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he told me to _________

15 Apr

he told me to _________

James 1:12-13 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 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.

You really ought to have a bookmark in your Bible for the first chapter of James. It is such clear, practical teachings of what you deal with in daily life. James speaks about how the world reaches out and grabs our attention, and how we struggle with so many temptations of the world that take our eyes off Jesus. James talks about the trials of life that God designs, or allows for our spiritual growth and maturity. James talks about the struggles of sin that Satan uses to draw us deeper into sin. James talks about the value we put on wealth, and clearly states that earthly wealth is temporal and will fade away just as the suns heat fades flowers in the field (James 1:11)

James moves to from talking about the trials, to the temptations that may play a role in them. God either designs or allows every single thing you face, every single day in your life. Let me be clear here; God does not tempt you to sin in any way, but Satan has asked God to tempt you with any sin that you face. God would be going against his holy nature if he enticed you to sin; his goal is to transform you into the image of his Son. Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. You are born into sin, you have a sin-nature because you are a descendant of Adam; you are enticed to sin because Satan tempts you with the pleasures of sin. We all know that sin has a temporary pleasure, but the conviction of the sin carries a weight or a penalty with it that is eternal. We must answer for every thought, word, and action of our life here at the judgement seat of Christ. We will either be kneeling before him forgiven, or we will be kneeling before him condemned, because we never repented of our sin and lived our lives full of temporary pleasure. Then we will pay eternally for our mistake.

The struggle with sin and the temptation of sin are with us until we reach heaven. The closer you draw to God, the deeper your desire to remove yourself from sin becomes. Satan will continually seek to tempt you; he will continually raise the level of your temptations and the trials of life to try and get you to renounce your faith in God. Do you remember how the trials of Job escalated? Even those closest to Job begged him to renounce his faith. Job was rewarded with earthly pleasures and likely and an incredible heavenly reward for the depth and steadfastness of his faith in God. As children when we got in trouble, likely we blamed it on somebody else. We claimed they were at fault for our fault. Satan is at fault for your sin, but by seeking God daily in prayer and his Word, he will give you the strength to resist. 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.

Paul also wrote in his epistles how we were not to continue in sin; sadly today many live misunderstanding grace, and think they have a pass to sin. Don’t let Satan convince you of that untruth. Spend enough time with God to recognize what is truth and error. Spend enough time with God that your only desire is to not sin. That desire is the strength to face the sins and temptation of the world with your shield of faith; to resist the schemes of the devil, and to stand fast for truth. You will become a light in a dark world that God uses to draw others to himself. You will become a Job of sorts, enduring trials and temptations, and drawing glory to God through them. Instead of blaming the other kid on the playground, you will be saying your faith in God gave you the strength to endure this trial of life.

 
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Posted by on April 15, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Pass the Blessing

14 Apr

Pass the Blessing

Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

In this day of the state of our world, the state of our lives, how much do you need daily encouragement? How much do you need to hear something to lift you up because all the world is trying to drag you down? The stresses and strains of daily life no matter where you are in life, can become overwhelming sometimes. It doesn’t matter if we are children learning of the stresses of responsibility, adults dealing with countless anxieties, or our seniors wondering of health and well being in their latter years; this life breeds daily strain for most of our life. But, when we grasp the joy of Jesus Christ, the hope of heaven and eternal paradise found in him alone, these daily strains are just ripples in the water as we sail towards paradise. I promise you, once you begin to understand this life is temporal and only preparation for the eternal, this life will take on new meaning. We need as Christians to encourage each other of that hope.

Paul’s epistles are full of the hope that lies within him. Paul speaks truth as plainly as any man to walk to face of the earth next to Christ. Paul’s letters are full of warnings, but Paul’s letter always are full of his heart of love for the brethren. Paul consistently opens and closes his letters with those edifications. He encourages his readers to live in the grace and mercy of the hope of heaven together found in the gospel. Paul opened this letter to the church of the Thessalonians; 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. Paul truly understood the importance of encouragement even when he was rebuking this church for great sexual sins later in this letter. We as Christians must seek to encourage one another. Paul is writing here in chapter five about the Lord’s return, the Day of His second coming; the warning to live in expectation of it. Paul is encouraging his readers to live with an eternal view, to live for the hope of His return. 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

You will always hear me point you to God’s Word and the encouragement found there. Without the hope and peace found in daily time there, I do not understand how people cope with the strains of life. I must also exhort you though to be bold in the sharing of your faith; not only the gospel with the lost, but the personal experiences you have had with God to other believers. Satan gives us countless reasons to take our eyes off God, and we as brethren need to encourage others to refocus their eyes on Him. I have been blessed immeasurably the last two weeks with these instances. God using people to encourage me, and I hope using me to encourage them. It has kept me grounded with an eternal view when the business world is commanding my attention. This is a dark world we live in; a dark sin-filled world with an ever growing evil presence; we as brethren need to encourage one another. Let God use what he has been doing or showing you in your life to encourage someone today. He might be doing that work through you with an eternal purpose and reward to each other. It is so humbling to see God use you to encourage somebody else. Keep passing that blessing along.

 
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Posted by on April 14, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

Vanity of Success

13 Apr

Vanity of Success

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. 4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear. (ESV)

The book of Ecclesiastes is my go-to book for keeping me grounded when the busyness of business creeps in. The demands of running a service business means that most every customer wants you now; everybody wants to know why not now; everybody gets upset the longer they must wait. In my business you either have 10 people standing around wanting something to do, or you work 3 to death; there is no balance. The business world creeps in and steals our joy of early mornings with God. The business world will creep in to your prayer life; it happens to us all when we can’t get the demands of our careers off our minds even to pray. The only solution I have found is to seek God harder than the business world seeks me. It is a very real battle that most of us face. Satan will curse you with demanding thoughts of work, or he may be disguised as blessings that take your eyes off God. Anything that takes your eyes off God and puts your focus of life anywhere other than eternal, is an idol. Let me be perfectly clear; if you are awaking early each day, staying up late at night, doing anything it takes for your career, and not doing anything it takes to do the same for drawing closer to God, you are serving the idol of success. Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me.
The root of the book of Ecclesiastes is the holy, reverent fear of God. This is not a shaking in your boots fear, but the awe and respect that encompasses everything he is. All throughout this book by Solomon (the wisest man who ever lived) is the term vanity. Solomon loves to use the term “chasing after the wind” as a description of the futileness of so many things we desire. Ecclesiastes 1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” 3 What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? 4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. 6 The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again. Can you imagine the level of your faith, the level of your life as a disciple, the level that God could use you if you spent the energy seeking him that you spend seeking the vanity of success? Can you imagine the height of heavenly success you will enjoy eternally when you spend your little time here working for things that eternally matter; spending your time investing in kingdom work; investing in lives and pouring your blessings into ministries? Take a hard look at your calendar today, make time for God today, and make time for investing your time in something that truly matters. Success is measured by hearing those words when you meet Jesus; “Well done good and faithful servant.”

 
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Posted by on April 13, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Easter Sunday – Checked off the list

06 Apr

Easter Sunday – Checked off the list

Matthew 28:28 -30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Ok, you made it to church for the supposed requirement to be in church on Easter Sunday. That is what all good people do, right? I mean, no matter where we are in our supposed Christian life, we are to be in church yesterday, right? If we have said a prayer, signed a card, or made any commitment at any point in our life, it has to be a law somewhere to be in church on Easter Sunday? Isn’t that in the Ten Commandments? Wasn’t it a rule for the Jews in the Bible? Isn’t it a duty of mine to show up at least once or twice a year to confirm before God and everybody else that I am still a Christian? Isn’t it a rule of some kind either spoken or unspoken? Didn’t, well, don’t people still, get in trouble for breaking the rules? Isn’t Christianity based on a rulebook called the Bible? Isn’t Christianity all about the do’s and the don’t do’s? What if I don’t follow the rules? Will I get to heaven?

That was the question that every Jew asked themselves; will I get to heaven if I don’t follow the rules. That is still the question that haunts Christianity in an underlying tone today. Let me put it this way. If getting to heaven is about following the rules, you are getting to heaven on your own accomplishments, and Jesus died on the Cross for nothing. It was a waste of God’s time, and God’s Son’s life, if you believe following the rules gets you into heaven. The Laws that God had given Moses had grown through religious leaders to a point of absurdity; it was impossible for anyone to fulfill them. God had given the Law to point to their need for a Savior, and Jesus came to fulfill it. Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Jesus completed the task, the requirement of a Holy God, that you can by no means ever accomplish. Without Jesus, you will never be good enough to get into heaven. Jesus was speaking in Matthew 28 to those Jews who felt the weight of the Law, felt the burden of trying to hard, and failing daily. He pled for them to come to him and find rest from the burden of religion. Religion kills, for it teaches self-accomplishment or failure. Jesus saves, for he fulfilled the Law which was impossible for you to do in the first place.

Once you realize that Jesus did what you cannot, their is the freedom he describes. You and I fail daily in the religion and moral laws of the land. We can plea for forgiveness, be thankful for his mercy, and pray for the strength to walk to the next day closer to Him learning from our mistakes. That growing relationship, every high and every low, grows into an abiding walk with Jesus. That Christian life sins less because they are closer to Christ. That Christian life grieves when they do sin, because they know they grieved the Holy Spirit living inside of them. There is no burden of law, but joy found daily in that cultivating relationship with the One who died for them. Easter Sunday just became an opportunity to celebrate the anniversary, instead of the drudgery duty of religion.

 
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Posted by on April 6, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

If He can fix me….he can fix anybody

05 Apr

If He can fix me….he can fix anybody

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Sitting here watching the sun rise, wondering how many of you might be at Easter Sunrise Services? Today is the most holy day of our Christian calendar; it celebrates Jesus rising from the grave 2000 years ago, forever conquering the power death has over those who repent and believe in Him. Do you believe that Jesus died, arose, ascended, and that he is coming back? Do you believe that the Son of God condescended himself to live as one of his creation to provide the only means possible to right the wrong that man committed in the Garden of Eden? Do you believe that the only way you can get to heaven in through a humble repentant heart that understands we can only get to heaven by acceptance of what Jesus accomplished 2000 years ago? Do you understand that you can never do enough good works, live a good life, go to church every Sunday, give to the poor, love everybody, and yet think those good merits will get you into paradise? You can label it religion, legalism, any “ism” sect of religion that teaches you must do any work yourself other than humble yourself condemns. Jesus condemned the religious throughout the New Testament.

Some friends of mine on social media have been sharing their hearts for Christ; mini-testimonies of their love for him and those that don’t know how much Jesus loves everybody. Our world is spinning seemingly out of control headlong into sin. Our churches are conforming to the world rather than standing for truth and against the world. Christians are being slaughtered daily for their faith and many of us believe that decision may not ever come to us. Will you die for what you say that you believe? Will you put your life on the line for One who did the same for you? If you doubt, you need to go to God in prayer and his Word for a strengthened faith. I promise you will know when you possess the power to say you will die for your Christian faith; you have no fear, for you understand you will be at the feet of Jesus hearing him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:21 paraphrased)

Why do I write this devotional blog? In hope that God does a work through it to show you that he can fix me, he can fix you. To show you a testimony of incredible mercy and grace. To show you that you do not need an education to find God; it is a matter of the heart and I graduated high school on straight D’s. I have lived most of my life stuck in pride and committed great sins. I relate strongly to Paul’s statement of being “the chief of sinners,” yet he wrote most of the New Testament. There is nothing you have done that you cannot be forgiven for; all you must do is realize that, then repent and believe. There is such a hope in heaven that the fears of this world will pass away. You will live in an eternal security that you desire for others to possess. You will become bold in your faith and not worry about those that ridicule you. People that knew you before Jesus will be your biggest critics, but they don’t likely possess Him, and if they do, they don’t truly understand grace.

Listen to my heartfelt plea; there is an answer to what your problem is, that answer if Jesus Christ. If you will only ask him to forgive you, then seek Him in his Word. I grew up in religion, and my life truly changed much later in life when I began to read my Bible every day. You cannot spend daily time in God’s Word and remain the same person you were the day before. If He can fix me……he can fix anybody.

 
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Posted by on April 5, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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The Story

03 Apr

The Story

John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

I heard a quote once of the Gospel of John that said, “It is shallow enough that a toddler may wade, but deep enough that an elephant may swim.” The simplicity of the passage above explains why Jesus had to die; to save us from sin and provide eternal life to all who believe in him. The depth of this passage when Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus goes way back into the typology of Christ in the Old Testament with Israel fleeing captivity with Moses leading them in the desert. If we look back into Numbers 21, we find that Israel had rebelled again, and God had punished them by sending poisonous snakes that bit many who died. Israel had recognized their sin, and asked for Moses to pray to God to forgive and heal them. This was Moses’ last miracle before he died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. Matthew Henry has a powerful commentary on this passage from Numbers 21 on the sting and recognition of our sin also. Israel found the serpents repulsive, just they found the Cross repulsive. Now God was showing them in the desert that they must look upon what turned their stomachs to be healed. Jesus was telling Nicodemus of his coming death at the cross; Jesus was telling him that he must look upon what he despised to be healed from our sins.

One of my sons told me recently of how a kid at school said he didn’t believe some of the stories in the Bible. It bothered him deeply, and I pray that the Lord gives them time alone to let the Holy Spirit lead a conversation. Many other religions tell that Jesus was a good man, a great prophet, a man like none other even, but a division comes at him being the Son of God. It is proven in history outside of Christianity of his life, death, and resurrection, yet many argue he was not the Son of God. Do you believe? You can’t say you are a Christian and not believe the foundational truth that the Son of God came to earth, died for your sins, and arose from the dead to return to heaven. This must be bedrock, this must be understood that their is no other way to heaven except through Jesus Christ and what he accomplished just over 2000 years ago. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Do you have questions also about Jesus? What is the Easter season where we are celebrating his death and resurrection? I am including a link to a great website that will help you understand. Take a few minutes and explore The Story and let God open your eyes through your heart.

http://viewthestory.com/viewer/?c=1000&p=t&quality=high

 
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Posted by on April 3, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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I ain’t two smart……

01 Apr

When I first looked at going back to school, I had to pull my high school records; I never went to college. I held my head in shame as I reflected on how lost I was in those years. Graduating by my teachers extending me grace and inching by with a diploma. I had started life’s bad habits at that time, and school became something that took my time away from partying. I have learned the very hard way for 30 years the mistakes I made in my youth, and place a higher regard on education. I am thankful for God blessing me with a wisdom only found by His Spirit through his Word. I am thankful for God guiding me through life now as I walk through life now according to the time I spend seeking to abide in him. I am trying to live my life as a disciple; I fail every day, try to repent every day, and he extends me mercy and grace every day. You do not find God through study, you find God through your heart. You will not attend any college or seminary that will prepare your heart for Him. It all begins at your realization how lost you are without Him. At that humble plea for him to save your eternal soul, your temporal life changes also. You begin to become wise by heavenly standards.

 

Link to today’s Experiencing God devotional.

https://oneminuteministry.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php

 

 

 

 
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Posted by on April 1, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

Holy Week – time to share

30 Mar

Holy Week – time to share

John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

How do I plea behind a keyboard? How do I convey to you my heart that yearns for you to know Jesus Christ not only as your Savior, but your Lord? How do I get you to understand that this temporal life is simply a preparation for the next eternal one? I really can’t get you to do any of these things……God does these things….I am nothing but a disciple with a heart for you to have all that I have in that relationship. I am nothing but an ol’ unedjumicated’ country boy that God has extended unimaginable mercy to; granted unworthy grace to, and is stripping all that pride I once lived in. He has pursued me, and I have humbled myself at that realization. I did not find God through study, I found God when he put that inquisitiveness in my heart. If you are questioning God, he is placing that same tug inside of you that he has done for countless others throughout history. You are a chosen child of God and your eternity revolves around your response. Look at the verses prior in John’s gospel; 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. Without arguing deep theology you must understand that God pursues you first; you must understand you either respond or deny that tug from him. What if you think you will do it on your own timeline and yours does correlate with His? You do know that God does not recognize time right? He sees the past, present, and the future all the same so your timeline will not match his I promise you. Repent and believe today!

As a Christian this is our most Holy Week. Over two thousand years ago Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as a king, and was killed by the same people who worshipped him only a few short days later. It was all part of God’s redemptive plan for humanity, but it should stir our hearts at the events that took place. There is no better week to share your faith with someone at work or school; even those outside of the faith know it is Easter, and likely know something about the faith you claim. Many will recognize the most famous verse in the Bible; John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Many may not know the next; 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Right there is the good news, or the gospel of Jesus Christ. All of humanity is lost eternally in sin without knowing Jesus as their Savior. God is a holy God and he demands holiness in his presence. Without accepting Jesus as your savior, you will never be holy enough to enter heaven. You can never do enough good works to be considered holy; only one person to walk this planet has ever been holy, and He told us he is the only way to heaven. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. God has given you, just like he has given me, the ability to show those around you that he is available to everyone. Knowing him is a matter of the heart, a humbled heart that desires the grace we do not deserve, and thankful for the mercy he shows us. God wants to use you this Holy Week to reach others with the gospel; pray this morning for the boldness to share your faith and a deepening of your faith as you realize what this week represents.

 
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Posted by on March 30, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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It ain’t mine to keep

27 Mar

It ain’t mine to keep

Matthew 19:23-24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

It is nearly impossible to condense all the truths taught in the parable of the rich young ruler, especially when you live in a country obsessed and weighed by the monetary possessions we measure ourselves by. We are so pulled by the tug of sin found in our pursuits of stuff, that we measure ourselves without seemingly even knowing it. Houses, toys, cars, cash, all seemingly related to a power we feel in them. We are chasing a power and happiness in them that is of the ruler of this world; we are chasing what Satan wants us to chase, for money is likely our biggest test from God. Money can become our God, even thousands of years ago just as this rich young ruler. You may say you have trouble understanding the Bible, but God has made this perfectly clear. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (ESV) I have heard many a sermon on how we value our money; simply put, take a look at your checking account and the truth will be made known.

I have stepped out of the pulpit and back into the business world myself. I am sure that many think in the pursuit of money, which is not true. There are many business owners out there that use their success to invest in ministry and eternal work; they utilize their financial blessing to invest in kingdom work. This is a root of this parable. Are you blessed; are you tithing at your church, or even giving above your tithe? Are you giving back to God out of the tug of duty and being religious, or out of love for what He has entrusted you with? There is an eternal difference in the two. One brings condemnation, for you think you are being saved by your works; the other brings immeasurable joy to the heart, for you are entering into the joy of the Lord by following his example. The summary to this parable is found in the middle of it; 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Jesus taught for three years how to follow him, countless examples and clear calls to those who asked. He was calling for us to make him first in our hearts; if he is first in our hearts it becomes easy to follow his example of living our lives with an eternal focus. It becomes easy to give away to the needy, when the world says to hide away for ourselves. It becomes easy to lay down our daily burdens and follow Jesus knowing we are eternally safe and secure there. Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

The first book written in the New Testament was written by Jesus’ half brother James who did not believe until after he saw his Brother arise from the dead and ascend into heaven. James, by the Holy Spirit, in the first chapter wrote how everything we possess in life, comes from God. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. When you can grasp that all you have is a gift from God, how can you not be moved to pass that gift on to others? The world would tell you to keep it, but they see your heart for your God in the passing on of any gift to them. They want to know more about this God that you love so much to give away what the world values so much. Through the eternal investments in kingdom work the Great Commission is preached. Follow Jesus’ example today and give to the poor; show your love for him by setting an example by which the world does not understand. Through this example eternal doors are opened for sharing the Gospel to a world that is dying and headed to hell. Opening those eternal doors with the financial blessings He has entrusted you with will bring you a joy that no amount of money or possessions could ever attain

 
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Posted by on March 27, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Faith to believe

26 Mar

Faith to believe

Romans 8:38 -39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sometimes, well many times to tell the truth, I don’t know what to say. When I struggle to put together words that just don’t come, sometimes they come out wrong. When I struggle with something that is close to my heart, passion may flow and it comes across hard instead of the love I sought to project. I am the poster child of simplicity; my faith is why I believe what I believe. I believe our God is so mighty that he breaths stars into existence; with that I believe he can control the smallest details of my life woven with a complexity of free-will and sovereignty that my simple mind (and yours too) cannot comprehend. I believe, but I cannot comprehend the complexities of predestination and election, but I know they are part of the Creators design and control and spoken of throughout the Bible. I believe, but I cannot comprehend the depth of a love so deep, that He extends mercy on a daily basis to us that fail him greatly on a daily basis. I believe, I cannot fathom my God sacrificing himself, for even those that hated him. I believe, but I cannot comprehend the depth of a love for us where He condescended himself; lowered himself from heaven to live as one he created, to die a death of immeasurable pain for even those who hated him. I believe he conquered death eternally in that act of rising from the dead to provide the possibility of eternal life even to those who hated him. I believe, but I stand amazed……

In study this morning of Jude, I was led to Romans 8 above. Paul struggled as I to put a pen to the words of the absolute certainty of God’s love for us. My study Bible puts it as our security in Him is absolute. Your faith, the measure of your faith is directly proportional to your diligent pursuit of Him. If you are a Sunday Christian, the depth of your faith is about two hours long; you do the math. God knows your heart, and the depth of your heart for him. The others that may view you as a Christian do not know past the facade. God loves you so much that he extends you mercy by not giving you what you deserve; he loves you so much he died for you to give you grace, giving you what you don’t deserve. The love of God surrounds your every waking moment of every single day; a small glimpse of that understanding will stir your soul. When he begins to stir your soul, you will change from the inside out. You will begin to project Christ to those he puts around you. John wrote about how we are to live as Christians; 1 John 2:4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. This is not hard to do, neither is it a burden to bear. The more you seek him, the more you reflect him. The more you seek him, the deeper your love for, and faith in him. The greater your faith in him, the more you understand even small portions of his sovereignty, and rest in it. Paul had just written in Romans 8 about all the trials of life and how we are to rest in the assurance God is in control of them. Your pursuit of him today will grow your love for him tomorrow. In that pursuit is found the depth of faith to believe.

 
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Posted by on March 26, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 
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