to overwhelm us and obtaining victory over them looks to be impossible. The reality is, it is impossible. In our own might, we are not able to overcome the obstacles that are before us. The promise of Jesus, that He will be with us, He sent the Holy Spirit that we might overcome the situations in our life that are difficult and hard. He saids, “surely I will be with you.. even to the ends of the world” 

My Heart is Fixed

Psalm 57:7  My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

As a tree's roots are planted deep by the waters, so is my heart fixed on you Lord. As David was in the cave of despair, he knew that the God that he served watched over him with love and mercy. David gave up on those around him, but he would not give up on serving and praising God. His heart was fixed on the eternal God who was exalted above the heavens. We all have moments where we just want to quit trying and walk away. The load of responsibility and the weight of doing without seeing any gain is discouraging. It is easy to get your eyes fixed on the circumstances that are happening around you and forget that we live to serve and worship the Creator. We serve others because we know it is right, and by doing so, we serve God. Yes, there will be times, that we will feel we are doing it all alone, and the pain of loneliness is real, but if we keep our heart fixed on God, He will meet our needs. 

You Must Be Born Again

John 3:6,7  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

A new chance at life. Born again is a new beginning with a new heart. The old heart was dead in trespasses and sin, it was sold under sin and a servant to the nature of sin. The old life has been put to rest with its deeds of unrighteousness. The old life was burden down with guilt and shame, but the Spirit of God through Christ has removed the load of sin and it has been cast into the sea of God’s forgetfulness to be remember against us no longer. His blood now cleanses us from all sin and we have been born again through His grace and mercy. Born again and there has been a change in me, old things have past away, and all things have become new. We now see life through different lens, our world view and what is important in life is now set on things above and not on things of this world. Being born again is not turning over a new leaf, but having the experience of growing new from the branch, a new leaf in the vine of God’s love. Being born again is more than just believing that Jesus is God and came to the world to save sinners, it is allowing His Spirit to make us what we ought to be, a new creature in Christ Jesus. If eternal life is your desire, Jesus said, you must be born again!

Putting On The Garments of God

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

In many cultures, the clothes you wear reflect something about your position in life. Those who have the means and wear buy more expensive clothing that speaks to their station in life. Putting on clothes to impress or reflect social status in any society is at the very least superficial. What we wear does not speak to who we really are. Character of person cannot be dressed up on the outside. That is why God said, man looks on the outside, but God looks on the inside. Aside from being appropriately modest in our dress, I seriously doubt that God really cares about the style, or the customs of what we put on. The clothing God desire for us to put on is the garment of mercy, kindness, humility, patience, joy, peacemaker, endurance, and most of all the garment of holiness which is the love of God. As we get dress each day, let us not forget what really matter. Dressing for success in the kingdom of God goes deeper than looking good. May we dress each day by putting the garments that reflect the life of Christ.

She Poured Out The Oil

2 kings 4:5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

The insights to this passage of scripture has many applications to life. Our dependance on God to supply our needs, Faith to believe that God can do the impossible. Prayer and petitioning God to grant the desires of our heart. The oil being symbolic of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God wants to pour out His Spirit on us until we are full of love and grace. The Holy Spirt is able to set us free from being sold into the bondage of sin. To some, this is just a story of a women who was down to her last penny, and some how a miracle happen and she was able to continue on with life with her two sons. We seek for hidden messages in the stories of old, and to what purpose they have been reserves to this day is the answer we seek. God used stories like these to help us realize that life happens and we might find ourselves someday like the widow and her pot of oil. What will we do? Will we continue to believe God in spite of the circumstance? Will we have enough oil, that God can use it to continue to feed our soul? Is our vessel full and ready to be used for God?

Praying Always

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Does praying make a difference? Does prayer move the hand of God? Why is it important for Christians to Pray? Why pray, won’t a God who controls all thing do what needs to be done? So many questions about prayer that cross our thoughts. Prayer is part of man’s nature to seek a higher power and to worship a being that controls the destiny of fate. Jesus obviously thought it important to pray. He often petition the Father in prayer requesting the Father to show love, grace, and mercy to humanity. He prayed for His followers, and for those who sought to destroy Him. Did Jesus pray in vain if prayer did not matter? I think not. Prayer is an essential part of being a Christian. One does not survive spiritually if prayer in not a daily priority. There are numerous books written on prayer that address many of the questions I pose here in this writing, so I probably won’t say anything that is profound. Whatever you think of prayer, this one thing I know, God does hear and answer prayer. 

Helping Each Other

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

The journey we travel was not meant to travel alone. There may be times that we walk the valley and it appears that we are all alone. But if we open our eyes, God has a way of bringing someone by our side to walk along with us. It is the plan of God for us to hold on together, supporting each other, and caring for the needs of those who falter. “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”… If we think we can make it on are own, we are fooling ourselves. We have a responsibility to do our share of the labour, but must realize that we can’t always do it on our own. The burden becomes lighter when two are working together. Let us labour together in the spirit of unity, holding each other up in the most holy faith.

Doing Good.

Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

“If you know what is good for you”… The world is full of good things and bad things. We are told what foods are good for us to eat, and what foods are not good for us, or bad for us. There are good places to go, and there are bad places to go. It is good when we treat others with love, respect and kindness, it is bad when we gossip and speak ill of others, and treat them harshly. It is good to come into the presence of God and bask in His presences. It is good to wholly depend on God for the things we need. Doing what is good brings pleasure to the heart of God. He delights in those who desire to do good. Good things come from God, from the Father of light, bad things come from Satan, the father of liars. Daily we make choices to do good or to do bad. Making the choice to draw near to God will help us to make other choices that will also be good. We do not earn our way to heaven, but doing good things, but those who draw near to God will manifest a life of good deeds. 

Running the Race

Hebrew.12:1,2…let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…

Living the Christian life is compared to running a race. We start out realizing that Christ can save to the uttermost and He can change the direction of our life. We have made a new start and the race has begun. Our goal is to make it to the finish line. It is not who can run the fastest, but who can endure to the end. Many have started out in this race and have succumb to the pitfalls along the way. They have quit running the race. They have taken their eyes off of Jesus, the One who put them on the starting line. They have become weary in well doing, or the attractions along the way have caused them to take another path. They are weigh down with the cares of this world, or refuse to let go of sin. But to those who keep running, they are encouraged by the cloud of witnesses that have gone before them. Many who have endured temptation, held on to God no matter what came, and kept their eyes of Jesus. The end is close, we have come too far to turn back or quit running. Heaven is on the horizon, the finish line is near. 

They Forsook God

Judges 2:12 …they forsook the Lord God of their fathers…

People are so fickle. As soon as things start going bad, they are ready to jump ship. The Israelites witness a mighty deliverance from their enemies by the hand of God. God wanted to do more for them, but their obedience came short. They were satisfied with the victories they had won and just wanted to kick back and take it easy. They started compromising with the life style of those they refuse to drive out. That is the way sin works in our lives. If we fail to fully conquer the sin in our lives, it will start to take control of the way we live. As Christians, we must let Christ crucify the flesh of our self will, and submit ourselves wholly unto the Lord. Sin will cause us to forsake the ways of God and turn to a life of serving self. Let us not stop short of letting the Holy Spirit complete drive out that sinful self. Let God sit on the throne of our life, making Him the King of kings, and Lord of Lord of our life.

We Are Reconciled

2 Corinth 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
There was a day when my life was separated from God. I acknowledge Him as the creator of the earth and some cosmic power out there in the vast universe. I even attempted to win His favor by being a good human being and attending the means of grace by going to church and saying ritual prayers that had very little meaning to me. I did not know that there was a God who desired to dwell within me. But there was this gulf between us that kept us apart. Sin separates us from being fit to be in His presence. The plan of God was to bridge the gap between God and man. Because Christ, the God man, came to earth to take our sin upon Himself, we can now be reconciled, and be made right to have fellowship with God. We now see the world through different eyes, our life now has a new purpose and meaning. We are reconciled, all is now right.

Spread it Before the Lord

2 Kings 19:14 And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.

Finding a solution to our problems is not always easy. Every day we are faced with obstacles, some bigger than others. Some have easy solutions and just require us to use our brain to think it through. Solving problems using our human ability that God gave us is often all we need. But then, there are problems that come that are beyond our human strategies and solutions. In times like these, we take our problem and spread it before the Lord. We lay it out there for God to see and we pray. We either pray for direction to do what needs to be done, or we pray that God would perform a miracle. Jesus is all we need and He is often the answer to many problems. We spread our need before Him and He sees the earnestness of our prayer. When things happen that are beyond our control, let us spread it out before the Lord and let Him have His way. 

Seeking the Face of God

1 Chron 16:11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.

Seeking the face of God is to pursue after His glory. Finding the face of God is to dwell in His presence. Day and night, and at every opportunity we need to seek the presence of God. In the morning when we rise, in the afternoon as we work, and the evening in the shelter of our homes. When we seek Him with all our heart, He will be found, and we will see His face. The OT says that no man has seen the face of God, but we seek beyond the physical attributes, we seek His love, mercy and grace. Some day we will see Jesus face to face and that will be glory, but until then, we can see through a glass darkly and get a glimpse of His glory and when these bodies are glorified we will see His face as it is. 

Perfect Fatih

1 Thess 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Perfection of heart is what the Holy Spirit does when He comes into the heart to abide. It is the teaching found in God’s word that gives us light into the possibility of being perfect in love. Being perfect in heart does not mean we have perfect vessels. We live in earthen vessels made of clay and are subject to marring. But God wants to fill the vessel with His pure love. It is possible to have pure motives with intent to always please our creator, but  total perfection of human error or even of faith is a matter of growing and learning toward perfection. There are times that our faith is weak and we lack the faith to see God move in our lives and in the lives of others. In times like these, we go to prayer asking God to increase our faith. We have not arrived yet, we have not finished our journey. Our faith continues to build, and we stand fast trusting God to help us have greater faith. 

Heart of Flesh

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

From the heart comes the issues of life. The things that really matter to us are born from a heart that is stony or a heart that is made of flesh. A heart of flesh is tender and pliable. A heart that desires to reach out to others and manifest the love of God regardless of color or social economic statues. A heart of flesh understands mercy and knows how to administer grace. It is not jaded by the injustice of life, but seeks to comfort and reach out to those that are hurting. The heart of flesh does not stand in judgement, but stands in place to give a helping hand to those who cry out. God is able to take a harsh and uncaring person with a heart of stone and transform it into a heart of flesh. His grace can change anyone who will humble themselves at the foot of the cross and asked for forgiveness. God wants to change our hearts. 

Crucify the Flesh

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Living the Christian life in this world goes contrary to the fleshly appetite of sinful human desires, in this case, the lust of the flesh. This goes beyond human need for food, shelter, love and self esteem. Such sinful desires are base in unbelief and the aggrandizement of self. Life is center around pleasing and satisfying the wants of the flesh. We are all born with this nature to sin. At some point in our lives we become responsible for the our actions that stem from this nature. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory (pleasing) of God. That is the reason Christ came. To provide a way for this sin to be forgiven. Because Christ died, we can come to Him and lay our burden of sin at the foot of the cross. They who are now in Christ come to see that they now must surrender their life in full consecration to the will of God. The nature of sin has been crucified, put to death, and the Christian no longer are masters to the sin nature. The Holy Spirit comes to the believer, as He did on the day of Pentecost and fills the heart, cleansing and empowering the Christian to walk in the Spirit to manifest the fruits of the Spirit. Our lives no longer are dictated by our sin nature, but by the Spirit that dwells within us.

Endure Temptation

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Temptation is experience by all who are made in the image of God. For temptation to exist, one must know the difference between right and wrong. Life is full of choices and some of them have eternal consequence. Having desire in itself is not wrong. We all have human desires that are given to us by God. Our bodies are made in such a way that they seek out ways to be fulfilled and be satisfied. Jesus, the Son of God was drawn away from His own human lust (desire) for food. Satan enticed Him to fulfill that desire in a way that would have been displeasing to His Father. Making the right choice is to endure the temptation to make the wrong choice. The word has promised us that when we are tempted that if we turn to Him, He will give us the ability to say no. The Holy Spirit was sent to us, to purify our hearts, and to endue us with power. Power to resist temptation, power to make the right choice. We are not beyond the ability to fall in sin and yield to temptation. We all are face with choices to make. To them that make the right choice, God will bless and grant the crown of life.

3:50am-10:00pm

A Good Reputation

Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

We value a good reputation. We want people to think well of us. A good name is well guarded from being destroyed. There is good reason to maintain a good reputation among others. Our reputation influences our witness for Christ. It is the perception that others have of us. But our reputation is not who we are. What people think of us does not constitute our character. Following the example of Christ in the way He lived may require us to lay down our reputation and lay down our pride and be what He wants us to be. Jesus was not concern about being great in this world. He came to earth for a purpose, He came to give His life for you and for me, He came to show us how to live a life that is free from the opinions of men. How to walk this life’s journey, living a life of servanthood and humility. As the worldly mind, strives to climb the heights of power and popularity, the mind of Christ seeks not to be seen, but to serve.

Sowing and Reaping

John 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One sows, and another reaps.

It is easy to get discourage sowing the seed of the gospel and not seeing anyone won to Christ by the efforts we make. Weather it is inviting someone to church, or extending the love of God to help someone, God has given all of us a job to do. Ultimately, it is God who gives the increase. Some are given the gift to speak, to engage in conversation to share the grace of God concerning salvation and new life in Christ. Others work hard behind the scenes to show kindness and acts of mercy to people who are not open to preaching, but open to see God’s love demonstrated. Reaping cannot happen without the seed being sowed. If the ground is fertile, the Holy Spirit waters it with conviction. The season for reaping is before us. As we go about planting seed, let us be vigilant to gather the fruit of the harvest for the day draws near and the season will soon be pass.

There is a River

Psalm 46:6 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

Walking in the wilderness of the desert of life will dehydrate us spiritually. We can only go so long without water. We become so busy with life and all of its demands that we fail to take time to stop and drink. There is a river that God has provided for us to drink from. If we are going to making it to our destiny, we need to take time each day to drink from the streams that flow from the city of God. From the river, we are able to refill to continue our journey. We need not die of thirst, there is a river that flows from God, water to quench the longings of our soul, water to give us the strength to carry on. Take time to stop, bend down on the banks of the river and take a drink.

Sorrow in this Life

John 16:22  And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Sorrow is part of life. Emotion of sadness and disappoints are experiences we all have. Jesus recognized that such emotion are inevitable, but He does not want us to live there. There is a tomorrow and there is the promise of the Holy Spirit. When He comes, He will fill our hearts with joy and even tho we will experience sorrow, we can be assure that the Holy Spirit will be there with us and help us through those difficult times. He is our Comforter and in time of need, He will not leave us or forsake us. Yes, Jesus has returned to the Father, but he has sent His Spirit to live with us. One day, Jesus will return to gather all those who love Him. Sorrow on this earth will be gone, and we will live forever in His presence. 

Mountain Experience

Micah 4:2 …Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,…

Mountains are used through out the Bible to demonstrate different aspect of our spiritual experience. When we are at the top of the mountain we rise above the problems of life and can better see the big picture of life. Climbing the mountain is not without its difficulties. Most of the time in life we are living in the plains of this world, or scaling a mountain to get closer to God. It is good to be able to get to the top and bask in the presences of God and see His glory. But, the reality of life is that we don’t live there 24-7. We wake up each morning and go about living our daily life with new challenges and there are times we wonder where God is. And in it comforting to know that even in the valley we can see the extra footprints that appear in the sand.  There is a mountain experience for all of us. Let us not be weary in well doing, let us keep climbing till we have reached the top. 

Fear Them Not

Num. 13:9 neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

Don’t let a fearful situation keep you from moving forward. We daily face things in our lives that we really don’t want to do. Fear has many faces. The fear of failure, rejections, embarrassment, even the fear of losing our life. In situations were our life is at risk, we obviously want to make sure that we are going forward knowing the will of God. 

His Angels

Psalm 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

To be protected and kept by God is liken to a mother bird who gathers her babies under her wings. The rain and wind may come, but harm is avoided and danger is minimize. God also sends His angels to earth to watch over those who love Him. The goal of angel protection is to keep us from falling away from the path God desires us to follow. He charges His angels to do battle against the demons of hell that are bent to our destruction. There is a spiritual battle be fought in the unseen world of good and evil. Many fantasy novels are written that depict the forces of good and evil being wages in a world mere humans cannot see, but such is not fantasy when it comes to angels and demons. The battle is real and angels are sent in our behalf to keep us from falling to the traps of Satan. It is God’s desire that we stay in the way of righteousness. Angels many times will protect us from physical harm, but this is not the prime purpose or charge of angels. 

Intercession

Ex. 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

There is only one person who can atone for the sin, but the attitude of Moses demonstrated his love for the people of Israel. The eternal consequence of those who bare the burden of sin in their lives weighs heavy on those who know the eternal judgement of God. Intercession for those who are lost in sin without God is to follow the example of Christ when He interceded for those that followed Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed not only for His disciples, but the all who needed their sins forgiven. God desires that we also become intercessor, and pray that whatever the cost, that He would send conviction to the heart of unbelievers. We have a responsibility to pray for those who God has put in our path, those who are under our influence. When interceding we become desperate to see God work in the lives of those around us. Let us not grow weary in well doing, but be persisted in our praying and trust God to bring it to pass.

Servant of All

Mark 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

To be a leader, one must be willing to be led. The kingdom of God is design to be a servanthood citizenship. To be part of this kingdom, one must be willing to put aside their ego and self importance and bend down to “wash the feet” of others. Being great in the kingdom of God is not rising to the top of power and executing orders. Order is part of God’s kingdom, and many things are accomplish when we follow the order of command, but the work of God is accomplished when all in the chain of command are willing to be servants. “Ask of no man anything that you are not willing to do yourself”. Power, prestige, and popularity are all subject to the will of God and willingness to forsake it all to follow Jesus in the way. The way of servanthood and obedience is to follow the call of God to serve others.

He Delivered Me

2 Sam 22;17,20 ….he drew me out of many waters; He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

He drew me, He brought me, He delivered me, and He delighted in me. He will not leave me or forsake me. We face many struggles in life and many of them come to us so unexpectedly. Before we know it we are drowning in water, we are deep in a pit of despair, and wondering how we will be able to get out. We serve a God that cares and understands where we are. We may not understand the reason why He has allowed us to face these trails and tribulation. They may be of our own making, an attack of enemy, or they may be the providence of God allowing these circumstance to happen to us to strengthen our faith in Him. This is no time to quit and give up. This is where we reach out in faith, delight in His love and grace. We draw close to Him and He will draw close to us because He loves us and desires to deliver us from our troubles. 

Community of Believers

Eph. 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Working together as a community of believers will require compromise of preference. Even tho there is a common goal, how we get there can be viewed and achieved differently. We are no longer strangers without common interest. But fellow citizens (a community) of the household of faith. We all having different community that we are apart of. There is the neighborhood community, the work community, the church community, and even a family community. All made up of individuals with different life’s experiences. For a community to work together in harmony, one must be willing to extend grace and understanding to each other. When people insist on having their own way, it no longer become a community, but a kingdom built to oneself. We no longer are servants one to each other, but we become master and tyrants that live life for self. May we learn that for a church to be effective we must fitly work together with the common desire to do the will of God and glorify the Father. 

The Armor of Light

Romans 13;12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

 It has been night for many years, and the coming of Jesus back to earth is eminent. Yes, this has been the mantra for centuries, but no less the truth. The day is at hand and this is no time to be living in spiritual darkness. As it has been since the accession of Christ, we must continue to put on the light of Christ. Let our life reflect that which glorifies God. The world is shrouded in darkness by the father of darkness. Evil, malice, selfish living prevails in our world. The light given to us by Christ is what will dispel this darkness. The light of saving grace, the light of forgiveness, and the light of holiness is the hope we desire and pray for. 

Changed in a Moment of Time

1 Corinth. 15:54,57 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory…through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Changed in a moment of time. The time table is still a mystery to us. We know not the day or time that the trumpet will sound and Jesus will split the eastern sky and return for His bride. Our finite minds that live in this corruptible body cannot fathom the reality of that day. People who have been buried or returned to ashes will arise from this corruptible earth and be changed with bodies that are incorruptible. Immortality on this earth is not obtainable. Man has fantasize the possibility of living in this body without dying. Novels are written with plots of man being immortal. These books are put into the category of “Fantasy” for a reason. God’s word is not a fantasy book. It speaks of things to come. One day it will happen, we who are in Christ, and believe in His return will see the power of God demonstrated. What is seen as unreal will become reality. Death will be removed by the power of Christ. The sting of death is no more for we have been changed to never die again.

We Believe with all our Hearts

Act 8: 37 If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Believing with all your heart holds back no reservations of your motives and intentions. To believe intellectually that Jesus in the Son of God is a good start, but it will not be enough to have eternal life. The devil believe that Jesus is the Son of God and tremble in His presence. Our belief in Jesus must go to the heart of our affections. It is the passion of our life to know that Jesus is who He says He is. He is the Son of God, the 2nd person of the triune God. We believe that He came to earth to take on the sins of the world by dying on the cross, we believe that we must accept this gift for us by confessing our sins and believe that the power of Christ can forgive us of our transgressions. We believe that Jesus not only came to take away our sins, but provided a way for us to live a life without sin. Not human perfection, but heart perfection. Christian perfection is made possible because we believe that Jesus died without the gate to sanctify us. Sending the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. When we believe with all our hearts, there is a transformation in our lives that changes the way we think, the way we act, and the things we love. I believe this with all my heart!

Teachable Heart

Psalm 119:33  Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

We never stop learning how to walk with the Lord. Growing in the grace of God happens when we spend time reading, thinking, and praying the Word of God. The statues of the Lord are given to us through the Bible. We meditate and learn what His Word says about living a life that will bring honor to His Name. It is not always how much you read, but how you read. Having a teachable heart is to be open to living our lives in a way that pleases Him. Many lessons we learn are done through life’s experiences. His Word give us direction how we said act and react to the things that happen in our lives. As we read His word and hide it in our hearts, He is then able to bring it to our minds in time of need. Learning is best done when we can apply what we have been taught. May we keep is Word in our hearts that we may not sin against Him

A New Commandment

John 13:34.35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Does holiness of heart instantly give a person a heart that loves everyone no matter the situation or circumstances? Being sanctified wholly, with all on the altar, surrender to serve God, with self being crucified should do something in our hearts that allows us to love in spite of the hurt that is done to us. We are creatures of emotions that feel pain and suffer injustice by others who may reject or despise us. It is even more difficult when such action are by those who we have trusted and thought were friends. Jesus said, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments. A new commandment I give to you, that ye love one another”. Love is not always a feeling, but a choice that we make. Can you love without feeing? I believe it is possible. I believe that perfect love is possible when we choose to love. If we have experience the love of Christ in our life, then we know what love is and how it works. In the face of indifference and hate, God gives us the ability to make the choice to love even when it is hard. 

Spiritual Pride

Luke 18:14…for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Guarding against spiritual pride requires discernment of knowing what God requires of you is not always required of someone else. As we become more God conscience, it is easy to assume that everyone else should be following our footsteps. God’s word is clear on many issues on how we should live as we draw closer to God, He reveals more of His word to us. But not everyone is on the same spiritual journey. Staying humble before God requires that we acknowledge our righteousness is of God, and without Him we are lost and most wretched. As we humble ourselves before a holy God, He imparts to us His holiness and give us the grace to live pleasing to Him. Living and being right only happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives. When He comes, we look at humanity differently. We reach out in love and kindness, showing the grace of God to those who need God. We do not condone sin, for God hates sin, but it is the job of the Holy Spirit to judge the world of sin, it is our job to point others to the One who can save us from our sins.

Just Do It!

1 Chor 28:20…Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, …

“Just Do It” Taking on new challenges can be exciting, but also a time of trepidation to think of the possibility of failure. Crossing new bridges not knowing what life will bring us on the other side. Going forward, and entering into a new transition of life does not have to be scary. If we know that God is leading, and He is brazing the trail before us, we can hold on to His promises that He will give us the strength and courage to just do it! Life is always changing and sometime those changes are out of our control. We approach each change trusting God to guide and direct our steps. Taking those steps of faith, will not always be easy, but He will not leave us or fail us if we step out in faith and just do it!

The Root of Jealousy

1 Sam 18:9. 12  And Saul eyed David from that day and forward…  And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.

The root of jealousy  finds its origins in the carnal nature of sin. The remedy to rid oneself of jealousy is to deal with the carnal nature within the heart. After God delivers us and forgives us of our sins, there still remains the seed of self that is buried in the heart of each man, women, boy and girl. Self must be put on the altar of surrender. It must present itself a living sacrifice to God. When God shows us what is in our heart, we confess it to God and submit ourselves, believing that the Holy Spirit is able to fill our hearts with perfect love. This work is referred by theologians as sanctification, or holiness of heart. It is a work of grace done in a crisis moment. It is intentional and requires man to make a choice who will be Lord of his life. Holiness of heart does not immune one from temptation of the flesh, it empowers one to be an overcomer of temptation, but daily submitting oneself to the will of God in all matters. Jealousy is not simply overcomes by just thanking God for what He has provided. When one is tempted to be jealous, he is led by the Spirit to flee such thoughts and to be grateful for what God has done and what He has provided. 

When Jesus Comes

Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.

Christians sometimes have an OT mentality, “Destroy those who seek to do me wrong”. Such is the sentiment in many OT scripture. God hates sin, and in His time God will judge the sin of this world. For whatsoever a man sows that will he reap. We would like to set all the wrongs of this world right. Rebuke those who live contrary to God’s word. No doubt, we need to stand against the evil of this world and show others the path of righteousness. But Jesus came not to condemn the world, but through Him the world may be saved. The answer to sin is not to change people’s opinion, but to come to the saving knowledge of Christ. When Jesus comes, He changes the heart and the desires of people to live in harmony with God. God does not need us to judge the world of it’s sins, He needs us to live a life without sin, so that others may know that God is real and is able to keep a person unspotted even in a world surrounded by sin.