Lam 3:19-24
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
(NIV)
As we journey through this life we are going to experience all kinds of situations, conflicts, struggles, victories, defeats, and celebrations. There are some things that are going to happen to us because God will’s it so. Then there are going to be things that happen to us because of our own will. As I look back at the greatest defeats in my life almost all of them were self inflicted wounds that were brought on by my own rebellion and selfishness. We all have sinned and committed acts against our God that we regret. Our memory can be our greatest weapon or our greatest enemy. What we focus on will become our destiny. What I mean by that is sometimes it is hard to forget our past sins and those who have sinned against us. Our memory can lead us in a tailspin of bitterness and self pity or it can lead us into a joyful celebration of victory as we recall when the Lord Jesus reached down from heaven and saved us. Sometimes we do have to look back where God has brought us from (vs.20 I will remember them), but we need to look forward quickly (vs. 21 Yet I call this to mind) and remember how great is the Lord’s compassion and how much God loves us.
Yes, God’s compassion never fails and is renewed every morning. Yesterday is gone, today is a new day. Let’s embrace this day as this is going to be the greatest day of our life! Why? Because I am forgiven and loved by God!
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The Hunted
1 Peter 5:8-11
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
(NIV)
This past Saturday night I was in my deer stand and as I was soaking in the beauty of God’s creation all around me, I began reflecting upon the previous Men’s Conference I had just attended at my Church. Each time I go to hunt there is a process I go through before I go out into the woods. I keep my hunting clothes in a duffel bag that has tree branches and leaves in it so my clothes will smell more like the woods instead of my closet. I bathe with sent free soap so I won’t smell like Irish Spring. I have a pair of hunting boots that I only wear in the woods so I don’t pick odors like gas and oil from parking lots. Once I drive up to where I hunt before I walk into the woods I rub some cedar leaves and dirt on my clothes to cover my human odor. Why do I do this? Because I know my prey, I know that my prey can smell 1,000 times better then I can. I sit there in a camouflage hunting blind in camouflage clothing and I wait patiently for the deer to come close to me.
As I was sitting there in the middle of the woods I was remembering the message that was preached. The message was about David and the Amalekites. David and his Mighty Men had returned to their homes and families from battle only to find that their women and children had been kidnapped and their home ransacked. Their enemy had waited for the right time and attacked their town while all the men were away. As I thought about that message, I began to think that here I am hunting a wild animal and while I am doing so Satan is hunting me, my wife, and my children. The devil is camouflaging himself, searching around our lives looking for a weak area in our lives so he can set up and wait for us. He is baiting us, trying to get us close to him and away from God so he can lead us astray and destroy our faith.
One of our greatest needs today is to be alert in the faith. Satan has a plan to devour everyone of us and our loved ones. We must resist him by praying constantly through out the day, reading the Word of God, and surrounding ourselves with other believers. As we fellowship we encourage each other, confess our struggles to one another, and strengthen each other. We must guard ourselves against loneliness (for that is when Satan likes to attack the most). Ask yourself today “What is Satan’s plan of attack for me?” The best defense is a strong offense. It is our goal to be strong, firm and steadfast. We can’t do that alone, we need the fellowship of our Church and our Pastor: ‘For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matt 18:20NIV)’
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
(NIV)
This past Saturday night I was in my deer stand and as I was soaking in the beauty of God’s creation all around me, I began reflecting upon the previous Men’s Conference I had just attended at my Church. Each time I go to hunt there is a process I go through before I go out into the woods. I keep my hunting clothes in a duffel bag that has tree branches and leaves in it so my clothes will smell more like the woods instead of my closet. I bathe with sent free soap so I won’t smell like Irish Spring. I have a pair of hunting boots that I only wear in the woods so I don’t pick odors like gas and oil from parking lots. Once I drive up to where I hunt before I walk into the woods I rub some cedar leaves and dirt on my clothes to cover my human odor. Why do I do this? Because I know my prey, I know that my prey can smell 1,000 times better then I can. I sit there in a camouflage hunting blind in camouflage clothing and I wait patiently for the deer to come close to me.
As I was sitting there in the middle of the woods I was remembering the message that was preached. The message was about David and the Amalekites. David and his Mighty Men had returned to their homes and families from battle only to find that their women and children had been kidnapped and their home ransacked. Their enemy had waited for the right time and attacked their town while all the men were away. As I thought about that message, I began to think that here I am hunting a wild animal and while I am doing so Satan is hunting me, my wife, and my children. The devil is camouflaging himself, searching around our lives looking for a weak area in our lives so he can set up and wait for us. He is baiting us, trying to get us close to him and away from God so he can lead us astray and destroy our faith.
One of our greatest needs today is to be alert in the faith. Satan has a plan to devour everyone of us and our loved ones. We must resist him by praying constantly through out the day, reading the Word of God, and surrounding ourselves with other believers. As we fellowship we encourage each other, confess our struggles to one another, and strengthen each other. We must guard ourselves against loneliness (for that is when Satan likes to attack the most). Ask yourself today “What is Satan’s plan of attack for me?” The best defense is a strong offense. It is our goal to be strong, firm and steadfast. We can’t do that alone, we need the fellowship of our Church and our Pastor: ‘For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matt 18:20NIV)’
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Test
John 17:3
3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
(NIV)
When I was in college I enjoyed it very much. The only problem I had with college was taking tests. It seems like the professors should just take my word that, yes, I have learned a lot in their class. When it came time to actually prove how well I knew the material which had been taught my stomach would turn, and I would not be able to sleep the night before my test. There was that one student that always had to sit close by me who always completed their test in about ten minutes and whistled on their way out of the classroom. The next class you would hear them brag about how easy that test was and they didn’t even study for it. Their confidence and their boasting of how well they knew their topic was unbearable at times.
The real test is eternal life. Jesus said who inherits eternal life is the one who really knows who he is. If we had to write an essay right now on the topic of "Who is Jesus?" How would we do? Or, if we were asked to write down scriptures explaining who Jesus is, how long could we write about him? If we had a final exam on "Who is Jesus", would we be sweating the grade or whistling victory? John 17:3 is a simple verse but is of extreme importance because it determines where we will spend eternity. The best way to get to know Jesus is to study(the bible) and go to class (church).
3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
(NIV)
When I was in college I enjoyed it very much. The only problem I had with college was taking tests. It seems like the professors should just take my word that, yes, I have learned a lot in their class. When it came time to actually prove how well I knew the material which had been taught my stomach would turn, and I would not be able to sleep the night before my test. There was that one student that always had to sit close by me who always completed their test in about ten minutes and whistled on their way out of the classroom. The next class you would hear them brag about how easy that test was and they didn’t even study for it. Their confidence and their boasting of how well they knew their topic was unbearable at times.
The real test is eternal life. Jesus said who inherits eternal life is the one who really knows who he is. If we had to write an essay right now on the topic of "Who is Jesus?" How would we do? Or, if we were asked to write down scriptures explaining who Jesus is, how long could we write about him? If we had a final exam on "Who is Jesus", would we be sweating the grade or whistling victory? John 17:3 is a simple verse but is of extreme importance because it determines where we will spend eternity. The best way to get to know Jesus is to study(the bible) and go to class (church).
Friday, October 06, 2006
Pray for It
Matt 7:7-11
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
(NIV)
Have you ever tried to buy a gift for someone who you can’t figure out what to buy them? So you ask them, “What would they like for their present?” They either will give you a specific answer or a very vague answer. When I am going to buy a gift for a person, I want it to be special. I love to be able to find out what they really like, and then purchase it for them. Why? Because it is fun to give a good gift to someone you love. I love to see eyes open wide and excitement fill them from head to toe. It gives me a sense of accomplishment that I was able to give a gift which was appreciated.
It is also good to see a person using the gift that they received. If you can relate to what I am saying, then you can relate to the nature of God! God loves to help those in need. God loves to give to his people. In this passage, the Lord is asking us to look to Him for our needs and wants. He is telling us to ask Him so he can give to us. He is telling us to seek so He can help lead us. He is telling us to knock so he can open the doors. In James 4:2, it says: “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” (NIV) This blows me away, because God is saying he wants me to ask him for “good gifts” so he can give them to me. If I don’t ask for anything in prayer, then I can expect nothing. Who wants to look forward to “nothing?” The more we pray, the more we have to look forward to seeing God active in our lives! In Ps 5:3 David prayed “In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. (NIV) Pray about everything and watch the Mighty Hand of God work miracles in your life!
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
(NIV)
Have you ever tried to buy a gift for someone who you can’t figure out what to buy them? So you ask them, “What would they like for their present?” They either will give you a specific answer or a very vague answer. When I am going to buy a gift for a person, I want it to be special. I love to be able to find out what they really like, and then purchase it for them. Why? Because it is fun to give a good gift to someone you love. I love to see eyes open wide and excitement fill them from head to toe. It gives me a sense of accomplishment that I was able to give a gift which was appreciated.
It is also good to see a person using the gift that they received. If you can relate to what I am saying, then you can relate to the nature of God! God loves to help those in need. God loves to give to his people. In this passage, the Lord is asking us to look to Him for our needs and wants. He is telling us to ask Him so he can give to us. He is telling us to seek so He can help lead us. He is telling us to knock so he can open the doors. In James 4:2, it says: “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” (NIV) This blows me away, because God is saying he wants me to ask him for “good gifts” so he can give them to me. If I don’t ask for anything in prayer, then I can expect nothing. Who wants to look forward to “nothing?” The more we pray, the more we have to look forward to seeing God active in our lives! In Ps 5:3 David prayed “In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. (NIV) Pray about everything and watch the Mighty Hand of God work miracles in your life!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Lifted Up
John 4:23-24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
(NIV)
The other day I was standing in the kitchen helping cook dinner when I felt a tug on my pants. I looked down and my son Austin (two years old at the time) was there looking up at me with sadness impressed upon his face. His brow was bent and his eyes were filling with tears. I asked him, “Hey buddy what’s the matter?” He stretches his arms towards me as far as he possibly could and said, “I want you daddy.” So I knelt down and looked him in the eye and asked him again what was troubling him. He mumbled something and I gave him a hug and said it will be okay. I stood up and proceeded cooking dinner. “Daddy, I want you!” I looked down at him and his hands were stretched out again. So this time I reached down and picked him up and gave him a big hug. I just held him for awhile and he laid his head on my shoulder. Then something in the Spirit took place right there. I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was ministering to Austin through me with out words being exchanged. A couple of minutes passed so I peaked at his face to see his expression. He had a big smile from ear to ear.
The Lord made something very clear to me that day. The word of God was delivered to man through the Spirit of God coming down to our level in our language. The Scripture (the Truth) ministers to our intellectual mind the Holy Spirit ministers to our being (our flesh, emotions, health, our soul). When we enter the presence of God the Lord lifts us up to his level and fills us with his Spirit. That is the Holy Spirit ministering to our soul. God seeks a people of worship. The Scripture teaches us how to worship and why we are to worship God. That is why it is important to read the Scripture. Austin didn't want me to come down to his level he wanted to come up to my level. For some reason that day he needed to be lifted up and loved. God does the same for us big people too! During the daily battles of life we need to lift our hands to the air and call upon the name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will come to us, lift us up to God’s level, and encourage our soul. In a moments time our lives are transformed by his power. Worship the Father today!
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
(NIV)
The other day I was standing in the kitchen helping cook dinner when I felt a tug on my pants. I looked down and my son Austin (two years old at the time) was there looking up at me with sadness impressed upon his face. His brow was bent and his eyes were filling with tears. I asked him, “Hey buddy what’s the matter?” He stretches his arms towards me as far as he possibly could and said, “I want you daddy.” So I knelt down and looked him in the eye and asked him again what was troubling him. He mumbled something and I gave him a hug and said it will be okay. I stood up and proceeded cooking dinner. “Daddy, I want you!” I looked down at him and his hands were stretched out again. So this time I reached down and picked him up and gave him a big hug. I just held him for awhile and he laid his head on my shoulder. Then something in the Spirit took place right there. I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was ministering to Austin through me with out words being exchanged. A couple of minutes passed so I peaked at his face to see his expression. He had a big smile from ear to ear.
The Lord made something very clear to me that day. The word of God was delivered to man through the Spirit of God coming down to our level in our language. The Scripture (the Truth) ministers to our intellectual mind the Holy Spirit ministers to our being (our flesh, emotions, health, our soul). When we enter the presence of God the Lord lifts us up to his level and fills us with his Spirit. That is the Holy Spirit ministering to our soul. God seeks a people of worship. The Scripture teaches us how to worship and why we are to worship God. That is why it is important to read the Scripture. Austin didn't want me to come down to his level he wanted to come up to my level. For some reason that day he needed to be lifted up and loved. God does the same for us big people too! During the daily battles of life we need to lift our hands to the air and call upon the name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will come to us, lift us up to God’s level, and encourage our soul. In a moments time our lives are transformed by his power. Worship the Father today!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Building Faith
Jude 1:20-25
20 but you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt;
23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-- hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--
25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
(NIV)
So how do we build up our faith? In Romans 10:17 it says that: “Faith comes from hearing the message.” The words of Christ are our building material. Each scripture is a 2x4 for our building of faith. As we listen to the scripture and obey it, we are hammering in the nails and strengthening our building. If we hear the scripture and do not obey it, then we just have a bunch of 2x4’s just lying around and nothing is accomplished. We have just collected a bunch of good material. At first our structure is weak, and we need additional support and back framing.
So how is my building project? Am I on schedule? Each person builds their building at their own pace. Years go by and some have built their house of faith and are adding on extensions. Others just have framed out a couple of walls and the lumber is turning gray. Deterioration is moving faster then the construction. Praying in the Holy Spirit is when God can step in and do a lot of building in a short amount of time. The lumber is renewed and progress is taking place. The vision is brought to life and the soul is revived. We can pray in the spirit anywhere, at any time. The best times for praying in the spirit are at church. Matt 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."(NIV) As we are constantly building our faith and praying in the spirit Jesus steps in and inspects our building. He is like the Structural Engineer he notices the weak areas and draws up plans for reinforcing in those areas. Sometimes we build things wrong and we are going to have to read the ‘Engineers’ comments and make necessary adjustments. Grace and Mercy are like the finish out crew. They show up and make up for the rest bringing us to completion.
When it comes down to the bottom line, everyone is going to stand before God in judgment. Each one of us will come before the Lord, and our life will be on trial. We will be judged by our actions and our words! It is going to be God and me; one on one, face to face. All we will have is the life we have lived and how we lived it. Each person is responsible for their own life. There will be no shortcuts, no deferments, no extensions, and no second chances. We will either be ready or not ready. No one will be able to run away or hide from the judgment of God. We can’t rely on our Pastor, our spouse, or our friends; no one is going to be able to help us at that time. It is the responsibility of each person to build up their faith and be prepared for eternity. We are to grow and strengthen our faith in God. No one else can build my faith for me.
20 but you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt;
23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-- hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--
25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
(NIV)
So how do we build up our faith? In Romans 10:17 it says that: “Faith comes from hearing the message.” The words of Christ are our building material. Each scripture is a 2x4 for our building of faith. As we listen to the scripture and obey it, we are hammering in the nails and strengthening our building. If we hear the scripture and do not obey it, then we just have a bunch of 2x4’s just lying around and nothing is accomplished. We have just collected a bunch of good material. At first our structure is weak, and we need additional support and back framing.
So how is my building project? Am I on schedule? Each person builds their building at their own pace. Years go by and some have built their house of faith and are adding on extensions. Others just have framed out a couple of walls and the lumber is turning gray. Deterioration is moving faster then the construction. Praying in the Holy Spirit is when God can step in and do a lot of building in a short amount of time. The lumber is renewed and progress is taking place. The vision is brought to life and the soul is revived. We can pray in the spirit anywhere, at any time. The best times for praying in the spirit are at church. Matt 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."(NIV) As we are constantly building our faith and praying in the spirit Jesus steps in and inspects our building. He is like the Structural Engineer he notices the weak areas and draws up plans for reinforcing in those areas. Sometimes we build things wrong and we are going to have to read the ‘Engineers’ comments and make necessary adjustments. Grace and Mercy are like the finish out crew. They show up and make up for the rest bringing us to completion.
When it comes down to the bottom line, everyone is going to stand before God in judgment. Each one of us will come before the Lord, and our life will be on trial. We will be judged by our actions and our words! It is going to be God and me; one on one, face to face. All we will have is the life we have lived and how we lived it. Each person is responsible for their own life. There will be no shortcuts, no deferments, no extensions, and no second chances. We will either be ready or not ready. No one will be able to run away or hide from the judgment of God. We can’t rely on our Pastor, our spouse, or our friends; no one is going to be able to help us at that time. It is the responsibility of each person to build up their faith and be prepared for eternity. We are to grow and strengthen our faith in God. No one else can build my faith for me.
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