Saturday, March 30, 2013

He is risen

He isn't here!  He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen.  Come see where His body was lying. (Matt. 28:6 NLT)

He is risen!  He is alive!  He endured the pain & suffering & death & now He is alive, well, & active.the thing I really want you to remember is He did it for you.  He loved you so much that if you were the only person who needed salvation, He would have done it just for you.  He took your sin to the cross & it was crucified with Him & He rose again so that sin & death could no longer have the victory over us.  Today I want to encourage you that if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, make sure He is also Lord of your life.  If you haven't accepted Him as your Savior, you are missing out on what God has for you.  I want to encourage you to please accept His gift, it's free & the rewards are great.  Christ loves you & He died for you & me.  He died to have a personal relationship with you.  There's no better time than today to make that happen!  Happy Easter!

Friday, March 29, 2013

You are free

So if the Son sets you free, you are totally free (John 8:36 NLT)

So why did Christ die on the cross for our sins in the first place?  The answer is in today's verse.  He came to set us totally free.  He came to set us free from sin.  By setting us free from sin, He gave us eternal life & He set us free from sins power over us.  Once you're His child, it can't control you anymore.  By totally free, that means free from every bondage.  We can let fear, worry, doubt, addiction, etc. keep us in chains, but Jesus died to give us the key.  We don't need to walk around defeated, afraid, & beaten down anymore.  He died to set us free & give us the victory.  He took our punishment for us.  Gods word says "by His stripes we are healed.". Don't let those chains hold you back.  They're powerless!  So you might want to know how to get this freedom. It's a relationship with Christ.  Ask for forgiveness of your sins.  Ask Him to be your Lord & Savior.  He loves you & He doesn't want you to be stuck in those chains anymore.  He has so much more planned for you.  He's already paid the price, just accept His gift.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

It is finished

When Jesus had tasted it, He said, " It is finished!" Then He bowed His head & released His Spirit. (John 19:30 NLT)

It was done.  Christ had accomplished what He had come to do.  He had taught, performed miracles, been denied & betrayed, arrested, beat, mocked, forgave the thief & the crowds, & went to the cross & died for our sins.  Satan & the people thought they had won.  What they didn't realize was resurrection & the Holy Spirit were coming.  Christ would rise again & victory was Gods!  It was the saddest greatest day ever.  The purest form of love.  He gave His life for us.  Maybe today you feel like that darkness that accompanied Christs death is surrounding you.  But know this, resurrection is coming!  That darkness is overcome by Christs light.  If you're His child you have the assurance of  resurrection.  If you're not, ou need it.  So don't let that darkness overtake you.  God has resurrection power for you.  Fear, debt, sickness, addiction, Satan, or nothing else can defeat you if you belong to Christ.  It might seem dark now but the end of the story is very bright!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Get back up

Suddenly, Jesus'words flashed through Peters mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me." And he went away, weeping bitterly. (Matt. 26:75 NLT)

Has that ever happened to you?  Maybe you didn't deny Christ but maybe you did something that you knew hurt Him & deeply saddened you.  I can't imagine as the rooster crowed the third time & Peter looked across & locked eyes with Jesus.  Your best friend who you just denied that you knew not once, not twice, but three times.  How devastating would that be?  If Peter saw hurt in Christs eyes, it was hurt for Peter.  Christ already knew what was going to happen.  He already knew & knows when we're going to fail.  But He also knows how He's going to restore us.  If we seek forgiveness & allow God to restore us God will use us like He did with Peter.  If you've fallen, get back up.  God has a work for you to do.  Don't stay broken, God will restore you stronger than before & will use you to spread His word.  Get out & invite someone to church, tell them about Christ, His love, His mercy.  The world needs it today!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Not my will but Yours

He went on a little farther & bowed with His face to the ground, praying, "My Father!  If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me.  Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine. (Matt. 26:39 NLT)

Jesus knew when He came to earth what His purpose was.  He knew the suffering was going to happen.  The human part of Him didn't want to have to go through that but He wanted Gods will even more.  That's the hard part.  But when we become Christians, that's what we've committed to.  We have committed that He is Lord of our life & we put His will ahead of ours.  We have committed to follow Him no matter what.  The good news is for His children, God promises to work all things together for their good.  Today we need some serious committed Christians who will put Gods will first.  Gods looking for Christians who will do that & who will allow Him to work through them to accomplish great things.  Will you commit to put His will first?  Will you be the Christian to stand up & make a difference?  I would love to see what God will do if we say yes!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Serve

But among you it will be different.  Those who are the greates among you should take the lowest rank, & the leader should be like a servant (Lk.22:26 NLT)

In today's day & age, its about do all you can do to get to the top.  Get the position of I'm
Prance & authority.  Once you get there, let everyone serve you & make sure others know how important you are.  Jesus gave us the correct role of leadership, serve.  What a difference it would make today if people in leadership positions would remember & model this.  I think as Christians, if we're to lead people to Christ, we need to follow Christs example of serving. Show people we love them & were concerned for them.  People are watching us to see if we walk the walk.  What better way to show them Christ.  Get out, get in the action.  Find someone each day you can help & maybe you'll get a chance to tell them about Christ as well as show Him to them.  If we're going to make a difference, we need to be out serving.  It could be your family, church, community, state, or country.  Those who serve, do so out of love.  Since love was the greatest commandment, we need to show love by serving others.  If you'll serve God by serving others, great things will happen!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

What was He thinking

The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as He entered "Who is this" they asked (Matt. 21:10 NLT)

We are now I full swing of Easter season.  Finishing up Palm Sunday.  Today I thought about Jesus riding into Jerusalem & what He was thinking.  It was loud.  People were excited,maybe like they do for a sports team or celebrity.  As that's going on, He knows how quickly things change.  He knows the sacrifice He's getting ready to make.  What was He thinking about?  Was He sad about what they were going to do?  Was He nervous about the pain He was going to go through? Was He sad about a follower who would betray Him?  Was He hurt about a friend who would deny Him?  Was He concerned about what would happen to His followers? Maybe. But I think He was thinking about love.  I think He was thinking about you & me.  I think He was thinking about eternal life with us.  You see, that's how much He loves us.  We outweighed everything else.  We were more important than all the pain, suffering, & struggles.  Is He that important to us?

Friday, March 22, 2013

Uncover your light

No one lights a lamp & then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where it's light can be seen by all who enter the house. (Lk. 8:16 NLT)

Did you accept Jesus as your Lord & Savior & then put the bowl over the light?  Have you bottled up that love, hope,& joy that entered your life at that moment?  This blog is meant to encourage but today I am asking you to do something.  Today I'm asking you to take that bowl off your Light. Don't hide it.  I want you to find someone to share Christ & His love with.  I want you to encourage someone. I want you to pray for someone. I want you to help me spread Gods word. I want my Light to shine & yours to shine to.  That's how we are going to make a difference.  If we can join together & work together the Light can shine like never before.  We can spread it all over. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, please share my blog with someone.  I would love for you to.  I need your help. I really believe we have to be the difference. We can't do it but God can.  Let the Light shine!  If you want things to be different, WE have to shine the light!  So today I'm asking you to be the difference. It will take all of us.  If we will share Christ & shine His light, if we will all get involved & share to one person, revival can & will happen.  We have to pass it from one person to the next & on & on. Are you through hiding your light?  I am!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Double blessings

Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope!  I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles (Zechariah. 9:12 NLT)

I love to see buy one get one free.  This verse is better than that.  It's two blessings for every trouble.  How great is that?  He says come back to safety which is God & He's talking to everyone who has held on to hope.  You will go through troubles & you will feel down but even when it seems the darkest, hold on to your Hope.  Your hope is in Christ Jesus.  You will never go wrong , even when you're not sure how it is going to happen, by placing your hope in Him.  He promises if you will do that & stay in Him, your troubles will pale in comparison to His blessings.  He is your safety & your hope.  Too many people leave too early.  When things get tough, they think that God isn't Who he says He is or that He has left them & they miss out on the double blessings.  Don't make that mistake!  He will reward you!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Springtime

Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for He makes the storm clouds. And He will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture.  ( Zechariah 10:1 NLT)

Today is the first day of spring so I thought this verse was very appropriate. Rain & clouds often get a ad rap.  We like sunshine but we need the rain sometimes.  We even need storms from time to time.  Today I want you to think of showers of blessings today.  It's Easter season,it's springtime, & both represent hope & renewal.  If you've been through wintertime & you're ready for springtime & lush pastures, sart praying, sart asking, & start believing.  Go from dead, dormant, & hopeless to alive, thriving, & hopeful.  Allow the spring rains to refresh you & make you that lush pasture.  Springtime is for revival.  Be revived personally, as a family, & pray for revival for the country & the world.  Lush pastures produce great harvests. We CAN be revived again. We can stop the struggling & be renewed just like fields in springtime.  Seek God, pray for rain, & let God send revival!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

They will not conquer you

They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze.  They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect & rescue you!  I, the Lord have spoken!  (Jer.  15:20 NLT)

Today I have kind of felt like I was being attacked by that attacking army.  God says they will not conquer me.  That "army" is nothing compared to my Protector & Rescueor.  Maybe you feel like that sometimes or are going through that now.  Trust God to protect you & rescue you.  Know that if circumstances are coming against you it's Satan trying to keep you from the victory God has in store for you.  Be strong!  We have work to do & don't let Satans distractions stop you from that.  We talked last night that God will restore you if you return to Him.  Tonight He says He will make you secure, He will protect you, & rescue you.  And the neat thing is, he caps it all off saying," I, the Lord have spoken!". Not a lot needing to be said after that.  It's settled!  So if that army of circumstances comes against you, know you are the victor through Christ!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Be the influence

This is how the Lord responds:  "If you return to Me , I will restore you so you can continue to serve me.  If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman.  You must influence them; don't let them influence you!  (Jer. 15:19 NLT)

Jeremiah here has been complaining to God.  He has been telling God that he has suffered for Him, tried to do what was right, that he didn't understand where God was & why He wasn't helping.  Does anybody feel like that sometimes.  Sometimes we don't understand things, sometimes we do get frustrated.  Those times when we feel that way are the times when we need to lay ourselves at Christs feet & allow Him to restore us.  Allow Him to strengthen us so we can be used for His glory.  We also need to realize the power of our words.  We need to choose "good words rather than worthless ones." Worthless ones would be complaining, gossiping, tearing down (both ourselves & others), etc..  Good ones would be encouraging, building others up, etc..  Too often we allow the world to discourage us & force us to lose focus.  Here God is telling us to be the change in the world.  Letting them know that regardless of the circumstances, God loves us & takes care of us.  As Christians, we need to stand up & be the difference!  We have the hope the world needs & we need to be sharing it!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Perfect peace

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!  (Is. 26:3 NLT)

The more people I talk to, the more I realize how hard peace is to find.  I have to admit sometimes I have a hard time finding it.  It seems like even when you find it, there are a lot of people & bad news just waiting to take it.  This verse gives us the key to holding onto it when someone or something tries to take it.  We have to keep our thoughts fixed on God.  He is our Protector, Healer, & Provider. He is God!  He is loving.  He wants to hold us in His arms.  The more I think about it the more I am convinced of how much we don't even remotely understand His love & power.  The more we understand those two things, the smaller those things that steal our peace become.  They aren't even close in comparison.  Again, it's why we must take our focus off of our circumstances & fix them on God.  There is nothing that comes against us that God doesn't know about & isn't in control of.  Rest in His arms.  Fix your eyes on His face.  Trust His heart.  He loves you & He holds you in His arms!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Enthusiasm

Never be lazy, but work hard & serve the Lord enthusiastically (Rom. 12:11 NLT)

Lazy & enthusiastically are the two words that stick out to me in this verse.  I think sometimes we can be lazy about serving Christ.  For most Christians by lazy I would say that I think sometimes we tend to hope someone else will talk to that person, serve in that position, visit someone, etc. .  I think there are some Christians who put forth the "bare minimum" effort but I think that most laziness comes from what I said previously.  The word enthusiastically means us looking for opportunities to serve.  Not sitting on the sidelines but saying "here I am, use me." look for someone to help or visit.  Seek out someone who needs to know about Christ.  If you know a kid wo needs a good adult Christian influence, maybe you're the person.  God will show you YOUR work He has for you to do. And when you find that work, remember the word enthusiastically.  Don't act like its a chore or painful for you, be excited.  Be excited that God decided to use you for His work.  If you do what He asks, you could get up to heaven one day & the person you spoke to or helped finds you & tells you what an impact you had on them.  How exciting will that be!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Be the real deal

Don't just pretend to love others.  Really love them.  Hate what is wrong.  Hold tightly to what is good.  (Rom. 12:9 NLT)

Probably the first thing you hear non-Christians say about Christians is that we're hypocrites.  This verse is asking us to be sincere, authentic, the real deal.  It's asking us to walk the walk.  If we really love others, it requires action.  It calls for us to be serving others, helping others, & lifting up others.  It requires us to be concerned for them.  And sometimes it asks us to have spiritual conversations that might make us uncomfortable & also to inconvenience ourselves. If we really want to help & change things this is where we need to start.  The second part of the verse tells us to know the difference between wrong & good.  It tells us to hate what is wrong.  I think this means to not just accept it but to stand against it.  Today there are several things that would fall into that category & they might trouble us but do they trouble us enough to stand against them. Even though we don't always hear about it as much, there is also a lot of good in the world.  Hold tightly to them.  Hold tightly to Gods word.  If we truly practice love, stand against wrong, & hold tight to good, great things can happen!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Bring us back

Restore us, O Lord, & bring us back to you again!  Give us back the joys we once had. (Lam.5:21 NLT)

Have you ever just sat down& prayed for God to draw you close to Him?  That what was happening here.  They realized that they had drifted away from God & they needed to get back.  They're wanting to restore their relationship with Christ so that they & their country could be restored.  The sooner we can realize that distance between us & God the easier it is for us to get back on track. If there is a distance between us & God, it's because we moved not Him.  He is just waiting on us to come back. They also realized that being with God is where their joy comes from.  Apart from Him we lack joy.  Here they are asking for joy which comes from God & is lasting not happiness that can come & go. I believe if we would seek a close relationship with Christ, joy would be inevitable & restoration would come.  I think it's time we get our priorities in order& that a relationship with Christ should be at the top.  If we do that one thing I believe the other situations & circumstances we're dealing with would dramatically improve.  So be the first to turn back & let restoration for you & the country start with you!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Still the same

But Lord, You remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation (Lam. 5:19 NLT)

Here the people were really struggling, much like many people are today.  Here's the encouragement. God is still the same God & He is still on the throne.  His power hasnot diminished.  His love isnot less. He has not run out dof forgiveness.  His arm did not get shorter.  He can still reach us.  His Spirit is not tired,He can still move like never before, even today.  We need to realize His power as much as we are capable to. The same God that did miracles in the Bible, can still, & still wants to do miracles today.  He can stil heal!  He can still save! He can still restore!  He can still revive! I believe we have yet to see Gods greatest miracles.  I believe we haven't yet seen Gods Spirit move like He is going to. Have you got a Red Sea you need parted?  Do you need supernatural provision today? Do you need Gods supernatural healing?  Do you, your church, or your country, need Gods Spirit to move like at the day of Pentecost?  The same God that did those things & many more can still do those things today.  He can still move your mountain!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Know my heart

Search me, O God & know my heart; test me & know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me, & lead me in the way everlasting (Ps. 139: 23 & 24 NIV)

This is a big part of getting serious about your relationship with Christ.  When you get to the point where you ask God to search you & know your heart.  When you get there, don't just ask it once, ask it daily.  You want all the negative stuff out.  It's holding you back & keeping you from everything God has for you. The more we seek a closer relationship with Christ, the more we need to ask God to remove anything between us & Him.  It could be a temptation, addiction, doubt, fear, anything contrary to Gods character.  If you ask,God will reveal them to you.  He might convict you, it might be through His word, a message, a word from a Christian friend, etc..  The key is you have to be open to HIS leading & be willing to remove yourself from defending your flaws. You have to want to be more like Christ than you want to defend what flaws God reveals to you.  So I encourage you to pray this today & begin your transformation.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Revival

Then we shall not turn back from you; Revive us & we will call upon Your name.  O Lord God of hosts, restore us;  Cause your face to shine upon us, & we will be saved (Ps. 80: 18&19 NASB)

I believe we need revival personally, in our churches, & as a country.  I think in order to have revival, we're going to have to spend time in prayer, turning our hearts to God, & asking for forgiveness where we have failed Him.  We need to ask for Gods face to shine upon us.  We talk about revival but do we stop there.  We have to seek it.  We have to be working.  Revival has to start with us.  It must be in our own lives, our families, & our churches first.  We have to get serious about it.  Do we really want it & do we really believe it can happen?  I do!  I believe He wants to!  So let's get on our knees & be serious about revival & restoration!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Get your faith moving

Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. (James 2:26 NLT)

I've been reading about putting faith into action.  Sometimes you hear something so long you don't really get it & then all of a sudden, it hits you.  It's not enough to talk about faith.  You have to walk the faith.  We should be sincere in our  faith in Christ & live the Christian life we profess.  It's not good enough to say one thing & live differently.  Also fear & doubts will from time to time creep in & that's when it's most critical to walk our faith.  Fear tries to immobilize you.  It wants to stop you.  When it pushes hardest, that's when we have to know Who our faith is in & that He's the reason we can have faith.  Once we remember that, we can get moving again.  Don't let your faith just be talk.  Don't let your faith be dead.  Put it into action, get it moving, stir it up on the inside of you & release it!  Great things will happen!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Don't be religious

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: "Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way" (Acts 17:22 NLT)

Here Paul is talking to some people who were very sincere but they weren't actually sure what they needed to do so they were covering all of their bases.  Sometimes I think people today are like that.  They think there must be something missing because just simply accepting Gods free gift to us cannot possibly be all we need to do.  So they try to work their way to heaven.  They try to be a good enough person.  They try to attend church enough, say the right things, etc. .  All of those things can be good but we have to ( & all we have to do is ) accept Gods free gift.  It's because of  His grace.  All of the rest of the stuff flows because of our love for Him.  We WANT to do those things because we love Him that much.  So love Him above all else & love others.  Don't worry about "religion" , go for the relationship!

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

His blessings are chasing you down

Surely Your goodness & unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, & I will live in the house of the Lord forever (Ps. 23:6 NLT)

I believe this is how God wants us to live.  We should be believing that Gods "goodness & unfailing love" are chasing us down EVERY day.  He doesn't say once in a while, He says "all the days of my life." we need to wake up each morning looking for that goodness & love.  I don't know about you but if Gods goodness & love are pursuing me, I am going to do my best to make sure they catch me.  Expect good things!  Expect Gods favor!  When you are looking for the good in your day & in other people, it has a way of showing up.  Expect people to be good to you.  When you do, people will seem nicer & you will not be as easily offended.  Also, when you're looking for Gods blessings, you have less time to complain, grumble, & be upset.  So today, Gods blessings are chasing you down & you wont be able to get away from them!  Enjoy Gods goodness & His unfailing love.  He has them ready for you!

Monday, March 4, 2013

My testimony

Preach the word; be ready in season & out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience & instruction (2 Tim. 4:2 NASB)

I believe this applies to all of us & not just "preachers." I've said before we all have a testimony & it's often our most effective "sermons.". It's what God is doing in our lives & I believe it is so effective because a lot of times others are going through similar things. So today you get my testimony.  No ral dramatic events but more of a story of how God has revealed Himself to me.  I was born into a Christian family & growing up most everybody I knew was a Christian. My grandpa was a pastor & I grew up in church my whole life.  I became a Christian at a young age & tried to live my life as I thought God wanted me too. I went on to college, there I met a Philosophy instructor who often misquoted the Bible which was really my first "challenge" to Christianity.  It was good for me because it made me research what I believed.  He didn't change my beliefs probably only made them stronger.  I went on to become a deacon at my church & again was doing what I thought God wanted me to do.  Looking back, I believe I was but I had no idea God had so much more planned.  Life was going along pretty smoothly when all of a sudden turbulence hit.  I believe it was some bad decisions on my part, bad circumstances, but I believe God intended to push me out of my comfort zone.  I think God has to get us out of there to get us where He needs us.  Suddenly I was having some (at least for me) serious financial troubles & some stress related health issues.  Both of which were new & unexpected for me.  God has helped bring me out of those but I have since continued to struggle with waiting on the next bad thing to come along. That is not how God wants me to live my life.  Then, ministry has been much more difficult than I thought. I thought that as long as I was doing what God wanted me to, God would keep the struggles to a minimum.  I forgot He needed to grow me. I went to a church to pastor for a while & saw how people don't always believe God is in charge of the church.  I also met many good people but it was time for me to go. Little did I know that God would open the door for this blog & myfacebook devotions.  I also realize that those things are just the beginning.  We can do ALL things through Him & nothing without Him!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

What kind of tree are you

A tree is identified by its fruit, if a tree is good, it's fruit will be good.  If a tree is bad , it's fruit will be bad (Matt. 12:33 NLT)

If someone had to identify Who you belonged to by your actions, Who would they say you belong to.  What kind of tree are you?  When everyone around you is complaining, backbiting, arguing, & tearing down, do you join in or do you show the fruit of God?  When others have lost their cool, do you demonstrate the jou & peace that can only come from God?  We have to demonstrate the qualities of our Lord & Savior if we come from Him.  If we demonstrate those qualities, others will notice & it will give us more opportunities to share Christ.  It's often how people identify Christ as well because we're the "fruit" they see.  We're the best sermon & reflection of Who we come from that people will see.  If we show Who we represent, & the qualities of Him, it will show others why they need Him in their lives.  Remember today Who you represent.  Remember others are watching to see Who you are representing. Be fresh, ripe fruit not rotten, bad tasting fruit today.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Get your faith up

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (Heb. 11:1 NLT)

Today I want to encourage you to get your hopes (faith) up.  I think a lot of times it's easy to see how God can do something great in someone else's life but why would He do it in yours.  He would because he loves you.  If you watch the news, normally they're not doing a lot to raise your hopes.  They've got every bad report, all the bad things that are coming in the future, etc. .  There are a lot of  "impossible" situations in life.  Things that there is no way it can be fixed, except through God.  Those things are His specialty.  He's not worried about your financial report, the nations economy, your doctors report, or the unemployment rate.  He is more than enough to fix those things.  He is your Healer, Provider, & the God of restoration.  Sometimes we cannot SEE reasons for having faith but faith is "assurance about things we cannot see.". So when you can't SEE how things are going to work out, have the assurance that God already knows how it's going to happen.  He's looking for people to quit concentrating on the gloom & doom & on the reports & circumstances.  He wants people to get their faith up, put their faith into action, & watch what He will do!