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Peace in an out of control world

10 Jul

Peace in an out of control world

Romans 11:33-36    Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Yesterday I had a great conversation with another contractor who uses his business as a ministry. We stood out in the parking lot and shared our faith. He asked what one word I would use to encourage someone; His one word was obey, my one word was peace. All throughout the Bible we are shown and must come to understand the Sovereignty of God. Sovereignty is simply defined as a supreme power; God is the definition of THE supreme power. When you read the Bible as a whole, you come to understand the complexity of God’s plan; but at the same time the centrality and simplicity of His plan to offer Salvation to all, and to draw all to Him for eternal paradise. In that understanding comes the peace that my one word describes.

Romans 11 is the apostle Paul’s detailed description of how Israel fits into God’s ultimate plan to save all the world. Paul goes into detail of God continues to offer grace to His beloved people time and time again; His plans even come to use their rebellion to offer Salvation to the rest of the world. Everything that Israel has ever done, and will ever do, all falls under the Sovereignty of God’s design. He either designed it, or allowed it, but it all will work for his purpose. Our simple minds cannot grasp a speck of the mind of God. But when we come to grasp that understanding, their is a release of our burdens to Him; for we know that He is in control of it ALL.

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. This passage is one that we as Christians must lean on in difficult situations in life. This is Sovereignty defined; “all things word together”; we cannot understand how the difficult situations in life can possible be for our, or work out for our good. We only see the present tumults or pain in them; we don’t see past them. But with the heart of understanding comes the peace in them. He has a purpose “for good to those who love God” in every situation in our lives. If you pursue Him with all your heart, He will open your eyes to that Peace I am trying to describe.

 
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Posted by on July 10, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Annual Performance Review

21 Mar

Annual Performance Review

Proverbs 16:11 Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s; All the weights in the bag are His work.

Good advice is something we all treasure. Wouldn’t a book of advice from the wisest man who ever lived be a best seller? King Solomon prayed to God for the wisdom to do a good job for God; he wanted to be the best ruler he could be. 2 Chronicles 1:10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” 11 And God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life–but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king. God granted his request and made Solomon the wisest man that ever lived. Solomon filled the book of Proverbs with very simple direct words of advice from what he learned as a man of God.

As a sidebar of my business, I deal in the scrap metal industry. I am at the mercy of their scales, and the integrity of their hearts. A dealer may present a much higher payout as a lure, but the scales upon which they are weighed are dishonest. Proverbs 11:1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight. The Lord knows the weights upon which the scales are measured, just as he knows the scales of our hearts. Integrity in business is becoming a thing of the past. Integrity is not a quality that you possess outside of the business world, and then let it slide to make the deal at whatever the cost. You either have integrity or you do not. Integrity is not a variable; it is not an option that you choose when it best suits your purpose. If you believe that it is, you are weighing your life and your heart on dishonest scales.

Have you ever stood your ground at work for something you believed in? Have you ever not participated in the deal that was shady to say the least? Have you stood up for what you knew was right before God, even though that decision cost you a payout? That payout will be rewarded in eternity on the Lord’s scales. He does not forget when you paid even a small price for standing up for what you knew was right in His eyes. Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits. The closer your heart is to God, the easier a life of integrity comes. You will be seeking God on all these decisions in prayer and His Word. He will direct your thoughts as a result of this time invested in seeking His wisdom. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. The Lord is the CEO that you answer to above any manager here on earth; He is the one who knows all that goes on, and why it goes on. He is the one you must answer to on a daily basis for your actions at work, and in life.

 
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Posted by on March 21, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Absolute Truth

19 Mar

Absolute Truth

Romans 1:19-22    because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

My heart hurts for the nation I live in. We are consistently turning our backs on God. We are headed down the road of moral decline wrapped up in the ideals of we know what is best for ourselves and others. We are legalizing everything that appeals to one, under the guise that it will offend another. We are living in a day of rapidly descending morals & integrity at an alarming rate. All has been lost in what our nation was founded on; “One nation under God”. The moral decay has infected our rulers, our leaders, our schools, our churches, and therefore has infected our families with incredible divorce rates and damaged our children at early ages. My nation is headed down the road to total destruction as a result of turning our backs on God and the absolute moral truths we have been given.

I researched Absolute Truth. We see the evidences of God all around us in creation every day. Satan has planted the idea of evolution into society, trying to weaken the proof of God before us. Inside us as the pinnacle of Gods creation lies a conscious; an inner proof of Him that we must willingly decide to rebel against these evidences. Romans 2:14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them. Do you realize that tug of sin that you deny you feel so you can experience the pleasure of that sin is denying God? I lived my life in that denial for most of my life; I know you have to feel it.

Our leaders are being forced by deny Christ by these self appointed unions. Being told they may pray to a God, but not to their God Jesus Christ. They are being told that it offends, therefore if it does it must stopped. There is no such thing as truth that they must answer for and to. I pray these leaders stand their ground for Christ, that they do not deny Christ, that they sacrifice for Christ. Would you? Would you stand your ground at all cost if you were to claim Jesus’ name, or to deny Him and get a free pass? That day is happening in the world right now in religious persecution that involves imprisonment and even death. When some come to know Jesus they are ostracized from their family and live their lives in fear. Would you? You are only here for a short time; the immeasurable time is spent where the evidence of your lives were spent here; hell, or paradise. Would you take a stand for Jesus?

 
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Posted by on March 19, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Heeerrrrre’s your sign……….(in my best Bill Engvall voice)

17 Nov

Heeerrrrre’s your sign……….(in my best Bill Engvall voice)

Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

I am not the “news nerd” I once was. I now usually watch the first 15 minutes of the local news to catch the weather, for it plays a major roll in my business load and schedule. Many times I have to change it and come back to the weather to shield the mayhem from my boys. The world scene I catch mostly by chance online and radio. But the world scene this week has demanded greater attention with the imminent outlook of escalating war in Israel. The stage is being set for an elevated warfront during a time of uncertainty of allies and leadership of that region and abroad. Israel is known throughout the world as God’s people, and God promised Abraham that He would protect them eternally. Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” The Bible is full of proof of this promise of God to the Jewish nation.

We all know of how fragile our nations economy is right now. Most likely many of us have felt it’s pain on a very personal scale. The world’s economy is teetering also on the brink of collapse. We have seen weather phenomena recently that have seemed extraordinary;  great storms, fires, and earthquakes of recent years. All of these are signs of God’s power, not mother nature. He is in control and He is giving us signs to point us to Himself. Are we living in the times of Matthew 24? Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Can you see how much of this could fall onto the timetable of today’s generation?

How can we turn our back blindly on what we see unfolding before us? How can we not be pressed to share the hope that lies within us? Those around us just may seem to not notice, or worse yet to deny God’s work around them. Christ tells us in Matthew His return will catch many by surprise; and they will pay for their mistake eternally. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. The signs are here, the time is now. Can you really afford to go about your day and pretend it is not really happening? It is not too late, until it is.

 
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Posted by on November 17, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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More than a political savior

06 Nov

More than a political savior

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Today is the day we can exercise our freedoms protected by our soldiers throughout history, and vote for our next leader of our country. It has been pressed into our minds of how this may be the most important election in history. That would be debatable, but the truth is that our country is struggling and needs strong leadership. This election is one of the choices of the lesser of two evils. One is a Mormon and Mormon’s are not Christians. One believes in same sex marriage and abortion. I do not believe either will run this country from their knees seeking my God in prayer. This country desires a political savior; and neither candidate has that ability to save.

What do you want out of life? Bigger question: what do you want after this life? We are all wired with the inquisition of what comes next. The pursuits of the afterlife may be behind many decisions you make unknowingly. All things were created by Christ; all things flow through Christ; and all things point to Christ. Christ will return soon and this election will no longer be so important. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. The day is approaching where we must all answer how we lived our lives; of what the focus of our lives rested on. Was it political; was it career; was it self; was it____________? Where is your focus?

You and I are sinners; we cannot escape that reality. We are born into sin and if we do not see the Light of forgiveness, we will die in that sin and go to Hell. To understand the Good News you must first understand the bad. A payment for that sin debt is owed to God who is a righteous judge. The only way to pay for that sin debt was a perfect sacrifice that He provided in Jesus Christ. When Christ died on the Cross, all the worlds sins were place on Him for eternity. All you must do is humbly accept that sacrifice and remove the pride where you feel you can earn it yourself. The acceptance and realization of all of this should draw you to a life of service to Him as His disciple; sharing what you have with others. He gives us what no president can; Saving Grace. John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. My prayer is that you will place your hope in the only leader of your life that will never disappoint; never break promises; and reward you eternally for your short time of life focused on Him here.

 
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Posted by on November 6, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Well, to make the sale I……..

01 Nov

Well, to make the sale I……..

Proverbs 11:1-3  Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight. 2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

I own a heating and air company and in the past 10 years the value of the metals in the equipment has also pulled me into the scrap business. Scrapyards can tend to be a shady business of sorts now, for the value of these metals have brought about theft. But something early on I realized what the integrity of the owner and his scales meant they could be thieves also; stealing with tampered weights of the metals being brought in. The scales of any merchant even in biblical times were a mark of integrity of that person; a mark of trust. The only one who may truly know that mark is the only one who sees all; for you cannot fool God.

That integrity in business is what the Lord speaks of here. That integrity is many times lost in an struggling economy; where corner cuts and shady deals are the norm for profitable business. Today where everyone is struggling; integrity seems to be a lost treasure. Do you seem to loose what you hold as values if that is what it takes to make a deal? Integrity is not a quality that you posses partially; you either have it or you don’t.  Integrity is a measuring tool of the Lord, and many times He will let the lack of it be revealed. 3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

God takes our daily lives in the business world very seriously. This is where He has placed us every day for us to influence those around us. How does He feel when that circle of influence see the Christian acting worse that the atheist? God calls that dishonesty an “abomination” to Him; a gut wrenching hatred as my study Bible says. When you profess Christ to those around you, you are put under a microscope to be viewed how you handle every situation. The next time you are tempted to lie to make the deal; know that you are turning God’s stomach doing so. Integrity in business is not a lost trait these days; you either have it or you don’t. Integrity is not for your personal life only. Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

 
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Posted by on November 1, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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What matters?

23 Oct

What matters?

Matthew 22:37-38   Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.

I am not a person who seeks the spotlight. I want no attention drawn to me in the light of this ministry. God knows this, and keeps the ministry silent to me. He performs the work He desires with it; my circle of encouragers small; and pride at bay. I humbly am thankful for His design for it to only draw attention to Him. This ministry is to show you God’s work in my life daily, and to encourage you in the pursuit of Him daily. A heart that is in constant pursuit is a heart that will find God. God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to Israel reminding us all;  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13).

This scripture in Matthew aligns with the first commandment that God gave Moses to Israel. Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me. Matthew is trying to stress the ideal that every part of our being should be solely focused on God. Every essence of our being, the present of our heart, the eternal of our soul, and the focus of our mind should be on the One whom created and sustains us for the day unto eternity with Him. Everything that you place in your life above your relationship with Christ is a God to you. The realization of it, and the desire to lower its statue, is a heart that seeks God. We have in today’s society an ever growing list of pressing demands on our time that Satan has deceived us into believing their priority. When we stand before God, how will we explain the, “well I know, but I had to ……..”

Our country is facing an election that is dividing us as never before. Our president has become a celebrity and poor leader; and his opponent is a Mormon, and Mormon’s are not Christians. This is an election of truly the lesser of two evils. Our focus should not be on the political arena for either will not be a candidate that runs the office on his knees. Our focus should be on our relationship with God, and how we can be disciples of His, to draw others to Him who will never disappoint. The hope that God places in your heart when you are focused on Him, is the hope that will carry you when all else fails you. Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. If you will truly turn your heart, your soul, and your mind over to God; you will see the events around you in a different light. You will begin to see what matters eternal, and become focused on sharing that love you have with those that God places in your life. That priority shift is an eternal shift that the woes and worldly stresses cannot take away; for it is the hope that does not disappoint.

 
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Posted by on October 23, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Humility breeds wisdom

18 Oct

Humility breeds wisdom

Isaiah 55:8-9  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

I think things to death. I try to look at every angle, which results in every possibility, before making decisions. This sometimes takes only seconds, sometimes days. Anyone that has ever been in a leadership role must possess this quality as a leader, for the effects of those decisions have a ripple effect in the wake behind them. The pressures of these thoughts and processes can put a weight upon the leader that they cannot bear. I cannot begin to describe how tough leadership can be, and how leaders must have a crutch to lean on themselves. Hopefully that crutch is prayer and the Word of God.

God does not operate on the same plain as we do. How could He as the Creator and ruler of all? Isaiah points us to His divine, sovereign, wisdom in these scriptures. Everything the Apostle Paul did was to point the lost to the power of God through the saving grace He provided through Jesus Christ. So many of his day fell into two categories: works and wisdom. The Jews felt they earned their faith through works, the Greeks felt they earned their faith through their wisdom. Paul plead with them; “5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:5). No seminary degree is required to gain the wisdom that may be found in the Bible. God has given you everything you need to grow in your faith and knowledge of Him there. A humble heart that prays for His revelation before reading it is a heart that will be opened to it.

Isaiah’s scripture above can speak to our lack of understanding in the circumstances of our lives. God has laid out intricate details of our lives even with the ability of free will intertwined. We begin to question the paths and struggles we are facing, yet we have not the ability to see the outcome He has planned for us. He thinks outside our box. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. The more time you spend in God’s Word, the more reverent awe of Him you become. A desire develops that continues to draw you there, to plea for Him to reveal more of Himself, to open your eyes through your heart. Your heart changes; your mind changes; He changes you from the inside out with His Word. This produces a behavior that draws the lost to Him through you. James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. Humility through His Word breeds wisdom.

 
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Posted by on October 18, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Hoopla’

07 Sep

Hoopla’

Titus 3:1-3   Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

Don’t we all ‘love’ this time of year that every four years brings? Every man against every man on the basis of political choices. How can they not agree with me? How can they not be argued into my viewpoint? Many times it becomes beyond heated. We have endured the DNC in our town and all the hoopla’ that came with it. Curiosity got the best of me at times during the local news broadcast and I saw all the hate as a result of the hoopla’. Politics bring out the worst in people, but we are all called to live and obey under those who rule.

Paul was writing Titus to the believers in Crete who were struggling with poor leadership. He speaks directly in Titus on the leaders of a church, and the conduct of the leaders and the church. The leaders of the day were leading them astray; Paul encourages them to remain focused on the Good News that Christ had delivered through Himself. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. To live a life as a disciple of Christ; not pulled into the snares of the world, but to pursue God and the things of God.

We are about to enter into new president’s term with either candidate. Down either road we go, as Christians we are told we must “be subject to rulers and authorities”. We must obey the laws of the land unless they call us to deny Christ. We must seek to live peaceably among those we do not agree with. Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Through this pursuit of a Godly lifestyle you are reflecting Christ to a world that goes against Him. Through this pursuit He may use you to draw others to Himself, and to the saving grace he brings even them who oppose you and your political viewpoint. Together you are united eternally.

 
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Posted by on September 7, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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DNC

02 Sep

DNC

Ecclesiastes 9:17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.

Charlotte is about to become the center of the worlds political attention this week with the DNC in our town. I try to not mix religion and politics, but I am worried about our future. I have spent this past week of school in study of Old Testament rulers of Israel, when Israel separated due to civil war. They were few Godly leaders, and many evil men. Their lives and their kingdoms were fed by their means of control of their people. We are headed down the road of Socialism and deepening government control right here at home by a man clothed in secrecy if there is not change. The choices however are questionable when another candidate open believes in a faith that twisted Christianity; a faith that wrote their own bible, a faith that is not Christian. I only say all of this because at the root of your every action, as one of my best friends once told me, “you are what you believe.”

Many of us are blinded to the truth around us. We have our own little world we live in, and we choose to not become involved in the political arena. I am somewhat guilty of that, and as I have said before; I pick religion over politics. May I plea to you to move your focus to God and not who will be our next president. Cast your vote however you wish, but move your focus from these puppets to their Creator. The apostle Paul was encouraging Timothy to keep his focus on Christ as we must now. 1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.

Politics divide; Christ unites. Politics speak of all that is wrong with the other party; Christ speaks of love of all; 1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” When is the last time you heard another candidate speak of a good quality of his opponent? You have never heard it. Christ speaks of loving your enemies; Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. We are always going to sit under a ruler, but we are all going to answer to their God; just as they will, realizing or not.

 
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Posted by on September 2, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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