11/04/14
A DECEITFUL BROOK

Scripture: Jeremiah 15:18 (Amplified) "Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, like waters that fail and are uncertain?"

Jeremiah was a man who found great joy in the Word of God. He loved God and God's powerful hand was upon him, yet, he found himself in a very perplexing situation. For the Lord's sake, he was suffering reproach at the hands of his enemies. In Jeremiah's anguish, he began to think that God had utterly failed him and had possibly lied to him. Jeremiah couldn't understand why he continued in his pain and why his wounds refused to be healed. When he spoke to God, he compared his situation to a thirsty traveler who is excited when he finds a brook but becomes disappointed when he discovers that the brook has actually dried up.

Have you ever come to this place in your journey through life? You find joy in God's Word and you trust in His promises. You set your soul to believe for an answer to your prayers; healing for yourself or someone you love, restoration of a relationship, or financial prosperity. But when the answer is delayed, your faith wavers and you begin to wonder if you are believing in a deceitful brook. Your mind tells you that you must have misunderstood God, and you begin to doubt His power and faithfulness.

Listen to God's answer to Jeremiah's question and apply it to your own life. God says, "If you will return and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair, then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety" (Verse 19). God also told Jeremiah, "You have to separate yourself from the vile things that are in your heart and cleanse your own heart from unworthy suspicions concerning God's faithfulness." God made Jeremiah accountable for the doubt and unbelief that was in his heart.

If the promise from God that you have believed in seems to be turning into a deceitful brook, you need to remember that Numbers 23:19 tells us that "God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent. If God has spoken it, it will come to pass." God is never deceitful, so rejoice in His Word and turn from your distrust and despair. Separate yourself from doubt and believe in the Lord. God rewards those who diligently seek Him, and when you trust in Him, He will create water for your dry brook and streams for your deserts. +++

11/05/14
GOD IS ALWAYS GOD

Scripture: Isaiah 40:28 "Have you not known? Have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth faints not, neither is weary? There is no searching His understanding."

The other day when I wrote a personal note to a friend I meant to say, "God is always good." Instead of using those words, however, I misspelled good and wrote, "God is always God." When I noticed my error, I thought about the powerful statement these four words made, for truly God is always God and He never changes (Malachi 3:6). He is sovereign and will forever be the Supreme Being in all of our lives. God is the Creator, the Lord, and the Maker of Heaven and Earth. There is no variableness or shadow of turning with Him (James 1:17). He is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).

Isaiah also declared that there is no searching of God's understanding. I agree with these words, for I have found that the more I learn about God, the more I realize just how little I really know. For me, the knowledge of the Lord is like looking at a vehicle and then taking it all apart. I can discover all of the individual parts, but after examining them, I would have no idea how they all fit back together again or how they actually work. I have known God since I was small child and I have walked and communed with Him on a daily bases for many decades. I have learned something new about Him every day, but I have come to the conclusion that God and His ways are far beyond my comprehension. Like the prophet Isaiah said, "There is no searching God's understanding."

God understands our lives better than we do. He created us in our mother's womb and caused us to come forth, and He has ordained a plan for our destiny. He is the Everlasting God and He never faints or grows weary in the process of being who He is. Friends and family may fail you, but you can always depend upon God. He outlasts every challenge and comes through victorious in every battle. He knows your way from the beginning to the end. He holds all of the pieces of your life in His hands and knows exactly where every piece is supposed to fit. You are the joy of God's heart and His main interest. His love for you will never fail. When you come to understand God in this manner, it will be easier for you to trust your life to Him. As you learn to lean upon God, allow these two thoughts to minister faith and assurance to you, "God is always good ... and God is always God." +++

11/06/14
SOWING PRECIOUS SEEDS

Scripture: Psalms 126:6 "He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bearing his sheaves with him."

Sowing seeds of any kind, whether natural or spiritual, is hard work. It always requires personal sacrifice and faith, but in the end, it brings forth a harvest. What kinds of precious seeds have you sown or are in the process of sowing?

Have you sown financial seeds when you were in need yourself? Did you cry out to God and say, "Lord, I can't afford to give, but at Your Word I will share what I have?" Have you found yourself praying for others when your heart was breaking for your own loved ones who needed a desperate touch from the Lord? Have you been called to the bedside of the sick and afflicted when your own body was racked with pain? Have you stepped back and sown precious seeds of peace in situations where in reality you wanted to retaliate? Have you turned your cheek to your abusers in an effort to win and change their heart for God? Have you loved and shown kindness to the unlovely or forgave the unforgivable? Have you sown your life into the ministry and given up all to share the gospel, receiving no benefits and very few thanks or recognition for your service?

Remember that God is the Lord of the harvest (Luke 10:2). He sees all that you have planted and He promises that what you sow, you shall also reap. All the precious seeds that you have sown and watered with your own tears will someday bring a great harvest. As the psalmist said, "There is no doubt, you will come again with rejoicing, bearing your sheaves or the fruit of your labors with you." In the darkness of your situation, God is working. Psalms 30:5 says, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Continue to sow seed, continue to water your seeds with your tears, and continue to expect a harvest. In the end, you will reap a miracle that will be just as precious as your sacrifice. +++

11/07/14
WITNESSES AND INSPIRATIONS

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

Challenges greet us at every turn in life and many things seek to weigh us down. We may have thought that life's race would be easier than it is. Yet even when we are being obedient to God's voice and know that we are in His will, it's still hard to understand the hurdles that stand in our way and the many pitfalls that are there to surprise us. Condemnation tells us that we must be doing something wrong and temptation speaks to our soul to give up and drop out of the race. Discouragement says, "It is hopeless. You will never make it." Then physical weariness takes us to the very edge.

The Apostle Paul knew that we would face these struggles and told us that in the midst of temptation, there are other voices that we can turn to. He spoke of a great cloud of witnesses that surround each and every one of us to give us encouragement, correction, and inspiration for enduring faith. These witnesses that surround us have passed this way before. Their stories and examples throughout the scriptures show us the way through the wilderness, give light in our darkness, and direction for our path. When we are weak, we can view their lives and draw strength.

The witness of Joseph tells us to hold onto our dreams, for they will come to pass at the appointed time. The witness of Noah says, "Obey God's voice even if it seems ridiculous, for you will never regret it." The witness of David says, "Fight for your cause and don't be afraid of the giants in your life." The witness of Moses says, "God will meet every need, even if He has to rain it down from Heaven." The witness of Daniel lets us know that God can shut the mouths of hungry lions. The witness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is there to encourage us when we are in the hopeless furnaces of life. Their witness speaks to us that, "The Lord will walk with us through the fire and that we will come out not even smelling like smoke." And finally the greatest witness and inspiration of all is that Jesus gives hope of resurrection and a new and eternal life.

These are just a few of the witnesses that surround you. It doesn't matter if you are going through a flood or in a fiery furnace; God's witnesses have been there. God has a perfect word for every dilemma and a voice for every cause. His witnesses are cheering from the sidelines and speaking encouragement to your soul and spirit. Read their accounts in God's Word and listen to their voices, for they are the witnesses of a better time to come. Their testimonies of deliverance will help you lay aside the weights that are hindering you, and their accounts of victory will be an inspiration that will help you stand in the midst of your adversities. +++

11/11/14
ESTABLISHED IN YOUR FAITH

Scripture: II Chronicles 20:20 "... Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established."

A great multitude came to do battle against Jehoshaphat and his people. When Jehoshaphat heard that his enemy was coming against him, fear came upon him because he knew that he had no might to stand against these armies. He had no idea how to fix this situation, so his fear drove him to fast and seek the Lord. As Jehoshaphat talked with the Lord, he reminded God that God was the ruler of Heaven and all of the kingdoms of the nations. He told the Lord, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (Verse 12).

Jehoshaphat spoke to the Lord in simple words, and the Lord gave him a simple plan. God told him not to fear and not to fight. God was going to fight the battle for him. All Jehoshaphat and his army had to do was to stand still. Jehoshaphat challenged the people to believe in the Lord and told them that their faith would establish their victory and give them success. God gave them His Word, "The battle is not yours, but Mine. You do not need to fight. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Go out tomorrow against them, for the Lord is with you."

Can you imagine the thoughts that ran through their minds when they heard these words? "Go out against your enemy tomorrow, but do not fight them. Just stand still." God had an enormous plan that He was working. He told Jehoshaphat not to fight but to appoint singers to go before the army. They went out singing, "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures for ever." As the singers began to sing and praise the Lord, the Lord set up an ambush against their enemy. Then in the midst of the confusion, their enemy began to fight amongst themselves and destroyed each other. God's plan worked.

In the midst of any kind of battle, it takes great faith to stand still, hold your peace, and sing songs of praise. Jesus challenged us when He said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who use and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). He also said, "If they slap you on the cheek, turn the other cheek to them. And if they take away your coat, give them your cloak also." These solutions do not seem very fair to our natural mind. Our tendency is to do battle and fight back, but God's ways are always higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. So do not fear when the enemy attacks. Instead, trust God and praise Him in the midst of your situation. When you put your faith in the Lord, God will fight for you and you shall be established. +++

11/12/14
LITTLE IN YOUR OWN EYES

Scripture: Proverbs 16:33 "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom: and before honor is humility."

In I Samuel chapter fifteen, the prophet Samuel came to anoint Saul to be the king over Israel. Later when Samuel met with Saul, he discovered that Saul had not followed the specific instructions that Samuel had given him earlier. The prophet Samuel had told Saul to destroy the enemy and everything that they had. Instead of obeying these words, Saul spared the king, the best of the flocks, and all that was good. Verse thirteen says that when Samuel met Saul, Saul lied and said, "I have performed the commandment of the Lord," but Samuel could hear the noises of the sheep and the oxen in the background. When Samuel confronted Saul concerning the matter, Saul blamed the people for his own disobedience. He said that he had spared the livestock because the people wanted to use them for sacrifices. Yet as noble as this excuse sounded, it was in direct opposition to God's instructions.

Saul's actions indicated that he didn't reverently fear the Lord. And by refusing God's wisdom and instructions, he allowed pride to reign in his heart. God's knowledge of the situation was much higher than Saul's. God knew that the enemy would eventually come back and destroy His people if they were not totally annihilated. Samuel told Saul, "It is better to obey God than to make sacrifices to Him." Because of Saul's disobedience, God repented for choosing him to be king over Israel. God emphasized His feelings in verse seventeen when He asked Saul, "When you were little in your own sight, were you not made the head of all the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you to be king over Israel?" In the beginning, Saul's humility had exalted him, but now rebellion and pride had displaced humility in his heart and caused the kingdom to be taken from him.

God speaks to us and says, "Before honor is humility." God desires that we reverently fear Him and that we humble ourselves under His hands and be obedient to His will. He is not pleased when we disobey Him, and then try to cover it up with offerings and sacrifices as Saul did. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. He honors those who yield to His wisdom and walk in humility. I Peter 5:5-6 tells us to be completely "clothed in humility." We must make a conscious effort to clothe ourselves in humility and become little in our own eyes. When God sees our heart wrapped in sincere humility, He makes a way to exalt us in His due time. +++

11/13/14
ASK FOR YOUR MOUNTAIN

Scripture: Joshua 14:12 "Give me this mountain."

Can you imagine being eighty-five years old and asking God to give you a mountain, which is full of giants that you will have to conquer? This is the place where Caleb was in his life. God had given Moses and the children of Israel a promise, and now forty-five years later, Caleb is claiming his portion of that promise. He said, "I am this day four score and five years old (85 years old). And yet, I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me" (Verses 10-11). Caleb was of another spirit and was destined for deliverance because he followed the Lord fully (Numbers 14:24). He believed that what God had promised, God would deliver.

Forty-five years before Caleb made this request, he had tried to encourage God's people to go in and possess the Promised Land, but they had no faith. Instead, they could only see the giants and believe the evil reports. Caleb, however, focused his attention upon God and His words of promise. Even though for forty years Caleb was forced to wander in the wilderness with an unbelieving generation, he did not allow them to discourage him. Caleb said that God, Himself, had kept him alive and that he was just as strong at eighty-five as he had been when he was forty. He wasn't senile or in denial of the circumstances. Caleb told Joshua he knew that the giants were in the land and that the cities were great and fenced in. But, he said, "If the Lord is with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said" (Verse 12). What an amazing testimony of courage and faith.

This story challenges us to think about our own lives and the things that have been left unfinished. We have mountains that we have not conquered. We have allowed the giants of fear, age, and a multitude of other things to hinder our dreams and visions. Not many of us are eighty-five years old like Caleb and yet we have already given up. Occasionally, there will be a spark or a renewal in our spirits, but too soon we set our hopes aside. The challenge seems too great. We allow the enemy to convince us that it will never happen. We must have a change of heart and allow God to impart within us the same spirit of faith that Caleb had. Regardless of how many years have passed, we must look at the mountain that God promised to us and then boldly ask Him to give us our mountain. +++

11/14/14
THE POWER OF THE KEYS

Scripture: Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven ..."

Peter shared a tremendous revelation that Jesus was Christ, the Son of the Living God. As Christ, Jesus would be the Anointed One who would fulfill all of the prophetic scriptures pertaining to the Messiah. Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would preach good tidings to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and appoint joy to the mournful. Other prophets had declared that the Messiah would heal the sick, cause the lame to walk, the blind to see, and bring salvation through His death on the cross. The Messiah was destined to do the works that God had ordained for Him and He would not return void to the Father.

Jesus called the revelation that Peter had "The Rock", or foundation, upon which the Lord's church would be built. Jesus declared that the gates of Hell would not be able to prevail against this revelation. He also declared that He would give Peter the keys of the Kingdom. These keys would have the authority to bind and to loose (lock and unlock) whatever had been bound or loosed in Heaven by Jesus' mission here on Earth. These keys would not be available only for Peter, but for all believers. Jesus said that even you and I would be able to do the works that He did, and even greater, because He had to go back to the Father (John 14:12). As we experience the kingdom ourselves and realize who Jesus is and what His Word says, we come to understand how to use the keys of the Kingdom. You can't tell someone about a place that you've never visited or seen. So it is that you can't really explain the joys of the Kingdom until you have experienced them yourself. Once you've experienced the things of the Lord, the gates of Hell cannot prevail nor take away what God has given.

These keys are just like any natural key. They may seem very small, but they hold enormous authority and demand great responsibility. A small two-inch key is able to control a seven-foot door and guard an entire house. One of the most precious things that we give our children as they mature is the key to our house or car. Jesus trusted us enough to give us the keys of His Kingdom. What an awesome responsibility we have. These spiritual keys, like natural keys, work regardless of our feelings. In the natural we have no power or ability within ourselves to open any locked door without a key, and it is the same in the spirit. We can't unlock things in the spiritual realm without using spiritual keys. Success is in the key itself, as it alone possesses the ability and power to unlock the door.

Romans 14:17 gives us a definition of the Kingdom of God, saying that it is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Hell cannot prevail against this Kingdom with unrighteousness, confusion, and sadness. We have the authority to overcome the kingdom of darkness because we have a revelation of who Christ is, and He has given us the keys of the Kingdom. Some of these keys are His Word, His Blood, and His Name. Through these keys we can receive cleansing, redemption, healing, and help in every area of our lives. However, having the keys and using the keys are two different matters. It is only as we cooperate with God and depend upon Him and His power that we can accomplish His will on Earth. He waits for us to simply use the key. +++

11/18/14
GREAT EXPLOITS

Scripture: Daniel 11:32 "But the people who know their God shall be strong and do great exploits."

We live in an amazing time, which is moving very fast. Each day there is something unpredictable and spectacular that happens in the world and we are able to witness it through the miracle of modern media. Sometimes, you may wonder, "What's going to happen next?" Although we are not told everything about the future, we do know that this season of history will require much faith on our part so that we can face the challenges that will come our way. God is now and will be our only help in the times to come.

Daniel was a man who was thrown into the lion's den because he worshiped God. He prayed and gave thanks to God openly three times a day even though the king had established a royal statute against it. The king had decreed the penalty of death to anyone who was caught praying to any God instead of honoring the king himself. Daniel was left in the lion's den all night long, but came out without any manner of hurt because he believed in his God (Daniel 6:23). We must understand that Daniel's faith in God didn't start when he was put into the den with the lions. He had come to know God in a mighty way through His daily prayers and communion with God. He had spent personal time alone with God on a regular basis, which cause him to be strong when adversity came his way. He did not shrink in fear because he had developed a personal trust in God and believed that God could and would deliver him.

There is no way for us to prepare for tomorrow in the natural but we can be ready in the spirit. We must listen to the words of Daniel, for he made it clear that there was a distinction between the people who know their God and the people who do not know Him. Daniel declared that the people who knew their God would be strong. God will give us understanding of the times and strength to endure all things if we get to know who He is and what He will do. We must seek to know the Lord and to know the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10). Then when we turn to God for help in the times of trouble, He will be able do mighty things in our lives because our faith in Him is strong and mature.

God cannot be just the storybook God that we read about in the Bible. Instead, we must recognize Him as the one and only sovereign God and allow Him to be the supreme ruler of our hearts. We must know that nothing happens without His knowledge and that He holds our lives in the palm of His hands. We have nothing to worry about, for God is greater than the king's decree of death and He can still shut the mouths of the lions that come against our lives. The Lord has full control. All we must do is to study His Word and get a revelation of who He is and then spend time with Him so that we learn to believe in Him and know that we can trust in Him. As we do, we will become strong and be able to do great things through Him. +++ 

11/20/14
WHERE ART THOU?

Scripture: Genesis 3:9 "The Lord God called unto Adam, and said to him, Where art thou?"

When God first created Adam and Eve, He created them in His own image. They were surrounded with His glory and never took notice that they were naked. Their sin, however, destroyed the glory that surrounded them and revealed their nakedness. When they saw themselves exposed, fear infiltrated their hearts and the guilt and shame that overpowered them caused them to run and hide from God. God searched the garden diligently and His voice called to them like a loving Father searching for His lost children. After a long conversation with them about the sin that they had committed, God again clothed Adam and Eve, but this time it was with coats from the skins of animals. God then forced them to leave the Garden of Eden.

God's voice is still sounding in the world today. Have you noticed how loud God's voice seems when you have disobeyed Him in some area of your life? You may pray a hundred prayers and wonder if God has heard you. But the minute you use those same lips to say something that is not good, you feel God's Spirit of conviction and hear His voice of correction speaking to you. It's like thunder in your ears. You stand there stripped in His presence, and like Adam and Eve, you want to hide. However, you soon learn that you cannot hide from God, for He knows the garden too well. His eyes run to and fro until He locates you. He brings you to a place that you must acknowledge where you are and what you have done. Because God is full of mercy, He offers you repentance, and because of His faithfulness and grace, He forgives. 

God's grace and mercy, however, is never a license to sin. When the woman who was caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus, He not only said, "I forgive you," He also confronted her sin and said, "Go, and sin no more." God's forgiveness always demands change within our heart and in our actions. It would be great if we obeyed God's every command and never sinned, but God knows that we are frail humanity and that this is never going to happen. Jesus was the only one who has ever lived on this earth without sin. He alone is holy and fully moral. Jesus understands our temptations, and as the Good Shepherd, He will leave the ninety-nine good sheep and search for the one that has strayed out of the sheepfold.

If you have failed in some point and are hiding under a shroud of guilt and shame, allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the secrets of your heart to your loving Father. God is calling your name and asking, "Where are you?" He is diligently searching for you because He wants to forgive you, restore you, and clothe you in His righteousness. +++ 

11/21/14
WALK IN THE LIGHT

Scripture: I John 1:7 "Walk in the light, as He is in the light."

The pathway of life has many challenges, yet we are given a specific instruction to walk in the light. That light is the presence of the Lord, Himself. His examples and words shine light upon our pathway and teach us right from wrong so there is no reason for us to walk in the darkness of deception. God's light is like the spotlight on the stage of life and it limits us to the truth of His Word. When we step out of the light, we step out of truth and remove ourselves from God's covering. We can go in any direction in life, but just like being in a spotlight, we are only one step away from the darkness. It is imperative that we walk with God as He leads and directs us, one step at a time, so that we can continue in the light.

The darkness holds no positive promise for us and we are not to explore its path, for its shadows only bring death and defeat. So why do we even consider venturing into spiritual darkness? The Word of God tells us that we are drawn away by our own lust. The devil approaches us in the same manner as he did when he enticed Eve in the Garden of Eden. He tells us that the forbidden fruit is good to eat and that it will bring enlightenment to our souls. He causes us to believe that there is happiness outside of the light.

When we are bored, the devil tells us that we can do the same things that the world does and escape correction. He distracts us from the truth of God's Word, which tells us that if we knowingly do something wrong it is sin. He doesn't remind us that sin has consequences. If we see something we need, he tells us that we should take it and assures us that it is okay to step outside of the light of integrity just this one time. If we are lonely, he tells us that God will understand if we can seek fulfillment in the darkness of an immoral relationship. When we become angry, he tells us that we have the right to express our uncontrolled temper. We must understand that the devil's temptations are ever present and when we give in to his devises, we step out of God's light and into the darkness of evil.

Envision a circle of light, which contains love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the things that God's light produces. Then, think about the darkness that surrounds that circle of light. The darkness is filled with those things that are opposite of the light. There is hate, sadness, confusion, anxiety, impatience, harshness, evil works, doubt, haughtiness, and intemperance. The circle of light is warm and inviting and there is peace because you are able to see what is happening around you and you know where you going. The darkness that surrounds the circle of light is cold and lonely. It is a frightening place because when you walk in the darkness you are lost and alone. You run into things and lose your direction.

Our walk in life is a personal choice. Each of us must decide for ourselves whether we will walk in the light or in the darkness. It is not a one-time decision or even a daily decision. Instead, it is a decision that is designed for every moment of the day. The choices of life present themselves continually and each step is a part of a subtle process. There is no mystery. It is simply walking with God, moment by moment, step by step, and staying in the light of His presence because He is in the light. +++ 

11/25/14
UNANSWERED PRAYER

Scripture: Matthew 6:8 "Your heavenly Father knows what things you have need of before you ask."

God knows our needs and desires even before we ask, but like all good fathers, He is faithful to give us only what is best for us. In the spring, my son and I fertilized the yard just before the predicted abundant rain was to come. Each day we got just a little rain, but never the good soaking rain that was needed. One afternoon, I came home from the store and unloaded my purchases from the trunk of the car. Several times throughout that afternoon I prayed for the much needed rain, but the rain never came. I was disappointed that it did not rain and also that my prayers were not answered. Later that afternoon, I discovered that I had left the trunk of my car open. Thank God that He didn't answer my prayer right away, for if He had allowed it to rain, the trunk of my car would have been flooded.

God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, "My thoughts are not like your thoughts, neither are your ways like my ways. But My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Our thoughts and ways are as far apart from God's thoughts and ways as the heavens are from the earth. We are here on Earth surrounded by our immediate circumstances. We can only see what is just ahead of us or on each side of us as we try to find our way in this spiritual maze. God, however, sits in Heaven looking down upon us and our situations. He hears our prayers but sees the entire picture and knows what is best for us. He gently tries to lead us by His Spirit to help us get through the maze and obtain the victory, but we often go to the left or right and run into the walls. We then pray for the walls to come down, and sometimes even rebuke them in Jesus' Name. Yet, in reality they are the best things for us at that time because God has put them there for a reason.

God wants us to pray and present our needs to Him, but He also wants us to trust Him to do what is best for us. He doesn't want us to be anxious over the situation. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us not to lean upon our own understanding but to acknowledge God in all of our ways. If we do this, God will direct our paths. The answers to our prayers depend upon two things when we are submitted to God.

1) God's power and His love. His power gives Him the ability to give us anything that we ask for, but His wonderful love restrains Him.

2) God's wisdom and His holiness. He knows our desires, but His wisdom will only grant us answers that are in line with His righteousness and His will. +++

11/26/14
ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS

Scripture: Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for all things unto God..."

This is the season that we set aside to give thanks and even celebrate a special day of Thanksgivings. Yet, for many of us the meaning of this special day is lost in the celebrations of the day itself. We become so busy cooking, visiting, and eating, that we forget what the day is all about and neglect to truly give thanks in our hearts for all that God has done for us. We may offer a special prayer because of the occasion, but our thoughts are on the feast set before us and our focus is on our fellowship with friends and family.

However, Thanksgiving should be a continual celebration of our gratefulness to God. The Apostle Paul encouraged us to give thanks always for all things. While we recognize and give thanks to God when He does something special in our lives, there are many things that are more wonderful to us than the occasional extra blessings that we celebrate. We tend to get excited when a financial windfall comes our way but forget the blessings that we experience everyday in our lives. We take our eyes for granted and fail to give thanks for our sight. We give little thought to our ears or praise God regularly that we can hear, listen to music, or enjoy the sound of a child's voice. We never consider that even our mouths are a bountiful gift from God. Our tongues and lips equip us to communicate with each other and our teeth make it possible for us to eat food that is set before us. Even our legs that carry us places and the strength in our body is a gift from God. These are daily blessing that we enjoy, yet rarely are these wonderful blessings present in our daily list of things to be thankful for simply because we take them for granted.

As we think about God's awesome blessings to us, we realize that we can't attribute any of these blessings to our own success, for who can cause the eye to see or the ear to hear? Who can make the lame to walk or the dumb to speak? Who can infuse strength into our bodies and cause them to function properly? These things come to us because of the graciousness of God our Father and our gratitude should be directed to Him. We must never be so wrapped up in our blessings that we forget the One who blesses or look at our gifts and forget the Giver of all things, for our blessings come from the hand of God. Let us meditate on these things and be truly thankful to Him, for He has dealt bountiful with us. As long as we have air to breathe and lungs to breathe it, let us remember to be grateful and give thanks to God our Father, Always for All things! +++

11/26/14
THE DIFFERENCE ONE LIFE CAN MAKE

Scripture: I John 3:16 (NIV) "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."

In the portals of time, God sets ordinary men in special places for special times, and takes their natural lives and uses them in supernatural ways to bring about His plans and purposes. In the early 1600's, 102 Pilgrims left England and set out for the New World with the hopes of finding religious freedom and a better way of life. After a dangerous and treacherous 65-day voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower, the passengers arrived in what is now known in America as the state of Massachusetts.

It was a desolate location and the winter proved very difficult and devastating. Many died because of the lack of food and inadequate housing. By the spring of that same year, nearly half of the original group had passed away. It was a painful and discouraging season, yet those who remained relied upon God for help and trusted in Him with all of their hearts. Their faith and beliefs are evident in the laws that govern our country even today. William Bradford, one of the original leaders and governor of the Plymouth Colony for more than thirty years, wrote of these brave and determined people. He said, "But these things did not dismay them (though they did sometimes trouble them) for their desires were set on the ways of God, and to enjoy His ordinances; but they rested on His providence, and knew Whom they had believed."

These people of great faith knew who they believed in and dedicated their futures to Him. They looked to God for their source of strength. Yet it is interesting how God helped these struggling Pilgrims to make it through this incredibly difficult time. He sent one man named Squanto, a Native American Indian, to teach them how to plant corn, where to fish, and how to trap animals. His simple instructions sustained them. William Bradford declared that "Squanto was a special instrument sent of God for their good and beyond their expectations." We never hear much about this simple man with his simple knowledge, but Squanto laid down his own life and agenda to teach others how to live and survive, and in doing so, he saved a nation.

As we look at Squanto's life, it helps us to realize that we all have gifts that God can use. Our ordinary talents may not seem too important to us in the light of someone else's glamorous gift, but it may be the one thing that our neighbor needs for his survival. Like Squanto's gift, it may be as simple as knowing how to plant corn, catch fish, or trap animals. Or it may be a kind word, a silent prayer, or a good deed that we can do that will be the instrument that God uses to make a difference in the lives of those about us. God has called each of us to follow the example of Christ and lay down our lives for others. All we need to do is to dedicate the little that we have to the Lord and allow Him to turn it into an instrument of blessing. We will find that our little can be multiplied into much when it is put it into God's hands and we will also discover the amazing difference our one life can make in the lives of others. +++

11/28/14
HIDDEN IN GOD

Psalms 31:20 "You shall hide them in the secret of Your presence ..."

God makes the provision of His presence available for those who fear Him and trust Him. This is a precious promise and true at all times, but we often do not realize it until we face the most difficult seasons of our lives. When we are desperate and find ourselves cut away from all human props and are forced to lean only upon God and God alone, His presence becomes very clear. God takes away our treadmill of existence, our schedules and routines, and our set patterns of thinking. He brings us into a new mysterious place where we are unable to analyze and calculate our efforts and plans. All of our old thoughts fall to the side, and with no human direction, He brings us into a place of total surrender. All we know is that God is with us, leading us, and that we must stay close to Him to survive.

In the hardest of places, God makes His presence known and we discover His sufficiency and greatness. In the dry barren desert, we find that He is The Living Water who will quench our thirst. In our spiritual famine, He is the true Manna and The Bread of Life. In the midst of all of our confusion and darkness, He manifests Himself to us as The Way and The Light. In material need, He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider. In sickness and disease, He is our Healer and River of Life. In danger, the Almighty God covers us with His feathers and hides us under the shadow of His wings. For every need, He is our Fountain of Miracles. 

These truths are real, but there are conditions to finding and experiencing God's presence. For God to hide you in His presence, it is necessary for Him to separate you from your distractions and isolate you to Himself. This is a hard season, but when you find that you have nothing to hold on to, He becomes more precious than silver and gold. He becomes your life and all that you will ever need. You come to discover that His very presence is your survival kit. As you search diligently for God, He allows you to find Him. When you knock, He graciously opens the door and invites you to come in to fellowship with Him. When you draw near to Him, He draws near to you. He surrounds you with His love and closes you into Himself. He is the God of all comfort and He is always near to hide you in the secret place of His presence. +++