"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.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
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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