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Worry? Only for a day, if that!

14 Apr

It is hard to condense a favorite verse into a OneMinuteMinistry. It is hard to decide which road to go down when God has spoken to me so many times in so many ways in these scriptures. How it is a spine of my belief system to Seek Him First. How if I could tell anyone anything next to Salvation, it would be to live your life as in Matthew 6:33. If you will truly put God first in every avenue, every detail of your life, the rest of your life will fall into place. Today I touch on anxiety, which I have been open with my struggles with anxiety and depression before, but I have found the best medicine was between the pages of the Book that is the strength He gave me. I may spend a few days here in Matthew, so bear with me as God reveals my heart to you to encourage you to seek Him in all things!

 

 

Worry? Only for a day, if that!

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6 is one of my favorite chapters in the bible. The Lords Prayer is found there, the scriptures about time alone with God, fasting, and then it ends in the passages about anxiety. I struggle with anxiety and must press into these scriptures often. Just as a lawyer in a trial would issue their closing statement, Matthew says if we put God first in all things, nothing else will matter. Verse 34 even closes that argument stronger in the avenue of worry. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” We must understand the frailty of life and spending the day worrying about the next day that may never come is an exercise of wasted effort. James 13-14 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Matthew 6:33 is a scripture that represents a lifestyle. It represents what you value, what you place before God. How big is your problem, or how big is your God in the avenue of everything that occupies your thoughts? When Satan enters in through doubt, he gains a foothold in the weakening of your faith. He begins to undermine your faith and continues the attack. But you must realize that God gave you the power to overcome him, and this is accomplished through prayer and time in the His Word. There is strength in the Bible that will push Satan down when worry comes and I can personally promise you this. Matthew 6:31-32 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. The world worries about how their needs will be met. As a child of God you can rest in His assurance that He will provide for you today, and you will have no need to worry about tomorrow. That is the description of biblical peace that you can obtain by Salvation through Christ, and a relationship with Him through daily time with Him, that nothing can take from you.

 
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Posted by on April 14, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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How can ya’ love…….?

13 Apr

How can ya’ love…….?

1 John 4:17-19  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

John was the apostle whom Jesus loved, and much of John’s writings are an expression of that love. In the verses before this (1 John 4: 12-16) John is speaking of knowing and seeing God through love, and how our lives are a reflection of Him in that. If we truly abide with Him, we will love one another and become an outpouring of that love, in a self centered world far from it. 1 John 4:12-13 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. The world we live in preaches self at all costs, and Christ preaches humble love through selflessness. When we abide in Him, we begin to reflect His love for others through our actions and reactions that go against what the world expects. They begin to wonder what makes you different.

So much of the world right now is in a state of elevated fear in all arena’s. The wars and rumors of wars are on the forefront of the world stage. The world economy is on the verge of collapse, and most of us have seen drastic changes in our own financial struggles over the recent years. All this is creating fear, but you can possess an inner strength that can overcome that fear. Love and fear are an oxymoron from God’s eyes. Fear is not from God, but from Satan. 2 Timothy 1:For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. When we rest in the eternal security of Salvation, not even war or poverty can tug us down the road of fear Satan wants us to take. He who is in us is greater than He who is in the world. Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Seek the relationship with your heavenly Father daily that will produce a heart full of love, and a sound mind full of peace, that can face the daunting days with a smile that will reflect Christ.

 
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Posted by on April 13, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Roller-coaster

12 Apr

Roller-coaster

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

The roller-coaster ride of the thing we call life. It really does seem to be the perfect analogy with all of the ups and downs, the constant direction changes, the going in circles, or even when we feel as though we are going crazy like a corkscrew. We set our plans in motion and a unexpected drop or turn is thrown into our path. We begin to climb the ladder of worldly success and upon reaching the pinnacle, the world falls out from under us. There could be countless analogies that we all could insert our stories into that ride. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, and he understood that from his own success and failures of it. I strongly encourage you to read the book of Ecclesiastes for it is so relevant for today. Ecclesiastes 3: 2-8 is a great description of that roller-coaster of life.

In Ecclesiastes 3: 2-15, my Bible commentary puts it; “Solomon teaches that all events are in the hand of God, who makes everything happen in the time He judges appropriate.” It is so hard for our prideful, sin filled hearts to ever accept the idea that we are not in control of our lives. But all that comes to us, or leaves from us, passes through the hands of God either by His design or allowance. Matthew Henry puts it;  “That every change concerning us, with the time and season of it, is unalterably fixed and determined by a supreme power; and we must take things as they come, for it is not in our power to change what is appointed for us.” His commentary is so strong that I have includes a link below to it. With the understanding that God is in control comes a Peace that this world cannot provide. We are assured of how He can work any situation ultimately for good in 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.  Once you have accepted Christ unto Salvation, there is nothing this roller-coaster of life can throw at you that will ever leave you in fear of leaving the tracks, for God designed the ride.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/ecclesiastes/3.html

 
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Posted by on April 12, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Well, after I..

02 Apr

Well, after I...

Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me.

What is holding you back? After hearing about Christ, what has the grip on your soul that you cannot release to Him? Is it pride? Is it something worldly that you hold so close, that deep within you know is wrong, but yet you cannot let go? Those things become Gods to you, for typically you begin to idolize them and your world revolves around them. Mine was racing dirt bikes for about 20 years. But all throughout the Bible God tells us “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3).  We also want to live our life in many ways, and then promise to commit our lives over to Him before it is too late. James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. We are not guaranteed another breath, much less the promise of deciding when we have fulfilled our expectations here, and then decide to rest in the assurance of Salvation.

We all must answer to God in the day of judgement that will come. We all must account for how we lived our lives here, and how did we reflect Christ for our time here. “Well God I was going to after. I…”  All those things that we are placing before committing our lives to Christ have become a God to us, for they are before the “after I” in that statement. The word judgement is found 186 times in the Bible, much of which is speaking of that day to come. Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? All the things that you are seeking pleasure in will fail you in due time. Eternity is a place that will reflect your priorities and decisions you make here every day, and what you put before God. Christ has paid the price that you cannot pay, but you can receive by humbly repenting your sins, accepting the gift, and living your life as a disciple of His spreading the Good News you now possess. You will not see those things before God any longer, for you will see Him for who He is, the great “I AM.”

 
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Posted by on April 2, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Is it Monday again already?

26 Mar

Is it Monday again already?

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Uggg….Monday morning and back to work. Some of us have the blahs for returning to our duties for the week ahead. We may not like where we are and  at some point the drudgery enters in on any career. We wonder what our reward will be for our diligence in performing the tasks that lay before us. But what about the possibility of our eternal underlying work being judged every day? Every move, thought, action, or even lack of action is being watched by our “boss” and we will stand before Him in the pinnacle of review. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Very scary thought, but reality none the less.

We all have and do sin every day, and that will never change. But do we strive to be the best we can in all situations, and bring glory to Christ? Do we always reflect the negative, or do we look for the light in all circumstances and try to point them out? Those tugs you feel to do the right thing at hard times are God at work in you. He is trying to use you to reflect Christ that lives in you to others, to reach them. All your “works” that you do in your every day do not go unnoticed. Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ We must understand that we are not saved by these good deeds though for it comes only through Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Our ultimate goal in life should be to live righteously as we can in a world far from God. To strive to attain an eternal paradise with our Creator and to have Him utter these words to us at our review. Matthew 25:His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant;” This is the only work that matters, for the only One whom matters, and your focus will last you eternally.

 
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Posted by on March 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Awe

25 Mar

Awe

Psalm 33:Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

Much of what I have been listening to this week seems to have centered upon the reverent fear and holiness of God, and much about how it has been lost in today’s society and church. We want to claim the friendship of Jesus, but somewhere in that has the respect for Him lost? It gains much to pursue that relationship, but it must also be one that instills a holy fear and reverent awe of the Creator of the universe. He said in Exodus 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”; making a claim none other can utter, and one of the most powerful writings in the bible. That statement alone should point us to reverent holy fear of our Lord.

An understanding comes with that realization of who God is, and the byproduct should be  humility. How can we not become humble before Him? James 4:6-8 “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” When we approach God with that respect and holy fear that He deserves, He rewards it with understanding. Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. When we begin to strive to keep Him elevated, and not prayer for open parking lot spots, He rewards us with a deeper understanding of His ways and His word. The Holy Spirit begins to reveal more, and the reverence grows as a result. The pathway to greater understanding and depth of your Christian walk is a direct result of your viewpoint of God. Humble yourself and give thanks for the One whom all blessings flow, for our time here, and the possibility of eternity with Him.

 
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Posted by on March 25, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Most Wanted poster?

24 Mar

Wow……It is so hard to just start reading the book of Acts and not get drawn into the story and loose track of time. The book of Acts alone could easily be a best seller, or even a movie on it’s own. Any readers out there can appreciate the story and how it grabs you. I just couldn’t help but wonder, what would the angels of hell say about me? It is a piercing question when I think of all the known and unknown sin in 44yrs. They have had their highlights, but I also rest in the assurance of Salvation now, and the Light that lives in me, that dis-spells all that darkness. His light that can live within you can and will cover all your regrets past, present, and future. All you must do is humble yourself, repent, and accept Christ into your heart for eternal forgiveness. I pray that you too will draw near to God, and the angels of hell know they lost you for eternity.

 

 

 

Most wanted poster?

Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Paul was in Ephesus on his second missionary journey and he had baptized about 12 men as disciples of Christ to aid him in spreading the Good News. Ephesus was a city filled with those who practiced magic, and many even using the name of Christ in doing so. They were held in high esteem, most likely wealthy, but committing great sins against God. I encourage you to read chapter 19 for the benefit of the entire story. God was performing miracles through Paul in unusual ways and reaching those who were lost through them. This event in verse 15 led to a great repentance, an expensive burning of magic books, and even a riot that followed afterwards. But in all of this God was glorified.

There is so much in this passage, especially a direct warning from God on using His name in evil works. But do you get the question too? Do you pretend to walk as a Christian, yet continue in sin even tarnishing the Name you claim? We all sin every day, we all need forgiveness every day, we all fail, but we all can strive to live more Christ like and glorify Him in all we do. Matthew Henry said, “This was written for a warning to all who name the name of Christ, but do not depart from iniquity.” These warnings are direct for great sins committed here. But don’t we desire to be so close to Christ that the angels of hell know our name too? You must draw near to Him, seek Him daily, pursue the teachings and revelations of Him in the Word, and maybe, just maybe you will have a Most Wanted poster at the gates of hell with your name on it. James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Strive to make today a better day, living more like Christ than the day before.

 
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Posted by on March 24, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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I know YOU got this

19 Mar

I know YOU got this

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.

Thank you Lord for where you have me today. I may not understand, I may even question, but I must rest in the assurance that it all passes through your hands. Your ability is infinite, and my ability to reason is futile, but the peace that comes with that is immeasurable.

We will never understand God’s ways. Isaiah 55:8″For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.” We would never take the paths that a good father will lead us down for many times they come with a cost, and we willingly would deny that price. We simply take the easy path, never seeing the work He may have intended to do through us. We make our plans, but do our plans allow room for God? Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Most likely not, but yet He has the ability to steer us where He has wanted us all along. He let’s us make mistakes, and He uses them to our benefit.

Pastor Jack yesterday preached on John 9 and the blind man from birth that Christ healed. This was not a bad decision or punishment the man had made. The disciples had asked why he was blind and in verse 3, “ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” God had been at work in his life all along. But there is a key to remaining in God’s will for your life when you feel him speaking to you. When you feel those tugs of God, are you obedient, or do you pursue it alone going against God in your own reason? You see the works of God outside your reason and in those acts of obedience. John 9:11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” Rest in the peace that surpasses all understanding knowing as a child of His, you can rest in Him in whatever you may face today.

 
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Posted by on March 19, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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A Field of Treasure

17 Mar

A Field of Treasure

Matthew 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Have I got a real estate deal for you! In this field lies a hidden treasure, but will you trust me on this by just looking at the field, or purchase it and dig into the great opportunity? Will you lay aside everything for this opportunity that promises an eternal return? If you grasp what treasure lies beneath the surface, the choice is easy,  and you speedily move to grasp what you have found. In this parable Christ is the Treasure, and the gospel or Good News that is found in the Word is the field. You simply unearth the hidden treasure by digging into God’s Word and finding Christ throughout the Old and New Testaments. You are missing an eternal treasure by letting the field lie dormant, or just scratching the surface, instead of digging deep to find the treasure.

You can’t judge a book by it’s cover, and you can’t find the treasure without digging in the field. Once you begin to unearth that Treasure, you hide it in your heart and begin to realize the value of what you possess. The value of your life hidden in Christ is immeasurable and many other things you once cherished seem to have little value. Philippians 3:7-8 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Once you begin to realize what you possess in a book like non-other, you will begin to gain a great return on your investment that is the only secure investment available today. Pray for God to reveal Himself to you, open your bible and unearth your hidden treasure.

 
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Posted by on March 17, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Energy for the race

16 Mar

As I awoke this morning, feeling the pains of a very rough work week, my body is physically hurting. I was thinking of how I still have two more long rough days ahead, and what I needed to do to accomplish the tasks at hand. I needed physical energy and probably some Aleve pain meds too. It hit me the similarities of our lives and duty as disciples of Christ, and the energy and meds that we receive from Him. What I receive our here early every morning is much more than I can convey in these devotions. I can never accurately pen what He provides me in this labor of love. It gives me the energy to run that eternal race and press on towards that goal that lies ahead, to share what He has done for me, and can do for you.

 

Energy for the race

John 6:27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Tired. Physically exhausted, mentally drained, the labor which drags us down as we seek to work and provide for our families and ourselves. And yes the older we get, the harder it gets. But we continue to press on, pushing ourselves for the tasks at hand, to obtain whatever goal lies before us, to reach the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. It may be at work or at play, but we press on towards that goal, of achievement and success.

The ultimate goal of eternal life is obtained simply through grace alone (Ephesians 2:8), but the burden that becomes placed on your heart is the desire to share what you possess with others. That is the “works” that Christ places in you, and does through you. As in preparation for that work that lies ahead, you must feed yourself on that spiritual food that prayer and time in His Word bring. These provide the energy to run the race that is set before you. This food is not obtained on Sundays only, but requires daily nourishment in time consecrated to Him. Take the time to feed your soul, along with your body every morning. You will find a strength you never knew you possessed, and an energy to face the day no matter how daunting the worldly tasks that may lie ahead.

 
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Posted by on March 16, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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