Thursday, February 25, 2010
How About You
(One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Acts 19:15
Every time I read this verse I say, “Wow”. If Satan and his cohorts had a meeting and your name is called out would they say “who?”, or “never heard of her/him”. Or would they start sounding the bell and call out a red alert putting in effect the highest security available, because they know that you are a threat to their kingdom?
Some days I think yes I am a threat to Satan’s kingdom and his tactics will not work in my life and then other days I cower and hope attacks will not come because I’m just too tired. Some days I am Mr. T, "I pity the fool” and then other days I am Mr. Bill, “oh nooooo".
Satan sees what you could become and he fears it. So stay the course your Lord has set, be kingdom minded, fight the good fight. Let the words of Paul in Phil. 3:12-14 be yours too. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
So Loved, So Forgiven - Part 2
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matt 18:21-22
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Yesterday we looked at God’s great forgiveness toward us and today we will look at His Word toward our forgiving others.
The guy, who owed a debt so large he could not repay it, goes out and finds one who owes him a hundred denarii. A reasonable amount, 100 days worth of work, and in that day it would have equaled to about 20 dollars.
The one who owed so much and was forgiven so much had no compassion, no mercy, and no forgiveness.
After I came back to the Lord at the age of 24 the Lord kept putting a particular person on my heart, I was new at this so it took me a little while to realize that God was trying to get my attention for a particular purpose. This person wasn’t coming to my mind just to give me a bad day or aggravate me but for the Lord’s purpose. So I finally began to pray and ask God why this person kept coming to mind, and the Lord told me that He wanted me to forgive this person and pray for them. That made me so mad. I remember fussing with the Lord about it and then finally saying, “He doesn’t deserve my forgiveness”, and I clearly remember the Lord saying to me, “Like you deserve Mine.” I broke down and cried, I knew how much I had been forgiven, more than I could ever repay, but what God was asking was hard, this person had really hurt me. So I began to pray like this, “Lord, I want to be obedient, and right now I don’t feel like being forgiving toward _______ but because You want me to, I forgive him.”
After praying like this for about 3 months I felt led to began to pray for this ones salvation and about 3 years later this person who had harmed me for years, caused me so much pain, came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Our relationship was restored, different, based on Christ, and so much sweeter.
Hanging on to bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness is never worth it. Go back and look at verses 32-35 the same analogy could happen to you if you refuse to forgive.
Who wants to be tortured, which is what happens when we don’t follow God’s Word. And here’s the thing, those around us will be miserable because of our refusal to obey. Forgive from your heart and see God do amazing things in your life and others.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Yesterday we looked at God’s great forgiveness toward us and today we will look at His Word toward our forgiving others.
The guy, who owed a debt so large he could not repay it, goes out and finds one who owes him a hundred denarii. A reasonable amount, 100 days worth of work, and in that day it would have equaled to about 20 dollars.
The one who owed so much and was forgiven so much had no compassion, no mercy, and no forgiveness.
After I came back to the Lord at the age of 24 the Lord kept putting a particular person on my heart, I was new at this so it took me a little while to realize that God was trying to get my attention for a particular purpose. This person wasn’t coming to my mind just to give me a bad day or aggravate me but for the Lord’s purpose. So I finally began to pray and ask God why this person kept coming to mind, and the Lord told me that He wanted me to forgive this person and pray for them. That made me so mad. I remember fussing with the Lord about it and then finally saying, “He doesn’t deserve my forgiveness”, and I clearly remember the Lord saying to me, “Like you deserve Mine.” I broke down and cried, I knew how much I had been forgiven, more than I could ever repay, but what God was asking was hard, this person had really hurt me. So I began to pray like this, “Lord, I want to be obedient, and right now I don’t feel like being forgiving toward _______ but because You want me to, I forgive him.”
After praying like this for about 3 months I felt led to began to pray for this ones salvation and about 3 years later this person who had harmed me for years, caused me so much pain, came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Our relationship was restored, different, based on Christ, and so much sweeter.
Hanging on to bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness is never worth it. Go back and look at verses 32-35 the same analogy could happen to you if you refuse to forgive.
Who wants to be tortured, which is what happens when we don’t follow God’s Word. And here’s the thing, those around us will be miserable because of our refusal to obey. Forgive from your heart and see God do amazing things in your life and others.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
So Loved, So Forgiven
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. Matthew 18:23-27
Let’s look at the different people or roles represented in this parable:
In verse 23 the King represents God,
In verse 24 the one brought to him represents you and I.
Now we will look at the hugeness of the debt:
10,000 talents are owed
1 talent = 6000 denari
1 denari = 1 days work
This man could work 6 days a week for 1000 years and he could earn 1 talent. To pay 10,000 talents he’d have to work 190,000 years. An impossible thing to do.
This man pleads for mercy, the only thing he could do since he couldn’t pay back the money. The master is moved with compassion and releases him and forgives the debt. God is the same toward us – we come to Him, full of sin, we ask for forgiveness and Col. 2:13 is applied to us; And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
What joy, hope, peace, and rejoicing is ours! The first time I read these verses along with the facts above I wept because of the hugeness of God’s great love and mercy toward me.
As I’m writing this I thought of this verse from “It Is Well with My Soul”;
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
We are so loved, so forgiven and He is worthy of all our praise.
Let’s look at the different people or roles represented in this parable:
In verse 23 the King represents God,
In verse 24 the one brought to him represents you and I.
Now we will look at the hugeness of the debt:
10,000 talents are owed
1 talent = 6000 denari
1 denari = 1 days work
This man could work 6 days a week for 1000 years and he could earn 1 talent. To pay 10,000 talents he’d have to work 190,000 years. An impossible thing to do.
This man pleads for mercy, the only thing he could do since he couldn’t pay back the money. The master is moved with compassion and releases him and forgives the debt. God is the same toward us – we come to Him, full of sin, we ask for forgiveness and Col. 2:13 is applied to us; And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
What joy, hope, peace, and rejoicing is ours! The first time I read these verses along with the facts above I wept because of the hugeness of God’s great love and mercy toward me.
As I’m writing this I thought of this verse from “It Is Well with My Soul”;
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
We are so loved, so forgiven and He is worthy of all our praise.
Monday, February 22, 2010
I Know
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” John 4:24-26
What a moment that must have been! This woman tells Jesus what she knows, “I know Messiah is coming”, “when He comes, He will tell us all things.” And then the moment that should send our hearts to soaring: “I who speak to you am He”; have you had that moment in your life? A personal encounter with Messiah? If you have then your life has never been the same and your life reflects the difference. It will be obvious. How do I know? Check out this woman’s response to a personal encounter with Jesus.
John 4:28-30 The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
And the result of your excitement and not being able to keep it to yourself – John 4:39-42 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word.
Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Live a life for Jesus, so that the result is others seeing Him operating in your life and they are drawn to Him. You’ll hear those people say, “I know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
What a moment that must have been! This woman tells Jesus what she knows, “I know Messiah is coming”, “when He comes, He will tell us all things.” And then the moment that should send our hearts to soaring: “I who speak to you am He”; have you had that moment in your life? A personal encounter with Messiah? If you have then your life has never been the same and your life reflects the difference. It will be obvious. How do I know? Check out this woman’s response to a personal encounter with Jesus.
John 4:28-30 The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
And the result of your excitement and not being able to keep it to yourself – John 4:39-42 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word.
Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Live a life for Jesus, so that the result is others seeing Him operating in your life and they are drawn to Him. You’ll hear those people say, “I know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Screaming
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:14-16
Our dog, Charlie Barkley Burrell, absolutely loves his “person” Rick. I mean Charlie is crazy about my husband. One day Rick decided do be sweet to me and take my dog, Roscoe “P Coletrain” Burrell, for a walk. Roscoe weighs 105 lbs and jerked my shoulder the day before thus the reason for my husband’s sweetness. But Rick decided not to take Charlie on this walk so as Charlie is standing at the doors looking at his “person” put the leash on Roscoe he began to scream and I mean scream like a woman as Roscoe and Rick walk away from the house. Charlie even ran into our bedroom to look out the window and got a glimpse of them as they went around the side of the house and Charlie started screaming even louder. It took a lot of “stop that’s” to get Charlie to stop screaming (I kind of put my fingers around his neck and squeezed just a little to bring the point home :) )
Through out the rest of the day I thought of Charlie screaming, and screaming loud and long to get his feelings out toward his dislike of not being with his “person”. If I may presume to know what was going through Charlie’s mind; it was this: that is not right, that is my person, and my best dogfriend, I have to do something, I know - I’ll scream, loud and long, - I’ll cry out.
When was the last time you saw something happening and knew it was wrong? Perhaps you see your teenager heading in the wrong direction with the wrong people, or maybe your adult child (that looks like an oxy moron but our children can be adults and act like children, I’m just saying!!) you see your adult child headed in the wrong direction. Maybe it’s your husband or wife, parent, sibling, and what if it is you. Examine your life and see it through your Savior’s eyes. What will you do? I’ll tell you what I will do – I’M GOING TO SCREAM OUT. Like Charlie, I see something happening that does not even look right, I’m screaming, here’s the thing, no one will hear but my Lord and by the time I get in His presence instead of screaming I’ll be crying out; why? Because in the presence of Jehovah there is peace, there is dependence, because I know that what ever is over my head is under His feet. Romans 8:14-16 tells me that I am God’s child, led by His spirit, I do not have to be in bondage, or fear, and neither does my husband or my children, I can cry out “Papa, Father” and because I am His child He hears and He goes into action on my behalf and on behalf of the one I cry out to Him about.
The next time you see something that bothers you to no end, start running toward the Throne room and before you even open your mouth to start screaming your Abba is there arms open wide, because He loves His child.
Our dog, Charlie Barkley Burrell, absolutely loves his “person” Rick. I mean Charlie is crazy about my husband. One day Rick decided do be sweet to me and take my dog, Roscoe “P Coletrain” Burrell, for a walk. Roscoe weighs 105 lbs and jerked my shoulder the day before thus the reason for my husband’s sweetness. But Rick decided not to take Charlie on this walk so as Charlie is standing at the doors looking at his “person” put the leash on Roscoe he began to scream and I mean scream like a woman as Roscoe and Rick walk away from the house. Charlie even ran into our bedroom to look out the window and got a glimpse of them as they went around the side of the house and Charlie started screaming even louder. It took a lot of “stop that’s” to get Charlie to stop screaming (I kind of put my fingers around his neck and squeezed just a little to bring the point home :) )
Through out the rest of the day I thought of Charlie screaming, and screaming loud and long to get his feelings out toward his dislike of not being with his “person”. If I may presume to know what was going through Charlie’s mind; it was this: that is not right, that is my person, and my best dogfriend, I have to do something, I know - I’ll scream, loud and long, - I’ll cry out.
When was the last time you saw something happening and knew it was wrong? Perhaps you see your teenager heading in the wrong direction with the wrong people, or maybe your adult child (that looks like an oxy moron but our children can be adults and act like children, I’m just saying!!) you see your adult child headed in the wrong direction. Maybe it’s your husband or wife, parent, sibling, and what if it is you. Examine your life and see it through your Savior’s eyes. What will you do? I’ll tell you what I will do – I’M GOING TO SCREAM OUT. Like Charlie, I see something happening that does not even look right, I’m screaming, here’s the thing, no one will hear but my Lord and by the time I get in His presence instead of screaming I’ll be crying out; why? Because in the presence of Jehovah there is peace, there is dependence, because I know that what ever is over my head is under His feet. Romans 8:14-16 tells me that I am God’s child, led by His spirit, I do not have to be in bondage, or fear, and neither does my husband or my children, I can cry out “Papa, Father” and because I am His child He hears and He goes into action on my behalf and on behalf of the one I cry out to Him about.
The next time you see something that bothers you to no end, start running toward the Throne room and before you even open your mouth to start screaming your Abba is there arms open wide, because He loves His child.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Keep Company
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 The Message
Jesus beckons us in Matthew 11:30 to keep company with Him, I love that and the result of keeping company with Him is indescribable. So many people have ask me how to grow in the Lord. I always say the same thing: be in God’s Word everyday, pour your heart out to Him with total honesty, spend time with Him and fall in love with Him. Its relationship and you are God’s favorite. (I know God’s Word says that God has no favorites but if you have children then you love them and each of them is your favorite, same thing with God)
I have proof that God wants to spend time alone with you!!
In March of 1987, my husband and I moved into our dream home in Greer, South Carolina. My favorite part about the house was the three-acre pond in the backyard with a creek off to the side. I had been having my daily quiet times for about three years. I would take my Bible outside on the deck and just enjoy God’s Word and his creation. There were times I would see a bird fly down and try to take a fish out of the water. This was my place and my view, and I grew so much in the Word and knowing my Lord.
Because of a job situation, my husband started looking for his own transmission business and found one in Sheffield, Alabama. So in March 1991, Rick moved to Sheffield, and in July after school was out and all the Little League baseball games were over, the kids and I took off for Alabama. We lived in a small two-bedroom apartment near a park on the Tennessee River. That park became our playground. The kids and I were brown as gingerbread that summer, and we met some very interesting people. In that apartment, I had my quiet times with my pillow against the window, listening to the traffic on Jackson Highway, a far cry from my view. We began looking for a house to rent while ours was on the market for sale and found one in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. I couldn’t stand that house. It was not my dream house, not even close to my dream house, and I could not find a place to have my quiet time. I tried every room in the house, excluding the bathrooms. I even tried the front porch.
One day my oldest son, Tommy, was home sick from school, and even sick, he talked my ears off, so I headed outside to the backyard to have my time alone with the Lord. I don’t even remember what Scripture I read that day, but I clearly remember the conversation I had with the Lord. I began to tell him how I couldn’t find a place to have my quiet time in that house. I told him how much I missed my view. I asked for forgiveness for complaining about the home I lived in. I disliked it so much that I hadn’t even put a picture on the wall. My prayer went something like this: “Lord, I miss my view, the place you and I had those incredible moments together. I have complained about this house, and I want you to forgive me. I’m so sorry. It has been a year and a half since we put the house in South Carolina on the market, and it still hasn’t sold; and I know that your ways are so much better and higher than mine, and I don’t know, a year and a half to you could be a minute, but if you want me to spend the rest of my days in this house, I will, and I will complain no more. I just want you to know I miss my view.”
I got quiet, and that is when I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Just wait a minute.” I screamed, “No, I cannot wait a minute. I just told you that a minute could be a year and a half to you, and I cannot live in this house another minute.” I burst out laughing and felt God laughing with me because I realized that I was going back on everything I had just said.
So I went inside and put a picture of us on the wall and cleaned out my closet. That night while I was cooking dinner, my husband walked through the door, and I knew something was wrong. I asked him, and he said they had sold this house today. So that night we set out to looking in the paper and phone book for apartments and houses. The next day The Courier Journal came out, and I found an ad for a four-bedroom home with a dishwasher. I hadn’t had a dishwasher in a year and a half.
Rick called the number, and the guy couldn’t take us to see the house, but we were the first caller, and he gave us directions. The house was twenty minutes from our business, and I was so interested in following the directions that I paid little attention to my surroundings. The house was cute, but we couldn’t see much from the front, so we went around to the back and were looking in the sliding glass doors and just admiring this cute place. Then I turned around, and when I did, I saw a bird fly down and try to take a fish out of the water. I began to weep. My husband asked what was wrong, and I told him about the quiet time from the day before, and he said, “We are getting this house!” And we did. That house was located right on the Tennessee River. God had given me an even larger view!
Cool story, right? That’s not even the best part. A few months later, it was cold out, and I had pulled up a chair and was having my quiet time, looking out the sliding glass door. Again I don’t remember what I read in the Word, but I do remember what happened next and will never forget it. I was just thanking Jesus for giving me my view back and how I found it almost hard to believe. I was just praising him and thanking him, and when I got silent, I heard my Jesus say, “I did this for you because I long to spend time with you.”
Even now the tears come. I find it unbelievable that the one who created everything—who hung the stars in the sky; who calmed the sea, wind, and waves; raised the dead; the one who has so much power that the grave and death couldn’t hold him—would want to spend time with me. I couldn’t believe that he would give me the place that my heart longed for to spend time alone with him.
My friend, you are just as important to him, and he longs for your company. It’s like a marriage. Yes, you have responsibilities, but at the end of the day, you long for the company of the one you love, to talk and share your lives together. You think of that person most and put their desires and passions first. It’s the same with Jesus. He thinks of you first and longs for you.
Make a commitment today to spend time alone with him in his Word, pouring out your heart to him, no holding back, and he will pour out his heart to you.
Jesus beckons us in Matthew 11:30 to keep company with Him, I love that and the result of keeping company with Him is indescribable. So many people have ask me how to grow in the Lord. I always say the same thing: be in God’s Word everyday, pour your heart out to Him with total honesty, spend time with Him and fall in love with Him. Its relationship and you are God’s favorite. (I know God’s Word says that God has no favorites but if you have children then you love them and each of them is your favorite, same thing with God)
I have proof that God wants to spend time alone with you!!
In March of 1987, my husband and I moved into our dream home in Greer, South Carolina. My favorite part about the house was the three-acre pond in the backyard with a creek off to the side. I had been having my daily quiet times for about three years. I would take my Bible outside on the deck and just enjoy God’s Word and his creation. There were times I would see a bird fly down and try to take a fish out of the water. This was my place and my view, and I grew so much in the Word and knowing my Lord.
Because of a job situation, my husband started looking for his own transmission business and found one in Sheffield, Alabama. So in March 1991, Rick moved to Sheffield, and in July after school was out and all the Little League baseball games were over, the kids and I took off for Alabama. We lived in a small two-bedroom apartment near a park on the Tennessee River. That park became our playground. The kids and I were brown as gingerbread that summer, and we met some very interesting people. In that apartment, I had my quiet times with my pillow against the window, listening to the traffic on Jackson Highway, a far cry from my view. We began looking for a house to rent while ours was on the market for sale and found one in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. I couldn’t stand that house. It was not my dream house, not even close to my dream house, and I could not find a place to have my quiet time. I tried every room in the house, excluding the bathrooms. I even tried the front porch.
One day my oldest son, Tommy, was home sick from school, and even sick, he talked my ears off, so I headed outside to the backyard to have my time alone with the Lord. I don’t even remember what Scripture I read that day, but I clearly remember the conversation I had with the Lord. I began to tell him how I couldn’t find a place to have my quiet time in that house. I told him how much I missed my view. I asked for forgiveness for complaining about the home I lived in. I disliked it so much that I hadn’t even put a picture on the wall. My prayer went something like this: “Lord, I miss my view, the place you and I had those incredible moments together. I have complained about this house, and I want you to forgive me. I’m so sorry. It has been a year and a half since we put the house in South Carolina on the market, and it still hasn’t sold; and I know that your ways are so much better and higher than mine, and I don’t know, a year and a half to you could be a minute, but if you want me to spend the rest of my days in this house, I will, and I will complain no more. I just want you to know I miss my view.”
I got quiet, and that is when I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Just wait a minute.” I screamed, “No, I cannot wait a minute. I just told you that a minute could be a year and a half to you, and I cannot live in this house another minute.” I burst out laughing and felt God laughing with me because I realized that I was going back on everything I had just said.
So I went inside and put a picture of us on the wall and cleaned out my closet. That night while I was cooking dinner, my husband walked through the door, and I knew something was wrong. I asked him, and he said they had sold this house today. So that night we set out to looking in the paper and phone book for apartments and houses. The next day The Courier Journal came out, and I found an ad for a four-bedroom home with a dishwasher. I hadn’t had a dishwasher in a year and a half.
Rick called the number, and the guy couldn’t take us to see the house, but we were the first caller, and he gave us directions. The house was twenty minutes from our business, and I was so interested in following the directions that I paid little attention to my surroundings. The house was cute, but we couldn’t see much from the front, so we went around to the back and were looking in the sliding glass doors and just admiring this cute place. Then I turned around, and when I did, I saw a bird fly down and try to take a fish out of the water. I began to weep. My husband asked what was wrong, and I told him about the quiet time from the day before, and he said, “We are getting this house!” And we did. That house was located right on the Tennessee River. God had given me an even larger view!
Cool story, right? That’s not even the best part. A few months later, it was cold out, and I had pulled up a chair and was having my quiet time, looking out the sliding glass door. Again I don’t remember what I read in the Word, but I do remember what happened next and will never forget it. I was just thanking Jesus for giving me my view back and how I found it almost hard to believe. I was just praising him and thanking him, and when I got silent, I heard my Jesus say, “I did this for you because I long to spend time with you.”
Even now the tears come. I find it unbelievable that the one who created everything—who hung the stars in the sky; who calmed the sea, wind, and waves; raised the dead; the one who has so much power that the grave and death couldn’t hold him—would want to spend time with me. I couldn’t believe that he would give me the place that my heart longed for to spend time alone with him.
My friend, you are just as important to him, and he longs for your company. It’s like a marriage. Yes, you have responsibilities, but at the end of the day, you long for the company of the one you love, to talk and share your lives together. You think of that person most and put their desires and passions first. It’s the same with Jesus. He thinks of you first and longs for you.
Make a commitment today to spend time alone with him in his Word, pouring out your heart to him, no holding back, and he will pour out his heart to you.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Reach Out and Touch
Matthew 9:20-22. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
Notice how this woman approached Jesus, look at what she touched, now hear Jesus’ words of encouragement.
Your faith has made you well. I love the word faith. I cannot disassociate faith from Jesus; the two go hand in hand. This woman in Matthew 9 had heard of Jesus, she had probably been around to see His miraculous touch and healing of others. But here is her problem; in those days women were considered unclean when they had their periods, anything they touched, sat on, or lay on was unclean and anyone who touched what they lay on or sat on was considered unclean, the same was true for any bleeding other than their monthly period. (See Leviticus 15:19-23, 25-27) So we see her dilemma. I can just picture her standing at the window of her house thinking of all she has heard about Jesus, in her mind going over every scene, seeing Jesus reach out and touch others and heal them. Then her mind would think of others, I don’t think she wanted others “unclean” yet she also wanted to be healed. Hers was a lonely life. When was the last time she was hugged? Twelve years ago. No one invited her to their home, anything she touched was unclean, and therefore others would be unclean. She was probably avoided at every turn; people just didn’t get close for fear of accidentally touching her, better to avoid her altogether. Don’t you know that she missed her family? I lived in Alabama for sixteen years and there were times that I missed my mom and sister so much that I cried, only four hundred fifty miles separated us but it might as well have been ten thousand miles. Can you imagine going to see your mom and she doesn’t even invite you in, “talk to me through this window child and don’t touch a thing, I love you but I gotta be clean.” I can just see this woman begin to pace back and forth, thinking, if only I can touch his garment, oh, I know He can heal me, I know it! And clap, her hands come together, she begins to breathe more quickly because a plan is forming; “I know, I’ll go right through that crowd while his back is turned and I’ll reach down and touch His robe and I will be healed, I know it.”
This woman’s focus was on Jesus and her life was never the same.
Sweet one, I don’t know what you are going through at this moment but be assured God knows. Would you be willing to reach out and touch the hem of his garment? There have been many times in my life when I have grabbed on to the hem of his robe and yelled, “I will not let go” and Jesus has dragged me all over the place and through the faithful clinging has taught me more than I deserve to know. Right now reach out, touch the hem of his robe and let him fill you just as he filled the temple in Isaiah’s day. (see Isaiah 6:1)
Taken from “The King” by Jackie Burrell
Notice how this woman approached Jesus, look at what she touched, now hear Jesus’ words of encouragement.
Your faith has made you well. I love the word faith. I cannot disassociate faith from Jesus; the two go hand in hand. This woman in Matthew 9 had heard of Jesus, she had probably been around to see His miraculous touch and healing of others. But here is her problem; in those days women were considered unclean when they had their periods, anything they touched, sat on, or lay on was unclean and anyone who touched what they lay on or sat on was considered unclean, the same was true for any bleeding other than their monthly period. (See Leviticus 15:19-23, 25-27) So we see her dilemma. I can just picture her standing at the window of her house thinking of all she has heard about Jesus, in her mind going over every scene, seeing Jesus reach out and touch others and heal them. Then her mind would think of others, I don’t think she wanted others “unclean” yet she also wanted to be healed. Hers was a lonely life. When was the last time she was hugged? Twelve years ago. No one invited her to their home, anything she touched was unclean, and therefore others would be unclean. She was probably avoided at every turn; people just didn’t get close for fear of accidentally touching her, better to avoid her altogether. Don’t you know that she missed her family? I lived in Alabama for sixteen years and there were times that I missed my mom and sister so much that I cried, only four hundred fifty miles separated us but it might as well have been ten thousand miles. Can you imagine going to see your mom and she doesn’t even invite you in, “talk to me through this window child and don’t touch a thing, I love you but I gotta be clean.” I can just see this woman begin to pace back and forth, thinking, if only I can touch his garment, oh, I know He can heal me, I know it! And clap, her hands come together, she begins to breathe more quickly because a plan is forming; “I know, I’ll go right through that crowd while his back is turned and I’ll reach down and touch His robe and I will be healed, I know it.”
This woman’s focus was on Jesus and her life was never the same.
Sweet one, I don’t know what you are going through at this moment but be assured God knows. Would you be willing to reach out and touch the hem of his garment? There have been many times in my life when I have grabbed on to the hem of his robe and yelled, “I will not let go” and Jesus has dragged me all over the place and through the faithful clinging has taught me more than I deserve to know. Right now reach out, touch the hem of his robe and let him fill you just as he filled the temple in Isaiah’s day. (see Isaiah 6:1)
Taken from “The King” by Jackie Burrell
Monday, February 15, 2010
Living Stones
He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the LORD your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:5-7 NLT
Those 12 stones would prompt the children born in the land of promise to ask, “What do these stones mean?” God knew how curious children were. And the prompting of the children’s question would cause the adults they were asking to remember the goodness of God. They would remember the Lord’s great kindness to them and the victories He had won for them.
What in your life would prompt your children, grandchildren, spouse, nieces, nephews, co-workers, and neighbors, others in general to ask you – what does this mean in your life?
What stands out in your life? Especially in view of the Lord’s goodness and deliverance in your life.
Let’s look at 1 Peter 2:1-3 so get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
Crave pure spiritual milk, that’s craving the Word of God. Why? So you’ll grow! Cry out for it. You will grow into the full experience of salvation; you’ll be mature and whole in God. So live for The Living Stone, The Source of Life, the One others reject you rejoice in and live your life for.
Look at 1 Peter 2:4-5 you are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
You are living stones God has placed here on this earth, in this time on earth, to represent Him!
Those 12 stones would prompt the children born in the land of promise to ask, “What do these stones mean?” God knew how curious children were. And the prompting of the children’s question would cause the adults they were asking to remember the goodness of God. They would remember the Lord’s great kindness to them and the victories He had won for them.
What in your life would prompt your children, grandchildren, spouse, nieces, nephews, co-workers, and neighbors, others in general to ask you – what does this mean in your life?
What stands out in your life? Especially in view of the Lord’s goodness and deliverance in your life.
Let’s look at 1 Peter 2:1-3 so get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
Crave pure spiritual milk, that’s craving the Word of God. Why? So you’ll grow! Cry out for it. You will grow into the full experience of salvation; you’ll be mature and whole in God. So live for The Living Stone, The Source of Life, the One others reject you rejoice in and live your life for.
Look at 1 Peter 2:4-5 you are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
You are living stones God has placed here on this earth, in this time on earth, to represent Him!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Love You!
Long ago the LORD said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. Jeremiah 31:3 NLT
God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love! Jeremiah 31:3 The Msg.
Do you see the love God is expressing to you in these verses? He longs for your company because He loves you and loves spending time with you. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 not to worry about food or clothing that our Father knows that we need these things. So why talk to Him about something He says not to worry about and He says He already knows all about? It’s called relationship. You and I are the same, we love spending time with the ones we love. Who do you think put that desire within you?
Let me give you a down to earth illustration of our spending time with our Lord knowing that He already knows.
Claudia, my daughter, was 4 years old when she walked up to me and said, “Mama, I want to tie like the boys”. Claudia is very independent and having two older brothers helped her want to achieve faster. She would get so aggravated when in a rush to get out the door I would see her shoes untied and ask Tommy to tie them in the car on the way to wherever. So on this morning she hopped up on a chair and put her foot on my knee and watched and listened. After a little while I had her tying on her own. I hugged her little neck and sent her on her way. About twenty minutes later she said, “Mama, come look!” I looked in her room and if there were two strings together, two ribbons, everything was tied into a bow. I began to praise her and tell her how smart she is and then I got down on my knees and listened to her tell me how to tie.
I was the one who taught her how to tie, I was there, and I knew the details. But as she spoke and told me what tying was all about I looked at her with love and pride. Why? Because I love her sweet face, the sound of her voice, the way her curls bounced off her shoulders, and the way she bobbed her head back and forth as she talked, I listened to what I already knew because I’m crazy about her and love her dearly.
It’s the same with our heavenly Father, anytime we talk with Him, no matter what the situation, what the need is, no matter the pain, or joy, He knows it all already and He attentively looks at you and listens to you because He loves you so much and He is absolutely crazy about you.
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. Jeremiah 31:3 NLT
God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love! Jeremiah 31:3 The Msg.
Do you see the love God is expressing to you in these verses? He longs for your company because He loves you and loves spending time with you. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 not to worry about food or clothing that our Father knows that we need these things. So why talk to Him about something He says not to worry about and He says He already knows all about? It’s called relationship. You and I are the same, we love spending time with the ones we love. Who do you think put that desire within you?
Let me give you a down to earth illustration of our spending time with our Lord knowing that He already knows.
Claudia, my daughter, was 4 years old when she walked up to me and said, “Mama, I want to tie like the boys”. Claudia is very independent and having two older brothers helped her want to achieve faster. She would get so aggravated when in a rush to get out the door I would see her shoes untied and ask Tommy to tie them in the car on the way to wherever. So on this morning she hopped up on a chair and put her foot on my knee and watched and listened. After a little while I had her tying on her own. I hugged her little neck and sent her on her way. About twenty minutes later she said, “Mama, come look!” I looked in her room and if there were two strings together, two ribbons, everything was tied into a bow. I began to praise her and tell her how smart she is and then I got down on my knees and listened to her tell me how to tie.
I was the one who taught her how to tie, I was there, and I knew the details. But as she spoke and told me what tying was all about I looked at her with love and pride. Why? Because I love her sweet face, the sound of her voice, the way her curls bounced off her shoulders, and the way she bobbed her head back and forth as she talked, I listened to what I already knew because I’m crazy about her and love her dearly.
It’s the same with our heavenly Father, anytime we talk with Him, no matter what the situation, what the need is, no matter the pain, or joy, He knows it all already and He attentively looks at you and listens to you because He loves you so much and He is absolutely crazy about you.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Roots
Psalm 1:1-3
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the LORD,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
I love the picture Psalm 1:1-3 paints for us. Picture a tree right at the riverbanks, its roots going down deep into the soil, being nourished day in and day out. That is what you will be like when you get into God’s Word every day, letting His Word take root in your life and His Word will become your very way of thinking and living.
Now picture a tree that is perhaps 20 feet away from the riverbank. How deep do think its roots go? And that tree has to wait for the rain to fall to get nourishment. It’s the same for us, we only get the Word on Sunday then we are 6 days away from nourishment, we have a short root system. Let’s be a planting of the Lord, bearing fruit, our leaves not withering and prospering in all we do.
Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly.
Do I have Joy? Or is my joy dependent on my circumstances, or my mood?
What is my delight? Do I delight in God’s word?
Do I drink from the Living Water every day? Am I planted by the riverbank or planted far away?
God has given us the formula for success – success His way. (See Joshua 1:6-9)
Here is the argument: I don’t have time, if you knew what my day is like…
Everyone has the same 24 hours in each day, the same 7 days in a week. What’s the difference in the one who’ll make the priority of putting God first – His word first and having a rich prayer life? Dedication, hunger, persistence!
Be like Mary – get what can never be taken away. See blog titled “Balanced”
Here is another challenge – evaluate how you spend your time. How much time do you spend:
Talking on the phone
Watching TV
Checking email
Surfing the internet
Playing Farmville
Reading magazines
Worrying
Take action; be determined, look at your life and your schedule and make God’s Word a priority each day.
I will teach this till the day I die, it is that important.
Here are a few suggestions:
Don’t look at any forwarded emails; most of them are a waste of time anyway.
Set your timer for internet surfing so instead of spending hours you spend only a set amount of time.
Be determined not to watch any TV or read magazines, books, whatever, until you have been alone with your Lord.
Lay the phone off the hook and go get alone with your heavenly Father.
Every time you start to worry – stop and pray.
One more verse!
Ephesians 3:16-18 (New Living Translation) I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
Be a Psalm one tree with your roots going down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. Stay immersed in the Living Water, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the LORD,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
I love the picture Psalm 1:1-3 paints for us. Picture a tree right at the riverbanks, its roots going down deep into the soil, being nourished day in and day out. That is what you will be like when you get into God’s Word every day, letting His Word take root in your life and His Word will become your very way of thinking and living.
Now picture a tree that is perhaps 20 feet away from the riverbank. How deep do think its roots go? And that tree has to wait for the rain to fall to get nourishment. It’s the same for us, we only get the Word on Sunday then we are 6 days away from nourishment, we have a short root system. Let’s be a planting of the Lord, bearing fruit, our leaves not withering and prospering in all we do.
Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly.
Do I have Joy? Or is my joy dependent on my circumstances, or my mood?
What is my delight? Do I delight in God’s word?
Do I drink from the Living Water every day? Am I planted by the riverbank or planted far away?
God has given us the formula for success – success His way. (See Joshua 1:6-9)
Here is the argument: I don’t have time, if you knew what my day is like…
Everyone has the same 24 hours in each day, the same 7 days in a week. What’s the difference in the one who’ll make the priority of putting God first – His word first and having a rich prayer life? Dedication, hunger, persistence!
Be like Mary – get what can never be taken away. See blog titled “Balanced”
Here is another challenge – evaluate how you spend your time. How much time do you spend:
Talking on the phone
Watching TV
Checking email
Surfing the internet
Playing Farmville
Reading magazines
Worrying
Take action; be determined, look at your life and your schedule and make God’s Word a priority each day.
I will teach this till the day I die, it is that important.
Here are a few suggestions:
Don’t look at any forwarded emails; most of them are a waste of time anyway.
Set your timer for internet surfing so instead of spending hours you spend only a set amount of time.
Be determined not to watch any TV or read magazines, books, whatever, until you have been alone with your Lord.
Lay the phone off the hook and go get alone with your heavenly Father.
Every time you start to worry – stop and pray.
One more verse!
Ephesians 3:16-18 (New Living Translation) I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
Be a Psalm one tree with your roots going down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. Stay immersed in the Living Water, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Jars of Clay
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Cor. 4:7
You and I are jars of clay with treasure packed inside, and that treasure is Jesus Christ. The image here is of the unimaginable power of God being poured into a fragile, cracked container – you and me.
God’s glory (who He is) is not revealed in spite of our brokenness but rather through our brokenness.
Just as a cracked jar will seep water so will the power of God “leak out” from our fractured life. Don’t be ashamed of the cracks, don’t wish the cracks weren’t there, rather examine yourself to discover how God may be more fully revealed to you and to others through your hardships.
Read the following “clay pot” story.
Day in and day out the servant picked up the two clay pots and walked to the river to fill them with water to bring back to the kings palace. The two clay pots looked totally different, although the same size. One was beautiful, no chipped paint, no cracks, proud, and totally knowing it looked good. The other clay pot had cracks in it and its paint was chipped and coming off. One day the cracked clay pot began to complain to the servant about its condition, “look at me”, it said, “you should throw me out and get another beautiful pot to use – I am good for nothing, I can’t even hold water.” But the servant replied, “Oh, my dear friend, you have no idea of your usefulness. Do you ever wander why I always carry you on my right side as we return to the palace? You see because of your cracks you leak water – you water the flowers on the side of the road and those flowers go inside the palace and decorate the King’s table, those flowers go into vases and those flowers make the king very happy because they make the palace beautiful.”
What kind of clay pot do you want to be? One that looks good sitting around or one that may not look that great but knows the cracks that have come into your life seep out Jesus and you make your King smile and He looks at you and says “Beautiful”.
You and I are jars of clay with treasure packed inside, and that treasure is Jesus Christ. The image here is of the unimaginable power of God being poured into a fragile, cracked container – you and me.
God’s glory (who He is) is not revealed in spite of our brokenness but rather through our brokenness.
Just as a cracked jar will seep water so will the power of God “leak out” from our fractured life. Don’t be ashamed of the cracks, don’t wish the cracks weren’t there, rather examine yourself to discover how God may be more fully revealed to you and to others through your hardships.
Read the following “clay pot” story.
Day in and day out the servant picked up the two clay pots and walked to the river to fill them with water to bring back to the kings palace. The two clay pots looked totally different, although the same size. One was beautiful, no chipped paint, no cracks, proud, and totally knowing it looked good. The other clay pot had cracks in it and its paint was chipped and coming off. One day the cracked clay pot began to complain to the servant about its condition, “look at me”, it said, “you should throw me out and get another beautiful pot to use – I am good for nothing, I can’t even hold water.” But the servant replied, “Oh, my dear friend, you have no idea of your usefulness. Do you ever wander why I always carry you on my right side as we return to the palace? You see because of your cracks you leak water – you water the flowers on the side of the road and those flowers go inside the palace and decorate the King’s table, those flowers go into vases and those flowers make the king very happy because they make the palace beautiful.”
What kind of clay pot do you want to be? One that looks good sitting around or one that may not look that great but knows the cracks that have come into your life seep out Jesus and you make your King smile and He looks at you and says “Beautiful”.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Braggin'
God's Message: "Don't let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don't let heroes brag of their exploits.Don't let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only:That you understand and know me. I'm God, and I act in loyal love.I do what's right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things.These are my trademarks." God's Decree. Jeremiah 9:23-24
Go back and look at God’s “don’t let” words and ask yourself: am I wise yet brag of my wisdom, do I shout my hero status with all my accomplishments, do I brag about my more than plenty? Now look at what kind of braggart God wants you to be: brag about this – that you understand and know me.
What would that bragging look like? How would you brag? Perhaps it would look like this: my God is God and He is so very good to me, anything He allows to happen in my life is for my very best and is a direct result of His loyal love for me. My God always does what is right and He always sets things right and fair. And He delights in me because I want His heart in all these things. And through doing it God’s way we gently hear Him say, “you child are My trademark”.
So start bragging right, boast like the apostle Paul proclaimed in 2 Cor. 10:17 but, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Go back and look at God’s “don’t let” words and ask yourself: am I wise yet brag of my wisdom, do I shout my hero status with all my accomplishments, do I brag about my more than plenty? Now look at what kind of braggart God wants you to be: brag about this – that you understand and know me.
What would that bragging look like? How would you brag? Perhaps it would look like this: my God is God and He is so very good to me, anything He allows to happen in my life is for my very best and is a direct result of His loyal love for me. My God always does what is right and He always sets things right and fair. And He delights in me because I want His heart in all these things. And through doing it God’s way we gently hear Him say, “you child are My trademark”.
So start bragging right, boast like the apostle Paul proclaimed in 2 Cor. 10:17 but, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Abide
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:5-8
Not long ago I had the privilege of counseling at Judgment House at Cudd Memorial Baptist Church. Judgment House is an outreach tool, using drama to lead others to Christ. My favorite scene is the heaven scene where Jesus (the person who plays Jesus) walks up to you and speaks a welcome and tells you how glad he is to have you with him forever.
This year the majority of women I talked with would sit down with tears streaming down their face, I would ask them if they knew Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and almost all would say “yes”. Here is the response from these women, “I know that I know Jesus, I know He died on the cross for all my sins, there is just something missing, like a barrier between us.”
I would ask them if they had a Bible and if they read their Bible. And then I had the privilege of doing my life ministry – showing others the importance of falling in love with God’s Word. When we fall in love with the Word of God, we are falling in love with the Son of God. (See John 1:1 &14 and see Who the Word of God is) I got to tell them the importance of letting the Word rule in their lives. We even talked about making the Word a priority and their schedules so that they could put Him and His Word first and grow closer.
The word abide in John 15:5-8 has these meanings: to dwell in His love, remain in it, tarry in it, soak it up – live in it!
Examine your days, what priority does the Word have in your life? In verse 7 Jesus starts with the word “if” meaning the choice is yours, but once you choose to abide in His word barriers will be gone, understanding will come, greater love and confidence will be the result and you’ll cry out, “Jesus apart from You I can do nothing, but with You I can do all things!” (John 15:5c and Phil 4:13)
Not long ago I had the privilege of counseling at Judgment House at Cudd Memorial Baptist Church. Judgment House is an outreach tool, using drama to lead others to Christ. My favorite scene is the heaven scene where Jesus (the person who plays Jesus) walks up to you and speaks a welcome and tells you how glad he is to have you with him forever.
This year the majority of women I talked with would sit down with tears streaming down their face, I would ask them if they knew Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and almost all would say “yes”. Here is the response from these women, “I know that I know Jesus, I know He died on the cross for all my sins, there is just something missing, like a barrier between us.”
I would ask them if they had a Bible and if they read their Bible. And then I had the privilege of doing my life ministry – showing others the importance of falling in love with God’s Word. When we fall in love with the Word of God, we are falling in love with the Son of God. (See John 1:1 &14 and see Who the Word of God is) I got to tell them the importance of letting the Word rule in their lives. We even talked about making the Word a priority and their schedules so that they could put Him and His Word first and grow closer.
The word abide in John 15:5-8 has these meanings: to dwell in His love, remain in it, tarry in it, soak it up – live in it!
Examine your days, what priority does the Word have in your life? In verse 7 Jesus starts with the word “if” meaning the choice is yours, but once you choose to abide in His word barriers will be gone, understanding will come, greater love and confidence will be the result and you’ll cry out, “Jesus apart from You I can do nothing, but with You I can do all things!” (John 15:5c and Phil 4:13)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Be a Gift
Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it
1 Thess. 4:4a the Message
This past Sunday we celebrated my son Tommy’s 29th birthday. I ate too many yeast rolls, too much caramel cake, and too much period. By the time we got home my heart rate was up and I was miserable. I just kept thinking; I shouldn’t have eaten the yeast rolls, and especially that cake. I even ask the Lord to help me feel better after I had made the decision to eat the wrong things. Today the Lord reminded me of 1 Thess. 4:4, I knew better than to eat the culprits that would make me feel bad and make my heart fly, which makes me uncomfortable. Then I was reminded of verse 8b, “who is making you a gift of His Holy Spirit.” I want to be a gift to my God everyday and to present my body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is my reasonable service. Romans 12:1
Today I have eaten so much better, honored my Lord with the choices given me today. Here’s the thing about being a living sacrifice, they can easily crawl off the alter. Tomorrow I may crawl off the alter and not honor my Lord and eat things that bring about tiredness or even crankiness. But that is not my hearts desire. I want to be a gift to my Lord because that is what He desires for me.
How about you? Are you appreciating your body, not abusing it? Look at how you treat the vessel God gave you, and then get busy being a gift to Him, a living sacrifice.
To get the most out of these verses go to www.Biblegateway.com and read 1 Thess 4:1-8 and select the Message translation.
1 Thess. 4:4a the Message
This past Sunday we celebrated my son Tommy’s 29th birthday. I ate too many yeast rolls, too much caramel cake, and too much period. By the time we got home my heart rate was up and I was miserable. I just kept thinking; I shouldn’t have eaten the yeast rolls, and especially that cake. I even ask the Lord to help me feel better after I had made the decision to eat the wrong things. Today the Lord reminded me of 1 Thess. 4:4, I knew better than to eat the culprits that would make me feel bad and make my heart fly, which makes me uncomfortable. Then I was reminded of verse 8b, “who is making you a gift of His Holy Spirit.” I want to be a gift to my God everyday and to present my body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is my reasonable service. Romans 12:1
Today I have eaten so much better, honored my Lord with the choices given me today. Here’s the thing about being a living sacrifice, they can easily crawl off the alter. Tomorrow I may crawl off the alter and not honor my Lord and eat things that bring about tiredness or even crankiness. But that is not my hearts desire. I want to be a gift to my Lord because that is what He desires for me.
How about you? Are you appreciating your body, not abusing it? Look at how you treat the vessel God gave you, and then get busy being a gift to Him, a living sacrifice.
To get the most out of these verses go to www.Biblegateway.com and read 1 Thess 4:1-8 and select the Message translation.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Celebrate!
Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!
Philippians 4:4 the Message
What if we prayed Philippians 4:4 first thing each morning and all through out our day? It’s more than possible. Just pray, “Lord, I celebrate You, I revel in You, You are my heart’s cry, my satisfaction. Jesus, I want a wholehearted trust and reliance on You that brings about great confidence. Work this in me Lord; show Yourself strong on my behalf.”
The result of praying this celebrating, confident prayer would be evident to all those you work with, live with, play with – simply put – do life with. All the little things that get on your last nerve would not be important, arguments would be worked out, and being considerate would be a priority, no putting self first because you are putting Christ first. And the result would be verse 5 of Philippians 4; “Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!”
And that is “Kingdom attitude” and with that attitude you are doing God’s Word: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Go on - Celebrate!
Philippians 4:4 the Message
What if we prayed Philippians 4:4 first thing each morning and all through out our day? It’s more than possible. Just pray, “Lord, I celebrate You, I revel in You, You are my heart’s cry, my satisfaction. Jesus, I want a wholehearted trust and reliance on You that brings about great confidence. Work this in me Lord; show Yourself strong on my behalf.”
The result of praying this celebrating, confident prayer would be evident to all those you work with, live with, play with – simply put – do life with. All the little things that get on your last nerve would not be important, arguments would be worked out, and being considerate would be a priority, no putting self first because you are putting Christ first. And the result would be verse 5 of Philippians 4; “Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!”
And that is “Kingdom attitude” and with that attitude you are doing God’s Word: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Go on - Celebrate!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Notice
1 One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. 2 They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating. 3 (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. 4 Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.” Mark 7:1-5 NLT
What do you notice? Read verses 2-5 and notice what these men were looking at and what they made comment about. Now take a look at your life. Do you, in any setting, notice only what is wrong or what doesn’t match up with what you think is right. And not only do you notice and think it but you say out loud what you think. What if we started living the way of Jesus – we say only words that will build up and not tear down, we love others, regardless of their skin color, how hairy they are, the tattoos they have, their piercings, anything that we think is wrong with them.
What about the places you visit? You go to someone’s home and it is a total mess or totally neat but either way you have something to say. You visit a friend’s church and the first thing out of your mouth is, “my, that carpet is ugly.” Everything I just mentioned is a surface thing, it is what we notice, see with our eyes, but it doesn’t even come close to the heart of the one we are looking at and making unnecessary comments about.
The next time you are tempted to speak words that will not build someone up but tear them down and cause pain- think first: will this matter for eternity? Hair can be shaved, tattoos covered up, houses cleaned, carpet replaced, but the hurts we inflict are hard to heal and forget. See people through the eyes of Jesus, it just might cause you to be quiet and pray instead.
One more thing to look at; verse one states that the Pharisees and teachers of religious law came to see Jesus but His disciples followed Him and in this there is a distinct difference.
What do you notice? Read verses 2-5 and notice what these men were looking at and what they made comment about. Now take a look at your life. Do you, in any setting, notice only what is wrong or what doesn’t match up with what you think is right. And not only do you notice and think it but you say out loud what you think. What if we started living the way of Jesus – we say only words that will build up and not tear down, we love others, regardless of their skin color, how hairy they are, the tattoos they have, their piercings, anything that we think is wrong with them.
What about the places you visit? You go to someone’s home and it is a total mess or totally neat but either way you have something to say. You visit a friend’s church and the first thing out of your mouth is, “my, that carpet is ugly.” Everything I just mentioned is a surface thing, it is what we notice, see with our eyes, but it doesn’t even come close to the heart of the one we are looking at and making unnecessary comments about.
The next time you are tempted to speak words that will not build someone up but tear them down and cause pain- think first: will this matter for eternity? Hair can be shaved, tattoos covered up, houses cleaned, carpet replaced, but the hurts we inflict are hard to heal and forget. See people through the eyes of Jesus, it just might cause you to be quiet and pray instead.
One more thing to look at; verse one states that the Pharisees and teachers of religious law came to see Jesus but His disciples followed Him and in this there is a distinct difference.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
