06/03/13
WALK IN INTEGRITY 

Scripture: Proverbs 20:6-7 "Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness .... The just man walks in his integrity."
 
We title our daily devotional A Word In Due Season because it is not "The" only word that God will speak to you today. It is simply "A" word, for the scriptures declare that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word of God will be established (II Corinthians 13:1). God's word will come to you through many voices and experiences to confirm His desires so that His purposes can be established. Your pastor, family members, teachers, and friends will speak into your life. Even the situations that surround you will confirm your direction.
 
Our devotional is written a few days in advance so that it can be edited, posted on the website, and then attached to the many address lists. Often it surprises me when one of my own devotional writings comes back to me a few days later and it encourages me or speaks a confirming word that I personally needed to hear for that day. The experience is like being a mother who prepares a meal for her family and then gets to sit down and enjoy it with them. We are all partakers of God's wonderful words of grace, which are new and fresh every day. As I write this devotional, this was one of those special days because the Word that was published was about allowing Christ to be the umpire of our peace.  Today the enemy tried desperately to take my peace in regard to a matter of integrity, but he was unable because God's presence filled my heart and His love surrounded my emotions. The Lord reminded me, "Your righteousness is of Me, says the Lord" (Isaiah 54:17).
 
There are so many situations to deal with on a daily basis and everyone's battle will be different, but Jesus can give all of us personal peace.  When someone tells an untruth about you or falsely accuses you, if you cast your care upon the Lord, peace will come into your heart.  You will have an assurance because you know that you can trust God to give those about you discernment so that your integrity is not tarnished in their eyes. The truth that resides in your heart will set you free. You will retain your joy because you know that God sees and understands the entire situation and that He will honor and reward your personal integrity.
 
The writer of this proverb said, "Most men will declare their own goodness, but the just man walks in his integrity." Integrity is the highest standard, for the integrity of a just man makes its own statement.  Integrity is solid and it proclaims truth, creates peace, and produces joy. The world about you may not know who is right or who is wrong, but you have this assurance that there are several people who do know the full truth. The two that are at variance against each other surely know the truth concerning the situation. Plus, there is the all knowing God, Himself, along with His Son, Jesus Christ, and God's precious Holy Spirit. There will also be family members, friends, and acquaintances who know the truth and will stand with you in adversity. With these witnesses of truth and integrity on your side, it will be easy for you to walk in the midst of your disconcerting situations with praise in your heart to God. So whatever comes your way in life, I encourage you to walk in integrity every step of the way and allow the Lord to be the one to faithfully proclaim your goodness. +++

06/04/13
ENDURING TEMPTATIONS 

Scripture: James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endures temptation."
 
James, who was the brother of Jesus Christ and also the pastor of the church at Jerusalem, wrote these words. Both of these natural positions probably gave James much insight into the struggles of everyday routine life. He knew that all men would be tempted and that temptations would be a daily challenge even for the faithful believers. He also realized that there were great rewards for those who were able to endure the temptations that came their way.  Endure means to carry on despite the hardships and to suffer patiently without yielding. Endurance is the power to withstand in the midst of the conflict and continue in existence. When you give up or give in to temptations, that part of you dies or loses its strength. When you yield to temptation, you bring an end to your purity, you damage your witness, you destroy your character, you relinquish and diminish your spiritual authority and power, and you give up your rewards. That is quite a price to pay in exchange for just a few moments of pleasure that the devil offers.
 
We understand that temptations do not come from God, for James said in verse thirteen that God, Himself, cannot be tempted with evil and that neither does He tempt us with evil. Yet, God will allow tests to come in our lives, but His tests are trials of our faith and never involve a temptation to do evil. His tests are not choices between right and wrong, but choices between faith and doubt and are meant to determine the degree of our faith.  God wants to know where our heart is before He moves us to another level of responsibility or enlarges our borders of ministry. On the other hand, temptations come to us from Satan, our own flesh, and the things in the world. Temptation is evil from its very source. Temptations are never easy to endure because we are only tempted in the areas where we are most vulnerable and where we are most likely to be drawn away by our own personal lust. It would be useless for the devil to tempt me with drugs or alcohol because I do not have a problem in those areas. He does the same with all of us. He identifies our weakness and finds the thing that will entice us to do wrong so that we lose our rewards in Heaven and our victory in life.
 
Our failure to avoid temptations affects every area of our life and also those about us. When Jesus was tempted of the devil, His kingdom and our eternal salvation were tied up in His righteous decision to endure the temptation. Our souls hung in the balance and could have been lost forever if He had failed or given in to the devil's devices.  You can be sure that temptations will come your way, but there are some valuable secrets in overcoming them. First, the temptation that Jesus endured in the wilderness showed us that there is an end to temptation and that it can only last for a season.  The scriptures declare, "When the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Jesus for a season" (Luke 4:13).  Second, God will never give you a greater temptation than you can handle and He will always give you a way to escape (I Corinthians 10:13).. Third, you are not alone, for temptations are common to all men (I Corinthians 10:13).  If you hold these truths in your heart in the midst of temptation, you will have an advantage over the tempter. These truths will infuse you with strength to endure and if you don't give in for a moment, you will be blessed. +++

06/05/13
SUBMITTING ALL TO GOD

Scripture: Luke 5:5 "At thy word I will."

Jesus led Peter, step by step, into a place of total surrender. As the people pressed in upon Jesus to hear the word of God, He asked Peter if He could use his boat for a platform to teach the people.  Peter and his men were very exhausted and discouraged. They had fished all night long and caught nothing. Dragging heavy nets is not an easy job and they just wanted to finish washing their nets, go home, and rest so that they could go out again in a few hours.  The last thing they may have wanted to do was to sit there and listen to Jesus teach. Peter could have told the Lord that he was too tired and too discouraged to let Him use his boat. How many of us would go to church the morning after we had worked all night? Yet, despite his tiredness, Peter responded to the Lord's request and allowed Him to use his boat. We see the results of Peter's submission as he forgot his own worries and fatigue and sowed his boat back into the Lord's work. Peter reaped more than he sowed, for God gave back to him a miraculous haul of fish in a very short time.

Peter's boat was his business and the source of his income. His boat also represented his life. God requires no less from us. He wants us to show Him that He is first place in our lives by submitting all that we have to Him for His use. Most of us do not own a boat but we do have other assets that represent our lives such as our businesses, our homes, or our finances. Everything we have came to us because of the grace of God and belongs to Him. We are only the stewards of those blessings. We usually don't mind lending these things to the Lord when it is convenient, but how would we respond if we had been out all night working and God decided that He wanted to use our home or business to minister to others?  Would we tell the Lord that we were too tired and try to postpone His plan? Would we refuse His request because we were discouraged, as things were not going well for us?
 
Jesus used Peter's business in a unique way and at a most inconvenient time for Peter and his men. God usually moves in our lives in the same way. When He calls us to do something for Him, it seems that His thoughts and His plans never coincide with ours. Yet most of us have learned from experience that God's ways are always better than our ways, and His plans are higher than our plans. We must be ready at all times to submit everything that we are and everything that we have to God.  As we do, we will discover that we are God's link to the world.  And like Peter, we will find that when we seek to take care of God's business, God will take care of ours. +++

06/06/13
HANDLING CONFLICTS

Scripture: Psalms 144:1 "Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."
 
The scriptures declare that David was a man after God's own heart. He was a man who not only loved God, but who was also able to express his love with beautiful words that have lasted for thousands of years. In fact, the twenty-third psalm, which speaks of the Lord and paints a picture of a gentle and loving shepherd, seems to grow with us through the years and has a greater impact on our souls each time we read it. Throughout the psalms, we can see David's tenderness, compassion, and trust. The evidence of the depth of his love is mingled in the words that pour forth from his heart. Yet, even though David was capable of much love and passion, he was also a mighty warrior.
 
David blessed the Lord for teaching him how to fight, for he was engaged in many types of battles. In verse two David said that there were times that the Lord was his fortress, which is a military stronghold where he could retreat from battle and be safe from the enemy that was on the other side of the walls.  During other battles, God became David's strong tower and lifted him high above the dangerous situations. There were times when the Lord was a shield about David and protected him as he went into the raging battles. The Lord also made David a victor and helped him conquered his enemies. All in all, God was David's strength and David was thankful that he had been taught how to fight and that he could have a calm assurance that God was with him in every battle.
 
It would be great if we could go throughout life without conflicts and challenges to face. And life would be so much simpler if there were no battles to fight or wars to wage. Yet the Lord, Himself, told us that in this life there would be much tribulation.  There would be conflicts with enemies and also with those whom we loved.  For that reason, when we face a battle of any kind, we must first seek God and ask Him what weapons we should use and how we should fight the particular battle that is at hand.  David fought some battles through physical combat, but God often told him to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Once David used a simple stone to conquer the giant, but in other battles he used mighty weapons of war. Joshua's army shouted the walls of their enemy down. Gideon's pathetically small army broke their lanterns and shouted, "The sword of the Lord and Gideon." And Jehoshaphat confused the enemy and won the battle by sending a praise team before his army. Jesus told us to turn the other cheek to those who do us wrong.

What kind of weapons are these? A stone, a shout, a broken lantern, praise, simply standing still, or turning our cheek! Yet, God knows the mind and the ways of our enemies and God's ways are never like our ways. He will surprise us every time. We must remember that the battle always belongs to the Lord and if we want to win, we must trust Him to teach our hands to war. +++

06/07/13
DECISIONS THAT LEAD TO DELIVERANCE

Scripture: Jonah 2:9 "... Salvation is of the Lord."

God told Jonah to go preach to people of Nineveh but he refused and went in the opposite direction. And because of his rebellion and disobedience to the word of God, Jonah found himself in the belly of a great fish at the bottom of the ocean. His desperate need in this situation caused him to turn to God and make some definite life decisions.  First, Jonah "prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly" (2:1).  He did not wait until he was in more righteous circumstances. Instead, he prayed in the midst of his disobedience. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
 
Second, Jonah decided that he would "turn his attention again towards God's holy temple" (2:4).  Because of their shame and lack of interest, many who are in rebellion and are out of the will of God forsake their church affiliations and miss out on the encouragement and exhortation of others. Hebrews 10:25 says, "Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some, but let us exhort one another..."
 
The third thing Jonah did when his "soul fainted within him" was that he remembered God" (2:7).  Reflecting on who God is and what He has done strengthens your faith in times of adversity. Jonah declared, "I fear the Lord, the God of Heaven, Who has made the sea and the dry ground." Jonah knew that God was in control of the situation and he recognized that God was the One who had sent the great wind and also prepared the great fish that was destined to swallow him (1:17). Jonah realized that his salvation and deliverance was going to come from this same God.

Fourth, Jonah "sacrificed unto God the voice of thanksgiving" (2:9). This sacrifice of praise came while he was still in the belly of the fish. This is why it is called a sacrifice. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Let us offer the sacrifices of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Our praise to God should not be limited to the times when only blessings abound. Our hearts should be full of praise at all times.

And finally, the fifth thing that Jonah did was that he promised to "pay that which he had vowed" (2:9). He turned from his rebellion and disobedience and made a decision to complete God's will for his life by returning to Nineveh and preaching God's message.  When Jonah made these decisions, God spoke to the fish to release Jonah and he was delivered.

Consider these decisions for your own life and don't lose hope in the midst of your adverse situation. Like Jonah, your situation may seem as dark as being in the belly of a great fish. You may feel hopeless but your decisions can lead you to deliverance. Even though your own actions may have brought you to a place of desperate need, if you turn your attention and prayers to God, praise Him, and ask for His forgiveness, He will hear your prayers. He will forgive your sins and deliver you out of your place of trouble. He is the Lord of your salvation. +++

A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of June 2013


06/10/13
BE AN EXAMPLE

Scripture: I Timothy 4:12 "Be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
 
There is an awesome power that dwells within our being and it is so powerful that it quickens our mortal body. Romans 8:11 tells us that it is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.  This Spirit also empowers us to minister to others as we touch their lives in a personal way. Our mission doesn't start with a vision and then end when we reach that goal. Our purpose is fulfilled as we are making our journey towards our goal. Our assignments are our family, our jobs, our friends, and our church. And each and every gift that God has so graciously endowed to us belongs to them.
 
There is a great need and an abundant harvest before us. If we remain sensitive in our spirit, we will recognize that no place is meaningless. No matter where we find ourselves, that place is an open mission field to hurting souls, for everyone has needs of one kind or another. Those who deny their need for others are living behind walls of deception that they have constructed to protect themselves for one reason or the other. These individuals need our love most of all. It may be a stranger that you meet who has a scowl upon his face. A consistent smile on your part may turn his life around. I ventured to smile at someone each morning as I passed them at the post office. The initial response that I received caused me to never want to smile at them again. But as the days went by, the smiles that I gave away soon started to return to me. I began to understand that the scowl was a billboard that simply advertised the pain that was in the heart of that individual and that they just need to be recognized and loved.
 
The Apostle Paul told Timothy to be an example of the believers. He was supposed to show what a believer should do through the actions of his own daily life. He was to put God above the system of the world. We must make a decision to do the same and then keep that commitment. An example of a believer is one who is willing to make sacrifices as Christ did for the church. We must allow the anointing of God's Spirit to flow through us and quicken us in such a manner that as we touch others it will cause them to come alive. Our words should be examples, ministering grace to the hearer. Our love and faith should ignite the love and faith in others. Our conversations and the way we live our lives should enhance the way others live their lives and our purity should convict them to remain pure. These six words can change the world about you if you obey them; "Be An Example Of The Believers." +++

06/11/13
WHOSE JOB IS IT?

Scripture: John 2:5 "Whatsoever He says to you, do it."

Obedience to these words brought about a miracle in Cana of Galilee. It was a crucial time at a marriage feast when the wine had run out. Mary approached her son, Jesus, for help and then instructed the servants to do whatever He said. The servants obeyed Jesus by filling the water pots with water, and Jesus then turned the water into wine. This great miracle shows us several things. First, Jesus is there to help us in the time of crises. Second, His miracle power rises above the natural laws and beyond our ability. And finally, the Lord expects us to do our part.

How many miracles have we missed because God told us to do something and we failed to respond? We may have been called to minister to someone needing a financial miracle, deliverance, or healing. There was such a great need and we felt that we had so little to offer, so we just did nothing at all. Most of the time Jesus used the very small, simple, and insignificant things to bring about miracles. He used a fish in Matthew 17:27 to bring finances to Peter so that taxes could be paid. What would have happened if Peter refused to go to the sea and fish as the Lord had told him to do? And what about the meager five loaves and two fish that were used to feed five thousand men, besides the women and children?

There is a song that says, "Little is much if God is in it." How true these words are. We 'hold' the miracles and blessings of God in our hands or we 'withhold' the miracles and blessings of God. If we want to be a blessing to others, we must obey God's slightest command. We must not wait for Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody to take care of the matter as illustrated in the story below.

Who's Job Is It?
(copied)

There was an important job to be done.
And Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it.
But Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody
When Nobody did what Anybody could have done. +++

06/12/13
VOICE OF PRAYER

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

God tells us through Jeremiah, the prophet, two very important things about getting our prayers answered. First He says, "Call." Prayer needs to be voiced, otherwise it may only be a meditation of the heart. For instance, how many times in our lives do we face circumstances that require answers? We tell everyone that we are praying about the situation, when in reality we are merely thinking, meditating on the circumstances, and trying to figure out the solution in our own minds. We haven't uttered one word to God, verbally or in our spirit, yet we call it prayer.

God wants us to speak out verbally to Him. God knows our thoughts and our hearts, but He wants to actually hear our voices. James 4:2 tells us that "we have not because we ask not." We merely think the thought in our mind, but never express it with our voice. God knows the meditations of our heart but He hears our cries and listens for ours words. Throughout the scriptures, prayers often began with phrases like, "Hear my prayer, O Lord," "Attend unto my cry," and "I lift up my voice to You."  We get God's attention when we make our voices heard. 

Second, God says, "Call unto Me." In the original Hebrew language, the use of the word "call" in this scripture means to address by name. Names are personal and powerful. Even in a crowded room, you are called to attention when someone mentions your own name. You become very interested in what is being said because your personal name is involved. However, if your name were never mentioned, you may be disinterested in the conversation. Likewise if someone in your midst had needs but never verbalized them to you, you would not know how you could meet those needs.  God reacts in the same way. He responds to His Name and focuses His attention on the one calling upon His Name.  God says, "Call to Me. When you speak to Me then I will answer you and I will show you great and mighty things which you have never known before." +++

06/13/13
FAITH TO RETURN HOME 

Scripture: Luke 15:18 "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."
 
The prodigal son took his inheritance, separated himself from his father and family, and went to a country far away. After he had wasted everything that he had on a lavish and sinful lifestyle, he found himself wanting and in need. He refused to return to his father's home and provisions, and instead, he chose to secure a job with a citizen of the country. In time, he realized that he was in a place that was lower than his own father's hired servants. As he worked, feeding the swine, he became so hungry that he could have eaten the food that he was feeding to them. His desperation finally brought him to his senses and with a repentant heart he decided to return home.
 
The prodigal son left his father's home saying, "Give me my inheritance," but he returned saying, "Make me your servant." His heart and values had been changed through the misery of his experience. Yet, it took much faith for the son to humble himself and make his way back home. His self worth had been destroyed and in his own mind, there was always the chance that forgiveness and restoration would not be extended to him. And he surely found this to be true concerning his brother's attitude towards him. It has been said:
 
"Sin will take you further than you wanted to go,
Keep you longer than you wanted to stay,
Teach you things that you wished you never learned,
And charge you more than you wanted to pay."
   
We may not find ourselves in the exact situation as the prodigal son, but often our choices lead us away from God's best, and in due time, we must face the consequences.  When we end up in a dilemma and away from God's blessings. We must remember that redemption only comes through repentance. We must come to the realization that we have missed God and we must be humble enough to acknowledge our faults and failures.  We can only return home when we are truly honest with ourselves and with our Heavenly Father.  It takes faith to return, but when we confess our sins and bad decisions, God is faithful to forgive us and restore our lives.  God is full of mercy and grace. Like the prodigal son, as we draw closer to our Heavenly Father's presence, we will find that He has been waiting patiently and faithfully for our return. +++

06/14/13
FATHER'S DAY
 
Scripture: Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
 
Fathers, as well as mothers, have an awesome responsibility to train their children in the ways that they should go. They are to continually mold, instruct, prepare, and point their children in the right direction. There will be many challenges, but the Apostle Paul encouraged particularly the fathers, not to provoke their children to wrath, but to bring them up in the nurture and loving discipline of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Parents must be an example to their children everyday of the year.  Following is a poem, which reveals the results of our everyday actions.
 
CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE
Author Unknown
 
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
he learns to find love in the world.
 
We honor all fathers and encourage them to listen to the wisdom of these words.+++

A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of June 2013


06/17/13
UNDER THE SHADOW OF GOD'S WINGS

Scripture: Psalms 36:7 "How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings."
 
The psalmist speaks of the shadow of God's wings. Shadows are very unique in that they are not reality and they have no power. They are only produced by an actual presence that intercepts the light. The power is reserved to the presence that created the shadow. That presence, whether good or evil, always stands between you and the light. You have to be very close to someone to actually be in their shadow, but when you are there, you are near enough to hear their voice, see their countenance, and feel the essence of their presence. You may be close enough to feel their touch, hear their heartbeat, or feel their breath as they breathe upon you. What you feel while you are in someone's shadow depends upon their disposition at the moment. The sound of their voice may be loud or soft depending upon their emotions and what they want to convey to you. Their words may frighten you or bring you comfort. Their countenance may look disapproving and cause alarm or it may look reassuring and bring peace. Their presence may seem cold or warm and their touch may feel harsh or tender.      
 
There are shadows that are spoken of in the scriptures that evoke good feelings within us and there are shadows that evoke bad feelings. When we read the scriptures that speak of the shadow of God's presence, they bring comfort, peace, hope, security, protection, and the sense of God's love towards us. This is because of who God is and because His image is light and life. In the shadow of the Almighty, there is a always the promise of good and the assurance of protection.
 
However, when we read the scriptures concerning the shadow of death, we have an altogether different feeling. The concept of death works against the thoughts of peace, hope, security, protection, and love.  Death's image is a sting. Its countenance is harsh and alarming and may even be frightening. Death is a painful experience whether it comes to us personally or to one of our loved ones. The shadow of death creates a dark foreboding atmosphere where evil abides because death creates darkness and always brings separation.
 
When you understand the excellence of God's love and kindness towards you as an individual, you will be able to put your trust in Him and find rest under the shadow of His wings. This place under God's wings is different than any other place that you can find. It is a place where God spreads His arms wide like an earthly father would to gather his children to himself. God hides you in this secret place underneath His everlasting arms, protecting you like a bird that shelters and protects her own young under her wings in the time of trouble. God draws you as close as He can to Himself and hides you. Any harm from the outside has to penetrate His own loving arms before it can get to you. God is your Heavenly Father, and as your Father, you and your well being truly matter to Him.
 
You have a choice of which shadow you choose to dwell beneath and whose shadow that you choose to place your trust in. You can stay and dwell in the shadow of the Almighty, whose love and kindness towards you is excellent, or you can walk away from His presence. The choice is yours but your choice comes with great consequences. There is good and evil and life and death in the power your choice, so be sure to choose very wisely.+++

06/18/13
ANGER WITHOUT SIN

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down on your wrath."
 
Anger is defined as great displeasure or indignation. We always think of anger as being evil, but the Apostle Paul made mention that you could actually be angry and still be without sin.  Anger can be a positive emotion if its motives are pure and it is dealt with in the right manner. Anger can motivate you to righteous actions and even drive you into a state of war against evil forces that defy God. Yet even with its positive points, we do not have a license to be angry about every little thing that comes our way, for the scriptures plainly teach us to be slow to wrath. King Solomon said, "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding" because a hasty spirit exalts folly (Proverbs 14:29). He also said, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty" because he is able to rule his own spirit (Proverbs 16:32). 
 
Paul said, "Don't let the sun go down on your wrath."  We must settle the situation as quickly as possible by assuming the fault or forgiving the one who has transgressed against us. Whatever we do, we can't continue to hold on to anger. Another definition of anger is inflammation. Just as you cannot continue to use a muscle that is inflamed without causing more serious injury, you cannot continue to allow your emotions to be inflamed with anger without causing greater injury to your spirit. In the next verse Paul said, "Neither give place to the devil." Unresolved anger opens the door to the devil.
 
A friend told me a story recently that was overwhelming. Her husband's brother was out of work and came to stay with them for awhile and their landlady became enraged over the situation. They were perplexed but remembered that she had told them that she and her own brother had been at odds for forty-seven years. Her brother had tried to reconcile with her, but she refused. The spirit of anger within her would not allow her to let go of the past. Even though she couldn't remember what the battle was about forty-seven years ago, it still raged within her soul and kept her in bondage. Not only did the spirit of anger destroy the years and the relationship that she and her brother could have had, but it also manifested itself against those who had good family relationships.  This is the type of anger that Paul warned against, for anger of this sort opens the door to unforgiveness and gives a place to the devil.
 
We know that Jesus was without sin and that God is not evil. Yet, Jesus, Himself, felt the emotions of anger against the religious people who judged Him for doing good and healing on the Sabbath Day. Mark 3:5 says, "He looked on them with anger." He was grieved for the hardness of their heart, yet He didn't allow anger to rule His spirit. Jesus went on with His business and healed the man with the withered hand. The religious folks who were angered over the incident took counsel on how they could destroy Jesus, and their anger drove them to evil. Even God showed anger. He was angry with Moses (Deuteronomy 4:21) and with King Solomon (I Kings 11:9), and David declared that God is angry with the wicked everyday (Psalms 7:11). Everyday, evil provokes God to anger, yet God is always ready and quick to forgive. He hates the sin but He loves the sinner. Let us remember His example. His grace is sufficient and His mercy endures forever. When we are provoked to anger, let us not hold it in our hearts but deal with it gracefully and be ready to forgive and to forget before the sun goes down and the way is lost in the darkness. +++

06/19/13
CRITERIA FOR GIVING

Scripture: Exodus 35:21 "They came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering ..."
 
When Moses instructed the congregation of the Israelites to bring offerings for the tabernacle he gave them two criteria to meet in their giving. He said, "Your own heart must stir you to give and your own spirit must make you willing to give."  There is no gift that is too small for the Lord to receive, but the only gift that is acceptable to God is the one that comes from a willing heart.  God despises our works of kindness when we do them grudgingly because we feel obligated to meet a need or when we are pressured to give because everyone else is giving.  The Lord emphasized that when we do feel stirred to give, He also wants our hearts to be willing.  He hates to hear us complain about our own personal sacrifice when we are doing a good deed or giving an offering to Him.
 
I saw an elderly lady who was walking in the drizzling rain and carrying packages. I assumed that she lived in my neighborhood so I stopped to offer her a ride even though I was in a terrible hurry because I had an appointment to meet. She smiled with relief as she got into the dry car, but my thoughts of "doing a good deed for Jesus" suddenly changed to "I am already late, what on earth was I thinking." As it turned out, she did not live in my neighborhood and could only speak a few words of English. Furthermore, she did not want to be taken to her home nearby, she wanted to go to the bus station and said that she would direct me on how to get there. The problem was that the path she wanted me to take was not accessible for auto traffic. What I had thought would only take a few minutes had turned into a nightmare and time was getting short.  I followed her directions as she pointed the way, and after going around several of the businesses and hotel parking lots I was finally able to get her close enough that she could walk across the grass to the bus station.
 
While I was trying to make my way through the maze of this dilemma, the Lord began to show me something. The lady could see me smiling on the outside but God could hear my complaining heart on the inside. God let me know that even though my heart had been stirred to give this lady a ride, my spirit was only willing to cooperate if it was convenient.  My good deed for Him was being rejected because my spirit was not right. He didn't want me to just give, He wanted me to do it with a cheerful heart. Through the Lord's tender rebuke, I discovered that it was more important for me to do His will regardless of the cost, than it was for me to be on time for an insignificant event.
 
We are very eager to commit our hearts to love and serve God. Yet, we must understand that we cannot offer God our hearts without willingly giving Him our feet to go where He leads, our eyes to see the needs of others, our ears to hear their sad stories, our hands to help them do what needs to be done, and our mouths to speak words of encouragement to their soul. The Lord requests an offering from us, but He doesn't just want our offering delivered with a heart that is stirred to give but also with a spirit that is willing. +++

06/20/13
WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

Scripture: Matthew 16:15 "But whom do you say that I am?"

What a powerful challenge this question was to the disciples of Jesus, and it remains a powerful challenge to us today, as we must also identify who Jesus is to us personally. Jesus had first asked the disciples what other men thought about Him, but His main interest was their own personal revelation.  This knowledge that Jesus is the Son of the Living God comes only as God the Father gives insight. It is a supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit. When the disciples identified Jesus as the Christ, they were saying that He was the Messiah that the prophets had spoken about. He was the one who would be anointed to preach to the poor, heal the broken hearted, and do many other mighty miracles (Luke 4:18 & Isaiah 61). They were acknowledging that Jesus was not only the Savior, but that He was also their healer and deliverer, and in essence that He came to fulfill all scriptures pertaining to the Messiah.

It was upon this personal revelation that Jesus said that He would build His church. Acts 2:21 says, "Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved." There is a saying that sums it up, "Sitting on a pew will not make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage will make you a car." Jesus is still in the process of building His church. Salvation comes only through a personal encounter with the Savior. And likewise the other things that Jesus came to fulfill as the Messiah only come through the personal realization and acceptance that He is willing and able to do those things. Many trust Him as Lord and Savior, but never release their faith to trust Him for physical healing, emotional restoration, or as the Shepherd that will lead them and meet their material needs.

God wants us to live in the total revelation that His Son, Jesus, is the Messiah. He wants us to receive all that Jesus came to provide. He does not want us to ignore the thirty-nine stripes that were laid on His Son's back for our healing or to forget that the chastisement of our peace has been paid for by the crown of thorns He bore. He also wants us to understand that His Son was bruised for our iniquities and that He has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Everything that we need has been paid for by the precious blood of Jesus. Yet, these blessings can only come to us as we receive a personal revelation of who Jesus is and embrace a personal relationship with Him. Our active response to these two things will dictate our answer to Jesus' direct and profound question, "Who do you say that I am?"  +++

06/21/13
MIGHTY SPIRITUAL WEAPONS

Scripture: II Corinthians 10:4 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty."
 
Battles are never fun but battles are important in our lives. Our natural desire is to shrink from conflict but adversity is the seed that brings the harvest of conquered territories.  Every battle is an invitation to keep that which we have intact or to gain something greater than what we already possess.  It is only as we do battle and conquer that we protect our old places and obtain new territories.
 
To win any kind of battle, natural or spiritual, it is necessary to identify the enemy and know how and when to use our weapons. In the spiritual, we must be equipped by God and directed by His Holy Spirit. We can't just call down fire out of Heaven at our own choosing to consume those that we disagree with like the disciples, James and John, wanted to do. Jesus rebuked them saying, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of" (Luke 9:55). Neither can we cast out devils by our own power and strength. They will turn and attack us as they did with the sons of Sceva, the chief of the priest (Acts 19:15). It is imperative that we know God's Word concerning this matter, for the greatest battles and the mightiest weapons are not natural or carnal, they are spiritual. Therefore we must learn God's spiritual laws, use His spiritual weapons, and rely upon His spiritual power. There is no other way to win life's battles.
 
Paul told us that our enemy was not flesh and blood but spiritual principalities, powers and rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).  He also warned us that this unseen enemy goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The devil is constantly searching for the weakest area in our lives and tempting us in that area. We may feel overwhelmed by the struggles in our hearts and the strongholds in our minds, but the Apostle Paul told us that we would not be tempted above that which we are able because God would always make a way of escape (I Corinthians10:13).  The devil is limited in what he can do to us when we are dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty God (Psalms 91:1).   
 
Paul also told us that our weapons are not carnal, just as our enemy is not physical flesh and blood.  But God has equipped us with mighty weapons, two of which is Worship and His Word. Worship keeps our minds stayed on God and allows Him to fight our battles. You cannot truly worship and worry at the same time so this weapon confuses the enemy. Jehoshaphat experienced this in II Chronicles 20:21-22. When his army obeyed God and went out praising the Lord and the beauty of holiness, the Lord set an ambush against the enemy. And in their confusion, the enemy rose up and killed each other. Jehoshaphat's army didn't have to do anything but obey God.

We also have the powerful sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It inspires hope, builds faith, and gives direction. It is the same sword that Jesus used when the devil tempted Him. Jesus simply said, "It is written" and the devil left Him because the devil had no power to work against the Word of God. 
 
When we use these two powerful supernatural weapons, something happens in the natural. It is unexplainable but the enemy flees at the sound of worship and the Word. Like a soldier who keeps his weapons at his side, we need to keep these two mighty spiritual weapons close by us at all times. His praise should continually be in our mouths and His Word should be hidden within our hearts. With worship and the Word at our side, we will be ready for any battle that comes to challenge the promises of God in our lives. +++

A Word In Due Season
4th Week of June 2013

06/24/13
A LITTLE SALT GOES A LONG WAY

Scripture: Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the Earth."

In life we have so many chances to be a blessing to so many people, but we often miss our opportunities because we view the opportunity as insignificant or believe that our abilities are insufficient. The little that we could do goes undone because we see the greater need and think that our small part will not make a difference. Yet, we must remember the words that Jesus spoke to us. He said that we are the salt of the Earth and we must consider that a little salt goes a long way. Just a pinch or two of salt will give flavor to our food and immeasurable pleasure to our palate. In comparison to the amount of pleasure that it affords, salt is very inexpensive.

There is a man who comes and takes care of my front yard. He is very faithful and inexpensive. The summer months require his care every week, but in the winter, he only comes occasionally. I often wonder how he makes it through those cold dark months. During the Christmas season, I always leave something extra for him and his family in addition to the normal fee for the yard work. I have done this for a few years but never understood the impact of this small gift until this last year. For some reason, I was at home when he came to take care of the yard. I could not believe the expression on his face when he saw that I had left a few extra dollars and a card of appreciation for his good work and faithfulness. The joy that I saw in his face was worth more than the small gift that I had left.

Just as your food needs salt to enhance its flavor so do the people that cross your path. Jesus said that your witness and good deeds is like salt to a world that needs flavor. Yet, you must be attentive and look for ways that you can minister to others and share the salt of your life. Maybe someone needs your smile or word of encouragement just to make it through the day. Perhaps something in your closet will meet the need of someone who is in lack of clothing. You can invite a family to dinner or a coworker to lunch who is just trying to make it to payday. There are always people in the hospital and the elderly to be visited. We try so hard to be spiritual, but one minister said that we should never share the Word of God with someone until we have shown them the love of God at least three times in some natural way. They don't need to hear a sermon as much as they need to see a sermon in action.

Jesus, who was the greatest minister that ever lived, continually met the physical needs of the people. He understood their hunger, was touched by their sorrow, and empathized with their pain. He even turned water into wine at a wedding so that the celebration would not be ruined. He now speaks a clear word to you to become the salt that He ordained for you to be in this Earth. You may feel that you have little to give, but remember that a little salt goes a long way and that the Lord is well able to bless and multiply all that you do in His Name. +++

06/25/13
RECEIVE GOD'S COMFORT

Scripture: Genesis 37:35 "He refused to be comforted."

Joseph's brothers were jealous of him and sold him to the slave traders who took him to Egypt. Then his brothers dipped Joseph's coat of many colors into the blood of an animal and returned it to Jacob, their father. When Jacob saw the condition of this special coat that he had made for Joseph, he assumed that Joseph had been devoured by an evil beast and he immediately went into mourning. Jacob had eleven other sons besides Joseph and also some daughters. All of them attempted to comfort their father but he refused to be comforted. Jacob made a decision to grieve over this loss and declared that he would go to the grave in mourning over Joseph. He mourned over Joseph for about 17 years. Jacob didn't know that God was working His sovereign purpose in Joseph's life and that He planned to use him as an instrument to save a multitude of people from the famine. Neither did he know that he and Joseph were destined to be together again.

Sometimes our lives seem to shipwreck on the ocean of life. Everything seems to be going along fine until suddenly an unexpected storm comes up and blows us over, or we run our ship into a sand bank, or like the Titanic, we hit an iceberg that tears us apart. Everything in our life turns dark as we sink into the waters of hopelessness where our faith is tested beyond measure. The people whom we love and trust the most may fail us or we might even lose them to death. Possibly, our finances fail and we don't know what direction to take next. Perhaps we receive a bad report from our doctor or we find ourselves in legal trouble. After the shock of these shipwrecks, the spirit of grief will attempt to find a harbor within our souls where it can torment us.

Grief is a strong spirit, and if it can build a stronghold in your life, it will control you. You will never be able to move forward while you are trying to bear the burden or carry the baggage of present or past grief. It is just too heavy. King Solomon said that there is a time to weep and grieve over the losses in our lives, but mourning should only last for a season. There comes a time when we must let go of every loss and every pain of the past and face the future with joy in our hearts. The Lord is waiting to comfort you in your sorrow. You can either be like Jacob, who made a conscious decision to continue in pain by refusing to be comforted, or you can receive the comfort that is available to you right now. Jesus came to give you beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). If you submit your grief to Him, He will comfort you. He loves you with an everlasting love, so please don't refuse His offer to set you free from your pain. Receive His comfort and be blessed. +++

06/26/13
CHOOSING PRIORITIES

Scripture: Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go."

Are you busy and going in so many directions that you find yourself unproductive and unfruitful? When we spread ourselves too thin, we are unable to do justice to anything. That's the time we must eliminate things in our life in order to concentrate. We have to prioritize and let unnecessary things go. Good advice says, "Don't Be Everything - Be Something!" To be something, you must concentrate on the gifts and talents that God has given to you. Find the mold that fits your personality and fulfills the passions of your heart and then flow with it. Too many times we feel that we have to rescue every situation and we fail to wait upon God and listen for His instructions. As a result, we end up taking on every responsibility that comes our way and assuming burdens that God did not intend.

"Being Everything" is like being a swamp. A swamp goes everywhere, yet it goes nowhere. It has no definite borders and is totally governed by the circumstances surrounding it. It is muddy, shallow, and breeds disease and mosquitoes. It is unproductive and unfruitful in every way. When you are overloaded and overwhelmed with tasks that are set before you, you may use the expression "I'm swamped". God does not want you to be "swamped." Instead, He wants you to flow like a mighty river that produces fresh pure water and breeds good food. He wants you to "Be Something". A river has direction and is going somewhere. It has one main objective and goal, which is to get to the sea. It doesn't wander to the right or the left, but continues in a steady path. It may become wide or narrow at different points, but it remains steady, reaching out for its destiny.

Reaching God's destiny for your life means that you must make a decision to "press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). You must persevere by setting priorities and making a determination, like the river, that you will not be distracted. You must follow God's instructions and exercise your faith to complete His plan for your life. As you begin to flow, you will hear God's voice saying, "This is the way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21). When you feel swamped, remember, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (I Corinthians 14:33). Allow Him to set your priorities. If you listen to the Lord, He will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go. +++

06/27/13
SUFFERING AND GLORY

Scripture: Romans 8:18 "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Everything that we enjoy and every object of beauty that we behold has suffered through a time of intense preparation. The olive must be pressed to produce oil and the rose petal must be bruised to bring forth a fragrant perfume. The dough must be kneaded and sent to a hot oven to produce bread and the sculpture or woodcarving must be cut and chipped with a sharp instrument. Precious gold must be heated, melted, and formed and the diamond must be cut. The moth must be imprisoned in a lonely dark cocoon to become a beautiful butterfly. And a child is brought forth from the womb through much labor and pain In all of these instances we see that adversity and suffering produces a glorious result.

Our lives are much the same. The soul that has never known lack can never truly be full, for self sufficiency never appreciates the gift of God's mercy and grace. It is through the suffering of bruises and pain that we come to know and understand God's marvelous sacrificial love. It is through our hardships and crushed spirits that a depth of compassion is created within our souls. Afflictions become our personal trainer, for the pain we experience in our own sorrows enable us to comfort others in their time of grief. Our lack shows us the importance of sharing with others and our illnesses cause us to know their pain. Our mistakes become revelations that help us to teach others the virtues of wisdom and the importance of waiting for the appropriate time. The disappointments that we experience help us to understand the tears and heartaches of others and our broken hearts give birth to moving songs.

You must never be discouraged or allow your patience to be exhausted in your present suffering, for there will never be a harvest in your life without rain and heat or a birth without pain and labor. The Lord sees your situation and the trying of your faith is very precious in His eyes. You must wait upon Him and allow Him to complete His plan in your life. You can trust God's Word and be assured that you will reap if your strength does not fail. When all the trials are finished, you will discover that your present sufferings were not worthy to be compared to the glory that is destined to be revealed in you. 

+++

06/28/13
YOUR CHOICES

Scripture: Joshua 24:15 "Choose you this day whom you will serve."

This day with all of its uncertainties belongs to you. It is like a tapestry that is being woven with threads, some provided by you and others by a sovereign God. And although God is in total control, much of the pattern will be determined by your choices. The choices you make today will affect your future health, future wealth, and future relationship with God and man. Exercise today and you will be strong for tomorrow. Be a junk-food couch potato today and you will be physically weak tomorrow. Work hard and make the right investments today and you will be financially secure tomorrow. Be wasteful with your time and money and you will face future lack in both areas. Build strong relationships with friends and family today and they will sustain you through the difficult tomorrows of your life. Choose to serve God today and He will be there for you tomorrow and throughout eternity.

You have a choice today to choose whom you will serve. You can choose to serve the God of love, joy, and peace, or you can give yourself to the enemy by allowing the irritations and vexations of others to intrude into your life and steal the fruits of God's Spirit from the garden of your heart. You must be sober and vigilantly watching for the enemy of your soul for he will entice you to choose to serve hate, bitterness, and sadness. Through your choices, the god of this world will cause you to be impatient, rude, and unfaithful, and at the end of your choices you will find yourself in confusion and out of control.

Your destiny starts with one small choice and builds with each choice that follows. The devil gives you reasonable excuses for your choices and behavior. II Corinthians 11:14 says, "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." He makes everything look right, but eventually there are consequences for every choice, whether good or bad. You have a choice to live behind the sham of pretense or allow God to show you a reflection of your true self and reveal to you whom you really love and are serving. With each choice you make, you choose to serve the true and living God or the god of this world. This is the day that the Lord has made. It is a day of salvation and deliverance. Each moment in this day demands a choice, so be wise as to whom you choose to serve because you are the maker of your fate. +++