............ A Word In Due Season
MAY 2021

5/3/21
FORSAKEN BUT NEVER ALONE

II Timothy 4:16-17 "All men forsook me ... but the Lord stood with me and strengthened me."

Knowing and serving God is a one-on-one personal endeavor.  It is an individual life of obedience to the Father.  Although we may worship with others, our personal relationship with the Lord is never a group effort.  Very often it requires standing alone in our convictions and following the Holy Spirit when no one understands.  Like the Apostle Paul, many voices may rise against us and our closest friends may forsake us when God begins to deal with us.  As we follow God, the reasons for our actions may be questioned and our motives scrutinized.  Simply standing in the midst of this adversity will become a test of our faith.  Then, as we choose to follow God instead of giving in to the opinions of others, we usually find ourselves rejected and standing alone.  This is the price of servanthood and the cost of freedom.

Oswald Chambers wrote, "A servant of God must stand so much alone that he never knows he is alone."  We must become so accustomed to this place of solitude that we do not think of it as being strange.  It becomes our lifestyle.  Like the eagle that soars alone, solitude must become our comfortable place.  We must know that God is with us, for He has made a commitment to never forsake us or leave us alone.  Paul knew very well how it felt to experience this place when he was beaten, stoned, and imprisoned.  Yet, he never allowed these places of solitude to disillusion him or cause him to give up.  When all men forsook him, Paul knew that God was standing with him and he found renewed strength in that belief.

Even Jesus' Disciples abandoned Him in a crucial hour.  When Jesus was taken from the Garden of Gethsemane, all of His disciples forsook Him and fled (Mark 14:50).  Judas had openly betrayed Him.  Yet, it seemed that at least one of the remaining eleven disciples would have chosen to stay by Jesus' side.  After all, they were His closest friends.  Even those that He had healed or delivered did not come to His rescue and the thousands that He had fed when He multiplied the loaves and fish were nowhere to be found.  Instead, Jesus was despised and rejected of all men and forced to stand alone when it came time for Him to fulfill God's plan.

Like Jesus, our passion must be fueled by God's will and His purposes for our lives, regardless of who it may separate us from or where it takes us.  We can be sure that when all men forsake us, the Lord will stand with us and strengthen us. We must abandon ourselves to God and take refuge in His presence so that the greatness of His being can be birthed within our souls. +++

5/4/21
GOD IS FOR ME
 
Scripture:  Psalms 56:9  "This I know; God is for me."
 
The psalmist who wrote these words also made a plea to God for help because he had been taken captive by the enemy.  He felt as though he was being swallowed up because of their oppression.  Yet, even in this place of danger and despair, he declared that his trust was in the Lord.  He said, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in You" (Verse 3).  He felt certain that when he cried out to the Lord that his enemies would turn back in retreat, for he had come to this firm conclusion, "God is for me."
 
We can have great confidence in knowing that God is on our side and that He is for us at all times.  He is there as a loving Father who believes the best about His children and He is never against us in any situation.  Even when we are in the wrong, God is working to bring us back to a place of repentance and will show us the way of escape.
 
God is the Good Shepherd who draws us by His Spirit back to the fold.  He is the Father of the prodigal who waits patiently to restore His son to his rightful position in life.  He is the faithful Friend who sticks closer than a brother when we are in trouble.  He is our Comforter when sorrow and grief strike at us.  The Lord is the Redeemer to the lost and the Great Physician to sick.  He is the Provider who supplies for all of our needs according to His riches in glory.  He is the Lord of Hosts who fights our battles for us, our Shelter in the storms, and our Refuge in the time of trouble.  God has promised never to leave us or forsake us.  He will be there when all else fails because He is for us.
 
The revelation of who God is in our life and the knowledge that He is for us should give us peace for every situation that challenges us.  Romans 8:31 says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"  If God loved us enough to give His Son for us, He surely loves us enough to keep us safe and to care for us in the threat of danger.  He is our confidence for today and our hope for tomorrow.  No enemy can stand against the presence of God in our life or suppress His plans for our future.  We must lean upon the Lord with all of our understanding and trust His judgment because like the psalmist said, "This we know; God is for us and not against us." +++

5/5/21

REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR

Scripture:  Ecclesiastes 12:1  "Remember now your Creator  ...."

In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth and spoke light into existence.  He hung the sun and the moon in the heavens that He had created and He also put the stars and the galaxies in place.  On Earth, He formed every valley and every mountain with His mighty hands.  He also dug out the enormous oceans, the beautiful lakes, and the magnificent rivers and filled them all with water.  The Heavens and the Earth that He created are complete and beautiful and He continues to hold all that He created together by the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3).

When God finished the Heavens and the Earth, He proceeded to create living beings.  Life in any form is awesome, and from the smallest creature of the sea to the mightiest beast of the forest, God created them all.  He continues to create by placing within them a miracle, which is the power to be able to multiply and bring forth life after their own kind.  God then went to another level of creation and created mankind.

The creation of man was different than the previous creations because man was made in God's likeness.  You have been created in God's own image and He desires that you manifest His character.  God is holy and He wants you to be holy as He is holy.  God is love so He created you with the capacity to love as He loves.  He also created you to be His temple and to share the attributes of His Spirit.  You can possess the supernatural fruits of the Holy Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.  You can also be empowered with His supernatural gifts.  Your Creator makes all things possible.

You have been fearfully and wonderfully made by the personal hands of the Almighty God.  God knew you before you were conceived and He knows when you will take your final breath.  Your life should not be a disappointment to you because your Creator knew exactly what He wanted you to be when He created you.  Now Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, has encouraged you to remember your Creator.  Remember the One who designed you and then formed you when you were in your mother's womb.  Remember the One who breathed life into you.  Remember that the Creator knows His creation and understands you better than anyone else does.

God is the Author of your life.  He created you for a purpose and He knows the plans that He has for you.  He knows where you are today and He is aware of the challenges that you are facing and the victories and disappointments that you are experiencing.  He has not left you helpless or hopeless in any situation.  The Creator is present to maintain His creation, so remember to include Him in all of your needs because He is ready to rescue you.  He is your Mighty God, your Everlasting Father, your Prince of Peace, your Redeemer, your Healer, your Shepherd, your Deliverer, your Comforter, your Helper, your Fortress, your Rock, and your Friend who will stick closer to you than a brother.  These are just a few of the names of the One who created you and the One who will love you at all times.  So remember Him and above all remember that the Creator cares for you, His special creation. +++

5/6/21
CONSIDER NOT - STAGGER NOT

Scripture:  Romans 4:19 & 20  "Abraham considered not his own body ... and staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief."

Long before Abraham had a son, God made a promise to him that he would be the father of many nations.  He also told Abraham that his seed would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens.  From the very beginning, this promise seemed impossible in the natural because Abraham was very old and his wife, Sarah, was barren.  Yet, Abraham chose to believe the promise and he put his faith in God's ability to fulfill His promise.

Abraham disregarded his own lack and did not stagger at the promise that God gave to him.  One who staggers does not stand and walk straight.  Instead, they lean to the left and to the right as they stumble along.  Abraham overcame each challenge by refusing to consider the impossibilities and did not stagger to the left or lean to the right.  In other words he did not allow himself to be driven or tossed about by unbelief.  James 1:6-7 says, "For he that wavers (in faith) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."

One year before Isaac was born God changed Abram's name to Abraham, which means father of many nations.  In essence God was saying, "It is already finished."  God's eternal Word established the fact though nothing could be seen.  God was calling things that be not as though they were and His Words were causing Abraham and Sarah's natural bodies to come alive.  When Abraham had to tell others his new name was Abraham, he was agreeing with God and declaring the promise that God had made to him.  He did not stagger at the fact that he was 100 years old and that Sarah was ninety.  He just gave glory to God and continued to hope when there was no reason to hope in the natural.  Today, his faith would appear foolish to many, but then true faith usually does.
 
Corrie Ten Boom sums faith up with her words,

                  "Faith Sees the Invisible,
                   Believes the Unbelievable,
                   Receives the Impossible."
 
Scriptures declare that Abraham believed God, hoped in His promise, stayed strong in the faith, and was fully persuaded that God would do what He said He would do.  And because Abraham considered not and staggered not, he eventually received the promise of God.  We must follow his grand example if we want to receive our promises from God. +++

5/7/21
BEING VIRTUOUS
Scripture:  Proverbs 31:29  "Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all."

There is a total difference in "doing" a virtuous act and "being" a virtuous person.  Proverbs 31:10-31 list the things that make up the character of a virtuous woman.  She is trustworthy with her marriage vows and does that which is good for husband all the days of her life.  She takes care of business needs and works willing with her hands.  She rises early and prepares food for her family.  She takes care of herself and strengthens her own body.  She stays up late at night in order to get the necessary things done.  She clothes her family and herself with comfortable and beautiful clothing and she also reaches out to the poor and needy.  She causes her husband to be known in the city and to have honor in his workplace.  Her mouth is filled with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She is never idle but always energetic as she takes care of her entire household. 

Many are capable of doing some of these virtuous works, but it is quite a challenge to conquer the entire list and do it all with excellence.  If you get up early before everyone in the house, fix the breakfast and the lunches for the day, it is hard to stay up and be the last one to go to bed at night.  If you work all day with your hands and take care of business needs, it is difficult to find the time to exercise and strengthen yourself.  With everything on your list, you must also factor in time to care for the poor and needy without neglecting your own family's needs.  This is not to mention that at the end of the day you must prepare the meal while everyone else is resting from their day of labor.

As you accomplish all of these things you must also be an encourager to those around you.  Words of wisdom must continually come from your mouth and the law of kindness be on your lips.  The list is longer than you want to look at and the energy is just not there to complete all of the task.  That is why virtue is about "being" and not just about "doing".  Even Jesus pulled away from the needs of the people to rest.  He did not run to every battle or even make haste to reach Lazarus before Lazarus died.  He waited for God.
 
The virtuous woman always excels.  She is not in pursuit of natural favor because she has discovered that it is deceitful.  She does not seek beauty in itself, for she has found it to be vain (Vs. 30).  The key to her life is spiritual.  She has gained wisdom because she fears the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).  This aspect of her character makes the difference in her life.  It governs her natural affairs of life and causes her to be stable in relationships.  Because of the godly virtue that reigns in her heart, her husband is able to trust in her and openly praises her.  Her children respect her and rise up and call her blessed.  Her love and reverential fear of the Lord has created within her a servant's heart and even her works speak out in praise to her.
This is a virtuous woman whose price is so far above rubies because she cannot be bought. She serves because she loves and does not love because she is served by others.  If you want to be considered virtuous, the conclusion is simple.  Seek to be virtuous in your heart and then virtuous acts will follow what your virtuous heart demands and dictates. It is then that you will excel above all.  +++

5/10/21
HOLD YOUR PEACE

Scripture:  Exodus 14:14  "The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

Have you ever moved in faith at God's command and then found yourself in a hard situation?  As you sat there in the dilemma, confusion and fear came against your mind as doubt and unbelief filled your heart.  You are not alone.  God's people found themselves faced with these same feelings when God led them out of Egypt.
 
God instructed Moses and the Israelites to set up their camp by the Red Sea.  He knew that Pharaoh would think that they were trapped between the wilderness and the sea.  The irony of this plan was that God was secretly working against the enemy.  The sea was to be the way of escape for Moses and the children of Israel and a trap of destruction for the Egyptians.  Yet, as the Israelites faced the enemy on one side and the waters on the other, they begin to complain.  They said, "We would have been better off staying in bondage than to be out here in the wilderness."  They had no idea that God was preparing a way of total deliverance for them.  God told them, "Don't be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.  Just hold on to your peace."  God had a plan.  He was going to fight the battle for them and He did not want them to do anything except move forward at His command.

Like the Israelites, God does amazing things in our lives and we are excited and full of faith about what He is doing until the first impossible situation comes along.  When we find ourselves between the wilderness and the Red Sea we wonder how we got there.  We forget that God, Himself, led us there and put us in that situation for a purpose.  Our reasoning becomes limited because we are looking at the immediate circumstances and think that we are near failure or possible death.  There seems to be nowhere to turn and no way out of the situation.  Our anxieties cause us to discount God's wisdom and forget His Words, "My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9).

Does it seem that you are currently standing between the Wilderness and the Red Sea in your life?  Are you facing difficulties in your personal life or experiencing financial challenges?  Be encouraged.  It is when you stand in these places of uncertainty that you discover the sufficiency of God.  When you are overwhelmed by circumstances and there is no solution in the natural, you must realize that you are close to a miracle.  As you hold your peace and rest in God's promises, He rolls back the sea of adversity and makes a way where there is no way.  He comes through right on time, every time.  He is a miracle working God who cannot fail, so be at peace.  The Lord is always on your side and He will always fight for you. +++

5/11/21
COMFORTING OTHERS
 
Scripture:  II Corinthians 1:3-4  "Blessed be God ... Who comforted us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort that we ourselves are comforted by God."
 
The Apostle Paul declares that God comforts us in all of our tribulations so that we may be able to comfort others who are in trouble.  Hardships are not fun, but they work together for good in our lives to bring us to a better understanding of the situations that others are facing.  We cannot give others hope for the mountaintop if we have not successfully made it there ourselves by traveling through the shadows in the valley.  We cannot direct someone through a tunnel of depression if we have not experienced the darkness of a wounded spirit ourselves.  Nor can we mend those with a broken heart if we have never experienced disappointment.  We could never understand the anxieties of those who are facing financial lack if we have no understanding in that area.   And how could we ever be touched with the physical suffering and pain of others if our own infirmities had not birthed compassion in our soul?
 
Comforting others is a ministry in itself, for out of the greatest pain comes the sweetest songs of assurance.  The hard places in our past show us how to bring deliverance to the wounded.  The emotional trials that we have faced allow us to be able to be touched by their feelings, and because we have cried, we know how to wipe away their tears.  Since we have faced desert places and then experienced God in fresh new ways, we can assure those passing through dry hard places that God will also prepare a stream in their desert.  Because we have gone through grief and sorrow, we can assure others that their season of joy will come again.  Because we have been weary ourselves and have carried heavy burdens, we know how to encourage and lift the heavy load of those who are overwhelmed with suffering.  Because we have found it necessary at times to lean on the prayers of others, we are able to give ourselves easily to intercession when prayer is needed.
 
The hurting never run to those who have never suffered.  Likewise, those who need counsel and a word in due season never seek out those who have no experience.  We should not seek to suffer, but we should understand that we are not above our Master.  Jesus suffered and was touched by the feelings that we would experience and was tempted in all of the temptations that He knew we would face (Hebrews 4:15).  He gave Himself to pain so that He could become a valid comforter through the Holy Spirit.  So, even though suffering is hard for us, it brings with it an education that is of greater benefit than earning a degree.  Suffering creates a dwelling place in our heart for the compassion of God and it develops a skillfulness that enables us to minister according to the will of God.  At the end, we are able to agree with the Apostle Paul and say, "Blessed be God ... Who has comforted me in all my tribulations so that I may be able to comfort others who are in any trouble." +++

5/12/21

MUZZLING OUR MOUTH

Scripture:  Psalms 39:1  "I will keep my mouth with a bridle."

King David made a commitment to take heed of his actions and his words so that he would not sin against God.  He also spoke to God about his awkward situation.  While the wicked were there in the room before him, he tried to act dumb, hold his peace, and just remain quiet.  But the longer he did this, the worse things got and finally sorrow began to stir inside of him.  David said, "My heart was hot within me, and while I was musing, the fire burned."  In today’s vernacular we would say, "The more I thought about it, the more it just burned me up!"  Have you ever been there, and said that?

David finally reached the point that he responded and said, "Then I spoke up with my tongue."  The Message Bible says it a little plainer:

        "The longer I kept silent the worse it got --
                my insides got hotter and hotter,
          My thoughts boiled over; and I spilled my guts."

We often allow the actions and words of others to disturb us in this fashion until we reach the boiling point.  In front of God and everybody, at the worst time, we just spill our guts.  God's Word says that if we can control our tongue, we can control our whole body.  James 3:2  (Amplified) states, "For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things.  And if any one does not offend in speech -- never says the wrong things -- he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb (or bridle) his entire nature."  If we want to control our whole body and curb our entire nature, there are three things that we must consciously do:

1)  We must stop musing about the situation in an adverse way.
2)  We must disallow our emotions to burn within us.
3)  We must keep our mouth shut until God tells us how to respond or as David said, "Keep our mouth with a bridle." +++


5/13/21
PATIENCE OF JOB
 
Scripture:  James 5:11  "You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."
 
Job was rich in material blessings and was surrounded by a wonderful family.  He was well known and respected in the city and he was also a man that worshiped God and hated evil.  He was a good man who was enjoying his life when bad things began to happen to him.  He suddenly lost everything that was dear to him, even his own health.  In his trials, he experienced much that could have caused him to lose his patience.  Yet because Job endured to the end, he received more than he lost because of God's pity and tender mercy.
 
Job had a hard path to follow, but we see his statements of positive commitment along the way.  When his children and material blessings were taken from him, he did not give up his faith in God.  He recognized that everything that he had received in his life had come from God and acknowledged that it still belonged to God.  He said, "Naked came I out of mother's womb, and naked I shall return."  He also continued to worship God in the midst of his loss and stated, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).  Even when Job felt threaten by death, he maintained his faith in God by saying, "Though God slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15).  Job spoke these words to his critical friends, while he was sitting there in an ash heap, scrapping the painful boils that covered his body.
 
Every believer suffers trials and experiences trouble at some point in their life.  Maybe it is not to the same extent that Job suffered, but the challenges are there just the same.  Job declared that God would not even allow him to catch his breath, but piled bitterness upon bitterness (Job 9:18 Message Bible).  Yet, as hard as this was for Job, his trials were meant to be an example for us.  God shows us the trials of Job's life so that we may understand that trials do come to good people and that tragedy can strike even though we are striving to live right.  Job's life also shows us that trials do come to an end and that at the end of the matter God's tender mercy will prevail if we trust and believe in Him as Job did.
 
Still, it is hard to maintain faith when we are being tried, but God will help us if we call out to Him in the midst of it all.  If we feel ourselves doubting, we must be honest and ask the Lord to help us with our unbelief.  When we are tempted to give up in the midst of adversity, we must trust God to sustain our patience and be encouraged by the thoughts and words of the Apostle James.  He said that at the end of our patience we will find that "The Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." +++

5/14/21
SOW QUIETNESS - REAP STRENGTH

Scripture:  Isaiah 30:15  "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength."

Regardless of whether we are homemakers or business executives, our schedules often become hectic and hurried.  Deadlines have to be reached and appointments met.  There is so much to do with so little time to get it all done.  Before we know it, we are stretched to the limit and stressed out.  The answer to this daily dilemma is found in God's Word.  It is the simple spiritual law of quietness before God.  Like the law of gravity, I cannot explain it, but I know that quietness before God and meditations of His Word works.  As we take a few moments to get quiet in the presence of the Lord, He supplies us with a grace that gives us strength to meet every challenge.

Isaiah 40:30-31 declares that even "The young will faint and be weary, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."  Waiting on the Lord enables you to draw strength from Him so that you can complete your course without weariness or fainting.  Being quiet and putting your confidence in God is a discipline that shows your submission to the sovereignty of God and His will.  As you wait and are still before God, He directs your paths and makes the crooked ways straight.  Things will then fall into place without stress and struggle.

Even though Jesus had only three years to complete His ministry assignment on Earth, He took time to rest.  In Mark 6:31, He told His Disciples to "Come apart into a desert place, and rest for awhile."  It is said that if we don't "come apart and rest" we will "come apart."  Jesus knew the importance of taking time to wait before God.  In Luke 6:12, He prayed all night and in Mark 1:35, He arose a great while before day, went into a solitary place, and prayed.  Jesus knew His strength came from the anointing and confidence that He gained while He was in the quietness of God's presence.

Reflect on the concepts of this prayer and allow your soul to be quiet and slow down.  Authorship of this prayer is unknown.

   "Slow me down, Lord!
    Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
    Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
    Give me, midst the confusion of the day, the calmness of the
        everlasting hills.
    Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music
        of the singing streams that live in my memory.
    Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.
    Teach me the art of taking minute vacations .....
        of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend,
        to pat a dog, or to read a few lines from a good book.
    Remind me each day of the fable of the hare and the tortoise
        that I may know that the race is not always to the swift;
        that there is more to life than increasing its speed.
    Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak and
        know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.
    Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me
        to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values
        that I may grow toward the stars of my great destiny.
                            In Jesus' Name.  Amen" +++

5/17/21
A SIMPLE PRAYER
 
Scripture:  Job 22:29-30 (NLT)  "If people are in trouble and you say, 'Help them,' God will save them.  Even sinners will be rescued: they will be rescued because your hands are pure."
 
God created man in His own image and by His great design.  His intentions were that all men should follow Him and honor all of His laws.  God planned a future for all of His creation, yet He is a God who gives men a free choice.  He allows them to make their own decisions even though their choices may be against His will.  Many times we have friends, family, sons, and daughters who go astray.  They may even know God's Word and understand the difference in right and wrong, but they have allowed their desires to overpower the truth that is in their heart.  Sadly, they have chosen to follow a path into darkness.
 
As much as we love and care for them, we are helpless in trying to rescue them because it cannot be done in the natural.  They will not listen to any of our persuasions and our words of warning fall to the ground as if they were never spoken.  We cry out to God in our distress, saying, "How can this be and where will it end?”  We suffer grief over the situation and even wonder if we are at fault in some way.  We would do anything to change the circumstances.  Yet, we realize that it will take a miracle of God to turn them around and set them on the right path again.  Our heart aches for them, for we know they will suffer natural consequences because of the path they have taken.  More importantly, we want to spare them from the spiritual and eternal consequences of their choices.
 
Our prayers become desperate.  We pray, pray, and pray until finally, we have no more words to say and do not know what else to do.  God understands where we are and His Words are always there to comfort and instruct us.  This simple prayer that is mentioned in the book of Job is mighty.  It simply says, when our loved ones are in trouble, all we need to say is "God, help them."  Then, somehow "God will rescue them because of the pureness of our hands."  God is faithful and when we seek to serve Him with all of our heart, He is attentive to our words.  James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."  We can depend upon God to honor His Word.  We must continue to stand in the gap for those whom we love.  God sees our heart and He is not looking for long prayers with a lot of words.  When we can find no other words to say, we can call our loved one's name out to God and pray this simple prayer, "God, Help them!" +++

5/18/21
LABORERS TOGETHER

Scripture:  I Corinthians 3:9  "For we are laborers together with God."

The Apostle Paul was a very important man to the Kingdom of God and had many reasons to promote himself above others.  Philippians 3:5 and 6 declares that there was no fault in him in regard to the law.  Paul was circumcised on the eighth day, and he was of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin.  He was of the party of Pharisees and observed all of the laws.  He was so zealous for God before He got saved that he persecuted the church with a good conscious.  He had no idea that he was acting in error against God.  In verse four, Paul said if anyone had reason to rely on themselves, he had more.  

Even though Paul had all these things going for him, he put them aside.  He forgot his prestige and counted his personal abilities as loss.  Throughout his ministry Paul never sought to exalt himself above others, but became a servant to the very church that he once persecuted.  He became a laborer with those who were trying to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He knew that he could not do the work of the ministry alone and neither could they.  Paul spoke against those who manifested envy, strife, and division by trying to exalt Paul above Apollos, who was another minister of the Lord Jesus.  Paul explained that he had planted, Appolos had watered, but God was the one who gave the increase.  Paul and Appolos were ministering for the same cause and Paul realized that both of them were nothing without the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

In the twelfth chapter of I Corinthians, Paul said that we are all part of the body of Christ and that every member has an important role.  In Ephesians 2:21, Paul also likened the members of the church to a building that is fitly framed together.  He emphasized that no part of the body or the building is more significant than the other.  He also showed us by example that we are not to envy someone else, feel intimidated by our low degree, or exalt ourselves.  We are God's workmanship, and He sets the terms, placing us where He wants us to be.  We are accountable to fulfill our individual responsibility and also work together.  Like the Paul and Appolos scenario, if you plant the seed, I need to water, and vice versa.  We are not to strive one against the other, as there is no place for division in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus is one Lord over us all and He will bring the increase as we labor together with Him. +++

5/20/21
SECRETS OF THE HEART
 
Scripture:  Psalms 44:21  "For He knows the secrets of the heart."
 
God knows the secrets of our heart and He understands our daily struggles.  He knows that we share the same feelings that the Apostle Paul had.  Paul said that the things that he did not want to do, he did, and the things that he wanted to do, he did not do.  It was a constant battle between Paul's spiritual desires and his carnal nature and fleshly lust.  There were times when Paul was frustrated and disappointed in his own self because he just could not get things together and do right.  Yet, God graciously used Paul in a mighty way despite his various weaknesses.  Paul made several missionary journeys and brought many to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  He also wrote about three fourths of the New Testament to encourage and strengthen the saints for centuries to come.  
 
The Apostle Paul was just one man but where would we be today, almost two thousand years later, without his powerful witness?  How could we make it without his instructions for daily living and godly righteousness?  I am glad that Paul did not allow the devil to condemn him to the point that he felt unworthy to complete God's call on his life.  Even though Paul felt that he was the chief of sinners (I Timothy 1:15), he allowed no one to judge him or to hinder God's purposes for his life.  He left all criticism in the hands of God and was confident that the Lord who had begun a good work in his life would finish what He had started (Philippians 1:6).  Paul allowed God's call on his life to overshadow all of his human weakness and failures.
 
You may be struggling in your life today with your own desires and temptations of the flesh.  The enemy would like for you to believe that you stand alone in your battle, but you must understand that is simply not the case.  We all have struggles, for the devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  We must be vigilant because he never gives up on trying to deceive us and when we do fall prey to his devices, he is very quick to condemn.
 
I finally had to come to the conclusion that I was not perfect and life was not perfect.  There was failure written all over the path that I had taken.  Yet, God understood my weaknesses and loved me anyway.  God knows all of the secrets of our hearts and we must believe that His mercy and grace is greater than the work of the devil and our own fleshly failures.  I encourage you to rest in this thought and not to allow your secret weaknesses to keep you from you godly witness.  Continue to reach for your God ordained destiny. +++

5/21/21
UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES

Scripture:  Luke 24:45  "Then He (Jesus) opened their minds to understand the scriptures."

It is most important when we read or study the scriptures that we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and help us understand what God is saying because only the Holy Spirit can give us revelation.  God's Word is spirit and life and can only be understood when the eyes of our understanding are opened supernaturally.  Without spiritual revelation we will have "eyes that see not and ears that hear not" as spoken of in Romans 11:8.  It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to hear with a heart of understanding.

Psalms 119 is entirely focused on the Word of God and the psalmist's desire to understand it.  Nearly every verse is directed to God as the psalmist talks very plainly to God about His Word.  The psalmist recognized his responsibilities to God's Word, and then made commitments concerning it.  His great plea was that he might understand and have insight into the precepts and commandments of God.  He totally depended upon God for help.  Look at just a few things in Psalms 119 that the psalmist said to God concerning His Word.

     "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of Your Law." - Vs.18
     "Hide not Your commandments from me." - Vs.19
     "Quicken me according to Your Word." - Vs.25
     "Teach me Your statutes." - Vs. 26
     "Make me to understand the way of Your precepts." - Vs.27
     "Strengthen me according to Your Word." - Vs.28
     "Give me understanding." - Vs.34
     "Incline my heart unto Your testimonies." - Vs.36
     "Establish Your Word in me." - Vs.38

If you have a sincere desire to understand God's Word, refer to this psalm when you begin to read and study the scriptures.  Read the words of this psalm aloud as a prayer to God like the psalmist did, and ask God to open your understanding of the scriptures.  You will see a difference in your study as God's Spirit enlightens you and gives you fresh revelation. +++

5/24/21
WHY AND WHERE?
 
Scripture:  Judges 6:13  "If the Lord is with us ..."
 
An angel of the Lord came to visit Gideon when he was hiding from a fierce enemy.  The angel declared that Gideon was a mighty man of valor and told Gideon not to fear because the Lord was with him.  Gideon asked the angel these two questions, "If the Lord is with us, why is all of this happening to us?  And if the Lord is with us, where are all of His miracles?"
 
Have these two questions ever crossed your mind as you faced life's challenges?  We know the scriptures declare that Jesus is a miracle worker and that He is the same today as He was yesterday.  He does not change and we believe that He can still heal, provide, and deliver.  We also know that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.  Psalm twenty-three tells us that the Lord is our Shepherd and that we shall not want for any good thing.  He will cause us to lie down in green pastures and will lead us beside still waters.  He will even restore our soul and anoint our head with oil in the presence of our enemies.  He will calm the raging seas and speak peace to all of our storms.  We have nothing to fear because Jesus is our keeper.
 
These truths fill our heart, yet when things are not working out the way they should for us, the same questions that Gideon asked come to our mind.  "If the Lord is with me, why is this happening?  If He is my provider, why don't I have enough money to pay my bills?  If the Lord is leading me beside still waters, why do I have all of this turmoil going on in my life?  If the Lord is with me, where are all of His miracles?  If Jesus is my healer, why is my body wracked with pain or why did my love one die instead of being healed?"
 
We can all agree that life does offer some discouraging moments.  Fear does attack and hardships do come.  Grief and sorrow happen to the best of us and things do not always work out as we had hoped or planned.  There are times when we cannot feel God's presence even though He is very near.  There are days of darkness as well as days of light and there are seasons of sadness as well as times of great joy.  To be sure there are times of confusion and even though we do not always have the answers to all of life's questions, we must trust God and believe His Word.
 
In the midst of Gideon's fearful situation, the Lord promised him peace and life (Verse 23).  But God also told him to go into battle against the enemy and tear down their idols of worship.  Gideon still had fear in his soul when he chose to believe and receive the Word of the Lord.  In the midst of the fear that was in his heart and in the face of the challenge that was before him, Gideon built an altar and called it Jehovah-Shalom, which means the God of peace.  He stopped everything that he was doing and worshiped the Lord.  He laid his fear and insecurities at the feet of the God of peace.
 
This is our answer.  We must build an altar of worship to the Lord in our hearts.  We do not have to know why adversity is challenging our life or where our deliverance is at the moment.  All that we must do is lay our fears and insecurities on the altar of Jehovah-Shalom, our God of peace, for He is good and He is faithful all of the time.  He has a good plan for our lives and we have nothing to fear.  We should never question, "If the Lord is with us."  Instead, we should leave off the “if” and believe His Words as we confess in faith, "The Lord is with us!" +++

5/25/21
Scripture:  Luke 15:22  "The father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet."
 
The story of the prodigal son is one of the greatest stories of repentance and forgiveness.  We know that forgiveness was always in the heart of the father because he watched intently, day after day, for his son to return.  I feel certain that this loving father forgave his son at the onset of his son's rebellion when he asked to receive an early inheritance.  I believe the father forgave his son when his son left home and foolishly squandered all of his father's hard earned money on riotous living.  I think the father looked beyond the financial loss because his main concern was for his son's soul, personal safety, and also the restoration of their relationship.
 
Yet even with his heart of love and forgiveness, the father could not bring his son back home where he belonged.  He had to wait for his son to make that decision in his own heart and repent.  While the father waited, he probably imagined what he would do when his son returned.  In time, his hopes were fulfilled.  The father saw his son coming from a long way off and ran to meet him.  He embraced his son with a heart of compassion and restored him to his position in the family.  He also gave his son the best robe that he had and put a ring on his finger.  The father prepared a great celebration feast for his son and commanded everyone to rejoice with him because his son had come back to him.
 
Asking for God's forgiveness and returning to Him with a heart of repentance are two totally different things.  Both demand a sorrowful heart, but repentance goes beyond the confession of sin that is made in order to receive forgiveness.  Our guilt and shame will cause us to ask God for forgiveness, but often we fall right back into the old sin that we have been forgiven of many times.  How many times have we lost our temper and asked God to forgive us, only to lose it again?  We allow ungodly words or gossip to pass from our lips and we ask God to forgive us, but we continue to speak inappropriately.  We give in to compromising situations and we ask God to forgive us, but when temptations come we fall back into the same trap.  The list goes on and on.  Yes, we are sorry, and yes, we want forgiveness.  Yet, repentance requires more than a confession that is motivated by guilt or fear of consequences.  Instead, repentance is a strong determination never to repeat the sin again.  It is leaving ungodly things behind and returning to God our Father with a whole heart.
 
God has promised that if we confess our sins that He would be faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Yet, He is watching for much more.  He waits for our hearts to approach Him in true repentance.  When we are in sin we cannot focus our eyes upon God because our backs are to Him.  However, when we repent we turn towards Him with a vow in our heart to leave the sin behind.  We do not try to drag our sin into God's presence, make excuses for it, or hide it somewhere with the intent of going back to it.  We are completely finished with it and we seek to do the Lord's will and to fulfill His desires.  When our Heavenly Father sees our true heart of repentance, His mercy and grace welcome us back to the place where we belong. +++

5/26/21
GOD HEARS AND SEES
 
Scripture:  Psalms 94:9  "He that planted the ear, shall He not hear?  He that formed the eye, shall He not see?"
 
The psalmist makes a declaration that he believes that God is hearing and seeing everything that is going on in our lives.  He calls out to God to avenge him and to pay back to the wicked what they deserve.  He even asked God how long He will allow the evil doers to oppress and triumph over the righteous.  The psalmist calls attention to their arrogance and boastful words, for the wicked boldly declare that God does not see nor regard their evil deeds.  They mistakenly think that they will get away with their actions and not suffer any consequences.
 
We have either experienced the injustice of the wicked in our own lives, have witnessed it in the lives of our friends and family, or have seen it in the news media.  We have also heard the wicked boast about the unpleasant things that they have done.  They have even laughed and scorned in the face of their victims.  Our heart goes out to those who are being oppressed in such a manner as this.  We may even wonder why God lingers and allows the injustice to happen to the innocent instead of bringing immediate judgment.  Yet, we must remember that God has a season for all things.  God made the eye.  He is not blind, He is merciful.  God made the ear.  He is not deaf, He is full of grace.  He is hearing and seeing everything that is happening, yet He is patient and will wait a long season for the arrogant and wicked to repent of their evil ways.  There will come a time, however, that His grace will expire and His mercy will cease.  Then He will suddenly arise, avenge the righteous, and deal with the wicked.
 
We should not be fearful and frustrated when it seems that evil is prevailing in the world about us.  When there is nothing that we can do to remedy the situation, we must place our confidence in God and trust His judgment, for He knows much more about the situation than we do.  He understands the hearts of all men and knows their deepest motives.  He may be working with their soul and giving them one more chance.  We must believe that the God who made the ears and formed the eyes is the One who is in charge.  We must keep the spirit of faith alive in our own hearts and put our trust in the Lord.  As we allow God to be the Lord over the situation, He will take care of all the matters that concern us at His chosen time. +++

5/27/21
BRUISED REED

Scripture:  Matthew 12:20  "A bruised reed shall He not break."

Life is not always easy!  Even a life lived with Christ at your side can have its ups and downs.  All sorts of trouble can happen, which could get the best of you.  Temptation may surround you and try to pull you in.  Or defeat may discourage you until you want to give up.  Everything negative will hit at one time until you feel that you are ready to break.  But God looks down at your battered life and makes a promise.  He says, "Even though you are bruised, I will not break you ...Trust me.  I still have a good plan and purpose for your life.  I will take the bad in your life and turn it around for your good."  God never gives up.  He is the eternal potter and "you are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10).  The Lord will take the broken pieces of your life and make it over again into a vessel that He can use.

Jeremiah 29:11 says that God knows the thoughts He has for you.  They are good thoughts of hope for your final outcome.  He has a great exchange in mind for you.  He desires to bring you from the state of a dry, bruised, and breakable reed that is shaken with every wind of doctrine into a strong and healthy tree that cannot be moved.  Jeremiah 17:5-6 tells us that "the man who trusts and depends upon man, and allows his heart to depart from God will be like a shrub in the desert."  Dry shrubs in the desert have no roots, no fruit, and no purpose.  Because their roots are shallow and not secured, they are pulled from the ground and carried by the wind.  They are easily bruised and broken.

However, Jeremiah 17:7-8 continues to say, "The man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord will be like a tree planted by the waters."  He will thirst after God and will spread his roots looking for water.  Because this man is nourished by the water of the Word, he will be able to stand in the time of extreme heat and drought.  It will not matter to him what is happening above the ground as his life is sustained by deep roots.  If things get rough, his roots dig just a little deeper.  The deeper his roots go and the wider they spread, the taller he becomes.  Like a tree, he is committed and he is a manifestation of the blessings of God.  Because of God's grace, his leaves remain green and never wither.  He gives no visible signs to the world around him that he is facing difficulty.  He does not faint in the day of adversity, but weathers the great winds and storms.  He may experience bruises, but he does not break.  The fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control are evident in his life and are a testimony to those around him.

If you have been bruised in life by loved ones or adverse circumstances, you must learn to trust again.  As you put your faith in God and yield to His Spirit, He promises not to break you.  He wants you to be secure in Jesus who has come to give you "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."  When you find your place in Him, you will no longer be a dry shrub in the desert blown about by the wind, but you will be a "tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified" (Isaiah 61:3). +++

5/28/21
WALKING IN GOD'S LIGHT

Scripture:  Isaiah 50:11  "Walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled ... (and) you shall lay down in sorrow."

God gives us a solemn warning against trying to walk in our own light because our light is incapable of dispelling the darkness of evil.  Yet, when we are walking in a dark place, it is very tempting to try to solve our problems by ourselves instead of putting our trust in God and allowing Him to shed light on our situation.  We become impatient and kindle our own fire to create our own light.  We make decisions based on our feelings or our own intellect and often disregard the will of God for our lives.  We turn a deaf ear to His voice of wisdom because God's instructions make no sense at all to our natural mind because His ways are never like our ways.

Although we know that God's thoughts and plans are higher and far greater than we can comprehend with our finite mind, our darkness still drives us to seek a light of some sort and find deliverance somewhere in the natural.  Premature deliverance, however, frustrates God's work of grace and diminishes the beauty of the work He is trying to accomplish in our lives.  We are like the caterpillar, which must wait for the timing of God.  The caterpillar must patiently endure the darkness of the cocoon until its appointed time comes for it to reach for the light and become a butterfly.  Its premature deliverance will destroy the grandeur of its destiny, and its lack of patience will thwart its intended purpose and disable it from being able to fly in majestic beauty.

Jesus said, "The man that walks in darkness does not know where he is going" (John 12:35).  A man in darkness just stumbles about, feeling his way around.  It is a frightening place, but Jesus encourages us by telling us that if we follow Him, we will not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).  In this story, Jesus revealed Himself as The Light to the woman who was found living in the darkness of adultery.  As The Light, Jesus did not condemn her but showed her the truth and gave her the light to walk in.  He said, "Go and sin no more."  His light was designed not only to dispel all the darkness of evil that threatened her but also to give her a new life.

Jesus is the light of life.  God intends for us to walk in His light, for only His light can conquer darkness.  We must wait for His light to dawn just as we do the rising of the sun, for our own light apart from God will only bring sorrow.  Be assured that God is sovereign and His timing cannot be hastened.  It is better to walk in the darkness with God than to walk alone in our own light. +++

5/31/21
GOD'S MEMORIAL DAY

Scripture:  Exodus 12:14  "And this day shall be unto you for a Memorial."

This scripture is in reference to the institution of the Passover, which began when Moses was leading the people out of Egypt.  This event was a shadow or an illustration of the redemptive work that Jesus was to accomplish for us on the cross.  At this first Passover, Israel was instructed to take a lamb without spot or blemish, kill it, and apply the blood to the doorpost of their homes.  God told them that when He saw the blood, He would pass over them and not kill the firstborn of that house.  He promised that death would have no dominion over them if they would simply apply the blood of the slain lamb.

God grants us a Memorial Day such as this.  Jesus is our lamb without spot and blemish.  When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).  Jesus was slain on the cross of Calvary for our sins and because of His sacrifice, we have a promise of eternal life, and death no longer has dominion over us.  However, just like the first Passover, God's work is not complete until we personally apply the blood of Jesus to our lives by receiving Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  God gave such simple instructions to His people.  They only had to take the lamb, kill it, and apply the blood.  Yet, many people in Egypt did not respond to these instructions and faced the judgment of their choice.
 
You also have a choice.  Eternal salvation is just as simple, for God has made a way for you by sacrificing His own Son, Jesus.  Please respond to His great invitation, for the steps to salvation are as simple as ABC.

    A)  Acknowledge your sin, for all have sinned.  (Romans 3:23)
    B)  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Acts 16:31)
    C)  Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your
          heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be
          saved.  (Romans 10:9)

Today we celebrate Memorial Day in America in honor of those who have given their lives for this country.  So when you see the red stripes on our great American flag think about those who have fought and have paid the ultimate price with their blood for your own personal freedom.  Most of all remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made for your eternal freedom and the crimson blood that He shed for the remission of your sins. +++




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