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But God…..

27 Feb

I could write a book expounding on this, and all that is going on inside my head right now. Those of you close to me probably already know and understand, but please pray for me. God is pressing down on me, and I am humbly feeling the pressure.

 

 

 

But God….

Psalm 46:10     Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

But God……how many times have we felt the command or conviction of God, and then followed it up with those words? We feel God speaking to us through His word, through prayer, through preaching, through those close to us He has place in our lives. But then ourselves step right in the way, into His way and add those words. They are usually fed from fear of many things, but all fear is fed from the enemy below. God did not instill fear into our DNA as 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. God gives us the security of a sound mind and Satan tries to lead us into believing we can’t do whatever it is that we feel God speaking to us about. That is the spiritual war that rages within you, but you have assured victory in Christ alone.

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? We have the power of God residing in us. God is the victor, and possesses the power to only let our enemy have what God allows. It all passes through Gods hands and serves His purposes, but the defeated foe does not acknowledge that he has already lost the war. The peace and security of what we face today is all under His control should allow you to rest in Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! I should have replaced every ‘we’ with an ‘I’ throughout this writing…..for it was for me.

 
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Posted by on February 27, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Even at work

26 Feb

Even at work.

 
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Posted by on February 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

Even at work

26 Feb

This morning I have spent time in the gospels of John and Luke, and Matthew Henry’s commentaries and just lost track of time. I could write so much more on the scriptures surrounding these passages. God can use you where you find yourself today. You are where He wants you for today. It all can bring glory and honor to Him in how you handle the every day. Spend daily time with Him, and you will overflow what He presses into you as a result.

 

Even at work

John 21:6     And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

In Luke chapter 5, Christ had called His first disciples while they were at work. He had approached them at their business, and used their vocation to deliver a sermon from the pulpit in the boat to the crowd of people on the shore. Their is also a great prophecy being fulfilled regarding Abraham and the sand on the seashore in the study of these scriptures. After His sermon in Luke 4 he says, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  We have heard how the disciples were called “fishers of men.” Christ called them while they were at work, and used their work for the glory of God. Are you aware, and prepared to glorify God in your vocation? Are you glorifying God now in your workplace?

After His death and resurrection, He began to appear to the disciples. In John 21 Peter had probably sulked and decided “well at least I can return to what I know how to do” and went fishing to earn a living, and get his mind off what had transpired. They had no luck, and were headed back to shore when in  John 21:6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.” Christ had returned to them at work, where He found them to begin with. Christ can use where you spend your every day to glorify Himself. It does not have to be from the pulpit to honor Him, it can be how you handle every day with the integrity He instills in you. Do not miss the opportunity he places before you in the workplace today, for much of the workplace is far from God, abusing every ideal for the benefit of only themselves, or the bottom line. Let it be known that you serve the highest line, held to the highest standard to glorify Christ.

 
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Posted by on February 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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A tent of Hope

25 Feb

A tent of Hope.

 
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Posted by on February 25, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

A tent of Hope

25 Feb

As I turned on the computer this morning and FB came up, I was thinking of a guy I was talking to yesterday who was working on his house, and how I sure couldn’t be any help with the construction side of it. I then was skimming through my bible this morning seeing where I felt led to spend some time, and I came upon the title “Assurance of the Resurrection.” That sounded like a good place to spend some time, and I laughed as I saw these passages speaking of our “tent” or earthly bodies. It struck me of how they can be called a tent, which is the simplest of structures. Then the passages evolved into the hope that resides in us, and a wonderful time in God’s word it has been this morning. I pray that you too possess that hope, and groan for eternity, with Him.

 

 

A tent of Hope

2 Corinthians 5:1-2    For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

You wouldn’t want me to build you anything. There are many things I can do, but building anything structural will have many flaws. I am stubborn enough to continue to try, but my hands and gifts do no include carpentry. God does not build, God speaks into existence. We simply cannot wrap our minds around that, but He even speaks of our grand design bodies as a tent. If a tent is the simplest of structures, how grand will our eternal bodies be with Him in a heavenly paradise? We have been promised in 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.

But in these passages Paul is really speaking of our longing to be in heaven with Christ, and our groans and desires while we find ourselves here. The hope that rests in us, that cannot be taken away is in verse 7; For we walk by faith, not by sight. That hope that resides in us is a guarantee from God found in verse 5; Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. The hope we have brings a peace about us that the world cannot understand. They find peace in “stuff”, or things they can see or touch, and all these things will fade away or be destroyed. Hope cannot be touched, or seen, or taken away. Romans 8:23-24  Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? Place your hope, home, and soul in an eternal residence of paradise with the One who came to earth to provide you the Only Way, through Jesus Christ.

 
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Posted by on February 25, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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A state of being

24 Feb

A state of being.

 
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Posted by on February 24, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

A state of being

24 Feb

I would love to recommend a book “The True Vine” by Andrew Murry. It is a short devotional style study of John 15, and the parable of the Vine. It gives a great insight into the term abide which we hear so much of in the bible. I do believe that abiding is progressive and grows in us. I believe that God reveals and draws us closer to Him as we pursue Him, revealing progressively more discernment and growth. I pray that you too will seek Him, seek Him in prayer and time in His word every day. This is truly the only way to abide. Abiding does not come by going to church alone one day a week. Abiding comes from consistently pursuit.

 

 

A state of being

1John 2:24-25    Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us–eternal life.

In the gospel of John 15, the term abiding is spoken much of in the parable of the vine. It is a great passage to study, and ‘abide’ is central in it’s meaning. Abide simply means a state of being. Abiding in Christ is walking with Christ, having Him inside you, that nothing can take away. How can you remove a ‘state of being’? This scripture above speaks of the Good News that dwells inside us, the Gospel of Jesus Christ whom has come to save the world. If we proclaim Him, He abides in us, rests in us, we are in-dwelt with His Holy Spirit. If we truly believe, we have the blessing and assurance of John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

I believe abiding is progressive. I believe the closer you draw to Him, the more you seek Him, the more He reveals Himself to you. We learn in the bible of being fed “spiritual milk” as infants in Christ, then we are spurred on to bigger things as we mature. With our maturity comes a discernment from the Spirit that resides in us. When we diligently seek those things of God, we begin to understand more, we begin to discern more, to understand and recognize false teachings that John was speaking of here. There are many being led astray today with cushy promises of worldly pleasures wrapped up in a soft gospel. The more we seek God alone, the more we begin to discern through the smoke. 1John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. The only way to receive this anointing is through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and all the eternal blessing that flow as a result of it for an eternity.

 
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Posted by on February 24, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Muddy Dirt Roads

23 Feb

Muddy Dirt Roads.

 
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Posted by on February 23, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

Muddy Dirt Roads

23 Feb

My family is in the middle of a large trial with many facets. We are not promised a life full of roses as Christians, and far from it to be honest. It is the people of this world, whom live in and for the world, that live the life of ease. If you are suffering, it may be an honor to Christ in how you respond. But it also may not be. Sit back and look at your situation, and pray for God to reveal why and where you are there. Respond how you feel Christ would.

 

 

 

Muddy Dirt Roads

James 1:2-4   My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

There is only one place with streets paved of gold. There is only heavenly eternal paradise in our lives with Christ after our short time here. Now is a difficult walk, full of various trials, various tests, various hardships that we are called to endure. Think of the story of Job, whom was living a Godly life, and God was so proud He let Satan test him for He knew Job would not fail. When we are pressed during these trials, what is truly inside us comes out. If we have been seeking God and spending time in His Word, the peace that goes against the worldly grain emerges. If we have not, then our worldly spirit spills forth as they are expected. Where we invest ourselves will always rise to the top when the heat is applied. How do you respond?

1 Peter 1:6-8  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom you have not seen you love. You will honor Christ by your response to what you are facing. How can they not “lash out” as everyone else does? How come they don’t act as others do? You can possess something that the world does not comprehend. You can possess something that the world cannot take away. They will want what you possess, for they do not understand the hope that you have within you. Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Faith and Hope are in dwelt in your soul, and no trial you must endure can take away that security that only Christ provides for eternal paradise with Him. These things are temporary.

 
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Posted by on February 23, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Honor to Authority

22 Feb

Honor to Authority.

 
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Posted by on February 22, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 
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