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Lane Change

26 Aug

Lane Change

John 4:34-38     Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

God changed lanes on me this morning as I reflected on the evangelistic message in the scriptures above. The Spirit began to press on me a sin that I had not repented for. It was a sin of how I discipline my boys; verbally; but I have been praying for help on. Satan wants to condemn me in it, the Spirit wants to help me with it.

I sit here this morning
Seeking God early in the day;
I have an eager heart
For in Him I find the way.

He comes in the scriptures
Speaking of spreading His name;
Of giving people a hope
Forgiveness of sin, not to blame.

He then presses on me
Points to sins that cause pain;
Of how deep my need for Him
From them I must refrain.

My words can be strong
They can build up and tear down;
I pray for forgiveness
Mercy and grace to abound.

I pray for change
From the inside out
The work only He can do
The work I cannot do without.

I seek to spread His name
For the hope that lies within,
To share of a future paradise
To experience forgiveness of sin.

When Satan comes he presses
He makes the sin hurt deep,
When the Spirit comes and presses
He reminds you of what you can keep.

The Holy Word of God
Reveals much to you;
From sins to a Savior
All you must do is pursue.

 
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Posted by on August 26, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Satan’s alarm clock

24 Jun

Satan’s alarm clock

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

My life is really hectic this time of year; my wife calls herself an “air conditioning widow”, for work demands regular 80hr weeks in the summer. We really don’t get to spend much quality time together. Yesterday we actually got to talk some about some of the big things going on in our life; just like you, we have a lot on our plate. The whole family went to bed early, and I went right to sleep. My mind evidently continued to race on, for at about 11pm I woke up and prepared to get up like it was morning until she asked what I was doing. As we all know, worrying many times plays into our sleep, or lack of it. I openly struggle with anxiety, which is a brother of worry, which both are sons of Satan. Satan is the author of fear and all the torment it brings in our lives.

I decided to read the Sermon on the Mount this morning. I stopped at this scripture above. It falls on the heels of my favorite verse, Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. That scripture speaks of a focused life, of a life centered on seeking God in all that you do for each and every day. To seek Him and his Will for your life, every single day. To spend time in His Word and prayer, every single day. With that heart will bring strength and peace for that day, especially when you start the day early with Him. It seems that the later in the day is when worry seems to grow. Is that why Daniel prayed three times every day? Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Daniel practiced the life that Christ spoke about at His sermon on the Mount. Daniel knew those had plotted against him and his faith; he should have worried about what to do in regards to the law that would ultimately have him thrown into the lions den. But in his great faith he did not worry about tomorrow, he sought God today. God was glorified in and through all of Daniels life.

We do not know what tomorrow might bring; we do not know if we are given tomorrow. Why should we worry about what we are not guaranteed? We loose the opportunity for the blessings for today in the worry about tomorrow. We may miss or pass on an opportunity to be used or blessed by God because our focus is on what we cannot control. This is something that requires the diligence of Daniel; a heart such as his that seeks God throughout the day. Keep Satan and his angels at bay with the power of a heart for God and prayer. Today when the stress and worry  of the world press, push back with the strength of prayer. The worry Satan brings can ultimately be used by God against him. Every stress can be an alarm that awakens your need for seeking God in prayer for strength for the day. Satan’s plans backfire and your faith grows.

 
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Posted by on June 24, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Get on the plane(of discipleship)

16 May

Get on the plane(of discipleship)

Matthew 28:18-20    And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

My wife leaves this morning on her first mission trip to Romania for almost two weeks. She knew very early she was called to go on this trip; she felt that call on her heart and responded to that tug in obedience. She heard and felt that tug because she had been seeking God with all her heart after the life changing experience of loosing her job. She felt as though she had hit bottom, but God had ordained it to pick her up. Her life has incredibly changed, and I have seen incredible spiritual growth since her world was rocked. She is now about to experience God as never before, way out of her comfort zone, where He lives. A mission trip is a life changing experience, for you see God do what you cannot; you see God orchestrate situations that only He can; your eyes are opened through your heart with the removal of the distractions of this world, and a life dedicated to God during that trip. Many times it breeds a life changed to that focus for much more than just the trip.

There are those going on this flight halfway around the world that are terrified of flying! Do you love your God enough to face your fears? Do you trust your God enough to place your life in His hands; to do what you are terrified of doing? That is where He lives, in accomplishing what you cannot. Look at the promise found in verse 18, that proceeds the Great Commission to go and become disciples in verses 19 & 20. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. The power and the promise that God is in control of all circumstances should bring peace. The enemy is the author of fear and doubt. The enemy does not want you to rest on the promise of verse 18. When God tells you to GO, he is with you for the journey. He may allow tribulation before and during that journey, but it is all under his control, and it is all designed to draw you near, and to draw glory to Him.

How do you exemplify a disciple, one who follows the Great Commission? One who spreads the Good News that Jesus Christ has come to save a dying world. That there is an eternal hope for a heart placed in Him that the world cannot steal away. That all the troubles that you face in this life are but temporary, and paradise promised with Him is eternal. You cannot become a disciple until you truly possess that hope; you must have such a heart for Christ that you seek him every day. Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. The heart of a disciple is an image created by God. The heart of disciple is one that seeks, finds, and simply cannot contain their joy of finding Him. Once you begin to experience God in prayer, his Word, and your life daily, keeping him to yourself is simply not a possibility any longer. You will talk to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, strangers, or maybe, just maybe, face your fears and get on a plane to go halfway around the world.

 
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Posted by on May 16, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Hypocrisy

16 Jan

Hypocrisy

Matthew 23:1-4   Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Matthew 23 is a chapter that Christ bears down on the self-proclaimed religious of that time. The scribe and the Pharisee were interpreters of the law of Moses; the book of the Torah; God’s word and commandments to early Israel. They fancied themselves high above others; their pride was the backbone of their existence. The felt separated, elevated, chosen, above, special……one could make an endless list of the adjectives wrapped up into their self-worth. But in reality all they were was religious. They were wrapped up in religiosity in their pride; and they were not only failing miserably in trying to reach God, but they were dragging those seeking God down the path to hell with them.

The term hypocrite is used nine times in Jesus’s condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. He points early in the chapter of them knowing what to do, yet not even lifting a finger to do it. Hypocrisy is simply the act of saying one thing and doing another; not living what you believe or preach. We all know it; we all have done it; we all know that it is one of the leading reasons people look down upon Christianity. They see our hypocrisy lived out every day when we tell them we go to church every Sunday. If you are the only Bible, or the only example of a Christian to a lost soul every day, how do they view Christians based solely on your example? 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.

I have been having the discussions of religiosity with a friend of mine. Of the people who feel good about themselves for going to church every Sunday; fulfilling their obligation of their Christian duty. The only time they think of their Christian duty is that Sunday morning; living for the cares of the world the other 6.5 days in the week. I lived most of my life as that person; I know the false comfort found in religiosity. Many will pay for that mistake eternally when they stand before Christ and He says he did not know them. Matthew 7:21 “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. 22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ That is the most terrifying scripture in the Bible! It alone should stir you to pursue Christ with every essence of your being; living a life dedicated to him every single day; a life so given over to him you are filled with the peace that you know He knows you; for he speaks to you every single day.

 
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Posted by on January 16, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Got nothing?

23 Nov

Got nothing?

John 21:3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

The disciples world had been turned upside down. Christ had been crucified, risen from the dead, and He returned to encourage them multiple times. You know in their minds they had no idea of what the future held. They had to be overwhelmed by the events that had taken place since they had come to know Christ. They wondered what was next. I wonder if Peter just wanted to clear his mind; to return to what he knew well; to spend time fishing. It could have served many purposes including provisions of food, and money to sell what they caught. But it also could have served a means of escape from the pressures of life they felt on themselves.

Life can get to be overwhelming for us all. The pressures of life can seem to rob us of  the joy of life. These times we live in have brought great strains on so many of us. If it were not for my faith, I cannot imagine where I would be. There are so many that find coping in medications, and sometimes it may be necessary. But when all else is lost, we can rest on the assurance of our hope found in Christ. Time alone with God and seeking God is where we find this hope and some of our answers. ‘Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.  God was speaking specifically to Jeremiah, but it also applies to all of us as His children too. We are to go to Him in prayer and His Word when we don’t know where else to go. The Gospel of John is a great place to find Christ; and a great place for your eyes to be opened through your heart if you prayerfully ask God to reveal Himself as you spend time there.

This morning as I prayed, I told God “I got nothing”. I had no idea of what to write, so I did a word search of ‘got nothing’ and John 21:3 was the only scripture to appear. It reminded me of how quickly I tend to lean upon myself as Peter; the strong and prideful apostle. I need to rely on God for every day in every way. There is much depth in this scripture of John 21; of Christ’s appearance on the shore while the disciples where still out at sea. They were needy; they had caught nothing. Matthew Henry comments, “Those that would have supplies from Christ must own themselves empty and needy.” When you realize you have nothing without Christ, that first step in the denial of yourself is a huge step in your Christian growth. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

 
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Posted by on November 23, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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What comes First?

13 Aug

What comes First?

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

You’re a Christian and you want to be closer to God right? You sporadicly pray or read the bible, and go to church on Sunday’s most of the time. Is any of this honoring God, or giving God your left-overs? John 15:4 shows us clearly we must seek to abide in Him first. He will reward us with a heart that seeks Him every day in all things. This is from my research paper:

One cannot abide without a consistency of time spent in God’s Word. One cannot claim an intimate relationship with someone they invest little or sporadic time with. Intimacy is found through invested time and communication. Intimacy with Christ is found in time, and the communication is found through prayer and His Word. As His disciple we take the lessons learned there and apply them to our lives though fellowship and obedience. “A Christianity that does not have as its primary focus the deepening of passions for God is a false Christianity, no matter how zealously it seeks conversions or how forcefully it advocates righteous behavior.” (JD Greear) You cannot abide without a humble obedient heart that obeys His words. A heart that is moved to obedience from love is a heart that abides. A heart that does this from duty is a works driven faith, and self reliant and prideful.

Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.  It starts today with your pursuit, or lack thereof. Will today be the day that changes the rest of your life, when you change your habits and move to seeking God consistently? You will keep getting what you have been getting if you keep doing what you have been doing. (Alan Higgins)

 
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Posted by on August 13, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Comfort Fruit

08 Aug

Comfort Fruit

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I am struggling, in many ways, on many fronts. I can’t and don’t need to unpack all the details, and my struggles are not above yours I am sure. I have a struggling business that is in the center of my attention, and a school assignment that has brought about a huge case of humility. I am regretting the decisions of my youth, and the lack of education that came as a result. I have never felt so dumb. Where can I turn in these anxiety filled days? Now there is only one thing in my life that brings me comfort and that is seeking God and His Word daily. No substance abuse to numb the pain, but a cure to heal the pain.

Paul in these scriptures was speaking to the Philippians with a heart of thanksgiving and contentment. He found his contentment in Christ, not “stuff” that was held in high regard back then and even today. He was content wherever Christ had him, and he sought to serve Him well there. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. He was truly a focused man, one with eyes only for Christ; and as a result of that realization, every day he sought to draw glory to Christ wherever God had placed him.

Much of my study recently has been on the “fruit” of being a disciple of Christ. This morning as I went to Philippians for a word to encourage me, and I read through the scriptures, I came upon this verse. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. God gave me an encouraging word I did not even know was there, that spoke again of what I had studied last night. That is how He works when you seek your comfort from Him and His Word. He will place just the right words before you, and open your heart and your mind with them as only He can in the only Living Word. These things are only gained by a humble heart that opens the book looking for them. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…..”

 
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Posted by on August 8, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Missed it

29 Jul

Missed it

Luke 11:3  Give us day by day our daily bread.

The past 48hrs have been a blur filled with quality family time on a quick road trip and packing in a lot in a short amount of time. I knew going into this I was not going to be able to have my alone time with God, or to write every morning like I do. I was ok with that. But yet as the day wore on I craved what I had missed out on.

If I can share one word of encouragement to anyone outside of Salvation, it would be to follow Matthew 6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. It is such a large part of my testimony and where God really began to open my eyes and my heart. If you have all the worries of changing or understanding the things of God, if you will first seek God on a daily basis, all of these things shall be opened to you also. Seeking God on a daily basis is where you begin to experience true change in your life after Salvation.

Do you want to change? Do you really expect God to reveal great things to you with little effort? Start making a change tomorrow by spending some time alone with God in prayer and His word. I know I am looking forward to.

 
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Posted by on July 29, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Grace and Mercy allow us there

20 May

Grace and Mercy allow us there

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I was discussing with my best friend the other day of how it must have been so hard living before Christ with a heart and the desire to pursue God. All of the Law,  and the rulers of the Law, consistently pointing to the inability to fulfill it’s requirements. It simply would have caused incredible mental strain at “the tasks”. But Christ has come to redeem the world and we can approach God at the Throne of Grace in awe and reverent fear; for Christ sits at his right hand to intercede for us. In the scriptures prior to this the author is speaking of the “rest” that we have in Christ, or even peace and assurance I might add that give us rest.

This scripture is speaking of approaching God in prayer. Matthew Henry said, “Mercy and grace are the things we want, mercy to pardon all our sins and grace to purify out souls.” I believe it was Adrian Rogers who put it, “Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. Grace is God giving us what we don’t.”  Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. When you are truly needing, truly seeking God, humble yourself and realize how Christ has provided you the pathway to enter into His presence. That humility and reverent awe allow your prayers to be heard, and your heart to be felt when approaching God. There is nothing hidden from God, He knows and sees all, even discerns your heart and thoughts It is through the “lens of the gospel” (Ed Gravely) that you begin to understand your intercessor in Christ, and the ability only He provides to approach God. When you accept Christ, that peace and rest will come with an understanding of your security and ability to approach God.

 

 
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Posted by on May 20, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Muddy Dirt Roads

23 Feb

My family is in the middle of a large trial with many facets. We are not promised a life full of roses as Christians, and far from it to be honest. It is the people of this world, whom live in and for the world, that live the life of ease. If you are suffering, it may be an honor to Christ in how you respond. But it also may not be. Sit back and look at your situation, and pray for God to reveal why and where you are there. Respond how you feel Christ would.

 

 

 

Muddy Dirt Roads

James 1:2-4   My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

There is only one place with streets paved of gold. There is only heavenly eternal paradise in our lives with Christ after our short time here. Now is a difficult walk, full of various trials, various tests, various hardships that we are called to endure. Think of the story of Job, whom was living a Godly life, and God was so proud He let Satan test him for He knew Job would not fail. When we are pressed during these trials, what is truly inside us comes out. If we have been seeking God and spending time in His Word, the peace that goes against the worldly grain emerges. If we have not, then our worldly spirit spills forth as they are expected. Where we invest ourselves will always rise to the top when the heat is applied. How do you respond?

1 Peter 1:6-8  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom you have not seen you love. You will honor Christ by your response to what you are facing. How can they not “lash out” as everyone else does? How come they don’t act as others do? You can possess something that the world does not comprehend. You can possess something that the world cannot take away. They will want what you possess, for they do not understand the hope that you have within you. Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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. Faith and Hope are in dwelt in your soul, and no trial you must endure can take away that security that only Christ provides for eternal paradise with Him. These things are temporary.

 
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Posted by on February 23, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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