Monday, June 25, 2012

Monday, June 18, 2012

A Life of Thankfulness or a Life of Frustration?

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
God created man (in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;  and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so.
Imagine this setting from the first chapter of Genesis.  God had created everything for the joy and the benefit of the choicest of His creation.
The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."  Genesis 2:16
The vast forest of trees were give to man with only one single tree being set aside as unavailable to them.
They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8
In addition to all of man's physical needs being met, God's presence was consistent and obviously available.
How is it that our world has ended up where is has when so much was provided to the advantage of maintaining the spiritual nature of mankind?
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"   Genesis 3:1

OK, so here is the real question.  Adam personally knew his Creator; had an intimate relationship with his God but, nevertheless, listened to the liar!
How did this happen?
A better question perhaps is: if Adam couldn't resist what chance do I have?
It is vitally important for us to see the entire picture painted in the beginning chapters of the history of God's dealing with man.
What do you think enabled Satan to "get a word in edgewise" with one so aware of God's presence and provision?
What more could Adam have wanted if totally left by himself, with no outside influence?
Allow me to bring this home personally.
Adam had acres and acres of provision. 
How often do you thank God for the things and the people he has given you?   Adam had lost his gratitude for the things and the people that he had had.  This left a huge opening for the enemy to present additional options.
Adam had immediate and real access to the Living God on a current basis.  He grew in-sensitized to the ready presence.
When was the last time you treated your God like He was treasured and that His current presence made a difference for you?
Adam listened to the enticing discussion.
What do you listen to the most?  Do you ever hear from Him?  Are the enticing invitations of fame, wealth, success, happiness, security louder than the sweet, soft voice of the Great Lover of your soul?
Adam choose to try the tree!
What is your tree?  God has given you acres and acres of permissible "trees" but there is always that one!  
I encourage you to hear His voice, walk with Him continually and offer to Him the thanksgiving due!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Answered Prayer

He simply could not understand.

For months; no, for years now, he had been asking God to do something! His frustration with the things he continued to see had grown unbearable. Day after day he had prayed; day after day things grew worse.

How long, O Lord, will I call for help and You will not hear?

I cry out to You, "violence", yet You do not save!
Why do You make me see iniquity and cause me to look at wickedness?

Yes, destruction and violence are before me;
Strife exists and contention arises.
Therefore, the law is ignored and justice is never upheld.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

Therefore, justice is perverted.

 
Honestly laying out his frustration brought brief relief. The intensity of the burden was lessened even though the problem remained.

The moment of peace was quickly shattered by what God had to tell him in response to his pleas!

Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days –
you would not believe if you were told

"Finally", he thinks. Results; things are going to get done. "Stand back and watch my God at work"!

God continues:

For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
That fierce and impetuous people
Who march throughout the earth
To seize the dwelling places which are not theirs,
They are dreaded and feared.
Their justice and authority originate with themselves.
All of them come for violence
They will sweep through like the wind and pass on.
 
Surely, I didn’t hear You correctly, he thought!

D-d-d-d-d-did you say that you are bringing hordes of violent, Godless peoples to do Your will?

He again prays ( a bit more timidly this time):

Are You not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, my Holy One?
We will not die.
Your eyes are too pure to approve of evil,
And You cannot look on wickedness with favor.


Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously?

Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up
Those more righteous than they?

How does this make sense?

The Chaldeans are far more unrighteous than the people that You use them in judgment against.

Maybe you haven’t considered that we aren’t so bad after-all. Maybe, I was a little hasty with my calling for You to fix the state of Your people’s sin.

This clearly wasn’t what I had in mind!

God responds:

the righteous will live by his faith.
(Habakkuk 1 & 2)

So there it is… the good news and the bad news:

The good news? God answers our prayers. Yea!

The bad news? He has chosen to remain God and answer our prayer His way!

The bottom-line good news? He never leaves us guessing; but teaches us in the process!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Sorrow or Life?

I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.”

I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good,
And my sorrow grew worse.   Psalm 39:1-2 

Does this sound like most Christians today?  "I will guard my mouth...while the wicked are in my presence"?
How often are we intimidated by the worldly way of those around us and fail to interject any positive comments?  We have the words of hope for the world and we remain silent in the face of ignorance!

The Psalm reveals to us the results of our timidity: "My sorrow grew worse".

Faith is fueled by facing the giants of fear and not backing down.  We dwell in the routine and hum-drum of life when Jesus came to give us "life to the full." 

The choice is yours.  Will you choose life or choose comfort and worldly acceptance?

 

Monday, May 28, 2012

Hidden and lost gifts!

...I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you....  

God, has given a variety of gifts to His children.   Each of us has been give at least on gift.  There is a problem in the church today is that many have allowed their specific gift to be buried or diminished.  The false glamor of the more evident gifts causes us to devalue the gift(s) that we have.  The cascading problem with this that God has told us that until we handle properly the gifts given our spiritual growth will be stunted.  This, perhaps, explains much of the state of the church today.

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Here is the test.  Do we have a boldness about our faith or are we reticent to share the greatest message that has ever been created!  Freedom for the captives!
 
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,  who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,  but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,  for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.  

You have been saved and left here on the Earth for " His own purpose" but most of God's people have fallen into the seduction of the society around us. We have not only been "saved" but we have been "saved and called with a holy calling".  The world is in rapid decline due to the church losing the vision of each members responsibilities and opportunities.

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.  Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  

Ashamed?  How do most of us act?  Faith is grown by testing.  Most of us struggle in the area of our faith because we keep our witness hidden.  We are "convinced that the world is able to keep us from witnessing" rather than being convinced that "God is able....".

Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the  treasure which has been entrusted to you.  (From 2 Timothy 1)


Discover the gift or gifts that that God has give to you and then open them up to the church and the world around you.  Trust that God will do the rest!

Monday, May 21, 2012

An Invitation to intimacy!

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
God created man (in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;  and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so.
Imagine this setting from the first chapter of Genesis.  God had created everything for the joy and the benefit of the choicest of His creation.
The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."  Genesis 2:16
The vast forest of trees were give to man with only one single tree being set aside as unavailable to them.
They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8
In addition to all of man's physical needs being met, God's presence was consistent and obviously available.
How is it that our world has ended up where is has when so much was provided to the advantage of maintaining the spiritual nature of mankind?
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"   Genesis 3:1
OK, so here is the real question.  Adam personally knew his Creator; had an intimate relationship with his God but, nevertheless, listened to the liar!
How did this happen?
A better question perhaps is: if Adam couldn't resist what chance do I have?
It is vitally important for us to see the entire picture painted in the beginning chapters of the history of God's dealing with man.
What do you think enabled Satan to "get a word in edgewise" with one so aware of God's presence and provision?
What more could Adam have wanted if totally left by himself, with no outside influence?
Allow me to bring this home personally.
Adam had acres and acres of provision. 
How often do you thank God for the things and the people he has given you?   Adam had lost his gratitude for the things and the people that he had had.  This left a huge opening for the enemy to present additional options.
Adam had immediate and real access to the Living God on a current basis.  He grew in-sensitized to the ready presence.
When was the last time you treated your God like He was treasured and that His current presence made a difference for you?
Adam listened to the enticing discussion.
What do you listen to the most?  Do you ever hear from Him?  Are the enticing invitations of fame, wealth, success, happiness, security louder than the sweet, soft voice of the Great Lover of your soul?
Adam choose to try the tree!
What is your tree?  God has given you acres and acres of permissible "trees" but there is always that one! 
I encourage you to hear His voice, walk with Him continually and offer to Him the thanksgiving due!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Seriously,what are we really praying for?

But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before You Nehemiah 9:28

I really hope that you will take a few brief moments to read chapter 9 of the book of Nehemiah.  My description is less than adequate in describing Nehemiah's prayer for his people.

He recounts the long history of God's redemptions which always followed the people's arrogant, selfish period of following after their own desires.  In every instance, immediately after God's redemption the people turned away once again.

Nehemiah's statement above summarizes the problem.

Now, for a brief moment, consider how we most ofter pray:  We ask for health, jobs, finances, peace and harmony.  What do you suppose Nehemiah would say about such prayers?

I can't speak for anyone but myself but my pattern is not too different from the pattern that Israel followed. When the cupboards are full and spirit is empty!

Let's reconsider how we pray and the things that are really important.



                                                           

Monday, May 7, 2012

Just cross the stupid river!

The story of the nation of Israel’s release from years of captivity in Egypt begins in Exodus 4. The final act that “buys” their release, the blood of the lamb, is in chapter 11.

To assure that this freed people would not lose their way to God's blessings and provision, a pillar of fire in the night and a cloud during the daylight would guide them every step of the way on their journey. (Exodus 13:21-22).

For several generations, God had promised a specific land to Israel. Not only did He promise the land, but He released them from their captors and guided them directly to the place of entrance into the promised land.

Israel balked. They came right up to the point of decision and they chose not to enter the land. ( Numbers 13). God’s reaction to Israel’s balking?: Surely, all the men who have seen My glory and My signs, which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. Numbers 14:22-23

After the "balking" generation passed away the Nation of Israel is again at the entry point of the promised land.

Deuteronomy 12:8-12 is the key section for us to understand clearly what the new terms of their entrance would be: It explicitly states that tomorroweverything changes.you shall not do all that we are doing here today… All of the do's and don'ts of the law were being left on the wilderness side to the border.

The promise is that Israel will live in rest and security provided they enter the land of promise as God intended.

Unfortunately, Hebrews 4 states that Israel NEVER entered the promised rest and security and continues on warning us that we also might miss it if we respond to God the way Israel did. The crowning statement is verse 19: ..they were not able to enter because of unbelief’.

The bottom line is that the people of Israel never entered the land of security and rest because every step of the way they “Logic-ed” their way through the enemies and issues. God required that they enter the land knowing the He had given it to them and that it was He who would clear the way and fight their enemies.

The invitation to us is the same. Cross the Jordan that separates the dominion of this world from the kingdom of God; the world from the promised land; drudgery and toil from rest and security. It is only by faith that we can enter the promised land!

Monday, April 30, 2012

The Heart of the issue!

The Holy Spirit is such a wonderful teacher!

First let me explain how the Holy Spirit has shown me not only the message but has punctuated the message with the deep feelings of the message.

Do you remember a time when your heart hurt?

This last week Sheryl and I went to the shopping mall to do a little shopping. As we walked down the mall she decided she wanted to stop at a particular store to buy a gift for a friend. The store is a small, busy store so I decided that I didn’t need to join her in the store but, instead, would stand guard outside doing a little people watching.

Little did I know that this was the time that the Holy Spirit had in mind to show me the depth of God’s love. As I was scanning the crowd, down the mall walking in my direction was a father and his young daughter. My attention was immediately drawn to them. The father was a youngish, tall man and the girl was somewhere in the elementary school years age. She was looking a bit unkempt; her hair was straggled and her coat was half on and half off.

As they approached my post, the father was looking straight ahead while his daughter bounced around him trying to earn his attention. The best way that I can describe her actions to you, and very unfitting, is of a young puppy jumping around trying to get the attention of its master. She skipped and hopped around on one side of him; then quickly darted to the other side to do the same, jabbering all of the time. NOT ONCE, did the father even look down, smile or, in any way, acknowledge her.

My heart ached for that young girl. As I write this, my heart still aches!

There was a time in history when God specifically identified individuals with hurt hearts: Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice, “Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in hand.” And behold, six men came from the district of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen at whose loins was a writing case. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in lined at whose loins was the writing case.

And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” But to the others He said, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity, and do not spare…but do not touch any man on whom is the mark…” Ezekiel 9:1-6

Perhaps the saddest thing about this history is that it only took one person to mark those whose hearts hurt but it required six to lay out the judgment upon those whose hearts were cold.

Has there ever been a time when we substitute judgment for hurt hearts? To hear us talk about the state of our society one could quickly get the idea that we might be a tad judgmental. God looks for sighing and groaning and we give him gripes and disgust. The one dressed in linen looks for the troubled; the six with weapons look for the comfortable.

Jesus, displayed the depths of His heart one day, And when He approached the city (Jerusalem), He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! Luke 19:41&42

He said, further, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Matthew 23:37

I can’t tell you how much I wanted to hug that young, hungry for attention girl; or to grab the father and shake him out of his coma!

Surely you have experienced the hurt of a heart.

There is no place for judgment in the hearts of those whose hearts ache! There is only a longing for things to be set right; for peace!

Jesus, Isaiah states is the, Prince of Peace! 8:6

Do you know; I mean really know that in this day, even you, the things which make for peace are contained in HIM?

Monday, April 23, 2012

Deep speaks to Deep!

Have you ever been in a difficult position? Of course you have, but have you ever been in such a difficult, hopeless position that your heart ached?

I think that is where we find Hannah after years of humiliation and failure brought her and her aching heart to the temple whether in faith or simply in desperation we will never know.

A little background might help us understand Hannah’s heart.

You see, Hannah was one of two women that her husband had taken for a wife. As difficult as this might be ordinarily, the situation that had arisen within this family was that one woman had children but the other, you guessed it, Hannah did not. Well you can’t hide a problem like that for very long. There can be no doubt as to who has the problem.

The matter was complicated by the person that scripture calls Hannah’s rival. The woman who had children "bitterly provoked" Hannah to irritate her.

The situation had become so serious that her husband, who and done various things to show his support and love for Hannah, cries out in frustration to her, "Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

I sure that none of us have ever been where Hannah found herself at this point. There is a point where the hurt can not hurt anymore, where one just mentally "throws up his hands" or "throws in the towel"
.
Scripture tells us that Hannah, was "greatly distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly".
 
After some interaction with the priest regarding her actions Hannah explained, "I poured out my soul before the Lord".
 
There are times when we stand strong in the strength of the Lord and we pray with boldness and confidence. There are these other times which seem somehow less valuable; less faithful.

We easily comprehend and admire the faith of a prayer offered by someone who prays like he knows personally the One to whom he talks. To pray with someone who prays expectantly is a wonderful experience. These opportunities are easy and welcome and wonderful.

There are things that we should not miss about the faith of the Hannah type of prayers.

There exists in a believer a level of faith that is buoyed by our convictions, by our experiences or by our commitments. There is yet another level of faith that we find when everything is stripped away and all we find left is the core of one’s being. The times when all pretensions, all suppositions, absolutely everything but one’s existence is let go, a level of faith remains.

This faith is what lies at the very core.

Jesus has written that core faith in the recesses of our hearts (Hebrews 12:2). It will never fail us nor will it ever desert us. It is the direct connection to Him.

( the story of Hannah is found in the book of I Samuel chapter 1)

Monday, April 16, 2012

Too Wonderful to be fully believed.

Where can I go from Your presence? the psalmist asks.

And continues, where can I flee from Your Spirit?

Have you ever come to grips with the fact that there is absolutely nowhere you can go that God is not already there?

If I take the wings of the dawn; if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will hold me, your right hand will lay hold of me.

It is one thing to mentally ascent to the fact that God is everywhere; it quite another dimension when you understand that He holds you, even more, that His (strong hand) right hand holds you tightly.

The psalmist finally proclaims, such knowledge is too high for me, I simply cannot attain to it!

These words of the 139th psalm are only the beginning of the description of how tenderly and completely God cares for you. Open the 139th psalm and hang-out there for awhile. While you are there, talk openly with the God who loves you so incredibly even though He knows you completely!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Milk or Solid Food?


How long have you attended church?  

What would you think of one who attended high school for that long?  Even if he/she only took one class per week, should he reconsider his/her situation?

...by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. Hebrews 12-13

There are two applications to this message for you to consider:

First, how successful is the current way we do church?  Each week gather and each week we go home pretty much as we arrived.

Second, isn’t it time to change something personally?  Are you going to continue to just go with the flow or are you going to do something radical.  Isn’t the “word of righteousness” worth risking?

Finally, if you consider this message worth hearing. would you refer you friends to this blog?  Maybe together we can begin to effect change of the number one consideration above.

Monday, April 2, 2012

There is a Light!

You are the light of the world….Jesus (Matthew 5:14)

Think for a moment about that statement…

What strikes you as you encounter this stark statement of Jesus?

Did you notice that it is a rather certain statement; that He said "we are" not "we might be"?

Light is so very important . Have you noticed that it even jumps out in the darkest night regardless of how far away it might be? The light of one single candle will bring a warm glow and visibility in a dark cold room.

The importance of light was evidenced in the beginning when God selected the time of light creation. The very first act within the account of creation was God’s statement, "Let there be light". Genesis 1:3

Fascinating, beyond comprehension is our God. Light was created on the first day of creation but the sun and stars were not created until day four. The power of light is beyond the vehicles that carry it.

1 John 1:5 states, God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.
You, undoubtedly, have taken note of the continual battle between darkness and light. Withdraw the light in any room, or in any society, and the darkness moves in. Contrary, interject light into the dark place and the darkness literally flees; it cannot leave fast enough.

John 1:5 says, "the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it."
There is no compromise between light and darkness. They simply cannot exist in the same place at the same time.

You are the light of the world, Jesus said. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lamp stand; and it gives light to all who are in the house.

How secure is your basket? Perhaps we all should invest some "one on one" time with Jesus seeking His opinion on the size and security of our baskets.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Abide To Thrive

If you abide with Me and MY words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it shall be done for you. By this is MY Father glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:7-8

Jesus never danced around the edges of any issue. He always hit every issue right on the head. There is so very much in these short words about prayer; how it glorifies God, how it evidences our faith, how it can accomplish unlimited things.

For today lets look at the "prerequisite" of abiding.

A couple of definitions to "abide: are:

VERB: def.

To remain in a place.
To continue to be sure or firm; endure. See Synonym: stay

So Jesus is stating that if we want to see the power of God in our lives we must "continually remain is His word".

This seems prohibitive. How can we "live" in His word.

In another setting Jesus told those listening that the things that come our of our mouths originate in our hearts. It is the things that come out of our mouths that indicate what is in our hearts. We can easily determine, if we are honest with ourselves, whether or not the Word of God is dwelling in us.

The first part of the above scripture is a bit more difficult to get a grip on however. What does He mean about us abiding in Him? How can one continually remain in Him?

Once again if we take a look at another encounter that Jesus had with people we might be able to better understand this opportunity.

Jesus was standing by a vineyard and said to the people. "I am the vine, you are the branches"
The picture is a little more clear. If the branch is broken off from the vine it withers and dies.


How might we know if we are separated from the vine and lacking the spiritual nourishment?

Galatians 5:22-25 discusses the look of a branch that is connected to the vine by saying:
...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control....If we live by the Spirit let us also walk by the Spirit.

There is a saying that if something walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck chances are good that it is a duck. Much like determining whether or not the Word of God dwells in us, discovering the level of our connectedness with the vine, or "abiding" with Him is indicated by the fruits that flow out from us.

SO, we can ask whatever we want and see God glorified by the answer to our request IF we have

Monday, March 19, 2012

Time for a real change?

Do you have any idea how much God loves you? He is crazy about you; what else could He do to show you exactly much He cares about you? A better car? A higher income? A better behaved family? A bigger home? An unexpected windfall?

There was a memorable plaque that I came across a few weeks ago. It said, "Which is easier, for God to bring peace out of the storm or for Him to bring peace within the storm?"

I know that we all want the former; God prefers the latter because that is where faith sits!

The Kingdom of God works on a different system than the domain of this world. The Kingdom of God works entirely on faith; the domain of this world works on success, accomplishment, wealth, health and possessions. There is no greater disparity than that of the two sytems!

Maybe it time that we reposition our minds toward the things that God prefers. It make take some sincere repentance; for sure, it will take some degree of faith!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Flee your slavery!

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.       Galatians 5:1
Freedom is not easy.  Just look around the world and you will see that freedom is not easy.  Even the recent examples in our own "freedom loving" country we quickly surrender our freedom for security and for comfort.
Yokes of slavery abound:  
Image of success. Wealth, Fame, preconceptions of body types, internet traps of pornography, Twitter, email, Facebook, LinkedIn..., Television, the mirage of happiness, perfect homes, perfect kids, perfect spouses, perfect lives....
The list is limitless.  You could add a few of your own.
Scripture implores us:
 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?      Galatians 4:9
We have become accustomed to the "weak and worthless elemental things" of this world and have lost the hunger for the exotic, liberating, life-giving things of God's kingdom.
Life; true life; real vibrant life is waiting for you to let loose of the trappings.
We have been invited into the greatest adventure of life.  Movies pale in comparison to the gift God has prepared for us.
There is a adage that says:
It is impossible to explore distant lands while keeping your feet on solid ground.
Doesn't it seem silly to ignore His invitation.  We can easily talk about the glory and the excitement of a life of faith; but freedom is hard!
Take the leap!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Unveiled Eyes

Perhaps a quick memory, for others an introduction to a comics classic:

Dennis the Menace found himself in a familiar spot. Once again he sat on a stool facing the corner of the kitchen. “Time out” in the corner where he could be monitored was a common position.

As he took his place this time, while facing the corner, he was heard to mumble: “I may be sitting down on the outside but I’m still running around on the inside”.

You know what he's saying? It's just like that whenever I sit down to spend some quiet moments with God and His word. I'm sitting down on the outside but things are running around on the inside. Things may start out peacefully each day but it doesn't take long, most days, for things to begin to unravel. I may be driving quietly on the outside but I'm jumping up and down on the inside.

I have made this statement before. Some of the most wonderful words in all of scripture are the words of a young man named Elihu as he addressed the wrong thinking of an aquaintence named Job. You can find these words in Job chapters 32 through 42. The words of Job, upon coming to grips with the truth about God, are insightful: He said: "

(Until now) my ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. I therefore despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. v 5-6

We become so easily distracted that we fail to see Jesus. Our ears give us false comfort but it is only when we see God with our eyes that we truely believe.

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the HOPE of His calling, what are the RICHES of His glory of His inheritance in the saints (you an me)and what is the surpassing POWER toward us who believe!" Ephesians 1:18

Agree with me on the Ephesians prayer. Personalize it and pray it for yourself. Write it down and pray it for yourself regularly. Life is available if we begin to see Him!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Life is in His Word

Psalm 119:129-144

Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul observes them. The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

Jesus said, "…if My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you" John 15:7

Much of the reason why our prayers are so timid or our prayer life is so cold is directly related to our time spent abiding in God’s word.

I opened my mouth wide and panted, For I longed for Your commandments.

A longing desire doesn’t come from our absence for the Word. As a matter of fact, our longing only comes from our continued exposure of our spirits to the Bread of Life.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, After Your manner with those who love Your name.

One can only appeal for a personal touch from someone that he knows intimately.

Establish my footsteps in Your word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts.

Establishing ones footsteps is a bit more than skipping through, running through, or sitting down. Footsteps are only established intentionally. The establishment of footsteps indicates that there is a firm direction.

What does established footsteps bring? Victory over sins dominion; the heavy handed oppression of angry people; the deep hunger to follow His lead. How does a life like that sound?

Is it worth the exploration?

Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. My eyes shed streams of water, Because they do not keep Your law.

Grace upon grace! Up to this point that prayer is saying that if one abides in God’s word good things come about. Here we take the next step to discover that in God’s pleasure with His tender child, He shines upon him and warms within him the deeper desire to know more fully God’s Word.

Such is the deep, unbridled joy of the one who is praying that a grief arises for what he sees in those who don’t know the blessing of abiding.

( Take a few moments with the remaining thought of this wonderful message. As you drip down the thoughts, speak to Jesus as if these words were penned by you just for Him)

Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments. You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness. And exceeding faithfulness. My zeal has consumed me, Because my adversaries have forgotten Your words. Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it. I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. Trouble and anguish have come upon me, Yet Your commandments are my delight. Your testimonies are righteous forever; Give me understanding that I may live.

Monday, February 20, 2012

God's Call to a Higher Life!


Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
  Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

So begins our introduction to one of the future kings of God's people, the nation of Israel. One of the son's of an insignificant family which was from one of the smallest least significant tribe of the nation.

The story can be found in total by reading 1 Samuel chapters 9 & 10.

Saul is told on one ordinary morning that his father wanted him to select one of the family's servants and begin a search for some of the family's donkey's that had escaped during the night.

They began their search in their own neighborhood and then their own town. They found no signs to the donkeys so they traveled to the next county. County after county their search rolled into multiple days. Saul became concerned that his father would begin to worry about his son far more that the missing donkeys and suggested that they should turn back toward home.

The servant happened to remember that there was a “man of God” living in just the next town before them and that this man of God had been rumored to be able to tell people every detail of their lives and to find lost things and lost people.

Saul determined to try one last thing before turning back for home.

Here is where everything gets interesting.

The night before Saul and his servant arrived in the town, Samuel, the man of God, had been told by God that there would be a man coming the next day and Samuel was to anoint this man as the King of Israel.

I encourage yo to read the entire account. For now I want to focus on on specific application of this story.

Saul got up on that ordinary morning and was assigned an ordinary task. The ordinary task became burdensome due to the difficulty in completing his mission. The long days turned into fractured purposes. BUT. God had a greater purpose for this ordinary story.

So what about your ordinary day and your ordinary tasks? Would Saul have turned around had it not been for his servant companion?

I am telling you that there is a God who has a design and purpose far greater than you have yet discovered! Far greater than we can ask or imagine is what the scripture says our God has in store for those who love him!

Don't turn back to your ordinary day, your ordinary tasks and responsibilities or your ordinary life! Accept God's invitation to the greatest adventure of your life!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Angels in Heaven Long To See What God Has Done For Us

You may recall what the Word of God says about the fall of the angels who rebelled, along with Lucifer, against the Almighty God. 

As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,  seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.  It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.1 Peter 1: 10-12


Grace is a deep fascination and mystery to the angels.  The only thing that the angles have seen is that wrath of our God toward those who rebel.  The mystery deepens with the totality of what our God has done for us.  It is wildly out of every expectation in the heavenly realms.


God bridged such a huge gulf in His gift to mankind.

Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 
Psalm 85:10

 The bare truth is that we too have rebelled. The gulf between our rebellion and God's love is astronomical.  Scripture compares our righteousness or filth, stinky rages yet God has joined together righteousness and His peace.  He has connected, in the heavenly realms, truth and His love.  


Things so foreign to each other yet God found a way to meld the disparity together.  This mystery is confounding to the created beings that surround God's throne.

 But Jesus said, “ The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Jesus told us that God does impossible things.  We just fail to believe Him!

Sunday after Sunday, week after week, year after year God's redeemed gather together each week for what we call "worship services".  Do you think, from what you experience each week, that God's people really understand the deep, deep mystery of what even the angels long to understand?

Our worship should be wild!  We should be blown away about our God to the point that we couldn't stand sterile singing called "worship" and passionless messages called the "good news"!

We have little control over others but we do have control over ourselves.  Allow God to open up His marvelous mysteries to you and prepare yourself to go before His throne!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Kingdom of Heaven is Not What Many Suppose

Jesus never said, "someday when you leave this earth you have heaven waiting for you".  Contrary, He painted quite another picture:

He (Jesus) presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”

He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.” Matthew 13-31-35

Heaven is pictured as a growing or expanding thing for each individual.  Further, He directly addressed the issue of heaven when religious leader tried the challenge Him.

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:20-21


I am currently reading a book by A.W. Tozer  title "Knowledge of the Holy".  He makes the following statement that I can't get off of my mind.  "the true God is everywhere and He is nowhere".


Omnipresent is a word that has been used to illustrate the everywhere present concept.  Unfortunately the message delivered with the modern day message of omnipresence is that God is in our "everywhere".  This world is not His.  This world has yet to be redeemed and, therefore, is unholy.  Furthermore, this world and this universe is His creation and like a carpenter creating a bench to sit on that carpenter is never a part of that bench (his creation).  He remains above and separate form his creation.  Likewise, our God is above and separate from His creation.  

 It is critical for us to link these thought together at this point.  Jesus said, heaven is in your midst.  God is  everywhere present in heaven and heaven is everywhere that the created universe is not!  Like the carpenter, He has effect and influence on His creation but is not influenced or bound by it!


If you are redeemed, it is now your choice where you choose to dwell.  You may continue to dwell within His creation and be pressed upon on every side or you may choose to live, by faith, within His kingdom.  The blood of Jesus qualifies us for citizenship.  As a matter of fact, scripture tell us that we have been (past tense) with Jesus in the heavenly places.  It is now simply left for us to choose where we will live!

Monday, January 30, 2012

When a cup is more than a simple cup.


Something has been a question for quite some time for me.  It was never a serious question, just one that was “there” and left unanswered until last week.

You will remember the scene.  It was the night before the crucifixion of Jesus and He was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

So my question was this: “what cup”?   Why would Jesus use the word “cup” in describing what lay before Him that night?  The scourging; the questioning; the carrying of the cross; the nails; the spear in the side?  The pain of the cross?  All horribly significant but none could be thought of as a “cup”.

If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,  he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. Revelation 14:10

The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. Revelation 16:19

A “cup” of God’s wrath is impossible to imagine.  

Jesus knew the price for my sin!  That night in the garden He repulsed against the high cost that He was about to pay.

The next day His repulsion was realized: “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? Matthew 27:47
How do Christians simply sit on their chairs and feebly sing on Sundays?  Why has the message of the high price of their sin not gotten through?  Our worship should be lifting the roof every day and much more on Sundays when we come together!

Take a few moment every day this week to reflect on the gift of Jesus and thank Him for taking on your “cup”.

Monday, January 23, 2012

The Kindness of God Leads!

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4

As I was seeking God out today about what He wanted me to know this scripture was the one that grabbed me. 

Why is it that most sermons and teachings we hear are centered around us making a decision to change?  


What scripture seems to state emphatically is that change does not come through determination or effort.  We are dysfunctional and will lose those battles continually.



Truly knowing the richness of God's mercy and His unfathomable love for each of us is what "leads us" to change.  Nothing else will ever work!  


Fall in love with Jesus!  Allow Him to show You His great love for you and that love will create a hunger and thirst for righteousness that will dissolve your conflicting desires!  There is simply no other way to freedom!


Cease striving and know I am God! Psalm 46:10


He will change what you can't!



Monday, January 16, 2012

Trust the Trustworthy! It Ain't You!


But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!

What more noble name can you be called except “little Christ”, Christian?  Our gracious God claims you as His own.  How is it possible to be down or have a “bad day” when He not only has redeemed us but proudly claims us as His own?

Just in case you don’t quite get it yet:

 “Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,

You are precious and honored by God!  Is that not totally unbelievable? He treasures you, He celebrates you, He brags about you and it is your picture on His desk!

I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
 “Do not fear, for I am with you;

He is willing the throw everything and everybody else away to save you!

How is it that you do not trust Him?

-          we don’t trust Him with our finances
-          we don’t rust Hi with our families
-          we don’t trust Him with our careers
-          we don’t trust Him is His ability to keep all of His promises to us!
-          The list goes on and on

There is yet hope for even us who don’t totally trust!

 Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,
And the deaf, even though they have ears.
All the nations have gathered together
So that the peoples may be assembled.
Who among them can declare this
And proclaim to us the former things?
Let them present their witnesses that they may be justified,
Or let them hear and say, “It is true.”
 “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD,
“And My servant whom I have chosen,
So that you may know and believe Me
 “Even from eternity I am He,
And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
I act and who can reverse it?”
 Is that a guarantee that you can live with?  What else could He do to convince you to trust Him?
 Thus says the LORD,
 Who makes a way through the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,
Who brings forth the chariot and the horse,
The army and the mighty man
(They will lie down together and not rise again;
They have been quenched and extinguished like a wick):
 There is absolutely nothing that can deter Him from coming to your rescue and your protection.
Okay, here is His offer to you today:
“Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
“Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
“The beasts of the field will glorify Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because I have given waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My chosen people.
“The people whom I formed for Myself
Will declare My praise. 

Will you now lay your trust fully on Him and desert your ideas, your agendas and your plans?
We must live by faith if we are to meet Him where He stands at the ready to redeem us from this fallen  world and its false wisdom!