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Light for the dark road

08 Sep

Light for the dark road

2 Corinthians 12:9-10    And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul had seemingly gone down the road of boasting to prove himself to others; yet he had taken the road not of his intellect and accomplishments, he had taken the roadof his struggles and weakness to glorify God. He had showed how he needed God in all of it, and how God was there through it. 2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. Paul saw all these hardships as a way to glorify God; he was suffering for Christ and he knew that he was drawing that much closer to Christ as a result of these tribulations. Paul understood that being a Christian, a disciple, an apostle, would mean that this life would not be a life of ease. He expressed great joy to join Christ in these tribulations for the eternal reward.

So many churches now preach the love of God, and not the trials of God. When we come to know Christ, we through him, threaten the kingdom of darkness. When we live for this world, and all comes easy, we are of no threat to hell. When the power of Christ comes to live within us, we are another tool that God uses to reach other people. Our light, is His light, that has come into the world. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The light that shines from us makes the world stand against us; we show the truth that is shadowed by the darkness that is hiding from the light. Therefore the world is against us.

Becoming a Christian is the easiest thing to do; answer that call on your heart that God has placed there; repent of your sins and accept Christ as the only way you will ever get to heaven. That promise that you gain is eternal, now you are called to become a disciple and live your life remaining here for Him. You are not to go on living in sin, you are to flee it. You are to share the hope that lies within you, your light is to bring light to those living in darkness. Satan is gonna be mad, try to make your life difficult, and you should expect it to be, you switched to the other team. Boast in all that you struggle in just like Paul; show the power of the glory of God to help you in all that you struggle with. That help is the light that others need in their life too.

 
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Posted by on September 8, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Prayer Partners

25 Jul

Prayer Partners

2 Corinthians 4:7-10    But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed– 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

Oh how I wish this ministry was a journal sometimes; how I could pour out the details of my struggles here; but it is not to draw attention to me, it is to point you to God. In all of these trials I face, I only seek to show you that I am no different from you; I only seek to show you where my strength to endure them is found. Currently the enemy is in full assault; I am in physical pain, and being hammered with fear and doubt. I am struggling with prayer, and leaning on those close to me as intercessors for me to God. It is times like these that it is critical who you surround yourself with. Can you truly count on them to pray for you? Can they truly count on you to pray for them? When you struggle with words, you must possess and confide in friends that will lift you up to God; there is great power in those prayers.

I must borrow the commentary from my favorite study Bible on this scripture. “Hard pressed is translated ‘afflicted’ in 1:6. In the Greek text, and identical expression occurs in 7:5, where it is rendered ‘troubled on every side’. But in 7:5 Paul adds, ‘Outside were afflictions, inside were fears.’ Perplexed is derived from two Greek words: the word for no plus the word for way. Thus perplexed means ‘to be at a loss’. As believers, we will face trials. But we must remember that God controls trials and uses them to strengthen His people. God’s glory is manifested through broken vessels, through people who endure troubles by relying on His power.” If we were simply passing through life trouble free, where would we ever come to know God? It is in these times of trouble that we come to realize our need for Him.

It always bothers me when I struggle with prayer. Sometimes I just can’t seem to speak; the thoughts in my head get jumbled before they make it to my mouth. I stumble through repetitions that have no heart in them; they come from old habit. I am not an eloquent prayer person with all the “thou art” that seek to impress. I simply talk to God, and love talking to Him. I give Him the highest respect and reverent awe and fear that He deserves. I must know that in the times such as these trials, I have intercessors both as friends, and the Spirit living inside of me. He is with me, uttering the words when I cannot. 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. Relying on faith and understand of God’s Sovereignty, and the knowledge of heavenly and earthy prayer partners is what brings us through the tough times in life.

 
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Posted by on July 25, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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It’s hard sometimes

17 Jun

It’s hard sometimes

1 Peter 5:8 -9  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

This summer has seemed to bring much more stress and problems than usual. Everything that can go wrong has; odd problems, problems rarely seen, things that just don’t happen, seem to happen anyhow. I have gotten to the breaking point over and over again, ready to lash out at the world and just scream. The flesh inside of me screams “why me?” I have even found myself curse; which by God’s hand he delivered me from that sin early in the sanctification process of my life. By God’s mercy and grace, I have not snapped yet; only through his provision and my hearts desire to stay abiding as his disciple have I not. It has been very hard…….

I read this passage above in my daily devotional this morning. I do understand and see much of my life through a spiritual lens; a lens of discernment from which many of my problems arise. My adversary knows my heart for God and his goal is to keep my heart from God; to cause me to lash out at God; to return to my old sinful self that he was proud of. When you turn your life over to Christ, you do not get to press the “Easy Button”. Satan has a real reason to pursue you with increased diligence, for you have “switched sides”. It is a lie from hell being preached in the world today of a life of ease as a Christian. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that. We are taught to live for eternity.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. All that our outward man, that is all that we battle in the flesh, is the result of sin. Satan is in control of this world; the outward world, the one that is flesh and perishing. God has him on a leash, he can only go as far as God allows, but all his work is perishing. Only those that are in Christ are living for the world to come; a world perfect without Satan & sin, with renewed heavenly bodies, a world with Christ alone in his kingdom. Keeping our eyes on the eternal goal gives us the strength to understand all these problems are from a defeated enemy. Know that you are not alone in your struggles, but seek the brotherhood of faith to assist you in them.

 
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Posted by on June 17, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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My hearts desire

04 Jun

My hearts desire

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

Lord I need you, oh I need you. Every hour I need you.

I awake to find a new day, as the pressures of the day rush in, you are there to comfort me.

I lie there in thought, what will the day bring? What will you bring or allow Lord?

I awake with the enemy pressing thoughts of worldly demands; he tries to steal my focus & joy.

I lie there early in the day, engaged in the war of the mind; the demands press down.

But in my soul, you lift me up; you give me the strength and desire for you in each day.

You give me the expectation of meeting you early each day. You give me hope for the day.

You give me the desire to arise early and seek You with all my heart, mind, body, and soul.

You meet me in prayer and your Word; you give me words of encouragement as your child.

You give me the understanding that all my struggles are temporary; eternity with you awaits me.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

You give me the desire to share with others what I have in you; for hope lies in you.

You give me the desire to share what I have found in you; my prior life that was lost without you.

You give me that testimony to encourage others embattling the same struggles; the hope you freely give; the grace you give; the mercy you give; the love you give; the promises you give; the understanding you give; the love you give; the endless fountain of life as your child you give.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

You place the desire in me to preach your word to all that will hear; you direct my path.

You give me the breath for the day, you give me hope for finding you throughout it.

You give me the me that desire to love you with all my heart, mind, body, and soul.

All I have, all I need, all I want is found in you Lord. Lord I need you, oh I need you.

 
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Posted by on June 4, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Spotlights

01 Mar

Spotlights

2 Corinthians 4:5-6      For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I am a behind the scenes kinda guy. I will give my labors of love, but expect no recognition for them. Whatever I find myself doing, I try to do it to the best of my ability, and to draw glory to Christ. I want no glory in any work or ministry I perform. I have Colossians 3:23 on the side of my work truck to remind me every day: 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. The sin in me wants to puff my chest out in pride, but Christ is me is the reminder that He is the provider; I am the bondservant or slave that rests in his grace and mercy. Why would we want to draw attention to ourselves? We can provide only temporary satisfaction, while He can provide eternal hope and joy. The glory rests in His work, not ours.

Paul was defending his ministry here in Corinthians. Some of those had come to say he was being deceptive, and he took great offense in that. He understood that all he was came from Christ; he had nothing to deliver except the promise of the Gospel; in it is the completion of any temporal and eternal need. 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. (ESV) He knew that he had been called by God to become a minister of the Gospel, and he only wanted to point those who will hear to Christ, not to draw any glory to himself. There is no more powerful message than that delivered in Christ; the only glory in yourself is a life transformed by the knowledge of the Salvation that lies in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  

The world we live in pushes the pride of accomplishment. From the houses, to the cars, to the salaries, to the stuff we obtain. We rest in the pride of the American dream; “I can do all things that I put my mind to.” God may allow this for a season, and he may also remove them for a reason. He may bring to you the understanding that it all flows and stops through his sovereign hands and control.  James 1:7 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.  You are called by God to be a light in a dark world that needs him. Make sure that spotlight is on Him and not you.

 
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Posted by on March 1, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Dirt or Gold?

29 Sep

Dirt or Gold?

2nd Corinthians 4:8-10   We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed– always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

God knows our struggles even before we go to Him in prayer. He desires for us to come to Him in these struggles and prayers to draw closer to Him; to grow that relationship deeper. The world presses in with its busyness, problems, and demands that every day life bring. These daily trials bring about the mental strains that breed stress and anxieties. These are all tools of Satan to keep us from focused on God. These inner battles can affect outward circumstances, and the daily grind becomes inwardly overbearing. There must be a crutch to keep us from falling. I pray that crutch for you is Christ. 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

It has been a rough week in many ways; I could pour out a lengthy explanation, but it is no worse than what you are facing yourselves; it is called life. But when my mind starts to wonder, when it struggles with the strain, I have to turn my attention back to Christ. There is nothing here that truly matters; for it will all fade away; I live with eternity in mind. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) All of struggles that life brings, all of the pain that life brings, is temporary. The roads of today’s despair will become streets paved with gold. Revelation 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Paul has told us of being the light in this dark world in the verses prior. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. These strains of daily life can become on of your best witnessing tools for Christ to those lost around you. They see the strains you are under and yet how you can handle them differently. The natural inclination is to ask how or why you handle them differently. There is the open door through the darkness to let His light shine through.

 
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Posted by on September 29, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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