Monthly Archives: March 2012
Broken Easy Button
Broken Easy Button
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
But I want it to be eeeaasssyyy. Why would God let these things happen in my life? Why are those that are living for their time in the world, full of blessings? Because God loves you so much He desires to make you more like His Son. That gift will last you more than maybe 100 years, but will last you an eternity in paradise with Him. They have their time now, and we have ours for eternity. When God is working on you in a sort of stress or tribulation, be glad that He loves you enough to be performing that work, molding you into the image of His Son. James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Those scriptures go against the worldview of consistent self gratification in all things. The world preaches do whatever feels good at whatever cost; Christ preaches faith in Him to control all things and His Will to be done. Once you humble yourself and submit to His authority over your life, you have told Satan you are no longer a pawn in his team. He will ask God for permission to test your faith through many means, and plans to draw you back to the dark side. God knows that your faith can be strengthened through his tests, and Satan’s plans backfire. Paul who endured much suffering for Christ, spoke of these things in prison in Philippians 1:12: But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. When we are up against all that life throws at us, let us lean on the One whom it all filters through His hands. Let it build us up as He plans, not tear us down as our enemy plans. Take it all to God as in Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. Thank you Lord for where you have me today, your plans for me today, and the hope for tomorrow.
Tired or Weary?
Tired or Weary?
Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
We all become tired, and a synonym for tired is weary, but it seems as though weary has a much heavier meaning. Weary to me leans towards exhaustion, and exhaustion can lead to failure. We must charge ourselves to not slip from simply tired into the failure of weariness. Weariness can come through the tribulations that are confronting us, and the drag they put upon us. We must forsake them to God whom will shoulder our burden and make it light. Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. The load that we carry can be shouldered by God, and giving Him our worries through prayer and seeking His guidance.
I love how Isaiah puts it in verse 50:4 The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. Isaiah awoke every morning by Gods grace, and he sought Him for the recharging of himself, so that he could encourage others to draw near to Christ. That is how I feel out here every day in my quiet time alone with God, recharging my soul, and the product of that is encouraging you for the same. The large trials of life will make us weary, exhausted, but through the strength He provides we can press on to encourage others in their times of need. Do you think what you are facing is without purpose? God can use where you are today to draw you closer to Him, and possibly others will be drawn also seeing His Glory shine through you.
I must include this commentary by Matthew Henry:
Those that would hear as the learned must be awake, and wakeful; for we are naturally drowsy and sleepy, and unapt to hear at all, or we hear by the halves, hear and do not heed. Our ears need to be wakened; we need to have something said to rouse us, to awaken us out of our spiritual slumbers, that we may hear as for our lives. We need to be awakened morning by morning, as duly as the day returns, to be awakened to do the work of the day in its day. Our case calls for continual fresh supplies of divine grace, to free us from the dulness we contract daily. The morning, when our spirits are most lively, is a proper time for communion with God; then we are in the best frame both to speak to him (my voice shalt thou hear in the morning) and to hear from him. The people came early in the morning to hear Christ in the temple (Lu. 21:38 ), for, it seems, his were morning lectures. And it is God that wakens us morning by morning. If we do any thing to purpose in his service, it is he who, as our Master, calls us up; and we should doze perpetually if he did not waken us morning by morning
When one opens, it also closes
When one opens, it also closes
Acts 6:14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
We are creature’s of habit that resist change. We rest in our ways feeling through ourselves we can accomplish the goals set before us. Stephen had been chosen as one of the first deacons by Christ’s apostles to aid in the duties of the growing church spreading the Gospel of Christ. His diligence and great faith stirred up those who were against the change of which he was speaking. They felt if they followed the law of Moses, they could attain heaven through the power of themselves and their ability to follow the law. But they did not understand the law was there to point them to Christ whom had already come, and now provided the way to heaven through the grace of God. This caused them to blasphemy and plot, and ultimately kill Stephen.
Matthew 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. Those words reflect the biggest change presented to us, that will affect us for an eternity. In the eternal lostness that you reside in your pride without Christ, your resist to change will haunt you to no end. We all have heard of “When one door closes, another door opens.” What if that door was the door to your soul and only you have the key to accept change by opening the door to follow Christ? When you open that door to your heart, you close the door of hell forever behind you. No change in life has the impact of Salvation, and no change in life that you make to feel you have earned your way there opens that door. You have the key, but Christ is the lock that opens and shuts it behind you. John 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” Humble yourself, repent your sins, and accept He has the ability to change you like you have never experienced before, before it is too late to have the option.
Big Hands
Big Hands
Psalm 37:7-8 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret–it only causes harm.
The one I love is suffering persecution. She had removed herself from the ways of the world, and rested in her faith to carry her daily. The world is threatened by the immoveable rock of the faith that Christ places in us. When we are pushed to lash out, and we withdraw, they do not understand but become threatened by the inner strength that they do not possess. Have you ever had that calm in the storm? Have you ever had someone approach you asking “why” or “how” you are handling that situation that others would “snap” on? This is one of the greatest opportunities to share you faith and love you ever will have when you face the trials of life in the strength and peace that only comes through resting in Christ’s hands as a child of God.
Many times I pray for God to hold us in His hands so that we may rest in that assurance that He has us there, bringing with it security and peace. Psalm 37:32-33 The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. We are told there that our Lord will not uphold the unrighteous in His hand with us, but allow them judgement for their deeds. We all have heard of God reigning down fire and destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, but do you remember how He delivered Lot from there just before destruction? All things pass through God’s hands and are in His control. 2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment. When you are facing big trials, know you rest in a bigger God that has you in His hands. The inner strength He gives you is the attainable strength that He can use you to reach others as a result of how you handle life’s many tribulations
Bracket buster or Victory?
If I could only let you in. This is a deeply personal devo to myself, but one that we all at some time can benefit from the trials that are game changers as we are enduring and many of you are too. I have been on a “high” recently emotionally, and with that comes the understanding of the attacks and trials that will come. Satan knows when to come after us, and God allows him to test our faith. I was with the Godliest man I know yesterday discussing these things, and even the book of James. I was counseling with a friend in the middle of their large trial later, while about to face my own. I was humbled beyond words with the prayers and concerns of my two best friends. Pslam 37 was given to me, and a great place to rest as a child of God. I choose God and allow Him to work in and through me however He pleases. I draw near to Him in prayer, Godly counsel, and His Word for the strength to endure. He has got this….and me and my family…..I KNOW.
Bracket buster or Victory?
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
The phone calls that change everything, stopping you in your tracks. You see life as you know and plan for it change in an instant. You hang up in disbelief, and wonder what is your next move. Mine for many a year would have been to a substance to numb myself, now it is to my knees in prayer for wisdom, comfort, and guidance. The large trials of life will come, and many times they come on the heels of happiness. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Satan will ask God for permission to test your faith when you are full as a fattened calf; as in the story of Job 1:6-7 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
Satan is an already defeated adversary if you claim victory in Christ. There is strength and peace in the assurances of being a child of God, the Creator and overseer of all things. God can and will allow these trials to strengthen you, and to use you to encourage others. James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. God does not take the easy route in anything He desires. He will always take the right way however, many times beyond our comprehension, for He operates outside of our understanding and constraints of time. Isaiah 55:8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. He can turn what you feel is the worst thing to ever happen to you, into what He has designed as a blessing. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. Rest in Romans 8:28 that He is in control all along the pathway of your life. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
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