"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word."
(1Kings 18:21)
Do you ever find yourself faltering between two opinions? Have you ever felt torn between decisions and not sure of what to do? Maybe we get torn sometimes because we are focusing more on the what, than on the Who. Whether we want to admit it, everything comes down to a choice. We must choose between who, what and how most everyday of our lives. The Bible makes it clear that we are to choose whom we will follow. There really is no middle road. The problem lies in the fact that we do not like to think of ourselves as choosing to follow a false god, like Baal. But when we turn from following the Lord, we are turning to follow something else. We get caught up in life’s activities and look for God when we need Him. Did we just choose those activities over the Lord? Probably so. How do we make sure that we choose God first in everything? We must make the Lord our priority everyday. We must start our day with Him, praying about our schedules, asking for His guidance, reading His word for instruction, and worshiping Him with grateful hearts. We must learn to practice these things everyday. If we put these actions into practice, then we will find ourselves following God, no fences and no faltering. God knows our hearts and He wants us to want Him more than anything else. He wants us to stop choosing the what in our lives and start choosing the Who, Jesus Christ. Start your day with the Lord and ask Him to guide you. Beware of choosing to serve the false gods of the world. The Lord will help you if you just ask Him.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Snow Hits Central Indiana
Well in case you didn't hear, we had a winter storm pass through central Indiana and we received a lot of snow. My family and I are hunkered down here in our home, we have so much snow on the ground we can't get out of our driveway yet. I see lots of snow shoveling ahead as I try to get my driveway and sidewalk cleared out. The snowplows are out clearing the roads so hopefully we will be able to get out soon. I hope you are enjoying the day and if the snow has affected you, please be careful and have a blessed day.
Something Funny
This weekend my family and I are decorating our house for Christmas and when I saw this picture on the internet I think I've found someone who has the right idea. God bless.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Complaining
"Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. " (Numbers 11:1)
God knows our needs and hears our words. God opens His hand and satisfies the desires of every living thing (Psalm 145:16). He knows our wants before they are even formed on our tongue. He is faithful in all things and will not let the righteous beg for bread. So why are we so discontent? Why do we complain to each other? Why don’t we pray more and trust Him more?
There is a consistent theme in the lives of the Israelites that left Egypt. They complained. Over and over, they saw the miracles of the Lord to provide for them and protect them. They were witnesses of His ever constant presence and received daily manna from heaven. But it wasn’t enough. They wanted more and bigger and better and newer. They even complained that they wanted what they had when they were slaves in Egypt. I am truly amazed at how quickly we forget. It was because of their oppression in Egypt that God intervened to save them from slavery. God answered their prayer in unbelievable ways, but it wasn’t enough. And over and over, they were punished for this behavior but they didn’t change. How come? The answer is always the same…a lack of self control. Like the Israelites, we are can and do act the same way. We speak without thinking, complain to whom ever will listen, and become forgetful in the busyness of the day. The responsibility isn’t all on the Lord. We need to be active in our faith and fight for victory. Let’s stop being hearers and complainers and become doers of the Word. It will bring victory and blessing into our lives as we trust the Lord instead of complaining.
God knows our needs and hears our words. God opens His hand and satisfies the desires of every living thing (Psalm 145:16). He knows our wants before they are even formed on our tongue. He is faithful in all things and will not let the righteous beg for bread. So why are we so discontent? Why do we complain to each other? Why don’t we pray more and trust Him more?
There is a consistent theme in the lives of the Israelites that left Egypt. They complained. Over and over, they saw the miracles of the Lord to provide for them and protect them. They were witnesses of His ever constant presence and received daily manna from heaven. But it wasn’t enough. They wanted more and bigger and better and newer. They even complained that they wanted what they had when they were slaves in Egypt. I am truly amazed at how quickly we forget. It was because of their oppression in Egypt that God intervened to save them from slavery. God answered their prayer in unbelievable ways, but it wasn’t enough. And over and over, they were punished for this behavior but they didn’t change. How come? The answer is always the same…a lack of self control. Like the Israelites, we are can and do act the same way. We speak without thinking, complain to whom ever will listen, and become forgetful in the busyness of the day. The responsibility isn’t all on the Lord. We need to be active in our faith and fight for victory. Let’s stop being hearers and complainers and become doers of the Word. It will bring victory and blessing into our lives as we trust the Lord instead of complaining.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday Morning Cup of Joe
Today I am enjoying more cold weather and starting another week. I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed weekend. As you start this morning and begin a new week, always remember to seek God's will and direction for everything in your lives. Seek His will and not your own. Just as Jesus taught in the scriptures, ask your Heavenly father for His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. God's will and God's plan are always best. Seek His will and trust His plan. God knows best what is best for us. Have a great week.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Scripture Verse For Today
When we put God first in every area of our lives, He will not only bless our lives but fulfill His plan and His perfect will for our lives.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
What's In Your Heart?
"So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said to them, "What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?" Then Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord's slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found." But he said, "Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father." Genesis 44:14-17
What kind of response do you think Joseph was looking for? He placed his cup into the pouch of his brother, Benjamin (the only brother that had the same mother). Did Joseph want to reveal his identity to Benjamin alone or was he testing the hearts of the brothers to see if they had changed after all of these years? Both Joseph and Benjamin were their father’s favorite children because they were born by the mother Jacob loved most. Favoritism does bring about jealousy, resentment and bitterness but the brothers were still responsible for their own behavior before God. After all these years, Joseph probably wondered what his other brothers thought of their actions in selling him. Did they regret it? Would they do it again? Were they treating Benjamin the same way? Now, that God had given Joseph the upper hand, Joseph patiently and wisely tested his brothers to discern what was in their hearts. Judah said, “God has found out the iniquity of your servants.” In other words, he was acknowledging that the brothers deserve to be treated as slaves for the sin they had been hiding all these years in selling Joseph as a slave.
Because God exists and He is just, what goes around, comes around. We truly do reap what we sow and these boys knew it firsthand. God is willing to forgive and we find Joseph acting like the God he trusts in.
I pray that we all may have the heart of both types of men:
Joseph – being willing to forgive
The brothers – being willing to openly and honestly confess and repent for wrongdoing against God and others.
God tests our hearts because He wants us to know what is in them. He already knows and He is so gracious to forgive as soon as we are willing to confess.
What kind of response do you think Joseph was looking for? He placed his cup into the pouch of his brother, Benjamin (the only brother that had the same mother). Did Joseph want to reveal his identity to Benjamin alone or was he testing the hearts of the brothers to see if they had changed after all of these years? Both Joseph and Benjamin were their father’s favorite children because they were born by the mother Jacob loved most. Favoritism does bring about jealousy, resentment and bitterness but the brothers were still responsible for their own behavior before God. After all these years, Joseph probably wondered what his other brothers thought of their actions in selling him. Did they regret it? Would they do it again? Were they treating Benjamin the same way? Now, that God had given Joseph the upper hand, Joseph patiently and wisely tested his brothers to discern what was in their hearts. Judah said, “God has found out the iniquity of your servants.” In other words, he was acknowledging that the brothers deserve to be treated as slaves for the sin they had been hiding all these years in selling Joseph as a slave.
Because God exists and He is just, what goes around, comes around. We truly do reap what we sow and these boys knew it firsthand. God is willing to forgive and we find Joseph acting like the God he trusts in.
I pray that we all may have the heart of both types of men:
Joseph – being willing to forgive
The brothers – being willing to openly and honestly confess and repent for wrongdoing against God and others.
God tests our hearts because He wants us to know what is in them. He already knows and He is so gracious to forgive as soon as we are willing to confess.
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