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A dark place, but with a great Light

26 Jun

A dark place, but with a great Light

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

I had a good friend, a brother in Christ, leave me a message yesterday about someone close to him that died. His voice told of how he was hurting as expected, but his voice spoke of the peace and comfort God brings. He asked me of writing about it, and I have struggled of how to write about one of the toughest subjects – death. We will or have all dealt with it’s pain in our lifetime. The pain that it brings many times seems unbearable, but how is it that some seem to cope better? Without a doubt they will tell you it is always their faith. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 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. When we are going through these difficult times resting on God’s comfort, He is glorified. Those around us are drawn to Him through the toughest of tribulations, by those of us who are held in His arms of comfort.

The scripture above speaks of walking through that valley, and Matthew Henry put it so well. “It is a walk through it; they shall not be lost in this valley, but get safely to the mountain of spices on the other side of it. Because there is no evil in it to a child of God; death cannot separate us from the love of God, and therefore it can do us no real harm; it kills the body, but cannot touch the soul. Why should it be dreadful when there is nothing in it hurtful? Because the saints have God’s gracious presence with them in their dying moments; he is then at their right hand, and therefore why should they be moved?” There is great comfort in those words to the believer without attaching all the cliche’s to them.

There is immeasurable comfort in God’s Word. Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The Spirit will seem to press us into God’s Word during these difficult times, and we will find comfort in the Scriptures. There is no comfort to those who do not know God, but they may be drawn to God by how a believer copes. God’s plans are beyond our understanding, and death is a part of that eternal plan. But as a child of God we can rest in His Sovereignty and the comfort of spending time with our loved ones for eternity in paradise.

 
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Posted by on June 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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I wanna Abide

25 Jun

I wanna Abide

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

God granted me a good nights sleep, and I lay there this morning with my mind ramping up. I was also watching Reflections that scrolls scripture as I do most mornings. John 15:5 came across and it was clearly a word from God for me.  “Without me you can do nothing”. There are endless roads to go down with that scripture with eternal implications, but for today it was God’s reassurance to keep my eyes on Him. When the load that lies before you is daunting, where do you lean? Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Leaning on God in the practical application is surrounding yourself in His Word, and turning over your concerns to Him in prayer.

How much time you spend with God is directly related to how you handle the stress and strain of life. The closer you get to God the more Satan tries to pull you away in both turmoil and even blessings to draw your attention away from God. Start your day in prayer and His Word. Matthew 6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God…. Surround yourself with God’s Word all day. There is Christian radio, podcast’s, TV, CD’s, on YOUR PHONE….you name it in this digital age. God can speak to you anytime His Word is read or spoken, but how can you hear from God if you are not seeking Him? Romans 10:7 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Abiding in the scripture above is a state of ‘being’. Abiding is only found in the heart of those continually seeking God. Abiding in Christ is where you find rest in a world that is out of control. Abiding is where you find God and the peace of God. Abiding starts with the heart that seeks…….daily.

 
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Posted by on June 25, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Yes I can……No you can’t.

24 Jun

Yes I can……No you can’t.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The Apostle Paul was really laying it out here; laying down the foundation of what really mattered to the Corinthians. Christ had paid the ultimate price for them (John 15:13), and we must understand that He buried our sins eternally with His death reconciling us to God. (Romans 6:1-14). 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. If we truly grasp the understanding of self sacrifice for our betterment, there should be a tug to honor that sacrifice that was bestowed upon us. Are you living a life honoring that sacrifice He paid for you? Have you even repented of your sins and accepted that sacrifice He paid for you?

I know we all have our list of reasons why not, and many revolved around our present condition. We feel as though we must ‘get right’ before we come to God. If I was to start my ‘to do’ list of sins I have committed and wanted to change, you would still be reading them next week. You can’t fix yourself by yourself. Satan through pride will try to convince you that you must before, or even that you can do it on your own, but you will fail until you start with Christ. Psalm 10:17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear. Come to Jesus just as you are and cast all your burdens on Him. He will take you in, forgive your sin, and reconcile your life to God. I pray that your transformed life is moved to a place of honoring God and the sacrifice Christ paid on the cross for you and I.

 
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Posted by on June 24, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Daily Walk

23 Jun

Daily Walk

James 4:13-14  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.

It has been a crazy long week working over 12hr days in this 90 degree heat. On top of that, the hours I put in on both sides of work eventually catch up with me. God knew I needed the rest and granted me a couple extra hours this morning – Thank You Jesus. As I awoke Satan creeps in telling me I failed my ‘obligation’ (literally used that word) with God, and reminding me of my ‘to do’ list for today. He wants me to skip my time this morning with God. Last night one of the last sermons I heard was about someones last moments in an argument, and then an unexpected death. We never know when it will come, but what will be our last thoughts we carry into heaven? What will we put before a repent heart, a loving heart, a dedicated heart? Don’t carry the load of sin on your heart for any amount of time, for He will carry it for you. Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

We all have our ‘to do’ list, and we all have our plans for the future, but we must realize our future is NOT in our hands. God holds our every breath in His hands, and there is nothing that we can do to change that. We are to honor our bodies as the temples they are, but even that honor we place on them does not mean we control them. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” Spending time with God daily will allow you to refocus and understand that wherever you are, that is where He has placed or allowed you to be. The more time with Him will give you the ability to understand the importance and the peace of knowing He is in control. That peace will allow you to move forward with your plans; but knowing God may change the direction to fit His. Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.

 
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Posted by on June 23, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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You can do this

22 Jun

You can do this

1 Corinthians 1: 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The Apostle Paul was speaking to the church at Corinth, and encouraging those who were believing in Christ in these scriptures. They were ‘going against’ what the world was preaching or questioning;  stepping out in faith and seeing God there. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Paul was very well educated and easily could have rested on his worldly wisdom and preached from that authority. He also realized that was what the world expected, and the power of the Gospel lied in the power of what Christ had done at the Cross. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Why can’t God use you too? Do you believe in the power of the Cross; and the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Good News that He has come to save the world? The faith that you have will go against the ‘proof’ or ‘tangible’ that the world demands. But you don’t have to rest on your wisdom as Paul was speaking of; just rest on the message that Christ brings. Your testimony and the change that Christ has brought into your life is the power that God has given you. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. Do not ever be afraid to share your faith from the feeling of fear from a lack of wisdom. God has given you the ability for just the right word at just the right time for those He has called. Your faith may fall on deaf ears sometimes, but to not be discouraged. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 
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Posted by on June 22, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Can I help you?

21 Jun

Can I help you?

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

Someone near you, someone placed in your presence, is in need. Need of _______________. The blank could be filled in by countless means, but do YOU fill in the blank? Is that desire in your heart to help those in need, to show love and compassion toward those around you? It may be easy to talk the talk, but do we act and walk the walk? All these situations are placed before us by God to gauge our hearts by our reactions. If we preach love, yet deny helping those in need, we are preaching a false gospel and our hearts are not right with God. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things . If you deny that tug in your heart when it comes time to help by filling in the blank above, you could be denying God.

There is great comfort and assurance of the heart that moves forward in these deeds. The reaching out to offer help is the first step of acting in the love we possess. That going out of our comfort zone is where we meet God on the field of discipleship. When they see the love of Christ in us by these selfless acts of kindness. We may be a light that they needed in a very dark time through a simple act of kindness. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. You may be the only Bible someone has ever opened, but you may also be the reason they open the Bible. Reach out today and simply show an act of the love you possess, and spread the love of Christ in doing so. You will gain even more than you give, for your heart will be right with God. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

 
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Posted by on June 21, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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In the middle

20 Jun

In the middle

James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

I have a lot of ‘big picture’ things going on in my life right now. It all can be overwhelming, and the tasks and decisions that lie ahead weigh heavily on my mind. The earthly way will tell us to take the road that brings self gratification at the least cost, but is that the path God would take? James in the scriptures above was speaking to Jewish Christians in the early church, and dealing with many of whom were likely self seeking in their works in the church. The sin of pride had likely crept in and was causing turmoil and confusion in the church. When we are looking for wisdom, the way to look is by bowing our heads, swallowing our pride, and seeking God.

The height of your pride will determine the depth of your confusion, for a humble heart is the ballast upon where you find God in the center. In other words the higher you elevate yourself, the farther you will fall. 1 Timothy 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Seeing God and hearing from God all come with spending time with God. The more time you spend, the easier it is to hear His voice. Satan will creep in and the confusion will come, but that confusion is not from God, and you must just press in closer to God for discernment. 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.

The time is now to cultivate that relationship with God. The depth of that relationship will prepare you for the days of confusion and when the trials and turmoils come. Start today, for you do not know what tomorrow may hold, if it comes.

 
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Posted by on June 20, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Supreme Commander

19 Jun

Supreme Commander

Joshua 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

I expect most of us have heard the Biblical story as children of when Joshua and his army marched around the city of Jericho seven times. Then on the seventh time the priest blew their trumpets, and the warriors shouted, and the cities walls came crumbling down. There is not another victory in the battles of history that can claim that method. But before that battle Joshua had a divine encounter, or a Christophany; a vision of the preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ in these verses above. Joshua was probably in prayer or meditation and became aware of someone near him. But in His courage as a leader he approached the figure that had His sword drawn to ask if he was a friend or foe. Imagine his surprise at His realization of to Whom he was speaking.

Christ was giving Joshua a glimpse into the spiritual world and the armies of heaven were being lead by the Supreme commander. Another verse that speaks of these glimpses is found in 2 Kings 6:16-17 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. This invisible world is all around us every day, and many times there is a warfare that surrounds us on that plain which we cannot see, but feel. Countless stories in the Bible speak of this warfare, and the story of Job is another. If we are believers in Christ, followers of Christ, and seeking the things of Christ; then Christ is our Supreme commander of His angelic armies on our behalf also. You are not alone in this thing called life; but you may rest in His assurance that He has a plan, and it is all under His control. If you proclaim Christ as your Savior and fall under His command, you will ultimately rest in eternal victory because the victory is assured in the Word of God.

 
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Posted by on June 19, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Early morning peace

18 Jun

Early morning peace

Matthew 6:6-7   But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

As I sat down here early this morning mentally and physically tired from a long week in many ways, I felt peace in my secret place. I always start my day in a dark room in prayer with only the first light of morn creeping in. Some mornings like today, I search for what to say, even stumbling through my quiet time. Satan can creep in our thoughts even in those times of prayer with feelings of inability or inadequacy. But that is Satan, and God knows your thoughts even before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. God just wants you to honor and seek Him daily; that relationship is what He created you for.

The busyness of the world rises with the sun, and the peace of the world flees. Gathering your thoughts in time with God in prayer and His Word will prepare you for the day greater than anything else. It is your personal alone time with God, reading His love letter to you, and praying for His guidance for the day to come. Even when we don’t know what to say, the Holy Spirit inside us communicates as our liaison. Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

This practice of early morning devotion will change your life as nothing else can promise or deliver. Time alone in a secret place with God and His Word will prepare you for the day and the troubles of the day that lie ahead. Following the principle of Matthew 6:33 (Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you) will seem to allow all of the other things of life to fall into place. If you seek God and the things of God first, what you placed before God will seen to have less value, and the lens by which you view them will be filtered and focus changed.

 
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Posted by on June 18, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Heavenly Father

17 Jun

Heavenly Father

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

As I searched for “Heavenly Father” this morning I was led to Matthew 6. That is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, and so much of it speaks to our relationship with God, our Heavenly Father. It covers prayer, fasting, forgiveness, deeds, and the last 1/3 is about worry. It speaks of how we should not worry when we place our faith in Him. I openly struggle with anxiety and find myself returning much to this chapter. The entire chapters spine is our relationship with our Heavenly Father and how to pursue it. This is a “how to” book on developing an eternal relationship with God, and the value you have in His eyes when you honor Him with your faith and focus.

The love we feel for our earthy fathers should be small compared to our love for our Heavenly Father. He is the One whom gave us them. We all love our dads, and today is a special day to honor them. I have a Godly father Jim who has tried his best to point me to Christ all his life, and even in my rebellion he still tried. It is through the power of prayer and God’s grace that I returned home. I am including a link to Matthew 6 below, that I believe would be a great way to honor you Heavenly Father today, by spending time in His Word, and hopefully prayer.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/matthew/6.html

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

 
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Posted by on June 17, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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