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Monthly Archives: June 2012

That close……

10 Jun

That close……

Romans 10:8-11 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

The Apostle Paul had a heart for the Jews and their Salvation. He longed for them to see the err of their ways and to realize that their Christ had come to save the world. That they need not try to earn their righteousness by their works, but confess and believe and accept what He has done for them. Christ can be found living inside you, not only in Heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father; He is attainable NOW. Luke 17:20-21  Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” God has placed that desire inside you for better things; for good and not evil.

When you confess your sin, repent of your sin asking for Christ’s forgiveness, and accept Him as Lord of your life, you are Justified in God’s eyes and saved from eternal punishment of denying what Christ did for you at Calvary. The pride and denial are the walls that will surround you in Hell in eternal punishment if you deny The Gospel of Grace. It is impossible to earn your way into heaven, but possible to humbly accept the free gift of Grace. The Jews were spending daily time with God, but they thought it was earning them righteousness, and they were mad at Paul for preaching Free Grace to all people. We are all the same in God’s eyes and His invitation is extended to everyone. Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. Those tugs you feel in your heart sometimes is God letting you know that you cannot do life without Him. He is that close, within you, if you answer His call.

 
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Posted by on June 10, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Listen

09 Jun

Listen

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Who do you, how do you, what do you believe? There are so many ‘faiths & religions’ out there, you can surely find one that suits you. You can believe in the traditional ones, the scientific ones, even the self ones that have become so prevalent today. Our “itching ears” are inclined to desire to hear something that will give us hope and direction for our lives today and beyond. That is the scary thing of how inclined we are to follow the paths that lead us astray in the empty promises that never satisfy but ultimately cost us eternally.

There is something to hearing the Word of God even in comparison to reading it. The audible voice in a good preacher brings about revelation from God. The audible rings true and enlightens the heart, opening the door of truth. The verse above (Romans 10:17) speaks of how that leads to faith. This is not found in empty sermons that tickle the ears, but in sermons that preach solidly from the Word of God. That tugging at your heart when you hear a solid sermon is God’s revelation to you from His Word. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

If you are having trouble reading or even understanding your Bible, try an audio version also. There are many resources out there at no costs that provide these services. (Youversion is great). Listening to God’s Word will open you heart and set His Word there. You may find that you can remember scripture when you hear them better than when you read it also. God promises that His Word is planted in our hearts upon hearing. Romans 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach). Pray first, then open your ears for they are the keys to your heart.

 
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Posted by on June 9, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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What have you given the kiddo’s?

08 Jun

What have you given the kiddo’s?

Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

Ah the demon of anxiety rears his head, and mornings like these must be bathed in God’s Word and prayer. I awoke thinking of the graduations of all our children this week, the next steps in life for them, the changes that are coming. Many of them will be on their own in college and life, many are making the next steps. I awoke thinking of writing of Wisdom. Somewhere in my study, Satan creeped in and has made my morning difficult.

I pray that somewhere in your heart, you have shared the Greatest Gift with your children; the gift of an eternal Savior, Jesus Christ. How will they know if you do not teach them? They will be tugged away by the society that we live in that teaches self love and preservation at all costs. If they are headed off into the ‘real world’, have you prepared them, and their hearts?

Our greatest responsibility as a parent is to teach our children of what lies in the life after this, and that life is one of paradise or torment. Our eternal responsibility is to show them the Way through Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, and to a security that this world cannot steal away from them. This wisdom is eternal, and is gained at no expense but approaching God with a humble heart. James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Invest in your children more than just parenting, or being their friend. Share with them eternity and the answer to it through Christ. You have less than 20yrs of their lives to make the impressions of them to last more than just this lifetime.

 
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Posted by on June 8, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Your Mission Field

07 Jun

Your Mission Field

Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

This morning I have those in the Mission Field on my mind. Our team is leaving for Alaska today, and I know personally of two other missionary journey’s in the coming weeks I will be in prayer for. I could think of six people and families from CCC that are in the process or already have given their lives for Christ; spreading His name globally. An amazing fact from just our church. They are true disciples, putting God first in all their lives. They are not seeking the rewards found here in prosperity, but seeking eternal rewards in the dedication of their lives now for service to Him. Luke 14:33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. I have the upmost respect for them and believe that God puts a special tug on a missionary’s heart for that pursuit; forsaking all for that Call they have felt from Him.

You have a mission field too, even without going to Alaska or abroad. Your mission field is where your feet find you today. God has placed you there for His purpose and you can invest your time drawing glory to Him. Everyone that surrounds you is influenced by you without even realizing it many times. We can even deny that influence, but it remains there in the subconscious unknowingly. So do you project Christ? You can project Him in anything and everything you do when you perform the drudgery of your duties to the best of your abilities. You can be a missionary or disciple when you share why you do these things as God honoring. Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Make your investment in the things that will matter for eternity, and have the promise of God in an eternal reward. Matthew Henry said of verse 29; “Thousands have dealt with Christ, and have trusted him far; but never any one lost by him, never any one but was an unspeakable gainer by him, when the account came to be balanced. Christ here gives his word for it, that he will not only indemnify his suffering servants, and save them harmless, but will abundantly reward them.” Spend time today investing in your mission field showing the love of Christ that you posses and those that surround you will want to know what makes you different. That is your opportunity to truly share the Good News, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 
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Posted by on June 7, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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The Key

06 Jun

The Key

Galatians 2:20-21 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

I am always constantly amazed by the way God aligns His messages around us. The sermons we hear, our conversations with other Christians, even sometimes secular viewpoints, and His Word. The last 24 hours I have been surrounded by the “good deeds” and hypocrisy views. Two broads subjects that are many times woven together. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 2 had been confronting the Apostle Peter regarding hypocrisy and how Peter conducted himself depending upon who was present. Peter was walking both sides of the road in the Jewish traditions, and then the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul called him out on it! We are not saved by traditions or good works; period.

Romans 6:4-11 speaks about how we have been crucified with Christ also, and we are dead to sin. Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Law is designed to convict us of our sin. It points us to Christ. It is what God demands, yet we cannot meet His requirements of perfection. All of the good deeds we strive to attain are futile wasted efforts without Christ. If we could attain what God requires to come into paradise with Him, why would He have sent His Son to die such a horrible death? Romans 3: 4-26 speaks much about this. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

You will NEVER attain heaven through any life of good works. Satan will have you join him in Hell for eternity with that belief system. You can only attain heaven by the humble acceptance of the One who died to forgive your sins as the only way to open the door to paradise. John 14:6 I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me. Trample your pride under the power of Christ and ask Him for the key.

 
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Posted by on June 6, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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A True Son

05 Jun

A True Son

1 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

I was praying this morning for strength, direction, and comfort from God in His Word this morning. I had a very long, very rough Monday, and as I prayed I opened up my Bible and just asked God to give me an encouraging word on that page. The verse above in 1 Timothy stood out to me and gave me great encouragement. A true son –  as I looked deeper into ‘true’ the legitimate definition stood out. I studied farther into ‘true son’ and found  1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. There is the Gospel or the Good News.

You and I are legitimate sons and heirs through Christ for eternal life with God. It just doesn’t get any better than that. You will inherit a kingdom, and Christ has prepared a mansion for you to live with Him. John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Through the legitimate Son of God, His Spirit will live inside you and open up His Word to you. Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. How can you understand the Bible if you don’t have the Spirit living inside you to reveal it’s truth’s to you? The Bible will come alive to you like never before once you accept the Son as your Savior. You will become a legitimate child through God’s Grace and Christ’s blood that paved your eternal road in gold to eternity in His presence. Humble your heart, repent of your sin, open the door, and let Him in. You are now a true son.

Thank you Jesus!

 
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Posted by on June 5, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Veils

04 Jun

Veils

Exodus 34:29 Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.

Today is a little different for my mind is still fascinated by the time in study last night. I am not sure I am prepared to try and wrap it into a OneMinuteMinistry.

Moses had returned to Mt. Sinai to meet with God again alone. He had come down from His first meeting and found Israel worshiping an idol and had lost his temper. He had returned to meet with God on the mountain and he pleaded with God to see Him. God granted his request, but would not let Moses see His face. When Moses came down from the mountain and spoke to his people his face glowed from being in God’s presence. There is so much to unpack in that statement alone. But Moses did not know His face shown until later and he took a veil and covered his face. Each time afterwards he returned from meeting the Lord he veiled his face so that the children of Israel could not see how fast it faded away. 2 Corinthians 3:13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. That fading away quickly is still heavy on my mind.

In further study this morning in 2 Corinthians 3, it speaks of the veil being removed through Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:16-17 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Paul is speaking of the differences in the Law of the Old Testament, and the Liberty that is found in Christ. Matthew Henry wrote, “Or, when any particular person is converted to God, then the veil of ignorance is taken away; the blindness of the mind, and the hardness of the heart, are cured. 2. The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel is much more happy. For, (1.) They have liberty: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, and where he worketh, as he does under the gospel-dispensation, there is liberty (v. 17), freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, and from the servitude of corruption; liberty of access to God, and freedom of speech in prayer. The heart is set at liberty, and enlarged, to run the ways of God’s commandments.”

I was talking with my best friend about the differences in the lives of Christians before and after Christ, and the strains of living a Godly life before He came for our Salvation. What is available today through the acceptance of Him is a privilege that will remove the veil from your eyes and heart, and allow you to see God too.

 
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Posted by on June 4, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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They still point in the right direction

03 Jun

They still point in the right direction

Philippians 1: 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

Paul was in prison, and wherever Paul was he was preaching the Gospel of Christ. He was bound in chains and could have asked God ‘why’ and sunk into misery and depression as a result of his imprisonment. Paul suffered for Christ greatly after Christ visited him on the Damascus Road. Christ even sent Ananias to Paul and told him in Acts 9:16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Paul understood unlike many of the teachers today that we will be required to suffer for His name, and all of those happenings can be used to glorify Him in it. He understood that wherever His feet were that day, was God’s Will for him that day, and he was to use that day to glorify God. 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.

One of my good friends came to know Christ through a popular TV pastor who is what in today’s terms we would call a ‘Prosperity Preacher’. His preaching is of the idea that if you don’t have all the blessings Christ intends for you now, you don’t have enough faith. But my friend also  is wise enough to see the Truth now; and does not judge that pastor, for he sees him preaching Christ too. Look at how Paul was dealing with similar circumstances: Philippians 1: 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. Even in the misguided steps of many of today’s pastors, Christ is being preached. If they are preaching Salvation only through the blood of Christ, once you accept that, and your relationship and discernment grow, you too many see their err. Seek God daily with all your heart, mind, soul, body and strength. These things will open your eyes and allow you to see clearly the path He has for you today; and how you can glorify Him either in your blessings or your sufferings for that day.

 
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Posted by on June 3, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Ain’t Done Yet

02 Jun

Ain’t Done Yet

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;

Project 639, section 4, article 6b – status – in process, uncompleted. Do you have a “to do” list like that? Projects started, improvements or repairs made, yet lacking completion? Dana could write a book on mine. What if your life was like that in God’s eyes? Once you believe in His Son and you accept the Grace you have been given, He has begun that work in you. John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” The first part of that ‘project’ is the accepting of Christ as the Savior of your soul, and the Grace that God has bestowed upon you. Grace is a free gift of something you don’t deserve, and surely are not ‘entitled’ to. Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.

Matthew Henry said, “ The work of grace is but begun in this life; it is not finished here; as long as we are in this imperfect state there is something more to be done.” So much of this work rests on and builds our faith. Our faith is the evidence of the hope and peace we possess now, and the security of the future we have with Christ. This building of our faith is a work of God and it will and should grow until Christ returns for us. Is there something in this world that is hindering your faith and Christian growth? Remove it; it is that simple. Let God grow you by removing those things that keep your relationship from growing with Him. Even in the trials of life He is at work in you. Rejoice in that work! Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. God will never start something and not complete it for He is a God of perfection and cannot lie. That includes you, once you find rest in His Grace and let him do His work.

 
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Posted by on June 2, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Soul Rest

01 Jun

Soul Rest

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

How can we find rest in a world that demands the instantaneous, the constant, the never alone or downtime to find this rest? Our minds are running at warp speeds in many different directions, multi-tasking on so many fronts, going against all that God designed us for. I believe Satan’s greatest tool in today’s age is busyness. So how can we be told in the scriptures above that we can find rest for our souls? Our souls yearn for that inner peace, and there are even products that try to sell it to us. But it is not attainable through worldly means, but only through Christ. This goes against what the world teaches, but we are told not to follow the ways of this world in Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Practically speaking, if I gave you a glimpse into my world and the hours I pack into it, you would understand why I am constantly tired. I am under the spell of busyness just like all of you; working 70-80hrs a week, all the gadgets that keep me plugged in, and pulled in many directions physically to the point of exhaustion. But my soul is at rest; and that rest brings me an inner strength that only God can provide. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. There is something about the growth of your faith that will bring about this Rest, and the Rest is found in that faith. The world cannot steal your faith, nor can they deliver it. Hebrews 4 speaks much of that faith and His rest found in it. If you will believe and accept Christ, their will come a rest for your soul that you have never had before and it will carry you into eternity.

 
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Posted by on June 1, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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