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Boldly proclaiming

13 Jun

Boldly proclaiming

Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Yesterday two of my closest friends, men that God has placed in my life to influence me, came to the hospital to pray with my family. In my pride I didn’t want them to; I knew how busy they were and I didn’t want to trouble them.  Satan entered my mind with those thoughts. Both of them have followed their hearts  and have become pastors and great men of faith, setting a great example for many to follow. God has used them together and in unique ways in my life. We laughed and shared and learned together about my family history things I did not know. But when it came time, they were obedient to the reason they came; to pray.

I cannot express the gratitude or the feeling of my entire family holding hands together while they prayed for us aloud in that waiting room. What a powerful experience full of emotion, yet one not so long ago I could not have imagined. I experienced this the first time only a few years back with one of them in the waiting room while his wife had brain surgery. As they prayed the prayers even shifted to those in the room witnessing this prayer, boldly proclaiming God and Jesus Christ before them. God was using this scenario, and these men to proclaim Himself to those witnessing this.

Our world now is far from God and needs more people to boldly proclaim their faith in Christ. If you feel that tug to share your faith, and you deny it from fear, you are holding back His Spirit that lies within you. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. God can be using you to give that person before you just the encouraging word they needed to hear. You could be denying them a direct blessing from God; and even yourself at the realization of Him using you. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Spinal Prayer

12 Jun

Spinal Prayer

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.

My dad is having hip replacement surgery today which is a pretty big deal to him and all of us. Any surgery at any age always involves risks, but the older we get the higher the risks become. I ask for your prayers for the physicians hands to be guided by their abilities provided by God, and for them to rest on that understanding.

Although nervous, Dad will be at peace. He knows that whatever may come of this his eternal future is secure and that God has a plan in all of this. We all deal with trials and tribulations in life, and how we view them depends upon our faith. We can either see them as the “why me?”, or the “how God?”. God many times in His sovereignty will place our paths down the suffering road of life for His greater purposes. He grows our faith, strengthens our hope, and encourages those around us in our reflections of it. Romans 5:3-4  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. How God can I glorify you in the middle of this trial I must endure?

Pray is the spine of enduring these trials of life. When you have nowhere to lean, lean on God. Is it possible that He knows that this is the way to draw you closer to Him? Is is possible that He knows your faith is strong and you will encourage others in how you handle the same things they do but under the shield of faith? All things that we endure can draw glory to Him, and all these things have passed through the Gods hands. Remember the story of Job, and of how Satan was allowed to test him; but all the while God knew His great faith, and the powerful testimony and blessings that came as a result of it. Pray to be that vessel in all things to draw glory to Him.

 
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Posted by on June 12, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Your eyes as a vessel

11 Jun

Your eyes as a vessel

Matthew 6:22-23  The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.

It is common knowledge that you can get a better “feel” for a person when they look you in the eyes when you are speaking to one another. It is not only rude, but a window into the soul when eye contact is avoided during conversation. What is the darkness that is being hidden, or deception that is being created? The biblical truth is seen in the scripture above for this principle.

Christ is described all throughout the Bible as Light, and when we believe in Him, His Spirit resides in us, therefore His Light resides in us. John 12:46  I have come as a light unto the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. When the Holy Spirit resides in you, He seeks to dis-spell the darkness of sin that remains. Light will dis-spell darkness for the two cannot co-exist. The Spirit inside you not only seeks to conform you to the image of Christ, but He seeks to point others to Christ also. As a believer in Christ, you gain a sense of awareness to the Light that resides in other believers. There is an unspoken connection that you can feel, and see in the Light in their eyes.

What if that light that He projects through your eyes in conversation, opens the door for His light into their heart? A eye to eye conversation bound in truth may be the one that stirs the heart of someone lost in sin, for they feel and wonder what makes you different from others. An eye to eye talk could be the gateway for Christ to use you to encourage others to possess what you possess, and you want to share with them. Don’t keep Him to yourself, share what you possess even in how you conduct your every conversation. Luke 11:33 No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in many see the light.

 
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Posted by on June 11, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Listen

09 Jun

Listen

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Who do you, how do you, what do you believe? There are so many ‘faiths & religions’ out there, you can surely find one that suits you. You can believe in the traditional ones, the scientific ones, even the self ones that have become so prevalent today. Our “itching ears” are inclined to desire to hear something that will give us hope and direction for our lives today and beyond. That is the scary thing of how inclined we are to follow the paths that lead us astray in the empty promises that never satisfy but ultimately cost us eternally.

There is something to hearing the Word of God even in comparison to reading it. The audible voice in a good preacher brings about revelation from God. The audible rings true and enlightens the heart, opening the door of truth. The verse above (Romans 10:17) speaks of how that leads to faith. This is not found in empty sermons that tickle the ears, but in sermons that preach solidly from the Word of God. That tugging at your heart when you hear a solid sermon is God’s revelation to you from His Word. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

If you are having trouble reading or even understanding your Bible, try an audio version also. There are many resources out there at no costs that provide these services. (Youversion is great). Listening to God’s Word will open you heart and set His Word there. You may find that you can remember scripture when you hear them better than when you read it also. God promises that His Word is planted in our hearts upon hearing. Romans 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach). Pray first, then open your ears for they are the keys to your heart.

 
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Posted by on June 9, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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What have you given the kiddo’s?

08 Jun

What have you given the kiddo’s?

Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

Ah the demon of anxiety rears his head, and mornings like these must be bathed in God’s Word and prayer. I awoke thinking of the graduations of all our children this week, the next steps in life for them, the changes that are coming. Many of them will be on their own in college and life, many are making the next steps. I awoke thinking of writing of Wisdom. Somewhere in my study, Satan creeped in and has made my morning difficult.

I pray that somewhere in your heart, you have shared the Greatest Gift with your children; the gift of an eternal Savior, Jesus Christ. How will they know if you do not teach them? They will be tugged away by the society that we live in that teaches self love and preservation at all costs. If they are headed off into the ‘real world’, have you prepared them, and their hearts?

Our greatest responsibility as a parent is to teach our children of what lies in the life after this, and that life is one of paradise or torment. Our eternal responsibility is to show them the Way through Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, and to a security that this world cannot steal away from them. This wisdom is eternal, and is gained at no expense but approaching God with a humble heart. James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Invest in your children more than just parenting, or being their friend. Share with them eternity and the answer to it through Christ. You have less than 20yrs of their lives to make the impressions of them to last more than just this lifetime.

 
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Posted by on June 8, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Soul Rest

01 Jun

Soul Rest

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

How can we find rest in a world that demands the instantaneous, the constant, the never alone or downtime to find this rest? Our minds are running at warp speeds in many different directions, multi-tasking on so many fronts, going against all that God designed us for. I believe Satan’s greatest tool in today’s age is busyness. So how can we be told in the scriptures above that we can find rest for our souls? Our souls yearn for that inner peace, and there are even products that try to sell it to us. But it is not attainable through worldly means, but only through Christ. This goes against what the world teaches, but we are told not to follow the ways of this world in Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Practically speaking, if I gave you a glimpse into my world and the hours I pack into it, you would understand why I am constantly tired. I am under the spell of busyness just like all of you; working 70-80hrs a week, all the gadgets that keep me plugged in, and pulled in many directions physically to the point of exhaustion. But my soul is at rest; and that rest brings me an inner strength that only God can provide. 2 Corinthians 12:9 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. There is something about the growth of your faith that will bring about this Rest, and the Rest is found in that faith. The world cannot steal your faith, nor can they deliver it. Hebrews 4 speaks much of that faith and His rest found in it. If you will believe and accept Christ, their will come a rest for your soul that you have never had before and it will carry you into eternity.

 
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Posted by on June 1, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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How much is enough?

31 May

How much is enough?

Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

In my studies last night I was in Deuteronomy. I loved Dr. Williams quote “This book is especially loved by the Savior and hated by the devil.” When I did a search this morning for ‘with all your soul’, it came up seven times in Deuteronomy. Christ even quoted Deuteronomy three times when He was tempted by Satan in the desert. So what does it mean to love as in the verse above? Your heart, soul, and mind is the whole you, the essence of your being, the way you are wired. In Christ’ rebuking of Satan he quoted Deuteronomy  8:3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Is there a desire within you to know more of God, to live for every word you can absorb from His Holy Word?

What you desire is a measurement of where your heart lies. This is a broad statement that demands self analysis, and prayer for God to realign us to Him. The world and all the distractions of it will draw our desire, or our hearts, away from God. Satan entices us continually with those things of desire to draw us away from the first and greatest commandment. 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.’ This is the first and great commandment. God has told us that there is nothing higher than our love for Him on His priority list. Total dedication from every fiber of our being; putting Him first in all things, seeking Him in His Word and desiring more. I believe these scriptures describe a love and desire that is never satisfied, but a desire to always draw closer to God every step of every day for the rest of our lives here…..and reap the rewards for an eternity.

 
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Posted by on May 31, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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My anchor in His Word

30 May

My anchor in His Word

Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil

I have had some interesting conversations over the last week, much on which was faith. Have you ever considered that You Are What You Believe? In that little statement your entire life is woven. It will lead you down paths consciously and unknowingly. It will lead your decisions. It will lead you either closer to; or tug you away from God. God has designed ‘need’ into our DNA to draw us to Him. If pride is so strong in you you have no need, my prayer is those walls crumble down. As a Christian we are to have the ‘need’ or hope of eternal paradise in heaven, which draws us to Him. Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. This righteousness that Paul is speaking of is the freedom from sin and coming into the presence of the Lord. When the Spirit dwells inside us, this yearning comes from the Spirit and grows with our relationship to Him.

Remember “doubting Thomas” who would not believe until he saw with his own eyes that Christ had risen? John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This is a great encouragement to those of us who believe yet have not seen. That faith in which we stand is built on the belief and hope of what God has given us in His Word. The more time you spend in God’s Word the stronger your faith will become. Your hope is strengthened when God begins to reveal Himself through the Truths found in His Word. Your faith can grow from experiences of where you have seen God work in your life, but nothing can take the place of experiencing God speak to you in His Word. The measure of the time spent there is easily related to the depth of what you  believe, and how great your faith is.

 
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Posted by on May 30, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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The Perfect Word

23 May

The Perfect Word

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Yesterday I listened to a “self proclaimed” leader in a large denomination refute the Word of God as infallible. Later in the day I heard one of my favorite pastors defend the Word of God. I have shared how I love to spend time with my boys in His Word; teaching them the Word of God. Why would I jeopardize my sons lives leading them possibly astray with false teaching? Everything you need in your life, all the answers to life, are found in God’s Word. You cannot spend time there and not see God, for they are words written by God. There is no other book throughout eternity that can compare. It was given to us for teaching, conviction, correction, comfort, leadership, peace, hope, faith, joy, and LOVE. 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 Bible was not written by the mind of men, period. If it had been written by the mind of men it would have been an opinion and not the Word of God. These men were inspired, or directed by the Holy Spirit to put the Words down on paper. We cannot seem to grasp that idea, but God spoke to the authors and they wrote what they were told to write. 2 Peter 1:20-21 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. God has written all we will ever need in His Book of Life for all generations. It is called a Living Word for no other book will stir your soul, or even save your soul as this one will. He has nothing to add or nothing to take away for eternity from this Book. In the last sentences in Revelation we are warned against adding or removing from it. Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. I trust and believe every word in this Book, enough to trust my children’s lives with it also; and I urge you to spend some time there and pray that you will trust it as I.

 
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Posted by on May 23, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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The Light for your path

22 May

The Light for your path

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

I had shared my devo yesterday with Russell waiting on his bus. Last night at time for bed he came to me and showed me where he had already started reading in Jeremiah. We spent some time there and I found myself there again this morning. In the verses above, God is reassuring the Jews in captivity of His sovereign plans, and even that the captivity is part of it. Just as today there were false prophets misleading them, but Jeremiah was being lead by the Lord himself in speaking to His people. God had taken them down a path they would not have chosen themselves just as we may find ourselves today. When we find ourselves in those difficulties, where do we turn? To the false prophets of today whom say the reasons we find ourselves in these situations is that we simply do not have enough faith? Turn your ears from them and turn your heart to God.

Wherever you find yourself today God has designed it or allowed it. He can work every situation for good for those that believe in Him (Romans 8:28). The means by which He accomplishes that good is many times out of our line of sight, but when we are on the other side of the turmoil, we see the path He guided us along. Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.  You cannot be mis-lead if you are following The Man (Christ), and not a man (prophet). The more time you invest in alone time with God, will allow you to discern the false prophets of this age. Where you find yourself and the situations you are in, is all part of His plan. Do not be lead astray by those preaching the “lack of faith” ministry, but see God alone every day. Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Alone time with God may lead you to glimpses of that path He has set before you, and the assurances of knowing He will never forsake you there. The time with God is the light you carry on the pathway of life.

 
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Posted by on May 22, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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