10/01/13
POSSESSING THE PROMISE

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:7 & 8 "You have dwelt long enough in this mountain ... go and possess the land."

God had made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and to their children after them that He would give them the Promised Land. Moses now speaks to the people and commands them to go forward and possess the land that God had promised to their fathers before them. In verse twenty-one, Moses also tells the people of Israel to do this without fear or discouragement. 

Israel was given a tremendous promise of a special land, but the possession of that promise came only by facing the giants and engaging in battles. It's very easy for us to get excited about a promise that we receive from God, but it is another thing to put forth the effort to possess that same promise. Too often, we view the promise from afar and never walk towards the vision that God has placed in our hearts. The giants of doubt and unbelief challenge our hopes and dreams and tempt us to give up. In the midst of the battle, we must remember that God never makes a promise that He can't keep. When the Lord leads, He goes before us and no foe can stand in His way. His presence clears the way before us, making the crooked paths straight and the rough ways smooth.

God has set before you open doors in an attempt to enlarge your borders and He speaks to you as He did with Moses, "You have dwelt long enough in this mountain. Go possess the land." Adversity may come as you move forward, but if you allow it, that same adversity will strengthen you. Conflicts transform the meek into mighty warriors, fires purify, water purges, and stones polish. It is a known fact that hard times make us strong, and valleys rather than mountains cause us to grow. Your shattered hopes and disappointments will cause you to shift your focus to God and God alone. Your experiences will give you insight and discernment and God will use all of your brokenness to minister to you and equip you to be able to minister to others. The peace and joy that you win in battle will become more precious than the peace which has known no conflict. God desires that you move into your destiny and speaks, "Don't fear or be discouraged. Go and possess the promise." +++

10/02/13
ACCIDENTAL DEEDS

Scripture: Romans 7:19 "For the good that I would do, I do not: but the evil which I would not do, I do."

A few years ago, I was very amused with a statement made by my young granddaughter. Instead of drying her hands on the towel that was next to sink in the bathroom, she hurried to the living room and dried them on the decorative throw, which was on the couch. When her parents corrected her, she said, "I didn't do it, my hands did it." She explained the situation further by saying, "It was an accident. I didn't know that my hands were doing that." She was unconsciously exercising a bad habit, and because she didn't do it deliberately, she didn't feel responsible for what her hands had done. It was as though her hands were a different entity than the rest of her whole being, so it wasn't her fault that they had accidentally dried themselves on the throw blanket instead of the towel. 

This incident sounds humorous to us as adults because we know that we can't get away with putting the blame on our hands or other parts of our body when we do something wrong. We understand that the entire body is involved in our actions and that we have to take responsible for our individual members. Yet, there are probably times in God's eyes that we look much like my granddaughter when we try to justify our actions. We have an enemy in our life who tempts us to do wrong. When we find ourselves in financial difficulty, he tells us that it is okay to cheat just a little. He tempts us with lustful thoughts and disguises it as true love. He deceives us into thinking that we can say what we want to say and do what we want to do, and tells us that if it feels good, it must be okay. We speak hurtful words and share rumors, but instead calling it an accident, we try to cover it up by saying, "I really didn't mean to say that." We allow our eyes to linger on offensive scenes and expose our ears to vulgarity, and then dismissed it by declaring, "I couldn't help it, it just flashed across the movie screen." 

Paul was a great apostle and wrote most of the New Testament. Yet, we can see from his own words that he struggled with daily challenges just like us. Like Paul, we do things that we don't want to do and we don't do the things that we want to do. We may not issue a disclaimer for our misconduct by calling it an accident like my granddaughter did, and we may not even be aware that our actions are displeasing to God because our conscious may have become seared. So we need God's help. David prayed and asked God to point out anything in him that made God sad. We must do the same. We must allow God to show us our secret sins and then acknowledge that our actions, whether good or bad, are not mere accidents. We need God to remind us not to do the things that we're not supposed to do and then help us do the things that we should do. God is loving and faithful, and He will help us if we ask. +++

10/03/13
HEALING FOR THE HEART

Scripture: Psalms 147:3 " ... Jesus binds up their wounds."

Saint Augustine, who lived in 354-430 AD said, "It's one thing to remove the spear, but quite another to heal the wound by long and careful treatment." His statement was not only true concerning physical wounds but also true with regard to wounds that come when the heart has been shattered by the conflicts of life. The spear, or the circumstance that causes our pain, may be quickly removed from our lives, yet the wound that has been inflicted will take much time to fully heal. For when the spear is removed, it leaves a gaping hole within our heart that only God can mend. Memories may linger for a lifetime and will surprise us at the most inopportune moments. Against our will, they will resurface and remind us of the pain that we suffered and the injustice that we were forced to endure. Painful memories are like permanent stains, which cannot be erased, removed, or washed away without the supernatural work of our Comforter, the Holy Spirit. 

King David was a mighty warrior and knew the hardships and grief of battle. Yet, his heart had been wounded not by a spear from the enemy, but by a trusted friend. He prayed to God concerning this particular painful and personal experience that he had suffered. He said if an enemy had reproached and taunted him, he might have been able to bear it. Or if he had been hurt by someone who hated him, he would have just gone into hiding. But sadly, David's wounds came from his close companion and familiar friend. He was betrayed by someone with whom he shared a close relationship. They had a sweet fellowship with one another and had even walked together to the house of God (Psalms 55:12-14).

Like David, most of us have sustained near-fatal wounds in the spirit and have felt the pain of the spear as it pierced our heart. We have lost loved ones to death, experienced divorce, or possibly suffered an estranged relationship with a close friend or a precious member of our own family. Through no fault of our own, we have been terribly wounded by those that we have loved and trusted the most. No enemy could have broken our heart like that of our loved one. No worldly acquaintance could have disappointed us more than the betrayal by our spiritual brother or sister with whom we fellowshipped with in the house of the Lord. These wounds to our heart are deeper and far greater than those that an enemy could inflict, for it is harder to receive healing when our wounds came by those we love. Nevertheless, we do have hope. The Lord, Himself, has promised to heal the broken hearted and to bind up the wounds. We must yield ourselves to His process. Jesus will remove the spear and then by long and careful treatment, He will lovingly bind up or dress our wounds until our hearts are thoroughly healed. +++

10/04/13
A PLACE CALLED PRAYER

Scripture: Matthew 14:23 "Jesus went up into a mountain apart to pray."

This scripture is sandwiched in between two mighty miracles that Jesus preformed. In the first miracle, Jesus fed over 5000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Within just a few hours, He preformed another miracle by walking on the water. Could we say as the people did in Matthew 13:54, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" Jesus answers this question in John 5:19-20 when He says, "The Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing ... For the Father loves the Son and will show Him what He is doing."

Even though Jesus was God the Son, when He came to Earth He was the "Word made flesh" (John 1:14). He emptied Himself and took on the form of a mere man and could only do what the Spirit of God anointed Him to do (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus did not take advantage of His divine nature, but instead He completely abandoned Himself into the hands of God. He depended on God the Father to show Him what to do and to anoint Him to do it. Acts 10:38 says, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with Him."

Jesus' wisdom and power came about as a result of the anointing of God, and the anointing came as a result of His communion with God the Father. Jesus continually searched for a time and place to be alone with God. It was in those intimate places that God showed Jesus what He was to do and infused His being with the presence of the Holy Spirit who then empowered Jesus to complete the work. Jesus miraculously fed the multitudes, but then He sent His disciples and the multitudes away so that He could find a place to pray before He walked upon the water. Jesus renewed His strength through His relationship with God the Father and did not try to function in yesterday's power. And because He spent time with God, God was with Him.

Too often we find ourselves too busy to spend time with God. We begin to experience a great lack in our study of God's Word and prayer time and then find ourselves trying to rely on yesterday's revelation and yesterday's anointing. We must recall the secret that Jesus held. He found wisdom and power in the solitary place called prayer. His main interest was His communion with the Father. God's anointing is only going to come to us through this same place of intimacy with Him. When we pass through the veil into God's presence, we will gain an assurance that He is with us and we will find the power of His anointing that will cause us to be able to fulfill His call. +++

10/08/13
GOD TEACHES AND DIRECTS

Scripture: Isaiah 48:17 NIV "This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."

As we travel our various roads of life, there are separate destinies that await us. Yet often in quest of God's purposes and plans, it seems difficult to 'get on' and 'stay on' the right course because there are so many distractions to lead us away in the wrong direction. Our paths may be diverted by failures and disappointments or sometimes even good things that are not necessarily the right things for our life. It would be great to be like the Israelites who were led by a cloud each day and guided by a fire at night. Or can you imagine being directed by the Star of Bethlehem, which led the wise men to their intended destination? With precise signs and wonders like these leading us, it would surely be hard for us to miss God's perfect plan for our life.

God, however, has not ordained these types of supernatural happenings for our daily life. He has given us the witness of His Holy Spirit and His still small voice to guide and direct us. As simple as this plan of communication may sound, however, His presence and His voice is just as phenomenal as signs and wonders. How awesome it is to feel God's presence leading us along the right path. It is just as exciting as the cloud by day or the fire by night, for when God makes His presence known, it is an overwhelming and eternal experience. And too, when God singles us out and speaks distinctly within our spirits, there is no sign or wonder that can compare.

Every time God touches us in a personal and special way, we are changed. His desires become our desires and His choices become our choices. The more we see Him move in our circumstances, the more we realize that His ways truly are better than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. All of His plans for us are for our good and not evil and they are designed to give us a future and a hope. He is our Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah said that the Lord not only teaches or lets you know the right way, but that He also directs you in the way you should go. God is interested in that which is the very best for you. Trust His leadership, for He knows what is ahead and is much wiser than you. As you trust Him, you will find that He always gives you the best when you allow Him to do the choosing. +++

10/09/13
WISE COMPANIONS

Scripture: Proverbs 13:20 "He that walks with wise men shall be wise."

What we gather into ourselves determines who we are. Our physical bodies are formed by what we eat and how much we exercise, and our spirits and souls are molded and shaped by the knowledge we obtain, the things we experience, and our communion with God. Solomon, a man gifted with wisdom, said that if we desire to be wise, we must walk with wise men. He continued to say "a companion of fools shall be destroyed." He understood the principle that worked in human nature; that is, we eventually become like those who surround us. We've all seen people who have handled their lives in wisdom and discretion, but later fell into a sad state as they began to associate with the wrong crowd. Even King Solomon, who wrote this proverb, fell when he married heathen wives and began to worship their gods. It can happen to anyone. James 4:4 tells us that we cannot make friends with the world. If we do, we become enemies to God, because the flesh will work against the Spirit, and foolishness will work against wisdom.

Gaining Godly wisdom is a choice in life. You have to make an effort to be transformed into the image of Christ and be renewed in your mind with His wisdom. It is a daily process of looking at yourself through the Word of God just as you would examine yourself in a mirror. As you see truth, you determine the changes that you need to make so that you will measure up to His image and not conform to the world (II Corinthians 3:18). You must make the decision to walk with the wise and not the foolish. It is a steady and gradual process. Even Jesus, Himself, grew and increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52). Jesus was not born full of wisdom and His wisdom was not given to Him as a sudden endowment from God. Wisdom came as He searched the scriptures, sat with the wise men of God in the temple, and as He walked with a wise God.

Walking with the wise allows you to hear their speech, see their actions, and witness their examples. As you do, wisdom will manifest itself in your life and you will begin to think as the wise think, talk as they talk, and act like they act. If you truly want to be wise, you must make a conscious choice to walk with wise men, and above all, you must walk with the God of wisdom. +++

10/10/13
MULTIPLYING YOUR TALENTS

Scripture: Matthew 25:29 "For to everyone that hath, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance."

A man divided several talents between his servants according to their individual ability before he went on a journey. When he returned, he found that the servant to whom he entrusted five talents had put his talents to work and had gained five more talents. Likewise, the servant who received two talents gain two more. However, the servant who had received only one talent fearfully hid it in the ground. Because of his fear and laziness, his talent did not produce an increase and he had nothing to offer to his master. The lord of these men was pleased by the two servants who had put their talents to work, but he was so displeased by the fearful and slothful servant who had hid his talent in the ground that he took his talent from him and gave to the faithful servant. This wise servant now had eleven talents because he had shown himself diligent in managing the five talents that had been originally given to him.

Did you ever wonder why the people who have, seem to be able to get more, or why the people who lack never seem to be able to gain and move forward? Jesus shares the reason in this story. It is a simple principle of putting what little you have to work so that God can bless it. He has promised to bless and multiply whatever you sow or whatever your put to work. But if you do nothing or sow nothing, then when your nothing is blessed or multiplied by God, it still remains as nothing.

It is easy to identify with the fearful servant because it is difficult to sow when you have little, but we must remember that everything belongs to God, and Jesus declared that He was able to reap where He had not sown. The Lord knows if you are able to handle five talents, two talents, or just one talent and He will never ask you to go beyond your ability. He doesn't expect you to give what you do not have or to exercise a talent that you are not gifted with, but He does expect you to take the little that you have and put it to use. It will take faith to reach forth and sow the gift that God has given you, but miracles only happen on the other side of the comfort zone. If you only have a few dollars, it is hard to let go and sow it into the life of someone else. It intimidating to play an instrument in public if you know only one song. Yet, you cannot be like the man with one talent and hide your gift. Small ability does not negate responsibility. Multiplication doesn't come by hiding, but by sharing. Even the trees of the field have to bear fruit and give forth of themselves to be able to multiply. Trust God for increase and ask Him to help you move out of your comfort zone. When you stretch yourself in this fashion, you will be surprised as God begins to multiply your talents. +++

10/10/13
MULTIPLYING YOUR TALENTS

Scripture: Matthew 25:29 "For to everyone that hath, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance."

A man divided several talents between his servants according to their individual ability before he went on a journey. When he returned, he found that the servant to whom he entrusted five talents had put his talents to work and had gained five more talents. Likewise, the servant who received two talents gain two more. However, the servant who had received only one talent fearfully hid it in the ground. Because of his fear and laziness, his talent did not produce an increase and he had nothing to offer to his master. The lord of these men was pleased by the two servants who had put their talents to work, but he was so displeased by the fearful and slothful servant who had hid his talent in the ground that he took his talent from him and gave to the faithful servant. This wise servant now had eleven talents because he had shown himself diligent in managing the five talents that had been originally given to him.

Did you ever wonder why the people who have, seem to be able to get more, or why the people who lack never seem to be able to gain and move forward? Jesus shares the reason in this story. It is a simple principle of putting what little you have to work so that God can bless it. He has promised to bless and multiply whatever you sow or whatever your put to work. But if you do nothing or sow nothing, then when your nothing is blessed or multiplied by God, it still remains as nothing.

It is easy to identify with the fearful servant because it is difficult to sow when you have little, but we must remember that everything belongs to God, and Jesus declared that He was able to reap where He had not sown. The Lord knows if you are able to handle five talents, two talents, or just one talent and He will never ask you to go beyond your ability. He doesn't expect you to give what you do not have or to exercise a talent that you are not gifted with, but He does expect you to take the little that you have and put it to use. It will take faith to reach forth and sow the gift that God has given you, but miracles only happen on the other side of the comfort zone. If you only have a few dollars, it is hard to let go and sow it into the life of someone else. It intimidating to play an instrument in public if you know only one song. Yet, you cannot be like the man with one talent and hide your gift. Small ability does not negate responsibility. Multiplication doesn't come by hiding, but by sharing. Even the trees of the field have to bear fruit and give forth of themselves to be able to multiply. Trust God for increase and ask Him to help you move out of your comfort zone. When you stretch yourself in this fashion, you will be surprised as God begins to multiply your talents. +++

10/11/13
REMEMBER THE SABBATH

Scripture: Exodus 20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

In six days God created the heavens and the earth, all of nature and the universe, and man and woman. When He had finished, He was pleased with His work and declared that it was good. He then rested on the seventh day from all of His labors. When God gave us the Ten Commandments, He told us to follow His example and consecrate the Sabbath to Him. The animals were not to be put to work and the land itself was to rest. Seed was not supposed to be sown in the fields and the vineyards were not to be pruned. Taking a day of rest was not just a suggestion. Instead, it was a command for the entire creation of God. Yet often we violate this commandment to rest, even though most of us would never think of violating the other nine commandments. We love the Lord our God with all of our hearts and do not take His Name in vain. We would never make or worship idols. We honor our fathers and mothers and we don't kill or steal. Neither do we bear false witness against our neighbors or covet our neighbor's spouse or material goods. But we are busy people and do find ourselves at times transgressing the command of God to rest one day out of seven.

God set aside the Sabbath for our time of rest, which was actually the last and seventh day of the week. But since Jesus' resurrection on the first day of the week, we now celebrate Sunday as our day of rest and we call it the Lord's Day. It is our day of worship and we consecrate it as holy unto the Lord. Yet, it also becomes a day to catch up on all the left over chores of the week. When I was growing up it was much easier to find a day of rest because most of the businesses were closed in honor of the Lord's Day, which left nothing else to do but rest. It also seemed that life was not as busy and there was more time to take care of all of our business during the week. However, there came a day when more businesses began to open on Sunday, and I remember that they established a law in effort to keep Sunday from becoming just another day of the week. It was called the "Blue Law" and this law made it illegal for merchants to sell anything that was not necessary. You could only buy food and medicine that was marked with a blue symbol. I wonder what happened to that law, which was established to honor the Lord's Day? It just seemed to fade away.

I also wonder what happened to the law of God that is supposed to be written upon the tables of our heart that says, "Six days you are to labor and do all of your work. The seventh day, you are to rest." God did not just randomly think of the Sabbath rest. He knew from own His own experience that we too needed the rhythm of action and rest. It is a spiritual and biological necessity that we allow ourselves to be dormant, for if we do not find times of rest, just being alive will become an enormous burden. God said that man was not made for the Sabbath, but that the Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27). He made one day out of every seven just for us. He intends for us to consecrate that day as holy unto Him and find rest and regeneration for our body, soul, and spirit. Remember the Sabbath, for is a personal gift from God, which we should receive and enjoy. +++

10/14/13
POWER AND STRENGTH

Scripture: Isaiah 40:29 "He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might, He increases strength."

This promise of power and increased strength from God is a wonderful scripture to hold on to in times of stress and fatigue. In the verses following, Isaiah tells us that those who were once weak will mount up with wings as the eagles. They will be able to run without growing weary and they will walk without getting faint. Notice that there are three levels where we may find ourselves; soaring as eagles, running, and walking.

It's great when our journey with God takes us to new heights and the winds of His Spirit lift us above the mundane obstacles of daily life. As we soar through life, everything seems so special and it's as though we can reach out and actually embrace the heart of God. There are no obstructions, our vision is clear, and all storms are beneath us. It seems that Heaven is just a breath away. Everything appears beautiful in its own way, and we are at ease as we are carried on the winds of God's wings. When we soar, the mountains do not threaten us for they are our resting place, and the valleys do not frighten us for we are not having to walk through them. We face no shadows or immediate dangers, and one glance in any direction reveals our provisions.

Soaring as eagles is a wonderful place with God, but we all know these seasons do not last forever. There are times that we must come down from the heavenlies, walk through the valleys, climb the mountains, and run the race that God has set before us. Running and walking do not seem to be as grand as the heights that we once experienced, yet God still meets us in these places and gives us added strength to endure. As we run, the journey goes fast and our thoughts are kept busy. There are no wasted efforts or long delays. We have no time for our patience to be tried because our efforts bring quick rewards. But then comes the times that we are only allowed to walk. These are the more difficult places where progress is slow. We know that God is with us, but it seems as though nothing is really happening. Our vision is limited and we have no idea what is just around the bend. The scenery changes very slowly as we can only take one step at a time, and desperation begins to cause our faith to faint.

This is the time to remember the words that Isaiah prophesied to us. He explained just how the power and strength would come to those who are desperate for help. Whether you are young or old, you must understand that failing strength happens to everyone. Isaiah said when you find that you are weak and have no might, wait upon the Lord and He will cause you to grow stronger. When you feel that you can't go on, rest in God's presence, for He will give power to the faint and increase the strength of those who are weary. +++

10/15/13
ALMOST

Scripture: Acts 26:28 "Then Agrippa said to Paul, you almost persuade me to be a Christian."

Paul gave a moving testimony of the blinding light and his heavenly vision that he experienced on the Road to Damascus. He also witnessed about Christ and spoke of the things that Christ had suffered because He came to this earth as the Savior of the world. Paul was so passionate and shared so many convincing details that King Agrippa declared that he, himself, was almost persuaded to become a Christian. Yet, King Agrippa fell short and never followed through with a definite decision or action to receive Jesus in his heart.

To say "almost" in any situation is never enough. God calls us to completion. When Jesus had completed His assignment on Earth, He said, "It is finished." When the Apostle Paul came to the end of his life, he said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II Timothy 4:7). For King Agrippa to say that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian was the same as saying that he was almost rescued from the fire or almost saved from drowning. A person who is almost saved from the fire or from drowning is still dead and without hope. Likewise, King Agrippa's soul was still lost and going to Hell no matter how close he had come to receiving Jesus as the Lord and Savior of his life. 

There is no joy if you are almost delivered or almost saved from destruction. There is only defeat. There is no reward if you almost refrain from sin. There are only consequences. There is no virtue if you almost tell the truth, for your words are still considered to be lies. There is no such position as almost fair, almost righteous, almost justified, or almost sanctified. Almost is not enough. You can't go halfway or just nearly make it. The work has to be completed. For true victory in your life, you must go all the way with God and refuse to stop at the place that is called almost. +++

10/16/13
WHEN FEAR COMES

Scripture: Psalms 56:3 "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."

David experienced much in his life. He had his times of joy, sadness, defeats, and triumphs and he also had times of great fear. This particular psalm came to David during a season of fear. Verse one and two says that he was seeking for God's mercy because, as David put it, men were trying to "swallow him up." They were fighting against him daily and there were many who were oppressing him.

In a state of fear, David had fled from King Saul, who was trying to kill him, and went to Achish, the king of Gath, to find refuge. But the servants of Achish recognized David as also being a king and they began to rehearse the songs that people were singing about David. The lyrics declared that David was mighty in battle and that he had killed tens of thousands of his enemies. As David heard these words being spoken about him, he became very afraid of Achish and what his reaction might be against him. In order to protect himself, David began to pretend that he was insane. As he feigned insanity, he allowed his spittle to fall upon his beard in order to convince king Achish that he was a madman (I Samuel 21:10-15).

David's plan worked and he was delivered from his dilemma. But this charade shows us that no one is exempt from being attacked by fear. Fear comes to the coward and the brave hearted, to the poor and the rich, to the weak and the mighty, and also to the peasants and the kings. In the midst of his fear, however, David decided it didn't matter what was going on around him or inside of him, he was going to trust the Lord. He recognized that God was for him (verse 9) and he declared, "What time I am afraid ... I will trust in You."

There are many oppressive voices that seek to challenge us in today's world. There are physical storms, wars and rumors of war, unstable financial situations, and personal issues to face. Each day brings its own challenges and uncertainties. When fear attacks on any level a tough personal choice has to be made to either give in and give up or trust God right in the midst of the fearful situation. Trust is a definite commitment and demands letting go of all the perplexities that surround us and then leaning totally upon God. Like David's words, our trust declares, "Even though I am afraid ... I trust in You, Lord." +++

10/17/13
DEEPER DIMENSION

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13 "You shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart."

We are standing on the threshold of change. The Lord is moving in a more powerful way than ever before and an entirely new dimension is opening before us. God's Word is made available to us daily through many different mediums so that we are able grow in His wisdom and understand His will. His spirit is calling us into a place of deeper intimacy with Him so that we can know His heart. When we understand God's will and yield our lives to His heart's desire, our prayers will reach into eternity and bring His infinite power to Earth. Our lives will show forth His glory and our witness will bring honor to Him and Him alone.

Yet as with anything that is worth having, there is a price that must be paid in order to enter this place of intimacy and experience the deeper dimension of God's glory and grace. Jeremiah said that we would only find God when we search for Him with all of our heart. God is not playing hard to get, but He will not be found until a diligent search is made. He is looking for total commitment and He will not show Himself to us until He sees that our heart is desperate for Him. We will not experience God if we approach Him with prayers that are inspired by our own foolish desires and notions. If we intend to find God at all, His kingdom must be our main interest. He must become more important to us than our next breath, the food that we eat, or the water that we drink. Our entire lives must communication to God that He is life to our being and that we love Him for who He is, not for what He gives.

Fathers and mothers always rejoice to see their children learn and they celebrate each new level of growth. So it is with God, our Father. He rejoices over us as we experience spiritual growth and is very pleased when the borders of our territory are enlarged. Yet, it is evident that we cannot travel alone or open the doors by ourselves. We need the Lord to direct our path and help us step over the threshold so that we might experience this new place that He has prepared for us. God, Himself, is the greater and deeper dimension that we seek, and beside Him, there is no other. He invites us to come and experience His awesome presence. He even gives us the formula of how to experience this place of intimacy, but there is a price to be paid before we enter this deeper dimension of His glory. It will take true faith on our part to find God, effort to seek for Him, and personal sacrifice as we search for Him with all of our heart. +++

10/18/13
THE GOODNESS OF GOD

Scripture: Romans 2:4 " ... the goodness of God leads to repentance."

When we were children we were wise in our own eyes and many times we couldn't understand why we were not allowed to make our own decisions. We tried to do things our own way and often despised the correction that our actions demanded. As time progressed, however, we began to understand and appreciate the protection and the benefits of the discipline that we had received at the hands of those who loved us very much. We saw the wisdom of not being allowed to play in the street where our bodies could have been mangled or our lives lost. We could also appreciate the other benefits that were forced upon us such as good diet and hygiene. And we began to understand that going to school and studying were not a means of punishment but were meant for our own growth and development. As we matured, we came to realize that it was good that we were not left to ourselves.

Paul's statement that the goodness of God leads to repentance is similar to the discipline that we received in our youth. Many times we don't understand the workings of God. Our natural desires pull us one direction which is to enjoy our own lives for a season, while the Holy Spirit strives within us to lead us into the way that is intended to fulfill God's eternal purposes. When we go against the leading of the Holy Spirit a Godly sorrow begins to manifest within our hearts. This Godly sorrow is called conviction and pulls at our heartstrings. It is never to be despised, for God is our loving Father and He is seeking only our good. It is because of His goodness that He deals with us so patiently in this manner in an effort to lead us into His paths of righteousness. It is because of God's mercy that He brings us to repentance and diverts us from our own thoughts and plans. Eventually we come to understand that His plan was much higher and far greater than our own plan.

In II Corinthians 7:10, Paul speaks of the two kinds of sorrow. There is the Godly sorrow, which works repentance and brings salvation, and then there is the worldly sorrow, which brings death. Godly sorrow releases us to experience life and light as we release the things that cause death to our soul and spirit. This Godly sorrow leaves no regrets. Worldly sorrow, however, leads to discouragement, defeat, and death. It condemns and causes you to hate yourself.

The Apostle Paul said, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (I Corinthians 13:11). There is a time to grow up and go on with life. Repentance means to turn from one direction and go in the opposite direction. To experience life, you must release the things that hold you in bondage, whether it be sins of the flesh or the pains of the past. The bondage of sin and the regrets of the past always cause death to your soul and spirit. God is seeking to change your heart, turn you around, and bring you to repentance, not because He is selfish and mean, but because of His infinite goodness and grace. God knows that His love and His light will drive out the darkness as you repent and release it all to Him. +++    

10/21/13
AUDIENCE OF ONE

Scripture: I Chronicles 28:8 " ... and in the audience of God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that you may possess this good land ... "

King David desired to build a temple for the presence of the Lord, but because he had been a man of war and had shed blood, God disallowed him to experience this honor. So at the word of the Lord, David put aside all of his hopes and desires to build the temple. In obedience to God, David gave the pattern of all that the Spirit of the Lord had put in his own heart to his son, Solomon, and he allowed him the honor of building a house for the Lord. David was able to lay down his dreams and visions because he was a man after God's own heart and sought only to please God. He knew that success with God was not measured in ones achievement but in faithfulness to His Word.

When David stood before the congregation of Israel to make known the plans and process of building the temple, he exhorted the people to search for and keep all the commandments of the Lord. David spoke from experience, for he knew the personal value of obedience to God and the rewards that came from keeping His commandments. He also knew the results of disobedience and sin. In his prayer of repentance that came about because of his involvement with Bathsheba, David prayed, "Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11). Sin separates you from the heart of God and destroys His purposes for your life. In the heart of David, it was a fearful thought that he would no longer have the privilege of enjoying the presence of the Lord and having a personal audience with Him.

You could have the opportunity to stand before multitudes, but like David, you must come to the realization that the highest place that you could ever achieve is an audience with God. When you stand in His presence, you stand before the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You are in the glory of the Almighty God. You must be dedicated to seeking this awesome audience of One, for only the Lord God matters.

The Apostle Paul said that it was a small thing to be judged by man or even by himself. His only concern was for the approval and praise of God (I Corinthians 4:3-5). Like Paul, God must be the One sitting upon the throne of your heart. You cannot allow yourself to be moved by the praises or the criticisms of men. When you pray, enter your closet and pray to this audience of One. When you sing praises, sing to His heart and not to the ears of man, and when you give, give as unto Him. God sees your heart and knows which audience you are seeking to impress. When you seek to honor God in all that you do, He promises that you will possess the good of the land. +++

10/22/13
ALMOST

YOUR HEART'S TREASURE

Scripture: Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

In this verse and the verses following, Jesus speaks to us about being focused. He talks to us about our heart's attitude concerning material things, our spiritual vision, and our service. He exhorts us to lay up heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones. He tells us to keep our vision single so that our whole life is filled with light, and then concludes by telling us that there can be only one master in our life. He makes it very clear that our hearts, vision, and service will revolve around only the things we count as treasures in our lives.

All of us have treasures of some sort that we are concerned about. When we were kids, our minds and hearts weren't the least bit concerned about the security of the banks or the stock market. Our treasure was wrapped up in a few coins in a piggy bank in our room, but we guarded that small bank because it was our personal treasure. As we matured, however, our treasures began to change and our hearts became concerned about the national and global economy. For some of us, our career became our prize and priority. For others, our children remained our most treasured possessions. We were there for every school program and band concert, not because we wanted to be there for the performance, but because our personal treasure was involved. We counted the sacrifice of our time a joy and a privilege because we were supporting our personal treasure.

Regardless of what we count as most dear in our lives, whether money, position, or relationships, our hearts will lean in the direction of that treasure, for just as Jesus said, where our treasure is, there will be our heart also. Jesus said that whenever He is the true treasure of our life, our hearts and minds will be stayed on Him and there will be no other gods in our lives. Our vision and attention will become single and nothing will be allowed to interfere, as our heart follows after our treasure. We will joyfully dedicate all that we are and everything that we have to the Lord to fulfill His will and complete His purpose. This is the simple truth that Jesus wanted us to understand, which is that our heart will always remain with our treasure. He exhorted us to choose God as the utmost treasure of our hearts. Then He promised that as we seek God and His kingdom before anything else, the lesser treasures will also be added to us. +++

10/23/13
WAGE IS IRRELEVANT

Scripture: Psalms 71:9 "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails."

Several years ago I went to an estate sale of a woman who had died in her late nineties. When I entered the woman's home, I noticed that it was filled with beautiful oil paintings that she had painted. I wanted to buy one of the paintings but their appraisal value was far beyond my means. As I viewed this awesome art, I was amazed to learn that this woman, who was obviously a talented and brilliant artist, had not started painting until she was 82 years old. Even though she neglected her gift for most of her many years, it was very admirable that in her old age, she gave birth to her hidden gift and left a treasure for others to enjoy. I imagine that when she first started painting at 82 years of age, she may have thought that she would only achieve one painting because of her limitation. Yet because she was not afraid to start something in the limited time that she had left, she was able to leave this world with much beauty and a part of herself.

I heard someone say recently that age is irrelevant and that it doesn't matter how old we are but how much time we have left. If we are sixty years old and God's appointed time for us to die is at the age of ninety-five, we are not old because we still have thirty-five years of life remaining. However, if we are thirty years old and are ordained to die at age thirty-five, we are old because we only have five years left. So, wherever we are in life, we may be considered old or young, not based on our age, but based upon the years that we have left. For that reason, we must live each day as if it were our last day but also look to the future as if we were going to live many more years.

Throughout the scriptures, God used many people who were advanced in years. Moses was eighty years old and his brother, Aaron, was eighty-three when they began their journey across the wilderness to the Promised Land. Abraham was one hundred and Sarah was ninety when Isaac was born, and Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist in her old age. Caleb was eighty-five when he said, "Give me this mountain that the Lord promised me" (Joshua 14:12). He declared that he was as strong this day as he was in the day that Moses sent him out forty years earlier. Caleb was ready to fight for what belonged to him.

We can be no less aggressive than these courageous souls. When we are eighty-two, it is no time to sit down and give up. It is time to stir the gifts within us whether it be creating beautiful paintings, writing books, composing songs, or using other talents that God has endowed us with. As long as we have breath, we should praise the Lord with the gifts that He has given to us. We must believe that no mountain is too high for us to climb and no ocean is too big for us to cross. God, Himself, will help us accomplish anything that we set our hearts to do. Like the psalmist said, God will not cast us off in our old age nor forsake us when our strength fails. +++

10/24/13 
NEW COMMANDMENT

Scripture: John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you."

Most of us try not to break the Ten Commandments that are listed in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. We do not serve other gods, make graven images, take God's Name in vain, or dishonor the Lord's Day. We also don't dishonor our parents, kill, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, or covet things that belong to our neighbors. In keeping the first four of these commandments, we fulfill Jesus' command that He gave in Luke 10:27, which says to "love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind." And by doing the last six of the Ten Commandments, we show that we "love our neighbor as ourselves," which was also stated in this same verse.

Now in John's gospel, Jesus goes on to tell us that He is giving us a "new commandment". Jesus says that we are not only to love our neighbor as ourselves, but that we are to move on to a higher level and love them as He loves us. Jesus loved us in a greater degree than we could ever love ourselves. He loved us so much that He laid down His life for us on a cruel cross while we were still in sin. Without having any promise that we would receive Him, He simply sacrificed Himself in faith.

God also showed His amazing love towards us by sending His only begotten Son to suffer and bear the shame of our sins. I John 4:11 tells us that if God so loved us, we also should love one another. He gave His greatest possession. If God loved us so much that He was willing to make this tremendous sacrifice, we should be able to love one another in the same way. If God was willing to watch His Son, Jesus, be beaten, crowned with thorns, have nails driven into His hands, and be hung on a cross, we should be able to bear up under the load of love that our relationships demand.

Love does demand sacrifice and when our sacrifice of love becomes too demanding, we must remember that it was Jesus who spoke the command of love into our lives and that He termed it a command and not an option. Regardless of the circumstances or the challenges, we have no choice but to obey His commandment and be self-sacrificing as He and God the Father were towards us. We must love each other as They loved us. +++

10/25/13
GOD'S SPECIAL PLACE

Scripture: Genesis 40:14 "Remember me when it is well with you, and show kindness to me, mention me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this place."

Joseph was being held prisoner with Pharaoh's baker and chief butler and these men had a dream which they shared with Joseph. Joseph interpreted both dreams and told the butler that he was going to be restored to his post. He pleaded with the butler to remember him and also mention him to Pharaoh when this event happened, but the butler forgot to befriend Joseph even though Joseph had graciously interpreted his dream for him. Finally after two full years, Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. The butler remembered Joseph, who was still in prison, and recalled his divine gift of interpreting dreams. He mentioned the accuracy of Joseph's interpretations to Pharaoh and Pharaoh sent for Joseph to be brought out of prison. When Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh's dream and give him sound counsel, Pharaoh recognized Joseph's wisdom and discretion and made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

From time to time, we acquire items with the intentions of using them for special occasions. It could be crystal stemware and linen napkins for a formal dinner or plastic cups and plates for a picnic. Yet because we have designated their use for a special time, we usually put them in a special place to save them for their season. God did the same with Joseph. He knew exactly where Joseph was and could have delivered him out of the prison at any given moment, but the Lord kept Joseph hidden in the darkness of this special place until his appointed time. When the time was right, God moved suddenly in the life of Joseph and called him out of the depths of darkness into the light of his destiny.

What would have happened if the butler had remembered to mention Joseph to the Pharaoh two years earlier? If Joseph had been released from prison, he may have went back to his homeland. He surely would not have been in the place where Pharaoh could conveniently find him in order to move him into God's new place at God's appointed time. Joseph had already been in bondage for about fourteen years when God chose to leave him two more years. God may have needed those last two years to instill the finishing touch in Joseph's life in order to prepare him to be ruler over a multitude of people. 

Sometimes we do not recognize our own personal prisons as special places. We struggle with the darkness of not understanding why we can't move forward and we become embittered by the difficulties that we face. We grow impatient because the time of our deliverance lingers and we often move out from under God's covering. We try to get others to help us and we make a way of escape for ourselves, which is not in God's perfect plan. We may have been in a marriage that God intended to mend. We may have borrowed money to settle a debt when God had another plan that would have saved us a large amount of interest. We may have tried to accomplish ministry on our own terms by going out before our time, prophesying our own words, or attempting to use gifts that God had not imparted to us. Wherever we are and regardless of the darkness and difficulties that we face, we must remember that God knows exactly where we are and that He has His own reasons for keeping us hidden. If we wait on His timing, we can rest assured that our season of deliverance will come and that the Lord will take us out of our special hidden place and move us into our destiny. +++    

10/28/13
FROM FAITH TO FAITH

Scripture: Romans 1:17 "From faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

God has an extraordinary and powerful plan to rescue the believers who trust in Him. From faith to faith and from start to finish, God works within us to bring about His awesome plan. His plan is the glorious gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. This gospel of salvation has three facets. His salvation redeems us from past sins. It gives us eternal life in Heaven. And, it also equips us with God's strength to help us live in Heaven's victory while we are still here on Earth. The gospel of Jesus Christ never changes. He and His gospel of salvation is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8 ).

The just are to live by faith and that faith will come by hearing the Word of God. Only the Word of God will set us free and bring us total salvation for the past, present, and future. Many are born again and can believe that their salvation experience will take them to Heaven. It is wonderful that they have received faith's assurance for tomorrow's future, yet, these same born again believers can't seem to operate in the faith that allows them to forgive themselves or to believe that God has forgiven them for the sins of their past. Their spirits are saved and they are on their journey towards glory, but their minds are not renewed and their souls linger in the pits of doubt. They carry much baggage of guilt and shame because they cannot let go of the memories of what they have done. There are others who have faith to believe for eternal salvation and are also able to receive forgiveness for the things of their past, but they have no faith to live in today's victory. They flounder around in the sea of unbelief when it comes to trusting God for their present deliverance, protection, preservation, healing, and provision for their needs.

When we gave our hearts to Jesus, He did a total work in our lives. He immediately began a work in us and we can "be confident in this one thing, that He Who began a good work in us will complete it unto the end" (Philippians 1:6). For that reason, when we look at our lives, we should not become discouraged. We must realize that the Lord is not finished with us yet. His work is progressive as He takes us from faith to faith. We are made just by faith in Him and then our faith in Him becomes a daily process. We can be assured that the Lord will not desert us on our journey or stop in the middle of our progress, but will continue to develop us right up to the time of His return. Faith springs from faith. The initial faith that we received leads to more faith. As we receive the Word of faith daily, the Lord transforms us and renews our mind. Faith arouses greater faith so that we no longer waver in any area of life. We must understand that it is only as we have faith in God and totally trust our past, present, and future lives to Him, that we, being justified, will really learn to live. +++

10/29/13
IF YOU HAVE BREATH

Scripture: Psalms 150:6 "Let every thing that has breath praise the Lord."

In this psalm, we are exhorted to praise the Lord for His mighty acts and for His excellent greatness. We are to praise God with trumpets, harps, organs, and stringed instruments. The psalmist then concludes by saying, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." In other words, regardless of your current circumstances, if you still have breath, you are to praise the Lord.

Notice the psalmist doesn't distinguish between those who are full of joy and those who are in mourning. Nor does he say let those in health and wealth praise the Lord. He says let everything that has breath give praise. If you are in trouble, but are still breathing, you are to praise the Lord. If you are bankrupt and don't know how you are going to feed your family or pay the bills, you are still to praise the Lord. If your spouse has left you and your best friend has rejected you, praise should still be in your heart and on your lips for who God is in your life. If you are in the midst of a mighty storm or a raging fire, you are to praise the Lord.

If you have breath within your being, you are to forget your ill fate and adverse circumstances and praise the Lord, for you still have hope because God is able to change your situation and restore all things. Look at some instances in the scriptures where praise prevailed. In Habakkuk 3:17-18, even though the prophet's vines, fields, and cattle were not producing, and things were getting very lean, he still rejoiced in the God of his salvation. His praise did not depend upon what he had but who God was. In II Chronicles 20:21, Jehoshaphat appointed singers to go before the army with praises unto the Lord. As they sang, God caused the opposing army to fight against itself, and Jehoshaphat won the battle. Praise confuses Satan. In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God at the midnight hour. They were waiting to be executed, but God opened the doors of the prison by means of a great earthquake and set them free. Praise brings deliverance.

The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts is perfect towards Him (II Chronicles 16:9). God is continually looking and listening for those who are worshiping Him with their hearts and praising Him with their lips. When you begin to set your love upon God in this manner, Psalms 91:14-15 declares that God will be with you in trouble, He will answer you, He will honor you, and He will deliver you. Praise is a mighty weapon. So if you still have breath, praise the Lord. +++

10/30/13
TREES OF LIFE

Scripture: Proverbs 11:30 (Amplified) "The fruit of the uncompromisingly righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives for God as a fisher of men - he gathers and receives them for eternity."

Life on Earth is a great mystery and is filled with uncertain days and surprising events. Each day presents us with challenges and with each challenge we are faced with the choice to compromise with the world or remain uncompromisingly righteous before God. Regardless of which we choose, our lives make an impact on those about us.

We have a mission. God has destined us to be trees of life and fishers of men. As trees of life in God's garden, we will bear fruit and whatever grows on the inside of us will spill out into the lives of those around us. We will affect them for eternity. Our words and actions either captures human lives for God or drives them away from His kingdom. Proverbs 23:7 says, "As a man thinks in his heart so is he." If the tree of love and peace is growing within our heart, the fruit we bear will be love and peace. If there is joy in our heart, joy will be manifested in our lives. If our heart thinks patience, we will be patient. However, if the tree in our heart is filled with negative thoughts, our actions will be like a tree of death, for out of the abundance of our heart, bad fruit will be produced.

Proverbs 15:3-4 says, "The eyes of God are in every place, keeping watch upon the evil and the good. A gentle tongue with its healing power is a tree of life." Take notice and be aware of all that surrounds you. God has set before you an open book, but you determine the story and you write the words. With the words you say and the deeds you do, you can bring healing power into the lives of others and be a wellspring of life to a hurting world. Your mission may be very simple. God may have designed your life to reach just a few. Like the trees in the forest, which are all not the same, your life may be different than others, but it has purpose and is important. Your words, actions, and love can alter the life and destiny of each soul that you encounter. So be wise and allow your fruit to capture them for eternity. You will experience various seasons and may feel dormant for a period of time. It may seem that God has utterly forgotten you, but keep the faith and wait on God because He is preparing you for the next season of your life. Regardless of what season you are in, refuse to compromise with the world and allow God to use you in that season. Always remember, you contain the potential to be a tree of life and a great purpose in the Kingdom of God. +++

10/31/13
GOOD IS ON ITS WAY

Scripture: Luke 4:13-14 "And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Jesus for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and there went out a fame of Him through all the regions round about."

The devil's plan was to cause Jesus to fail when he tempted Him in the wilderness. He sought to kill, steal and destroy Jesus and the purposes of God for His life, but the devil's plan did not work. Jesus came out of the temptations stronger and more determined to do God's will. He chose to suffer for the sins of men rather than to receive the earthly glory that was being offered to Him. After successfully resisting the temptations, Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. He began to teach in the synagogues and was glorified of all. The anointing was so strong upon Him that His fame spread throughout all of the regions. 

Jesus went through a very negative experience before He entered in and received God's best. He had to pass some very hard tests, but in the midst of the temptations, He did not lose hope, become critical, or get depressed. He just kept standing in faith and quoting the Word of God. Notice that when the temptations were finished, the devil departed from Jesus for a season. The devil was only allowed a short time to do his work, and then he had to leave.

When negative things begin to happen in your life, you must be assured that something good is on its way. Tests are not meant so much for God's benefit so that He will know how strong you are. He knows you better than you know yourself. Tests are meant for you. Each test completed and passed brings you up to a new level, reveals to you your own strengths and weaknesses, and empowers your for the next challenge. When Jesus came out of His temptations, He knew that He was the Son of God, for Satan continually challenged Him in that area with the words, "If You be the Son of God." Jesus hung on to His true identity and did not let go. When the tests were ended, the knowledge and security that Jesus received in the midst of the tests caused Him to come out in the power of the Spirit.

Like Jesus, you too must establish in your heart your true identity and purpose and not allow the devil to misrepresent you or manipulate you in any way. You may have to go through some very negative experiences before you receive God's best. Yet, you must remember that temptations will only last for a season and that good is on its way. The choices that you make in the midst of the temptation will determine the level of responsibility that God will entrust to you. Like Jesus, you can choose to either give in to temptation or come out in the power of the Spirit. +++