| ............ | A Word In Due Season JAN 2020 1/1/20 KEEP THAT WHICH IS COMMITTED Scripture: I Timothy 6:20 "Keep that which is committed to your trust ..." Another year lies before us and as with everything new and fresh, it begins with excitement. At the beginning of the year, it is easy to commit to change, for there are new calendars to fill in, new journals to start, and new resolutions to make. Even diets are easier to start during this season because we are tired of all the food that we have consumed over the holidays. Yet, as we go through the days and months ahead, we must realize that most of our commitments will be challenged. As we settle into the routine affairs of life, the new will eventually wear off and the fresh season of change will disappear. We will again find ourselves facing the mundane process of daily business. We will face pressures, experience disappointments, and have to overcome the obstacles that appear in our path. This is life. God is very gracious and giving as He commits many things into our hands. He then tells us to keep those things that He has committed to us. He gives us family and friends, finances, professions and ministries, material things, and our own being, but He expects us to guard and protect them. God also gives us intangible things such as the revelation of His Word, spiritual gifts, talents, and time, but makes us the stewards over them. He diligently watches to see the amount of care we give to these things that He has committed to our trust. Throughout His Word, God gives us instructions and examples to show us how we are to manage and handle all of these blessings. They are not to be taken for granted or abused but to be handled with wisdom and discretion. Yet, God does not just give us rules and regulations. Instead, He instills His nature within us so that His character can dictate our actions. As we think about the new year and the blessings that have been committed to us, let us be passionate and determined in our resolve to keep them even though many challenges will come our way. Let us not grow weary but hold tightly to the natural and spiritual things that the Lord has so graciously entrusted to us. Let us understand that God trusted us enough to make us managers over our own lives and also His work here on Earth. With the Lord's help, let us do the best we can to manage His endowment in a way that pleases Him. +++ 1/2/20 FAVORITE THINGS Scripture: Proverbs 13:7 (Living Bible) "Some rich people are poor, and some poor people have great wealth." King Solomon, who wrote this proverb, was the wisest and richest man who ever lived. People traveled from distant lands just to see his grandeur and to listen to his words of wisdom. Yet, with all the riches that he had gathered in this world, he understood the concept of true wealth. He knew that true wealth was not wrapped up in earthly possessions and riches. He declared that a person could be poor in earthly things and yet have a great storehouse of wealth. True wealth can be yours because you have family, friends, peace, and health. As time has passed, I have come to realize that my favorite things and most prized possessions are not my most expensive things. The things that I treasure the most are the things that revolve around people and have been touched by a special relationship in my life. If you were to visit my home, you would wonder why I have such a hodgepodge of stuff sitting around. It looks like I am an eclectic collector of sorts because things do not match. I would like for my home to look like a model home where everything is designer perfect, but in reality, I am just a sentimentalist who has saved nearly everything that everyone has ever given to me. The results are that I often display things that are not of my own personal taste. Yet, these are my treasures because they were given to me in a spirit of love and are a reminder that someone loved and cared enough to share their life with me. My most treasured possessions are the hand made items from my children and grand-children. One of these items is the forty-eight year old paper angel who lost one of her wings many years ago. It is placed on the top of the Christmas tree each year. Every year when I put the angel on the tree, I remember how proud my four-year-old son was when he presented it to me. Our tree is full of similar decorations and my closets are filled with boxes of other mementos that my children have made throughout the years. Of course another favorite thing is the family photos, which are a reminder of days past. These are the items that fill my life with joy and could never be replaced by any amount of money. I would be devastated if these precious items were destroyed. Also, I could not forget to mention my tear-stained Bible with the underlined and highlighted verses and the side notes with dates scribbled in the margins. These markings all speak of the intimate moments when the Lord spoke something special into my life; a promise, a word of encouragement, and yes, sometimes a correction or a rebuke. As we travel life's journey, let us look at the stuff that is most dear to our heart and remember what King Solomon said, "Some poor people have great wealth." I must confess that I feel that I am one of those. I am not wealthy by the world’s standards but I am rich because of what the Lord has done for me. Regardless of your financial state in life, look at your storehouse of blessings and remember that wealth is not defined by expensive earthly possessions. True wealth is not having all that you want. It is being able to enjoy all that you have. +++ 1/3/20 LITTLE FAITH Scripture: Matthew 14:31 "Jesus stretched forth His hand, caught Peter, and said to him, "O ye of little faith, why did you doubt?" Peter saw two things that affected his faith. First, he saw Jesus walking on the water in the midst of the storm and this sight produced so much faith in Peter's heart that he asked Jesus to bid him to walk out upon the water, also. While Peter was in the process of walking upon the water towards Jesus, he saw something else. He turned his eyes from Jesus and began to look at the storm and the boisterous winds. This second vision brought fear to Peter's heart and caused his faith to fail. As his faith grew dim, he began to sink into the waters and in the midst of his dilemma, Peter cried out to Jesus. Jesus harkened to his cry, stretched forth His hand, and rescued Peter. At the end of the matter, Jesus asked him plainly, "Why did you doubt?" Peter's great faith had dwindled to little faith because he did not keep his eyes upon Jesus. He was overcome with the circumstances of the moment and allowed them to bring fear to his soul. Instead of shouting a victory shout because he was experiencing a mighty miracle by walking on the water, his voice sounded out cries of fear and terror. His fear and doubt drove away the miracle working power of the Lord. Peter should have realized that when Jesus said, "Come" that the waves and the storms were no longer his own business. The adversity surrounding him belonged to the Lord. Jesus was the Master of the sea, storm, and the water, and He loved Peter. Jesus was not going to allow Peter to drown right there before Him. Our hearts are just like Peter's. We are human and anytime that we begin to measure and value the raging winds of the storm against the powerful winds of the Holy Spirit, it will cause doubt to arise in our soul. When we think that we are separated from Christ because of the dashing waves that are between us and Him, we will experience fear. When our vision of Jesus is lost and all we can see are the flashes of lightning, our hopes will fail. When the thunder is so loud that we cannot hear His voice, our direction will be unclear. When we can only see the dangers and difficulties, we will experience doubt, and like Peter we will begin to sink. You may be wondering where Jesus is in the midst of your current storm and why things are not working. The answer is easy. He is right where you saw Him last, on the other side of the waves that are being driven by the boisterous wind. The Lord is there with you in the midst of the adversity that is attempting to engulf your soul. His hands are stretched towards you and He will keep you safe. So keep your eyes on Jesus and your ears open to His voice. Regardless of what is happening around you, keep walking towards Him in faith and you will reach the goal. +++ 1/6/20 FRIENDS Scripture: John 15:15 "I have called you friends." Have you ever met someone you thought would become a very close friend, then have the relationship suddenly end? You may have discovered that you were not on the same terms of your new found friend or possibly the trust that you extended to them was violated. Or perhaps, you both were so caught up in the routine of life that neither of you could devote sufficient time to the relationship. Like natural friendship, our friendship with Jesus also has demands because there are things that He expects from us. To prove and maintain our relationship, He says in verse fourteen that we must "do whatsoever He commands." One of the most important commands that He gives is that we love one another (Vs. 17). This is a simple statement of what He requires from our friendship. When we are saved, we have eternal life, but to maintain our friendship with Jesus, we must walk in love toward one another. In return for our obedience to this commandment to love, He says, "All that I heard from the Father, I have made known unto you." There is a tremendous bonding that occurs when we disclose ourselves to our friends. Jesus disclosed Himself and the secret mysteries of the Almighty God with us. He has shared not just some of the things His Father told Him, but everything. Jesus extended His trust to us because we are His friends, thus making Himself and His Father available and accessible to us. What a unique relationship we have at our disposal. We have a friend who is Christ, the Son of the Living God. He is a friend that will stick closer to us than our own brother (Proverbs 18:24). And He is a friend who has shown us His great love by laying down His life for us (John 15:13). He has enriched our lives and extended His friendship to us. Now our time has come to reciprocate and maintain this wonderful friendship. He states the terms very simply,If you obey the commandment of love - you are My friend. If you do not obey - you are not My friend. +++ 1/7/20 FORGIVEN Scripture: Psalms 32:1-2 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord does not impute iniquity ..." It is very easy to understand why David wrote these words concerning the Lord's forgiveness, for he had failed miserably during his lifetime. Even though David loved God intimately with all of his heart and had written many beautiful psalms of praise and worship, he still managed to fall into gross sin. In a moment of uncontrolled passion, he allowed his soul to lust after Bathsheba, and then followed those thoughts into adultery and eventually the murder of her husband. Yet when David confessed his sins, he experienced the mercy and gracious forgiveness of a loving God and he realized how blessed he was that God had forgiven him. David recognized that God did not impute or hold his iniquity against him. Nor did God remove His Holy Spirit from David. Instead God covered or forgave David's sins, renewed a right spirit within him, and restored the joy of his salvation. This is an encouragement to us all because God's Word tells us that we all have sinned. In fact, I John 1:10 says that if we say that we have no sin, we make God a liar. And we know that God cannot lie. Yet even though we sin and fall short of what God expects from us, we can be thankful that God does not impute our iniquity. Impute means to "consider, make account of, or think about in a malicious way." According to David, God does not go around keeping account or adding up all of our transgressions. We would be in serious trouble if He did. Neither does God think about us and our sins in a malicious way, wondering how He can punish us with disease and suffering. This is not God's way. He is not bitter or hateful towards us, but full of love, mercy, and grace. Because He is our Father, He is faithful to forgive. When we sin, we feel indebted because of our sense of guilt. Yet, there is no debt laid to our charge because God does not keep a sin and transgression tab on us. There is no way that we can pay the price for the forgiveness of our sins because forgiveness does not come through mere penitence. It was paid for in full by Jesus on the cross of Calvary. God is the one who forgives because of Jesus' sacrifice. We are blessed and set free when we understand the meaning of David's words and realize that God really is not imputing or counting up all of our iniquities. God's forgiveness is available to us through a simple formula. His Word says, "If we confess, God forgives." +++ 1/8/20 SUBMISSION TO GOD Scripture: James 4:6-7 "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God." We know God's character and are confident that He wants the best for us, but many times it is hard to let go and totally submit our lives to Him. It is in our nature to assert our privileges, claim our rights, and be in control. Yet, when we do these things outside of God's bidding, we dishonor His sovereignty. We also leave ourselves vulnerable and unprotected because disobedience removes us from the covering of God's protecting grace. We are like a train that leaves the tracks in an effort to find freedom. Then when it leaves the designed confines of the tracks, it finds itself not liberated, just derailed. Submission means yielding. If you have the right of way but see a big truck coming your direction, it is not the time to stand in the way and demand your rights. You simply need to make an adjustment. God's call to submission not only includes yielding ourselves to Him and His will as individuals, but also submission in other areas of our lives as well. When we submit our lives in accordance with His Word, we are in effect submitting to God. Scriptures teach us that we are called to submit one to another. Children are to submit themselves to their parents and the young to their elders. Wives are to submit themselves to their own husbands. And we, as the church, are instructed to submit to the ordinances of men and to those who are in authority and have rule over us. When we do not follow God's plan of submission, we find ourselves derailed spiritually. Submission to God's will, principles, and righteousness are an essential part of our walk with Him. He wants us to move through life with an inward assurance that He is in control of every aspect of our life. Like the derailed train, we cannot move away from God's sovereign design for our lives. We must have an undivided heart toward Him, trusting that we are held securely in His hands. We are to exercise patience and be in peace, knowing that whatever He has committed to us, we can place right back into His hands and ask for His help and direction. We are never without God's help, for He knows that we are but dust and that we need His wisdom that comes down from above. We must ask for God's wisdom, trust His plan, and be thankful for all that He allows. We must know and be assured that whatever happens in our lives is governed by the eternal purposes in His mind. He is our gracious Heavenly Father and we should ask Him to deal with anything in our lives that is contrary to His purposes. As we humbly submit to His perfect will and timing, we can rest assured that there is nothing that affects us that does not also affect Him and that His grace will cover it all. +++ 1/9/20 GOD'S WORD TALKS Scripture: Proverbs 6:22 "God's commandments and laws "shall talk with you." When God's Word talks, it is not an audible sound in the air, but the still small voice of His Spirit speaking to your inner being. It is thoughts that come from God's Word that are written within your heart. How many times have you started to do something questionable and a scripture or a thought from God came to your mind? It brought correction so that you could discern right from wrong and also helped you to make the right choice. That was God's Word talking. King Solomon, who wrote this proverb, also said, "Bind the commandments and laws of God upon your heart and tie them around your neck." When you have spiritually tied God's Word about your neck, it is like a yoke that will keep you going in the direction that God wants you to go. This morning, as I was washing dishes, I started remembering an injustice that had been done to me several months ago. I started having a mock conversation with the person who had treated me unjustly. I said all the things that I never got to say when the situation occurred. I was really telling the person off and they were not even around to hear it. I finished the dishes and my complaining about the same time. I then turned the page of my kitchen Bible scripture calendar for the day, and God's Word was there to talk to me. The scripture on the calendar for the day was Psalms 39:1, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth." God is awesome and His Word talked to me. In just a moment of time His Spirit spoke to me through that simple word. In my darkness, God's Word became light and He let me know that He did not want those meditations to consume my heart or those words to be spoken from my mouth. God was not pleased with my murmuring and spoke frankly to my spirit suggesting that if necessary, I should put a muzzle on my mouth. God wanted me to start the day in a joyful mood with fresh thanksgivings in my heart and praise upon my lips. His Word corrected me and became a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It restored my joy and gave me beauty for ashes. God can work with us in this manner when our hearts are full of His Word. Make an effort to deposit His Words into your heart so that He can withdraw it and talk to you personally throughout the day. When His Word talks to you, your life will be changed. ++ 1/10/19 PERCEPTION Scripture: II Samuel 5:12 "David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that God had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people, Israel." David recognized that the hand of the Lord was upon him because he could see that his kingdom was being enlarged. As David began to see God's mighty anointing and blessings upon his life, he perceived that God had established him as king over Israel. Yet, David realized that this exaltation was not for his own benefit so that he might sit on a throne, wear a crown, and be honored before the people. He knew that God was allowing him the benefits of kingship so that he might be used as a channel of blessings for Israel's sake. David clearly recognized God's hope and purpose for his life. It is important for us to understand God's hope and purpose for our own life, but our vision is often limited. We are like the six blind men in a poem that was written by John Saxe. The blind men wanted to learn about an elephant. As they groped around in their darkness and touched the elephant, they came to these conclusions: "The first blind man felt of the broad side of the elephant and bawled, "The elephant is like a wall." The second felt of the tusk and said, "It's very clear, The elephant is like a spear." The third caught hold of the squirming trunk and boldly spake, "The elephant is more like a snake." The fourth felt about the elephant's knee, And said, "What are you thinking? The elephant is a tree." The fifth felt the elephant's huge ear and said, "Deny, who can? The elephant feels like a fan." The sixth grabbed hold of the its swinging tail, that fell within his scope And said, "You're all wrong, I see, the elephant is like a rope." Each man had an opinion that was partially right, but completely wrong. They argued about something that they had never seen. In contrast to the example of the blind men, God does not want you to operate in blind misconceptions about His plan and provisions for your life. He wants to give you a clear perception. Paul taught us to pray that the "eyes of our understanding would be enlightened so that we would know the hope of God's calling" (Ephesians 1:18). Clear perception removes all doubt and endows you with an inner strength to press toward the goal that God has set. When your heart is flooded with God's light, faith begins to arise in your heart and His power is then manifested in your life. Seeing God's big picture for your life will help you make it through temptations and also sustain you in battle. When God's hopes and vision take root in your heart, they will encourage you in your failures and disappointments and give you an assurance that nothing is able to separate you from the love of God. God wants you to perceive His plan. Then as He begins to establish His kingdom in your life, He wants you to understand that it is not for your own benefit, nor for your own glory, but for the sake of His people. + 1/13/20 PRESS ON Scripture: Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." The Apostle Paul knew very well what it meant to mess up in life. He was a very religious man who thought that he was serving God, but instead he was working against God. Wherever he went, he was a terror and a literal death sentence to those who professed the Name of Jesus. But one day, on his way to Damascus to capture more Christians, he had a supernatural encounter with Christ and was saved. His life was dramatically changed, and from that moment on he served Jesus unreservedly and openly declared Him to be the Son of God. Paul never allowed his past to intrude upon his future. He pressed forward to accomplish the destiny that God had planned for him. He did not dwell on his failures, which by today's standards were horrendous. Nor did he dwell on his past achievements or put his confidence in his own flesh. Philippians 3:5 gives the reasons why he could have trusted in himself. He was "of the stock of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin. He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews and a Pharisee. He was zealous and righteous." However, Paul laid all these things aside and counted them as loss just to win Christ. He forgot the past so that he could focus totally on getting to know Christ and the results of his choice were amazing. Because of Paul's commitment and dedication, he experienced miracles, wrote nearly three-fourths of the New Testament, and was a mighty witness for God before the common men and the leaders of the nations. At the end of Paul’s life, he could boldly say, "I finished my course." God gives you a glimpse of Paul's life to encourage you in your own walk with the Lord. Your past may not be perfect and glorious and you may have done some things that you wish you could erase. Like Paul, you may have ignorantly injured those with whom you came in contact with. You may suffer the results daily as you see the fruits of your foolishness. But the truth remains; you cannot turn back the clock and change the past. You can only press toward the future. In moving forward you must learn to reject the temptation to live in self-condemnation and unfruitfulness. God still has good thoughts for you and a plan for your future (Jeremiah 29:11). You can still finish your course if you begin to focus upon the Lord and His plan for your life. Begin today to press toward the mark of His high calling, and do not allow your past to intrude upon your future. +++ 1/14/20 CHRISTIANS Scripture: Acts 11:26 "The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." There had been much activity with the followers of Christ after His death but no label had been attached to them until they were called Christians in the city of Antioch. In this city they assembled themselves together on a regular basis to teach and preach about the Lord Jesus Christ and the grace of God. It was apparent to everyone that the disciples were Christ like in their belief, speech, and activities They were full of the Spirit of God and manifested the qualities of Christ. They followed His example and lived according to His teachings. Their behavior was not something they just tried to do in order to impress others; this was their true nature. And it was because of their godly actions that they were identified as Christians and called by Christ's name. Life has a way of categorizing all of us. Our dress and cultural habits tell people what nationality we are such as American or African. Even within our own nation we are known by our state as Texans or New Yorkers. Our speech defines the groups we belong to or the political parties we support. Our beliefs and behavior distinguish our religious preference such as Baptist or Catholic. All of these categories have names that distinguish its members from the other groups, and the names themselves explain the nature of the group. When you hear one of these names attached to a person you know what to expect from that individual. So it is with the believers of Christ. If we truly follow His example and live our lives according to His teachings people will recognize that we are part of the church, the body of Christ, and they will call us Christians. Like Peter when the Roman soldiers had taken Jesus in for questioning, our speech will betray us. Our character will separate us from the world and define our allegiance to a Holy God. Our actions will speak even louder than our words. Without putting a voice to our beliefs, people will know who we are by the way we conduct ourselves. Our persuasions will acknowledge the teachings and doctrines of Christ and prevent us from pledging ourselves to contrary campaigns. There will be no question about whom we serve, what we believe, or who we aspire to be like. God has called us to His kingdom for such a time as this, so let us examine ourselves and make any changes that will help us to be all that we can be. Our greatest responsibility is to reflect the imagine of Christ in truth. Our highest esteem is to be recognized as a true believer of Christ. And our supreme honor is to be called by His Name, Christian. +++ 1/15/20 WALKING WITH GOD Scripture: Genesis 5:22 "Enoch walked with God ..." This is a simple testimony of a man who pleased God. God was so pleased with Enoch that his name is recorded among the other giants of faith (Hebrews chapter 11). Yet, Enoch did not spend 120 years building an ark like Noah, offer his son on the altar like Abraham, roll back the Red Sea like Moses, shout the walls down at Jericho like Joshua, or stand faithful in a lion's den like Daniel. Like those in today's religious world, Enoch did not write books, hold conferences all over the nation, or go to the foreign field. He also was not a radio personality or the host of an evangelistic television program. Enoch just simply walked with God. One day at a time, one step in front of the other, he remained faithful in that walk for three hundred years. Sometimes we make Christianity too hard. We substitute works for relationships with God, conference attendance in place of our communion with God, and sacrifice instead of obedience to God. Yet in reality, what God really wants is for us to simply walk with Him, one step at a time. He wants our every moment engulfed in His perfect will for that moment. If the Lord goes to the left, He wants us to go to the left. If He goes to the right, He wants us to follow. If He picks up the pace and begins to run or slows down, He wants us to follow suite. If He stops to rest for a while, He wants us to be there right by His side, sitting next to Him, and resting in His presence. The Lord wants us to be where He is and not be anxious about the time or fretful over the future, for there are no wasted moments in His presence. God invites us to walk with Him and to be conscious of His presence, knowing that He is going to direct this day that He has made. Time and again the Lord said that He would be with us always. We just have to acknowledge this awesome fact and be assured that He is with us for every battle and for every celebration. Walking in the natural is healthy, for it strengthens every area of your body and gives you energy. So it is with walking with God. As we walk with Him, we grow stronger and He restores and regenerates our spirits. Today, do not dwell upon what you must do for God, but dwell upon where you must be with God. Simply make a determination to walk with God as Enoch did, one step at a time. You may not become famous in the eyes of the world, but you can be assured that you will become known in the eyes of the Lord as you walk with Him at His bidding.+++ 1/16/20 EXPERIENCES HAVE PURPOSE Scripture: I Corinthians 10:11 (NRS) "All these things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us." When the Israelites came out of Egypt they experienced many miracles and also faced many adversities. They probably never thought that thousands of years later we would be reading about their actions in the wilderness and their reactions to Moses' leadership. Little did they realize that there would be sermons preached, books written, and movies made about their flight out of Egypt. And surely they never thought that everything that happened to them would serve as examples for us today. They experienced success and failure. When we read the accounts of their deliverance, we take courage and find strength. As we consider their mistakes and acts of disobedience, we gain instruction and are warned not to follow the same path. When we see the miracles that God performed for them throughout their journey, it inspires us to believe. And when we realize that the majority of them did not make it to the Promised Land because of their unbelief, it urges us to hold on to our own faith when we are tempted to murmur and complain. Each and every event in the wilderness had a purpose for the Israelites and also reveals to us that our experiences and troubles have purpose. It is in the valleys and dark places that we find the reality of God. We may not see Him in the darkness of the moment, but we come to know by experience that He is always near, hidden somewhere in the shadows. It is also in the darkest season that men tend to watch our witness and look for the light of Jesus in our testimony. We are not trying to impress anyone as we struggle through the dark season. We are simply trying to get to the other side of the ordeal. We do not consciously think about our lives being an example to others anymore more than the Israelites did. Yet, in the midst of our challenge, people are watching to see if our faith will endure to the end. In life, you are either setting an example or you are learning from someone else's example. Everyone is following someone and everyone is leading someone. The tables turn in life and at some point those whom you have taught become your teachers and even your own children become your instructors. We must always strive to follow the best examples and to set the tone for those who are under our own influence, for we are all held accountable in the eyes of God. It does not matter if He leads us through the dry barren desert, to the highest point on the mountain, or to the lowest valley, our faith must speak that God's provisions are always sufficient and that His protection is always adequate. Our lives must be a living testimony to the world that we believe that God is in control of every aspect of our life, for someone is always watching. We must rejoice in our life's events for every experience has purpose and is bringing us closer to our destiny. 1/17/20 TAKE A MOMENT Scripture: James 4:14 "For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, then vanishes away." A minister illustrated this scripture by taking a can of air freshener and spraying just a very small wisp of the compressed air into a large auditorium. When the air was released from the can, it appeared for a moment and then vanished quickly. It could not be recaptured. The Apostle James measures our life in the same manner to help us understand how short our life is and how precious our moments really are. In light of this revelation, we need to be more attentive to our life and learn to take advantage of each and every special moment that comes our way. In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon said that to everything there is a season and a purpose. There is a time to laugh, dance, be healed, build, love, and embrace the ones we love. Yet, these crucial moments that God presents to us must be recognized and seized in the spirit. Very often, however, we allow ourselves to become so stressed that we cannot take a moment to laugh, much less take a little time out to dance. We cannot find a few spare moments to refresh ourselves in the spirit so that God can build us up in our faith. And if we are not careful, we will even get too busy to embrace those whom we love, to pay attention to their needs, and to enjoy their presence. We will fail to recognize the precious moments that are being offered to us until it is too late. In this fast paced life, it is crucial for us to just waste some time enjoying the fellowship of our family, our friends, and even life itself. We must slow down long enough to smell the roses, watch a sunrise or sunset, hold a baby in our arms, and quietly rest in God's presence. When we take these moments, they will create a memory that will last a lifetime. Following is a prayer that I encourage you to pray if you need help in this area. Lord, help me to take a moment in the midst of the storms of my life to acknowledge that You are God and that You are sovereign and in control. Help me to recognize that You can speak peace into my life and calm all of the adverse circumstances that are challenging me right now. Help me to take a moment from the busyness and stress of my life to rest in Your presence so that You can renew my strength. When I fall into sin, help me take a moment to confess my sins so that You can forgive me, cleanse me from all unrighteousness, and restore the joy of my salvation. When my body is infiltrated by disease and racked with pain, help me take a moment to remember that Your Word says, "By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed." Help me take a moment away from my financial pressures to acknowledge Your promise that You will meet all of my needs according to Your riches in Christ Jesus. When I am grieved in the spirit, help me take a moment to know that You are surrounding me with songs of deliverance and that You will give me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. When things seem hopeless, help me take a moment and remember that all things are working together for good and to praise You for Your love and mercy that endures forever. Lord, remind me to take a moment to appreciate my sight, my hearing, my mental faculties, and my physical mobility. Help me not to allow the precious moments of my life to pass unnoticed. Instead help me seize them with anticipation and store their memories as special treasures in the chambers of my heart. Last but not least, help me to remember that my life is as a vapor and that I should redeem the time and cherish every moment that You create for me. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.+++ 1/20/20 FRUITS OF REPENTANCE Scripture: Luke 3:8 "Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance." John the Baptist preached repentance to the large crowds that followed him. Yet many of the people who heard his message wanted to be baptized without changing their ways. John did not mince his words or make it easy for them. His message was bold and tough. He actually called them a generation of vipers and accused them of only trying to flee the wrath of God. He told them if they had truly turned to God and were sorry for their sins and misconduct, they would turn from their wicked ways and their lives would produce fruits of repentance. Repentance is not just being sorry for bad behavior, for you can be sorry and never repent. You can be sorry that you did something because it made you feel guilty or you can be sorry that you are going to have to pay the consequences. You can be sorry that you hurt other people or sorry that you disappointed God by transgressing against His laws. But sorrow only brings you to repentance. True repentance is confirmed by its actions. Repentance means that you are so filled with remorse and regret for your conduct that you are willing to make a change. You make a quality decision to turn from your sin and misconduct and go in the opposite direction. You do not look back in regret as you leave the sin behind. You begin to prove by the way that you live that you have truly repented. Your repentance is not with words alone, for others can see that you are not the same. You have been changed within and your outward actions have followed suit. These changes in your life are the fruits that are produced because of the repentance that is in your heart. Only a good tree can bring forth good fruit. There is a fresh call to repentance. It is a still small voice letting us know that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Yet in its quietness, we can still hear God offering us the opportunity to repent and change from our wicked ways. Every day we sin and every day we make mistakes, yet God is very gracious and full of mercy. He is always near and will help us when we call out to Him in despair. He is for us and not against us, and is faithful to show us a better path. God wants us to be overcomers in this life and to be able to present to Him our fruits of repentance. +++ 1/21/20 GROWING FAITH Scripture: II Thessalonians 1:3 "... Your faith grows exceedingly." Paul speaks of faith that grows, and in this instance he speaks of faith that was growing exceptionally well. We all want to be declared to be people of great faith, but developing great faith takes work and nurturing. Our faith can grow slow or exceedingly fast, but like the things of nature, faith depends upon certain elements for growth. Faith grows according to where you are planted. Psalms 92:13-14 declares, "Those planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish ... they shall bring forth fruit." Attending the house of God causes you to grow in faith, for when you gather with other believers, the Word of God and the testimonies of your brothers and sisters in Christ encourage you and cause you to grow in 'like faith' (Hebrews 10:25). Faith must also be nourished for it to grow. Faith's nourishment is the Word of God (Romans 10:17). God's Word is like food to your spirit, and the more you receive, the greater your faith becomes. Without the Word of God, your faith will be stunted. I Peter 2:2 says, "Desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow." You do not see one inch of physical growth as you feed your children, but suddenly, one day, the results are there. In a few short years, your tiny six pound baby is larger than you are. It was a continual process that brought about amazing results. You may not see yourself growing as you study and receive God's Word, but the miracle is happening none the less, and one day the results of your growth will surprise and amaze you. Faith needs to be protected from the voices of unbelief. Abraham did not consider his own body, which was about one hundred years old and he also did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith (Romans 4:19-20). He protected his faith and did not allow any circumstances to steal the promises of God from him. Likewise, we have to guard our own faith. We cannot give into our own thoughts or the discouragement that may come from others. In Numbers 32:9, Moses sent twelve spies into the land. Ten of those twelve spies came back with an evil report that discouraged the hearts of the children of Israel and kept them from entering the Promised Land. Faith also depends on whether it is exercised. Exceptional growth had come about in the church's faith as they endured persecutions and tribulations. They had been steadfast through suffering, abounding in love one towards another (II Thess. 1:3-4). Their faith and patience continually grew until it was healthy and fruitful, and manifested the righteousness of God. There is no way to strengthen faith except by going through places where you are forced to use it. Each time you exercise faith to accomplish a victory, you become stronger. Jesus talked about faith in another way. He compared our faith to a mustard seed and said, "Though the mustard seed is the smallest seed of all the herbs, when it is grown, it becomes a tree." The decision is ours. Think about this awesome fact. We can either allow our faith to remain as a small undeveloped seed, or we can allow God to grow it exceedingly. +++ 1/22/20 OUR ONLY WAY OUT OF DISTRESS Scripture: Psalms 107:28 "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses." In Psalms 107 there were four categories of men who were in trouble or in captivity who found their deliverance through God. First, there were travelers who wandered in the wilderness but found no city to dwell in. They were hungry, thirsty, and their soul fainted within them, but when they began to cry out to the Lord concerning their problem, God delivered them from their distresses (Vs. 4-6). Second, there were prisoners who sat in darkness, suffering the pains of affliction. They were bound in iron because of their rebellion, but they too were delivered out of their trouble and the shadow of death when they cried out to God for help (Vs. 10-16). Third, there were those who were sick in their bodies. When they began to cry out to God for deliverance, He sent His Word and healed them (Vs. 17-22). The fourth group were sailors who went down to do business in great waters. They were tossed to and fro like drunken men upon the storm driven sea. Finally at their wits end, they cried out to the Lord and He brought them out of their distress. God calmed the storms, quieted the sea, and brought them into a haven of rest (Vs 23-32). Each of these men had problems that were too great for them to handle or to bear. Without God's help, they would surely die, either in the wilderness, in the prison, on the sick bed, or in the raging storm at sea. But death is death no matter how it comes and the darkness and distress that accompany it is always frightening. God was their only hope in their situation so each one of them prayed for help. They cried out with their voice and made their petition known and that cry not only reached the ears of God, it reached His heart. It brought God to their aid and He faithfully delivered them out of their problem. This psalm teaches us that no matter where we are in life or what the source of our problem may be, God is there to help. We may have lost our way in the wilderness of life and our soul may be fainting within because we cannot find happiness in anything we do. It may seem that we cannot stop the hunger or quench the thirst that we feel within our soul. We may be in bondage because we have transgressed the laws of the land. We may be facing a serious health issue. Or we may be in some sort of business or financial difficulty because of poor decisions. Yet, it does not matter with God, for He is able to deliver us out of all of our distresses regardless of what they are or how they came about. God waits to hear our cry so that He can answer. James 4:2 says, "You have not because you ask not." So let us determine today to make our petitions known to God. Let us cry out to God in our time of need and recognize that He is our only way out of distress. +++ 1/23/20 THE UMPIRE OF PEACE Scripture: Colossians 3:15 (Amplified) "Let the peace, or soul harmony, from Christ rule or act as umpire continually in your hearts." An umpire is one who is appointed to rule and is empowered to settle an issue. He is designated as judge and arbitrator to direct and govern disputes. In sports events, both teams depend upon the umpire to follow the rules and to be fair. There are moments of anticipation as both teams wait for the umpire to give the call. Once the umpire's call is given, it is accepted. We may have seen things differently from our position in the stands, but there are no questions and no arguments. The umpire's judgment is deemed final. Paul tells you to let the spirit of peace do this same work on the inside of you. When there are questions in your mind, you should allow the peace of God to rule and be the umpire. You are to wait for the Holy Spirit to give His call and speak peace to your soul. Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions. When your soul is in harmony, all these areas are in agreement and at peace. Your mind and your emotions can only be at peace when your will is flowing in God's divine will for your life. If there is any turmoil in your soul, you should realize that there is something about the situation that you do not have knowledge about or that you do not understand. Like the umpire, God sees what you cannot see. At God’s vantage point, He can see the truth of every detail. When Jesus went away, He left us His peace. He said, "My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). God's peace is supernatural and passes all understanding. It keeps and guards our minds and hearts through Christ Jesus. God's peace should decide and settle with finality all questions that arise in your mind. You are to "trust Him with all of your heart and not lean upon your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). You must come to a place in your walk with God that you are able to totally surrender your mind, will, and emotions to Him, and allow His peace to be your umpire. +++ 1/24/20 WHAT IS GOD THINKING? Scripture: Genesis 50:20 " ... God meant it for good." These words came from a man who had been rejected and abused by his brothers. Joseph's brothers had stolen the special coat that his father had made for him, thrown him into a pit, and then sold him into slavery. Joseph's response to their abuse was, "You meant your deeds for evil against me, but God meant it for good." Things had been very bad for many years, as Joseph was taken from his homeland, separated from his family, and made to serve in a foreign land because of his brother's jealous actions. Yet, Joseph did not hold this evil in his heart. Joseph made the best of his circumstances and excelled in all of his efforts. Even those who had authority over him recognized that the Lord was with Joseph and made everything that he did to prosper. In all of Egypt, Pharaoh said that there was no one so discreet and wise as Joseph. He was so impressed by Joseph that he made him the governor of the land and overseer of the provisions that were stored up for the famine. When Joseph's brothers came to get provisions at his hand, he could have repaid their earlier deeds and displayed unforgiveness. He could have sought revenge and refused to help them or even exercised his authority and had them put in prison. He could have been as ugly and disrespectful to them as they had been to him, but he recognized that God was working a sovereign plan in his life. He declared that God used their evil deeds and caused all of this to happen so that God could use him to be an instrument to save many people. We may sometimes wonder what God is thinking because the circumstances in our lives seem totally out of control. The storms of life are raging about us and things are looking very bleak. As far as Joseph was concerned, it was about sixteen years before he understood why he had to endure the hardships he faced or what God was actually doing with his life. God works with us in the same manner. We are not told to understand what is going on, but to simply trust while the Lord takes the things that are intended for evil against us and turns them into good. The Lord trains us in our prisons so that we can be prepared for our palace assignment. Instead of remaining as the abused brother, we can become their hope of survival. Or like Moses, God may prepare us in a palace so that He can use us in the wilderness. He spares us in the lion's den like Daniel so that we can become a victorious witness to the king. He takes us through fires and we come out without burns or even the smell of smoke so that He can show the world that there is a God in Heaven. And like Jesus, God allows us to take up our cross daily so that we might sit with Him in Heavenly places. I encourage you to never be discouraged, but to understand that the evil that is coming against you is actually meant for your good and so that you can minister good to those around you. +++ 1/27/20 GREATER LOVE Scripture: John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." The second commandment that Jesus gave us was to love our neighbor as ourselves. James 2:8 calls this the "royal law of the scriptures." It follows the first and great commandment, which is "to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind" (Matthew 22:37). Jesus said that all of the law and prophecies rest in these two commandments. Yet, Jesus speaks again of a "greater love." He says, "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12). This love goes beyond loving someone as you would love yourself, and loves to the degree that it is willing to lay down its own life for the one that it loves. This love is a supernatural fruit that is produced by the Spirit of God and abides within us. When we love with this type of love, we show the world that we are disciples of Jesus Christ (John 13:35). I Corinthians chapter thirteen tells us that this love is superior to the gifts. It is greater than being able to speak with the tongues of angels, prophesying, having supernatural knowledge, exercising faith, and doing charitable works. Even martyrdom for our faith cannot be compared to love. For all these things will eventually pass away, but love will remain forever. Without this love, the Apostle Paul said that we are like noisy gongs and clanging cymbals. We are totally useless to God and become as nothing before Him. Greater love follows Jesus' example and lays down its life by being patient and kind. It is never envious nor jealous. It is not boastful or vain and does not display itself in a haughty manner. This kind of love is not conceited, nor arrogant or inflated with pride. It is not self-seeking and does not insist on its own way. It is not rude or resentful and pays no attention to the wrong that it has to suffer. It endures everything without weakening and it never fails. It is willing to love others wherever they are in their life so that they may be brought into God's eternal kingdom. This greater love demands a greater sacrifice. God the Father and Jesus gave us an example of this greater love. Because of Their great love for us, God gave His only begotten Son and Jesus gave His own life. +++ 1/28/20 TOUCHED BY DISOBEDIENCE Scripture: Jonah 1:1 & 3, "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah ... But Jonah rose up to flee ... from the presence of the Lord." Jonah knew that he had definitely received a word from God to minister to the people of Nineveh concerning their wickedness. Yet, Jonah was a Jew and was unwilling to testify to this city of Gentiles. Jonah was even angry that God was going to spare them and their city if they repented, so he totally disregarded God's Word. He did everything that he could to escape his destiny and the responsibility of this great commission that God had placed on his life. He took passage on a ship going in another direction in an effort to thwart God's purposes and to abort God’s plan. Jonah's flight from God's presence and commission caused much trouble for those around him. Everyone on the ship was touched by Jonah's disobedience. God caused a great wind to stir the sea and the mariners became fearful in the midst of the tempest because their lives were in jeopardy. In their peril, they were forced to sacrifice their merchandise and threw it into the sea in order to lighten the weight of the ship. When they discovered that Jonah was the problem, they also cast him into the sea and the waters grew calm again. Jonah, however, did not escape his call to Nineveh. God had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah and he stayed in the whale's belly until he repented. Can you imagine how this poor fish must have suffered? Jonah was inside the whale's belly for three days and the whale could not digest him. Jonah's disobedience had touched the whale's life in an unpleasant way. Jonah definitely had not satisfied the whale's appetite or enhanced the whale's life in any way while being housed in its belly for three days. The whale probably laid at the bottom of the sea and groaned with indigestion or swam around in agony just wishing that he could expel this disobedient servant of the Lord. As we consider Jonah's situation, we have to wonder how much of our own disobedience is affecting the lives of those about us? Whose finances are in jeopardy because they are in the ship with us and what are they going to have to personally abandon to satisfy our situation? Who is suffering mentally or emotionally because we refuse to fulfill God's commission? What kind of fish has God prepared for us until we come to terms with what He has called us to do? And like the situation with the whale, who are we going to keep in misery until we repent? These questions demand our attention, for we must understand that we do not stand alone in any of our actions. Our disobedience touches the lives of everyone that is near us. The actions of parents who are disobedient to God's laws affect their children. Rebellious children affect their parents. Husbands and wives who do not follow God's commandments affect each another. None of us truly want to affect the lives of others in an adverse way. So we must purpose in our own hearts not to take flight from God's presence or reject His Word when He speaks to us. Instead, we must always strive to be an instrument in God’s hands and allow our obedience to touch and enhance the lives of those around us. +++ 1/29/20 GOD'S SUPPLY Scripture: II Kings 6:5 "Alas, Master! For it was borrowed." The school of the prophets was over crowded, so the students went down to Jordan to build another school. As they were cutting down the trees for construction, an axe head came off of the handle and fell into the water. The man who was using the axe began to panic because it was borrowed, and he cried out to Elisha, the prophet, for help. Elisha threw a stick into the water, and as he did, the iron axe head rose to the surface and began to swim so that the man could retrieve it. This is an unbelievable story, but God's miracles are always unbelievable. Sometimes we tend to forget that God is concerned about each and every need that we have and that He is still able to do miracles such as this. This story shows that the Lord is even concerned about the things that have been loaned to us, which includes money that we have borrowed to purchase material possessions. He knows that our intent is just like the student prophet that had borrowed the axe. This man had every intention of taking care of the axe and returning it to the lender. However, circumstances worked against him and he found himself in a terrible situation. He obviously could not replace the axe, as he was not prosperous enough to own one in the first place. When he became overwhelmed with the loss, he panicked, but the God of the prophet Elisha was there to perform a miracle and meet his need. You may find yourself in a dilemma such as this where you are over extended in your debts, either by reason of mismanagement or adverse circumstances. Whatever the reason may be, you have a God that is concerned for you and will help you if you call out to Him. God may surprise you in the way that He meets your need, for He is a God of miracles. He is not limited in any way by the natural. God can supernaturally do more than you can ask or think when you put your faith in Him. God is your Father and nothing is too great or too small for Him to take care of. "God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). The Lord is not limited by your riches, your income, or your resources but supplies for your needs based upon His riches and His resources. Do not forget that God lives in a place where the gates are made of pearls and the streets are pure gold. If God can make iron to swim in order to meet the need of a man who borrowed an axe, He can and will take care of your needs when you cry out to Him. +++ 1/30/20 GOD IS NOT ASHAMED Scripture: Hebrews 11:16 "For this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God." God's people, who are listed in this chapter of Hebrews, pleased Him in such a manner that He was not ashamed to be called their God. They pleased God by receiving His promise and being fully persuaded that He had told them the truth. And because they believed God, they obeyed His every command to bring about the fulfillment of the promise. When God spoke to Noah, Noah spent 120 years building an ark on dry ground, even though the earth had never before experienced rain. His faith and act of obedience saved his family and future generations. When God spoke to Abraham, he loaded up his entire family and went out looking for the city that God had promised him. When Abraham started out, he did not know where he was going nor did he trouble his mind about the destination. He just obeyed the call and followed God one day at a time. Others were tested in their faith. Among them was Moses, who passed through the Red Sea on dry ground, and Joshua, who saw the walls of Jericho come down with a shout. All these men experienced great things at the hand of God, but the formula remained the same in every situation. They trusted in God, believed His promise, and then acted upon His Word. Noah could have become discouraged any time during the 120 years as people mocked the monstrosity that he was building. He could have chosen to leave the project of the ark unfinished in order to keep his self-esteem and pride intact. Abraham could have returned to his homeland when he encountered wars and famine, but he kept looking for that promised city whose builder and maker was God. He traveled from place to place counting himself as a stranger and a pilgrim in the world. Moses and Joshua could have allowed fear to reign in their lives, but both men went forth in faith and obedience. Moses led a multitude of people through the Red Sea on dry ground Joshua led God’s people to shout the walls of Jericho down. All of these men pleased God because they believed Him and chose to act on His Word. If you are walking by faith in uncertain places today, listen for God's voice. His testimony over you will be the same as His words over His other servants. You will hear Him say, "You have pleased me very much. You truly believe that I exist and that I will reward you when you earnestly and diligently seek Me. You have wholly followed after Me and have not allowed discouragement to deter you from My call. You have not turned back to the things of the world when the opportunity presented itself although it would have been much easier. I am pleased because you had faith to obey My voice even though you did not understand everything. You have continued in faith, while others have mocked. I am very pleased because you have judged Me to be faithful to My Word, and I want you to know that I am not ashamed to be called your God." +++ 1/31/20 FERTILE SOIL Scripture: Mark 4:20 (Living Bible) "The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God's message and produce a plentiful harvest for God." Jesus used the natural seed and soil to teach us a very important lesson concerning God's Word and our hearts. As we all know, natural seeds must be planted in good fertile soil for them to be fruitful and bring forth a harvest. Likewise, the truth of God must be planted in a fertile or believing heart before it can accomplish what God intends. God's Word is always good seed but the condition of our heart determines whether we receive it and allow it to produce an increase in our lives. Jesus listed several things that would hinder us from receiving His Word. He said that one of the seeds fell upon ground that was unprepared, which gave the birds an opportunity to snatch it away. He explained that this Word was heard by those who did not understand it, so it did not remain in their hearts. We have all experienced this at some point in our life. We hear a sermon or teaching that is far beyond our understanding. Satan immediately takes this Word from us just like the seeds that were taken from the top of the ground. The second seed fell on stony ground and was received with gladness, but there was no root within the seed itself so it withered in the sun. Jesus said that if we have no root within ourselves, the Word of God will wither in the same fashion when offence, persecution, or affliction come against us. We must have roots of faith within our own hearts for the Word of God to come alive and produce. The Word of God will not profit if it is not mixed with faith (Hebrews 4:2). We cannot depend upon someone else's faith to produce a harvest for us. Many times we get overjoyed when we see someone else act in faith and receive an answer for a special need because of a scripture that took root in their life. Because the word produced for them, we assume that it will work for us. However, God never promised us results when our faith is based on someone else's experience or testimony. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Our faith must be based upon God's Word, which is revealed to us by His Holy Spirit. The third seed was choked out by the thorns. Jesus compared the thorns to the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches. Like the thorns that grow slowly and subtly alongside the seed, there are many cares in this life that will choke out God's Word. None of us intend to get so busy with our lives that we hinder God's Word and His will. Yet before we know it, we are gradually overwhelmed with our natural duties and relationships. If we are not careful, the first thing to be eliminated from our busy schedule is prayer, Bible study, God, and everything spiritual. Finally, Jesus spoke about the seed that was planted in good soil. Truth that is planted in good soil takes root downward. It draws its nourishment from the fertile soil and is able to support the plant and bring forth a harvest. God plants the seed of His Word, but the current condition of our heart will determine the future of that seed. The harvest is in our hands. We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand and receive God's Word. Then we must protect that Word, be patient, and understand that something is happening in the darkness of our heart that we cannot see. We must not allow adversity to cause the seed to wither or deception to choke it out. We have great potential so we must strive to be good soil and hold out for God's plentiful harvest. +++ Copyright © 2020 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved www.widsonline.com |
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