Therefore, my dear brothers,stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of The Lord, because you know that your labor in The Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15:58 NIV)
This new year there are a lot of verses we could choose to live by. Many verses about love, forgiveness, & seeking God first would definitely he good choices. We will get to those this new year. But today, God led me to this one. I believe if we will do these things,(stand firm, don't be moved, & work fully for The Lord), the rest will fall into place. I believe if we will do those things, the world will be changed for the better in 2014. To do those things, we must know what we believe. We have to get into Gods word & know it. We have to spend time daily with God in prayer, talking & listening. If we will do those two things we won't be moved because our anchor will be strong & in the right spot. And here's where we fall sometimes because we can't work half-heartedly & we can't do the work for ourselves. You do His work with everything you've got because He is God & He has made available the gift of eternal life. What more reason do you need? Also, that work is only successful when Christ is the center of it. Do it with the wrong motives & it is doomed to fail. Lastly, know that the work you are doing for God is never in vain. If you're doing the work He has called you to do, it's bringing results even if you can't always see them. So don't get tired. Don't give up. Keep working & leave the results up to God. Have a blessed New Year.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
Be Like Stephen
Now Stephen, a man full of Gods grace & power, did great wonders & miraculous signs among the people. (Acts 6:8 NIV)
Stephen couldn't have done a thing on his own. He didn't have any superpowers, any magical abilities, or even the highest education. However, what he did have was Gods grace & power living inside him. He could do "great wonders & miraculous signs" because of Who lived in him. Now having said that, he didn't have anything that is not available to all of us. As a child of God, you have Him living inside of you, that means His power lives inside of you. Our problem is that too often we either try to go it on our own, or we forget the power that God has made available to us. As we head into the new year, we need people who are full of a Gods grace & power. We need people who will use that power. We need people who will seek God & ask for His power to move through them. We can't do anything on our own, but we can do great & miraculous things if we allow Him to work through us. Stephen had access to Gods power because he sought God first. God was the most important thing in Stephens life. It's time that we put Christ first in our lives as well. If we will, I believe we will see Him move in new & great ways. Do you believe God can use you to do great things like that?
Stephen couldn't have done a thing on his own. He didn't have any superpowers, any magical abilities, or even the highest education. However, what he did have was Gods grace & power living inside him. He could do "great wonders & miraculous signs" because of Who lived in him. Now having said that, he didn't have anything that is not available to all of us. As a child of God, you have Him living inside of you, that means His power lives inside of you. Our problem is that too often we either try to go it on our own, or we forget the power that God has made available to us. As we head into the new year, we need people who are full of a Gods grace & power. We need people who will use that power. We need people who will seek God & ask for His power to move through them. We can't do anything on our own, but we can do great & miraculous things if we allow Him to work through us. Stephen had access to Gods power because he sought God first. God was the most important thing in Stephens life. It's time that we put Christ first in our lives as well. If we will, I believe we will see Him move in new & great ways. Do you believe God can use you to do great things like that?
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Produce
When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father. ( John 15:10 NLT)
How great would that be, to know you have brought great glory to God? Isn't that why we're here anyway. This verse says we can all have that honor. All we have to do is bear fruit. I want to encourage you as we move into 2014 to do just that. If you want things to be different in your home, neighborhood, church, or country, it starts with you. What are YOU going to do to bear fruit? What are YOU going to do to reach people? How are YOU going to show love to someone else? How are YOU going to spread Gods word? There is something for each one of us to do. We must take personal responsibility for what God has asked us to do. The time for waiting for someone else to do it is over. I truly believe that with God in the middle, if we will be available, we can make a difference. It will require each of us to ask God what He needs us to do & work together to spread Christs message. It's up to us to show Gods love. We've waited long enough. It's time to start planting in 2014 & it's time for all of us to start producing some fruit. You don't want to miss out on this.
How great would that be, to know you have brought great glory to God? Isn't that why we're here anyway. This verse says we can all have that honor. All we have to do is bear fruit. I want to encourage you as we move into 2014 to do just that. If you want things to be different in your home, neighborhood, church, or country, it starts with you. What are YOU going to do to bear fruit? What are YOU going to do to reach people? How are YOU going to show love to someone else? How are YOU going to spread Gods word? There is something for each one of us to do. We must take personal responsibility for what God has asked us to do. The time for waiting for someone else to do it is over. I truly believe that with God in the middle, if we will be available, we can make a difference. It will require each of us to ask God what He needs us to do & work together to spread Christs message. It's up to us to show Gods love. We've waited long enough. It's time to start planting in 2014 & it's time for all of us to start producing some fruit. You don't want to miss out on this.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Tell
After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened & what the angel had said to them about the child. (Lk. 2:17 NLT)
They couldn't contain themselves. The angels told the shepherds & the shepherds found Him & they wanted everybody to know. They had seen hope, peace, & love & they knew the world needed that. Today the world is in need of those very things & now it's up to us to do the job of the shepherds. We need to be telling the message that Christ brought with Him all of those years ago. That message is still as powerful today as it was then. Instead of the babe in the manger, we can now have the Savior in our hearts. He came to save us, so that we might have life more abundantly, &because Heloved us that much. His message & love changes lives. He offers hope & peace. It's up to us to share it. It's up to us to take Christs message to the world, outside of the church walls to the people who don't know Him. Who can you tell, who can you contact? You know someone who needs to hear the message. What a great time of the year to tell them.
They couldn't contain themselves. The angels told the shepherds & the shepherds found Him & they wanted everybody to know. They had seen hope, peace, & love & they knew the world needed that. Today the world is in need of those very things & now it's up to us to do the job of the shepherds. We need to be telling the message that Christ brought with Him all of those years ago. That message is still as powerful today as it was then. Instead of the babe in the manger, we can now have the Savior in our hearts. He came to save us, so that we might have life more abundantly, &because Heloved us that much. His message & love changes lives. He offers hope & peace. It's up to us to share it. It's up to us to take Christs message to the world, outside of the church walls to the people who don't know Him. Who can you tell, who can you contact? You know someone who needs to hear the message. What a great time of the year to tell them.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Hang On Every Word
She had a sister, Mary who sat before the Master, hanging on every word He said. (Lk. 10 :39 Message)
Hanging on every word. Do we do that today? Is that how our prayer life is or are we the ones doings most of the talking? Do we listen for His voice during our day & as we read His word? As His children we have access to the Almighty, all knowing, Creator of the universe & we need to be taking advantage of it. We can learn far more listening to His voice, hanging on His every word rather than rushing through our prayer to get to our other activities. He wants to talk to us. He wants to lead us & guide us. If we're not hearing from Him it could very well be that we aren't listening for His voice. Today were faced with too many distractions, voices, & just trying to get by to listen to our Saviors voice. It's time to slow down, spend more time listening & following our Saviors voice. If we have things interfering with that then it's probably to to check our priorities. It could very well be that spending more time listening to Christ would rid us of some of that hecticness in our lives. He wants to speak to us. Are we ready to hang on every word?
Hanging on every word. Do we do that today? Is that how our prayer life is or are we the ones doings most of the talking? Do we listen for His voice during our day & as we read His word? As His children we have access to the Almighty, all knowing, Creator of the universe & we need to be taking advantage of it. We can learn far more listening to His voice, hanging on His every word rather than rushing through our prayer to get to our other activities. He wants to talk to us. He wants to lead us & guide us. If we're not hearing from Him it could very well be that we aren't listening for His voice. Today were faced with too many distractions, voices, & just trying to get by to listen to our Saviors voice. It's time to slow down, spend more time listening & following our Saviors voice. If we have things interfering with that then it's probably to to check our priorities. It could very well be that spending more time listening to Christ would rid us of some of that hecticness in our lives. He wants to speak to us. Are we ready to hang on every word?
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Are you a hearer or a doer
But don't just listen to Gods word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (James 1:22NLT)
It's Christmas time & you've just been given this great gift. You are excited, you hurriedly open it, pull it out, & find the instruction book. You open it up & spend hours studying it as your gift sits close by. This gift will have great benefit for you as well as others. Finally someone comes by & asks you if you are going to use it & you reply"Oh, I can't yet I need to study the instruction book more". That gift will never do you any good if all you do is study the instruction book but never apply it. It will also never do you any good if you read the instruction book but never use the gift. Gods word is our instruction book & we must learn it & then apply it to our lives. We have to let it sink down in our hearts & let it guide us. Then we have to get out & use it. Use Gods word to fight Satan. Use it to conquer our obstacles. Use it to reach others, comfort others, & encourage others. God gave us His word for us to be active with it. Gods word is alive & active & it wants to move. It has the power to do things that we can't imagine. So let Gods word transform you from a hearer to a doer.
It's Christmas time & you've just been given this great gift. You are excited, you hurriedly open it, pull it out, & find the instruction book. You open it up & spend hours studying it as your gift sits close by. This gift will have great benefit for you as well as others. Finally someone comes by & asks you if you are going to use it & you reply"Oh, I can't yet I need to study the instruction book more". That gift will never do you any good if all you do is study the instruction book but never apply it. It will also never do you any good if you read the instruction book but never use the gift. Gods word is our instruction book & we must learn it & then apply it to our lives. We have to let it sink down in our hearts & let it guide us. Then we have to get out & use it. Use Gods word to fight Satan. Use it to conquer our obstacles. Use it to reach others, comfort others, & encourage others. God gave us His word for us to be active with it. Gods word is alive & active & it wants to move. It has the power to do things that we can't imagine. So let Gods word transform you from a hearer to a doer.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Be Real
"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me (Mt 15: 8NIV)
What we really need right now in the world are some real deal Christians. Sitting in our church pews putting in our time at church for the week is not what we were called to do. Speaking the right Christian terms is not the difference the world needs. Dressing the right way, attending the biggest church, going to the next bible study, are not what God is looking for. Having a pastor with the most education is not the criteria God set up for His servant or His church. God is looking for the person & the church who has a heart for Him, who will follow Him, & put His will first. He's looking for a person & church who will be His hands & feet & are willing to do His work. You see showing Christs love, getting out & reaching those in need, & seeking Him above all else, & being available are all He requires of you to be used. So be the real deal. Break out of you rut & ask Him how He wants to use you & watch Him do great things through you.
What we really need right now in the world are some real deal Christians. Sitting in our church pews putting in our time at church for the week is not what we were called to do. Speaking the right Christian terms is not the difference the world needs. Dressing the right way, attending the biggest church, going to the next bible study, are not what God is looking for. Having a pastor with the most education is not the criteria God set up for His servant or His church. God is looking for the person & the church who has a heart for Him, who will follow Him, & put His will first. He's looking for a person & church who will be His hands & feet & are willing to do His work. You see showing Christs love, getting out & reaching those in need, & seeking Him above all else, & being available are all He requires of you to be used. So be the real deal. Break out of you rut & ask Him how He wants to use you & watch Him do great things through you.
Monday, December 16, 2013
It's coming
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Rom. 12:12NIV)
Sometimes when you've been praying for something for a long time & you just donet see the answer, you get discouraged & it becomes tempting to lay down & give up. You're just looking for that light at the end of the tunnel. This verse is an encouraging verse for just such an occasion. Maintain that hope even when there doesn't seem to be a reason to have any. Your joy comes from knowing that God is moving on your behalf. Know He is working even if you can't see it. Patience can be one of the hardest things when you feel like you've been holding on for so long & you just haven't seen that breakthrough. Keep believing it's coming. And know God wants to hear from you. Don't just pray once & don't give up one time to early. God is never late. You don't know what He's lining up &'preparing for you. Ephesians 3:20 says He can do "exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or think". That's the God that we serve so know He can handle your need. Be hopeful, patient, & faithful. We serve a mighty God & He has good plans for you.
Sometimes when you've been praying for something for a long time & you just donet see the answer, you get discouraged & it becomes tempting to lay down & give up. You're just looking for that light at the end of the tunnel. This verse is an encouraging verse for just such an occasion. Maintain that hope even when there doesn't seem to be a reason to have any. Your joy comes from knowing that God is moving on your behalf. Know He is working even if you can't see it. Patience can be one of the hardest things when you feel like you've been holding on for so long & you just haven't seen that breakthrough. Keep believing it's coming. And know God wants to hear from you. Don't just pray once & don't give up one time to early. God is never late. You don't know what He's lining up &'preparing for you. Ephesians 3:20 says He can do "exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or think". That's the God that we serve so know He can handle your need. Be hopeful, patient, & faithful. We serve a mighty God & He has good plans for you.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
The Greates Commandment
Love The Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind & with all your strength (Mk. 12:30 NIV)
So your with Christ & He has been revealing so much & the obvious question arises. What's the most important? This verse gave His answer. Out of all His teachings, if you take this one command, everything else falls right into place. I have read & heard this verse countless times. Sometimes when you see & hear something so often, it ceases to get our attention anymore. Today I want you to take a fresh look at this verse. Take a second reread this verse, ask God to reveal it to you, & think about what this verse is really commanding us to do. What does this verse require of you? We need to make this verse personal to each of us. Christ needs to he so important in our lives that He is our top priority & first thought in everything we do. How would our day be different if we did that? What changes would we make in our life if we followed this verse? Would our activities & priorities be different? Love God with everything you've got. If you will do that, your other relationships will be their best & everything else will be more fulfilling because Christ will be first in it. Your love for Him will pour out from you creating a blessing in everything else. Love Him first, keep Him at the center, & make Him your one & only.
So your with Christ & He has been revealing so much & the obvious question arises. What's the most important? This verse gave His answer. Out of all His teachings, if you take this one command, everything else falls right into place. I have read & heard this verse countless times. Sometimes when you see & hear something so often, it ceases to get our attention anymore. Today I want you to take a fresh look at this verse. Take a second reread this verse, ask God to reveal it to you, & think about what this verse is really commanding us to do. What does this verse require of you? We need to make this verse personal to each of us. Christ needs to he so important in our lives that He is our top priority & first thought in everything we do. How would our day be different if we did that? What changes would we make in our life if we followed this verse? Would our activities & priorities be different? Love God with everything you've got. If you will do that, your other relationships will be their best & everything else will be more fulfilling because Christ will be first in it. Your love for Him will pour out from you creating a blessing in everything else. Love Him first, keep Him at the center, & make Him your one & only.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Are You Ready
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. (Is. 43:19 Message)
I believe God is ready to do something new. I believe that God is ready to pour out new blessings, new opportunities, & new growth. This has been a year of facing some of my fears some of which were much bigger than I wanted to face. However, I have felt that as I faced these giants, that doing so was to prepare me for new things. I believe that this coming year is the year of breakthroughs. I would like to encourage you that God wants to do the same for you. If you feel like you're in the desert or the badlands right now, know that God is even right now providing roads & rivers just when & where you need them. There is no place that His mercies cannot reach you. Get the vision that God has for your life. Be alert for the new thing God is going to do in & through you. God has something so big that it's bursting out. It's new & not been done before. God has great plans for you. If you can't see it now, keep looking for it, keep being faithful & expectant. I'm looking forward to the breakthroughs that are coming.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Be Accurate
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15 NASB)
How important this is. God has entrusted us with something so important, His holy word. As this verse says, it is the word of truth. It does not change. It does not need us to add to it or subtract from it. It doesn't change to fit polls or public opinion. All god has asked us to do is handle it accurately. Present it just how He gave it to us. It will light our path, comfort us, be strength to us, heal us, encourage us, & teach us. We have to stick to it. We need to hide it in our heart. We are told to meditate on it. And we are told to handle it accurately. It does not ever become outdated or irrelevant. It still today has the power to change lives. If we are careful to handle it accurately, it will do things greater than we can imagine, because it is Gods Holy Word. Learn it, study it, know it, & meditate on it s that we know it deep in our hearts. It is only then that we can tell the difference between its truth & something that was changed by someone who does not handle it accurately. God has made its power available to us if we will just handle it accurately.
How important this is. God has entrusted us with something so important, His holy word. As this verse says, it is the word of truth. It does not change. It does not need us to add to it or subtract from it. It doesn't change to fit polls or public opinion. All god has asked us to do is handle it accurately. Present it just how He gave it to us. It will light our path, comfort us, be strength to us, heal us, encourage us, & teach us. We have to stick to it. We need to hide it in our heart. We are told to meditate on it. And we are told to handle it accurately. It does not ever become outdated or irrelevant. It still today has the power to change lives. If we are careful to handle it accurately, it will do things greater than we can imagine, because it is Gods Holy Word. Learn it, study it, know it, & meditate on it s that we know it deep in our hearts. It is only then that we can tell the difference between its truth & something that was changed by someone who does not handle it accurately. God has made its power available to us if we will just handle it accurately.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Why Are You Here
But when David's oldest brother , Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. "What are you doing around here anyway? He demanded. "What about those few sheep you're supposed to be taking care of ? I know about your pride & deceit. You just want to see the battle!" (1 Sam. 17:28 NLT)
Ever have anyone like that in your life? The storm cloud to your sunny day? Someone who you are trying to help only to have them try to discourage you, belittle you, & act somehow superior to you? David had several of those people in his life as I'm sure we all do. I do think that we can learn a lesson from David in how to handle those people when they pop up. David kept his focus on The Lord of Heavens Armies, & went out & did what God asked him to do. He went out & did the very thing they were afraid to do. He did the thing they said he wasn't qualified to do. He didn't waste time explaining himself, he just let his actions speak. You see they thought he wasn't qualified to do it because they were looking at things that could be seen with their eyes. David knew he could do it because his eyes were focused on the Most High God. He knew Who it was Who equipped him. God knew he could do it because He knew David's heart. When those people arise in your life, &Satan will send them, follow David's example. Let God quiet them by working through you. You just go out & do things that can only be done by Almighty God working through you!
Ever have anyone like that in your life? The storm cloud to your sunny day? Someone who you are trying to help only to have them try to discourage you, belittle you, & act somehow superior to you? David had several of those people in his life as I'm sure we all do. I do think that we can learn a lesson from David in how to handle those people when they pop up. David kept his focus on The Lord of Heavens Armies, & went out & did what God asked him to do. He went out & did the very thing they were afraid to do. He did the thing they said he wasn't qualified to do. He didn't waste time explaining himself, he just let his actions speak. You see they thought he wasn't qualified to do it because they were looking at things that could be seen with their eyes. David knew he could do it because his eyes were focused on the Most High God. He knew Who it was Who equipped him. God knew he could do it because He knew David's heart. When those people arise in your life, &Satan will send them, follow David's example. Let God quiet them by working through you. You just go out & do things that can only be done by Almighty God working through you!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Let This Be Us
Now, Lord, consider their threats & enable you servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal & perform miraculous signs & wonders through the name of your Holy Servant Jesus. (Acts 4: 29 & 30 NIV)
This was Peter & Johns prayer for the believers. As I've said many times, I believe we grossly underestimate Gods power in our life & the life of the church. The side effect of that is that we end up relying on ourselves too much. Peter & John weren't bashful about what they were praying for. They didn't hesitate or stutter they boldly approached Gods throne & asked for big things. They didn't ask for anything but for God to do great things through them in order to bring glory to Christ, to reach others. How pleasing is that to God. As I read this, I wonder if we are praying that same prayer today. Do we believe God can do those same things through us (the church) today or do we think those were things that only happened in the Bible. Do we ask God to help us speak boldly? Do we ask Him to stretch out His hand & move through us to do great things? Is the church capable of being strong for God (as He intended) or are we satisfied with just holding on until Christ returns? I want God to move through me like that. I want to speak His word boldly & have His hand move through me. Not for my glory but His. I don't have the seminary degree or the initials after my name but what I do have is a passion for God, availability, & a desire to work for Christ, much like Peter & John who prayed this prayer. Does that sound like you. We have work to do & I pray that God once again sees fit to work through us (His church) like that again!
This was Peter & Johns prayer for the believers. As I've said many times, I believe we grossly underestimate Gods power in our life & the life of the church. The side effect of that is that we end up relying on ourselves too much. Peter & John weren't bashful about what they were praying for. They didn't hesitate or stutter they boldly approached Gods throne & asked for big things. They didn't ask for anything but for God to do great things through them in order to bring glory to Christ, to reach others. How pleasing is that to God. As I read this, I wonder if we are praying that same prayer today. Do we believe God can do those same things through us (the church) today or do we think those were things that only happened in the Bible. Do we ask God to help us speak boldly? Do we ask Him to stretch out His hand & move through us to do great things? Is the church capable of being strong for God (as He intended) or are we satisfied with just holding on until Christ returns? I want God to move through me like that. I want to speak His word boldly & have His hand move through me. Not for my glory but His. I don't have the seminary degree or the initials after my name but what I do have is a passion for God, availability, & a desire to work for Christ, much like Peter & John who prayed this prayer. Does that sound like you. We have work to do & I pray that God once again sees fit to work through us (His church) like that again!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Here's What I Have
"Bring them here to me," He said. (Matt. 14:18 NIV)
There was a huge crowd & the disciples were going to send them away & let them find food. Jesus said there was no need to do that & told them to feed them. Their reply was we don't have enough food, how do you expect us to do that? Jesus' reply was the same then to the disciples as it is to us today: Bring what you have to Me. There are lots of times when what we have is not enough & Then when you add God to it, you have more than enough. Maybe it's not enough resources, talent, strength, education, etc.. In the song "Little Drummer Boy" all he had was the ability to play his drum but he used that ability to glorify Christ & God made it great. Sometimes we just have to say "This is all I have, use it & multiply it for your glory". It's amazing what He can do with our little. So if today, something seems not enough, insufficient, or too weak, take it to God Almighty & say use it. He is the one that gave it to us. He is the One Who equips us. He is our Healer & our Provider. Let Him have what you've got & He will make it more than enough.
There was a huge crowd & the disciples were going to send them away & let them find food. Jesus said there was no need to do that & told them to feed them. Their reply was we don't have enough food, how do you expect us to do that? Jesus' reply was the same then to the disciples as it is to us today: Bring what you have to Me. There are lots of times when what we have is not enough & Then when you add God to it, you have more than enough. Maybe it's not enough resources, talent, strength, education, etc.. In the song "Little Drummer Boy" all he had was the ability to play his drum but he used that ability to glorify Christ & God made it great. Sometimes we just have to say "This is all I have, use it & multiply it for your glory". It's amazing what He can do with our little. So if today, something seems not enough, insufficient, or too weak, take it to God Almighty & say use it. He is the one that gave it to us. He is the One Who equips us. He is our Healer & our Provider. Let Him have what you've got & He will make it more than enough.
Friday, December 6, 2013
We have Hope
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ The Lord. (Lk. 2:11 NIV)
Many years ago the world was in need of hope & more importantly it was in need of saving. The world I imagine was a lot then like it is now. They struggled with financial difficulties, sickness, uncertainty, fear, & yes sometimes that feeling of hopelessness. Even worse, they had no permanent fix to their separation from God. The world today is much in the same situation. We are struggling with many of those things now & many are separated from Christ today even though He is available to us anytime. Christmas is the season of hope. Christ came to be that hope. He came to save us in all areas of our lives & to be our Redeemer. Today as the angels were telling the shepherds then, that Savior has been born & He would love to be your Savior. He would love to save you from your struggles. He would like to make you an overcomer. He would like to give you eternal life with Him. If you have already made Him your Savior, you need to know that you already have the victory. You don't need to live in fear or defeat. No weapon formed against you will prosper(Is. 54:17). Live like He is your Savior. Remember, He came to earth for you.
Many years ago the world was in need of hope & more importantly it was in need of saving. The world I imagine was a lot then like it is now. They struggled with financial difficulties, sickness, uncertainty, fear, & yes sometimes that feeling of hopelessness. Even worse, they had no permanent fix to their separation from God. The world today is much in the same situation. We are struggling with many of those things now & many are separated from Christ today even though He is available to us anytime. Christmas is the season of hope. Christ came to be that hope. He came to save us in all areas of our lives & to be our Redeemer. Today as the angels were telling the shepherds then, that Savior has been born & He would love to be your Savior. He would love to save you from your struggles. He would like to make you an overcomer. He would like to give you eternal life with Him. If you have already made Him your Savior, you need to know that you already have the victory. You don't need to live in fear or defeat. No weapon formed against you will prosper(Is. 54:17). Live like He is your Savior. Remember, He came to earth for you.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Don't doubt
But when he asks, he must believe & not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown & tossed by the wind. (James 1:6 NIV)
The subject of faith has really been on my heart lately. I'm not one that believes that God is a Pez dispenser that just passes out the candy because we ask. I believe that God works everything for the good of those who love Him. I also think there is no denying the power of faith if you read through the scriptures. I believe that our level of faith has a lot to do with the area God has to work. I believe that we limit God by our lack of faith. I have decided that if I really believe the Bible then I have to believe that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly beyond all that I ask or think (Eph. 3: 20). Maybe I'm not asking big enough. I believe if I'm asking with the right motives, to further His Kingdom & for His glory & not mine, I believe He is more than big enough to do it. I believe He has good plans for me (Jer. 29:11). I believe He will supply all of my needs(Phillipians 4: 19). I believe He has a place for me with Him for eternity (John 3:16). There are many many promises of God in His word. If He promised it, it's a done deal. We need to believe those promises & that they are for us. He gave them to us for today. Don't let the wind move you. Stay focused on what God has to say about you & your situation & believe that. Your faith in "I Am" can change things. Believe & don't doubt. He is big enough, He is still on the throne, & He loves you. You believe, stand firm, & He will do the rest.
The subject of faith has really been on my heart lately. I'm not one that believes that God is a Pez dispenser that just passes out the candy because we ask. I believe that God works everything for the good of those who love Him. I also think there is no denying the power of faith if you read through the scriptures. I believe that our level of faith has a lot to do with the area God has to work. I believe that we limit God by our lack of faith. I have decided that if I really believe the Bible then I have to believe that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly beyond all that I ask or think (Eph. 3: 20). Maybe I'm not asking big enough. I believe if I'm asking with the right motives, to further His Kingdom & for His glory & not mine, I believe He is more than big enough to do it. I believe He has good plans for me (Jer. 29:11). I believe He will supply all of my needs(Phillipians 4: 19). I believe He has a place for me with Him for eternity (John 3:16). There are many many promises of God in His word. If He promised it, it's a done deal. We need to believe those promises & that they are for us. He gave them to us for today. Don't let the wind move you. Stay focused on what God has to say about you & your situation & believe that. Your faith in "I Am" can change things. Believe & don't doubt. He is big enough, He is still on the throne, & He loves you. You believe, stand firm, & He will do the rest.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Christs Authority
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour. (Matt. 8:13 NIV)
In this passage the Roman centurion had a servant who was paralyzed & suffering. He went to the one person who he knew could help his servant. Christ agreed to go to his house & heal him but the centurion realized something very important. He realized Christs authority. He knew all Christ had to do was say the word & it was done. I think that is something we as Christians need to realize today. Christs authority lives in us if we have made Him our Lord & Savior. There is no need for us to walk around weak & defeated. If Christs authority can heal the centurions servant, just by a word, we have that same power available to us. Our problem is we fail to use it. We allow Satan, who has already been defeated, to convince us that we are weak, defeated, or that God wouldn't help us. The centurion didn't doubt. He asked & believed in Christs authority. Christ told him he hadn't seen that great of faith in all of Israel. That's the kind of faith we need today. Ask, believe, & don't doubt. Use the power that Christ has made available to us.
In this passage the Roman centurion had a servant who was paralyzed & suffering. He went to the one person who he knew could help his servant. Christ agreed to go to his house & heal him but the centurion realized something very important. He realized Christs authority. He knew all Christ had to do was say the word & it was done. I think that is something we as Christians need to realize today. Christs authority lives in us if we have made Him our Lord & Savior. There is no need for us to walk around weak & defeated. If Christs authority can heal the centurions servant, just by a word, we have that same power available to us. Our problem is we fail to use it. We allow Satan, who has already been defeated, to convince us that we are weak, defeated, or that God wouldn't help us. The centurion didn't doubt. He asked & believed in Christs authority. Christ told him he hadn't seen that great of faith in all of Israel. That's the kind of faith we need today. Ask, believe, & don't doubt. Use the power that Christ has made available to us.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
God Made It Good
You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Gen. 50:20 NIV)
This is kind of a personal story for me. It was one that I did not understand at the time but as I was running today I got to thinking about how it had shaped me. I've had a couple of those situations lately & I'm sure you probably have as well. Sometimes we just can't see at the time what God could possibly be doing in our situation but that's when we have to trust God & know that He knows exactly what He's doing.
I had just started in ministry & doors were opening left & right. I went from not even thinking about ministry to speaking Gods word at different churches & events. God was moving, doors were opening, & things were growing. Then as happens when those things are going on, Satan reared his ugly head & got involved. All of a sudden people wanted to be in charge instead of God. People wanted to start taking credit for work instead of giving God the glory. As I tried to speak out against it, people turned their anger to me. Untrue things were said about me & my family & it was time for me to move on.
After I left the situation, still things were being said. I had decided that it was better to let God fight my battle & kept quiet. Only one side of the story was getting out & it was not accurate. That can be hard to take & understand when you are truly trying to do what God asks you to do. I really couldn't understand why things were working out like they were. Now fast forward to today.
Today I realized that I could honestly say I do not have any bad feelings toward anyone in the situation. God has brought healing. But even more than that I realized that God had used it to grow me. Since this has happened I have learned to always trust God even when things don't seem to make sense. I've learned to know He is working & even better working it for my good. I've learned to look at people differently. We're all imperfect & were responsible for how we act in a situation not in how anyone else does. I've learned that God brings good out of bad & His good is better than I can imagine. So I encourage you to trust God to work good in your situation & let go of things that only drag you down. God has bigger things in store for you.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Imitate
Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children (Eph. 5:1 NIV)
This verse came to me today as I was thinking about things which I do a lot. I thought about in my life how many times I have imitated people in things that I was passionate about. Growing up, I have always enjoyed sports. I can't tell you how many hours I have spent being Magic Johnson, Roger Staubach, Ozzie Smith or one of my other favorite players. I wanted to do the drills they did, shoot like them, pass like them, field like them. I wore their jerseys. I did everything I could to be play like them. Then as I got into martial arts, I wanted to train where the best martial artists trained, & I wanted to train like they did. I wanted to be the best like they were. Even in ministry, I look up to some of the "giants" in Christianity. I read their books, & watch them speak, listening to them often to see how they do it. Charles Stanley, Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer, Max Lucado, & many others have had a major influence on me. I have been blessed in my life to have so many pastors as friends who have helped me. Reading about the disciples & their journey & wanting to be faithful like them. But at the end of the day, I really have to imitate my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. In coming to earth, He gave us the example to follow. Love, courage, service, obedience to the Father, just to name a few of His traits. All of the disciples, my pastors, & giants of Christianity would tell me to follow Christ. He is the one who won't let you down. Learn about Him, know Him, have a relationship with Him , & be like Him. If His people will imitate Him, we will see a change in us, our churches, communities, & world. Christ working through us is the only thing that has power to change lives. Read His word & follow the example that He has given for us. There is no better example to follow.
This verse came to me today as I was thinking about things which I do a lot. I thought about in my life how many times I have imitated people in things that I was passionate about. Growing up, I have always enjoyed sports. I can't tell you how many hours I have spent being Magic Johnson, Roger Staubach, Ozzie Smith or one of my other favorite players. I wanted to do the drills they did, shoot like them, pass like them, field like them. I wore their jerseys. I did everything I could to be play like them. Then as I got into martial arts, I wanted to train where the best martial artists trained, & I wanted to train like they did. I wanted to be the best like they were. Even in ministry, I look up to some of the "giants" in Christianity. I read their books, & watch them speak, listening to them often to see how they do it. Charles Stanley, Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer, Max Lucado, & many others have had a major influence on me. I have been blessed in my life to have so many pastors as friends who have helped me. Reading about the disciples & their journey & wanting to be faithful like them. But at the end of the day, I really have to imitate my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. In coming to earth, He gave us the example to follow. Love, courage, service, obedience to the Father, just to name a few of His traits. All of the disciples, my pastors, & giants of Christianity would tell me to follow Christ. He is the one who won't let you down. Learn about Him, know Him, have a relationship with Him , & be like Him. If His people will imitate Him, we will see a change in us, our churches, communities, & world. Christ working through us is the only thing that has power to change lives. Read His word & follow the example that He has given for us. There is no better example to follow.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Walking on Water
Then Peter called to Him, "Lord if it's really You, tell me to come to You, walking on water" (Matthew 14:28 NLT)
We need some water walkers. We need some people who can ignore the waves & the wind & focus on the face of Jesus Christ & step out of the boat. There is a need for people with the faith in Jesus Christ who are willing to step out & believe that with God we can do something bigger than ourselves. Peter couldn't walk on the water on his own but with Christ he could. Christ can still use us to do that today. Don't try to walk on water without Christ, you will sink. But with Christ you can walk on top of the waves. We need to put action to our faith. It's not enough to say the right words at church, post the posts about God being able to do anything, or quoting Phillipians 4:13 if we won't move in response. I want to have that much faith. I want you to have that much faith. I want faith that causes me to move & to do things greater than me. I want to be a water walker. So I ask you to join with me. Tell the waves that your God is bigger than they are & that you are stepping out to accomplish things only God could do through you. Pray big! Believe big! Let God move mightily in your life. Just think what a group of water walkers can do!
We need some water walkers. We need some people who can ignore the waves & the wind & focus on the face of Jesus Christ & step out of the boat. There is a need for people with the faith in Jesus Christ who are willing to step out & believe that with God we can do something bigger than ourselves. Peter couldn't walk on the water on his own but with Christ he could. Christ can still use us to do that today. Don't try to walk on water without Christ, you will sink. But with Christ you can walk on top of the waves. We need to put action to our faith. It's not enough to say the right words at church, post the posts about God being able to do anything, or quoting Phillipians 4:13 if we won't move in response. I want to have that much faith. I want you to have that much faith. I want faith that causes me to move & to do things greater than me. I want to be a water walker. So I ask you to join with me. Tell the waves that your God is bigger than they are & that you are stepping out to accomplish things only God could do through you. Pray big! Believe big! Let God move mightily in your life. Just think what a group of water walkers can do!
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