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Monthly Archives: May 2012

The Light for your path

22 May

The Light for your path

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

I had shared my devo yesterday with Russell waiting on his bus. Last night at time for bed he came to me and showed me where he had already started reading in Jeremiah. We spent some time there and I found myself there again this morning. In the verses above, God is reassuring the Jews in captivity of His sovereign plans, and even that the captivity is part of it. Just as today there were false prophets misleading them, but Jeremiah was being lead by the Lord himself in speaking to His people. God had taken them down a path they would not have chosen themselves just as we may find ourselves today. When we find ourselves in those difficulties, where do we turn? To the false prophets of today whom say the reasons we find ourselves in these situations is that we simply do not have enough faith? Turn your ears from them and turn your heart to God.

Wherever you find yourself today God has designed it or allowed it. He can work every situation for good for those that believe in Him (Romans 8:28). The means by which He accomplishes that good is many times out of our line of sight, but when we are on the other side of the turmoil, we see the path He guided us along. Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.  You cannot be mis-lead if you are following The Man (Christ), and not a man (prophet). The more time you invest in alone time with God, will allow you to discern the false prophets of this age. Where you find yourself and the situations you are in, is all part of His plan. Do not be lead astray by those preaching the “lack of faith” ministry, but see God alone every day. Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Alone time with God may lead you to glimpses of that path He has set before you, and the assurances of knowing He will never forsake you there. The time with God is the light you carry on the pathway of life.

 
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Posted by on May 22, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Your investment in your kiddo’s

21 May

Your investment in your kiddo’s

Deuteronomy 6:2,6-7 that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

My life has changed a lot since Dana lost her job a few weeks back. I had settled into patterns with my boys, and spending quality time with them in the Bible. Now I am back to workaholic mode with the start of the cooling season and the additional responsibility of the sole provider. This weekend my 5yr old Dalton was talking about heaven and it has struck me this morning of how I must return to investing that time with them. Nothing in life is as important that how you raise your children, and we must strive to teach our children Deut.6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. We cannot do that in only words for they will see right through us, but it is how we live it out. Do we hurriedly go to church on Sunday, only to live for the world without Christ six other days a week? That is teaching them Salvation by works, and that is a pathway to hell.

Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. As a dad I know the power of my words to my boys. I know how I can tear down in a simple sentence saying the wrong thing to a child. I know with my temper that my speech can cut like a sword. I thank God that He has been doing great works in helping me with my temper and speech. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. The more time you spend with God, the easier it will be to teach your children the ways of God. You will naturally become more like Christ and your spirit will reflect Him to your children. You cannot teach your children what you do not already know yourself. Seek Christ diligently like you never have before, for those you will leave behind are your greatest investment.

 
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Posted by on May 21, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Grace and Mercy allow us there

20 May

Grace and Mercy allow us there

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I was discussing with my best friend the other day of how it must have been so hard living before Christ with a heart and the desire to pursue God. All of the Law,  and the rulers of the Law, consistently pointing to the inability to fulfill it’s requirements. It simply would have caused incredible mental strain at “the tasks”. But Christ has come to redeem the world and we can approach God at the Throne of Grace in awe and reverent fear; for Christ sits at his right hand to intercede for us. In the scriptures prior to this the author is speaking of the “rest” that we have in Christ, or even peace and assurance I might add that give us rest.

This scripture is speaking of approaching God in prayer. Matthew Henry said, “Mercy and grace are the things we want, mercy to pardon all our sins and grace to purify out souls.” I believe it was Adrian Rogers who put it, “Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. Grace is God giving us what we don’t.”  Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. When you are truly needing, truly seeking God, humble yourself and realize how Christ has provided you the pathway to enter into His presence. That humility and reverent awe allow your prayers to be heard, and your heart to be felt when approaching God. There is nothing hidden from God, He knows and sees all, even discerns your heart and thoughts It is through the “lens of the gospel” (Ed Gravely) that you begin to understand your intercessor in Christ, and the ability only He provides to approach God. When you accept Christ, that peace and rest will come with an understanding of your security and ability to approach God.

 

 
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Posted by on May 20, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Flee to……

19 May

Flee to……

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

I pulled an overslept card this morning and got about an extra hours rest. I awoke this morning thinking about two friends specifically and what they are going through. One is going through issues with aging parents, the other with direct illness. Both situations are very hard real life circumstances that they are facing, and they are leaning on God and those praying for them for strength. I received a heart felt email thanking those who were lifting them up in prayer. In a conversation last night the term “stressed but bathed in prayer” was spoken. Those carry a lot of weight, for their strength is found in our Lord and knowing those close to them are praying for them when they need it most. Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.

When these real life real hard struggles come and you are squeezed, what comes out? What do you flee to? You will flee to something and hopefully it is God. Once you realize your true needs can only be met by the strength in Him, there comes an inner strength and peace. Psalm 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. There is a peace in eternal security that cannot be compared to anything hear that is truly temporary. Temporary does not bring peace, for at some time the temporary will flee also. Inner strength is found in eternal strength, and eternal strength is found only in Christ. That strength is available to you when you realize your need for it, humble yourself and ask for it. That strength will never flee….NEVER.

 
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Posted by on May 19, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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The only weapon for war

18 May

The only weapon for war.

 
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Posted by on May 18, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

The only weapon for war

18 May

Some mornings I really struggle to wrap up in my head into a short devotional or “OneMinuteMinistry”. I have seen an alignment this week is so many venues of temptation and the power to resist it. I have heard sermons on Ephesians 6 and the power of the Sword of the Spirit. I have read of the alignment of the temptations of beginning in Genesis even through Christ in the desert. Of how it all wraps together in Satan’s evil ways, and God’s ways of the power to resist. Dr. Willmington quotes “The devil laughs with hellish glee when he can trick someone into either adding to or subtracting from God’s Word”. That really stuck with me for how many false prophets or teachers that are around us today. I plea with you to spend time in God’s Word and for discernment of those teaching in the public eye today.

 

 

The only weapon for war

1John 2:15-17   Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

I am really enjoying the structured study I have just begun this week. It is amazing to me how God has so many venues tying all together from what I have been listening to and reading. So much has been on temptation and the power to fight them. The verses above in 1 John warn us of the three “deadly” sins. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. I even reflected on my recent testimony and realized how many different times I have filled in situations under each of those headings. In Genesis 3 Eve succumbed to all three, and as a result she and Adam drug the entire human race into sin. In Matthew 4:3-10 Christ was tempted by Satan in all three areas also but He resisted Satan and replied to each temptation with Scripture. This was a lesson for us for eternity in the power of God’s Word in resisting temptation.

This must be perfectly clear; God will never entice you to sin. James 1:13-14 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Satan smiles when he can entice us to sin or even feel in our pride we are doing good deeds. Pride can be a back door sin for it has the feeling of elevation of good, but the sin of self worthiness. But as always with God there is good news: 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. God has given us the ability to fight those temptations with an offensive weapon: His Word. Christ when he was being tempted quoted Scripture setting the example. The more time you spend with God, the more His Word dwells in your heart. When you need it most, the Spirit will remind you of it, and give you the power to resist Satan and claim your victory in Christ. The only way you will have that weapon at your disposal is to open the Word and plant it in your heart daily.

 
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Posted by on May 18, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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On Track

17 May

On Track

2 Timothy 2:3-4   You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

If we are not to become side-tracked, then are we able to say we are focused? If we are focused we should have a sole purpose, a goal we are trying to attain. If we are focused on that goal, anything that doesn’t pertain or help us accomplish that goal is a deterrent and side tracks us from stepping closer. The apostle Paul writes much in analogies of the focus of our Christian life using many metaphors. The verse above is the relationship of a soldier to his commander and the focus it demands. So much of our Christian life is warfare and our enemy provides all the distractions here to draw our focus away from Christ.

Our focus could be a measurement of our faith. Our faith is the hope of things unseen, and the enemy desires to draw our focus away with things we can see, and even feel we can attain. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Paul was spending much time encouraging Timothy in his faith, for Paul knew he was surrounded by those who could deter, or side track him from his faith and purpose. 2 Timothy 3:10-11 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra–what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. The ability to remain focused, the ability to have great faith, is gained through time spent with God in His Word and prayer. These daily times of preparation allow you to remain focused, to strengthen your faith, and to remain on track with the sole purpose you have for the day. Your sole purpose for the day is wherever Christ has you at that time; to represent Him and reflect Him to those surrounding you. That is where you show the great faith that you possess in your Risen Savior and your ability to share Christ with others.

 
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Posted by on May 17, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Side Tracked

16 May

Side Tracked

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I was reading this morning in 2 Timothy and feeling the weight of school. Yesterday was rough at work and left me physically and even mentally drained. I came home exhausted and unable to do homework. Satan smiled at the distraction. In these versed above Paul is encouraging Timothy to keep his focus on the things of God and His Word. It is the only time in the New Testament that “rightly divided” is used and which means to ‘cut straight’. A straight path has no distractions that tug it off course. We all learned early in school that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and our course with God should keep that principle also.

How do we go about the keeping the straight course and our focus on God? Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. If we truly begin to seek God with all our heart, soul, and strength; keeping the straight course will naturally come. With a true heart for God comes a desire to follow His Will, and remain on that path. Satan will provide all the distractions in many forms along the way, but a heart truly seeking God in everything will discern those distractions. Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. That straight line to follow God may take you through many trials in your life that you would have never taken on your own. You would have taken the side track and possibly gotten off course, and missed the blessing God had planned for you if you remained focused on Him.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. This verse is a lifestyle of focusing on God and keeping the course.

 
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Posted by on May 16, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Consistency

15 May

Consistency

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18   Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

As I struggled yesterday with the anxiety of the start of school, I was reminded of “pray without ceasing” from 1Thessalonians 17. I have written many times of my battles with anxiety and I have come to label it my “thorn in the flesh”; for it only seemed to rear it’s head upon truly seeking God a few years back. I accept that and in those struggles where Satan torments me, it truly draws me closer to God. When you are facing struggles you will not remain idle, but deal with them likely in two ways. Satan desires for you to flee from God and handle them on your own however you choose. God’s desire through them is for you to see His provision and Sovereignty through and on the other side of the struggle. You either run or you draw near.

There comes a point in any struggle where we likely want to throw our hands up in the air and give up. At that breaking point is a key point in your life and your walk with Christ. It is at that point that you let go of that pride you are resting on of handling it yourself. That pride is rooted in fear of the unknown, and Satan uses that fear and doubt as a powerful weapon. But in contrast if we realize that “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7); we can go to God in prayer and His Word for strength to fight that demon of fear. This war is not fought once; but one that is a daily battle for many of us in many areas. The praying without ceasing is the key to overcoming what your struggle is. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Pride is not found in that scripture; but a submissive heart for the will of God to handle what we cannot. Throw your hands up today and give your struggles to God in prayer. He is waiting to carry them for you as many of us have seen.

http://llerrah.com/footprints.htm

 
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Posted by on May 15, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Knowing?

14 May

Knowing?

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned..

This morning I was in John 3, reading of Nicodemus coming to Christ with his inquiring mind. I had awoke this morning and though of writing of a “New Day”, for what today represents in my life starting this new chapter. As I searched scripture, I ended up spending more time where I left off in John 3. Nicodemus was a leader of the Jews and had investigated John the Baptist and Christ in their legal system. Yet he could not understand what he heard. Even today as an outsider looking into Christianity, the comprehension is not there. The understanding of Spiritual things is a Spiritual gift received upon Salvation when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside you.  1 Corinthians 2:10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

Do you want to understand? Does something inside your soul yearn to know more, and even understand your Bible, and the things you hear those who profess Christ speak of? 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. That we might KNOW the things; that it is a free gift available to you also. All of these things are available to you, but only through Christ. Christ was telling Nicodemus of how his desire to adhere to the law wasn’t going to save him. He was telling Nicodemus how to be saved. John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The realization and repentance of your sin is the first step to understanding the things of God. The Spirit that will reside in you as a result of Salvation will bring to light many of the questions you have, for that Spirit that will reside in you is the Spirit of Christ.

 
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Posted by on May 14, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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