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300 Day Sunrise

06 Mar

300 Day Sunrise

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

I really don’t know where to begin on the 65 day storm that we are labeling 2015. It has been a doozy, but God has never forsaken us. There have been just some highs, but this year has been incredibly tough on our family. We have a couple big answered prayers also that I look to, and rest on, in this storm. I rest in the closeness to Him that is a byproduct of these trials of life; you either draw closer to God in them, or you get angry and rebel and hand satan the victory. Yesterday in the midst of all my planning, we got news that rocked our world. Satan said, “Take this blow to your finances and get angry at your supposed God.” I guess he doesn’t know me as well as he thinks. God has blessed me with just a glimpse of his sovereignty, and I know his plans are better than mine. I never question what path he has set before me.

Listen to what the Bible tells us. James, the half brother of Jesus, wrote the first book in the New Testament to a growing new Christianity. His epistle is a book of action, how to live out our faith, how to exemplify Christianity to those outside the faith. Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (​James​ ​4​:​13-15​ NKJV) Even in our plans, it should be to follow His plans ultimately. Look at how God used the prophet Jeremiah to reassure the Jews who thought God had forsaken them. They were headed into a life of captivity as it seemed. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (​Jeremiah​ ​29​:11-13​NKJV) So many times we quote and claim the promise of the future and the hope of the first verse. Do we miss how through this tough trial of life, God tells us only then, we finally will truly seek him? Does it take the really tough things in life to make us truly seek him with all our heart as in verse thirteen? Sadly when we reflect,the answer is yes. We may thank him for our blessings when we bounce around freely enjoying them, but are we searching for him earnestly with all our heart as when we simply do not know what else to do?

The more time you spend in the Bible, the more you understand your need for God, and how you rest in the glimpse of his sovereignty. The trials of life come, but you know Satan had to ask permission for them. You may even know they are punishment for sin. The closer you are to God, directly related to how much you pursue him, is how you handle the trials of life. You might see the 300 day blessing coming in the sunrise this morning.

 

 

 
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Posted by on March 6, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

The Law of Discipleship

03 Mar

The Law of Discipleship

Mark​ ​8:34-37​ When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

I am slowly trying to get back to physically working, and I have been really pouring myself into working on our business, to be prepared for working in our business. God has really been opening some doors, and I believe he is going to bless our business from what he has laid on my heart. I can’t begin to express the current financial strain, but I know he will provide. I am committed to tithing from our business which I have never done before. I already have in a large asset sale, stepping out on faith when we needed it the most. This is one of the ways we deny ourselves as Jesus said above in the gospel of Mark.

I love how a commentary puts it. “He takes up his cross who is crucified to the world. But he to whom the world is crucified follows his crucified Lord. This cross assumes various forms; such as persecution and martyrdom, affliction and sorrow of whatever kind, appointed by God; temptations of Satan, permitted by God for our trial, to increase our humility and virtue, and to make brighter our crown.” I wish I had written that description of being sold out for Jesus. Jesus calls us to be a disciple of his, but do we claim to be Christians and not disciples? There is a very big difference. Being a disciple is living for Christ every day; Luke 9:23 adds that those people who want to follow Jesus are to take up their cross DAILY.

This is not easy to do. The world comes at us with every temptation of sin, pleasure, success, self, and even misguided security in religion. Satan is the ruler of this world and it takes the heart of a disciple that is seeking Gods Will daily to discern from truth and falsehoods. Discipleship is a humble heart that seeks only honoring God with their little time here; spending our time working for eternal crowns and not earthly treasures; investing in the eternal kingdom and not the temporal pleasure. The law of discipleship is a law of self denial, a pattern given by the One who denied the riches of heaven to step down into hell to rescue your soul. He died for you, he came to earth and died for you to give you eternal life. There is nothing here that can compare to heaven. There is nothing here that you can take to heaven. Solomon called all these worldly pursuits and riches, “vanity of vanities.” The epistle of James tells us, whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (​James​ 4:​4-15) Seek God in prayer and his Word early each day. Pray for him to open your mind through your heart to his will for you for each day. Deny what the world is tempting you with and pursue wholeheartedly what he is showing you for eternal reward. This daily pattern of seeking Him first (Matthew 6:33), is the life of a disciple. Obeying the law comes easy for it comes from the heart.

 
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Posted by on March 3, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Deeper and Deeper

03 Mar

Deeper and Deeper

Mark​ ​8:31-33​ And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Jesus was plainly giving those closest to him a glimpse into the future, he was telling them of the sovereignty of God and the plans for Jesus’ life. You know they were amazed and terrified at what they were hearing. It is of no surprise that the zealous Peter spoke out against it, but Peter did not realize he was speaking out against God. Peter did not know he was being used as Satan’s mouthpiece at the feet of Jesus. There have been many times Satan will use us in the midst of an argument, and only afterward will we realize what has happened and how terrifying that realization becomes. We too may have argued with God. We may have argued against the sovereignty of God.

I could give you countless examples of those in my circle suffering on many levels right now. These could be physically, mentally, financially, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, how long the list could be. Many times it is a combination package. I could personally attest of roads I have traveled in many of these; of the current difficult path God has me on now. In the midst of these trials, those in the faith have a peace that the world does not understand. Many times we are asked how are we dealing with the situation, and there He opens he door for us to share our faith. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (​II Corinthians​1​:​3-4​ NKJV) The peace that comforts us in the midst of life’s tough situations is the prescience of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Spirit gives us enough of a glimpse of Gods sovereignty that we know he is in control, that he knows the outcome, that he is not going to leave us nor forsake us there. There are scripture references for each of those statements.

God will allow you to go down paths in your life that you would never travel by choice. He will guide you through incredibly tough situations in life to show you your need for him and deepen you understanding of his sovereignty. Without these tough roads you would never know the power of God, you would never know your need for God, you would never experience or desire to worship him at any level. Praise him through the storms of life for you are closer to him in the midst of them. In that closeness he is drawing those on the outside to himself as the see the evidence of your faith. Let him take you deeper and deeper.

 
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Posted by on March 3, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Are you religious?

01 Mar

Are you religious?

Mark​ ​7​:​6-8​

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

Someone might ask you today what your plans are. You might think it is Sunday; why do you ask because you know you are supposed to go to church on Sunday. Part of you in religious pride probably looked down on them for even asking. That is what thousands of years of religiosity has bred into Christian culture; Sunday is a religious duty of a devout Christian. Sadly these rituals have survived the test of time; so many believe that we earn our salvation by our participation in them. Salvation has no part in your church attendance record, confessional record, or how many times prayers were recited to anyone. Salvation is only found through a humble repentant plea to Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and understanding that he did the work you cannot do. Simply stated, repent and believe.

Let me ask you to review your church and your heart. Do you know what most songs will be, what prayers will be recited, what creeds will be repeated, what is expected of you each week? Does your heart tug you to church out of obligation and guilt? Do you understand the Holy Spirit will never guilt you into any means of religious duty? If that is not Him tugging at your soul for religious obligation, the only other option is Satan himself wanting you to feel comfortable and obligated to religion.

Christianity is a matter of the heart alone, and sadly many will perish in religion and the rituals of it. If this describes your Sunday, if this describes your religion, you need to get on your knees before Jesus and plea for him to open your eyes to the truth. That is him stirring this question, that is him pursuing you; respond in a humble plea for discernment of your state of religion. He will open your eyes through your heart to becoming a true disciple of his. You will find yourself eager to go to church on Sunday out of the love you have for him. You will be eager to sing new songs of praise and learn more of him from the teachers he has called for you. Sunday will become a day of joy and never be a day of drudgery religious duty again.

 
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Posted by on March 1, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Hole in the Bucket

26 Feb

Hole in the Bucket
Mark​ ​5:​8-20

And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon- possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

There is a small group of my friends that God uses to constantly encourage me with living out their faith; true disciples of Christ battling the world just like all of us, but living with an eternal view. We talk about all the same worldly things in our lives, but at some point in our conversations it always turns to our faith and what God has been showing us since our last talk. That is our true desire, to share what God has been showing us in his Word, through experiences with day to day encounters, through what we see of Him in our day to day lives. There is honestly nothing else I would rather discuss that what you have been experiencing in Him; my attention span and boredom kick in without a measure of faith mixed in our discussion.

My struggles with memory comes from a mix of extended drug abuse, genetics, and stress. I can read something, comprehend it, be genuinely moved by it, and an hour later can’t retain it. With the genetic side, that is terrifying. I have a hole in my bucket I am constantly trying to fill. God showed me recently how sin removes my finger and increases the flow rate. You can’t live with one foot in the world and one foot stretching for heaven; the gravity of sin will keep you here. What do you struggle with? What is your focus in life? What do you want to discuss more than anything? Do you see how the demon-possessed man in Mark wanted to talk about nothing but his healing? Jesus commanded him to go share his testimony of faith to all that would hear. If you are truly saved, that same commandment and desire should be welling up inside of you. If you claim Christianity and desire to discuss money, possessions, sex, success, sports, partying, anything that this world desires, are you truly saved? Do you rest in the false religion of Sunday Christianity that condemns? “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (​Matthew​7​:​21-23​ NKJV)

My testimony to you is one on incredible mercy and grace; I felt like Paul a chief of sinners, I felt like David who committed great sins, I now feel indescribable forgiveness that I so desire for you to have also. My heart lies not only reaching the lost, but in the incredible difficult ministry of Matthew 7; those that think they are saved, those who sit beside you on Sunday, those who profess Christianity but are not disciples, those who are truly lost…… Jesus spoke in parables all throughout the New Testament for so many could not understand. Their hearts were hardened to God’s Word, many rested in religion and the rituals of it. Jesus had come to fulfill the Law that they could not, and they rejected him because of their hardened, prideful, religious hearts.

I promise you, you will know when you are saved. If you are doubting it, that may be your warning from God to change your focus in life. This life is preparing you for the eternal life; how you spend this life directly correlates to your eternal life’s reward or condemnation. My hole in my bucket is no different from yours, it is sin, and it is plugged by the heart that desires to live their life for Jesus. My testimony is one simply of a repent hearts plea for forgiveness and the desire to read my Bible every day. There is nothing anyone can say that will change you like the Word of God. You cannot spend daily time in Gods Word and remain the same person as the day before. The assurance of salvation you so desire is found through a humble heart that seeks Him there each and every day. Plug the hole in your bucket with Jesus

 
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Posted by on February 26, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Eternal Vineyard

21 Feb

Eternal Vineyard

Matthew  ​20:​8​

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’

I would not even know where to begin to describe the strains of running a business. God has placed me out of work for five weeks now, depleting funds rapidly, yet providing incredibly. He has laid a vision on my heart and is beginning to provide for it. In the midst of this incredible storm, with people close to me questioning my decisions, I have the peace of God and see the hand of God at work. I told someone yesterday that he is our CEO, I just manage the work he provides.

I read the parable of the workers in the vineyard this morning (Matthew 20:1-16). Much of the context of the parable is how the Jews were called first, then the Gentiles. All were called by the Gospel into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew Henry put it, “Till we are hired into the service of God, we are standing all the day idle: a sinful state, though a state of drudgery to Satan, may be called a state of idleness. The market-place is the world, and from that we are called by the gospel. Come, come from this market-place.” Everything in this world desires to take your eyes off God. When he calls you through the power of the gospel, your are called out of this world into his vineyard. You are called to focus on the reward of your wages in heaven. An eternal focus will produce a great heavenly reward. One that continues to focus on the world, even after being called by the gospel, receives the warning found in, Matthew​ 20​:16​ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Nothing in this world matters except how you use the knowledge of the Gospel each day. Does your love for your Savior exude from your daily life, or is Sunday the only time people think you are a Christian? You will bow before God one day and he will ask you what you did with the knowledge of his Son that died for you. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians​ 2​:9-11 My prayer is that the gospel has so stirred your heart, that your every day you are hard at work in an eternal vineyard. Every thing, every day, every day you live can be used to draw glory to the One who provides you the opportunity to live in eternal paradise.

 
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Posted by on February 21, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Proud or Pray?

18 Feb

Proud or Pray?

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar- Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (​Matthew​ ​16​:​17, 23​ NKJV)

There are only six verses that separate the pinnacle and the pit of Peters life. Jesus had commended him as a rock and cursed him as Satan. The mind of the most zealous disciple must have been spinning at what had transpired in however short this timespan. In his pride of the commendation of Christ, he likely had not seen the wide open door Satan had walked in through it. The outspoken had been chastised severely for the words he pridefully spoke to his savior and king. Peter had no idea the level of spiritual warfare that was present in his life. I cannot help but feel the Holy Spirit revealed it somewhat to him in this. We all know Peter failed greatly denying Christ in a latter point of his life; another battle that God allowed to fulfill His purpose and also show Peter his daily need for Him.

In my short time as a pastor I experienced a level of spiritual warfare I had not known. I humbly attest to you, that you do not know the level of warfare your pastor and those in ministry experience. I gained a lifetime of respect in one year of ministry. Without a doubt my level of support for those in ministry grew, and my heart to you that tear down your leaders is that He opens your heart to a glimpse of what they face. That glimpse will forever change you, and bend you to pray for your pastors and those in ministry as never before.

The closeness of these two passages should point us to our daily need for Him. It should show us that there is a world we are in that we cannot see, but directly effects us. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (​I Peter​ ​5​:​5-9​ NKJV) In the middle of that passage is the proof of your enemy and the need for you to remain faithful seeking God. There is an entire sermon there, but you must simply see that a prideful heart will fail, and a humble heart will pursue. Everything that you and the zealous Peter face can be used to draw glory to God. Only if you don’t try to do it alone.

 
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Posted by on February 18, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Christian Label

17 Feb

Christian Label

John​ ​15:19​ NKJV. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

I am up in the middle of the night with my mind going 100mph on many different things. This time after surgery has allowed me extended duration of points to ponder. I could go down many paths, but the political path seems to be taking the lead. I love espionage shows and movies; all types of spy dramas and TV selections capitalize on weaving the fear of terrorism into our everyday lives. These dramas have become increasingly authentic. Do you live in a bubble and turn your back on things that for whatever reason you do not believe they effect you? Turn back around and face what will, and many times already is effecting you…..especially if you label yourself a Christian. Radical terrorism has placed the bullseye on Christianity.

The Internet this blog is published on labels me a Christian and a target for an enemy attack. The Internet has many labels for everyone, and that information is available for everyone. You cannot hide, but you can stand for what you believe. When I look at what my generation is seeing, it honestly scares me for what our children may see and face. My grandparents generation witnessed the inhuman genocide of WW2, and now we find ourselves headed down similar paths. The smiling preachers of our day want you to have the faith to be blessed in material stuff of this world. The Bible tells us to not live for this world, that we are not of this world. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (​Colossians​3:1-4​ NKJV)

I truly believe as Christians we are entering an era where it will cost us to be labeled a Christian. Will you stand or will you fail? You must understand what the inability to stand for your faith could cost you. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (​Matthew​10:33​NKJV) I do not see much wiggle room in those words of Jesus; red ink on white paper. The only way you will gain the necessary strength is through daily pursuit of Him in prayer and his Word. You need to start this training immediately, for you do not know the day you may be labeled a Christian.

 
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Posted by on February 17, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Matters of the Heart

13 Feb

Matters of the Heart

Matthew 13:51-52​ Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

In my downtime after surgery I wanted to go through the Gospels again. I am constantly amazed by the living Word of God that reveals new truths as I read what I have read many times before. Read Matthew chapter 13 in its entirety. Jesus is speaking in parables and explaining why he is speaking in parables. This is a common question to people who read the Bible, but the answer is found in Matthew 13. Do you want to understand the word of God? That desire must come from within, deep within, for it is a matter of the heart, and not the head. Many people in that day were stuck in the traditions of men known as religion, seeking God by following the rules trying to find him through their own works.

You will never find heaven through religion, you will only find heaven through a relationship with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Heaven comes through a humble repentant heart realizing the only way to get there is a matter of a humble repentant heart. The only thing you must do, is accept that is the only thing you can do. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (​John​14​:6​NKJV). Heaven is not found in your church attendance record or by living a good life by any standard. Religion kills, Jesus saves.

The evidence of the necessity of a heart seeking God, and not a head seeking God, is proclaimed in Matthew 13. If you are feeling those two hugs of the heart, that is God pursuing you first, and wanting to open up the truth of his Word to you. You must understand that he pursues you first through your heart, and how you respond to that tug determines your eternity. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived wrote; I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness. (Ecclesiastes​7:25​ NKJV). He sought God, wisdom and understanding through matters of the heart, not the head. You can only know Him, and be granted a glimpse of understanding through a matter of the heart.

 
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Posted by on February 13, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Love Brings Obedience

11 Feb

I am a prideful man thankfully being broken by the hand of a loving God. My testimony is rooted in pride, and to this day God is working his sanctification process for my life in the removal of it. Somewhere in this process of it, after I was wrought out of this world by the gospel, He began to open my heart to understanding obedience; obedience would be an oxymoron to an independent prideful heart. I look back to how God used this devotional so powerfully in my life less than ten years ago. As I read it this morning I knew I had to share it. Every step of obedience out of love draws you one step closer to God. The only way you will draw closer to God is through obedience to him, there is no other way.

 

Love Brings Obedience By Henry Blackaby
Daily Devotional for Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. John 14:21

Obedience to God’s commands comes from your heart. When you begin struggling to obey God, that is a clear indication that your heart has shifted away from Him. Some claim: “I love God, but I’m having difficulty obeying Him in certain areas of my life.” That is a spiritual impossibility. If I were to ask you, “Do you love God?” you might easily respond, “Yes!” However, if I were to ask you, “Are you obeying God?” would you answer yes as quickly? Yet I would be asking you the same question! Genuine love for God leads to wholehearted obedience. If you told your spouse that you loved her at certain times but that you struggled to love her at others, your relationship would be in jeopardy. Yet we assume that God is satisfied with occasional love or partial obedience. He is not.

Obedience without love is legalism. Obedience for its own sake can be nothing more than perfectionism, which leads to pride. Many conscientious Christians seek to cultivate discipline in their lives to be more obedient to Christ. As helpful as spiritual disciplines can be, they never can replace your love for God. Love is the discipline. God looks beyond your godly habits, beyond your moral lifestyle, and beyond your church involvement and focuses His penetrating gaze upon your heart.

Has your worship become empty and routine? Have you lost your motivation to read God’s Word? Are you experiencing spiritual lethargy? Is your prayer life reduced to a ritual? These are symptoms of a heart that has shifted away from God. Return to your first love. Love is the greatest motivation for a relationship with God and for serving Him

 
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Posted by on February 11, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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