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Stuff or Tresures? 01/23/12

26 Jan
I really don’t know how I ended up in Ecclesiastes this morning, but it sure is a book relevant to the day in which we live. A book written over 2000 years ago, and yet this society today that breeds the pursuit of possessions is straight out of the Old Testament. I was just as guilty as the next guy a few years ago. I mean I had the idea the one who died with the most toys wins right? Over the past couple of years, through some real hard realities in the areas of finances, I have come to realize how much stuff meant to me. But as a result of those trials, I have also realized how little they mean to me. I still have some toys, but a LOT less stuff, and the importance I place on it is MUCH less. My boys just can’t understand how I sell everything. I have told them everything but them and their mom is always for sale…..it’s just stuff.

Stuff or Treasures?

Ecclesiastes 1:14     I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

We all must work. We are even called to dedicate and perform that work to the Lord. “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart as working for the Lord, and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23). We all labor to provide for ourselves and our families, and for things we desire. But somewhere in us  is that desire for always more. The wants, far outweigh the needs, and we find ourselves in constant pursuit of “stuff”. The world we live in teaches us that more stuff brings happiness, joy, and success. All we have to do is put our minds to the task, and we shall succeed. If not, there will be a program to help you fix what you are doing wrong.

That is not what Christ teaches. Place your treasure and focus on things to come in Heaven. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34) If we are in constant pursuit of worldly possessions, our heart will not be in constant pursuit of Christ. We cannot serve two masters, God and money. Work diligently as you are working for God, but use those resources He has given you to focus on Him. You can make a difference in where you work every day, in the kingdom of God for eternity.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Lead Me 01/22/12

26 Jan

This morning I was in prayer and praying for God to lead me as I write these devotionals. When I stopped praying, I felt as though that was going to be this devotional. I got started on it, then had to finish it when we got home from church. Coincidentally we have been in a series that was much about David called Epic Fail. David was a man who failed on biblical proportions, but yet he also was a leader in repentance of those sins. Repentance is key to hearing God’s voice and knowing how to handle the things we face every day. I pray that you will seek God every day, and let Him lead you along in the life He has planned for you.

Lead Me

Pslam 25:5    Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

As I researched “lead me” it came up 14 times in scripture. Twelve of those 14 were from the Psalms where David was pouring his heart out to God. The story of David is an incredible one of God’s Mercy and Grace to forgive David’s great sins. “We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. We cannot do this thing called life alone. We will fall short of what God has in store for us if we try to rely on ourselves, or anyone else’s plans or programs that are on every infomercial.

I love James McDonald’s ministry title – Walk in the Word. Knowing whether to turn to the right or the left, let me know thy way. Once you begin to truly seek God every day, you will begin to hear that small voice inside you leading you in the every day doldrums of life. We are designed to abide in Him, to walk with Him, we must humble ourselves and truly seek Him…first.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Selfless or Selfish? 01/21/12

26 Jan

Good rainy Saturday morning to you. I couldn’t even drag myself out of bed before 5 this morning and slept in till 6. I had stayed up late watching that sermon I posted last night (good hard truths preaching). I had a devotional put me in John 1 this morning and boy did I just end up parking there having a great morning with God. It is impossible to read John and just not see and feel the excitement and glory of Christ. I ended up feeling God really speaking to me about Andrew (had another brother speak to me earlier in the week about him-conformation). Andrew just could not contain the joy of what “we have found the Messiah”. Matthew Henry tells us of the importance of trying to reach those close to us. Spend some time sharing and spend this rainy weekend in the best Book!

Selfless or Selfish?

John 1:40-42      One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.

Would you say you are selfless, or selfish? Do you want others to possess what you have, and strive to help them do so, or is what you possess so good you want to keep it to yourself? These are hard things to ponder in many ways. Andrew in the scripture above had met Christ while he was a disciple of John the Baptist. Andrew saw and understood the possibility of the future of becoming a disciple of Jesus. He easily could have thought as we do today, ‘Well I am glad I am getting in on this deal early. Look how it will benefit me.’

But Andrew’s first thought was of sharing what he had found. He immediately ran out to find his brother Peter, who became one of Christ’s closest companions. Andrew had tasted the grace of Christ and he selflessly thought of his brother. Matthew Henry said “True grace hates monopolies, and loves not to eat its morsels alone.” Share what Christ is doing in your life with someone you know. Don’t keep Him all for yourself.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Born Again 01/20/12

26 Jan

his chapter in John has some “famous” verses in it. It is also where Christ is speaking to a Jewish pastor that hid under the cover of darkness to come and speak to him. He was afraid of what people might think if he was caught speaking to Christ, but he was drawn to him. Spend some time in the book of John, it is impossible to read John and not see Christ. It is a great book for a new believer to read also. I hope you all have a great weekend, and I want to thank you for letting me share where Christ has spoken to me each morning. It and you have been a great encouragement to me.

Born Again

John 3:3     Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Christ was responding to a question by a Jewish pastor here. A leader in the church, who silently at night came to see Jesus because he did not understand. Do you think that being a good person, or going to church, or being better than that “bad” person will ‘earn’ you way into heaven? Salvation is a representation of new life, being born again. It is something that until you possess it, you cannot begin to understand it. The Holy Spirit will shed a different light on the way you view everything, and He will begin to help you understand your bible as you never have before.

We have the busyness of our day, and the American dream that tells us we can do anything that we put our mind to. If we want any goal set before us, all we must do is put our minds to the task, and press on until we accomplish it. It will never be easy, it will require a lot of long hours, dedication, and perseverance to accomplish what we desire to accomplish. This will never get you into heaven. “Nor or your ways My ways (Isaiah 55:8).” You can only humble yourself, confess your sins, accept Christ as the ONLY Way, and be born again.

 

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Death Unto Life 01/19/12

26 Jan

Last night I went to a teaching class @ CCC led by our new staff member, Dr. Ed Gravely. His list of accreditation’s is astounding at such a young age, but honestly, that is not what I see. I see God pouring His Spirit through Him, and he is an anointed man. He will be starting to preach every Wednesday night in a couple of weeks through the book of Luke, and I would love to encourage all of you to consider coming to hear him. I am confident in saying you will be blessed. I am excited about the future and what God has in store for us as a result of him being on staff. His class was an outline of how to lead and teach in any curriculum. But at the center of every thing he said was point them to the gospel. In all we do, point them to Christ. He can do all the work, that through no program or plan we have can. Only He can truly change them from the inside out, and that is only where true change is made. If the gospel is not what in you are teaching, teach something else.

Death unto Life

John 5:24    Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

What does this scripture say to you? Have you heard the Word? Do you believe? This one sentence explains what you gain when you accept The Gospel of Jesus Christ. You pass from death unto life. We all must pass from this earth at some time, and will spend our eternity in heaven or hell. It is a choice once you hear the Gospel, an eternal choice, of where you will remain, for the remainder of eternity.

That stirring in your soul, when you hear the Word of God, is God pursuing you. How humbling it is to realize the Creator of the universe is speaking to us. To know that He loves us so much, that He gave His only Son, to become a living sacrifice for our sins, so that we can spend eternity in paradise. That humbling revelation should spur you on, to accepting the only Way. Don’t deny those feelings inside you. That is Christ knocking at the door of your soul, and only you have the key to open the door to let Him in.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

Praise 01/18/12

26 Jan
I awoke this morning with a joy filled heart. Just full of praise and knew this was what the topic needed to be this morning. Thank you Jesus for all you do for little ol’ me!

Praise

Psalm 99:3    Let them praise Your great and awesome name– He is holy.

Praise. Two hundred and six times in the bible. That is just in that word context, there are many more. Have you ever heard the way to enter into Gods presence is through praise and worship? Do you know that is why we were created, so it makes sense that is how we should begin our prayers and meditation? Isn’t that how most of our church services begin with a time of praise and singing out in joy to our Lord, Creator, and King?

A praise filled heart is a clear, joy filled soul that can put the troubles of today aside. Even when you are hurting in the trial you are enduring, you can lift your eyes to heaven and give thanks for many things. Your praise may be tear-filled, but your praise will be genuine and cleansing also. Thank God for the breath of life for today, and through His Son the breath of life for eternity.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Book of Remeberance 01/17/12

26 Jan

I heard this for the first time on my mission trip to Alaska three years ago. I could make this One Minute Ministry an hour on this topic. Don’t waste, but cherish any time you have with another believer. The world is trying to drag you down the other 95% of the time, so please cherish and honor this time together. Use this time to discuss the burdens God has placed on your heart, what He is doing in your life, what He has placed before you. It is a big deal to God. So much he writes it in a special place, a Book of Remembrance.

Book of Remembrance

Malachi 3: 16-17    Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.  “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

We live in an evil world. There is so much to talk about, so much to gossip about, so much idle blabber that steers us away from God. Do we profess Christ, but from our lips never speak His Holy name, or speak with others about the burdens He has put on our hearts. What if when we discussed these things God placed on our hearts with another believer that we knew God smiled and wrote it down? He remembers all our thoughts, all our spoken words, both good and bad, but He places the things we speak of Him in a special place, a written book.

When God places a burden on your heart, share it with another believer. He may have placed that same burden on theirs, and Gods divine plan is at work in you. When you are with other believers, don’t discuss all the earthly things around you that steer your eyes away from Him. Cherish that time together and discuss what God is doing in your lives, and praise His Holy name knowing that everything you discuss together is being written down by the hand of God.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Turn the Light on 01/16/12

26 Jan

Turn the Light On

Luke 1:79    To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.

God is light. Light will dis-spell darkness, for  the two cannot coexist. Darkness here is thought of as those eternally lost, living in the shadow of Satan’s eternal damnation without finding the eternal Light. Something as simple as the lights we turn on every night to light our path, are an example of what God has done for us. We are truly lost stumbling around in the darkness without   finding the Way, and lighting our path. Experiment with it yourself one night. That is the representation of your life without Christ.

But with finding the Light, comes a peace that surpasses all understanding. If I were to ask to describe my “religion” in one word, it would be Peace. Salvation brings something that this crazy world in no way can provide. No self help program, no material possession, no book, can provide an indescribable feeling of security that Christ will give you. Once your eternity is set, things here become trivial, and your only focus is to want to share the Good News you possess with others.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Grace and Mercy 01/15/12

26 Jan
I hope you all are having a great weekend, finding time to spend in God’s Word, finding time to worship today, and spending some time with family. May you have a day of rest.
Grace and Mercy

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 believe it was Adrian Rogers I heard say “Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we do.” Grace is a word that can separate some denominations. Grace is what God has given us through Christ. There was no other way. There are some out there who rest of God’s grace, living their worldly ways, resting in the idea that a merciful God will rescue them before it is too late. But if they had truly have a repentant heart, they will no longer have that desire to walk in sin and rest on God’s grace.

As sinful as we are at heart, we could never keep the Law of the commandments to perfection. God demands perfection, so He provided us the only way to attain it, through Christ. Matthew Henry said “Mercy and grace are the things that we want, mercy to pardon all our sins and grace to purify our souls.” We cannot live without either for our time here, or for the life hereafter.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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The Living Word 01/13/12

26 Jan

There are so many ways to go with this passage, but I want to look at the possibility of not understanding the Bible. I had coffee with a guy about a month ago, who talked about his understanding of all types of secular books, but how he just doesn’t get the bible. He continued to talk and revealed much more than he realized. I know he goes to church, but I believe he practices religion, and is not saved. We cannot understand the bible until we are.

The Living Word

Hebrews 4:12         For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

They call it the Living Bible or book. What other great books throughout history make the claim to be more that just print? We all have heard the Word preached, or heard a sermon, and felt like it was pointed right at us. Sitting in a church full of people, and wondering how the pastor knew exactly what we were battling at that time, and how he wrote that sermon for us. It was not the pastor, but the Word of God that spoke to us. It probably hurt, just as a sword does. The power of the conviction of the Holy Spirit is revealing the words of God to us, revealing our sin, revealing ourselves.

I learned a few years back, that the lost simply cannot understand the Bible. Until Salvation, when we are given the Holy Spirit, we cannot understand, because the Spirit is whom reveals these truths to us. If you are struggling with understanding, get on your knees and pour your heart out to God. Accept that the only way to heaven is through His Son, that you can do nothing to earn your way, that you understand how much you are a sinner, and you need His help. You may very well find that your bible becomes alive in a whole new way, for eternity.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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