Saturday, February 27, 2010

Anchor

If you feel like you’re drifting aimlessly and out of control what you need is hope because it’s the anchor for your soul. There are many kinds of anchors but they have one purpose and that is hold things in place. Your mind and emotions tend slip or wander unless they have something to make them secure. Thoughts and images come continually like wind and waves and if your mind is not hooked to hope you will just be carried along by the current current. It’s like the old phone commercial that said, “If you don’t make a choice one will be made for you!” So if you don’t chose your thoughts they will be chosen for you. If you don’t direct the course of your life someone or something else will. Times change but the scriptures stay the same. You know that you have a good future because you can always see it when you look in the Word. God’s plan for you is not changed by what’s happening in the world but it is for you change your world. You are called to be consistent and in control of your soul. To do this you need to maintain your vision. You need something to see that’s the same day by day. And that’s what hope does it enables you see your future the light of Gods will which won’t change. So pray, study the scriptures and have hope as the anchor for your soul. Because there’s only one sure place to put it and our hope is in Him!

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

Heb 6:19-20
19 It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God
MES

Heb 6:19
19 [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it — a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,
AMP

Friday, February 26, 2010

Do You What I See?

Like a scope hope gives you vision and encouragement. It’s like a periscope that pops up into heaven so we can get a view on Gods perspective. It’s like a microscope and when we focus it on the Word it magnifies and gives us understanding of the divine. It’s like a telescope that enables us to view things on the horizon so we can plot out a path for the future. And it’s like a kaleidoscope when you are a child. So don’t forget to look into it because God really has some wonderful things to show you!

Jer 33:1-3
Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it(the Lord is His name): 3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'
NKJV

Jer 33:1-3
While Jeremiah was still locked up in jail, a second Message from God was given to him:
2 "This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 3 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'
MES

Jer 33:3
3 Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).
AMP

Rom 4:16-22
16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed — God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."
NKJV

Rom 5:1-5
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
NKJV

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Are You Expecting?

God has a good plan for your future but it takes faith to believe it. What was is over and what is, is not what will be, and this too shall pass. Even “the Heavens and the Earth shall pass away…” but God Word’s “shall by no means pass away.” So if you base your hope on what is seen then it will pass and you’ll find yourself hopeless. But if you have hope from Gods Word it will endure forever and then you can look forward to the future with eagerness, expectation and anticipation.

Rom 8:24-25
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
NKJV

Rom 8:24-25
24 We are saved by trusting. And trusting means looking forward to getting something we don't yet have-for a man who already has something doesn't need to hope and trust that he will get it. 25 But if we must keep trusting God for something that hasn't happened yet, it teaches us to wait patiently and confidently.
TLB

Rom 8:24-25
24 That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. 25 But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
MES

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

SONRISE!

Are you downcast, disquieted, discouraged, and feeling like you’re living under a dark cloud’s shadow? It may last moments or months or even years and singing “the sun will come out tomorrow” gets pretty old after a few days when tomorrow never comes. You need hope help! When your hope is lost you feel dry to the bone and heartsick. But the good news is that what was lost can be easily found if you look in the right place. The Son of God is the light of your world, look unto Him and His beams will to shine through and warm you. His Word will again begin to burn in your heart and give light, life and love. Life is always brighter when you’re looking at the Son. Get your eyes on the darkness and dark your world will appear to be. Or fix your eyes, thoughts, heart and hope on Jesus and you will live in the light of His Majesty!

Ps 42:11
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
NKJV

Ps 42:11
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God —
soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God.
MES

Prov 4:18
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
NKJV

Prov 4:18
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
NIV

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Hope Scope

If you don’t continue to meditate on the promises of God you’ll get hopeless, feel helpless and give God less to work with. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1) So having hope helps make things so. It’s like a blueprint and an image of the finished product in your mind so that you have something to look forward to. It gives you purpose to continue with the process when things don’t yet appear like you imagined. Your dream is like a house while it’s being built and it doesn’t look like it should until the end. It seems like it takes a long time “realize” it and especially if you’re the one waiting you may think, “it’s just a big mess.” But as long as you have hope you’ll be able to cope and keep working on the blueprint that God put in your heart. You are made in His likeness and are being conformed and transformed into the image of His own Son. He said that He would order your steps and bring to completion the good work that He began in you. “Well I sure hope so!” Good! Because if you have hope based on what you believe you will be in expectation and give God something to work with. Faith and hope is what He needs from you and He will use these to make the rest. The cool thing is that He gives them to you through His Word and all you have to do is believe them, receive them and give them back to Him. Like food gives nourishment and strength to help us grow the scriptures give us faith and hope so we can know and see the way God intended things to be. So no matter how things presently appear keep looking through your hope because it’s like a scope that lets you see your future. And often as needed look into God’s Word and see what He’s called and created you to be.

Rom 15:4-5
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.
NKJV

Rom 15:13
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
NKJV

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Get Up and Start Stopping

Everyday when I get up I want to get going. I finally stopped moving but it’s been two hours since I woke up. Today there were cars to be cleaned off and snow to be shoveled and it seems that there’s always something that I can do in the morning besides stop and pray. But I learned that if I want to experience peace and be productive that I need to start stopping before I get going. I need to “know” before I go and God has things to show but how will I know unless stop and see before I go? I need to go slower early so I can go faster later. When I wait on God I get direction, correction and protection. And when I have direction I don’t waste time getting lost and going on detours; when I receive correction I avoid the pits, pains and injuries that cause problems and when I follow my direction and correction it results in my protection.

So don’t take the bait to hurry right out of the gate and end up late but take time to WAIT because you have a date Who will make you great.

Isa 40:29-31
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
NKJV

Isa 30:18
18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
NKJV

Ps 106:10-15
10 He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,
And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their enemies;
There was not one of them left.
12 Then they believed His words;
They sang His praise.

13 They soon forgot His works;
They did not wait for His counsel,
14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,
And tested God in the desert.
15 And He gave them their request,
But sent leanness into their soul.
NKJV

Ps 27:13-14
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
NKJV

Ps 37:7-9

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret — it only causes harm.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
NKJV

Ps 37:34
34 Wait on the Lord,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
NKJV

Ps 62:5-7
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
NKJV

Luke 12:35-40
35 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
NKJV

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Roller Coaster Riding Insane or Train Gains?

If we expect a challenge we won’t be disappointed. Whenever we decide to do something right there’s resistance. The resistance only serves to make us stronger if we press through the pain and problems. It’s easy to get lax and lazy and miss our appointments. Or other demands on our lives often delay our dreams and cause discouragement. But if we want to win we will have to make a dedicated decision to follow through no matter how long it takes. Change takes time and should be able to last a lifetime. That’s why it’s important to do it by a method we can maintain so that we can develop a lifestyle that we can live with. Because short term change won’t produce long term gains. Little bursts of effort for weeks or months aren’t helpful if you only find yourself back where you started in a year. Roller coaster’s are fun to ride but not to live on and life’s loopty loops will make us sick and tired if we don’t change our track. Trains on the other hand are pretty slow and serene but they’re going somewhere besides just round and round and up and down. We can sleep, eat and live on a train. There are ups and downs and stops and starts but at the end of it all we will actually have something to show for it besides just nausea. So let’s forget about all the get rich quick schemes, dumb diets and instant romances look for something and someone we can actually live with. Because at the end of the year, or years down the road if we can’t maintain our gain is it really increase at all or have we just been taken for a ride?

Heb 6:11-12
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
NKJV

Heb 6:11-12
11 And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. 12 Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
MES

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Want MORE? Be Better!

There’s nothing God can do to prosper a poor steward prosper except help them to become a better manager of resources. If we’re not doing well with what we already have why would God give us more stuff to mess up? The classic example is when we squander our time and money and pray for more. But God’s surely smart enough not to give us more if we’re just wasting it and can’t help us until we get our priorities in line. If we’re having a “lack problem” of either time or money the answer is just that “WE NEED MORE!” it’s that we need to be better with what we already have. The Biblical principle is that God gives more to those who do something with it and takes it away from those who waste it. This is the main reason that many people praying for “MORE” haven’t gotten it because God’s not interested in enabling us to waste His wealth. Even though He has plenty, even more than you could imagine but He won’t violate His own principles. If we’re experiencing lack it’s probably because we haven’t yet discerned what we really need - grace and wisdom to enable us to be disciplined and good stewards. If we will take care of what we already have we will increase and prosper and if we don’t we won’t. It’s as simple as that, we’re praying and waiting for God, but Jesus is praying and waiting for us. If we’ll stop asking for more and start asking Him to help us to be better with what we have then we’ll have more.

I wanted muscles so I prayed for more but God just told me to exercise and it made me sore.


Matt 25:14-30 NKJV
14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 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.'

24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'

26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Time is Like a Treadmill

Do you want to prosper in this life and be rewarded in heaven? Of course! But your effectiveness will be determined by how you spend your own time and money. If you spend it wisely you will multiply blessings but if you squander it end up strapped and suffering. Your current condition is the result of your stewardship and your future is being determined by your current choices. If you want to fulfill Gods will you will have to walk it out one step at a time. Are you doing God’s will or undoing it? When you obey what God puts on your heart you take a step forward and when you don’t you slide back because time is like treadmill. It’s always moving and if you go to slow you’ll end up in a pile of people behind it wondering why you can never get ahead. The adage “one step forward and two steps back” happens when you simply don’t do what you know you need to. Wasting time is one step back and wasting money is another if you do these two things you will never go forward. If you just do one of the two you will still end up going nowhere. Time passes like the track going by under your feet, you can’t stop it but you can use it get ahead or behind. And money flows like a stream through your land, you can’t cause it to cease but you can direct its course. You can invest it for the future or just watch it like water going down the drain. So how well you do really depends on you. If you do what the Lord directs you to then He can and will help you but if you don’t then how can He? So before you try to enlist His aid make sure you’re going the same direction and if you really want to prosper then make sure you don’t waste the time and money that He’s given to you. Simple to say, hard to do but you’re no weakling and He’s counting on you.

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

Phil 4:13 (Caps. added)
13 for I can do EVERYTHING GOD ASKS ME TO with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.
TLB

Phil 4:13
13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
AMP

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Easy Going or Overcoming?

Do we really want God to make everything easy for us so we can end up like the people on WALL-E? If you haven’t seen the movie they end up on a perpetual sort of space cruise. Everybody just lays around on floating mobile lounge chairs being catered to by robots. Eventually they get so weak that they can’t even walk and become helpless to do anything for themselves and especially in a time of crisis. We’re tempted to think that life would be better if God would just make life easier. But an easy life is not necessarily a good life. People in nursing homes and prisoners have it easy in the respect that they don’t have to work to meet their basic needs but people aren’t just lining up trying to get in. We could make life easier for children by not requiring them to get an education and maybe we all wouldn’t have to work so hard if we could just get the government take care of everybody. But then who’s going to take care of the government?

So just because life’s not easy doesn’t mean God is not taking care of you. And just because life is hard does not mean it’s not good. So before you pray for God to take away all your burdens consider what you’re really asking. If you’re not floating around on a lounge chair in heaven yet having all you desires catered to by angels yet that prayer is probably not going to get answered. But if you’re dealing with the weights of life instead of asking God to take them ALL away maybe you should pray for Him to make you stronger. Some things you will be delivered from and others we will be given the power to overcome. He’s not taking us out of the world but giving us the power of His Spirit and faith to overcome in the world. And there’s two ways to make a “yoke easy and a burden light” one is to lessen the load and the other is to strengthen the load bearer. Either way is fine with me but it doesn’t look like the “crisis” is shrinking or the darkness dissipating so what do you think God is doing? I’m thinking that sometimes He makes life harder in order to make it easier - to strengthen us and make us stronger and brighter world overcomers. In other words we’re getting an education if we embrace it we will be prepared and prosper but if we try to ditch the classes because “IT’S TOO HARD!” we’ll end up weak and in bondage. So in the long run the hard road is really the best and easy street just leads to the nursing home.

John 17:15-16
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
NKJV

1 John 4:4
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world
NKJV

1 John 5:4-5
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
NKJV

Rev 3:21-22
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"
NKJV

Friday, February 12, 2010

Why Do Good?

Why are you trying to “be good”? What is your reason? If you’re doing it to get something from God then you’re mistaken. God doesn’t bless us because we’re good He does it because He’s good.

Matt 19:16-18

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"

17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

18 He said to Him, "Which ones?"
NKJV

This man wanted to “purchase” eternal life with his good deeds. He was probably a type A personality and a perfectionist so he asked, “Which ones?” He wanted to get something from God but the only thing that could pay the price for the privilege was the blood of the cross. Good deeds are good indeed but you were qualified you to receive salvation because you were a sinner. Jesus said in essence, stop trusting in your own goodness, or in riches or in anything else and receive and follow Me. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” So being good isn’t how we get the gifts but the ability to be good is a part of the Gift He’s given. There’s really only One who’s good and that’s God and so we are able to be good not because we’re trying to get something but because of Whom we’ve got. And if you’ll we receive this grace and be good because He’s good then you’ll always overcome evil and when overcome evil life is good!

Rom 12:21
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
NKJV

When you do good it doesn’t do anything it doesn’t do anything to God but it definitely does something to the devil.

Acts 10:36-39
36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all — 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
NKJV

So the purpose (why) of Good is not to “get” but to imitate God and overcome evil. Being bad makes you sad but being good makes you glad because you’re doing what you were made to do, and acting like you’re Dad!

Eph 5:1
5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
NKJV

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Why? Why!

Why? - The elusive and seemingly often unanswered question. What does why mean and why are we so inclined to ask it? When we’re asking why it’s because we want to know the reason, cause, purpose or motive of something, or at least that’s why we should be asking it. Sometimes we should just cry and forget about why; because it’s one thing to ask “Why?” because we’re seeking knowledge and another to cry “Why!” because we’re disappointed and overwhelmed with emotion. So I don’t have all the answers but I am wondering and asking and the Lord seems to be saying if you really want to know “Why?” then start asking for the right reason. But beware because you might not like what you find out about motive and when you figure out your purpose then you’ll be obligated to fulfill it. So for the next few days I’ll be diving into the realm of “Why?” and you’re welcome to come along if you want to give it a try. And the reason is because the word “why” needs to be put back into its proper context and usage in our lives so we can get some answers. If we misuse “Why!” to whine and cry we may get sympathy but still be ignorant and die. Because God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”(Hos 4:6) But if we will ask because we are prepared to perceive the purpose and accept the answers then we will start getting some true knowledge.

Judg 6:13
13 Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."
NKJV

Read the story of Gideon in Judges and see how the Lord responded to this, “Why!”

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Trust is a Must

Today I’m running late and feeling slightly uninspired. Do you ever have a day like that? So what do you do? Know God is there and go on. He is always with you if you are aware of His presence or not. When you’re “not feelin it” is when you chose to believe and know the word is true. Today is going to be a good day because God made it to be that way. And whatever happens or doesn’t happen don’t worry or fret because God is able to take care of it. And that’s exactly what He’s going to do because He said He’ll take care of you. You don’t need to know exactly what, how and when just believe what He said and trust in Him.

Prov 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
NKJV

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

You Can’t do it - ALONE!

I spend a lot of time talking about what you can do to encourage you but today I want to talk about what you can’t do. You can’t save yourself! You can’t really heal, deliver, protect, preserve, prosper or make yourself whole. You may be able to conjure up some counterfeit but if you want the real deal you gotta get it from God. He is “the Author and finisher of our faith.” In other words He made all the props, wrote the script and even created the actors. He supplies everything that’s needed for us to follow His direction. When we get our act together amazing things start to happen in our lives and it’s because there’s a multitude of things working behind the scenes. If we try to finance and direct our own lives then they just end up looking like a low budget movie. We don’t have enough power or provision to make it good. Just look at the scenery, did you do this? Your life is valuable, worth a billion times more then the most expensive movie ever made and God is taking care of all the details. Its live action and what you need to do is get with the program. Don’t worry about trying to orchestrate it and make everything happen just do your part. This is how you receive salvation and everything else that’s provided by the producer. Just follow your cues and realize that your life in is the hands of the Great Creator. You can take the reigns like a stuck up self-centered star and try to tell the Master of the universe what to do or you can humble yourself and trust in Him. You can’t do it by yourself; you’ll only end up making a mockery. But if you’ll follow God and receive His grace then He’ll glorify Himself in and through you do. And together we’ll tell His story and take salvation to the ends of the earth!

Rom 8:28-29
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.
NKJV

Eph 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
NKJV

Eph 2:8-10
For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

10 For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
AMP

Monday, February 8, 2010

Abstaining and Striving, Training for Reigning!

Exercise is more interesting when you doing it for a reason and life more intense when you realize you’re training for reigning. God’s given you the freedom to do what you want to but do you really want to? Every action has an outcome that will affect your ability to overcome. Some things make you weak while others sow strength and laziness produces a harvest of weeds. The things you do are “seeds” and what you sow is what you’ll grow. The fruit of your life will be the result of what you do day by day. If you want to win you will have to choose some things and refuse others. When you’re tempted to sow weakness you can say, “No, I’m abstaining on account of my training!” You can do what makes you wimpy if you want to but you’ve got something greater to do. When you’re training what you choose to give up is not nearly as great as what you get. You’re not really losing anything but investing in a better future instead of carrying on in the consequences of instant gratification. You’re not just living a mundane life and surviving but striving and thriving. You are training for reigning in every area, spiritually, mentally, physically, financially and relationally. The Holy Spirit is your ultimate personal trainer and helping you get supernaturally fit as you submit. So it’s up to you, what are you gonna do? Will you be a spectator just watching life go by or will you get up, get ready and get in the game? You were created to be victorious and as soon as you decide that’s what you’re going to do God will be there helping you every step of the way! And one day you’ll stand before the King of kings and He’ll either say, “Well done!” or “What?” “What did you do with what I gave you wicked and lazy one?” (Mt 25:14-29) Then we will reign with Him forever and I suspect that those who are ready will start ruling with Him and those who aren’t will then start their training.

Ouch! I wasn’t intending to go there but have no fear and don’t despair! You are “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!” and you “CAN DO all things through Christ who strengthens you!”

Josh 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
NKJV

1 Cor 9:24-27
24 You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. 25 All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

26 I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! 27 I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
MES

1 Cor 9:24-27
24 In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. 25 To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears. 26 So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I'm not just shadow-boxing or playing around. 27 Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside.
TLB

2 Tim 2:11-13
11 This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
NKJV

Rev 5:10
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
NKJV

Rom 5:17
7 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
NKJV

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Where’s Your Hand Basket Headed?

You need hope to cope and if you let it down you’ll start to mope. It’s horrible when you’re hopeless because you feel helpless and haggard. And it’s hard to get anything done when you don’t see the point. Its like being in a pit with a shovel so what do you do? Dig! “Dig, why would I even waste my energy being a digger, wouldn’t that just make my pit bigger?” Well it depends on your perspective, if your looking down you’ll dig down but if you look up you’ll dig up. And if you dig up even at a small incline eventually you will tunnel out of your pit and emerge on top victorious. Your imagination is a tool like this shovel and what you do with it depends on where you will end up. If you listen to all the naysayers and media players and let yourself go you’ll begin to see like they see. Join their crowd even in thought and you’ll start throwing dirt helping to dig the corporate pit of the company of misery. It’s a mass grave for the minds of those who have no hope and many seem to be sliding down its slippery slope. The world seems be “going to hell in a hand basket” but we’re redeemed from that! And if you think about it how can the world even fit in a hand basket anyway? I know it’s just a saying but a stupid one. The only One that could make a hand basket big enough is God and He’s not sending the world to hell. If He was they would have already been there. On the contrary, “…God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) So even if God had a hand basket He’d be using it to gather the “precious fruit of the earth” and bring the souls of believers to heaven. This is just a small example of how you use your imagination to either think like God or d-evil.

You hear all kinds of “stuff” everyday and if you don’t think about what God said about it then you’ll have no true hope. Hope comes from receiving and believing the truth about the future. There’s many moronic and ignorant predictors “prophesying” and prey-ing on the minds of the weak and then there’s the One who knows and shows the Truth. Think about it, isn’t it stupid to try to teach what you don’t know? Yet some try to tell you about “your future” when they don’t even have a view or a clue because they can’t see it.

James 4:13-16
13 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"; 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. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
NKJV

But God really knows the future and wants to give you some insight so that you have hope.

Jeer 29:11-12
11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
TLB

Rom 15:4-5
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.
NKJV

You see God said that He will take care of you, that He will never leave or forsake you. When you know and imagine what it’s like to have the Almighty living in you then you have hope. It doesn’t matter what happens God is always GREATER! Even in death, “He is Life!” So how much more in life can you endure and overcome because you’re not alone but the Lord of Hosts Himself is on your side!

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Rom 8:31 NKJV
Rom 8:31-39
31 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? 32 If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? 33 And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? 34 Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us — who was raised to life for us! — is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. 35 Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

36 They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

37 None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. 38 I'm absolutely convinced that nothing — nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, 39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable — absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
MES

So do not allow yourself to be “moved away from the hope of the gospel which you have heard!” The Good news is that God loves you. And because he loves you so much He has invited you to be part of His family and He always takes care of His own, no matter what! Come what may, recession, disaster, peril or death God has made provision even past our last breath. No need to worry or be afraid, God’s on your side He’s your Great Aid. He’s ever-present helping you, so hope in God, His Word is True!

Rom 15:13
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
NKJV

Friday, February 5, 2010

Dream!

Don’t give up on your dreams! Dreaming gives life more meaning and you’ll be happier if you have something to look forward to. The Bible says that, “where there is no vision the people perish.” When you can’t see where you’re going you lose you hope for the future and life begins to seem dark and dreary. But the knowing that “the sun will come out tomorrow” brightens your day today. And no matter how bad things get you always have the hope of heaven. It’s an amazing thing that when you look up things seem to be looking up and when you look down everything seems to be going down the drain of doom. Everyday is a gift and you have the privilege of projecting your future. So since you’re the one controlling the show in your psyche why not put something good on the screen? “Yea but what if it doesn’t come to pass?” So what! People worry about stuff that never happens and it torments them. But why not turn over a new leaf and dare to dream again? You might not be able to “do” everything you that you’ve ever wanted but you can still experience it in your dreams. What an awesome gift we’ve been given, it’s your imagination. You can see and be whatever you want to be and then when you decide we want to try something else you just move on with no maintenance or effort of mobilization. And the dream is often better than the reality anyway so why not enjoy it?

You may be stuck at a certain station in life but the scenery is only as limited as your imagination. Sometimes you can’t change things on the outside but you can always change things on the inside. And your happiness is determined by what’s in your heart not what’s on the horizon. So when you’re in the midst of adversity it’s is a good time to play pretend. Not to deny reality but just a bit of something to help you get through it. Because the hope of what’s on the other side may be the only bridge that can get you there. So stop moping and start coping. Everyday take at least some time to forget about reality and change your future simply by changing what’s on your silver screen.

Jer 33:3
3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'
NKJV

Acts 2:17
17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
NKJV

Isa 29:8
8 It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams,
And look — he eats;
But he awakes, and his soul is still empty;
Or as when a thirsty man dreams,
And look — he drinks;
But he awakes, and indeed he is faint,
And his soul still craves:
So the multitude of all the nations shall be,
Who fight against Mount Zion."
NKJV

Ps 126:1-3

126 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.
NKJV

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Practice Makes Perfect Peace

It makes no sense to stress about something that you can do nothing about. And Jesus said not to worry about the rest your life, your things or your future. Wow, that’s a pretty tall order and it takes practice and perseverance. It’s easier said then done and the only way to do it is to trust God continually. You have to keep reminding yourself that God said that He will take care of you and He will never leave or forsake you. You will be tempted to think all kinds of other things; to worry, stress and hurry but in the grand scheme of things it will do you no good. You make better progress while you’re at peace and you’re at peace when you’re trusting God. So practice because “practice makes perfect” Perfect Peace that is, and your peace is perfected when you practice trusting in God.

Isa 26:3
3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
NKJV

Isa 26:3-4
3 You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.
NIV

Isa 26:3-4
3 He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!
TLB

Prov 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
NKJV

Matt 6:25-34
25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
NKJV

Phil 4:19-20
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
NKJV

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The Unlimited Edition!

Today is an awesome day because you’re in it and you’re awesome! You are created in the image and likeness of God and filled with unlimited potential. “All things are possible with God!” and you’re with God! The Almighty lives within and came not only to set you free from sin but to empower you to “be all you can be.” You are a member of the supernatural Special Forces sent to complete His mission and take the good news of the gospel into all the world. You have the great revelation of His manifestation. God Himself is working in and through you with all His mighty, glorious and victorious power and wisdom. He will order your steps and bring to completion the good work He has begun in you. You are “God’s workmanship” a unique and precious masterpiece cherished by Him. You are made to manifest the awesomeness of your Creator. So being a Christian isn’t just about “being good” it’s about being great, awesome and spectacular like your Heavenly Father. And it’s not just because you’re so great (even though you are!) but because “the greater One” abides within. This makes you really super, Super-natural! Out of all the creation it’s you that God chose to make His dwelling place, His mobile temple and the Unlimited Edition!

Gen 1:27
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
NKJV

Ps 47:2
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
NKJV

Ps 145:4-7
4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.
6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
NKJV

Mark 10:27
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
NKJV

Mark 9:23
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
NKJV

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

Ex 34:10-11
10 And He said: "Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
NKJV

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Life You Live is Your Legacy!

Each day you write a new page in the book of your life as you live it. And there’s is no opportunity for editing but it’s printed “as is.” You can make amends today for yesterday but inevitably you actions are inscribed in the memory of many. You make yourself known by your actions and show what you are by what you do. This is “live” living and you can’t erase it. If you “do wrong” you can get mercy, cleansing and forgiveness from God but you can’t clear the consciousness of the crowd. They will remember you by what you did not by what you did about what you did after you did it. That’s the problem with “doing wrong” the residue it leaves just lasts too long. “Two wrongs don’t make a right” and two rights after a wrong don’t make it right. It is what it is, and that’s how it’s written. At the end “your book” will be bound between the day you were born and the day you died and memories of it inscribed on the hearts and minds of those you leave behind. This is your legacy; it’s what you do and the affect it has on others.

Job 35:6-8
If you sin, how does that affect God?
Even if you sin again and again,
what effect will it have on him?
7 If you are good, is this some great gift to him?
What could you possibly give him?
8 No, your sins affect only people like yourself,
and your good deeds also affect only humans.
NLT

Job 35:6-8
6 If you sin, does that shake the heavens and knock God from his throne? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have upon him? 7 Or if you are good, is this some great gift to him? 8 Your sins may hurt another man, or your good deeds may profit him.
TLB

Job 35:6-8
6 If you sin, what difference could that make to God?
No matter how much you sin, will it matter to him?
7 Even if you're good, what would God get out of that?
Do you think he's dependent on your accomplishments?
8 The only ones who care whether you're good or bad
are your family and friends and neighbors.
God's not dependent on your behavior.
MES

Job 35:6-8
6 If you have sinned, how does that affect God? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you [by that] give God? Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness touches and affects a man such as you are, and your righteousness is for yourself, one of the human race [but it cannot touch God, Who is above such influence].
AMP

Job 35:6-8
If you sin, it does nothing to God;
even if your sins are many, they do nothing to him.
7 If you are good, you give nothing to God;
he receives nothing from your hand.
8 Your evil ways only hurt a man like yourself,
and the good you do only helps other human beings.
NCV

Most people seem to think that our “sin” affects God but it really affects us and the people around us not Him. He is above it and wants us to be also so that’s why He came to set us free form our sins. The wrong we do only hurts us and the people around us, but thank God that we don’t have to be “that way.” By God’s grace we can be good and do good and that’s how we leave a legacy and not a wake of destruction. So if you want life to be good then be good; because what you sow you will reap and what you do will surely affect the company you keep.

Prov 20:11
Even a child is known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.
NKJV

Prov 20:11
Young people eventually reveal by their actions
if their motives are on the up and up.
MES

Prov 20:11
The character of even a child can be known by the way he acts-whether what he does is pure and right.
TLB

Prov 20:11
Even a child makes himself known by his actions,
whether his deeds are pure or right.
GOD'S WORD

Prov 20:11
Even children show what they are by what they do; you can tell if they are honest and good.
GNT

Ps 34:11-14
11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
NKJV

Ps 34:11-14

11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
NKJV

Ps 37:3-6

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
NKJV

Ps 37:23
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
NKJV

Matt 12:33-37
33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
NKJV

Rom 12:21
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
NKJV

Acts 10:38-39
8 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
NKJV

Rom 16:19-20
19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
NKJV

Isa 32:17-18 (Caps. added)
17 The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the EFFECT of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,
NKJV

So today and everyday - what EFFECT will you have, what memoirs will be written of you on the hearts and minds of others, what “legacies” will you leave?

Monday, February 1, 2010

Don’t Pet your Peeves!

There seems to an endless list, a plethora of potential perturbations. Without any effort at all you can always find something annoying and especially if your so inclined. Petting peeves is like raking while they’re falling. So you must resist the temptation to live in a constant state of agitation. Strife of any kind inside or out, with yourself or others short circuits your system - when you clash the sparks fly and then you have no energy “but don’t seem to know why” because strife drains your life. It causes confusion, blurs your vision and keeps you locked in a self made prison. If you want to escape you must find peace, because it’s key to your own release.

If you could purchase peace how much would you pay? It’s extremely precious and Jesus died and paid the price so that you could have His peace. Not just a temporary and fragile peace but “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding” ever-enduring, unshakable and non-breakable. It’s greater than all your cares and woes and can not be taken by your greatest foes. If you’ll hold onto God’s peace and refuse to let go you’ll be able to withstand every blow. So hold your peace and overcome and when temped to “let it go” do not succumb!

John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
NKJV

John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
AMP

Isa 26:3
3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
NKJV

Isa 26:3
3 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
AMP