Ephesians 4:15-"Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. "
When I read this verse I can't help but remember the words my father told me years ago when I first began preaching. He encouraged me to always preach the truth, but speak with love and compassion. His advice to me has been invaluable, because throughout my 15 years in the ministry, I have tried to preach God's word and share the truth of the gospel while continuing to show love. Some people might be thinking, "speaking the truth is hard enough, now you're saying I have to do it in love?" The answer is yes. If we are to be people of God we must speak to others as Jesus did. By speaking in love, we demonstrate the true nature of Christ and show the true meaning of the gospel. God bless.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Choosing to Forgive Others
Ephesians 4:32 -"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you."
Most of the ground that Satan gains in the lives of Christians is due to unforgiveness. We are warned to forgive others so that Satan cannot take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:10, 11). God requires us to forgive others from our hearts or He will turn us over to judgment (Matthew 18:34, 35). Why is forgiveness so critical to our lives? Because of the cross. God didn't give us what we deserve ; He gave us what we needed according to His mercy. We are to be merciful just as our heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). We are to forgive as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:31, 32). Forgiveness is not forgetting. People who try to forget find that they cannot. God says He will "remember no more" our sins (Hebrews 10:17), but God, being omniscient, cannot forget. The phrase "Remember no more" means that God will never use the past against us (Psalm 103:12). Forgetting may be a result of forgiveness, but it is never the means of forgiveness. When we bring up the past and use it against others, we haven't forgiven them. Forgiveness is a choice, a crisis of the will. We choose to face and acknowledge the hurt and the hate in order to forgive from the heart. Since God requires us to forgive, it is something we can do. (He would never require us to do something we cannot do.) But forgiveness is difficult for us because it pulls against our concept of justice. We want revenge for offenses suffered. But we are told never to take our own revenge (Romans 12:19). "Why should I let them off the hook?" we protest. You let them off your hook, but they are never off God's hook. He will deal with them fairly--something we cannot do. If you don't let offenders off your hook, you are hooked to them and the past, and that just means continued pain for you. Stop the pain; let it go. You don't forgive someone merely for their sake; you do it for your sake so you can be free. Your need to forgive isn't an issue between you and the offender; it's between you and God.
Most of the ground that Satan gains in the lives of Christians is due to unforgiveness. We are warned to forgive others so that Satan cannot take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:10, 11). God requires us to forgive others from our hearts or He will turn us over to judgment (Matthew 18:34, 35). Why is forgiveness so critical to our lives? Because of the cross. God didn't give us what we deserve ; He gave us what we needed according to His mercy. We are to be merciful just as our heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). We are to forgive as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:31, 32). Forgiveness is not forgetting. People who try to forget find that they cannot. God says He will "remember no more" our sins (Hebrews 10:17), but God, being omniscient, cannot forget. The phrase "Remember no more" means that God will never use the past against us (Psalm 103:12). Forgetting may be a result of forgiveness, but it is never the means of forgiveness. When we bring up the past and use it against others, we haven't forgiven them. Forgiveness is a choice, a crisis of the will. We choose to face and acknowledge the hurt and the hate in order to forgive from the heart. Since God requires us to forgive, it is something we can do. (He would never require us to do something we cannot do.) But forgiveness is difficult for us because it pulls against our concept of justice. We want revenge for offenses suffered. But we are told never to take our own revenge (Romans 12:19). "Why should I let them off the hook?" we protest. You let them off your hook, but they are never off God's hook. He will deal with them fairly--something we cannot do. If you don't let offenders off your hook, you are hooked to them and the past, and that just means continued pain for you. Stop the pain; let it go. You don't forgive someone merely for their sake; you do it for your sake so you can be free. Your need to forgive isn't an issue between you and the offender; it's between you and God.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
It's My Birthday Today
Today is my 38th Birthday and I have received many cards, gifts and well wishes. This evening my children took dad out for dinner on his birthday. Try to guess who ended up buying dinner? Nonetheless, I feel great and thank the Lord for another year of life and all His many blessings.
Monday, April 27, 2009
A Sacrifice of Praise
"Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands." Psalms 119:5-6
This Psalmist dealt with the same issues of guilt that we have today. When we consider all that God requires, His standard is too high. How is one to follow His ways when God’s ways expect perfection and we are far less than perfect? Like the Psalmist, we cry out, “Oh, I wish my ways were consistent in following and obeying You. Then I would feel better about myself.” The problem with thinking this way is that God wants us to be thankful for Him and not think of ourselves any higher than we ought. Jesus provided us with all that we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). It is because of Jesus that we can have a relationship with the Father. When our shortcomings turn our focus to us, we have guilt and condemnation. When our eyes are focused on Jesus despite our shortcomings, we are thankful for Him. God wants us thankful. He already knows our shortcomings and know the extent of our ability to sin but He saved us any way. Lately, everywhere I turn in the Bible, I am seeing and realizing that God desires a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving from me. He wants us to sing to Him in gratitude for all He has done and is doing. The word sacrifice reminds us that giving Him thanks and praise isn’t easy when we are feeling guilty, angry, frustrated, depressed or miserable. But by praising Him during those times, it releases our faith to look to Him instead of ourselves.
This Psalmist dealt with the same issues of guilt that we have today. When we consider all that God requires, His standard is too high. How is one to follow His ways when God’s ways expect perfection and we are far less than perfect? Like the Psalmist, we cry out, “Oh, I wish my ways were consistent in following and obeying You. Then I would feel better about myself.” The problem with thinking this way is that God wants us to be thankful for Him and not think of ourselves any higher than we ought. Jesus provided us with all that we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). It is because of Jesus that we can have a relationship with the Father. When our shortcomings turn our focus to us, we have guilt and condemnation. When our eyes are focused on Jesus despite our shortcomings, we are thankful for Him. God wants us thankful. He already knows our shortcomings and know the extent of our ability to sin but He saved us any way. Lately, everywhere I turn in the Bible, I am seeing and realizing that God desires a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving from me. He wants us to sing to Him in gratitude for all He has done and is doing. The word sacrifice reminds us that giving Him thanks and praise isn’t easy when we are feeling guilty, angry, frustrated, depressed or miserable. But by praising Him during those times, it releases our faith to look to Him instead of ourselves.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Surely Not Lord
"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." (Acts 10:14-15)
Do you feel comfortable saying “no” to God? We might not have the ability to admit it but we each say “no” to God in some way. Sometimes we say “no” by choosing to not witness. Sometimes we say “no” by refusing to volunteer. Sometimes we say “no” by ignoring the prompting of our heart. But most of the time we say “no” because we refuse to accept His will for our lives. In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" The disciples answered His question by stating what others think about Him. Then He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter is the only one who answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus acknowledged to Peter that God, Himself, had revealed that to him. I am sure that Peter had a large smile on his heart after that compliment. A few passages later, Jesus begins to explain that He will have to suffer. Peter again was the only one who spoke up as he disagreed with God’s plan, taking the liberty to rebuke the Lord. Matthew 16:22-23
says, ‘Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’ Peter had gone from a place of esteem to a place of rebuke. Here in Acts 10, we find Peter disagreeing with God again as he says, “Surely not, Lord.” If you have a relationship with God, you will find yourself at opposite ends with Him on many issues. This is normal. We are flesh and our natural born nature rebels against the Lord at times. God can handle whatever position you take and He wants to reason with you about your position. Talk to Him and be honest. The problem comes when we place our thoughts and desires over God’s thoughts and ways to a point of "rebuking the Lord." We may not have the boldness to tell Him we think He is wrong but our actions show the thoughts and intents of our hearts as we choose to not submit or yield or even listen to what He is trying to say. God’s ways do not make sense to us and His thoughts are not our thoughts. That is why it is so important to have an open, honest relationship with Him based on His words. We have to align up with Him. I respect Peter greatly. He was a man who had an honest relationship with God. His rebukes were not respectful but he kept himself in a position to keep listening until his will lined up with God’s will. What is the Lord trying to tell you today? Are you going through a set of circumstances that you refuse to acknowledge is God’s will for your life? Are you fighting or submitting? Are you willing to listen or are you running? Pray with me that by the end of the day, we are on God’s side. When it comes down to it, He is going to win. I want to be on His team.
Do you feel comfortable saying “no” to God? We might not have the ability to admit it but we each say “no” to God in some way. Sometimes we say “no” by choosing to not witness. Sometimes we say “no” by refusing to volunteer. Sometimes we say “no” by ignoring the prompting of our heart. But most of the time we say “no” because we refuse to accept His will for our lives. In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" The disciples answered His question by stating what others think about Him. Then He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter is the only one who answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus acknowledged to Peter that God, Himself, had revealed that to him. I am sure that Peter had a large smile on his heart after that compliment. A few passages later, Jesus begins to explain that He will have to suffer. Peter again was the only one who spoke up as he disagreed with God’s plan, taking the liberty to rebuke the Lord. Matthew 16:22-23
says, ‘Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’ Peter had gone from a place of esteem to a place of rebuke. Here in Acts 10, we find Peter disagreeing with God again as he says, “Surely not, Lord.” If you have a relationship with God, you will find yourself at opposite ends with Him on many issues. This is normal. We are flesh and our natural born nature rebels against the Lord at times. God can handle whatever position you take and He wants to reason with you about your position. Talk to Him and be honest. The problem comes when we place our thoughts and desires over God’s thoughts and ways to a point of "rebuking the Lord." We may not have the boldness to tell Him we think He is wrong but our actions show the thoughts and intents of our hearts as we choose to not submit or yield or even listen to what He is trying to say. God’s ways do not make sense to us and His thoughts are not our thoughts. That is why it is so important to have an open, honest relationship with Him based on His words. We have to align up with Him. I respect Peter greatly. He was a man who had an honest relationship with God. His rebukes were not respectful but he kept himself in a position to keep listening until his will lined up with God’s will. What is the Lord trying to tell you today? Are you going through a set of circumstances that you refuse to acknowledge is God’s will for your life? Are you fighting or submitting? Are you willing to listen or are you running? Pray with me that by the end of the day, we are on God’s side. When it comes down to it, He is going to win. I want to be on His team.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Satan's Three Fold Temptation
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world." (1 John 2:16)
You will be better prepared to resist temptation in your life when you realize that, according to the Scriptures, there are only three channels through which Satan will entice you to act independently of God. They are summarized in John's instructions to believers concerning our relationship to this world: "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17). The three channels of temptation are the lust of the flesh , the lust of the eyes , and the pride of life . The lust of the flesh preys on our physical appetites and their gratifications in this world. The lust of the eyes appeals to self-interest and tests the Word of God. The pride of life stresses self-promotion and self-exaltation. Satan confronted both the first Adam and the last Adam through each of these three channels of temptation. Notice how Satan used precisely those three channels to deceive Eve: "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food [lust of the flesh], and that it was a delight to the eyes [lust of the eyes], and that the tree was desirable to make one wise [pride of life], she took from its fruit and ate" (Genesis 3:6). The first Adam failed miserably and we still suffer the results of his failure. But the last Adam--Jesus Christ--met Satan's threefold temptation head-on and succeeded triumphantly. In Him we have the resources and the power to conquer every temptation Satan throws at us.
(Special thanks to Neil Anderson for this excellent devotional thought)
You will be better prepared to resist temptation in your life when you realize that, according to the Scriptures, there are only three channels through which Satan will entice you to act independently of God. They are summarized in John's instructions to believers concerning our relationship to this world: "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17). The three channels of temptation are the lust of the flesh , the lust of the eyes , and the pride of life . The lust of the flesh preys on our physical appetites and their gratifications in this world. The lust of the eyes appeals to self-interest and tests the Word of God. The pride of life stresses self-promotion and self-exaltation. Satan confronted both the first Adam and the last Adam through each of these three channels of temptation. Notice how Satan used precisely those three channels to deceive Eve: "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food [lust of the flesh], and that it was a delight to the eyes [lust of the eyes], and that the tree was desirable to make one wise [pride of life], she took from its fruit and ate" (Genesis 3:6). The first Adam failed miserably and we still suffer the results of his failure. But the last Adam--Jesus Christ--met Satan's threefold temptation head-on and succeeded triumphantly. In Him we have the resources and the power to conquer every temptation Satan throws at us.
(Special thanks to Neil Anderson for this excellent devotional thought)
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Hope For the Suffering
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
No one enjoys suffering. No one desires to suffer. Yet, the Bible is filled with stories and examples of man’s sufferings. Look around the world today and you will find suffering. It comes in all shapes, sizes and has no partiality to who it visits or inhabits. Suffering is a fact of life; one we cannot escape. So, what do we do about it? We hold on. We wait and we hope in the eternal glory that awaits us in heaven. Jesus promised that He would go and prepare a place for us (John 14:2) and that place is there right now, waiting on us. Nothing on this earth can begin to compare to what awaits those of us who are in Christ. Are you suffering today? Maybe you are watching loved ones suffer and you feel helpless towards what to do for them. Take everything to Jesus and cry out to Him. No one understands suffering better than our Lord Jesus. Our suffering cannot begin to compare to what He endured at the cross. Jesus chose to suffer and die on our behalf, so that our earthly suffering would be but for a moment in comparison to our eternity with Him. Do not lose hope. Sink into God’s word for comfort and assurance and pray your heart out to Him. Ask for the wisdom to understand and for the power to live in the fullness of His love and grace. You will be filled with an inner peace and joy that surpasses the presence of pain, as your eyes look towards the eternal and not the temporal. Paul prayed this prayer for the church at Ephesus. Meditate on and pray for these things today. (Read Ephesians 1 for the complete text.) [I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:16-20.
No one enjoys suffering. No one desires to suffer. Yet, the Bible is filled with stories and examples of man’s sufferings. Look around the world today and you will find suffering. It comes in all shapes, sizes and has no partiality to who it visits or inhabits. Suffering is a fact of life; one we cannot escape. So, what do we do about it? We hold on. We wait and we hope in the eternal glory that awaits us in heaven. Jesus promised that He would go and prepare a place for us (John 14:2) and that place is there right now, waiting on us. Nothing on this earth can begin to compare to what awaits those of us who are in Christ. Are you suffering today? Maybe you are watching loved ones suffer and you feel helpless towards what to do for them. Take everything to Jesus and cry out to Him. No one understands suffering better than our Lord Jesus. Our suffering cannot begin to compare to what He endured at the cross. Jesus chose to suffer and die on our behalf, so that our earthly suffering would be but for a moment in comparison to our eternity with Him. Do not lose hope. Sink into God’s word for comfort and assurance and pray your heart out to Him. Ask for the wisdom to understand and for the power to live in the fullness of His love and grace. You will be filled with an inner peace and joy that surpasses the presence of pain, as your eyes look towards the eternal and not the temporal. Paul prayed this prayer for the church at Ephesus. Meditate on and pray for these things today. (Read Ephesians 1 for the complete text.) [I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:16-20.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
God's Thumbprint
This verse is found in Psalm 19:1 and as I read this today, I began to think about how great and awesome God's creative power must be. The touch of the Master's hand is all around us. We see it in the order, beauty, and dazzling variety in creation. The great expanse of space with its billions of planets and the incredible world of the microscopic are all testimony to an Orderer of great creativity. God has left his fingerprints all over his world so we can know he is here.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Understanding God
"The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. " (Psalm 14:2)
Do we understand the ways of God? Understanding God is different than believing in God. To understand means that we can come into alignment by acknowledging the decisions God makes on our behalf. We don’t have to agree with the decision but because we understand that God’s ways are higher than ours, we can yield to Him. At that point, we show our trust in His ways as we continue to seek and submit to His will. God wants a relationship with us. As our Heavenly Father, He knows what’s best for us. He is more than willing to reveal Himself to those who seek Him. God does not want us to just believe in Him but to understand Him as well. God has not hidden Himself from us. He has given us His Son, Jesus, His Word, and His Spirit. The Spirit of God intercedes for us, convicts our hearts and lead us into all truth. We have the opportunity to seek God and to find Him. But we also have the ability to understand Him as we continue to choose to read the Bible, pray and submit to the circumstances that He has allowed us to encounter in our lives. If you are struggling with understanding why God is allowing certain circumstances to continue in your life, seek Him for wisdom. James 1 tells us that anyone who is lacking in wisdom should ask God for it because God will give liberally to all that ask. But when God answers, believe that answer and do not doubt. Doubting only leads us to becoming double minded. Double mindedness is a worse state than questioning God’s decisions in the first place. And remember, God is looking down from heaven to see if we understand and seek after Him.
Do we understand the ways of God? Understanding God is different than believing in God. To understand means that we can come into alignment by acknowledging the decisions God makes on our behalf. We don’t have to agree with the decision but because we understand that God’s ways are higher than ours, we can yield to Him. At that point, we show our trust in His ways as we continue to seek and submit to His will. God wants a relationship with us. As our Heavenly Father, He knows what’s best for us. He is more than willing to reveal Himself to those who seek Him. God does not want us to just believe in Him but to understand Him as well. God has not hidden Himself from us. He has given us His Son, Jesus, His Word, and His Spirit. The Spirit of God intercedes for us, convicts our hearts and lead us into all truth. We have the opportunity to seek God and to find Him. But we also have the ability to understand Him as we continue to choose to read the Bible, pray and submit to the circumstances that He has allowed us to encounter in our lives. If you are struggling with understanding why God is allowing certain circumstances to continue in your life, seek Him for wisdom. James 1 tells us that anyone who is lacking in wisdom should ask God for it because God will give liberally to all that ask. But when God answers, believe that answer and do not doubt. Doubting only leads us to becoming double minded. Double mindedness is a worse state than questioning God’s decisions in the first place. And remember, God is looking down from heaven to see if we understand and seek after Him.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wisdom From the Psalms
Psalm 45:17-I will make thy name to be remember in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
The sculptor looked at the piece of stone and thought. His mind whirled at the possibilities the stone presented. He could make anything he wanted. He could carve out great beauty. He could create a monument to himself. He could immortalize a great figure from history. He could sculpt a statement of power and dignity. His mind danced with imagination. He began to dream of the ultimate statement he could make. He looked into the sky and saw the glories there. He looked at the trees and flowers. He watched people walking past. He thought of waterfalls and rainbows and beautiful music. His heart swelled full, then sank. What could be possibly carve into stone that would do justice to the world of wonder he lived in? He set about his carving, working with great care and determination. After days of labor and love, he unveiled the greatest work his life could offer. Three letters, finely shaped, lovingly created. The greatest legacy the artist could give. The name was GOD.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Control of Our Minds
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to
the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Did you know that there is an ongoing battle for your mind? Many of us realize that there is a battle taking place in our minds, but the real battle is for control of our minds. I know it sounds a little sci-fi and weird but that is just what our enemy wants us to think. We are in a spiritual battle every day for control of our thoughts. For some of us, the intensity of conflicting thoughts can torment us for hours. For others of us, we have learned such mind control that we do whatever it takes to press down those thoughts. Regardless of how we handle them, they are still there. The only effective weapons that we can use are the ones given to us by God. The weapons of the flesh, such as mental imagery or positive thinking, will not bring us the victory that God has for us. Many people use such tools and claim dramatic results (just ask Tony Robbins) but the deceptions are dangerous. Why? Because the focus and the power are placed completely on us, not on the Lord. The more power we think we have in ourselves, the more power Satan has over us. Scary thought? Let’s go for the real power and learn to bring our thoughts before Christ. Are you in a battle today over things in your mind? There are two things you must incorporate into your daily routine. First, open your Bible and read at least one verse in the morning. Use a devotional or a Psalm or Proverb, whatever works for you. Then, take what you have read and ask the Lord to put His words into your mind throughout the day. If you will do this everyday, in time you will begin to remember God’s words and will think about them because His Spirit will bring them to your thoughts. For those things that you are struggling with in your mind, start talking to the Lord about them. Pray that His words will bring comfort and hope instead of torment and guilt. Let the Lord fight for you by letting Him have the control over your mind instead of trying to handle it yourself.
the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Did you know that there is an ongoing battle for your mind? Many of us realize that there is a battle taking place in our minds, but the real battle is for control of our minds. I know it sounds a little sci-fi and weird but that is just what our enemy wants us to think. We are in a spiritual battle every day for control of our thoughts. For some of us, the intensity of conflicting thoughts can torment us for hours. For others of us, we have learned such mind control that we do whatever it takes to press down those thoughts. Regardless of how we handle them, they are still there. The only effective weapons that we can use are the ones given to us by God. The weapons of the flesh, such as mental imagery or positive thinking, will not bring us the victory that God has for us. Many people use such tools and claim dramatic results (just ask Tony Robbins) but the deceptions are dangerous. Why? Because the focus and the power are placed completely on us, not on the Lord. The more power we think we have in ourselves, the more power Satan has over us. Scary thought? Let’s go for the real power and learn to bring our thoughts before Christ. Are you in a battle today over things in your mind? There are two things you must incorporate into your daily routine. First, open your Bible and read at least one verse in the morning. Use a devotional or a Psalm or Proverb, whatever works for you. Then, take what you have read and ask the Lord to put His words into your mind throughout the day. If you will do this everyday, in time you will begin to remember God’s words and will think about them because His Spirit will bring them to your thoughts. For those things that you are struggling with in your mind, start talking to the Lord about them. Pray that His words will bring comfort and hope instead of torment and guilt. Let the Lord fight for you by letting Him have the control over your mind instead of trying to handle it yourself.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Taxes and the Christian
It's April 15th and everyone who lives in America knows that this is tax day here in the USA. The day when American citizens have to pay their taxes to the state and federal government. This year many Americans are protesting the current spending of our president and congress by having "tea parties" to awaken people to the gross overspending our government is currently doing. While I agree with their sentiment, I still will pay my taxes and abide by the laws of the land. Jesus gave us a command in Matthew 22:21 "... Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." In Christ’s time, taxes were paid to foreign invaders who were loathed by the Jewish people. It’s bad enough giving your money to the government, but it must be a hundred times worse giving it to a foreign government. That’s like saying to the invaders, “Thank you for destroying our country. Here’s some money to make you even stronger.”Because the Jews hated paying taxes to Caesar, some miscreants used this as a means to trap Jesus. He was becoming too popular, so His opponents tried to set Him up. They asked Him whether or not it was lawful to pay taxes. If Christ plainly agreed to pay the taxes, He would be portrayed as a collaborator. If He disagreed with paying taxes, then He would be denounced as a dangerous usurper.Jesus was in between a rock and a hard place, but He dealt with the situation beautifully. If the image on the coin was of Caesar, then obviously it belonged to Rome. And since it was an image, devout Jews would have nothing to do with holding on to graven images. Or as Jesus put it so succinctly: Give to Caesar what is his, and give to God what is God’s.Sometimes as Christians we are faced with similar dilemmas. We try to be faithful to Christ without being mean or confrontational in the world, but sometimes the world does things that confronts or demeans our faith. It’s a hard path to walk, but Christ understands. It’s a road that he traveled many times in His own life.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Lord Can Give You More
"He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver. But a man of God came to him and said, "O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow." Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?" The man of God replied, "The LORD can give you much more than that." (2 Chronicles 25:6-9)
Amaziah was king of Judah and though he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, he did not follow the Lord wholeheartedly. One day Amaziah decides to muster up his army, so he takes a count all of his able-bodied fighting men. Thinking he needs more troops, he hires another hundred thousand fighting men from Israel. Now at this time, the kingdoms of Judah and Israel were divided, each with their own kings. The Lord was with Judah because of His covenant with David but the Lord was not with Israel, especially as their kings tended to be evil and wicked against the Lord. So, the Lord sends a prophet, "a man of God," to speak with him about sending the Israel men back home. Even though Amaziah did as the man of God instructed, his first concern was about the money that he had already spent. The response from the man of God should speak to our hearts even today, "The LORD can give you much more than that."
Sometimes we fail (or forget) to realize that our God is in charge and has ownership of all things, even all the money of the world. We can get so caught up in making things balance out that we do not need to depend on the Lord. Many of us hate to waste money or things of value. We try to be good stewards. We try to make the right decisions. But, sometimes we act before we pray and we make decisions that maybe were not God's will for us. The good news, however, is that God can and will make things work together for good. All we need to do is come to Him and ask for His help, especially when we get that check in our spirit that maybe we should not have bought something or invested in something. God is so good to replace what we have lost if we just come to Him for help. His ways in taking care of it may not always be what we expect, but He will work it out for what is best if we trust Him. The best course in making decisions is to take them all to the Lord first. But, if you find yourself in a place of looking backwards (as we all do at times), then ask the Lord to work it out and even to replace what was lost. You will be amazed to watch how God works through our situations, even our mistakes, and He can replace what was lost in the process. Do not bear the burden alone…take it to the Lord. He loves to rescue. The rest of the story of Amaziah? He went into battle after sending the hundred thousand troops home and the Lord delivered him the victory. He will give us the victory when we seek His help in all things.
Amaziah was king of Judah and though he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, he did not follow the Lord wholeheartedly. One day Amaziah decides to muster up his army, so he takes a count all of his able-bodied fighting men. Thinking he needs more troops, he hires another hundred thousand fighting men from Israel. Now at this time, the kingdoms of Judah and Israel were divided, each with their own kings. The Lord was with Judah because of His covenant with David but the Lord was not with Israel, especially as their kings tended to be evil and wicked against the Lord. So, the Lord sends a prophet, "a man of God," to speak with him about sending the Israel men back home. Even though Amaziah did as the man of God instructed, his first concern was about the money that he had already spent. The response from the man of God should speak to our hearts even today, "The LORD can give you much more than that."
Sometimes we fail (or forget) to realize that our God is in charge and has ownership of all things, even all the money of the world. We can get so caught up in making things balance out that we do not need to depend on the Lord. Many of us hate to waste money or things of value. We try to be good stewards. We try to make the right decisions. But, sometimes we act before we pray and we make decisions that maybe were not God's will for us. The good news, however, is that God can and will make things work together for good. All we need to do is come to Him and ask for His help, especially when we get that check in our spirit that maybe we should not have bought something or invested in something. God is so good to replace what we have lost if we just come to Him for help. His ways in taking care of it may not always be what we expect, but He will work it out for what is best if we trust Him. The best course in making decisions is to take them all to the Lord first. But, if you find yourself in a place of looking backwards (as we all do at times), then ask the Lord to work it out and even to replace what was lost. You will be amazed to watch how God works through our situations, even our mistakes, and He can replace what was lost in the process. Do not bear the burden alone…take it to the Lord. He loves to rescue. The rest of the story of Amaziah? He went into battle after sending the hundred thousand troops home and the Lord delivered him the victory. He will give us the victory when we seek His help in all things.
Monday, April 13, 2009
St. Louis Blues Headed to the Playoffs
This weekend was a great time for me as I watched my hometown and beloved St. Louis Blues of the NHL clinch a spot in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs and closed out their season with 9 wins in their last 11 games to finish with the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night. This year was a remarkable run for the Blues who weren't picked to make the playoffs but have had the best record in the NHL since the All Star break and are poised for a long run in the playoffs. The Blues were anchored by goalie Chris Mason who earned his sixth shutout of the season Sunday afternoon over the Colorado Avalanche 1-0. I am really excited and being a Blues fan for 28 years this season has been really special. The Blues went from dead last in the standings all the way to the playoffs in two months. This should be a great playoff season for them. GO BLUES!!!!!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
God Bless You This Easter
Today is Easter where we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the angel said in Matthew 28 "He is not here, He Is Risen" God bless you.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Cross Made the Difference
(1 Corinthians 2:1-2) And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. {2} For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Today is Good Friday, when we pause and remember the death and sacrafice of Jesus Christ on the cross and reflect on the price that he paid for our sins. Many people look at the cross in a very casual and flippant way, yet the cross is more than just a symbol. To the one who believes the message of God as given in His Word, the cross has identity. It becomes the cross of Christ. It means life rather than death; it means love rather than hatred; and it means joy rather than sorrow. Through the Cross of Christ, God reconciled sinful man unto Himself. An amazing accomplishment and one that only He could do! The cross is of great importance to us because it provides simplicity in a complex world, it provides direction in a busy world, and it provides motivation in an apathetic world. On April 12, 2009 we will celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Yet we should never forget the price that was paid for our sins. For us as Christians our faith is anchored on the Resurrection. We often say, “I love you” to our love ones on special occasions I admonish you to take time out this day and tell our Lord you love him for what he has done for us. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:8 that “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.
Today is Good Friday, when we pause and remember the death and sacrafice of Jesus Christ on the cross and reflect on the price that he paid for our sins. Many people look at the cross in a very casual and flippant way, yet the cross is more than just a symbol. To the one who believes the message of God as given in His Word, the cross has identity. It becomes the cross of Christ. It means life rather than death; it means love rather than hatred; and it means joy rather than sorrow. Through the Cross of Christ, God reconciled sinful man unto Himself. An amazing accomplishment and one that only He could do! The cross is of great importance to us because it provides simplicity in a complex world, it provides direction in a busy world, and it provides motivation in an apathetic world. On April 12, 2009 we will celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Yet we should never forget the price that was paid for our sins. For us as Christians our faith is anchored on the Resurrection. We often say, “I love you” to our love ones on special occasions I admonish you to take time out this day and tell our Lord you love him for what he has done for us. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:8 that “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.
Being Lukewarm
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16
In my house, temperature can be a “hot” topic. In the winter, the thermostat can never be too hot for my wife, but I love to sleep in the cold. One extreme or the other tends to dominate in several areas in our home but how extreme am I when it comes to the things of the Lord? What is my spiritual temperature? How many areas of my life am I content with just being lukewarm, especially when it comes to living for Jesus? We as Christians are often afraid to live at the extremes. We are uncomfortable standing out and speaking out too much. We rationalize our positions by saying that we do not want to offend anyone or come across too zealous in our faith. We even justify sinful behaviors by telling ourselves that if we blend in with the crowd, then we can be a more effective witness. Where did these ideas really come from? Are they from the Lord? Not according to Revelation 3:16. Jesus says He will “vomit” us out of His mouth if we are lukewarm. He wants us to pick a position; we are either cold or hot, for Him or against Him. We either take up our cross and follow Him with our whole hearts or we follow our own desires. To live in the gray areas are unacceptable, regardless of our human rationalizations. Where are you today? Do you have a lukewarm relationship with Jesus? I fear greatly for many people who sit in church every Sunday proclaiming to know Jesus but have no evidence of Him in their lives. Many of us look righteous on the outside but are numb on the inside. Our churches are filled with complacent Christians who are quite content to live in the gray areas, not wanting to get too uncomfortable. Will Jesus say “well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) or will He say “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Matthew 7:23)? Ask the Lord to light a fire in your heart today that will set a blaze any areas of your life that have become lukewarm and complacent. Life here on earth is but for a moment, but eternity is forever.
In my house, temperature can be a “hot” topic. In the winter, the thermostat can never be too hot for my wife, but I love to sleep in the cold. One extreme or the other tends to dominate in several areas in our home but how extreme am I when it comes to the things of the Lord? What is my spiritual temperature? How many areas of my life am I content with just being lukewarm, especially when it comes to living for Jesus? We as Christians are often afraid to live at the extremes. We are uncomfortable standing out and speaking out too much. We rationalize our positions by saying that we do not want to offend anyone or come across too zealous in our faith. We even justify sinful behaviors by telling ourselves that if we blend in with the crowd, then we can be a more effective witness. Where did these ideas really come from? Are they from the Lord? Not according to Revelation 3:16. Jesus says He will “vomit” us out of His mouth if we are lukewarm. He wants us to pick a position; we are either cold or hot, for Him or against Him. We either take up our cross and follow Him with our whole hearts or we follow our own desires. To live in the gray areas are unacceptable, regardless of our human rationalizations. Where are you today? Do you have a lukewarm relationship with Jesus? I fear greatly for many people who sit in church every Sunday proclaiming to know Jesus but have no evidence of Him in their lives. Many of us look righteous on the outside but are numb on the inside. Our churches are filled with complacent Christians who are quite content to live in the gray areas, not wanting to get too uncomfortable. Will Jesus say “well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) or will He say “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Matthew 7:23)? Ask the Lord to light a fire in your heart today that will set a blaze any areas of your life that have become lukewarm and complacent. Life here on earth is but for a moment, but eternity is forever.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Signs of the Times
I hope someone took this sign down....I would hate to be this church's pastor. I can't believe how insulting this sign is. Nevertheless, it's FUNNY! Have a blessed day.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Morning Thoughts
"The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:4
How do you awaken in the morning? Some of us spring right out of bed while others keep hitting the snooze button until our hand hurts, thinking that a few more minutes are all we need. As for me, I tend to wake up and just think for awhile. Morning thoughts usually have a theme of what the day will bring. These thoughts that enter into my mind early in the morning usually set the tone for the day. If I wake up challenged and negative, my attitude will soon reflect those feelings in my words. If I wake up joyful and peaceful, I reflect those feelings instead. The enemy understands our ways. He knows that if he can get us to think his thoughts in the morning, then he has a greater chance of getting us to think them during the day. His desire is to steal, kill and destroy anything that resembles the traits of the Lord. Thus, he becomes an active participant of planting seeds of doubt, insecurity, negativity and even anger. As a result, we start the day without the joy of the Lord, attempting to carry heavy burdens that do not reflect the Lord. The Lord wants us to carry thankful thoughts and willing hearts, making His joy our strength. We need to get to the point of not continuing in the ways of the enemy by grumbling, complaining, moaning and thinking negative thoughts. By recognizing his schemes, it is easier to fight against him and surrender our thoughts back to Jesus. I have learned some skills in fighting the morning battles. Firstly, I read something in the Bible (even if it is one verse) before I go to bed at night. I think on the verse or meditate on it so the passage or verse becomes applicable to me. It is good to fall asleep with the Lord’s words on your mind. Then, I pray and ask the Lord to wake me up. He takes that prayer seriously. I always know it is the Lord answering my prayer when a praise song is the first thing I hear upon awakening. As I begin my morning, I confess my sins and ask that the day brings Him glory. Then I open the Bible and read until something speaks to me. Everything else in the day is filtered through His words by being in the Lord’s presence first. He sets the tone instead of me and that’s the best place to be. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
How do you awaken in the morning? Some of us spring right out of bed while others keep hitting the snooze button until our hand hurts, thinking that a few more minutes are all we need. As for me, I tend to wake up and just think for awhile. Morning thoughts usually have a theme of what the day will bring. These thoughts that enter into my mind early in the morning usually set the tone for the day. If I wake up challenged and negative, my attitude will soon reflect those feelings in my words. If I wake up joyful and peaceful, I reflect those feelings instead. The enemy understands our ways. He knows that if he can get us to think his thoughts in the morning, then he has a greater chance of getting us to think them during the day. His desire is to steal, kill and destroy anything that resembles the traits of the Lord. Thus, he becomes an active participant of planting seeds of doubt, insecurity, negativity and even anger. As a result, we start the day without the joy of the Lord, attempting to carry heavy burdens that do not reflect the Lord. The Lord wants us to carry thankful thoughts and willing hearts, making His joy our strength. We need to get to the point of not continuing in the ways of the enemy by grumbling, complaining, moaning and thinking negative thoughts. By recognizing his schemes, it is easier to fight against him and surrender our thoughts back to Jesus. I have learned some skills in fighting the morning battles. Firstly, I read something in the Bible (even if it is one verse) before I go to bed at night. I think on the verse or meditate on it so the passage or verse becomes applicable to me. It is good to fall asleep with the Lord’s words on your mind. Then, I pray and ask the Lord to wake me up. He takes that prayer seriously. I always know it is the Lord answering my prayer when a praise song is the first thing I hear upon awakening. As I begin my morning, I confess my sins and ask that the day brings Him glory. Then I open the Bible and read until something speaks to me. Everything else in the day is filtered through His words by being in the Lord’s presence first. He sets the tone instead of me and that’s the best place to be. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Imitate Me
“Therefore I urge you, imitate me.” (1 Corinthians 4:16)
Have you ever noticed how much we imitate others? Imitation starts in childhood and continues right through adulthood. Everything from what we wear to where we eat reflects our need to be like somebody else. “Keeping up with the Jones’” is a popular phrase to describe our desire and
aspirations to be better, or have more, even as we copy what others are doing or what they possess. It has been said by Dave Ramsey, “We buy things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t like.” We are unaware that we are continually being influenced and adapting our personality to the conformity of others. We do not realize that the things we do or wear or say is a result of imitating others. Paul understood these issues when he said to the Corinthians “imitate me.” They were living in the world and enjoying being of the world. Paul knew that they needed a living example to follow. He became their example, a real person from whom to watch and to learn. Paul also knew that their only hope was in Jesus. He was the One they must ultimately learn to imitate. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says that “we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Our focus should only be on Jesus Christ our Savior. This world and all that is in it will someday be gone. Where will you be when this happens? Do you choose your friends wisely, those who set the example in Christ as Paul did? Or were you influenced more by the world’s temporary offerings, instead of Christ’s eternal promises? How accountable are you to set godly examples for those who are imitating you? Ask the Lord to help you become the role model and example that He wants you to be for others. His Holy Spirit will guide you in this role.
Have you ever noticed how much we imitate others? Imitation starts in childhood and continues right through adulthood. Everything from what we wear to where we eat reflects our need to be like somebody else. “Keeping up with the Jones’” is a popular phrase to describe our desire and
aspirations to be better, or have more, even as we copy what others are doing or what they possess. It has been said by Dave Ramsey, “We buy things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t like.” We are unaware that we are continually being influenced and adapting our personality to the conformity of others. We do not realize that the things we do or wear or say is a result of imitating others. Paul understood these issues when he said to the Corinthians “imitate me.” They were living in the world and enjoying being of the world. Paul knew that they needed a living example to follow. He became their example, a real person from whom to watch and to learn. Paul also knew that their only hope was in Jesus. He was the One they must ultimately learn to imitate. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says that “we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Our focus should only be on Jesus Christ our Savior. This world and all that is in it will someday be gone. Where will you be when this happens? Do you choose your friends wisely, those who set the example in Christ as Paul did? Or were you influenced more by the world’s temporary offerings, instead of Christ’s eternal promises? How accountable are you to set godly examples for those who are imitating you? Ask the Lord to help you become the role model and example that He wants you to be for others. His Holy Spirit will guide you in this role.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Autism Awareness Day
Today is World Autism Awareness Day and I am taking a moment to share with you and raise awareness about Autism which is a brain disorder that often makes it hard to communicate with and relate to others. With autism, the different areas of the brain fail to work together. Most individuals with autism will always have some trouble relating to others. But early diagnosis and treatment have helped more and more people with autism to reach their full potential. In the United States 1 out of 150 children is diagnosed with some form of Autism. While research is being done to help treat and prevent Autism many parents and concerned citizens are trying to raise awareness of this disease. My seven year old son Brice was diagnosed with Autism Specrtum Disorder, which is a form of Autism. He is a highly functioning child and lives a very normal life, but like most children with Autism or ASD, he has struggles and difficulties. Please take time today and remember all the many children in the world who are struggling with this disease and pray for them and their families. God bless you.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
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