Daily Word

The Word of God will work for you if you work the word into your life.  Daily study of these timeless scripture passages found in the Good Book will help you know the truth about who your creator says you are, what he says you are capable of doing, and what he has promised you can have.  The Word also reveals the character and will of God.  If you have ever wondered what His will is for your life stop guessing or relying on what others say, find out for yourself through the love letter he had written especially for you…….

Monday February 14, 2011

Matthew 8

3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.

Though some might refuse to accept the deity of Jesus Christ, few would dispute that he was the greatest leader of all time.  A careful study of his personal ministry on earth reveals that he never forced anyone to follow him nor attempted to brow beat the down trodden and heavy laden.  Rather than bend over backwards to make entrance into the kingdom easy, he resisted the proud (Matthew 19:15-17) and gave grace to the humble (John 8:11).  What set him apart, particularly from the “religious” leaders of his day was his willingness to touch the people society and event the levitical law declared were untouchable. Take this passage for instance. No priest would knowingly reach out and lay hands on a leper otherwise they would be ceremonially unclean and unable to minister in services.  What Jesus understood, and what the church must realize today is that our primary ministry is not to be performed during a church service, but once we walk out of the four walls of the church.  Only in this way, one on one teaching and discipling, will we maximize our impact on the world.

 

Friday February 11, 2011

Colossians 1

 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

The greatest gift a nation can give to someone is inclusion into its citizenry.  The gift of citizenship means that I have the ability to exercise rights and powers, as long as I stay within the boundaries of the legal code established by the state.  In other words, law abiding citizens can expect a greater level of freedom and count on a higher degree of access to rights and privileges than law-breakers.  While the Father made the ultimate sacrifice, sending Jesus to the cross to restore us to our position of authority as citizens of his kingdom, our ability to experience the fullness of his promises is dependent upon our willingness to stay under the umbrella of his grace.  Just as the kingdoms of this world were delivered to Satan as a result of Adam’s fall in the garden (Luke 4: 5-7) so the deception of the enemy will cause you to give up what is rightfully yours.  Yes, you have been delivered from the power of darkness not so you can sit around and wait to get to heaven.  Since you’ve been set free the truth is that heaven has ALREADY gotten on the inside of you and it’s your assignment to bring heaven to the earthlings you encounter everyday!

 

Thursday February 10, 2011

Proverbs 18

16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

We live in a time, like never before, where self promotion is rampant.  While this method of operation is not exclusive to the sports world, off the top of my head I can think of a hosts of examples of athletes and coaches alike who seem intent on shoving their “brand” down the public’s collective throats through press conference bravado, the silliness of “reality” t.v., and on the field antics.  Real leaders, however, don’t have to impose their personality on others.  In fact the magnitude of their special gifts often leaves the world at large crying out for more.  They don’t need to force their way into the party, they get invited in and given a seat of honor at the table.  Real leaders know that their success is directly tied to how well they understand their assignment in this world and to what degree they harness that gifting for the purpose of serving it to others.

Thursday December 23, 2010

Luke 21

 28 “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Someone once said, with regard to trying times, you are either in one right now, just coming out of one, or about to enter into one.  In other words, no matter how great your faith tough times will happen to you.  There is a natural tendency for such circumstances to humble us.  I’m not talking about the type of humility that leads to repentance for the sinner or the kind that reminds a believer he’s grown a bit arrogant and unless pride is laid down and a truly teachable spirit adopted a big time fall will soon take place.  I’m referring to the sometimes crushing feeling of helplessness and hopelessness when things seem to go sour; when despite obedient giving your finances are a mess, your prayers for a sick friend don’t result in their healing, and your best efforts to proclaim the gospel to unsaved loved ones don’t produce the fruit you’ve expected.  Maybe you’ve experienced one or all of these things and your countenance has dropped, your shoulders drooped, and you’re hanging your head. Don’t be discouraged, recall the words of Ephesians 6:13 exhorting that once you’ve done all you can the only thing left to do is STAND; and if you are going to stand you might as well carry yourself in such a way that demonstrates your trust that God will work out all things for your good!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

II Timothy 2 (KJV)

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

A close frind of mine shared with me his experiences in preparation for military service as an Army Ranger.  Talk about tough.  In addition to rapid foreign language instruction and rigorous mental and emotional stress; he also was subjected to some downright diabolical physical training exercises which included being dropped off in the middle of both a remote mountaneous location and the middle of the everglades with very little supplies. While this might seem pretty harsh, and it definitely was a fierce physical challenge for this extremely well-conditioned man, it was necessary to harden him for what he was to face overseas.  Jesus openly informed his disciples to expect obstacles and hindering circumstances, saying “In this world you will have tribulation.”  Unfortunately, some Christians have been ill-prepared to face the challenges inherent in the life of faith because they’ve been told that Jesus came to solve all of their problems.  When those problems don’t disappear overnight (or over a year’s time for that matter) you might be ready to give up, DONT’T.  Here’s the low down.  Yes, you may have it tough on this earth from time to time.  You may be laughed at, scorned, mistreated, misunderstood, and even fail to win friends and influence people; but none of that compares to being left out of eternal life in the heaven that God has prepared for you.  One more thing; don’t worry that you need to be sinlessly perfect or that Jesus isn’t concerned about your well-being here either. He also informed his followers that though there would be trials to face, to be of “good cheer” for he had “overcome the world” and that for those willing to put he and the gospel first that “he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:30 KJV)

 

Thursday November 18, 2010

Daniel 1

14-16 The steward agreed to do it and fed them vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked better and more robust than all the others who had been eating from the royal menu. So the steward continued to exempt them from the royal menu of food and drink and served them only vegetables.

Don Colbert, M.D. author of “What Would Jesus Eat” and “Eat This and Live” has this to say about the life giving properties of whole foods: “Living foods were created for our consumption. They exist in a raw or close-to-raw state. Living foods include fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, and nuts. They are beautifully packaged in divinely created wrappers called skins and peels. Living food looks robust, healthy, and alive. No chemicals have been added. It has not been bleached or chemically altered. Living foods are plucked, harvested, and squeezed, not processed, packaged, and put on a shelf. Living foods are recognizable as food.”  When compared to the “dead foods” in our pantries, that is the ones stuffed with man made fats, artificial sweeteners, and loads of empty calories you just might have a new perspective, as you look down at your dinner plate, on the words of Deuteronomy 30:19 that declare “I have set before you life and death…..therefore choose life…” 

Tuesday November 9, 2010

I Corinthians 3 (KJV)

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

 

As a father of young ladies, I’ve had the privilege of watching quite a few “chick flicks” and as a result learn some very valuable lessons my Action-oriented alter ego might never have allowed itself to be exposed to.  One such film was The Princess Diaries.  In the sequel to this film, the character played by Anne Hathaway was set up to be engaged to a young man who had the proper pedigree for the position, and though in the end he turned out not to be the perfect match for the princess of the fictional country, Genovia, he did demonstrate a class that made him a winner in my book.  In one specific scene, he and the princess were standing on a balcony greeting the people of Genovia and she accidentally committed a faux paux; knocking over a potted plant.  Rather than embarrass her by making a big deal about it, he simply picked up a potted plant himself and held it up in the air, essentially making the same mistake that she did.  Instead of highlighting her fault, he was willing to be a fool to protect the woman he loved and shelter her from embarrassment.  In other words, rather than doing the “right” thing, he did the righteous thing.  When it comes to communicating our faith its important to remember to forget one tendency that may have been ingrained in you from the time you were born and that is its not about being right!  When it comes to an argument about God, when one person wins the non-believer in the war of words ALWAYS loses.  If you want to be an effective witness for Christ keep in mind that it is not so much what you say, but how you say it.  You can stumble over your words, mix up scripture references, and even be at a loss for words; but if you treat the person you are speaking to with humility and respect, with a truly loving heart you’ve planted a seed that will at the very least take root- and in the best case scenario spring up right in front of you. (Col 3:12, Galatians 6:1, II Tim 2: 25)

Thursday October 28, 2010

Psalm 55 (The Message)

 1-3 Open your ears, God, to my prayer; don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking.
   Come close and whisper your answer.
      I really need you.
   I shudder at the mean voice,
      quail before the evil eye,
   As they pile on the guilt,
      stockpile angry slander.

 4-8 My insides are turned inside out;
      specters of death have me down.
   I shake with fear,
      I shudder from head to foot.
   “Who will give me wings,” I ask—
      “wings like a dove?”
   Get me out of here on dove wings;
      I want some peace and quiet.
   I want a walk in the country,
      I want a cabin in the woods.
   I’m desperate for a change
      from rage and stormy weather.

If you are responsible for the health and wellbeing of a family, business, or organization you can likely relate to the “inside out” churning of the stomach that takes place when your best made plans are going haywire.  Times like these often bring out the worst in those around us, and the meanest voices may actually belong to those we expected would “pump us up” with an encouraging word.  Don’t expect God to attempt to compete with such obstreperous voices.  Rather than add to the clamor, you’ll find He chooses to speak through it. Look closely at this passage and recognize that the psalmist, in the midst of turbulence cries out to God to speak to him in a whisper. He’ll do so, that he might reveal his plans for you to you alone and keep them hidden from your enemy.  He’ll do so to calm you in the midst of unruliness and chaos.  He’ll do so, to see how badly you want to hear what He has to say and how willing you are to trust Him. 

Wednesday October 27, 2010

Luke 6 (KJV)

 40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

 41And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

 42Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
The next time you decide to call someone on the carpet for missing the mark or failing to measure up to your standards remember that the benchmark for holiness, excellence, growth, and success is not how much we’ve grown from our former selves (which is often the way the performance of others is judged), but the person of Jesus Christ.  You should look upon any positive changes you’ve made with good feelings and even a sense of pride while at the same time recognizing that there is still more progress to be made to be “as your master”.  This is the balance that will cause you to be patient with your fellow man and expect better from yourself.

Tuesday October 26, 2010

Proverbs 2 (The Message)

 1-5 Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
   set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
   and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
   like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
   you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

Has the Information Age got you searching the web for wisdom in all the wrong places?  Have you allowed distractions to become fatal attractions to your faith walk?  You can turn it around by taking a page from the hunter’s handbook.  A friend of mine, Frank, is a tremendous outdoorsman.  He loves to hunt and fish, so I asked him how, exactly he goes about tracking down a deer.  This is what he told me about an 18 point buck he managed to get during Bow season a few years ago; “I waited in a tree, hardly moving, decked out in camouflage for about 6 or 7 hours.  Some smaller deer ran by, as did a bunch of squirrels and rabbits, I didn’t flinch.  An 8 and a 10 pointer passed by, but I wasn’t about to waste one of my arrows or scare off the prize I came for.”  Amazing!  Regardless of how good looking the temptation it will never compare to the prize.  Just like the hunter whose focus is on a very specific prey, we need to pray fervently and pursue our relationship with God to the point where we won’t be moved by what the enemy puts in front of us; continuing the hunt for wisdom and insight into the things that are most valued by our Lord.

Monday October 25, 2010

Genesis 8 (KJV)

22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Did you just read that!  If you are not shouting inside let me give you the New Jersey translation:  “As long as the earth is around there is GUARANTEED to be harvest!”  Those who want to predict doom and gloom and act as if the sky is falling apparently never read this.  The only question left to answer is, will you be a partaker in the harvest?  You can assure your participation by following two simple, very spiritual principles.  First, plant seed. I like what Rev. Robert Schuller once said: “Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed.”  One thing is for certain, No seed equals No harvest; you can only reap what you sow (Gen 1:11).  The second spiritual law you must observe to ensure you’ll engage in harvest is an honest to goodness work ethic.  Listen to this proclamation by motivational speaker, Jim Rohn: “The miracle of the seed and the soil is not available by affirmation; it is only available by labor.”  Once your seed produces its fruit it is still your responsibility to separate it from the root.  In other words don’t just look at the fruit your earlier efforts have produced cut them down from the tree and partake because they won’t make their way into your life unless you do so.

Thursday October 21, 2010

John 16: 21 (NIV)

21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.

I’ve often heard it said that if men were responsible for carrying and giving birth to children the human race would be extinct!  After watching my wife endure three pregnancies and being present for the labor and delivery of our children I tend to agree with that statement.  I am convinced, though, that God has given women “Divine Recall” when it comes to their gestational experience, causing them to remember the joy of the child while forgetting all the pains that lead up to that glorious moment (otherwise we’d only have one daughter instead of three offspring).  This kind of selective memory is crucial if you want to experience the best in life.  We must learn to forget the wrongs others have done to us, disparaging and untrue words spoken about us, the mistakes we’ve made (with the exception of learning from them), and past failures.  These are all devices of the enemy meant to produce fear and hem us in on all sides so that we are unproductive in our faith.  It is not enough, however, to merely forget the wrongs.  To really override the effects of the negatives you must continually replay the truth of God’s word and the good things he has done in you and through you. (Deut 11:18-19; Rev 12:11) 

Tuesday October 19, 2010

Genesis 4 (KJV)
 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

 

It’s amazing but true!  Your future in God, and in this lifetime for that matter hinge on two little letters, “IF”.  How you handle the if’s in life will determine who you marry, whether you go to college or not, which institute of higher learning you’ll attend, how successful your business or career path will be, how your kids will turn out, and most importantly how and where you’ll spend eternity.  That being the case doesn’t it make sense to control the “If” before the ifs determine how circumstances will control you.  That’s the choice that Cain was confronted with after bringing God an unacceptable offering. His grain offering was unacceptable not because meat is better than wheat, but because it represented less than his best.  Instead of rectifying the situation by returning with an optimal performance, Cain took the tact that too many in this mediocre-satisfied world take: excusing it and blaming someone else for setting the standard too high. As a result he found himself subject to the rule of sin.  The next time you are brought face to face with an offering that is sub-par thank God for the second chance to be on the right side of If and handle your business!

Monday October 18, 2010

Ecclesiastes 9 (The Message)

 13-15 One day as I was observing how wisdom fares on this earth, I saw something that made me sit up and take notice. There was a small town with only a few people in it. A strong king came and mounted an attack, building trenches and attack posts around it. There was a poor but wise man in that town whose wisdom saved the town, but he was promptly forgotten. (He was only a poor man, after all.)
 16 All the same, I still say that wisdom is better than muscle, even though the wise poor man was treated with contempt and soon forgotten.

 17 The quiet words of the wise are more effective
   Than the ranting of a king of fools.

 18 Wisdom is better than warheads,
   But one hothead can ruin the good earth.

Yogi Berra, the great baseball catcher, once said you can see a lot by observing.  This saying it seems wasn’t a “yogism” after all, but a Bible-ism!  When faced with someone who wants to elevate the tone of a conversation to the point of a physical fight if you exercise some restraint and a well controlled tongue you’ll find you have the adversary exactly where you want him.  Don’t fight fire with fire, that will only cause a small disagreement to become an inferno, instead douse the flames with the water of the Word and bring healing and salvation to the individual.

Wednesday October 13, 2010

I Chronicles 11 (NIV)

11 this is the list of David’s mighty men:
      Jashobeam, [b] a Hacmonite, was chief of the officers [c] ; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
It is interesting to note that, perhaps, David’s greatest weakness and greatest strength as a leader related directly to lists.  In I Chronicles 21 David, against God’s command, took a census of the inhabitants of Israel.  The penalty was harsh (70,00 men died as a result) for David’s disobedience.  His error was pride; wanting to prove his greatness as a king by recording for all posterity the “numbers” he amassed David forgot that it was his duty to serve the list, rather than the other way around.  This was the secret of David’s success to begin with.  The list of “Mighty Men” referred to in I Chronicles 11 could have just as well been called a line-up of the “broke, busted, and disgusted.”  David took in men who were down on their luck and seeing their potential when no one else did poured into them.  He communicated to them daily and gave them something of value- a revived self-esteem and a purpose to fight.  As a result they were willing to go to the ends of the earth to serve him. 

Tuesday October 12, 2010

Proverbs 5: 21 (The Message)

Mark well that God doesn’t miss a move you make; he’s aware of every step you take. The shadow of your sin will overtake you; you’ll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark. Death is the reward of an undisciplined life; your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.
From the day you were born God beheld you as the apple of His eye and has wanted nothing but good for your life.  Truly his plans for you are for good! (Jer. 29:11)  From the day you began serving Him the enemy of your soul has been designing schemes and planning ways to keep you from God’s best for your life.  Why shouldn’t he? At that time you became a threat to the kingdom of darkness.  All of the snares and traps that have been set to derail you, though, are not from Satan.  Some, maybe more than we’d like to admit, are the result of our own choices and habits.  No need to lose sleep over your mistakes, however, because from before you were even a thought God had a plan to bust the trap and set you free.  Jesus!  His blood didn’t stop working on your behalf the day you were born again.  It continues to flow and to cover a multitude of sin provided you decide not to allow pride to get in the way of your recognition that you need him; and though you may not be perfect you are forgiven.

Friday October 8, 2010

Luke 21 (Amplified)

   28Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near.

Have you ever noticed the physical change that comes upon someone who is struggling with anger or bitterness?  Aside from the facial angst, there is often this weighted down appearance.  Droopy shoulders and a sagging head are a resounding corporeal reminder of the brewing discontentment caused by feelings of being treated unfairly, forgotten, or simply helpless to do anything about your situation.   Jesus spoke of a time coming where this attitude would reach epidemic proportions, a time where “Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world” (verse 26).  He spoke of a time much like the period we are in now, with many people hanging their head low.  His advice, “Look Up!”  Change your countenance, send a message to your face that “God is in control”, even when you feel like things are out of control.  Pin your shoulders back; lift up your chin and stare the challenges you face right in the eye, look up, look up your redemption draweth nigh!

Thursday October 7, 2010

Philippians 2:3 (New Living Translation)

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

I don’t know who first said it, but it bears repeating: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  One of the things that believers need to understand is that not everyone grew up in church; therefore, they can’t relate to the Christian clichés and jargon that many of us have grown accustomed.   Call it a hunch, but I would also venture to guess that the average person on the street battling a disease, struggling with financial hardship, or bound by some kind of an addiction doesn’t care if you can rattle off verbatim the first 5 books of the Bible or how well you reference your quotations; but try extending a hug or a sincere listening ear and just about any hurting soul will open up their heart and allow you to make a lasting impression with the wisdom God has given you to impart into their life!

Tuesday October 5, 2010

I Corinthians 2 (The Message)

 10-13The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Who ever knows what you’re thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he’s thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don’t have to rely on the world’s guesses and opinions. We didn’t learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we’re passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way.

Perhaps you weren’t aware of this so let me be the first to reveal to you that the apostles didn’t walk around with a leather bound King James Version of the Bible.  They also didn’t carry around a back pack full of papyrus scrolls.  What they did do, however, was take the scripture that was imparted to them at the meetings in local synagogues and homes and bring it out to the street, applying it practically.  They didn’t puff out their chest because they spent X number of hours a day sitting at their kitchen table studying or going into their private prayer closet; not coming out until they fell out in the spirit.  Their reward was in the power of God working in and through their lives to be a blessing!

Monday October 4, 2010

Acts 17 (New Living Translation)

 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

As Christians we are in a unique position of wanting God to express more of himself to us, which means we must be open to “new revelation”, yet at the same time we shouldn’t be so open that we will fall for any word that comes down the pike.  Blind Faith is not really faith at all, merely the willingness to abandon the responsibility of searching out the scriptures.  God never intended for anyone to leave their brain at the altar.   Why else would He give us one?  It’s interesting to note that the church at Berea was referred to as open minded and that this trait was accompanied by honest and thorough evaluation of the truth of the message they received, regardless of the credentials of the messenger.  Our society today is filled with a host of spiritual ideas and the cry of the populous is that the Church is “too closed-minded”.  While the temptation might be there to buckle under this pressure remember you can only be as open minded as you are willing to put new information through the test of scripture.

Friday October 1, 2010

I Peter 3 (KJV)

 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

I few years back I heard a wonderful teaching by, I believe it was, D James Kennedy called “A Missionary Field at Your Doorstep.”  He was speaking about his experience in witnessing to members of The Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Perhaps the most valuable piece of wisdom that came out of this teaching was that we can be as passionate as we want to be so long as that passion resonates from the perspective that the person on the other side of the table is valuable and precious in the sight of God, and deserving of His love.  Arguing to prove them wrong or to prove our position is right won’t accomplish what should be the end goal of all our conversations: planting the seed of the gospel that can grow into the fruit of righteousness.  If you need to resort to yelling, screaming, name calling, or attacking that other persons long held belief system at a high emotional pitch I can guarantee you that the soil will be impenetrable.  If, however, you allow your passion for the person shine through in love they may walk away without making a commitment for Christ, yet still be closer than ever to a relationship with the one, true and living God! 

Thursday September 30, 2010

James 1:22 (The Message)

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

Here’s an experiment worth trying either before you go to bed tonight or first thing tomorrow morning.  Stand in front of a mirror and confront yourself.  Try telling an outright lie to yourself and notice how your body responds viscerally.  It feels uncomfortable, doesn’t it?  Looking right back at you is, potentially, the best motivator in the world for YOU; someone who knows your every strength and weakness, as well as your fears and insecurities, hopes and dreams.  He/She is the person God has commissioned to hold you accountable and to fulfill the plans that he has set for you. The mirror is a powerful tool; put it to work by making each time in front of it your first and last human encounter of the day with a purpose.  Look yourself square in the eye and refuse to accept less than your best.  Use your time in front of that looking glass to not only wash your face; but to reflect on God’s purpose for your life and to evaluate your progress and any changes that need to be made to move you closer to the prize of your calling.

Friday September 24, 2010

Psalm 23 (KJV)

 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Anyone whoever told you Psalm 23 was meant as a funeral dirge didn’t read it correctly.  The last time I checked the shadow of even the deadliest snake or fiercest beast has never hurt anybody; and if you are willing to trust God and have just a little strength, the terror that the fearful have proclaimed to be the final blow will be so for them, but NOT you.  When the smoke clears a valley that is lush and full of fruit will be revealed, and it’s yours for the taking.  The enemy you thought was ready to tear you limb from limb is actually the main entree (Numbers 14:9) of the six course meal* that God has prepared for you! (See the Message translation)

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Mark 9 (KJV)

 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Perhaps you are one of the millions of people who have run into this problem: you’ve listened to what all the experts say, you’ve read the word and you truly want to believe what it says to you is true, but you are finding it hard to trust it’s really true for YOU!  So the question becomes “does the doubt I experience make me less of a Christian?”  I think Jesus’ response to the father of the boy in this passage should emphatically answer that question, NO.  Even though the father had faith mixed with doubt Jesus willingly healed the boy; and to the father’s credit he was obviously not willing to remain in the same state.  A strong beleiver will willing face his doubts rather than pretend they don’t exists ( a sure fire recipe for spiritual disaster).  In tackling areas of unbelief in your life head on, you may find that they actually represent the status quo that you have been unwilling to let go of rather than a lack of faith in God.  Once we’ve identified areas of actual unbeleif then it becomes an easier process to address them using the principles set forth in the Word of God; one of which is the principle of displacement.  This can be found in Phillipians 4:8 where we are instructed on how to deal with inaccurate thoughts by replacing them with things that are “true, just, lovely, and loveable.”  In addition to this you can meditate on the word of God and memorize scriptures that specifically relate to areas where you are vulnerable.  Ultimately, though, you need to understand that to believe or not to believe is a spiritual battle.  Jesus, when addressing the disciples after they were unsuccessful in healing the young man, said “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).  The kind he spoke of was not some super duper, all powerful demon, it was the problem that the father spoke of and that so many people have tried to exorcise unsuccessfully through willpower and mental ascent, UNBELIEF.  Fasting and prayer won’t make God hear you any more than he already does, but will prepare you and enable you to hear Him better and more firmly establish your belief in His power and authority.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

2 Timothy 1 (The Message)
5 That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. (italics added)

Everything that God does may not make perfect sense to you now.  Truly the Bible states He uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.  That being said, no where does it say that  living with God on the inside means you leave your brain behind.  God has given us a sound mind and He expects us to use it and the gifts he bestows upon us sensibly.  Be bold in your faith, yes remembering that the greater level of boldness requires that you exercise a higher degree of wisdom and responsibility.  Just because you’ve been blessed with a prophetic gifting doesn’t mean you should use it in the middle of your Pastor’s message.  Remember that the gifts are subject to the order God has established.  Though you’ve been blessed with a divine utterance in an unknown tongue, recall that it is for the edifying of the body; a stranger on the street or unsaved co-worker is more likely to find you suddenly breaking off your conversation to ramble off in a foreign language to be weird rather than uplifting, and walk away with no desire to know personally the God you say you serve.  As the famous christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias, is known to say “Let my (God’s) people think.”

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Judges 5 (Amplified)

 12Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.

What is it that gets you out of bed on a Saturday (or whatever day it is that you have off)?  Is there something other than a pay check that ignites your zeal to labor in the morning?  For Deborah there sure was.   She encouraged herself to arise with a song of praise in her heart unto God, knowing full well that the only way to lead others into the joy of the Lord required her to first lead herself into His presence.  If you will set your heart on fire for God, and openly acknowledge Him, others will be caught up in the flame and burn brightly right along with you.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Matthew 5 (Amplified)

 13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

My grandmother was known for her collections.  We couldn’t make a trip out of the area without promising to return with a decorative spoon or plate of some kind, and when someone visited her home she had plenty of stories to recollect the history behind those and other collectibles that graced, seemingly every inch of wall space in her living and dining room areas.  In addition to the spoons and plates she also collected, but stored in a more secure area, salt and pepper shakers.  I remember one time listening to a “heated discussion” between family members about the number of holes that are supposed to be in the salt and pepper shaker respectively, and each had very compelling arguments about why either the salt or the pepper shaker should have more holes.  “Salt is a more important spice and therefore deserves more holes” went one line of reasoning, “But too much salt in the diet is bad for heart health” retorted the other, and back and forth.  Suffice to say, at the end of the conversation neither one had changed the other’s mind.  A recent google search didn’t do me any good in solving this near life long quandry.  One things for certain, salt is meant to be shaken.  This is a fact that you and I as Christians need to understand, because like it or not shaking is something we will all experience.  Not only are we going to be shaken, but at time’s its going to feel like we’ve been put in the grinder and ground down to powder (the latest addition to the salt/pepper shaker controversy).  Most important though is how we handle the shaking process, because herein lies our ability to be effective witnesses to the truth of the gospel.  In my book “Shake Off The Snake” I talk about a time in my life when all heck was breaking loose and there was every opportunity in the world to crumble, to become bitter and angry, and to let all those feelings hang out.  I am sure most people wouldn’t have blamed me for doing so, but instead God helped me to handle this period with grace, trusting in His wisdom.  The result was it made a greater impression on my extended family members than any tract, sermonette, or verbal attempt at witnessing I’d ever subjected them to.  The shaking I went through somehow made the salt they recieved significantly more tasteful.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Ezekiel 22 (Amplified)

   30 And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

Jesus bridged the gap from sin to salvation when he hung on calvary’s cross, but you and I are called to help bridge the gap to God’s best in the here and now.  Though some would just assume to pass the buck to the members of the clergy none of us should forget that every beleiver is called to be a minister of reconciliation.   God’s words recorded in Ezekiel 22: 30 speak to this end.  He did not literaly mean there was not one righteous person available for the task.  Ezekiel, certainly was qualified for the job, but was forbidden by God from intervening.  God wanted to see if there was anyone else he could count on to pursue the things that were important to HIM. It’s time the church as a whole (not just the Pastors and leadership) got off their blessed assurance and turned up their prayer life, fervently interceding for our land and expecting the Lord to hear and deliver.  Are you ready to get off of the sidelines and into the gap?

Monday, August 23, 2010

Romans 5 (NASB)

 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

Never make the mistake of thinking your actions only affect or reflect on you.  The law of unintended consequences dictates that any action into a complex system (like our world) always creates unanticipated results.  In my home state of Florida for instance the release of large snakes and lizards into the Everglades has already resulted in numerous detrimental affects to the ecosystem and costs tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars as local and state agencies battle against the reproductive capacities of these reptiles to get their ever increasing populations under control.  I am sure the pet owners who released them never took that into consideration.  Today, however, I’d like to focus on a story of positive, even life saving, results of a simple act of kindness:

As told by Jonathan:

  “One day when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was David. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, “Why would anyone bring home all of his school books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.” I had quite a weekend planned – parties and a football game with my friends on Friday Night; so I just shrugged it off and went on my way.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running towards him. They knocked all of his books out of his arms and tripped him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. As he looked up, I saw terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, “Those guys are jerks. They really need to get a life!.”
He looked at me and said, “Hey, thanks!” There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I hadn’t seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now.
We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool guy, and we hung out all weekend. The more I got to know David the more I liked him, and my friends all felt the same. Over the next four years, David and I became best friends.

David was one of those guys who had really hit his stride during high school. He grew into his body and grew out of acne; and replaced his wide framed glasses with contact lenses.  All the girls loved him and he had more dates than he knew what to do with.
Since David was the valedictorian of our class, he had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was glad it wasn’t me having to get up there to speak! 
I could tell he was nervous about the speech, so I smacked him on the back and said, “Hey, big guy, you’ll be great!”

“Thanks,” he replied.

A few minutes later, he cleared his throat and began his speech.

“Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through the tough years – your parents, your siblings, maybe a coach; but mostly your friends. I am here to tell you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give. I’d like to tell you a story.”

I listened in total disbelief as my best friend told the story of the day we first met. He had planned to kill himself over that weekend. He described how he cleaned out his locker so his mom wouldn’t have to do it later … that was why he was carrying so much stuff home.

David added, “Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.”

A gasp went through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling the same grateful smile David often displayed. It was only then that I realized its depth.”

So the choice is yours today, you can throw your lot in with those who would merely curse the darkness or you can choose to light a candle.  Let me leave you with this quote from BJ Palmer, credited with being the developer of the Chiropractic profession, who said “We never know how far reaching something we may think, say, or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.”

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Genesis 25 (NIV)

 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.

Talk about starting behind the eight ball.  Not only was Jacob a tad late for the coveted title of first born son, he was given the moniker of supplanter or deciever.  Being first born meant everything in those days, the responsibility to carry on the family legacy, power, and financial blessing.  So it would seem that our man Jacob got started out on the wrong foot (his brother’s).  Fast forward about 30 years, Jacob has labored for his father-in-law, Laban, for 14+ years and has received the hand of both Rachel and Leah  in marriage, he’s been favored by the Lord, he has been given a name change from Jacob to Israel, and he comes to a place to meet up with his brother,Esau, whom he hasn’t seen since stealing his blessing and birthright some 15 years earlier.  Look at what Jacob/Israel is able to say to Esau at this encounter recorded in Genesis 33:11(NLT) “ Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.”  From a second place supplanter to more than enough.  Jacob’s story is one that reminds us it is not where or even how you start out it’s how you choose to finish.  There were many opportunities for him to give up, be it on the prophetic mantle placed on him, the dream to marry Rachel, and even deliverance from a name of shame.  Jacob didn’t take any of them, instead he changed his attitude, God changed his name, and he was blessed beyond measure.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Ephesians 3 (KJV)

 14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Have you noticed how headline writers today are always touting the “secret” to something.  Next time you are at the checkout line at your local grocery store take a peak at the Star, Enquirer, or any of the magazines that mirrors that copywriting style.  (Don’t act like you are so holy you’ve never looked at them before either).  I am sure there are at least 3 different golf magazines in my water closet promoting 5 secrets to help me finally break 80!  Long before these so called gurus were born the Bible carried the greatest secrets known to man.  I want you to know they are not closely guarded (like the ones the banks, medical establishment, or political leaders hope you never find out).  They are hidden, not from you but for you.  But in case you missed it, here is the secret to being filled with God.  Allow your thinking and actions to be grounded in love and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Mediate on and participate in these powerful words from the New Living Translation, Colossians 2:7 “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” and you will live a life so full of God people will want to know your secret!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Psalm 90 (KJV)

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Unnumbered days = purposeless + uninspired living; because it lends itself to what I like to call a Roundtoit mentality.  That is the thought that there is so much time available on my horizon that I can just get around to the things I’m born to do whenever its convenient.  Let me fill you in on a little secret: its NEVER CONVENIENT.  Life won’t slow down so you can fulfill your purpose; if anything it will speed up like a runaway locomotive barrelling right down the tracks ready for you to “shrink”, as Og Mandino put it, “to a grain of sand.”  You are not meant to diminish, you are called to flourish and develop a mountain moving lifestyle and faith to accompany it.  To have that kind of life requires you to grab the bull by the horns and engage to the fullest capacity your energy and God-given abilities to the application of the truth of His word.  Realize that life is but a vapor and you have a lot of mountain making left to accomplish! 

Monday, August 2, 2010

Isaiah 41 (Amplified)

10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

How do you know if the adversity you face in life has served to shape you or merely gotten into you?  One way is to test for hardness.  Living in Florida for the last 7 years I found out the “hard” way (pun intended) that the water flowing through our tap is not the same as the water we were accustomed to in the Northeast.  I was warned of “hard water” when I first moved here, but I really didn’t give it a second thought until the shower in our upstairs bathroom stopped draining.  Imagine my surprise when the plumber we hired pulled out a slab of white rock about the size of a football.  This was mineral concentration gone completely wrong and it stopped the normal flow of water through our entire upstairs plumbing system.  If you are not careful adversity can foul you up in much the same way by hardening you to the revelation provided by the water of the word of God.  You can overcome, though, by taking strength in what the word has to offer you and becoming “hardened to difficulties.”  How do you do this, you ask?  Whenever you are faced with an ADVERSE situation, break it down, literally.  AD + VERSE = add a verse to me!  Find your situation in the word of God, and resolve to meditate on HIS promises to you.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Luke 5 (The Message)

 29-30Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner. The Pharisees and their religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. “What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and ’sinners’?”

 31-32Jesus heard about it and spoke up, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.”

Perhaps one of the biggest enemies to church growth are Christians who refuse to mature in the things of God.  Perpetual patients.  Don’t get me wrong, if you are new to the Christian walk you can expect ups and downs in your faith level and you should run to other believers and ministers who are strong in faith and can help you by directing you to the Word, praying with you and for you and generally providing a source of encouragement; but this shouldn’t still be the case 5 or 10 years down the road.  Jesus talked of a “mustard seed-like, growing faith.  This is a trust and reliance on God that leads to application of his word and advancement from patient to part of his surgical team.  Ask yourself if you are among those that your local church body can count on to pour healing balm into the wounds of the sick and hurting or one of those who merely occupies a permanent space in the treatment ward.  There is nothing wrong with being a patient for a time, even on multiple occasions, but a good patient will heed the advice of the medical staff and apply their wisdom so that the needs of others can be tended to.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Psalm 46 (King James Version)

 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Has the “self help” mentality enhanced or undermined your walk with God?  Go-getters, self-motivated people, type-A personalities, and success-aholics beware.  In your efforts to grow your business, build your character (or portfolio), and to stand out from the crowd it is important that you recognize if your success depends 100% on “the sweat of your brow” and the credit and glory is reserved solely for you than you have stepped outside of God’s will for your life; in which case no matter how grand your victories your success will be short lived and empty.  Yes, we should take responsibility for our lives while fulifilling (even excelling) at our obligations, but personal initiative is no substitute for divine dependence.  God commands us in this passage to “be still” which can be translated as “letting go and loosening.” (Strong’s Concordance Hebrew word #7503 raphah pronounced  raw-faw)  Truth be told we can all benefit from loosening our grip on sole responibility for living a productive life and letting go of the pressure we subject ourselves to in the effort to be the best “all by myself”.  You can try it this way, but I guarantee you will never be as succesful or as fulfilled as you are meant to be.  Look at these powerful words found in Psalm 84 “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere…”  When you still yourself before the King of Kings you gain the wisdom of the ages, you’ll find with him at the reigns you’ll make less mistakes, experience less frustrating moments and magnified success. 1 for a thousand, I like that ratio!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Genesis 27 (Amplified)

34When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with a great and bitter cry and said to his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father!

As parents we need to be careful how we communicate to our children.  Do we make them feel as if they are not good enough or in some way need to measure up to the exploits of the kids down the street?  Do our words and actions deliver a message that says you earn my love and your place here by your accomplishments?  Accomplishments are great, but it is more important that we direct our children’s sense of responsibility to maximize their gifts instead of kindling an unbridled sense to prove themselves by grasping for external markers.  The paradox of the approval Esau recieved serves as a great example for today’s parents.  Esau enjoyed the respect and admiration of his father seemingly based on his prowess in the wilderness; he sought to kill big beasts to make up for the big hole he felt on the inside, a chasm made gaping wide when he missed out on Israel’s verbal blessing. Though he was accomplished on the battle field the real battle he faced was for unconditional love and parental approval on the basis of who he was, not just what he did.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Proverbs 15 (The Message)

 4 Kind words heal and help;
   cutting words wound and maim.

This weekend while listening to “Intelligence for Your Life” on a local radio station, the program’s host, John Tesh alluded to some interesting research on the power of words.  It seems that recent studies show that “over-weight” children are often the subject of verbal bullying.  Knowing how cruel kids can be this wasn’t so surprising; the interesting part was that the teasing is just as prevalent at home as it is at school.  These researchers found that “fat jokes” and comments about growing waist lines, though intended by well-meaning parents and siblings to motivate these children to take steps to reach a healthier body size, are actually producing the exact opposite result.  According to the scientific investigation cited on the program children in this type of environment were 24% more likely to increase their body fat percentage.  Looks like these parents would have been better served to follow the adage my mom taught me, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all!”  A second consideration is the increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer these kids will face.  Bible wisdom teaches us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”  This means not only gaining control of our taste buds, but also biting your tongue when tempted to say things that tear down yourself and others.  Learn to put a guard over your mouth that only allows access to faith filled, fruit producing conversation and self-talk!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Romans 12 (NIV)

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

“In this world you will face trials and tribulations”, Jesus said.  If you thought you were just going to sail through life without ever seeing problems of some sort you have been sadly misinformed.  A life that is really lived will be full of trials and challenges, even for those who are committed to the Christian walk.  In fact, Christ-like warriors need to be prepared for front line battles with the author of evil.  No need to fear, though, you wouldn’t be instructed to “overcome evil” if you weren’t capable.  Be a Gamer for God, stand in there and face the perpetrators of evil with the weapons of warfare provided to you through Jesus the anointed one and HIs annointing (burden removing, yoke destroying power).

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Genesis 43 (KJV)

11And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

According to “What Would Jesus Eat” by Don Colbert, M.D. “Solomon had a garden of nuts….that many believed was a grove of walnut trees”, while other kings were known to “have groves of almond, walnut, and pistachio trees…” For thousands of years in Israel nuts have been given as a gift signifying peace and benevolence.  Today you can give yourself the gift of nuts for dessert instead of sugar laden pastries, creams, and cakes.  Nuts help stabilize blood glucose levels which is helpful for diabetics and for people looking to lose weight (especially around the midsection).  Nuts are chock full of polyphenols and protease inhibitors which are natural cancer blockers.  Exercise one of the fruits of the spirit, self control, in your eating so that you are more physically able to fulfill God’s plan for your life.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Genesis 26 (NIV)
19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.

One of the problems with a society where so much is available right at our fingertips is that it breeds a certain degree of laziness.  Unlike the early church today’s christians have a tendency to just accept whatever comes down the pike without making sure it measures up to gospel truth and limit there weekly supply of faith food to the messages they get from the pulpit on Sundays (the “really” diligent may add a midweek service or prayer meeting).  Paul exhorted Timothy as I exhort you today, “Study to shew thyself approved.”  Don’t wait on your pastor to pull out the nuggets hidden in the word for those willing to dig a little.  The answers for the issues you face every day from finances to family, diet and disease, business relationships and overcoming emotional distress are all found in the Word; so don’t wait until you’ve dug yourself a hole and start digging through God’s message of hope and victory, daily!

Thursday May 20, 2010

Numbers 20 (KJV)

10And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?  11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
Have you ever encountered anyone whose sole purpose in life was seemingly to get under your skin?  These are the people who know all your hot buttons and precisely time their commentary to aggravate your last nerve.  I remember just such a person from my not so early childhood; he was a close friend of our family which afforded him easy access to my yet developing psyche and he derived a great deal of pleasure by watching me react to his prodding.  He would start off by purposely calling me by my brother’s name then throw in a few jabs about my friends and then finish me off by making fun of me for having a crush on one of the neighborhood girls.  I didn’t realize it then, but the more I reacted to his tormenting the worse I was making the situation for myself.  I was playing right into his hands!  In a way Moses played right into the enemy’s hands by taking the whining and complaining of the Israelites personally to the point that he reacted to their cries for water by striking the rock rather than speaking to it as God had commanded.  They got their water but he was permanently barred from the Promised Land.  Let Moses’ plight be a reminder that even the actions of unintelligent people require an intelligent response.  The next time you are confronted by someone with a sandpaper personality instead of allowing it to rub you the wrong way think of a creative response asking God to give you the words that will serve to smooth out the rough edges and your brilliance will shine through.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Numbers 13 (The Message)

30 Caleb interrupted, called for silence before Moses and said, “Let’s go up and take the land—now. We can do it.”

The longer you put up with mess (the enemy’s, other people’s or your own) the more difficult it is to overcome.  There are times when the negative voices are obviously with-out and it is just as obvious to us in those cases that to stop their clamoring we need to break in and provide another perspective on things (whether we do it or not is another story).  This was the case with Caleb who, after hearing all the defeatism spewed out by his fellow spies regarding the giants in the promised land, declared what he knew to be the truth: God had made them well able to overcome any obstacle. Maybe less obvious to you today is the silent mess you allow to take place between your left and right ear; the area Joyce Meyer described as being the Battlefield of the Mind.  If you find your self drifting further from the calling God has for your life (remember no progress means you are in reverse) it’s time to put a stop to it.  Be like Caleb today and interrupt any unproductive thoughts and negative self talk; reaffirm the truth of the new birth.  Declare, “I have the mind of Christ; I am well able to be and do all that He has called me to do because I can do all things through Christ (the annointed one and his annointing) which strengthens me!”

Thursday May 13, 2010

Proverbs 23: 23 (KJV)

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Part of the reason for the recent global economic failings is that people have bought into the lie that the more things they have the happier they will be without realizing their level of happiness represents a spiritual void that can never be satisfied with temporal items.  This is supported by research that reports that the rates of suicide for the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor are eerily similar.  Conversely there is a directly proportional relationship between happiness and what some scientist are calling “religiosity”.  While I may not agree with the word (I prefer to call it relationships of the God kind) I am not surprised to see that people who seek God to fill their needs are genrally happier and “hope-ier”.  Remember, the key to your outlook on tomorrow isn’t how much you make, but your relationship to the one who made you!

Wednesday May 12, 2010

Exodus 40: 24-25 (New Living Translation)

24 He set the lampstand in the Tabernacle across from the table on the south side of the Holy Place. 25 Then he lit the lamps in the Lord’s presence, just as the Lord had commanded him.

Do you find yourself holding on to order so tightly you won’t step out on your dreams until everything is just right?  A friend of mine once described this mindset as being afraid to set out on a journey until all the traffic lights are green.  We all know that never happens on the streets we travel and it never takes place on the road of life either.  The good news is God doesn’t expect everything to line up just right in your life for you to serve him or for him to bless you.  The truth is He works just fine in chaos if we turn our minds and hearts toward Him.  Take a lesson from the wilderness trek the Israelites took.  In the middle of no-where God tells Moses to set up a tabernacle. I don’t know about you, but I don’t even like to stop for gas or a bathroom break on my way from Ft Myers to Jacksonville; and here God has Moses settting up a shrine.  Moses had to be thinking I’ve got so much to do to get these people ready for the trip into the promised land, I can hear him saying “Isn’t there a better time to do this,? how about when we get over there and get everyone situated?”  In obedience he builds it anyway; after which God commnands him to light up the lamp in His presence and provides us with a valuable lesson.  The way for us to get our mess handled, isn’t to try to figure everything out on our own, its by lighting up the lamp.  Get into God’s presence and His word and you will experience His peace in the middle of trouble.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Ephesians 5: 18

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

As a society we tend to cling to the negative.  It starts right from the time we are children when we are told the things NOT to do.  “Don’t eat your dessert before dinner”, “don’t talk to strangers”, and so on.  The problem is we have created a sin conscious mentality that has most people trying to do the bare minimum so that they can stay OUT of trouble.  The God we serve, though, never thinks in terms of minimums but rather in terms of abundance.  He sent Jesus to pay the price for our righteousness, and his highest and best for us is that we would elevate our attitude to match his.  The only way we can do this is by constantly filling up on the Spirit.  The minute you received Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to live inside of you and will never leave you (you can walk away from him by rejecting him, but that is a message for a different day); yet we are commanded to “be filled” which has the connotation “to fill and keep on filling”.  Your heavenly Father knows that life can be tough, and that you are faced with challenges every day, some that have the potential to rock your faith.  He also is aware of the pressures you deal with, some internal and many external that have the ability to sap the life right out of you.  If you are not making daily deposits to your faith account they certainly can which is why it is so vital that you seek his face and his wisdom every day.  Learn to turn off the radio and the television and soak up his presence and listen to what he has to say for a period of each day.  It may be difficult to break the old routines at first, but in much the same way working out creates more energy for the next day’s exercise time in the spirit will leave you hungering for more of his goodness.

Monday, May 10, 2010

John 14:6 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
In today’s world it has become politically correct to claim that there are many paths to eternal life.  One thing is for certain, we will all live for eternity, or at least our spirits will.   The earth suits (aka body) we have now will be exchanged for something better, but the real you and me, our Spirit Men/Women will live on forever.  The only question then left to answer is where will we spend that eternity.  Despite what some would have you believe where you’ll spend the rest of infinity is not based on how good or bad you behave, but in whom you believe. The words spoken by Jesus in this passage make it crystal clear that its not a trail of good works or the principles of other religious icons that pave the way to the Father. Jesus or more precisely your willingness to trust in his redeeming sacrifice on the cross is the only direct connect to eternal life in heaven.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Colossians 2 (NIV)

 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Albert Einstein once said that “compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe.”  This coming from the man who spent a good part of his life working in nuclear physics, the stuff that atomic bombs are made of.  Despite his genius, I must strongly disagree with Einstein for although compounding interest can turn pennies into millions of dollars it does not have the ability to raise a man from death to life, heal the sick, purify the most degenerate heart and soul, or over-ride written laws.  Regardless of what you have done, said, felt or thought the cross is more than powerful enough to free you from it.  Even the most mixed up person can be crossed up to heaven.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Psalm 112 (Amplified)

    3Prosperity and welfare are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

    4Light arises in the darkness for the upright, gracious, compassionate, and just [who are in right standing with God].

    5It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.
While helping out a friend a few years back we found ourselves lost on a back road in Albany, Georgia.  This was a long and winding country road that seemed to run on and on into nothingness.  It was about 2 in the morning and the sky was about as black as it could be and there wasn’t a lamp post in sight.  There was no one in sight to ask directions from, and to make matters worse the dome light in my car was out of order.  One more thing this was at a time before everyone had a cell phone.  It was not looking to good for us to find our way in all of this darkness, because even though I had a map in my glove compartment there was no light source to read by.  Finally, we came across a pay phone at a service stattion that had probably been vlosed down for a few months, that had a small flickering bulb.  It wasn’t much, but it was just enough to help me read that map and get us back on the right road to our destination.  In your life at this moment or, perhaps, for others around you it may seem like darkness is all around.  Maybe you are looking for a bright, booming spotlight to make the path clear for you.  While it may not always start out that way that is precisely what the truth of God’s word provides.  Oh, it may start out like a little flickering incandescent source, but when you allow it to direct your steps before you know it you’ll expereince the illumination of a flood light.  Once that light is on the inside of you it can then do through you what it did for you; as through your changed life, marked by love and generosity, you help others by pointing them to the same source of hope and joy that transformed you.

Friday, November 20, 2009

I Chronicles 4 (New King James Version)

9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez,saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

The prayer of Jabez gained national recognition when Bruce Wilkinson’s book by the same name was released several years ago.  I believe the effect of the book was that it caused people to take a second look at the excuses they were holding on to and decided that they would no longer allow their perceived disadvantages to stop them from being everything God called them to be.  In re-reading the prayer and Wilkinson’s sequel, Beyond Jabez, I had a light bulb moment about the connection of two aspects of the prayer.  Notice that Jabez was referred to as being “more” honorable.  Most of us are satisfied to just be honorable, to taste a little bit of God’s glory or a smidgen of His annointing.  I believe He is calling us up to a much higher plane.  The link to being more honorable is found at the end of the prayer when we see the motivating factor behind Jabez’ cry.  Above personal gain the thing he sought most was to mitigate the pain of others.  Yes Jabez asked for an expanded amount of influence and an enlarged financial status with the underlying purpose to give back into the kingdom.  You won’t reach more honorable status until you are willing to release what the Lord blesses you with back into His hands to be disbursed throughout the world.  Your financial giving helps keep others from an eternity of pain.  As a matter of fact, if the church was to be 100% obedient in the giving of tithes and offerings there wouldn’t be a need for government assitance for the sick, hungry, and homeless.  We’d have more than enough to eradicate the issues brought on by financial lack. Lest you think this is some other way to take money from you, read the end of verse 10 where it states Jabez request was granted.  The more honorable you are the more God will bless you with abundance. 

Thursday, Novemebr 19, 2009

Psalm 103 (King James Version)

5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Eagles are meticulous creatures.  At the start of every day, before they go in search of their daily nourishment the eagle takes the time to clean each of its 1400 feathers. It uses one side of its tongue to expunge dirt and debris from his wings and the other side, which has a special oil, to lubricate its feathers to ready it for flight.  Amazingly that which comes out of the eagle’s mouth does as much to rejuvenate this symbol of our freedom as the prey he plunders.  The good things God wants to delight you with will flow even more abundantly as you allow good words to emanate from your mouth like the oils that annoint the eagle’s pinions.

Wednesday, Novemebr 18, 2009

Psalm 68 (KJV)

19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
I like the answer my Pastor gives when asked the question “Who do you work for?”  His reply?  A very rich jewish carpenter.  It’s a job he won’t ever relinquish; and in all honesty he’d be crazy to leave a job with such a comprehensive benefits package.  According to the covenant (aka contract) he agreed to there is health for his body, a superior return on his investments (30, 60, and 100%), and completely open lines of communication.  The best news for you and me is that there are still positions available.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Luke 9 (Amplified)

24 For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].

If you have been a Christian for any length of time you are probably familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan; and if you are like I was you probably shook your head in disgust at the two religous men that passed by the wounded traveler.  After reading parts of the speech given by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr on the day before he was assasinated I got a slightly different perspective; and I think you will too.  Dr. King had an insiders view of the road these men, and the Samaritan who came to the rescue, took from Jericho to Jerusalem.  As it turns out this was a rather dangerous winding road with a steep incline (or decline depending which direction you were headed) that made it a perfect spot for would be thieves to set up shop for an ambush.  While many have proposed that the Levite and Pharisee passed the man by was because they were too busy and may have even been on the way to a service.  Taking into account the nature of the territory Dr. King gave the following synopsis which I believe provides the pivot point between earth based thinking and heavenly mindedness.  Here’s what he said: “That’s a dangerous road. In the days of Jesus it came to be known as the “Bloody Pass.” And you know, it’s possible that the priest and the Levite looked over that man on the ground and wondered if the robbers were still around. Or it’s possible that they felt that the man on the ground was merely faking. And he was acting like he had been robbed and hurt, in order to seize them over there, lure them there for quick and easy seizure. And so the first question that the Levite asked was, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” “  You know you have the mind of Christ infused on the inside of you when you are less concerned (afraid or fearful) about what will happen to you if you go out on a limb (being tricked, betrayed, talked about, suffer financial loss, or physical injury) than you are about the consequences to your neighbor if you don’t (physical death, spiritual death, sense that no one cares). 

Monday, November 16, 2009

I Corinthians 2 (KJV)

 1And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

Author and speaker Les Brown was once quoted as saying; “Speak not to impress but to connect.”  It is a statement the church today would do well to take to heart.  It was certainly the Apostle Paul’s m.o.. Paul was never accused of being a golden tongue orator, and yet no one , outside of Jesus, impacted the world for the sake of the gospel to the degree he did.  So what was the secret to his success?  What Paul lacked in oratory prowess he more than made up for with his ability to relate to people and to connect with them right where they lived.  Check out this description of the greatest apostle found in I Corinthians 9:21 -23: “To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”  Paul wanted so badly for the peopel that he met to experience the freedom he already gained that he was able to meet them emotionally and logically and lead them to the help they needed.  You don’t need to be a Bible scholar or professional speaker to change lives, just a person who connects with other people. You CAN make a difference.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Matthew 16 (KJV)

19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
 
I few months ago while flipping channels I came across an old episode of The Price Is Right at about the time that Bob Barker made the  pronouncement that one of the contestants had just won the keys to a……”NEW CAR”.  The person was obviously very excited but I couldn’t help but think about the plight of other “winners” throughout the years.  My mind wandered back to a special ABC News did on past New York State Lottery Million Dollar recipients and how in more than half the cases just a year or two removed from such a memorable event they were broke.  The reason being is even though they were given the keys to a vault they did not possess or put into practice the keys of consistent wealth production.  That is what makes this pronouncement by Jesus so powerful he didn’t just give us a key to open one door (the door of salvation) without providing us the keys of sustained success so that we can experience heaven on earth.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

II Timothy 1 (KJV)

 6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

 7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Every one of us is gifted by God; whether or not that gift ever comes to fruition and the level to which it manifest is dependent on our willingness to cultivate the seeds within and steward the fruits that result.  So what’s holding you back?  Is it the fear that you are inadequate? Or the fear that you have the power of a holy, omnipotent God working on the inside of you and you feel unworthy to live up to HIS standard?  I can tell you one thing for certain neither one of those spirits are from the God of heaven.  He sees you as valuable and precious, so you can’t be inadequate AND HE sent his son to die for you to make you worthy of the power he meant to transfer through you. So stir up that gifting without fear or repentance and live the life you have dreamed.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Matthew 6 (Amplified)

    33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

    34So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

Running was never my specialty.  Just ask my high school teammates and they will gladly tell you that you’d be better off timing me down the first base line with a calendar instead of a stopwatch. So when I got it in my head that I wanted to run a marathon (all 26.2 miles of one) I knew I needed some kind of edge or mental training to get me from start to finish.  The edge I needed was provided in a book called, of all things, The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer and is now the basis for a college accredited course at a university in the Pacific Northwest.  One of the best bit of training wisdom I got from the book was to take each day’s run as a totally different adventure; not to worry about how well or poorly I did the day before and also not to get ahead of myself by becoming anxious about the increasingly higher mileage runs ahead of me.  There were many times during the course of my training that I had disappointing “short runs” that could have easily scared me off from doing the longer distance runs on the schedule; I am glad they didn’t because in almost every case a poor effort was followed up by a surprisingly good, sometimes spectacular one.  As Christians we are going to have days where we miss the mark and mess up royally; at times you may question your salvation and if your not careful start looking ahead and wondering “how am I ever going to do this?” or even worse looking back and get to thinking “Why in the world would God ever love me?”  Jesus knew there would be days like this, remember he said “In this world you will have tribulation….”  But don’t forget he finished it up by adding “but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  You’ll never have “good cheer” if you are always thinking back to the things that went wrong yesterday or worried about what might go wrong tomorrow.  Today is the day that you have been present-ed with, so make the most of it and keep your gaze set on the things of the kingdom (not on your problems) and it won’t be long before you start seeing the good hand of God’s favor revealed in your life.
 

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Psalm 4 (King James Version)

 1Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

 2O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

 3But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

 4Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

It is amazing to me how many things you can learn on a golf course.  Maybe that is why even though my scores haven’t yet dropped into Tiger Woods range I just don’t want to give the game up.  One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned through my own shortcomings on the links and from the various instructors I’ve consulted with is that to be consistently successful you must groove a swing that progresses from the inside to the outside.  From a standpoint of physics this inside out swing compresses the ball and creates less spin so that the ball will fly farther and straighter.  The funny thing about the inside out swing is that I found it much easier said than done until I stumbled across one simple little principle.  After years of taking the club back and trying with all my might to immediately reverse its direction to pummel that dimpled little golf ball only to find that men (and women) half my size were outdistancing me by 20, 30, even 40 yards I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I missed out on this detail, but here goes.  This distance creating and life changing law is simply this, a pause.  You see without the pause at the top of my swing I was forced to throw my arms at the ball and my powerful lower body was uninvolved in my swing costing me a LOT of POWER.  When we fail to pause, that is BE STILL, in the presence of God and take an intospective look at where we stand with him we miss out on all the POWER he wants to transfer to us.  Power to obtain wealth, power to love our spouses unconditionally, and power to live victoriously are all readily available to you IF you can learn to pause, and be still in HIS presence.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Galatians 5 (The Message)

 25-26Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

One of the problems with purely religous thinking is that it seeks to systemize the things of God.  The kingdom of heaven is not found in three 1/2 hour prayers made at precisely the same time every day and a sinlessly perfect life.  God is more interested in a unique relationship with each member of his creation than some exercises by clones absent of the Spirit.  With that in mind take your eyes off of what others do and don’t do, and fix your gaze on the God who made you a one of a kind work of his hand and Spirit!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Matthew 4 (NIV)

4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

FF Bosworth, author of Christ The Healer, once said that “most Christians feed their bodies three hot meals a day, their spirits one cold snack a week, and then wonder why they are so weak in faith!” He might have been correct in adding that in addition to the one cold snack there is a lot of junk food that counteracts the value of the spiritual nutrition we recieve.  There is no doubting that these “unhealthy” alternatives are often convenient and pleasurable to us physically, but never forget the cumulative effect that these “fast spiritual foods” will have on you.  Just like “super sizing” it will add flab to your midsection, poor choices in the spirit will make you spiritually fat and sluggish, and ultimately unproductive in the things of God.  If you want to be strong in faith it may be time for you to join “Wait Watchers”, and start waiting on the Lord, the one who watches over His word to perform it.  Faith Giants didn’t get that way by sitting on their blessed assurance but by feasting on the powerful meat found in the promises of God’s word and putting feet to their faith.  Want your faith to be strong?  Follow the same formula.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Deuteronomy 1 (King James Version)

28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

Earlier this week I was observing and listening intently to a conversation some young men were having.  To call it a “conversation”, though, gives these boys way too much credit because it was more like an old fashion rank session as each of them took turns belittling the other and magnifying their shortcomings.  Trying to make themselves look BIG by making everyone else feel small.  After hearing this for about 5 minutes I had enough and had to break in.  This is what I told them: “Instead of cutting down others or being paralyzed with fear (the two most common reactions of those with an inferiority complex) focus your attention on building yourself up.”  After all what does anyone else have to do with the promises and calling God has for your life?

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Mark 2 (Amplified)

  15 And as Jesus, together with His disciples, sat at table in his [Levi's] house, many tax collectors and persons [[b]definitely stained] with sin were dining with Him, for there were many who walked the same road (followed) with Him.

The Church will never fulfill its purpose inside the four walls of church buildings.  Marketplace evangelism is the way that Jesus conducted his earthly ministry and the only way the Body of Christ can plunder hell to populate heaven.  It is true that we are not to be “of the world”, following the world’s ways and systems, but we must be actively involved in our world to reach, teach, and win the lost.  Mix in and match the success that Jesus experienced.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

I Kings 3 (KJV)

 9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
At my brothers wedding I told the story of two men who were on a golfing trip prior to one of the men’s wedding.  While looking for a golf ball the soon to be groom stumbled across a lamp, and upon rubbing it released the genie that had been trapped inside.  The man was readily informed by the genie that he was to be granted three wishes.  He first wished for a perfect day for the wedding, the genie responded with a snap “granted”. Next he asked that his soon to be bride would be completely satisfied with all of the days arrangements, again the genie waved his hands and proclaimed “done!”.  When it came time to make his third wish he gave it plenty of thought, and knowing that his fiance hated to fly requested a bridge from the mainland all the way to their honeymoon spot in Hawaii.  The genie was incredulous, “don’t you realize the logistics involved in a bridge that long; it will require far too much raw material and man power. Make another wish.”  The man thought a litlle harder and a flash of brilliance came to his head, “I’ve got it” he proclaimed “how about a book that tells me everything I need to know about making this new wife of mine happy, what she’s thinking, and what really makes her tick”; to which the genie replied “Did you want that bridge to be two lanes or four?”  Prior to becoming King, Solomon was given the same type of blank check by God who basically told him “ask anything you desire of me and I will grant it.”  Solomon, who is referred to as the wisest man outside of Jesus, didn’t “wish” for a treasure chest of priceless stones and gold instead he desired something far more valuable: the ability to lead with a discerning heart.  To most of us that would seem crazy, but think about it for a moment.  If you had the wisdom to avoid all the bad choices you’ve made and to make the positive decisions you’ve failed to make imagine the wealth of finances, health, and relationship success you would have today.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Ephesians 5 (Amplified)

    15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),

    16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.

    17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.

During the course of your life you will probably find it rare to come across individuals who pursue each day with a real and well defined purpose. In fact the majority live without regard to the imprint they will leave in their wake.  Even followers of the most purpose driven man to walk the earth, Jesus, have the tendency to trapse through the dyas spent here simply passing time until the “sweet bye and bye”.  I’m here to tell you that is NOT biblical.  The Bible teaches us clearly to walk circumspectly and to make the most of the time we are alotted here, in this day and this hour.  Seize the opportunities to leave a lasting mark on the landscape of your time.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Malachi 3 (Amplified)

    10Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.(D)

    11And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.

    12And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
A tithe is the tenth part.  One tenth.  I once heard someone say that if you want to be great at anything, just be 10% better than everyone else.  Isn’t it interesting that in God’s divine wisdom he set the bar at a tenth and said if we would do just this one thing that for our obedience he would do 7 things (I have italicized them in the passage for you to see).  Financial gurus can give you a littany of do’s and don’ts to fiscal success, but none more powerful than this from the One whose streets are paved with gold and who owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  Become a tither and recieve both his protection and supernatural favor to bring forth exponential increase on whatever you put your hand to do!

Thursday, October 29. 2009

Matthew 11 (Amplified)

 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

You’ve probably heard the expression “it’s not what you know it’s who you know”, based on this passage I would say an even more important axiom is “its not what you learn, but who you learn of…”  The bible teaches that the people of God perish for a lack of knowledge and I am certain that truth is not referring to knowledge of the world’s ways as much as it is pointing to our need to understand not just the acts of God, but HIS ways and HIS son.  You can have a doctorate in multiple disciplines, be well versed in several languages , and possess training in a variety of practical sciences but if your life is void of an intimate and growing enlightenment about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords you will never experience the fullness you are meant to have.  Let him tutor you daily through His spirit and study the word, God’s last will and testament, to learn of the abundance of sure promises he has made available to you.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Daniel 6 (New Living Translation)

 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

 4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
I don’t know who said it first, but there is a business principle that bears repeating: “if you can’t make money without money you probably can’t make money with money.”  Truly great men and women are never hemmed in by a like of advantages or resources; instead they create their own set of favorable circumstances and call upon their innate ingenuity and resourcefulness.  Daniel may seem special to you, but in reality you are no different than he and with God on your side you can accomplish even greater things than he achieved.  So today take your eyes off of the cicumstances or what you see as lack and trust in the God who delivered Daniel from prison and the lion’s den and is willing and able to do the same in you.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I Kings 18 (KJV)

 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Sometimes we read the Bible as if it is a fairy tale as spectators viewing an event that may have happened in the past, but isn’t applicable to the day and age in which we live.  Let me tell you something, this word that was written thousands of years before you were even a twinkle in your momma’s eye is just as relevant today as it was the day it was first uttered; and perhaps more so.  If I were to pose the question that Elijah put before the Israelites way back when to much of the church today I have a feeling I would get the same deer in head lights stares he must have experienced.  So many in and out of the body of Christ today are stuck in a holding pattern, not sure which way to go.  The old “paralysis of analysis.”  That’s why I love the language used in this passage.  “How long HALT ye?”  because that is precisely where your life is if you haven’t made the decision to live for and serve God with all your heart.  And though religion may have taught you that there is some type of eternal limbo, don’t fall for it.  You only have one life to determine where you spend the rest of eternity.  If you “halt” here you’ve made the decision to spend the rest of your existence outside the presence of God.  Don’t remain speechless as these “stuck” folks did.  Simply confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, with your mouth and believe it in your heart and your eternity in the presence of God is secure.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Proverbs 16 (The Message)

 1 Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.

 2 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
   God probes for what is good.

 3 Put God in charge of your work,
   then what you’ve planned will take place.

 

As a rabid sports fan I can relate to a fellow fan who is frustrated by a player who doesn’t perform to his potential and in the process makes a lot of mental miscues; but one thing I cannot understand is when they rail on an athlete who does the right thing but gets a bad result.  Let me explain; in the 2001 World Series, Yankees ace releiver Mariano Rivera gave up the game winning run off of a bloop basehit.  After the game, there were those in the Peanut Gallery who were very critical of Rivera and made their sore displeasure known publicly.  I don’t begrudge them their right to be upset at the loss, I felt the same way; however, it is hard to put too much blame on Rivera for that loss. Sure he gave up the game winning run, but upon further review you can see he actually made a great pitch that broke the bat of the guy swinging it.  The ball just happened to fall between two fielders.  Rivera made his pitch but didn’t get the result he wanted.  In life things will sometimes work out that way when despite your best preparations and efforts things don’t turn out the way you planned.  That’s why I wouldn’t want to travel another step of my life without God’s good hand of favor, because when you put HIM at the center of all you do even those things that don’t seem to work out for you still do.  Just ask Mariano!

Friday, October 23, 2009

I John 5 (KJV)

 14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Have you ever had a friend who you knew you could really count on?  Someone who has been there for you in thick and thin, in good times and bad, and has your back when others rail against you?  The bible teaches us that Jesus is like a friend that sticks closer than any brother; and though, even our closest earthly realtionships can falter we can be sure of this God’s love for us and his willingness to do what is in our best interest all the time will never fail.  Today and every day you can rest in confident assurance that when you come to him he is there to listen and answer your heart’s cry.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Jeremiah 29 (NIV)

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

On several occasions I have been asked to speak to business and volunteer organizations on the topic of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire team.  After breaking the ice and getting to know the group I am speaking with I usually like to do a little exercise to gauge the audience’s level of commitment to both participation in the workshop and their group’s improvement initiative.  It goes like this, I ask each memebr of the team to stand and on the count of three raise their hands up as high as they can.  Let’s you and me try it right now, go ahead  and don’t worry if the person in the cubicle sitting next to you right now thinks you are a little strange, stand to your feet, ready, 1, 2, 2 1/2, 3. Is your hand raised up as high as you can raise it? (I see you shaking your head)  Good.  Now raise it up a little higher.  Without fail, 100% of the time (even people who have heard me speak before) everyone in the room is able to raise their hand up a little bit higher than what they originally thought was the highest they could raise it.  Isn’t that interesting?  That’s the difference between good and great; that’s the difference between truly excelling in your field, getting fulfillment out of a relationship, or really touching the heart of God and getting what everybody else gets, just good.  You deserve the best, God sent his best for you.  He deserves your best in return.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Romans 12 (NKJV)

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

One of my favorite Bible Teachers to listen to is Ravi Zacharias.  His daily radio programs, Let My People Think and Just Thinking, encourages us as christians to use our mind as well as our heart when winning he world for Christ.  Ravi has traveled the world and infiltrated centers of higher learning where he has been used to expose some of the myths and fallacies that have been perpetuated in these arenas.  Through education and critical thinking he has challenged academics to see the truth of God’s word.  As much as I enjoy listening to Rev Zacharias I would be foolish to think with the level of training I now have that I could go into these venues and be successful.  That’s not to say I couldn’t obtain the skill and research background to one day do so, but at the present I have neither the annointing or natural ability to do so; but I do have the ability to tell people what Jesus has done for me, to share my sotory, and how the living word of God impacts my life on a daily basis.  That’s a sober assessment of who I am and where I am at as a beleiver.  Even though I want more, I am not there yet and there is nothing wrong with that.  In my experience as a leader in a local church body I have seen far too often people who were on the right course with God, bite off more than they could chew and begin to move in an area where they may have been called, but had not yet been released to in violation of the principle espoused here.  They saw their talent as being enough to get by on and failed to recognize whatever we do in the kingdom is not for our glory but for His.  If you keep that in mind you can rest assured that your thinking is in line with the word.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Mark 9 (KJV)

 23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

This morning I want to make you an offer you can’t refuse (Work with me here and imagine the Marlon Brando voice I just used).  I am going to give you your choice of NASCAR or Formula 1 Driver and a 2010 Shelby Mustang GT with a 4.6L V8 engine (315 horsepower) in a winner takes all 1 Million Dollar 200 meter sprint versus Me and my very flashy, very powerful…….2001 Toyota Sienna XLE minivan.  Are you biting?  Oh yeah, there is one catch.  Jeff Gordon, Junior, or whichever driver you choose has to race me with the Parking Brake fully engaged and a 300pound Gorilla in tow behind that Shelby GT.  Still biting?  I didn’t think so.  I’m sure that racing scenario sounds ridiculous to you, and it did to me as I formulated it, but the truth is most people are doing that every day of the week when it comes to their life.  Here you are with the all knowing, all loving all powerul God of the universe living on the inside of you and you are holding him back with the parking brake (and 300 pound Gorilla) known as doubt and unbelief.  And you wonder why you’ve been “dreamjacked”.  Your ability to stand on and believe the word of God is so powerful that it can either handcuff the power of God in your life or release hime to pour out the blessings that you can’t contain.  Go ahead, release that brake and see your dreams come to fruition.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Genesis 4 (KJV)

 6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

 7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

One of the greatest lessons I learned early in life was that a mistake can be as damaging or as harmless as YOU want to make it.  No matter how good or how talented you are there will be times when you have losses, fail at things, or just simply miss the mark.  The key to overcoming those is to learn to seperate the “loss” from the person; and that goes for all the people in your life, including YOURSELF.  You may remember the story of Cain and Able, the firstborn children of Adam and Eve.  After bringing to God an ofering Able was commended (because he brought the Best of his flock) while Cain was chastised for bringing some “tired” looking vegetables.  Cain’s response to the challenge given him at this juncture held within it the power to change his life.  You probably will recall what happened next, Cain deals with his disappointment by killing his brother able then trying to cover it up with the now famous line “am I my brother’s keeper.”  The rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say, is simply this All Cain needed to do was accept the error he made, not as an indictment as who he was as a person, but as an indicator that there was an issue he needed to correct.  Sure he had, in a way, “lost” out on God’s favor in this instance but he wasn’t a loser.  So many times we are our own worst enemies because we refuse to forgive ourselves, or cut ourselves some slack.  We can be our own toughest critic or we can be our biggest booster.  Be encouraged today, that regardless of what mistakes or failures you have on your resume; no matter wat you’ve lost you ARE NOT a loser.  YOur a winner; in fact Your heavenly father says You are MORE THAN A CONQUEROR through him (Jesus) that loved you (Romans 8:37).

Friday, October 16, 2009

II Samuel 21 (Amplified)

    16Ishbi-benob, who was of the sons of the giants, the weight of whose spear was 300 shekels of bronze, was girded with a new sword, and thought to kill David.

    17But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s aid, and smote and killed the Philistine. Then David’s men charged him, You shall no more go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.

    18After this, there was again war with the Philistines at Gob (Gezer). Then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Saph (Sippai), who was a descendant of the giant.

    19There was again war at Gob with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam.

    20And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; he also was a descendant of the giants.

    21And when he defied Israel, Jonathan son of Shimei, brother of David, slew him.

    22These four were descended from the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hands of David and his servants.

What happens when you take a giant?  I’ll answer that question in a moment, but first let’s take a look at the result of running from one.  You can chalk this one up to learning something from your children.  Last fall I watched this movie with my kids called “Max Keeble”; the story of an undersized high school freshman trying to find his way and make his mark in life.  One of the plot lines involved an upperclassman named McGinty who was known for terrorizing the small and weak.  This year would be no different; as in past years McGinty singled out a specific freshman to wield his “power” over, to torture, and generally make life miserable for the poor unfortunate focus of his misguided anger.  As he approached Max to inform him that he was this year’s nominee the camera flashed back on his previous victims who put up absolutely no fight and succumbed to McGinty’s demands which included daily beatings and of course the paying of protection money.  With no one willing to put up a fight, the myth of his dominance and strength grew until the mere mention of his name caused freshmen to quake in their boots.  The funny thing is McGinty was really a scared little boy hiding under the guise of this tough exterior.  Unchecked he would have continued to cause fear and dread; but thankfully Max wouldn’t have any of it.  Buoyed by the fact that he thought he family was moving and he had nothing to lose he stood up to McGinty and the other bullys in the school and lead a revolt against them.  His bold action stopped the violence and made the school safe for freshmen to roam the halls once again without having to look over their shoulders at every turn.   What happens when you take down a Giant?  You strip them and others like them of their greatest weapon, fear.  And once they ‘ve lost that device you’ll see them run more afraid then the people they used to terrorize. You can enlarge the giants in your life by letting them stomp all over your dreams or you can put an end to them once and for all by taking a stand as David and his servants did.  We all know how David soundly defeated Goliath, which in itself was inspiring, but you may not have ever read about these ripple waves of that victory.  David’s victory paved the way for others like him to rise up and rid the land of other giant foes.  Your victories can do the same.  Be the first in your circle of influence to knock out the Gaint of fear and watch those around you follow in your footsteps.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Matthew 13 (KJV)

 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
 

Remember the teacher from the Charlie Brown Christmas and Thanksgiving specials?  Whenever she spoke all we ever heard was “Wha, wha ,wha ,wha, wha”.   I don’t know about you, but I can think of some reall life situations when that is all I’ve heard; like the time my wife sent me to the grocery store needing some key ingredients for a dish she was preparing that evening and I came back, thinking I had done my husbandly duty only to find out that I had missed 2 crucial items on the list.  I was so ready to rush out the door and get back to the “game of the week” that I didn’t really hear what she was saying (just glimpses of her message).  The problem wasn’t that she wasn’t speaking clearly, just that I had my agenda (getting back to the game) and my heart wasn’t in to the message.   Isn’t it interesting that 80% of the letters in the word HEART spell hear.  When you want others to know you really care about them you will listen to and hear what they are saying.  Jesus could easily recognize when people with hypocritical hearts were in the audience becuase when he spoke they could only pick up the message that was in agreement with their agenda; but what they failed to realize and what we must realize is God never determines His plans by our ideals.  it’s always the other way around.  So when He speaks listen intently, or else you might miss out on the ingredients necessary to the recipe for eternal life.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Lamentations 3 (NIV)

 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.
Life, as we know it, can get old real quick.  Especially when it seems like we are getting bombarded with fiery darts from every side.  If your not careful, before you know it YOU can become jaded and turn into the stick in the mud you always vowed NEVER to become.  Don’t believe me, let me tell you how I found this to be true.  During my next to last year in New Jersey I experienced a very dry season, I hadn’t given up, but I sure felt close.  I was fed up with my practice and my life as I knew it.  One day while contemplating my next move I happened to look back at my driveway after I backed out and noticed something I hadn’t picked up on before.  Right at the corner of my front lawn there was embedded in the wet grass and soft dirt tire tracks.  I didn’t think all too much about it then, but as I drove on I got one of those God breathed light bulb moments (you know, the kind that makes you shake your head and say “huh”).  For the next 40 minutes of my commute to work, I was chastised and at the same time encouraged about the “RUT” I had allowed myself to get into.  For all I knew I had backed over the same patch of grass a thousand times over the last 1000 days, never varying my path, obstinateley moving ahead (or in this case in reverse, another metaphor for my situation at the time).  The words rang clear as a bell to me: “the steadfast love of the Lord, is NEW every morning.”  He doesn’t change, but he finds new ways to express His love to us daily; if you are to be like HIM you need to be creative enough to find new ways to express your love and passion for HIM and for the people he has put in your life everyday.  You can create tracks or you can blaze a new path right to His heart, right to the heart of your wife, your children, even into the hearts of your boss or customers. 

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Luke 10 (The Message)

 41-42The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

A few months back I was busy handling my run alll over town schedule and I needed to make a stop at the grocery store just to pick up a few items before grabbing the kids and heading home to help out with dinner.  My time was tight, but I knew I could race through the store grab the items I needed and be out in no time flat.  Everything was going smooth until I went to check out.  I scurried up to the express line, “10 items or less”, with my packave of chicken, can of mushrooms and, 2 tomatoes in hand thinking “I got this”; only to run into a road block.  The woman in front of me seemed to be taking forever; and on top of that she had (wait for it)……. 13 items.  That really irked me, and as I waited my turn she politely turned and smiled.  Just to rub it in I was thinking and I feigned a smile back in return.  After paying and running out to my car it seemed with the ease of Usain Bolt I drove off in the direction of the school.  Now, it was God’s turn.  “what have I told you about getting hung up on trivial things?  Would it really be that bad if you showed up 2 minutes late on this occasion to pick up those grown up children of yours?”  (I happened to be on time as it was with 3 minutes to spare).  I wanted to say something back like “But Lord, the sign is so clear, 10 items or LESS.”  It was no use, the Holy Spirit convicted me and my mind began to go back to that woman; what had her day been like, who did sahe need to get home to, what kind of turmoil was going on in her life.  So many times we miss the Big Picture because we are hung up on a typo or inconsequential detail.  The “one essential” thing is quite clear, God and people, choose them and you’ll always be full.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Luke 16 (The Message)

 10-11Jesus went on to make these comments:

   If you’re honest in small things,
      you’ll be honest in big things;
   If you’re a crook in small things,
      you’ll be a crook in big things.
   If you’re not honest in small jobs,
      who will put you in charge of the store?
Around my 10th birthday I was “promoted” to head groundskeeper of the family home; a job that entailed mowing and wee wacking the lawn.  Although this first time “employment opportunity” included a modest financial compensation package I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be thrust into the position.  Which I made evident to my boss, aka Dad, with some whining and complaining.  That all changed though when a friend of my parents came by the house wanting to check out the job I did on my own lawn before hiring me to do his.  Unfortunately for me this was an unannounced visit, and he came on a day when I did a particularly rushed job (so that I could hang out with my buddies).  When the man came over, he pulled me aside and asked why I had missed cutting sucha large section of the lawn to which I replied, attempting to justify myself, “it’s only my own lawn, don’t worry I would never do that on yours.”  I didn’t get this man’s business by I learned a valuable lesson that day; and thereafter I was certain to mow “our” lawn to the best of my ability and without complaining.  Soon after I had many of the neighbors asking me to cut their grass; and more important for me it has helped me stay a cut above ever since.
 

Friday, October 9, 2009

I Samuel 15 (KJV)

22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Many moons ago, when I was in graduate school a friend and I took it upon ourselves to try to punish ourselves into better shape.  We did all kinds of extreme things, befor extreme fitness programs came into vogue.  I’ll never forget one specific routine; after our leg routine we would take what we like to call the walk of pain.  Carrying kettlebells we would walk up a steep incline to a set of steps and then finally up a steeper second incline.  To monitor our progress we timed the whole ordeal, and after doing this for several months (1 day a week) our best time was right around 13 minutes.  On one particular warm Atlanta day we hastily made the decision to take this one step further and run the course to see how fast we could do it.  So we started off, kettle bells in hand, running with all of our might.  By the time we reached the finish line, to our amazement, our time running the course was 16 minutes and 15 seconds.  A whole 3 minutes and 15 seconds slower than when we walked the course.  All the time we needed to rest in between sprints ate up more of the clock than we anticipated.  I remember saying to my friend, “its amazing, just like in so many areas of life, nothing can beat a slow and steady pace.”  You see many of us walk around beating ourselves up because we think God is expecting the spectacular out of us.  We condemn ourselves when we don’t pray an hour a day or read a full chapter of the Bible.  We want to give the huge offering that will get us noticed as a real giver.  Let me let you in on a little secret, God would much rather see you do a little consistently than doing BIG things in spits and spurts.   Imagine how close you would draw to him if you would commit to real focused prayer, without fail 10 minutes every day.  How much of the word would you know by now if you read just a few verses and held them in your heart every day?  What would your financial situation be like now if you would simply be faithful to tither week in adn week out?  And the same holds true with your relationships: instead of taking your wife/husband out for an extravaganza once in a blue moon you’ll find that going on regular, less expensive dates will fill that love and communication account to overflowing.  Trust me on this, you may think that you can do the hero thing, but remember in life we all face bumps and those hurdles can get in the way of always doing the spectacular.  Do the small things, consistently and you’ll reap a Big result in the end.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Luke 18 (KJV)

 1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

My youngest daughter, at the age of 7 or 8, lerned the poer of “Why?”  Whenever I would tell her that she couldn’t do something or was forbiddenn to have something she never accepted that as, Regis Philban says, “my final answer.”  And though I have a tendency to be just as obstinate and strong willed, in issues where I know her personal well being wouldn’t be compromised after enough “why’s” she persuaded me to bend.  As a loving father I never want to see my children disappointed.  Daddy God is no different.  His heart is never to curse or punish us, not at all.  He delights and takes pleasure in blessing and prospering us (Psalm 35:27).  He wants us to come to him with an attitude of expectancy.  Not that we are demanding anything of him, but that we understand where we are positionally in him that we are not ashamed to ask, to seek, and to knock until the doors open wide.  Just like that father sending his children off to college wants to know they mean business before he releases the tuition money our persistence and tenacity demonstrate to the Father they we don’t take lightly what it means to be under  his shadow of favor and our responsibility to BE a blessing to others.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Luke 12 (KJV)

 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

 47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Recently a friend of mine lost his son to a tragic accident.  The young man was vibrant and full of life.  At 26 years of age he had, as people often say, “his whole life ahead of him.”  For years he had told those closest to him  how much he loved God, but that he wasn’t ready to commit to a life of serving him; not yet anyway.  He was having too much fun, and there would be plenty of time for him to get his life right with his heavenly father.  I guess, none of us know the time nor the hour.  Certainly God is a God of mercy, and I’m hopeful that this young man was able to make a decision for God before his final breath, but wouldn’t you much rather be certain of your eternal future and not leave it to chance whether your flame is extinguished prematurely.  The time to  prepare for eternity is never tomorrow.  It’s now.

If you want to make Jesus your Savoir and Lord somply pray this where you are and believe it with your heart and you will be saved:

Heavenly Father, I ask you right now to come into my heart and save me.  I confess that I am a sinner and I need your grace.  I believe Jesus died on the cross to save me and heal me and I recieve his gift to me.  I want to serve you for the rest of my life.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Philippians 2 (The Message)

 12-13What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

I don’t know if you have ever noticed it, but energy begets energy.  Like a snowball rolling down hill, adding to its size and picking up steam we need to consider the effect that momentum has in our life; the life of faith.  It is essential to build on any positive that manifests in your life.  So often our pea sized brains want to focus on the negatives that come our way, which will only serve to deflate you, defeat you, and deplete you of the energy God has been attempting to infuse in you from the moment you decided to live for him.  He’ll do it, alright, but you ca’t afford to miss out on your part by being responsive to what he speaks to you…don’t put it off til tommorrow, what he says DO IT NOW; and when you experience that first win (leading someone to salvation, seeing someone restored physically, emotionally, or financially) build on it by doubling your efforts and pursuing the next great thing God has for you.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Proverbs 6 (KJV)

 4Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

 5Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

 6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

 7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

 8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

 9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

 10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

 11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

I don’t know who is guilty of perpetuating the myth that trusting God for financial provision gives you the right to be LAZZY (that’s lazy with a double z).  No where do I find that modis operandi to be consistent with biblical principles.  Just the opposite is true, while we should be dependent on God to meet all of our needs we musn’t forget the role we are called to play.  Want more proof?  Just check out the Bios of Bible icons like Joseph, Daniel, and David they not only outsmarted tyhe competition, they outworked them.  Today is no different, the best in the world Tiger, MJ, Brady, Federer all know and employ a trememndous work ethic.  Now just imagine, you + the annointing + championship effort…..the sky’s the limit.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Luke 14 (KJV)

5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

Recently I have had the opportunity to reconnect with some friends that I haven’t heard from in a while.  It is good to catch up on all that is going on in their life; and each one of us wondered how we let all those years pass by.  It really has put in greater perspective for me how much importance we tend to put on our accomplishments and material pursuits to the detriment of relationships.  In this passage, Jesus called out the Pharisees of his day who were willing to break tradition for the sake of saving their Cadillac (aka donkey), but wouldn’t bust out of the religous rut to help out a man that needed phuysical and emotional healing.  While the world finds it reasonable to jump on the “kick em while there down” philosophy we are supposed to be different.  How we respond to a brother who has fallen reveals just as much about our character as what we do when we come across a non-beleiver who needs salvation.  Take the Bible test for spirituality (Gal 6:1), and considerhow you respond when catch someone in a fault.  Do you kick more dirt on him, ignore him, or pull him up and restore him?

Thursday, October 1, 2009

I Samuel 16 (KJV)

And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

Someone once said that the more time you spend dwelling on your past and worrying about the future the less time you have to focus on the gift that is before you known as the present.  How long will you mourn for the failure of a business, the loss of a home, or the breakup of a relationship?  Just because you have the right to hang on to hurts and dissappointments doesn’t make it right; and in fact it is only robbing you or your power and potential.  When God spoke to Samuel and told him to “get over it” he instructed him to fill his horn with oil.  He was referring to a container that Samuel was to use to annoint the future king with but he might just as well been referring to Samuel himself.  The word for you tioday is get over past hurts, roots of bitterness, and disappointments and fill yourself with the fresh oil of the spirit of God.  Get in his word and his presence and allow him to orchestrate the startegies you need to take you, your family, and your business to the next level.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

I John 4 (KJV)

 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
From the time of birth we humans are in search of real love.  Be it the love of a parent, friend, or life partner we long for whatever it is our individual soul needs to feel valued and accepted.  The bible teaches that love covers a multitude of sins; which I think is a good place to start for us to understand, truly, what real love is.  Sin carries with it the fear of death and seperation, from God and those who are important to us.  Therefore, when we are able to participate in someone elses life in such a way as to overcome the sources of fear we are acting in love; and in doing so we stand positionally as Jesus did.  The only way to really express such love is to first accept the love he shows us.  Unconditional, perfect love.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Habakkuk 2 (Message)

 2-3 And then God answered: “Write this.
   Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
   so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness
   pointing to what’s coming.
It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait!
   And it doesn’t lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.
   It’s on its way. It will come right on time.

Have you ever had one of those light bulb moments?  You know what I mean; a time when something just clicked, as if somewhat hit the switch and everything that had you scratching your head all of a sudden became perfectly clear.  Now, let me ask you this, how many times did you write down that revelation; or shall I say failed to write it down only to forget what was revealed?  It is a shame but, I am convinced there is an abyss that holds millions of life changing, planet shaking, and earth shattering ideas because we assumed we had it “all up here” in our chrome dome. If we don’t learn to act on those things that have been made known to us we are destined to repeat the same mistake and miss out on the supernatural blessing and favor of God.  Don’t let that be you today.  Daddy God wants to open up a world of opportunity for you, in fact he probably already has, but you must be attentiuve and you must be obedient to make it plain.  Write it down, every idea, every plan to improve your family, every idea for a new business, each and every way he tells you to creatively share the gospel pu it down in a journal or somewhere that you can refer to it over and over again.  If you do so, it will eventually start speaking to YOU, that written word will hold you accountable when no one else can and before long you’ll have such a passion for it that you won’t rest soundly until it is accomplished.  That written vision will provide the fuel (that energy that you say you now lack because your so sick and tired of grinding) to push you on toward it and it will be self replicating, so much so that others will be drawn to it.  It may start out slow, but like that engine that traveled up the hill building steam, motoring toward the top you can expect it to reach apeak and after that it will speed effortlessly in the direction of its ultimate destination.  Start writing it, today!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Deuteronomy 30 (KJV)

 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

 
Making quality choices starts with our decision, first, to accept Jesus as our Savior; but you won’t truly be under the shadow if his protection and blessing until you submit to his Lordship.  For him to move from “Thee Lord” to “my Lord” means that I am willing to submit to his word even when it conflicts with the way I think things should be; it means trusting him enough to step out of the boat onto the water (Matthew 14:29), and accept that his wisdom is greater than that of any man.  Is he your Lord today?

Friday, September 25, 2009

Joshua 1 (KJV)

 7Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

 8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Fear is a normal human emotion given to us by God to help us and protect us.  A healthy fear will keep someone from undoing their seatbelt while on the top of a roller coaster or intentionally putting their hand on a flame.  This emotion of fear, though, should not be confused with the spirit of fear which is not from God and is based on a sense of powerlessness, unreasonable worries, or misinformation about pending events.  The way to combat the spirit of fear is with the power of the word.  When God commnaded Joshua to be strong and very courageous he wasn’t telling him to work out physically or to conjure up a false sense of confidence.  If you notice, his instructions were to meditate on the word continually and to observe to follow the instructions of those directives.  Real strength and real courage in our lives has to come from the inside out and if we’ll commit to hearken unto his word success is guaranteed.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Matthew 11 (Amplified)

12And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a [a]share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

I know some of you have this view of christianity as being soft.  Maybe your view is of some people sitting around a campfire singing Cumbayah; and you are concerned that if you tell someone who is living openly in sin that their lifestyle is putting them on a path straight to hell that you might offend them.  Maybe you’ve been trying to be so politically correct that you won’t even pray in Jesus name for fear of rubbing someone the wrong way.   The truth of the matter is that the salvation of men was purchased with a very great price, the nail pierced body and blood of Jesus.  The author of this passage paints are very different picture of how we should view our pursuit of Christ.  Realize that the enemy would like nothing better than to spoil out your one way ticket into the Kingdom and to populate hell with a bunc of people God never intended to be their, like your friends, siblings, parents, and children.  It is going to take forceful and ferocious action to secure this “precious prize” for a world that is lost and dying at our doorstep.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I Timothy 4 (Amplified)

7But refuse and avoid irreverent legends (profane and impure and godless fictions, mere grandmothers’ tales) and silly myths, and express your disapproval of them. Train yourself toward godliness (piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit].

With so many things vying for your attention it can be easy to get off track and miss out on the really important things that God has reserved for you.  Timothy’s mentor, Paul, had a very simple solution…..”Just say NO.”  He instructed the young man to put the kybosh on everything that lacked spiritual value and to exercise his will toward godliness.   When you and I trim the fat of busy-ness from our lives we will find that staying spirituallly fit is a whole lot easier.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

I Samuel 17 (Message)

48-49 That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt.
When faced with a challenge do you view it as a punishment you need to hide from or an opportunity to embrace; a chance to once again excel in God.  That is one of the things I like best about the life of David.  Sure he made some big mistakes, whoppers by most accounts, but when faced with an adversary (physical or spiritual) he not only didn’t step back he sprinted toward them.  In facing Goliath he proved the adage that when you stand up to a bully they always fall.  Whatever it is that is taunting or teasing you on your way to doing what God has assigned you is powerless to defeat you; so stop running from them and hasten your sprint through them.

Monday, September 21, 2009

I Samuel 22

 2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

The other day I was thinking back to my days on the school yard and I was reminded of the way we used to pick teams.  Usually the two best players would be named captain and from there players would be picked for each team in descending order from best to worst.  The kids that were the worst would, undoubtedly, be praying under their breath hoping not to be the last one picked.  As I looked at this team of 400 assembled around David I couldn’t help but think, these were the guys that were the bottom of the barrel as far as the other “team captains” were concerned.  How fortunate they were to end up on David’s squad.  David had this uncanny ability to elevate the way others viewed themself.  You can see that from his relationship with Jonathan and even how he influenced King Saul, when as a boy he would play music to sooth the tormented King. According to this passage the 400 men surrounding David wouldn’t be considered for any all-star teams; they were broke, busted, and disgusted.  Read on a few chapters ahead, though, and you will find that these men developed into an ultimate fighting force and under the direction of a great motivator and leader they went from being miniscule to mighty.  I beleive that in each one of us there is some of these men and some of David.  We can all benefit from the words and trust of an encourager and we all have the responsibility to function in the role of motivator to others as well.

Friday, September 18, 2009

John 11 (KJV)

 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
You say you want all that God has for you, BUT…….. but my job, but my lack of a job, but my kids, but my lack of energy, but, but, but.  Jesus says, “take away the stone”.  Oh it might stink a little (or a lot) depending on how long those excuses have been lingering.  One thing you’ve got to realize though is you can’t get moving toward your destiny in God until you either get around, get over, or get through the obstacles you keep zooming in on.  Do you think Jesus, had to remove the stone to raise Lazarus?  No, he could have raised him just the same with that barrier in place.  The problem was that everyone else in his midst couldn’t see past the stone.  If you are to see your life raised to a new level start by creating a clear line of sight to your goals and dreams.  This begins with transforming our thought process and hence our actions so that they conform to the gospel and not the world system (see Romans 12).

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Matthew 5 (KJV)

 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
The other day I caught myself doing something my parents did to (for) me.   I reprimanded (gently) my daughter for eating sweets before dinner, with the exact phrase “Don’t you know that will spoil you dinner?”  To which she just shrugged as if she had never heard me or my wife say such a thing before.  It was a “50 First Dates” encounter.  The funny thing is, just as my eleven year olf d needs reminding periodically about the importance of eating the things that are good for her so do we; and God is quick to remind us that if we would only seek those good things they would be filling.  If you have been trying to fill the voids in your life with “empty calorie” relationships and cheap thrills you’ll find there will always be a hole to follow those cravings.  Not until you find yourself feeding on the word of God and become filled with the love of God will you become whole.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

I Samuel 30 (Verses 6 and 18) (KJV)

“And David was greatly distressed for the people spoke of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters (who had been kidnapped by an enemy army): but David encouraged himself in the Lord His God……..And David recovered all….”    (underline and parenthetic phrases added)

David the Giant killer,  when faced with the loss of all that was important to him and abandoned by those closest to him,  didn’t wait around for someone to give him a pep talk or wallow in self pity.  Instead he gave himself motivation by focusing on what God had done for him in the past and what he knew his destiny was.  He took decided action by praying, encouraging those around him who were still willing, and pursuing.  If you are facing a trial right now, do the same!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Luke 6 (KJV)

 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Have your skills as a fruit inspector grown since you made a decision to serve Christ?  They should have, but probably not in the way most of us have done so.  Jesus reprimanded the “hypocrites” who had become adept at finding fault with everyone except themselves.  Contrary to popular opinion there is nothing wrong with finding, and even confronting a brother or sister who has sinned but the purpose in doing so should always be restoration, not condemnation (Galatians 6:1).  One of the things that can derail your christian walk and keep you from success in so many other areas of life as well is ignoring or failing to recognize the presence of sin and weaknesses in our own life.  That’s why you must get good at evaluating the fruit on your own farm; look out for sections of rotteness signaling pride in excess. Stay on the alert for bitterness caused by a lack of proper fertilization provided by psoitive self talk (you can’t always count on others to encourage you, sometimes you must do it on your own), and thirdly watch out for areas where no fruit has been produced at all, perhaps due to a lack of rainfall.  You must daily allow the water of the word of God to penetrate your soil.  Don’t just read for the sake of reading, study the word (you are better off with just a passage or two so long as there is understanding than if you read 10 pages but didn’t know what the spirit was saying) and allow it to really infiltrate your life.

Monday, September 14, 2009

I Corinthians 15

   33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.
Over the past decade or so their has been a big push in business circles for a higher degree of Quality Control and consumer Quality Assurance.  This type of oversight has led large and small companies alike to create jobs and departments whose sole responsibility is to insure that only the best of the best make it to the end consumer, because they know they may only have one opportunity to win a new customer and it may only take one mistake to lose a big account.  As men and women who desire to please God and daily, make an impact on the communities we are a part of we are given the reponsibility to be our own QA and QC managers.  If we are going to continue to produce good moral and spiritual fruit than we can’t be slack when it comes to overseeing the influences we allow in our lives.  The old adage that states, “it only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole bunch”, is still valid today.  Remember we are to be in the the world but not of it; which means don’t let the world get inside of you.  Carefully choose the people and idealogies you associate with and you’ll exceed high quality standards!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Proverbs 10 (KJV)

 7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

My grandmother, Florence Tice, was never rich.  She wasn’t famous and didn’t move crowds to action by eloquence of speech or the magnitude of her presence in a room.  Until this day though, the mere thought of Grandma Flo brings a smile to the face of those that knew her and were touched by her sweet spirit and her generosity.  She wasn’t around this past saturday (9/5) to celebrate her birthday with us; but that didn’t stop us from recalling the kind of person she was and what she meant to us.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

II Kings 5 (KJV)

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

All rewards are NOT created equal.  Consider the case of Gehazi, the prophet Elisha’s servant.  Here was a man privy to the lifestyle and supernatural gifts of, perhaps, the world’s greatest prophet.  He witnessed miracles and as a result of his relationship with Elisha was priveldged to meet some of the world’s most powerful men.  In this particular encounter Gehazi takes “full” advantage of his position to recieve the prophets “reward”.  His opportunism provided him with a short lived financial windfall, but cost him dearly (see verse 27).  Compare that with his mentor, who served his predecessor, Elijah, sacrificially and faithfully.  Because he never sought to usurp his Elijah’s power or position, faithfully serving that which was another man’s, he was rewarded by having a “double” portion of his master’s mantle bestowed upon him (II Kings 2:8-12).  Keep that in mind the next time you find yourself in a role as “just” a volunteer in someone else’s ministry.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

I Thessalonians 4 (AMP)

    10 And indeed you already are [extending and displaying your love] to all the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we beseech and earnestly exhort you, brethren, that you [a]excel [in this matter] more and more,

    11 To make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you,

    12 So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing.
As Christians we are often pulled in many directions wanting to fulfill with excellence the varied roles we have in life.  Before you get wrapped up in trying to be everything to everyone remember to make it your goal to live a life that speaks to your neighbors.  “How do I do this?” you ask.  Quite simply follow the advice of this passage.  Act in a manner consistent with the heart of God by being teachable in situations that call for teachability; provide for your family without stepping over the needs of others, be the hardest working, most diligent person in your company; and carry yourself with dignity and grace.  Then if need be tell others what Jesus has done for you!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Proverbs 6 (The Message)

27 Can you build a fire in your lap
   and not burn your pants?

The science of fire fighting is really quite amazing.  Though it may look random to the untrained eye, when firefighters run into a burning building or tackle a forest fire they usually have a very specific plan of attack.  Keeping that in mind, I am sure if you asked a professional the best way to safeguard yourself from a fire, he would say the best offense is a good defense.  The truth of the matter is that we are all vulnerable to the elements that can lead to natural and spiritual fires.  Just as it is unwise to go to bed with a lit cigarette in hand or keep flaming candles near draperie, it’s equally dangerous for a married man (or unmarried for that matter) to be alone with with a woman who is not his wife.  The same is true of teens and countless other situations that can burn you and scar a family for years and in some cases generations.  According to the people who deal with fires for a living, carelessness is the number one cause of fires so it seems to follow that by exercising some good judgement and taking better care of how we handle the substances that are most flammable we can do a better job at fireproofing our life.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Mark 4 (KJV)

 2 6And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

Apart from the fact that he is the only human embodiment of sinless perfection Jesus was successful because he knew how to relate to people from all diiferent walks of life.  Nationality, social status, and religion didn’t get in the way of his ability to communicate the message of the kingdom of heaven.  His method was simple, always tie any new concept to some other concept (i.e fishing, farming, etc.) the person or group he was speaking to was already completely familiar with.  The next time you have an opportunity to share your faith find out what is familiar to the person you are speaking with and follow Jesus’ example.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Matthew 24 (KJV)

 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Beware of angelology.  In recent years it has become cliche to say “angels are watching over me” even among people who deny the power of Jesus Christ.  The thing that people in this group fail to realize, is that angels get their marching orders from the word of God, either directly from the Father’s mouth or from the voice of a follower of God who directs them according to God’s word (Psalm 103:20).  In other words, apart from God they are powerless (as you and I are).  And when it comes to seeking the answers you need to direct your life, you have no business “praying” to angels either.  If you want inside information, though, rest assured you can go directly to the source who tells you to come boldly before his throne of mercy and grace (Heb 4:16).

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Habakkuk 2 (KJV)

 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

The secret of the success of the McDonald’s brand, beleive it or not, has nothing to do with the quality of the products they use to make their burgers (you can find a lot better grade of beef than what’s found in the Big Mac).  It has nothing to do with the high level of customer service they provide at the drive through window (I doubt the teenager throwin you filet-o-fish in the bag would be confused with a Ritz Carlton employee).  And yet, day after day, month after month, and year after year more franchises continue to pop up and succeed at a high level’ why?  The answer is quite simple, from the very beginning, Ray Kroc had a well defined, easily understandably written system that could be followed by anyone.  Your ideas may be good, but how well are you communicating them.  The direction you want your family to take may be right, but are you properly communicating that to the different personality types, wide span of age groups and interst that your growing team has.  If not, get good at communicating the vision then watch as your crew runs with it.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Colossians 2 (NIV)

18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

All things that look spiritual are not necessarily so.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that there is any spirituality apart from a relationship with Jesus.  The bible warns us to turn away from those things (religions, philosophies, etc.) that “have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof” (II Tim 3:5).  Never forget that your power as a christian is directly related to how connected you are to the head, the Lord Jesus Christ, from whom all things flow to the body.  Little connection = little power; Big Connection = Big Power.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Micah 7 (NIV)

11 The day for building your walls will come,
       the day for extending your boundaries.

The prayer of Jabez, made famous by the Rick Wilkinson book of the same title, speaks of enlarged coasts which refers figuratively to an expanded sphere of influence. Jabez also asked to be kept from evil or those who would use their influence on him to sway him to think and, eventually, act in a manner outside the will of God.  What a perfect description of strong boundaries; they can serve as barriers to keep the bad things out (or keep us out of the things that are detrimental) and protect the territory we’ve worked diligently to gain.  We must never lose sight of the fact that we are called to advance the kingdom and in doing so we must seek to extend those boundaries beyond what is familiar, those days are NOW here.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Deuteronomy 31 (AMP)

    6 Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.

The term “comfort zone” has become a catch phrase for self help gurus and success coaches alike.  It would be a much more accurate description to call it the “Familiar zone”, because when you really think about it most of the things we need to “break” out of are not comfortable at all. Poverty, failure, low self esteem, the attitudes that cause relationships to crumble are all FAMILIAR to many, but NEVER comfortable.  The problem for many people is they get stuck because they are unwilling or, in rare cases, unable to move on to productive, yet unfamiliar disciplines because they fear the unknown.  God’s word to us today is simple…”these things may be unfamiliar to you but move ahead anyway because I am with you; I won’t drop you if you jump into something new; I won’t leave you alone when you stand before that ______________ (supervisor, board, prospective customer, prospective mate, banker, decision maker, etc.).  And whatever step you take, take it with the confidence that I am your fail proof safety net.”

Friday, August 28, 2009

Hebrews 12 (The Message)

11 At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

One of the most inspirational and at the same time challenging quotes I’ve heard says: “Champions are willing to do some things they hate to create something that they love.”  I believe that is a principle anyone who wants success in their lives needs to take to heart.  I am sure there were many times when Tiger Woods didn’t want to go out and practice for hours on end honing his golf swing.  While his buddies were out horsing around he was hiting golf balls in the searing heat or pouring rain because he knew the end result of the disciplines patterned into his life; whose having the most fun, now?  The same can be said for Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart.  Don’t resist the discipline God wants to bring to your life; realize He is not trying to spoil your fun, he wants to enhance your life and fill it with good things, starting with his presence.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

James 5 (AMP)

16Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

Recently, in the news, there have been some high profile athletes who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.  I have always found it interesting to hear what they have to say when confronted with their crimes publicly; not so much interested in whether they actually committed the crime or not, but more concerned with their willingness or lack thereof to take responsibility for their deeds.  One of the worst things you can do is blame someone else for your actions, attitudes, and emotions.  In doing so you become disempowered…..the victim who has no control of his life.  Psychologist call this having an external locus of control.  The polar opposite is to have an internal locus of control; in other words you recognize your responsibility and ability to set the tone and direction of your life.  No one else can choose for you whether or not you will serve Jesus, no one else is able to make you mad, sad, angry and no one else can keep you from tapping in to the power the Holy Spirit has made available to you.  You can choose to let others dictate the steps of your life or you can be the tone setter and walk in dynamic power, today!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Matthew 6: 33 (KJV)

33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
An interesting historical account found in the Bible (Luke 18) describes an encounter between Jesus and a man who has become to be known as the rich young ruler.   The young man approaches Jesus and asks “what must I do to inherit the kingdom of heaven”.  Jesus was keen on the young man’s angle, but playeed along for a moment replying that he should keep the commandments handed down by Moses.  The young man, feeling rather good about himself, was quick to respond that he had done so since he was a little boy; then Jesus threw him a curve, adding “you still lack something”; “huh” must have been the man’s internal reply: Jesus continued to say “sell everything you own and give it to the poor.”  The young man walked away, dejected.  The kingdom of God is not about rule following but a heart to heart relationship with the creator of the universe; when you understand the heart of God you’ll know that when he asks you to give something away he is not doing this to subtract from you, but to multiply you as evidenced by the passage referenced in Matt 6:33.  God doesn’t care if you own things, as a matter of fact HE wants you blessed abundantly, he just doesn’t want things to have you.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

II Timothy 1 (KJV)

 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When we see someone moving in their “natural” gift the assumption is often that the person, to put i t like a famous footwear company says, just does it.  Whether it’s a world class athlete or a well known minister or speaker you will actually find, in most cases, just the opposite is true.  In order for their gift to recieve the highest level of exposure or to fulfill a great purpose in their life usually requires honing of their specific skill set and a good deal of preparation.  Just like Timothy, God has depsoited certain gifts in each one of us… and just like Timothy, we need to continuously stir those talents up so that they can be used to advance the kingdom of God.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Romans 8 (KJV)

 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There are those who see thier daily christian walk as being an act of sacrifice.  I disagree.  While we should make sacrifices for the sake of the gospel, never forget the ultimate sacrifice was made over 2000 years ago, ON OUR BEHALF.  Therefore You are not some weak worm in the dust, meant to barely get by in life.  No sireee, according to this passage, if you are following “him” you are a Winners Winnner, a more than a winner.  An undeafeted champion over some pretty stiff competition: the prospect of death, life and all the junk it throws at you, demonic angels hah, no problem; even over whatever the future holds.  So go ahead, stand in there and keep on winning.

Friday, August 21, 2009

James 1 (KJV)

 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

In case you were wondering; the bible definition of religion is nothing like the way the world sees religion today; people following ritual, heartless, rules and regulations as a way to circumvent an actual relationship with God.  God never envisioned it that way for us…what he saw was people caring for people, getting down low to lift someone else up is the way to stand tall in His eyes.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Acts 1:8 (KJV)

 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

It’s quite possible if you grew up in the 1970’s that you think it was JJ Walker who brought the term Dyno-mite into vogue.  Truth be told, God has been trying to get his people to be explosive since long before the star of Good Times made the phrase famous.  The word for “power” used here in Verse 8 is the word “dunamis”, which is the root word for our english word “dynamite”.  This type of power is available to all beleivers, but unfortunately so few ever tap into it.  Why? Because they haven’t experienced the baptism of the Holy Ghost.  While it is true you are filled with the Holy Spirit when you become saved (Born again) your power for living the Christian Life, the way Jesus did, happens when the Spirit comes “UP ON You”.  That is when God adds his super to your natural so you can walk in the super-natural. While the Holy Spirit is a gift given freely by God, to recieve it you must earnestly desire it.  Once you have it, remember the purpose for it……it’s not so you can impress your friends, but rather be a witness to them.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Colossians 2 (KJV)

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

The basis of the world’s religion is on trying to earn your way into the after life through good deeds and self improvement; and while there is nothing wrong with lving a clean life while here on earth the scriptures are clear in showing this is no way to eternal life in the presence of a holy God at all.  Living a life filled with empty traditions and rudimentary disciplines may help us to feel good about ourselves as we try to cover the guilt of sinful thoughts, but we must all realize that our path to heaven is only on the scarlet road paved by the sacrifice of Jesus.  Thta’s why, though the enemy has been attempting to fleece you the Bible teaches that it was Jesus who “spoiled” them and by his blood blotting out our sins “he embarrassed them” (Col 2:14-15).  Every lie the enemy has told you in an attempt to have you condemn yourself for not being good enough, not being perfect enough; and everything he has stolen from you because you believed those lies is rightfully yours to be retrieved by simply recieving the truth of what Jesus did for you on the cross.  He did all the work, he paid the full price…..we obtained the benefits.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Mark 10 (AMP)

    42 But Jesus called them to [Him] and said to them, You know that those who are recognized as governing and are supposed to rule the Gentiles (the nations) lord it over them [ruling with absolute power, holding them in subjection], and their great men exercise authority and dominion over them.

    43 But this is not to be so among you; instead, whoever desires to be great among you must be your servant,

    44 And whoever wishes to be most important and first in rank among you must be slave of all.

Most of the kings we read about in our history books ruled by creating fear in their subjects.  They assumed that by instilling a fear of loss or worry over the possiblity of retribution they were securing their position of power.  Jesus taught otherwise, and in so doing revealed that the kingdom of God is truly an upside down kingdom.  He demonstrated that the way up is the way down; that true leadership is found in true servanthood and that the best crowns would be worn by  those who selflessly served rather than those who selfishly were served by others.  We are called to be kings and priests in the same manner that the King of Kings walked this earth who “took upon him th eform of a servant…humbled himself….became obedient to a the death on the cross….and was exalted highly.”  Jesus served greater than anyone and was givent he name above every other name!  (Phillipians 2:6-11)

Monday, August 17, 2009

Psalm 103 (AMP)

    1 BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!

    2 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits–

    3Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,

    4Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;

    5Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!

Worry can wear you out.  If you allow your mind to focus on things that are troubling or beyond your natural abilities to cope with it won’t take long for the affects of anxious thinking to take it’s toll on you both emotionally and physically.  Thta’s why the psalmist wrote that, instead of spending time worrying, he chose to focus his energies on “blessing” the Lord.  When you can’t handle something, rest assured that God wants nothing more than to handle it for you.  Are your debts overwhelming? “Bless the Lord” he’s bigger; Are you succumbing to pressure?  “Bless the Lord”, he’s stronger.  Are you unsure or confused about decisions looming in your future?  “Bless the Lord” he’s wiser.  When you stop worrying and start blessing, committing your life and the issues of your day into his hands he knows how to cause your mouth, mind, and the desires of your heart to be satisfied with good; and that’s have you feeling more like the youngster you are.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Mark 10 (KJV)

 28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Often when we think about improving our lot in life the first thing that comes to mind is the things we need to add to better equip us for the road to success.  We add things like more education, more contacts in our rolodex or facebook account, maybe a line of credit to get started on a new business venture, or possibly a second or third job.  While all of these things are positive and may indeed help you to get higher up the ladder I want you to consider for a minute these words of Jesus and the effect that negative people, vices, and character flaws will have if you don’t figure out that you need to SUBTRACT them.  The tabloids are littered with stories of people who “had everything”, yet managed to lose it all and hit rock bottom because of detrimental influences in their lives.  I am not just talking about drugs and illicit relationships here (though those certainly qualify as negative) but also mindsets and attitudes.  If you want the good hand of God to rest on your life and garner HIS favor than you must look closely at the relationships you decide to keep and make some tough choices about which ones you need to say sayanora to.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Luke 19 (NKJV)

17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

While reading former Tampa Bay Buc’s and Indianapolis Colt’s coach Tony Dungy’s book, UnCommon, I was struck by his level of integrity and how that affected they way his teams conducted their business.  Coach Dungy wrote that one of the top priorities for his team on NFL draft day was to select young men that had a high level of moral and ethical character.  In fact, he went on to say, they have a section on their pre-draft selection guide that reads “Do Not Draft Because of Character”.  This passage of scripture teaches that our God has a similar section in his archives especially when it comes to doling out responsibility AND blessing.  He is constantly looking for those “faithful” servants, the ones who can be trusted to do right when nobody’s looking; those who are working for the kingdom even when nobody’s watching and their are no awards to be handed out;  doing it just to please him and help save lives.  Doing it because they have solid christian character.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

James 2 (The Message)

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

None of us like pressure.  In fact biologically speaking living structures at the cellular level try to avoid pressure at all costs.  I see this everyday in my chiropractic practice.  People with back pain and sciatica visit me and want to know what caused a disc in their spine to bulge or herniate and I explain to them that something called “intradiscal” pressure builds up and forces material away from the center of the disc to lessen the tension.  As much as most of us hate it, though, all pressure is not bad.  Do you think Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods would enjoy the same notoriety if they hadn’t been forced to come up big while under duress?  How about those nice sparkling diamonds you ladies covet?  Without thousands of years of pressure and heat, and the hand of a skilled refiner working on them they’d be nothing but a common rock.  Let me tell you this, God’s best for your life is that you be anything BUT common.  He wants you to satnd out, he wants you to shine and for that to happen you are going to endure some stress and maybe some seemingly impossible to overcome adversity but be encouraged today to know that “pressure” is merely a tool of the Refiner and you will come out more radiant than ever, like a diamond coming out of the rough.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

James 4 (KJV)

 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
To this point when you have read this scripture or heard someone else teach on it you probably, as I did, took it to mean we needed to ask God for “things” if we wanted to have “things”.  I want you to look at this from another perspective today.  I’ve talked in the past about the importance of learning to ask the right “questions”, and how when you ask questions of the people you relate to on a daily basis it provides knowledge that you can use to better serve them whether it be for a specific product or service you offer or in your most intimate relationships.  I beleive, part  of what this passage is telling us is that we must become adept at asking both God and ourselves the right questions.  Things such as “what am I NOT doing that is holding me back from recieving ALL you have promised me in your Word?” and “How can I develop a greater desire for your presence?”  Asking questions like these will casue your brain to begin to focus on solving the problems God has already given you the power to solve that until this point you haven’t tapped into (recall Deut 8:18) and opening the doorway for a back and forth dialogue between you and God that will bring you into the only place of real power, the Throne Zone!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Matthew 23 (The Message)

11-12″Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

If you look around at the majority of the “in” crowd you’ll see a whole bunch of people trying to be something their not so they can live up the expectation of others who are being something their not.  The people who make the biggets contributions are those who put the opinions of others aside and allow themselves to lift up those who have been distressed, discouraged, in despair, and desperate for help.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Genesis 2 (AMP)

 15 And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it.

And you thought life in the Garden of Eden was supposed to be easy from the start.  Why than was Adam, before the fall, charged to “guard it”?  If you haven’t figured it out yet, you need to be keenly aware that there is an enemy that would like nothing better than to reverse every blessing God has in store for your life.  That’s why the Word tells us to be sober and vigilant.  Guard your garden (your home, business, and community) from predators (those looking to poison your family bonds, friendships, and strategic partnerships); but do more than that.  Tend to your garden, with the fertilizer of true love and affection and water it daily with The Word and with prayer and you’ll experience a healthy return of your investment.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Isaiah 28 (KJV)

10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

There are times when, as a parent, I ask myself “How many times will I have to say this before these children get it?”  Im those instances I am reminded of this passage of scripture and God’s patience with the children of Israel, who through the prophets heard over and over exhortations and warnings and yet tempted God with their insolence.  Begin to allow the words God speaks to you to resonate as the lyrics of your favorite song, today’s poetry (which we often listen to over and over again until we sing them in our sleep).  Who knows, maybe his promises will start flowing from your lips the next time you hit the on button to your car stereo.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Luke 16 (The Message)

8-9 “Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”

Here’s something that might rock your world, IF you’re a religous thinker.  God respects some of the strategies employed by the wicked.  I know it may be hard to wrap your head around the concept that someone like a Bernie Madoff could do something that impresses Jesus; but its true.  Now I am not saying you shopuld go out and concoct a ponzi scheme to swindle people out of their retirement, FAR FROM IT; those are despicable and sinful and will keep you from the kingdom of God, but this idea that the christian life should be played safe won’t bring you God’s best either.  Maybe that’s why I get excited when I see churches getting out of the the box to reach lost and hurting people in non-traditional ways.  It’s time to stop playing it safe and start using the creative gifts God has given us to reach into the enemy’s camp and take back all the things that belong to the church: our health, our marriages, our finances, and our loved ones.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Proverbs 22: 29 (AMP)

29Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

University of Florida Quaterback Tim Tebow is being called by many the greatest college football player ever.  He already has two national championships and a Heisman Trophy to his credit, and may win one more of each in this, his senior season.  For all his exploits on the filed Tebow stands out just as much off it.  Whether it is missionary work in the Phillipines or reaching out to young men who have been incarcerated here he continues to shine in a sports world which has been more noted for convictions, than righteous conviction lately.  The amazing thing about Tebow isn’t that he is the most gifted or physically talented athlete, but his work ethic is second to none.  That is good news for all those who have less than perfect genetics; you can be a stand out…..citizen, entrepeneur, husband/wife, father/mother if you a re willing to put in the effort.  That’s something you can be proud of when you stand before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Matthew 25 (KJV)

 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Our society puts a high value on things that are loud, showy, and exciting and partly because of that we have seen a trend where we are often willing to look the other way when an athlete, well known politician, or entertainer does something immoral or illegal so long as they continue to put out all star performances.  It is unfortunate that the efforts of lesser known, morally upright people go seemingly unnoticed by the media because “those” kinds of stories don’t sell magazines, newspapers, or airtime  on t.v..  One thing is for certain though, and that is anything you do to touch the lives of others will never go unnoticed by God, and for that you can consider yourself, Out-of-this-World-Famous.

Friday, July 31, 2009

I Corinthians 16 (KJV)

 9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

Have you ever watched one of those television game shows where the contestant is given a choice of doors to pick from.  As the hosts builds up the excitement and announces the prize behind door number one you can almost always count on the contestant to scream or shout in surprise, and the bigger and better the prize the louder and more excited the shouting.  Of course to take home the biggest prize, to the dismay of the audience and the contestant, the price to pay is answering the toughest questions or completing the most difficult physical challenges.  That is why I can really appreciate Paul’s attitude here as exemplified in one word, “and”.  Notice Paul doesn’t say “a great door has been opened to me BUT…….”.   The adversaries were inconsequential to the mission.  Just  as Joshua and Caleb saw past the giants and beheld the fruit of the Promised Land Paul accepted that with God behind him he was well able to overtake any enemy.  He wasn’t at all afraid or surprised by the fact that there were adversaries trying to stand in the way of his path to opportunity, he wasn’t dismanyed or disuaded either.  He knew as we should know that when God opens a door it doesn’t matter who or what is standing in the way, that door won’t be slammed shut.  Therein lies the key, are you forcing doors open outside of the will or ahead of the timing of God or are you being led by the Holy Spirit, obediently hearing and doing His will and watching as the doors swing wide open for you to walk through.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

I Corinthians 1 (AMP)

18 For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God.

When I wrote Shake Off The Snake I sought out the input of several people whose insight and knowledge I trust and respect.  Their help in making certain that the book was biblically accurate and easy to folllow was invaluable; but ultimately the process of getting my heart on paper and the mandate I felt God had given me for writing the book had to come from within me.  Someone might read it and think to themself “I wouldn’t have done it that way”, and that’s OK, after all it is my interpretation of the voice of God.  I’m not the only author whose had to deal with critics and would be revisionist.  When it comes to the message of the cross it seems not too many best sellers would have chosen the story line where the protagonist sacrfices his son for the salvation of a people who have no desire to be saved. The truth of the matter is, whether you like the plot layed out in the Bible or not, if you can accept His-story then you can begin to change yours.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Exodus 20 (AMP)

12Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you.

Recently I saw a news story about an elderly woman who fended off two would be attackers focused on robbing her pocketbook.  My immediate reaction was “good for her”; which was followed by the thought “bad for us”.  What a sad commentary about our society where it is considered cool, among some young people, to disrespect and degrade our more experienced citizens.  Whether we are talking about heinous crimes against the elederly like theft, sexual abuse, and financial exploitation or seemingly harmless actions such as outwardly showing our displeasure over the driving habits of our elders we should be aware that we are ultimately harming our own legacy.  “Regarding” our elders is the first commandment with a promise attached to it.  Do you desire a long and prosperous life?  Start exercising some uncommon courtesy in how you treat others, espeicailly those your senior.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Daniel 2 (AMP)

  23I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers, Who has given me wisdom and might and has made known to me now what we desired of You, for You have made known to us the solution to the king’s problem.

Each day God will put you in the position to help others, the question then becomes will you seek his wisom and might to provide the solution for which they have need?  If you will submit yourself to him and commit, not just your problems but the challenges of others into his hands you will find, as Daniel did, his favor will propel you to a place of influence your best efforts could never achieve.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Romans 12 (Amp)

2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

In the movie, Transformers, some automated beings from a distant planet are able to instantaneously convert their appearance into that of an automobile or a familiar appliance.  Unlike these fictional creations the transformation process for you and I is never complete, instantly.  In fact it can probably better be described as reprogramming.  Ridding ourself of disempowering thoughts, detrimental self talk, and unbalance habits and replacing them with disciplines that serve us is a process that requires the course of time and the exercise of self control.  Don’t lose heart, though, thinking you are not up for the challenge of a complete overhaul because even small changes and seemingly minor adjustments will begin to reveal the power of God at work in your life and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Holy Spirit is perfecting that which concerns you.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Luke 6 (AMP)

45The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.

The same body of water can serve as a fresh spring or a filthy cesspool; the difference is determined by the chemical composition of the material allowed to flow in and out of it.  Trying to make yourself good by cleaning up your outward appearance is like taking a small skimming net (like one used for a gold fish tank) to clean off the top layer of sludge ay your local sewage reservoir. Real change can only happen when you control the influences on your heart; what you listen to, who you read, and what you choose to meditate on.  Start substituting anything that resounds with the message of death with the life giving Word of God and see your life transformed into the image of the saviour, redeemer, and healer..the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Psalm 60 (Amplified)

    11 O give us help against the adversary, for vain (ineffectual and to no purpose) is the help or salvation of man.

    12 Through God we shall do valiantly, for He it is Who shall tread down our adversaries.

When you are dealing with adversity who is the FIRST person you call upon?  It better not be Ghost Busters.  Seriously, though, do you still run first to your pastor? one of the church leaders? a friend or relative?  While there is nothing wrong with opening up to any of these people, your daddy, God, wants it to be Him.  He is the source of all wisdom and strength.  He is your “ever present help” in troubled times.  You will know you are growing in maturity in your daily christian walk when you don’t hesitate to go to Him first; and then you will do great and mighty things through the one who treads down all your adversaries!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

I Corinthians 13 (NIV)

 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.

 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
When it comes to financial record keeping it is important to keep track of the pros (credits) and the cons (debits) or else you may find your self bouncing checks all over town.  When it comes to the ledger of love, however, you need to find a permanent shredder for all the wrongs your “loved” ones have ever done to you.  That is if you want to be in line with the Word of God.  The Bible teaches that when it comes to our mistakes, our sins, God’s place for them is in the Sea of Forgetfulness.   Today, instead of recording every little inconsideracy and recalling how your personal pet peeves have been transgressed start picking out all the seemingly small acts of kindness and thoughfulness and watch that love account grow.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Isaiah 59 (KJV)

 19So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Does it look like the waters are rising all around you?  Bills piling up, the kids acting up, your health sinking?  God is more than a life preserver.  Your God is more than a shelter from the storm.  He is not just adefense for life’s travails. If Jesus is your Savior and Lord He is your main offensive as well.  For that reason I like to quote the above scripture this way: ” When the enemy comes in (pause…..wait for it…) LIKE A FLOOD the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Proverbs 27 (NIV)

17 As iron sharpens iron,
       so one man sharpens another.

Do you want to be at your best?  Be as effecient and as potent as you are capable of being? Find someone who is like-minded to help keep you accountable.  I can say, after years of experience, that having someone else to push you and to hold you to your word is one of the best ways to stay on your “A” game. Having a partner has always made it easier for me to stay sharp.  If you can do the same for that other person, then that means 2 more completely sold out, take it to the limit warriors for the kingdom of God!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Matthew 7 (The Message)

Being and Doing
 13-14″Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can be something despite your actions.  Your habits are the evidence of your internal make-up; the outward sign of an inward work.  Therefore take as much care in developing who you are on the inside….your character; as you do doing deeds that line up with the life you say you are living.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

James 3 (Amplified)

18 And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].

Let me let you in on a little secret.  If you want peace in your life you are going to have to work at it.  I know the fairy tales you read as a child make it seem as though people just flow along and then after overcoming a villain of some sort live happily ever after.  In real life, though, there will ALWAYS be opportunity for conflict (both real and percieved) and only those whose maturity brings them to the level where they can face the conflict head on with the desire to create a win-win situation for all parties involved will experience real peace for their lives.  That doesn’t mean everything is going to be perfect, but it does mean that you will be able to handle whatever comes your way with the grace of God and love for others.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Luke 6 (KJV)

40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

While Jesus walked the earth he modeled the habits, attitudes, and behavior he knew would serve his disciples.  It was up to each one individually, however, whether they decided to emulate those disciplines in their own day to day lives or to shrug it off as not important enough.  Today, we have the same choice to be “as our master”.  Realize that whichever habits you choose to follow they are the habits of “a master”.  If you want sin to be your master you will follow the habits that glorify and feed you flesh; and if Jesus truly is your Lord make the decision to follow in those disciplines that honor and glorify God.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Matthew 13 (New Living Translation)
55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.

When Jesus returned to his hometown after healings, widely attended delieverance revivals, and profound teachings he didn’t recieve a hero’s welcome.  Just the opposite.  The people that watched him grow up and knew his family sarcastically greeted him not as the savior but as the son of a lowly carpenter.  Disappointing for Jesus, but the results were even worse for the inhabitants of his old stomping ground.  No one brought back to life, no one delivered from life long palsies or leprosy…..just a few sickly folks healed.  The lesson to be learned here is simple, your ability to recieve something of value from anybody is directly related to your willingness to value the gift that is in them.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Psalm 18 (The Message)

20-24 God made my life complete
      when I placed all the pieces before him.
   When I got my act together,
      he gave me a fresh start.
   Now I’m alert to God’s ways;
      I don’t take God for granted.
   Every day I review the ways he works;
      I try not to miss a trick.
   I feel put back together,
      and I’m watching my step.
   God rewrote the text of my life
      when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

Men can make plans for their life but ultimately it is God who will dictate which plans come to fruition.  If you want to be free from the fear of “failed” initiatives than keep your eyes on God.  It is OK to, in fact I encourage  you to continue, setting goals and mapping out where you want to go in life; however, don’t get so wrapped up in the final destination that you fail to sit down daily and review the result of that days actions, especially as it relates to the plan of God for your life.  Use that information to make minor (sometimes major) adjustments that will keep you on course.  In so doing you can be assured that He will not let you fall or fail.

Friday, July 10, 2009

John 4 (KJV)

34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

There is something very fulfilling about getting a task completed.  I found this out when I was doing some remodeling of my home in New Jersey.  For years my wife had been begging me to do certain projects to improve the look and value of the home and partly due to the fact that I wasn’t very confident in my ability to do the work I procrastinated; until one day I finally got the urge to start ONE of the projects…putting up a stone walkway in our backyard.  That was all it took;  once I had a taste of getting this job done I had feul to start the next little project and before I knew it I had completed ALL the small and big projects that she wanted.   What a feeling of accomplishment and relief.  It’s no different than when God has an assignment for us.  We often procrastinate, feeling inadequate to step into the specific task he has for us; but let me assure you once you start you will be fed by the sense of inner fulfillment that comes with doing his will and “finishing: HIS work.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Psalm 139 (KJV)

 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

One of the things I have often heard christians say is “God knows my heart.”  To which I will almost assuredly respond, “that’s what I am afraid of” because in most cases it is a statement made to justify ungodly actions with the presumption that the underlying motives behind them were good.  The psalmist, here, knew the nature of men to cover over there own wrong doings to have two sets of rules (one for themself, the other for everyone else) and so didn’t trust himself to provide an honest appraisal.  He knew enough, though, to commit his personal inventory into the hands of God.  Today, when you come before the throne in prayer don’t be afraid to ask God to tell you what he wants to see improve.  You won’t have to worry about him throwing you out of the kingdom because everything in your life doesn’t line up just so, he wants you close and will lead you where you should go.

 

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Proverbs 18 (The Message)

 9 Slack habits and sloppy work
   are as bad as vandalism.

The best and most accurate predictor of success are a man’s (or woman’s) daily routine.  People who repeatedly abuse themselves, waste time, and carelessly go about their day to day lives sabotage their hances at living the life and achieving the dreams they are capable of realizing.  The great things about our habits, though, is that they are subject to change.  Today you can stop hurting yourself and start enhancing your skills; you can styop looking back at all the circumstances that went the wrong way, all the breaks that you didn’t get, and begin to eliminate the excuses and accept responsibility for your response to every wrong thing an every missed opportunity.  Start re-routing you thoughts and actions and you will redirect yourself to the life path you were meant to be on.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

II Chronicles 27 (The Message)

6 Jotham’s strength was rooted in his steady and determined life of obedience to God.

“There is no use trying to escape, we have you surrounded.”  This phrase, often used in action movies where the villain is finally cornered could well have been the theme for Jotham, King of Judah’s life, if he let it.  His father Uzziah wasn’t a passionate man of God, in fact, he was guilty of desecrating the temple of God. The people he ruled were corrupt and had no desire to follow God.  Even his successor (his own son), Ahaz, was one of the most evil kings in Israel’s history and took his paganism to depths never before seen (even sacrificing his own son).  Yet we read that Jotham, in the midst of all this evil did right in the eyes of God and was responsible for removing idols from the temple, rebuilding one of the temple gates, defeating the Ammonites and bringing in tons of silver to the kingdom.  Instead of giving in to the current of popular opinion he remained strong because of his “steady and determined” obedience to the word of God.  In this day and age, when nothing else can keep you, you can count on the word to keep you strong, IF you keep the word in you.

Monday, July 6, 2009

John 17 (KJV)

 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

No matter how hard you try, you will never be made clean or holy through your actions.  You can do your best to live a outwardly sinless life and think all the right things, but the nature of your flesh will always come in conflict with the nature of holiness.  It is only the life giving word of God that can purify us from all the world’s junk.  For this reason you must feast on this word every day; where the flesh falls short the truth of His word never fails!

Friday, July 3, 2009

II Corinthians 3 (AMP)

    16 But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.

    17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).
Here is the Question of the day.  You call Jesus your savior, the one who lifted you up out of a pit.  Maybe he has broken the hold of drugs, alchohol, or sex over your life.  You were once headed to self inflicted destruction but now your life is headed in a much better direction.  Thee is no doubt he has saved you.  But the next part is what are you doing with HIM.  Is HE your LORD?  Have you gotten to the point where your actions are motivated by a desire to please him (no just escape punishment); are you a submitted vessel, at the ready to help advance HIS agenda….in your family, in your community, for the world.  That is when you know you are REALLY free; because only where the spirit of the LORD is LORD is there liberty.

Thursday July 2, 2009

Hebrews 6 (KJV)

 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The word of God is ripe with promises for believers; everything from salvation for your soul to health for your physical body.  It is interesting to note, though, if you look around you will see Christians that are sick, others that are poor, and others still that are just plain old unhappy with life.  Why?  Does this mean God’s promises are a sham?  Absolutely not.  His promises are there for the taking, but just as a farmer can’t sit around and just admire his ripe crop we too have got to get better at harvesting the fruit that God has ready on the vine for us.  So, today, pull out your sickle and begin gathering in your harvest through diligent use of the God given abilities you’ve been blessed with.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Matthew 25 (The Message)

 24-25 “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

 26-27 “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
Jesus understood what many in the financial world are finding out the hard way today: if you are standing still you are actually losing ground.  Any business whose prices don’t change while operating expenses increase won’t be in business long because investors expect to make a profit.  While it may seem risky to expose your inner self according to God’s way of thinking it is far more dangerous to do nothing.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Mark 12 (KJV)

17And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Some of the most powerful concepts you will ever learn are also the simplest.  Jesus often put to rest  the arguments of the Pharisees by simply stating the obvious.  When it comes to handling your personal finances we might want to add one thing to his statement here.   “Give to the God what belongs to him, to caesar (i.e the government) that which lawfully belongs to caesar, and pay yourself before you start spending.”  In doing so you will develop the habit that leads to creation of personal wealth and an appreciation for the fact that it is god who gives you the power to obtain wealth in the first place.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Proverbs 13 (NIV)

 11 Dishonest money dwindles away,
       but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Get rich quick and get skinny fast schemes abound and on a daily basis draw people in to  be swindled of their time and money.  Why is that?  Perhaps it is our desire to WANT to believe we can get something for nothing that causes us to fall for the Bernie Madoffs and Phen Phens of the world.  But the truth is, as the saying goes, if something looks to be good to be true it probably is, no matter how convincing the spiel on the website.  Real results are best obtained, little by little, here a little there a little, from (one level of) faith to (the next level of) faith, from (one level of) glory to (the next level of) glory.  There are no shortcuts to the top, BUT if you are willing to endure periods of seemingly invisible results on a daily basis and learn to be inspired by the little often mundane things you will grow exponentially.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Job 14 (NIV)

15 You will call and I will answer you;
       you will long for the creature your hands have made.

 16 Surely then you will count my steps
       but not keep track of my sin.

 17 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;
       you will cover over my sin.

Just a few years ago I went to my 10th High School Reunion and something amazed me about the event that strikes me as an interesting aspect of human nature.  Just about everyone I spoke to could easily recall the goofiest, stupidest things people had ever done and before you knew it , it was as if they were literally reliving high school all over again.  I don’t know about you but there are definitely things about high school I don’t mind forgetting, forever.  I am so glad for the promises made by our all knowing God that he doesn’t bother to keep track of all the wrong things we have done.  Instead he willingly chooses to blot them out in the blood of his son. It’s not that he can’t remember, he just won’t, He loves you that much!

Tuesday, June 25, 2009

Romans 10 (KJV)

 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

I think it was Joyce Meyer who once said “Christians are called to ease their mind, not lose it.”  Just because we have been given a freedom from sin by Christ’ sacrifice for us doesn’t mean we are not responsible to search the scriptures to understand not only God’s will for our lives but also his promises.  In doing so we will understand that the righteousness we have is never of ourselves, but Him in us and that what he has promised us is not based on our goodness but his desire to bless his children, those who have chosen to be his followers.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Deuteronomy 31 (KJV)

 6Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

It is a shame but many people walk around thinking that God expects them to live a life free of mistakes; and when they can’t measure up to that lofty standard they figure He can’t or won’t accept them.  The promises I read from the lips of God don’t give me that message at all.  In fact they reveal a God who will willingly covers my failings as long as I am willing to step out and courageously pursue the territory he has reserved for me.  While he does expect me to recognize, learn from, and repent of the mistakes I make He doesn’t put the honus on me to be perfect, but rather takes that on HIS shoulders when he promises that He won’t fail me!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Mark 9 (KJV)

 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

So you say you have been having a hard time keeping the rules straight, or think you can never measure up top being a “good christian”.  Try working on JUST ONE THING, then.  That one thing is belief, and when you find yourself struggling to believe the words or promises of God cry out to him, as the father of this young boy did, “Daddy God, help my unbelief.”  God is moved by faith, he is impressed when you beleive him enough to give him priority over anything else that is pulling you away from him.  He is not interested in rote parroting of meaningless words or keeping rules for the sake of keeping rules.  Focus on getting the issue of belief down and everything else will fall into place.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Mark 1 (KJV)

 16Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

 17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

 18And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

For all of you who want to follow the “Lone Ranger” model of success, remember even that masked crusader had Tonto. None f us were meant to go it alone.  Jesus himself recognized from the beginning that he needed a team to accomplish the mission the Father had given him.  To get his unit going though, he had to first inspire them to follow after him (Vision and mission) and then he had to train them (team building).  What Jesus started sill goes on, if you want to build a lasting legacy follow the pattern he gave us.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Matthew 14 (KJV)

 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

I’ve often heard ministers teach on Peter’s water walking experience and focus on the fact that he lost his nerve mid way through.  Today I want you to see it from the other side.  The part where he jumped out of the boat to begin with and believed he COULD walk on water.  I have a real feeling that God is tired of all the “play it safes” out there.  He is searching for those who will willingly step out and trust him that even if by chance they fall short of the goal, he is right there to reach out his hand and grab them; so really, there is no risk.  What’s holding YOU back?

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Ephesians 5 (KJV)

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Did you know God is looking to obtain the most for his investment?  Why else would he desire a church “without spot or blemish”.  Despite what you may have learned in religous circles this has nothing to do with how you dress, whether or not your wear make up, jeans, or sneakers when you come to church; and definitely nothing to do with your race or ethnicity.  The phrase “whithout spot or blemish” refers to value.  Think about this for a minute, if I were to hand you a five dollar bill, and supposing you were flat broke and hungry, would you care for a second if that bill was wrinkled up or had something written across the front? Would it be worth any less than if it were brand new out of the mint?  Of course not, you could use it, to walk right down to a Subway and pick yourself up a spicy italian foot long if that is what your heart desired.  Now if for some reason the US Mint decided to run off an additional 50 million of those five dollar bills with no gold to back it up then you might have a problem, but not because of anything to do with it’s appearance.  God wants a church without blemish, not on the outside, but with what is being built up on the inside.  Is your heart right with Him, are you learning how to love even your enemies, and have you learned to rely on his word as your life line?  If so you are producing a valuable return on the investment of God’s ressurrected son in your life.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

 25 A generous man will prosper;
       he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

The mindset of most people in the world today is that of “Self Preservation”.  According to the Bible, however, looking out for number one is exactly what you Don’t want to do IF you want to prosper and experience refreshing in your life.  Whe the world says hoard it God says give it all away; when the world says conserve your energy so you have some left, God says be the fuel for the fire of others and I will see to it that you are filled to overflowing.   For those who base their lives on the Bible the choice is clear, follow God’s word.  And for those who follow the advice of the world?  Based on what I see going on around us, I think it’s time to start listening to the one who created it.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

II Corinthians 9 (The Message)

6-7Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

Whether you are trying to build an organization, personal relationship, or bank account one thing is certain your output will always be directly related to your input.  If you really want to create something beautiful and obtain something that has a the potential for lifetime value you must realize this is not the time to be petty or penny pinching and,though, it requires a real investment of time, talent, and financial resources if done extravagantly the end result will not be loss, but a robust win for all involved.

Monday, June 15, 2009

I Chronicles 29 (NLT)

14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! 15 We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.
 16 “O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you!

The second you realize that your life here is just a vapor and that everything you have comes from the hand of a gracious and loving God you won’t have a problem freely giving yourslef to those in need.  Each moment, and every opportunity we have to share with others the goodness of God and his plan for their redemption will take on new meaning and we won’t want anyone to miss out.  Who have you talked to about Jesus, today?

Friday, June 12, 2009

Daniel 11 (NKJV)

32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

In case you thought that greatness was reserved for those that live the lifestyles of the rich and famous you need to familiarize yourself with this passage.  Notice it DOESN’T say “those who have been serving God for 20 yeras” or “Those with a college education”, or even “those who come from a well to do background” will be strong and do great things.  Nope, not at all.  The only criteria is that you know on an intimate basis the creator of the universe (which comes from study of His word and time spent talking to Him and listening for His voice). That’s it.  Once you have mastered that, regardless of your race, ethnic background, education, family background, and even you past mistakes you are qualified to do GREAT EXPLOITS!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

I Samuel 16 (KJV)

 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Have you ever felt as what you did, didn’t matter because it was a behind the scenes task or didn’t require a spectacular set of skills?  You are not alone; in fact one of the greatest kings had a similar expereince.   Ridiculed by his brothers and in this case almost forgotten he poured his all into the task of guarding and nurturing the family’s flock of sheep. It wasn’t a glamorous job by any stretch of the imagination, but the way he handled himself, even in mundane employment, caught the attention of God who chose David over his more attractive and more experienced older brothers.  That is a lesson to us all when it comes to how we are to embrace the specific assignment we are given; do it with all your heart and to the best of your ability and you will command the attention of the King of Kings.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Job 23 (The Message)

10-12 “But he knows where I am and what I’ve done.
   He can cross-examine me all he wants, and I’ll pass the test
      with honors.
I’ve followed him closely, my feet in his footprints,
   not once swerving from his way.
I’ve obeyed every word he’s spoken,
   and not just obeyed his advice—I’ve treasured it.

Have you come to the point yet where you treasure the words of God; where you’d rather please him than be comfortable.  The palce where you would rather obey him and face the consequences men want to hurl out you over pleasing men at the risk of facing the eternal fallout that results from dishonoring Him.  If so that is the attitude and level of commitment that God wants, the expression of a heart after Jesus.  Job obviously had it, and it is no wonder that after he suffered for 9 months he had restored to him exactly DOUBLE of everything that was stolen from him.  

 

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Psalm 23 (The Message)

4 Even when the way goes through
      Death Valley,
   I’m not afraid
      when you walk at my side.
   Your trusty shepherd’s crook
      makes me feel secure.

 5 You serve me a six-course dinner
      right in front of my enemies.
   You revive my drooping head;
      my cup brims with blessing.

I have always admired athletes, who despite experiencing what most people would call a dismal failure, are able to bounce back the next day or their next opportunity and perform like a star.  One day the goat, the next day a hero. One of my favorite baseball players, New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera is one such star who has endured his share of failings.  I can remember one game very early in his career.  The Yankees were in the first round of the playoffs, just a year removed from a World Championship, and Rivera gave up a ninth inning homerun to Sandy Alomar, Jr..  The second the pitch was hit you could tell Rivera was dissapointed in the result symbolized by the way his head dropped to look at the ground as Alomar rounded the bases.  Sure the Yankees lost that series in part due to Rivera’s inability to hold the lead in that game but the next three years he was nearly perfect as the Yankees secured three World Series titles in succession; and they couldn’t have done it without Mariano’s contribution. I am quite certain that is the attitude God wants us to have when it comes to our shortcomings.  In fact He is right their to help with the rebound.  Psalm 23 tells us that he revives our dropping head and fills our cup with blessing.  I don’t care how far or how hard you’ve fallen with God you are ready to bounce back!

Monday, June 8, 2009

James 5 (The Message)

10-11Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.

Having grown up with very involved parents I was fortunate to have a set of role models who demonstrated the benefit of standing strong in the face of adversity.  Though they had many opportunities to bail out on one another or on us they didn’t and today their lives are blessed as a result.  Maybe you didn’t have a mother or father, or both, in your life to look up to; if so don’t for a moment think that disqualifies you from God’s best and don’t let it prevent you from looking to some of history’s greatest role models.  The list reads like a Hall of Faith; when you consider the trials endured by Job, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and so many others like them it gives you the perspective that anything we encounter  is light in comparison.  You canface the daily battles, inspired by their example, and exercise the kind of staying power that puts you in line to recieve God’s fullest reward.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Revelations 3 (KJV)

 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

After years of competing in various sports at various levels I have found out two things; one is that I can’t stand apathy.  I have never been of the mindset that it doesn’t matter if you win or lose; I always want to win.  Winning to me is not always (although 95% of the time they coincide) about the end result, but it is always about performing at the best level I can.  So when people tell me they don’t care I immediately know that is m=not the type of person I want on my team.  The second thing I’ve learned, and this relates very closely to performance, is that you have got to learn to trust your mechanics- picka a path (strategy)- then be 100% committed to following that strategy (win.lose. or draw).  Based on this passage I believe that God feels the same way.  He would rather you go all out and miss the mark than live a risk-nothing wishy washy existence.  The worst thing you can do is have one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom, in fact it’s a recipe for disaster (why else would God say he would spue it out of his mouth).  Today is the day to choose to be 100% completely sold out for God.  Live your life hot for him and even if things don’t always work out smoot, I guarantee He will cause them to work out in your favor!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Luke 6 (KJV)

 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
What we are seeing today in the worldwide economic crisis is really of no big suprise; not when you consider the haphazard way our economic “succeses” were built.  A lot of fluff, but no real stuff.  Unfortunately the same seems to be true for many of the other areas of life we hold dear.  A look at the news blotter and we see that many of our athletic heroes, politicians, and even members of the clergy, like chines drywall, looked good on the outside but were living rotten lives privately. I guess you can only cover up shoddy work for so long.  Getting caught in your mess can become a good thing IF it causes you to reassess your values and priorities and make positve changes.  It is much easier, though, to start out with the right foundation and build on top of that with the best materials; sure it may cost you a little more up front but beleive me it will save you down the road (cheap is expensive).  Today, start REALLY living your life for christ; make a daily commitment to grow strong in him AND be a doer of the word.  When the storms arise you’ll be glad you did, because while others are falling all around you you will be left standing like a stronly built home!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

I Kings 13 (KJV)

 7And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.

 8And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:

 9For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.

 10So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel…….

 11Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.

 
 15Then he said unto him (the man of God), Come home with me, and eat bread.

 16And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:

 17For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.

 18He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

 19So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water…….
For some reason one of the easiest words for us to say as children becomes one of the most difficult in our adult years; NO!  Maybe it is because we don’t want to disappoint the asker or because we are afraid that if we say no we will never be asked again.  One thing you should know, however, is that your ability to succeed, fulfill the calling of God in your life, and complete your specified goals is contingent on your ability to say no at the proper time, no matter who is asking.  That is what this un-named Man of God found out.  After standing his ground and refusing to entertain a King he fell victim to the overtures of another “prophet” and in doing so disobeyed a direct mandate from God and shortly thereafter met his untimely death.  If God has told you to be a faithful children’s worker, even if the Pope comes calling don’t make a move without the Father’s release; If he has said you are to minister in the marketplace don’t go to Africa on a missionary journey unless He has altered your marching orders.  When you get good at saying No to the things that are not part of God’s plan for your life you will get even better at hearing Him say yes to the promises He has made to you.  

 

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

II Corinthians 6 (The Message)

v14-18 Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to me.” The Word of the Master, God.

My wife recently had the opportuntiy to teach a class to some of the young people in our church regarding the principle of being unequally yoked.  It obviously made quite an impression on several of the children who began to take a closer look at who they were calling their “BFF” and reach out to tell them about Jesus.  (For those of you not acquainted with text talkk BFF meand Best Friend Forever).  Who we choose to partner with says a lot about our relationship with God and while we do need to interact in the marketplace with unbeleivers we must understand that there is a BIG diference between an acquaintance and a partner.  While we often enter into these relationships with the best of intentions (being a positive influence) what often happens is just the reverse; especially with immature christians.  God may have it in store for you to return to your old stomping grounds to minister; but before that time feed yourself his inspiring word, strengthen your walk with him daily, and never compromise by following in the path of the wicked.

Monday, June 1, 2009

II Samuel 9 (KJV)

 3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

 4And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

 5Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

 6Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

 7And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

 8And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

Rags to riches stories are part of the fabric of America.  We love the underdog, we root for the cinderella sory probably because that is the path we took to our independence.  Well, for you lovers of “pit to palce” drama there may be no more inspiring than the life of Mephibosheth.  Born the son of a prince, he was crippled in his feet when his nanny dropped him while running from his grandfather’s, King Saul, enemies.  After his granddad, and father (Jonathan) were assassinated he was left destitute and figured his lot in life was to be poor and forgotten.  His story, though, takes a turn when the new king, David remembered the promise he made to Jonathan and called for an all out search to find anyone who could be claimed as his heir.  When Mephibosheth met with David he expected to be killed (that is how any competition to a throne was dealt with in those days) instead David showed him mercy and favor, fulfilling his promise to Jonathan by providing the best food and accomodations.  The funny thing is, Mephibosheth’s story is your story (if you are born again).  Your (and my) sin call for us to be dealt with harshly, instead God shows us his mercy and grace for Jesus’ sake and we get to feast at the table of the king for eternity! 

Friday, May 29, 2009

Psalm 139 (Amp)

    15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].

    16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.

    17 How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

If you have ever for a minute questioned your reason for being or somehow thought you were here by accident let the passage above wash over you a few times.  Keep reading it until the message that the Creator of the Universe “knew you when”.  He knew you when nobody else knew you, and continued the process of your development.  He loves you when you get it right and when you miss the mark; and whether you are on the path to your dreams or presently headed in the opostie direction He still has you marked for greatness.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Proverbs 11 (NIV)

 25 A generous man will prosper;
       he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

During the late 70’s and early 80’s the term “burnout” came into vogue as a way of explaining the way Type A personality people ran themselves ragged.  The poster boy for this diagnosis was Philadelphia Eagle Football Coach, Dick Vermiel who had a propensity for working 18 hour days in preparation for the team’s upcoming opponent.  Funny thing was all that hard work never garnered Vermiel or the Eagles a championship; in fact in their one Super Bowl appearance together, a loss to the Oakland Raiders, the knock on Vermiel was that his high stress ways had his team on edge and not ready to play their best.  After a self imposed retirement Dick Vermiel returned back to the sidelines as the coach of the St Louis Rams, and in only his second year with the team led them to the title.  During his hiatus he obviously learned to relate to his players in a way that enabled them to flourish under pressure.  Let that be a lesson to us in our attempts to reach our goals; focus on refreshing those around you and allow the law of seed time and harvest go into effect on your behalf causing you to reap peace and fulfillment.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

II Samuel 12 (KJV)

 1And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

 2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

 3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

 4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

 5And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
Too often we allow sin to perpetuate in our life because we fail to see who it really touches and how far reaching it’s effects are.  Not until we make a visceral connection between our actions (good or bad) and their end result will we begin to understand what it is to really love what Jesus loves and hate what he hates.  That’s precisely what it took for David; as king he was used to getting what he wanted and within he short period of time of being led by his flesh in this regard he temporarily lost his sensitivity to right and wrong- he no longer concerned himself with the consequences of his action.  Not until the prophet Nathan came to him and put his alduterous affair with Bathsheba into perspective did David understand how much hurt and pain he caused.  He was fortunate to have a bold man of God confront him; but as beleivers we shouldn’t wait on or count on others to point out our wrong thoughts and deeds.  As mature followers of Christ we need to daily, exercise a personal check and relate strongly to the wages of sin. By doing so we will follow David’s footsteps in another regard; reception of forgiveness and recognition as a man or woman after God’s own heart.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Psalm 91 (Message)

 14-16 “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
      “I’ll get you out of any trouble.
   I’ll give you the best of care
      if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
   Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
      I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
   I’ll give you a long life,
      give you a long drink of salvation!”

The Bible is full of examples of God’s provision for his children, especially in times of desperate need.  It is good to know that this type of oversight didn’t stop after some arbitrary dispensation but continues today.  The only requirement: a willingness to trust and call upon Him.  Simply cry out “I need you Jesus, come to my rescue.” and all those that call upon the Lord wil be saved (Romans 10:13).

Friday, May 22, 2009

I Timothy 6 (KJV)

 17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

In my early and middle teen years I often viewed my parents as trying to “rain on my parade.”  In other words when I heard them say “don’t do this or don’t do that”, “Do your homework”, and “eat your vegetables” I figured they were trying to spoil my fun.  There are those who carry the same perception of the boundaries God has set for their lives through His words recorded in the Bible. They see their life in Christ as a daily grind,as opposed to the abundant life God has for them.  It is clear by this passage and many others like it that our heavenly father does want us to enjoy life.  He doesn’t expect you to punish yourself to earn his love, nor does He inflict undue burdens to keep you humble.  As I look back at the “restrictions” placed on me by my parents I see now how they were meant to enhance my enjoyment of life: those extra hours studying helped to advance me into a career that I thoroughly enjoy; and even those brussel sprouts that I wanted to spit out helped to lead me toward healthier habits that have helped me to feel strong, vibrant, and physically able to enjoy athletic activities for years to come. Trust in the wisdom of the living God he has your interest at heart!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Job 8 (KJV)

7 – “Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase”.

I know for a fact that God is an avid baseball fan.  How do I know?  It’s easy, in the first verse of the Bible it says, “In the big-inning”!  Well, I love baseball…anyway…in the past year my beloved New York Yankees (here’s a shout out to all my Yankee buds!) signed a lot of high priced players…for a cost of close to $400 million.  There were three that didn’t start the season all that well.  In fact, there was one week that all three were in a “slump”, from which one newspaper gave them the title of “slump-dog millionaires”, a play on words from a recent box office hit movie.

In baseball and in life, to some people it is, “what have you done for me lately?”  Thank God, the cream always rises to the top, meaning no matter what is temporarily going on in your life, your finances, your health, your family, your home…you will rise to the top.  I am happy to report that all three players have been performing as advertised, at the top of their game and the Yankees are on a huge winning streak. Though their “beginning was small, their latter end shall be great”, meaning it doesn’t really matter how you start, at the end you, yes you, are going to come out on top.  Just like those three players that were called “slump-dog millionaires”, the devil is trying to tell you that you won’t make it, you’re going under, and you’re going to die.  But as Yogi Berra used to say, “It ain’t over till it’s over”!  When you make your “comeback” there is going to be a “payback”!  You might be going through a slump right now but the end of the story is “your latter end shall be great”!!!!! 

Today’s scripture commentary is from Rev. Joseph Fortunato, Pastor of Faith Fellowship opf Southern New Jersey

 

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Galatians 3 (KJV)

 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

The next time you are tempted to get mad at yourself or anyone else for slipping up in you daily christian walk remind yourself that salvation doesn’t come through the “works of the law”.  Jesus made this point very clearly when he confirmed that if you hate your brother you’ve committed murder; and if you even so much as look upon a woman (who is not your wife) lustfully you’ve already committed adultery.  Knowing no one could keep the entire law God’s plan calls for our salvation, our perfecting if you will, to be through faith in the only one to ever walk this earth sinlessly perfect.  If you want to be made perfectly whole get nearer to the son.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

I Samuel 30 (KJV)

6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

If there is one thing I have learned during my lifetime it is that there will always be opportunities to be brought down.  The key is not accepting them.  Don’t give place to situations or circumstances that can drag you into a pit or rut; and the only way you can do that is by learning how to be your own motivator.  The all time greats in any field never rely on a teacher or coach; oh sure they will benefit greatly from whta a coach can teach them, but more importantly they have learned how to apply their lessons on their own; they have developed the skill of self talk and are able to exercise their will to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.  And one more thing, like David, they draw their strength from God himself and encourage themself by recalling his plans and promises for their life!

Monday, May 18, 2009

II Kings 20 (KJV)

 1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

 2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,

 3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

 4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

 5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

Recent history has shown that many times people in positions of power and authority are often unwilling to admit wrongdoing; or only accept partial responsibilities for their actions.  I have watched with some degree of amazement as the latest pro baseball playr has been outed for using steriods; several of whom, months earlier who looked straight into a camera and without batting an eye lash an essentially said “I would never do that , and how dare you accuse me of that.”  What a stark contrast, than, is illustrated in the life of King Hezekiah. Confronted with the prophecy of his own death, he didn’t make excuses or attempt to worm out of his “death sentence” by justifying his actions instead he “turned” his face to the wall as a symbol of the fact that he would turn himself to do the will of the Lord, He prayed, and put his life in the mercy of the one life-giver.  We would be well served to follow his inspirational example; not just in word, but backed up with deeds that daily model a true christian walk as well.

 

Friday, May 15, 2009

Psalm 32 (KJV)

 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

 11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

According to the famous motivational speaker, Zig Zigler “Attitude determines altitude.”  Who better to demonstrate the attitude of gladness than those who have been delivered out of darkness and into the light by the power of Jesus’ deat and ressurrection.  What a great promise we have here that by simply “trusting” in the Lord we are candidates for his mercy.  Notice it doesn’t list out 50 steps you need to take to earn God’s gift.  Mercy is more than just a “free pass” it also encompasses the favor of the only one who gives life.  Maybe you woke up this morning and thought “the way things are going I don’t even want to get out of bed”, don’t stay there because now you know that you have good reason to be glad and shout for joy.  Allow gladness to be a hallmark of your daily christian walk knowing God’s unlimited favor is ready for you to recieve it; and with that backing the sky’s the limit!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

I Samuel 4 (KJV)

17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

Perhaps you have heard the term, “PK”.  There is a good reason why many times “PK” or preacher’s kids can get off the train when it comes to serving God.  That is what happened to the sons of Eli the priest.  Left to their own devices Hophni and Phinehas and instead of serving God abused their positions.  Their riotous living led to their demise, and emphasized the diminishing reverence for God in the nation of Israel at that time.  In one full swoop Eli lost his family and his ministry.  When parents spend all of their time ministering outside the home at the expense of serving their household it is easy for young people (and spouses) to feel left out and rebel.  I have been fortunate to be involved in ministries where the “PK” were not rebellious, but on fire for the things of God, and one thing is clear this isn’t by accident.  Before winning the world we’ve got to remember to win at home with our spouses and children; and this goes for everyone, not just those in the full time ministry.  Trust me, the better home life you have the more powerful your witness to the world will be; and the greater effect you will have on the world you hunger to reach.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Proverbs 21 (Message)

 31 Do your best, prepare for the worst—
   then trust God to bring victory.

Someone once said “work like everything depends on you and pray like it all depends on God.”  It brings to bear a key point; preparation does not constitute a lack of faith or trust in the power of God.  Yes, God is sovreign, so knowing that why not put yourself in position to best handle the opportunities his sovreignty provides for you.  Don’t worry you won’t lose your Faith card!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Phillippians 3  (KJV)

 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Have you ever met someone that hates losing?  Their personal motto syas “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”, and when it comes to defeat of any kind they will avoid it at all cost (both within and around the rules).  They can’t even tolerate losing an argument over something that is seemingly inconsequential.  That was the type of person the Apostle Paul was.  He was used to excelling at everything, he was at the top of his class in every regard and yet, after nothing but accomplishments and winning results, he was ready to term everything that he had done a loss in comparison to the knowledge of Christ.  Only a personal realization of who Jesus is “to me” can we come to the place where we admit that we can’t win eternal life on our own, and that every other victory we can accomplish in our own strength pales in comparison to his victory, on our behalf over sin and death!  Today, do you see Jesus as a prophet, the saviour of the world or do you KNOW him as “my Lord and My God?”

Monday, May 11, 2009

Proverbs 3 (KJV)

 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Ever since I was a young man I have enjoyed the competition and activity of sports.  Beginning in my early childhood I participated in various levels of basketball and baseball; but as I have gottena little older I have, for the most part, traded in my baseball bat for a set of golf clubs.  The biggest mistake I made early on in my efforts to learn to play golf was thinking it was easy to make the ball go straight.  I would simply step up to the ball with little regard to the positions of my hands, my stance, and how the face of the club layed on the ground behind the ball.  As a result I often hit shots that ended up far from the spot I expected they would land.  A recent trip to a golf pro for some lessons revealed that a big part of my frustration and inability to score well was coming from poor alignment to my target.  The pro I worked with showed me that even though I thought I was lined up to the hole I was often pointing the face of my club far to the right or left of it.  He gave me a great way to correct this fundamental mistake and what he showed me works well, not just on the golf course but in life as well.  He explained that it is very difficult to line up to a target that is 200 or 300 yards away, but we can very easily line up to something that is 2 or 3 feet away.  He instructed me to pick out my long range target, than find a point on that path that is just a little ahead of the ball and line up to that.  Before I knew it I was hitting the ball much more consistently on the path I wanted it to go.  On your christian journey the goal is to spend eternity with Jesus; instead of viewing this as a far off  occurrence start seeing the things along that path that are just a short distance away (i.e loving the people God has placed in your life now, learning to communicate with the Father daily,  etc.)  get a handle on the fundamentals of God’s word and they will carry you to your intended target.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Ezekiel 33 (NLT)

3 When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. 4 Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. 5 They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives.

One of the worst things you can do in a recessionary period is to sit around and wait for things to just happen.  A wise person will recognize warning signs and proactively take steps to avoid destruction and reduce the long term effects.  If you’ve been given a warning the responsibility is yours to take the correct steps to avoid the consequences.  But what if you are the one who is supposed to do the warning?  Ezekiel went on to say that if the watchmen fails to warn of impending danger (see v 6) it is he that is responsible for the people’s captivity.  As watchman positioned in our communities by God we are responsible to warn people of the death that follows a life without Christ; so if you haven’t already started…..sound the alarm!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

James 5 (KJV)

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

A local television station recently put together a program on the power of prayer. It is nice to see that there are some positive stories making it to our media sources.  It will be nicer still when we as beleivers really get down to business when it comes to prayer.  A recent Barna research study indicates that only a small number of Christians actually include prayer as part of their daily lives.   And not just a few words for the sake of saying we pray; God is calling for us to mean business with him.  For a prayer to be effective there really is only one criteria; Faith (see v 15 of this passage).  Faith is the feul that causes those things we hope for to go from the spiritual to the natural realm.  Effective prayers are not measured by the syntax of the words, the length, or number of poetic couplets but by how much we believe that our God can bring them to pass!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Matthew 26 (NIV)

12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

A key element in every story is a period where the main character makes a choice or acts in such a way as to change the course of their life from thereafter.  This is often called a defining moment.  One such example occurred in the 80’s movie “Back to the Future” starring Michael J Fox.  In a key scene Fox’s character’s future dad George McFly, who up until this point had merely glided through life as part of the back drop, stands up to the town bully, Biff and much to everyon’es surprise beats him.  From there on McFly is no longer a doormat but goes on to marry the prettiest girl and lead a successful life.  The same can be said for Mary Magdalene, who prior to this encounter with Jesus had a very checkered past.  A past most “religious” people today would think would disqualify her from ever reaching the kingdom of God, much less a trophy of his grace and mercy.  In an instant she skyrocketed from death to life, from never was to memorialized in gospel forever and certainly her life would never be the same.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Isaiah 40 (KJV)

 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The other day I was watching a “Where are they Now” presentation on ESPN Classic.  It is always interesting to see what some of our all time favorite athletes are doing now that they are no longer in the spotlight.  This particular episode told the story of several former NFL players who are now battling crippling injuries and are a mere shell of their former selves. I don’t care how strong you are in the natural, whether you can lift 1000 pounds, run a mile in under 4 minutes, or tackle a bruising running back your body is subject to aging.  That is why this passage is so powerful, because no matter how much our physical or emotional circumstances try to bring us down our God is always there to pick us up, to replace our weakness with his stength and renew our outlook on life!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Proverbs 29 (KJV)

 18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Imagine being blindfolded, placed on a high elevation, and told that the land that you have been placed on is only about 8 feet wide in every diection before it drops off hundreds of feet to a rocky plateau.  With no real visual idea of your boundaries you would either be stuck in a very small area too afraid to fall off the edge of the cliff or splattered all over the ground below because of over aggression.  In either case the result is disastrous.  That is exactly what life is void of the revelation of God.  The word of God is meant to give us a clear vision of how to not only safely navigate the land mines this world and the world system have to offer, but to thrive in the process.  If you have this revelation but aren’t sharing the life saving message of Jesus, you are allowing your friends and family to stay in the aforementioned stae through the sin of silence.  Don’t be afraid to share your faith in your savior; remember it is not your job to save anyone, but it is your calling to tell them about the one who saves!  (A great resource for learning how to “Share Jesus Without Fear” is available on at www.sharejesuswithoutfear.com)

Friday, May 1, 2009

Matthew 12 (Message)

 6-8″There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—’I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual’—you wouldn’t be nitpicking like this. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he’s in charge.”

There is a big difference between religion and relationship.  Religion asks “what can I get away with and still get into heaven?” while a person interested in relationship asks “what more can I do to really please God?”  Religion banks on traditions and rituals, whereas a relationship based faith relies on the mercy and grace of the all powerful, all knowing savior of the world.  Religion recognizes Jesus as the son of God; but relationship knows him as “MY Lord and My God.”  Which word best describes You?

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Matthew 10 (KJV)

 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry here on earth was his willingness to touch people.  When his disciples tried to shield him from the crowds he responded by telling them to “suffer the little children to come to me and forbid them not.”  In the same way you and I need to be free with our time and spend what we have been given freely, by Jesus death on the cross, on those who have need of God’s gift of mercy and grace.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Luke 14 (NLT)

28  “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.

A few years ago I took a trip to the Bahamas.  Instead of staying by the hotel resort area I decided to take a trip around the island.  One of the things that struck me while on my little island adventure was the number of homes that were stalled in various stages of building.  Some were 1/4 of the way built, others were 1/2 way done, and others were up to 80% complete but filled with vines and vegetation after sitting unfinished for what my tour guide told me was, in some cases, years.  Jesus had a solution for such things that is appropriate for both natural and spiritual endeavors. Simply put, “Count the cost.”  Like those Bahamian Homes I have, unfortunately, witnessed lives that started out on the right path with God only to be sidetracked by other, less important pursuits.  Before you decide to begin a new hobby or enter into something that will require a significant amount of your time, ask yourself what will this cost me in the areas that mean the most: my relationship with God, my family, my integrity.  Don’t move forward unless the answer indicates it will enhance those areas of your life!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Mark 1 (KJV)

 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Carlton Pearson once made the statement: ” You can be emotional without being spiritual, but you can’t truly be spiritual without involving your emotions!”  I would tend to agree with that comment and I think Jesus would as well.   Jesus had an emotional connection to God and the people; even complete strangers were recipients of his love and compassion.  If you and I are to fulfill our mission of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ each one of us must come to realize the incredible purpose God has for not only us, but each person we touch.  If that doesn’t move you I don’t know what will!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Jude 1 (KJV)

 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

If anyone ever told you the Christian life was a walk in the park they oviously never read this passage.  You have an enemy, and no he doesn’t walk around with horns and a pitchfork. He will scratch and claw and attack you in areas where you struggle with the purpose of derailing your faith.  You can’t give in or give up, though, you must CONTEND using weapons that “are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds.”  Those would include the power of the name of Jesus, prayer, praise, and the spoken word.  A quote I once read says “”Find a path with no obstacles and it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”  You and I are on a path to heaven, and there will be some obstacles…some Giants along the way, but thanks be to God that He is mighty to save as we march into battle for the kingdom.

Friday, April 24, 2009

I Samuel 15 (KJV)

 13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

The absolute worst kind of deception is self-deception.  Modern singers have coined the term “don’t believe the hype.”  I think it is a phrase every leader, in fact every believer should take heed to.  The second you start to think you are “irreplaceable in the kingdom”, that you are doing God some kind of favor because of your tremendous gift or skill in a certain area you have missed the point of what God wanted to teach you through the gift; in other words you “believed your own hype”.  Saul started out humble and with a plyable heart, but by the time we meet up with him in this passage he is full of himself and his accomplishments.  By his own measure he was a great man, but if you look back at his life, the gifts and graces that God bestowed upon him he fell well short of his potential.  Today, instead of comparing your self to someone else take a realistic look at what you’ve done in light of what God is capable of doing through you when you walk in complete submission to Him.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

James 3 (AMP)

  2  For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.
Let’s face it there are hundreds of ways to step on someone’s toes or rub them the wrong way; and without a doubt 95% of them proceed from that little muscular apparatus that sits in the middle of our mouth.  As far as I can see there are only two ways to get the tongue under control.  First, you’ve got to committ it to the Holy Spirit.  Declare every day that your tongue is an instrument of praise, that it is the “pen of a ready writer” (Psalm 45: 1), and ask God to help you get a grip on it.  And second….. work on it.  Maturity doesn’t come with time or age, but with work.  Get into the habit of putting a guard over your mouth and don’t allow just any old thing to come flying out.  Will you still slip from time to time? Probably.  Will you offend others periodically? Most definitely. But, even so we can do better.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

I Samuel 16 (KJV)

12 And he sent, and brought him (David) in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
David is described here as having handsome features, but what attracted others to him was his tremendous attitude.  Zig Ziegler, the famous motivational sales expert has often been quoted as saying “Attitude determines altitude.”  It is no wonder that David was hand picked by God to succeed Saul as king.  Whether he was facing a Giant, running from a crazed king, or tending to his father’s sheep he did it in such a way that it caused others to look on him with affection and admiration.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Hebrews 12 (KJV)

 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

Now-a-days you can find role models and pseudo role models at just about every turn.  It seems like each of them have something in print telling you how you can be a success at  _________________ (fill in the blank).  From real estate investing to parenting.  There is one, however, whose book is the all time best seller and whose sacrifice was an eternal investment in your success.  He endured everything that you and I can possibly face; betrayal, false accusations, disrespect and still continued toward the vision set before him unwearied so that we can progress toward our desired end with the courage to complete the vision.  So ask yourself, “Who am I looking at as a role model today?”

Monday, April 20, 2009

Phillipians 1 (Message)

 3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
To an unbelieving mind the cross was an ending, but to those of us who believe it was merely the beginning of the transformation from death into life.  Jesus death, burial, and resurrection started the process of our sonship by blotting out the damning effects of sin.  You and I are then told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2), and that we should be growing from “faith to faith” (Romans 1:17).  The good news is He doesn’t leave us on our own to journey toward this “flourishing finish”.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Proverbs 13 (KJV)

 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

 3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
A recent study found that men who smile more and are encouraging to their wives stay married longer and have more satisfying relationships.  That is no surprise to me, and certainly lines up with the principles taught in the word of God.  Your future is determined, not by the side of the tracks you were born on but by the path produced by your words, attitudes, and actions.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

II Peter 1 (Message)

5-9 So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

When we hear the term “mustard seed” faith it is a common error to focus on the small size of the mustard seed and think, “all I need is just a little faith.”  The key thing we must know about the mustard seed is that though it starts small it develops into something grand.  Don’t rest on your faith laurels, keep building on the foundation you have in God so that your level of faith will increase and reflect the strides you are making in a god-centered life.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

John 4 (KJV)

18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

When Jesus met up with the Samaritan woman at the well he had to break down some cultural walls.  In doing so he recognized her past, but didn’t dwell on it.  He was more interested in her future; and a powerful future it became as this woman could well be recognized as one of the greatest evangelist of all time (see vs. 39).  Everyone of us has a past, but once Jesus enters our lives, as he did for the woman at the well, the past is passed for ever.  So why not bury your past and move on with the great future God has planned for you!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

I Samuel 17 (KJV)

 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.

 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

If you want to be great you must overcome your fear of conflict.  The great champions in war, sports, business…. in life are those who were not dismayed by the threats of an adversary.  Rather than turn away like the majority these heroes recognized the opportunity at hand and ran toward the battle.  You see, your enemy expects you to run…..away; so when you meet him head on he’s never prepared for that kind of boldness.  Bold is what your God wants you to be.  Be bold in your faith that he has armed you for victory, and be ready to give him the glory for your greatest triumph is yet ahead!

 

Monday, April 13, 2009

Ecclesiastes 11 (KJV)

 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

Don’t be merely an observer of the things that affect your life, be an active participant.  Tough times are not an indicator that you need to sit on the sidelines, especially when you consider that it is in times like these that great fortunes have been made.  The key is having a plan, a written vision to act as a compass or guide in the decisions that you make.  Real faith never denies the circumstances, it recognizes there existence and denies there right to dictate whether you will experience success or failure.  You can choose not to do so, and sit idly by while “stuff happens” (which in itself is a decision) or you can move forward in faith to overcome the obstacles that stand in your path to greatness.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Proverbs 6 (KJV)

 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Did you ever notice that the more you sleep the MORE tired you become.  God never intended for us to sleep ten or twelve hours a day; and he never meant for only a select few to contribute to building his kingdom.  As a matter of fact the more you apply yourself to working in the kingdom the more energized you become and a judicious use of energy is guaranteed to produce wealth.  Wake up to assignment that God has for your life, sow your time, talents, and finances into kingdom matters and you will never lack for anything.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

II Kings 7 (KJV)

3And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
Lepers in the day of Elisha the prophet were literally outcasted; thrown out of the city gates and sent to live with other leprous people.  For these four men it must have seemed as the worst of times because, not only were they outcasts but their supply line had dried up since the Syrain army had laid siege to Samaria creating a famine so severe “bird droppings” were sold for the price of filet mignon (see Chapter 6:25).  But these fellows were about to find out that God had them in the right place at the right time.  Had they not been forced to live outside the camp they would have been take captive with the rest of the Samaritans, instead they walked right into the “empty” camp of the Syrians ate and drank until their hearts were content and plundered the silver, gold, and clothing (Verses 5-8).  Praise God!  They had been forced to live under sub-standard conditions there whole life and in an instant found that God hadn’t forgotten them, and had them perfectly positioned to recieve the blessing he reserved for them!  He’s ready to do the same for you.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

I Kings 19 (KJV)

 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Are you waiting for a thunderous voice from heaven telling you what direction to walk in?  You are not alone; we all would prefer to have God show up in a fire or some other dramatic way, and at times he does.  A look at the life of Elijah, and even Jesus reveals that He is teaching us to learn to rely on his leading, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  To hear that “still small voice” we must learn to quiet ourselves in his presence.  That is not always easy to do considering the multitude of voices vying for first place in our lives.  From spouses to bosses, our kids to our parents there is often a lot of noise to wade through.  The answer, make hearing God’s voice a priority.  This may require making the conscience decision NOT to move forward in a venture or endeavor until you have given ample time to lower the volume on what the world says; and tune in to what the spirit of the Lord tells you.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Matthew 7 (KJV)

 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
A strong foundation is more than just philosophy.  I know a number of ethereal thinkers.  They can quote some of the great minds of our day, as well as those of years gone by.  Even though they advocate some of these theories there efforts to memorize line and verse haven’t led to any action of real consequence.  The words of Jesus are not meant solely to provide a compass for the directions are lives should follow, but also as a spark to cause us to live the God-kind of life.  Unless you are living the word,  actually putting the principles into practice then your foundation is just sand.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Esther 8 (Amp)

    4 Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose and stood before the king.

    5 And she said, If it pleases the king and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right before the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.
If our enemies had their way we wouldn’t be around long.  The nature of evil is to accuse, to steal, to kill, and to destroy whatsoever it finds in it’s path.  Fortunately, no matter what decrees your adversary has made concerning you (your health, your finances, and your relationships) the King of the Universe has already made provision for reversal.  Even now he is exending his scepter to you and declares that you have found favor in his sight so that everything that the enemy has meant for harm in yor life can be turned around for good!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Daniel 3 (KJV)

 22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
If it seems to you like the economic conditions are hot right now, you can probably bank on the fact that they will get hotter still.  The issue, though, isn’t how intense the flames of trials in your life are it is how hot your faith is.  I believe the reason Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego did not burn was because they were hotter thean the fire.  One look at their lifestyle shows that they were unwilling to compromise on the things of God, even the details that others thought were “no big deal”.  They had already decided to serve God no matter what and so they couldn’t be deterred by the decrees of an earthly king.  The end result: not only did they survive the fire they were “promoted” (verse 30) and made an eternal impact on the babylonian king. Remember this, as the fire of God burns on the inside of you it will shine through to men an women in positions of authority causing them to favor you.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Luke 12 (KJV)

 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  (underlines added)

The rich man in this parable isn’t stated to be dishonest, unethical, or illegal and yet Jesus refers to him as a FOOL.  By today’s standards we might even call him a great businessman, a success; but if you take a closer look at what he “said” within himself you will see the words “I” or “my” are used 11 times.  He failed to recognize the talents and his personal need for the assistance of his fellow man and God.  Psalm 14 and Psalm 51 declare that Fools deny the existence  of God; it is even more foolish to recognize HE is, but deny your need of HIM.

Tuesday, March  31, 2009

I Corinthians 9 (KJV)

 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Are you “striving for the mastery” in your life.  It is an interesting term that refers to the efforts put forth by early Athletes.  Long before Michael Phelps or the “Dream Team”, or even the Olympic Games came on the scene men competed for pride and glory.  We too are “competing” for glory; and a far greater glory.  The Glory of God.  Whether you believe it or not you are in a stiff competition eevery day.  The enemy of your soul is competing for your loyalty, desiring to sift you as wheat.  Make no mistake about it, your faith walk requires intense effort on your part.  I know Jesus already paid the ultimate price for our salvation, but we must continue to work out that salvation with fear and trembling.  Olympic athletes today chase after gold medals, putting a lifetime of effort into a small piece of metal.  The prize we are after is worth at least that supreme type of acion!

 

Monday, March 30, 2009

I Timothy 4 (Message)

 6-10You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.
What is your spiritual fitness level like today?  If you were to undergo a faith fat analysis would you find that you are merely puffed up on flabby external shows of religion or are you really living strongly related to the real life giver.  Put your self to the spiritual litmus test by asking yourself these questions: 1) Am I more interested in what I can do top please God or what I can get away with and still make it into heaven?  2) Am I more or less zealous for the things of God than when I first came to know the Lord? 3) Am I making a contribution to the kingdom or do I merely sit on the sidelines?  Your answers will give you an idea if you need to spend more time in the Lord’s Gym!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Isaiah 40 (KJV)

 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Are you tired of languishing, feeling as though your strength and energy is running out faster than YOU can replenish it?  The bible teaches that even the young and strong will grow weary IF their trust is in their physical attributes and talents.  The secret to you surviving, NO….thriving in difficult times depends on how closely connected you are to the GOD who IS all power and all strength.  When you serve and trust Him while others are hitting the wall, you will soar!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Daniel 2 (KJV)

 20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
It is a well known fact that when it comes to dabbling in the stock market, “insider information” is both unethical and illegal.  That being said, it is good to know that our heavenly father is willing to share his eternal insights with those who love and reverence him.  Do you have questions about the direction your life is headed, how to handle tough situations, relationships, and even financial matters?  Earnestly seek the Lord and glorify him with the godly decisions you make with the “insider information” he speaks to you.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Proverbs 8 (KJV)

 17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

 18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

Whether it was Ben Franklin or any of a number of modern day thinkers there have always been those who have espoused the virtues and benefits of being “early to bed and early to rise.”  While I am certainly an advocate of this way of thinking, it is important that we as believers don’t make doctrines out of such things.  As a matter of fact you can search scripture and find evidence to support a frame of reference for both the benefits and detriments of waking up at the crack of dawn.  What is important, however, is how we choose to spend our time while here and if you want to experience the full benefits of your covenant with the Father you will make a healthy reverence of Him your first priority.  Do it now, don’t wait until….. “until you have had a chance to see the world” or “until you get yourself straightened out a little more.”……. or “until your family or finances are just right.”  Seek Him early and often, and that has nothing to do with the time of day, but more to do with the level of priority you give to your relationship with him.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Psalm 139 (KJV)

 13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

 14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

 15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
You and I are a “marvellous work” of the creator; not the result of an evolutionary process.  God knew exactly what he was doing when he formed you in you mothers womb, and regardless of any sidesteps or slips you have taken his good plans for you haven’t changed.  Your experiences won’t take him by surprise and won’t cause him to stop loving you.  Let the result of his love for you be expressed in how you live your life for Him, as an act of worship!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Matthew 21 (KJV)

28 But what think ye? ……..
There are some who believe that the moment you become a christian your brain gets left on the other side of the cross.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Jesus was an effective teacher because he asked the people he encountered poignant questions that got to the heart of the issues they were struggling with.  If we are to be effective ministers of the gospel of the annointed one and his annointing that destroys yokes of bondage then we too must be equipped spiritually and be educated enough to know how to be relevant in the world we live in.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Provebs 13 (Message)

13 Ignore the Word and suffer;
   honor God’s commands and grow rich.

You can’t get musch simpler than that.  Applying the principles of the Word of God to your life are about the closest thing to an iron clad guarantee that you can get for a life of success.  When you honor the commands of the Lord his promises will shiled you, even when you make mistakes and will preserve you in the middle of trying situations and circumstances.  The thing is it is not only for “super- spiritual” things either.  In fact, God is well aware that you can’t function in this world without the finances to back it up; he doesn’t mind you growing rich.  He even backs up his guarantee by telling us to “prove him” in our finances (Malachi 3:10).

Thursday, March 19, 2009

I Peter 5 (Message)

 8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

By now you have probably learned that there is no “Congratulatory Telegram” on the way from the devil to commend you for becoming a Christian; but just in case you have been waiting, STOP!!  Receiving God’s generous gift of salvation doesn’t mean that from here on out everything will be smooth and you will never have another trouble.  In fact sometimes you may feel like it is just the oppositie.  The reason being is your enemy, the devil would like to see you trip yourself up since he can’t do it himself.  One of the keys to staying on track with the things of God is to be cognizant of the types of attacks he will bring to you.  If you know you have a weakness in a specific area than you can bank on him trying to hit you right there.  Take safeguards in those areas, watch that you keep yourself from tough spots or tempting situations and you will be much more likely to be successful in your christian walk.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Psalm 15 (KJV)

 1Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

 2He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

 3He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.  (underline added)
Some years back I was in the middle of a competitive basketbal game when the player I was guarding began to talk trash.  He was so busy telling me about all the things he was going to do to me on the court, I guess he forgot how to do them.  We won the game and this fellow didn’t do much to back up his brash words.  In Psalm 15 we find out that God, too, isn’t nearly as interested in the game we “talk” as he is in the way we walk.  It is one thing to tell Him and others all the things you plan to do for the kingdom, but what really matters is that you back it up.  Walk the talk and you won’t need to do nearly as much speaking!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

II Chronicles 12 (KJV)

14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

Let me ask you a question.  If you knew right now that your home was scheduled to receive a visit from President Obama would it be reasonable for me to assume that you would take the time to prepare for his arrival?  Perhaps you would hire a cleaning service or spend more time than usual cleaning the home yourself.  Maybe you would spruce up the front yard a bit, or buy some fresh scented candles to create a pleasant aroma.  If his secretary had promised he might stay for dinner you might borrow a neighbors china if you weren’t satisfied with your present set, and the menu would probably include some very succulent dishes, no doubt.  The point is you would take the tiem to prepare for his arrival; you wouldn’t just slap something together at the last minute.  With this in mind it is unfortunate to think of the lack of care we so often take in preparing ourselves so that the presence of the Holy Spirit would permeate our lives.  If anything believers should make every effort to create the right internal and external environment for the glory of God to flourish in their lives. In your time today ready your heart to seek the Lord by giving first place to his word and filling your mind and heart with the good things and thougts he has told us to think on.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Psalm 20 (KJV)

 6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
If it is your tendency, during trying times to pull away from the things of God or to try to “figure things out” on your own then you may want to pay special attention to the words of this passage.  While it may seem like taking a “mainstream” approach is your quickest route out of trouble don’t be decieved.  It was releiance on the schemes, strategies, and plans of the world that got us into trouble to begin with.  Today you must remember “the name” of the Lord.  If you are sick recall that he is Jehovah Raphe (the Lord that heals); befuddled by confusion and chaos, that’s ok he is still Jehaovah Shalom (the Lord of peace); and if financial struggles have you down than don’t forget Jehovah Jireh (the Lord Your Provider) is still on the throne.  In the end you’ll still be standing not because of your great ability or insight, but because of God’s right hand of delieverance.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Luke 8 (KJV)

22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

If you haven’t experienced it already somewhere on your way to your dreams you will be faced with a tempest; a storm so fierce it tests your commitment, your drive, and maybe even your faith.  When this happens keep two things in mind, first Jesus is not responsible for the storm…..  if He were he wouldn’t rebuke it (literally, tell it to be muzzled) so you could progress toward your destination.  Second, if He told you that you are going to the “other side” the only thing that can prevent you from reaching your dream is you.  So get back in the boat and float, paddle, or get a high powered engine and face the storm knowing you have been promised victory. 

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Proverbs 22 (KJV)

7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Our present system of credit, where most people are concerned, has become a tool of enslavement.  While lending institutions deserve their fair share of the blame for unscrupulous practices by some and greed by many; as believers we need to exercise wisdom in how we handle our finances.  It is just one area where we are to be faithful stewards, but an important one none the less.  It is God’s best and highest will for your life that you are a debtor only to him for the work of his son Jesus on the cross.  I believe we can be debt free and in fact, “be the lender and not the borrower” (Deut 28:12).  If we are to do that it will require the following.  We must trust God, FIRST with our finances by faithfully giving our tithes and offering (Mal. 3).  This will create a hedge of protection around our finances and free God to release his blessing upon us.  Second we must begin to systematically pay down our debt and learn to live by a smart budget.  Used improperly credit is a major source of anxiety and frustration; but with some simple (not easy) planning it can be a valuable tool.  Trust the word of God and proceed wisely, today!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Judges 6 (KJV)

14And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

 15And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

 16And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

Gideon wasn’t the typical display of might or strength; at least not when we catch up to him hiding out in a wine press and threshing wheat.  (For you non wheat threshers the wine press is NOT the place where this typically was done).  Outwardly he looked more like a coward, more afraid of what the Midianites could do to him than what Goid could do through him.  With some angelic encouragement he was soon on the course to his destiny as a great leader and mighty man of valor.  Be encouraged today that there is greatness on the inside of you and with God there is nothing that you can’t do!

 

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Deuteronomy 11 (NIV)

31 You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, 32 be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.

My father was the head coach of a High School Baseball State Championship Team.  Watching him I learned that to win at that level requires more than just great players, it also requires great preparation.  His motto was that no team would beat his teams mentally; and so the play book he gave each of his players at the start of the year included every possible situation imaginable and the reponsibility of each player on when a ball was hit to them or to any of their teammates.  I think the concept of knowing what you are going to do in advance of a given situation is the easiest and best way to be successful in that endeavor, whether it is being prepared for opportunities of blessing or to resist the opportunities to become wrapped up in sin.  Don’t wait until you are in a sticky situation to make your choices, make them before you get stuck.  Cross those bridges in your mind and in your heart first!

 

Monday, March 9, 2009

Matthew 11 (AMP)

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a [d]share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

Have you ever been invited to an exclusive party and watched as people on the outside looking in tried everything in their power and persuasive abilities to gain access.  I can remember attending the meeeting of a prominent evangelist when the seating capcity of a large arena was full hours before the service was set to begin.  Having arrived early enough to get a seat I happened to witness people banging on the large glass doors of the arena trying to force their way in.  This passage says the same will happen in heaven.  Don’t get me wrong, God doesn’t have limited seating capacity, in fact it is his desire that everyone gets in on the party.  The problem is that many will not have their names on the “guest list” because they didn’t know the Son.  They will kick and scream and even declare all the wonderful things they have done here to be a good person.  The thing is all those efforts will come to naught, because entry to the party is contingent on one thing only; having the right answer to the question “did you recieve Jesus as your Savior and Lord?”

 

Friday, March 6, 2009

Joshua 3 (KJV)

 7And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.

Imagine for a moment that you are one of the Israelite priests standing at the Jordan’s edge when Joshua gives the order to step in and stand still.  On the other side is the promised land and maybe a few Giants, but on this side (the side you now stand) is safety and what you have been familiar with your entire adult life.  Now mind you the Jordan is no small river, and at the time of this crossing the banks were overflowing.  If you step in, the waters may cease as Joshua says God promised him, or who knows maybe you will be swept away.  It all comes down to a matter of trust; how much do you trust the promises of the Lord Your God?  In either case you stand on the brink…….of something BIG or a lifetime of the status quo.

 

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Mark 14 (KJV)

9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

In this day and age, even in Christian circles, the word sacrifice has become taboo.  This passage in Mark 14 demonstrates that God himself is moved by acts of sacrifice.  In fact sacrifice, coupled with continued obedience grabs at his heart strings.  Mary Magdalene sacrificed a year’s salary to pour outrher heart to Jesus, annointing him with the finest perfume; and just as Jesus prophesied, has been remembered by believers and non-believers alike for her beautiful, sacrificial act.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

II Corinthians 4 (NIV)

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

I have often heard my pastor make this statement: “You can’t be afraid when you are dead.”  Oh, don’t worry he is not proposing we follow the likes of Jim Jones.  What he is saying is when you die to sin and allow your life to be hid in Christ you will no longer fear what men can do to you.  This is what enabled Paul to do all he did for the kingdom of God.  He was so connected to Jesus that men could persecute him, press in on him, and physically batter him but their actions NEVER had the intended effect of wearing him down or causing him to walk in defeat. The same Jesus that lived inside Paul resides inside of you.  When the enemy is trying to get you to feel defeated draw HIM up from the inside.

 

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Matthew 5 (KJV)

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

St Francis of Assissi is credited with the saying “preach the gospel and if necessary use words.”  You and I are to be flaming torches that proclaim the goodness and mercy of God.  For it is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance; if today you find your faith or passion for the things of God waning ask your self “Am I letting my light shine to others”.  Remember any small fire left unattended in a controlled environment will fizzle out; for maximum output it needs to be stoked up and feuled by adding more wood and through agitation.  So don’t fear the challenges in your way right now, view them as the agitating action necessary to cause your smoldering flame to blaze uncontrollably so that it will attract others and help light there way out of darkness.

Monday, March 2, 2009

I John 2 (Message)

 1-2 I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s.

Do you ever struggle with the issue of sin; feeling as though every time you miss the mark, you lose your salvation?  Let me reassure you that there is a difference between the sinner and a believer who sins; and that is the forgivenss provided through your relationship with Jesus.  So from now on don’t allow guilt or self condemnation to keep your from coming to him with your faults.  When you mess up lift up your heart to him as a child does to a loving parent and ask for his forgiveness and immediately you restore your fellowship with the one who set you free.  Problem solved!

Friday, February 27, 2009

II Kings 2 (KJV)

9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

 10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

and  II Kings 5 (KJV)

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

In these two passages we see the difference between a true disciple and a parasite.  Elisha desired a double portion of the annointing that was on his mentor Elijah and throughout his life could be found faithfully serving and learning under the great prophet.  His guiding key to success was to “soak up the wisdom and annointing that was on his teacher”, in other words he wanted what Elijah had learned.  Gehazi on the other hand was soley interested in the rewards of the position, and when the opportunity arose to capitalize on the fruits of his master’s annointing he quickly jumped at it seeking monetary gain for himself; he wrongfully wanted what Elisha had earned for himself.  The end result: Elisha was granted his hearts desire and indeed hasd a double portion bestowed on him (history records he performed twice the number of miracles than Elijah).  Gehazi on the other hand got his short term reward ( a few talents of silver) but had the leprosy that was on Namaan cling to him.  Which are you, the parasite or the protege?

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Deuteronomy 8 (KJV)

18But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

The Word of God teaches us that we are empowered to be wealthy!  But hold on before you start shouting amen.  It doesn’t say God will drop that wealth into our laps like pennies (or Benjamins for that matter) from heaven.  Empowerment is not to be confused with winning the lottery; it deals with an “equipping, enabling, and an endowment of authority”.  God has given us the authority and ability to obtain wealth for the purpose of establishing his kingdom here on the earth; but you won’t see the evidence of the wealth transfer until you start walking in that authoriy….not in word only, but also in action.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Mark 2 (KJV)

3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

 4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Here is a classic example of faith that would not be denied.  Can you picture sitting in a church service, the rows jammed  packed with people, SRO (standing room only), and the crowd outside trying to force their way in the front door, back door, and side doors.  Then, to top it off, as the minister is delivering his message the ceiling begins to collapse and 5 men stick their head in the hole made through the tile, wood frame, and drywall to say “look out below we are lowering our buddy down for a healing.”  So much for the obstacles to reaching your goals?  Every excuse you have ever made for not pursuing your education, a better occupation, a closer relationship with your spouse, and a closer relationship with God just went out the window.  Tear down the roof and lift the lid off your path to God’s best for your life!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Psalms 46 (KJV(

1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

 3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

With all the different facets of life, (home, work, volunteer activities, etc.) sometime it can be diffficult to hone in on what we are actually doing.  No wonder we can become frustrated, dissillusioned, depressed, and just plain worn out.  In times  like this we neeed to meditate on this word from the omnipotent omnipresent one.  Isn’t it good to know that God is able to be “VERY” present in our lives; to hold things together even when it feels as though we are falling apart.  We can take a lesson from this as well in how we relate to others.  If you wan’t your closest relationships to flourish you must be very present when you are with ___________ (fill in the blank with the name of your spouse, children, best friend, or whoever it is that you are communicating with at any given time)!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Isaiah 49 (KJV)

13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

If you are in need of comfort today as consolation for affliction you can rest assured that the Holy Spirit is the great comforter and will not leave you alone in your distress.  On the other hand if you have gotten so comfortable you have lost or are in the process of losing your drive or zeal for the things of God you can expect to be pushed out of the nest.  As my Pastor, Rev. John Antonucci has been quoted as saying today “I come to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”  Never allow the fire that burns on the inside of you to wane; take care to stoke the flames daily because it is the fire that will protect you from the enemies devices and cause you to be a light that attracts people to the kingdom of God.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Galatians (AMP)

9And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

Fainting is not an option…… if you want to reap the rewards that God has planned for you.  For Paul to have made this statement he must have known, through the Spirit, that challenges to our faith and courage are going to come.  So if you are facing a report that you didn’t want or in the middle of a personal tribulation don’t let it surprise you.  Instead keep a strong grasp on the object of your faith, Jesus Christ and remember the answer to the promises he has made to you are “YES” and “AMEN”.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

John 4 (KJV)

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

As long as we attempt to live our spirituality in natural things; in other woords trying to earn salvation through our works we will always fall short and be left wanting more.  Not until we allow the Holy Spirit to infiltrate every area of our life and learn to rely on the wisdom and comfort of the spirit will we experience the constant refreshing that Jesus said would continue to resurface as a well-spring.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Phillipians 4 (KJV)

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

We have often proclaimed, and rightly so, prayer changes things.  There is no doubt that through the vehicle of prayers and petitions God has and does move mountains on our behalf.  More often, though, I find that prayer changes me.  Even when my problems don’t change, or alter in the way I anticipate they should God perfects those things that concern me so that in the midst of challenges and trying circumstances I am better equipped to handle what comes my way.  Keep praying and believing for change of both: the circumstances and you!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Isaiah 47 (Message)

27 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.

Want more energy? Desire more strength? Get busy for the Lord.  The word “wait” used in the King James doesn’t mean to sit around on your blessed assurance.  It is the same word that is used for a waiter or waitress.  Have you ever watched a “wait-er” at a busy restaraunt; not much waiting go on is there.  A good wait staff is constantly on their feet, aggressively seeking to please their patrons.  God makes the promises that as we take the attitude of a top-notch server He will refresh, strengthen, and energize us. 

Monday, February 16, 2009

Psalm 118 (Message)

5 Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the wide open spaces, he answered. God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? God’s my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies. Far better to take refuge in God than trust in people; Far better to take refuge in God than trust in celebrities. Hemmed in by barbarians, in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; Hemmed in and with no way out, in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in; in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt. I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me. God’s my strength, he’s also my song, and now he’s my salvation. Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs in the camp of the saved? “The hand of God has turned the tide! The hand of God is raised in victory! The hand of God has turned the tide!”

There are times when despite our best efforts we can still find ourselves with our “backs against the wall”, where seemingly there is no way out.  At these times remember the words: “It is not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6)  Rest in the fact that your heavenly father stands poised and ready to turn the tide in your favor.  When the enemy thinks he has you right where he wants you, remind yourself it is just the opposite:  God has him right where he wants him, and your comeback is right around the corner!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Acts 15 (KJV)

37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

 38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work

One of the greates t strengths of Barnabas (whose name means encourager) was his ability to look beyond the faults of others and help mentor them toward their fulll potential.  One person he did this with was John Mark.  John Mark had, in a previous encounter with Paul made some errors in judgemnet which didn’t sit well with Paul who refused to minister alongside him.  Barnabas on the other hand was willing to give him the opportunity to redeem himself; which apparently John Mark did and proved to be a valuable asset to Barnabas’ ministry team.  We all can benefit from an opportunity for redemption.  Christ has provided it to us freely, let us do the same and in the process build bridges of Christ love.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Amos 9 (AMP)

13 Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine and all the hills shall melt [that is, everything heretofore barren and unfruitful shall overflow with spiritual blessing].

Amos prophesied about the day when blessings would be accelerated.  So often when we think of blessings the first thing that comes to mind is financial; but I want you to open your eyes right now and see the filed of prosperity that is in front of your eyes like never before.  In the days ahead believers will have, and even now should be harvesting souls.  What the enemy has meant for harm in the area of economic unrest we must view as an opportunity to get people spiritually blessed (saved and set free); which by the way is the quickest way to put yourself in line for financial harvest as well.  (Matthew 6:33)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Phillipians 4 (KJV)

 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

 13 I can do all things through Christ (the anointed one and his burden removing yoke destroying power) which strengtheneth me.

Have you looked around at your circumstances and thought it meant that you were suddenly out of God’s will or that he had forgotten you?  I know the feeling, for some reason there is a tendency to view struggle or challenge as proof that we are not worthy of God’s love or evidence that he has had enough of us and what the world says is true.  Rest assured that even if you find yourself in a state of flux, in conditions and circumstances that lead you to believe that you have failed God, yourself, or your family that God hasn’t taken his arms from around you.  None of those issues means you are out of his will.  In fact you may find that, like Paul, you arein the center of the center of his perfect will for your life and still facing persecution and hardships.   Just like him realize that you are equipped to handle whatever comes your way: yes you can.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

I Samuel 20 (Message)

11 “Come outside,” said Jonathan. “Let’s go to the field.” When the two of them were out in the field, Jonathan said, “As God, the God of Israel, is my witness, by this time tomorrow I’ll get it out of my father how he feels about you. Then I’ll let you know what I learn. May God do his worst to me if I let you down! If my father still intends to kill you, I’ll tell you and get you out of here in one piece. And God be with you as he’s been with my father! If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend. And if I die, keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever. And when God finally rids the earth of David’s enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan. Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David. He loved David more than his own soul!

One of the greatest stories told of love and loyalty is the friendship of David and Jonathan.  David himself had this attribute in abundance and though, on occassion his loyalty was betrayed,  he continued to extendthe grace of that loyalty to others on their own merits.  Perhaps today you have experienced betrayal and have been afraid to be loyal to anyone.  While it is a good idea to consider the bonds and alliances we make (like not becoming unequally yoked with unbeleivers) it defies godliness to prejudge others based on the actions of another.  When considering new friendships and partnerships ask the father for wisdom, do your due diligence in getting to know the person and his/her background, and take steps to hold one another accountable and those relationships may have the staying power that David and Jonathan’s did.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Proverbs 17 (KJV)

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

It can be very tempting to reveal some juicy gossip about someone.  Almost like “breaking news” it can carry with it the aura of insider information.  Before you go this route consider the wisdom of Proverbs 17.  The space filled by discussing another’s faults is short but the consequences are far reaching, sometimes life changing.  Consider the source of the information you receive, whether or not you have the story straight, and the value to all party’s involved.  Most of all make sure that your actions, either in concealment or revealing what you know, are bathed in prayerful consideration and with an attitude of love for whoever is involved.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Numbers 13 (KJV)

33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

On a recent trip to a pet store I had a conversation with one of the employees about the dietary habits of some of the snakes they had slithering around in their reptile section.  He informed that they were fed a variety of treats including small mice and grasshoppers.  No wonder so many people are walking around afraid of the snakes (both real and imagined) that cross their paths.  Instead of exuding the boldness and confidence fit for a child of the king, they emanate the aura of something much smaller and weaker and fear harm.  That is what happened to the Israelites.  Though they were being handed the keys to a promised land by seeing thmeselves as grasshoppers “in their own eyes” the entrance into the land flowing with milk and honey was delayed until the next generation.  I am here to tell you today that even grasshoppers feast on ants, and you are meant to defeat every gi-ANT in your life.  To do so start seeing yourself the way God sees you as a king and a priest before him!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Luke 6 (KJV)

27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

 28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

 29And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

 30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

 31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Are you interested in living a spiritual life.  Maybe you thought being spiritual meant spending 12 hours a day in prayer, chanting a specific mantra near a camp fire, or singing Cumbaya.  Jesus had another idea about what it means to be spiritual, and it didn’t involve looking down his nose at people who didn’t fit the mold.  If you desire to live spiritually the way Jesus did get good at forgiving others, finding ways to serve people, handling criticism and ridicule, and treating others in a way you would like to be treated for therein is a spiritually significant life built.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Luke 19 (Message)

20-21″The next servant said, ‘Master, here’s your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don’t suffer fools gladly.’

 22-23″He said, ‘You’re right that I don’t suffer fools gladly—and you’ve acted the fool! Why didn’t you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?’

 24″Then he said to those standing there, ‘Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.’

 25″They said, ‘But Master, he already has double . . .’

 26″He said, ‘That’s what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.

The life of faith can be scary for many, especially if you have been brought up with a play it safe mentality.  Unless you are willing to take some risks you will never experience all that God has planned for you.  I am not talking about foolishly trusting in the arm of flesh or throwing your money away on internet schemes and the unfounded promises of charlotains.  No, not all; but when you are given a promise from the King of Kings don’t let fear stop your faith in it’s tracks.  Make the decision to take God at His word and act accordingly.  If you have been stung in the past by dreams that fell short odds are it wasn’t God, or you moved out ahead of His timing.  Don’t let those past set backs hold you back; increase your time in his presence and your future outcomes will out perform your past losses.

 

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Romans 15 (KJV)

13Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

If you are going to be all that God has designed you to be and fulfill your purpose of being a blessing to the nations of the world than you too must be blessed.  God’s best for you is that you would be filled with his Spirit , the essenc of his glory.  When you are filled up with him you will never have a problem pouring into others.  By the same token if you attempt to pour into others when you yourself are spiritually dry it will be drudgery to you.  Start today in his presence, seek his face and let him minister to you.  That is where your service to others begins.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Daniel 2 (NIV)

13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.

 14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.

There may come a time when you are called upon to confront someone about a wrong they have committed or to defend yourself against accusations that are unjustified.  In such situations resist the temptation to speak before you have considered who the audience is and asked God for his wisdom in dealing with the issue at hand.  When a truth needs to administered remeber that the more harsh the truth the more love must accompany the message (Ephesians 4:15).   But understanding the needs of the people to whom you speak you will be better able to “set  them up” to recieve help and in doing so you may preserve the life of the hearer and others affected by their relationship to him/her.

Friday, January 30, 3009

Luke 15 (KJV)

11And he said, A certain man had two sons:

 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living………

 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  (underlines added)

In this, the parable of the prodigal son, we see not only the greatest lesson on redemption but also some very powerful principles about reception.  We all want to receive something from our Heavenly Father; and HE, depsite what you may have been taught in religous circles, wants to give to you the desires of your heart.  If you want to be all God has made you to be and see His promises fulfilled in your life through you, like the prodigal son, need to shift from the attitude of “Give Me” to one of “Make Me”.  Here are 3 differences between the “Give Me” Mentality and the “Make Me” Mind Set.  First, the “Give me” person desires to be served while the “Make Me” individual wants to be a servant.  Second the “Give me” has a motive of excess (what can I spend on me , how much stuff can I get) while the “Make Me” is looking for access (into the heart of God and into the lives of the hurting, broken, and lost so he can pour in the balm of healing).  Third, in the area of stewardship the “Give Me” person is a squanderer (wasting his assets); but the “Make Me” is a tither willing to plant his financial resources in obedience into kingdom building.  If you look closely you will see that the “give me” person actually did recieve what he demanded because under the law of the land he was within his rights.  The “make Me” person recieved so much more (verses 22-24), not because of the law , but because of the Father’s great grace.  Isn’t that the place you want to be today?  

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Daniel 1 (KJV)

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

The thing that inspires me most about the life of Daniel was that he stood out as a man of excellence.  He judged himself not by what was acceptable to those around him but by what he knew was the standards of God.  When taken captive by the Babylonians all the other Hebrew boys simply followed the routine prescribed by their captors even though it was in direct opposition to the lifestyle they were trained  in.  Not Daniel.  It tells us here that he “purposed” in his heart, which means he made the pre-determination to follow God no matter what circumstances presented.  In doing so he inspired his friends, Sharach, Meshach, and Abendego to do the same.  Isn’t it about time we stop letting the society we live in dictate what we should do and start influencing them to follow us.

 

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Hebrews 13 (KJV)

 5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Let me let you in on a little secret you probably already know: People will let you down.  Most of us, unlike the early church, have thankfully never experienced real persecution or physical harm for defending our faith and yet this message is as appropriate now as it was then.  Ask mental health professionals today and they will tell you that a large portion of their practice is spent counseling people who in some way have been verbally rejected or put down and as a result are harboring a great deal of fear.  The problem doesn’t lie in relating to others or loving other people, in fact we are called and commanded to love one another, it comes in relying on others to confirm our self worth and importance.  When we do this we are only setting ourselves up for a let down.  Instead we need to find ourselves in the one who said he would never betray us, the one who never changes, Jesus.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Malachi 1 (Message)

 7-8 “When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you’re trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn’t that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.

Let’s face it, it can be real easy to get off course in our lives.  It really doesn’t take much to get the train rolling in the wrong direction.  I found this out when doing some work with a friend of mine.  He is a craftsman, an expert in the flooring industry with a heart for excellence.  He showed me how just a 1/32nd of an inch offset could make a tile job look really bad because with each additional tile added the gaps would grow greater and greater.  The same is true with our lives and our Christian walk; we may not start by “defiling” the altar; maybe it begins with a missed service here and there, or a few glances at a co-worker that we justify as being “no big deal” but before you know it you become overtaken in an affair or out of church more than you are in it.  The enemy is crafty and we must be just as shrewd in establishing right priorities in our life and refusing to allow the presence of God to be pulled away from 1st place in our hearts.

Monday, January 26, 2009

II Kings 4 (KJV)

1Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

 2And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

 3Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

 4And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

 5So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

 6And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

 7Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.  (underline added)

God isn’t just interested in your now; he is concerned about your future well being as well.  Here we see an example of God’s work in the life of someone who was in a desperate situation, a widow who lived in a time when the options available to women were not what they are today.  There are two keys I want to detail to you from this passage.  First, there is a blessing in faithfulness.  The woman described her deceased husband as a servant of the Lord; and while the Bible is not clear in stating it I presume that meant he had sowed considerable time and personal resources into building the kingdom of God and serving His people.  You can rest assured that when you take care of God’s business he will take care of yours, even if it doesn’t look like it on the surface you had better believe God hasn’t forgotten you! Second you must give God something, anything to work with.  The prophet didn’t seem to care that the woman only had a “pot of oil” in her home; he knew with God and our faith a little can mean a lot.  So with a little oil and some vessels borrowed from her neighbor God made this woman into an Oil Tycoon and miraculously delivered her from the hand of her creditors.  If you find yourself in a desperate situation today, don’t fear, only believe and trust God with what you already have.  Don’t hold back on your giving; either of your time or your tithe to the local church, your faith and faithfulness will be rewarded.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Joshua 1 (AMP)

11 Pass through the camp and command the people, Prepare your provisions, for within three days you shall pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.  (underline added)

There is no substitute for preparation.  Regardless of your talent level, or how much natural ability you have history shows time and time again that “Goliaths” fall when they take lightly the potential of there adversary and inadequately formulate their plan of attack.  Our God is strong and Mighty but that doesn’t excuse us from making provision in our spirit man; before you go job hunting, start a new relationship, or plan any major life change make sure you read up (study the Word), pray up, and praise up.  This will hep you to be properly prepared for what God already has prepared for you.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Joshua 1 (KJV)

5There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

 6Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

 7Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

I was talking the other day with a friend about the dilema of following a legend.  Imagine the feeling that you could never live up to the lofty standards set by your predecessor.  Maybe you already have; following after a brother or sister who was a great student, tremendously gifted athlete, or excellent musician or taking over for a minister, salesman, or manager who was considered one of the best in his or her field.  I am big sports fan, but without the assistance of google I couldn’t tell you who the coach of UCLA was after the great John Wooden or who replaced Vince Lombardi or Babe Ruth when they retired.  Joshua was stepping into a similar situation and he had a choice.  He could look back and be overwhelmed by the task at hand, of trying to do something even the great Moses couldn’t do (lead the Israelites into the Promised Land) OR he could bravely, and courageously look to His God for the wisdom and strength to face what stood before him, Undaunted.  You CAN do the same and have good success!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Genesis 1 (KJV)

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Look around you.  Notice there is not one person who looks exactly like you.  Even if you are an indentical twin there are always features that differentiate one from the other.  So does that mean that God is some kind of mutant with millions of heads to match the variety we see in this world?  Of course not.  Remember, God is Spirit.  And like Him we are Spirit.  We are housed in a body so that we can function in the earth.  But being created in His Image doesn’t stop with our Spirit nature.  We were also made to have dominion and authority and to express the ability to create like our Creator.  God didn’t put us here to merely occupy a space, he has strategically placed each one of us to reproduce life through the message of salvation to the hurting and lost; as well as to use our creative abilities for the betterment of man and the advancement of His kingdom.  So what are you waiting for……..

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Ezekiel 34 (Message)

11-16 “‘God, the Master, says: From now on, I myself am the shepherd. I’m going looking for them. As shepherds go after their flocks when they get scattered, I’m going after my sheep. I’ll rescue them from all the places they’ve been scattered to in the storms. I’ll bring them back from foreign peoples, gather them from foreign countries, and bring them back to their home country. I’ll feed them on the mountains of Israel, along the streams, among their own people. I’ll lead them into lush pasture so they can roam the mountain pastures of Israel, graze at leisure, feed in the rich pastures on the mountains of Israel. And I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. I myself will make sure they get plenty of rest. I’ll go after the lost, I’ll collect the strays, I’ll doctor the injured, I’ll build up the weak ones and oversee the strong ones so they’re not exploited.  (underline added)

Real leaders don’t need to demand respect, or bully their way to a pseudo-respect (which amounts to fear).  Just the opposite, they earn loyalty and command respect by empowering the people under their tutelage.  This is the method Jesus used (and is prophesied in this passge), as he developed a relationship built on love and mutual respect with his disciples.  He encouraged those subject to him in their gifts, and when he disciplined he did so in love with the purpose being to correct (not tear down). 

Monday, January 19, 2009

James 3 (KJV)

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Choose your words wisely.  The childhood rhyme warned that weapons of physical destruction (sticks and stones) were capable of producing harm while mere insults were inconsequential (names will never hurt).  I am sure they would find thousands who have gone through a divorce or business break-up who would strongly disagree.  If you are in either one of those two categories you are keenly aware of “The Power of The Tongue”.   Jesus never lifted a sword but his life changed the course of history because he harnessed this power for good.  Today, let your words bring healing and comfort to the hurting, and challenge those who need a push in the right direction.  But before you speak ask yourself the question: will this word benefit the receiver (even if it is a hard word) or is it only for my benefit (to blow off anger or steam).  If it can pass this test, than let it fly………

Friday, January 16, 2009

II Chronicles 2 (AMP)

6 But who is able to build Him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain Him? Who am I to build Him a house, except as a place to burn incense in worship before Him?

 7 Now therefore, send a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue colors, who is a trained engraver, to work with the skilled men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.

 8 Send me also from Lebanon cedar, cypress, and algum timber, for I know your servants can skillfully cut timber in Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants,

Here is a news flash for you.  Not everyone is cut out to be in “full time” ministry.  But just because you are not a pastor, prophet, evangelist, teacher, or preacher doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place for you in building the kingdom of God.  Now, more than ever, there is a need for market place evangelism.  The church (which is not an edifice, but the people of God) needs to step out of the four walls and you, right where you are whether you are a chef, doctor, lawyer, nurse, waiter, or administrative assistant are a vital part of that.  Your occupation is irrelevant to the amount of influence you can have provided you are faithful and seize the opportunities presented to you to reach and win the lost.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Luke 21 (KJV)

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Leading up to this passage of scripture Jesus warned the disciples of perilous times ahead.  Of such things as wars, political crisis, and false witnesses.  Trying times often lead people to do rash things, to reconsider their way of thinking and believing; the exact opposite of what is required to not just survive a period of challenge.  If you are going to thrive in tough seasons, as massive change is taken place on the outside, you need to exercise stability ON THE INSIDE.  This can only come by patiently relying on the Rock of Your Salvation, Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Hebrews 12 (NIV)

 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In the earlier part of this decade I trained for and ran a marathon.  26.2 miles non-stop.  Not being your prototypical runner (at the time I was about 225 pounds) I can tell you that despite my best efforts I was not the fleetest of foot.  During the training I learned a valuable lesson that not only helped me complete my goal of running such a distance but also has benefited me when I face trying situations in my life.  First, I came to grips with the fact that there would be days when I embarked on the run and I would feel great, not an ache or pain and my movements and breathing were effortless; and there also would be days that I struggled to get into a rythym and everything hurt.  In either case I had PRE-DETERMINED it wouldn’t stop me from completing what I had set out to do.  Second, when negative thoughts came into my mind (and plenty of them did) I had to SUPPLANT them with winning words that produced positive thoughts.  And third, and perhaps most important I had to FIX MY GAZE.  Looking too far ahead would make the task seem daunting and unobtainable.  By picking a spot ahead of me just a little ways ahead I could focus on completing the task a section at a time.  That is what the writer of Hebrews 12 suggests when he says “FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS.”  Stop looking at all the people things and calamity around you, looking back to the past and its trappings won’t help you either, and looking too far ahead in the future worrying about what might happen can be paralyzing.  But if you maintain your focus on Jesus he will sustain you, he will uphold you, and he will help you to run the race of life well!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Colossians 2 (KJV)

 6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

 7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

 8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

 9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

 10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

A recent study showed that 1 in 4 Americans is battling some form of mental illness.  One of the primary reasons that there are so many depressed and anxiety ridden people has a lot to do with where our priorities lie.  As long as we try to find joy and significance in the amount of stuff we compile and derive our self worth from what we accomplish or how we look we will never be satisfied.  The writer to the Colossians saw this same thing happening well before our lifetime and warned against it (Verse 8).  Our fulfillment can never come in the temporal.  We are only “complete” when we remain connected to the One who was fully God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Luke 6 (Message)

46-47 “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.

If you intend on being all you can be in God you must be more than just a hearer of the word.  Going to church on Sunday and listening to the pastor preach a good sermon is a good  habit  to have, and is certainly a step in the right direction, but it is not enough if you want to be filled with the life God intends for you.  Someone once said, “It is not what we don’t know that hurts us; it is the things we know to do that are good for us but don’t put into practice.”  Make a decision today to be a doer of the Word and you will become all that you can be.

Friday, January 9, 2009

I Corinthians 12 (Message)

14-18 I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.

 

In case you haven’t noticed your local church needs you.  Whether you have extensive skills or almost none you can make a difference by allowing your gifts, great or small to be put to use to edify the body of Christ.  On the flip side if you withold your contibution of time and talent you greatly hinder the efficiency and reach of that body.  The time to put to your hand to the plow is now!  You can make a difference by simply being available for the Father!  God is calling out for faithful people who can be made able because it is much more difficult to transform an able person who is not willing to be faithful.

Thursday, January 8, 2008

Luke 5 (KJV)

4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

 5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Imagine for the moment the frustration you would feel if you spent all day on your job and didn’t accomplish a simple thing.  The computer won’t cooperate, the fax machine is down or maybe one of the machines you rely on is malfunctioning or completely broken.  Then upon your return home your spouse, who has never set foot in your office or on the job site, comes up with a suggestion to go back and “Try This”.  Well that is the situation Peter found himself in, kinda.  After fishing all day and coming back empty handed he has Jesus jump in his boat preach a sermon and suggest to him he go back out to the same sea he just fished, maybe even the same fishing hole he just left and throw into the water all the nets he just got finished cleaning.  Thank God he did because what followed was a catch that was enough for Peter and several of his fishing buddies and it brings to light 2 points.  First a little outside perspective, even from someone who is NOT an expert in your field (like a husband or wife) can sometimes lead to a very productive outcome.  Second, when you hear a directive from God, DO iT whether it makes sense in the natural or not.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Matthew 11 (Message)

11 Let me tell you what’s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God’s kingdom. But if you read the books of the Prophets and God’s Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with him in preparing the way for the Messiah of the kingdom. Looked at in this way, John is the ‘Elijah’ you’ve all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah.

It is an understatement to say that reading the Bible is a key part of the Christian Walk.  It is far more than that.  Reading and understanding the Word will tell you God’s will, what he thinks of you, how to handle the situations that arise in every area of life, the promises and warnings that God has for you.  It is the greatest book of wisdom known to man, it can inspire you to great and mighty things, keep you out of harms way, and bring healing to the physically, emotionally, and spiritually scarred.  It is not just important it is the life blood of your Christian walk!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Luke 18 (KJV)

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

Persitence and tenacity pay off.   Most people don’t have a problem starting something whether it be an exercise program to shed some unwanted pounds, volunteering for a church or civic organization, or additional education to further their expertise in a given area.  I have often seen people, begin a new initiative with great excitement and expectation only to lose that zeal after they experience the first bump in the road or unexpected challenge.   What they lack is the “follow-up” mentality.   I have a feeling this is something Jesus observed while he walked the streets of Israel.  No wonder he extolled the virtues and power of persistence in this parable.  Trying circumstances and challenges are bound to arise, but those who remain steadfast in their pursuit of God’s promises will receive them if they don’t faint.  The only question is, will you be persistent? (Luke 18:8)

Monday, January 5, 2009

Judges 6 (KJV)

11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

 12And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and told him that he would be the one to lead Israel in victory over its oppressors the MIdianites, Gideons reply was representative of the ridicule he had likely experienced for the better part of his life:  “Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. “  (verse 15)  In other words “I am the lowest of the low, how can I be expected to lead such a great undertaking.”  But God recognized something in Gideon , even if he couldn’t see it in himself at this point.  You and I, regardless of our background, education, or training have been called to walk in dominion and authority.  That doesn’t mean we should shun personal development, but it does indicate we must stretch beyond what we presently think is the extent of our prowess. Only by going beyond our percieved strengths do we allow God to super impose his abilities on ours.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Genesis 5 (KJV)

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

 

The next time you get to thinking you or your life is cursed, remember these words from Genesis 5 “he (God) created them and blessed them” and replace the word “them” with your name. Your Heavenly Daddy didn’t put you here to have fun watching you struggle and barely get along. His plan for you from the beginning is for you to prosper in all things. He wants you to have strong and healthy relationships, to walk in total health and vitality, and to have abundance. Don’t confuse the results of poor past choices and Satan’s attempts (which are doomed to fail by the way) to neutralize you with God’s will for your life. His will of blessing for you will never change, seek Him today for wisdom, his mercy, and his grace. Those are all greater than any past poor choice or mistake you have made and have the ability to turn your life around!!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

 

II Corinthians 2 (KJV)

1 But I (Paul) determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

When we are faced with difficult times; be it financial hardship, the loss of a loved one, a breakup of a relationship, or a major dissappointment we really have two options before us. We can allow the circumstances to get on the inside of us and fester, weighing us down with a heavy burden and cause us to spiral downward. Or, we can do as the Apostyle Paul did and make the conscious choice to let the Spirit of God rule the inner man. He was a man, not unlike many of us who had a vision in his heart, yet still faced trials and situations that were fear provoking and downright depressing. His secret: first and foremost he knew Jesus intimately and second he pre-determined that he would not allow the circumstances to weigh him down. Today when you feel like shrinking back from the many challenges you face, cry out to Jesus and determine to speak the word, believe the word, and trust that his promises for your life will be fulfilled!

Monday, December 29, 2008

I Kings 19 (KJV)

19 So he (Elijah) departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

 

Contrary to popular opinion great men and women are not born they are made. Each one of us has had abilities placed on the inside of us by God that are far greater than what we can see with our natural eyes at this moment. Very often, though, it takes someone to recognize and cultivate those gifts. Just as Elijah saw something special in Elisha and chose to take him under his wing we must recognize our role in helping mold our leaders of tomorrow. Part of that is simply providing guidance on the best way their gifts, skills, and talents can be utilized.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Psalms 16 (KJV)

27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

 

Settle this in your heart right now, God desires the best for you. He is not sitting on his throne with a spiritual measuring stick waiting for you to slip up so He can punish you with eternal judgement. If that was his plan why would he send his son to pay the penalty for our wrong doing? Your heavenly father is blessed in seeing you reach your full potential not just spiritually, but also mentally, physically, and in your relationships. He is pulling for you to succeed. “He takes pleasure in it!” Now that you know He is all for you make the decision to favor the causes and issues that are important to HIM and experience like never before the joy reserved for members of the household of God.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Mark 2 (KJV)

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

The greatest miracle that anyone can receive is not a physical healing or financial breakthrough, but the salvation of the soul. The Bible teaches that in this way are we translated from “death into life.” The washing away of sin is no small thing, prior to the arrival of Christ it required the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb…. for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Jesus was able to say to the man in this illustration and to all of us today and forever “your sins are forgiven” because he willingly paid the price for our wrongs so that we don’t have to. if you haven’t already, receive his gift today by declaring Him Lord.

 

Monday, December 22, 2008

Mark 11 (KJV)

 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

In a message I heard Rev. Bob Yandian of Tulsa, OKlahoma teach several years ago he likened faith to the engine of a “souped up” Mustang. He described the torque that the over 300 horse-power engine was capable of producing and how that translated into a vehicle that could reach high speeds in a short period of time. He then made an interesting point. As powerful as that car is if you put the parking brake on you will greatly limit its performance capabilities. That’s the role doubt plays in our lives, it is the parking brake that keeps us from accessing all “300 horses” and brings us to a grinding halt or causes us to limp along at half speed. Today is the day to “Get The Doubt OUT!” Believe that every promise in the Word of God is true and it is for you. Stand on the covenant that was sealed in the blood of Jesus and see every seemingly insurmountable giant in your life defeated!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Romans 4 (KJV)

17( As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

The bible teaches us not to be caught between two opinions and that a double-minded person shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. Yet we live in a world that has an entirely different system for not only doing but believing. You may have , at some point, asked yourself how do we handle that and not go crazy in the process? We can start by understanding the difference between godly hope and the “hoping” we have grown accustomed to which is more like wishing. It says here that Abraham “hoped against hope”. That means he exercised FAITH in the God of the universe and saw him for precisely who HE is expecting His expressed will to come to pass. Second Abraham gave real credence to the WORD of God causing him to both believe it and speak it, “calling those things which haven’t yet manifested into existence.” That is REAL HOPE!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Matthew 25 (KJV)

28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Have you ever heard the expression, “The rich get richer.”? If you think that is a bad thing, think again. In fact it is a biblical concept. We see it espoused here in Matthew 25, where in this case the word “talents” is referring to Money. Let me tell you two things that I believe will help you greatly. First, exercise your faith. In verse 29 when it says “everyone that hath” the scripture is talking about those that “have faith (and are actively using it)”. It doesn’t matter if you start out with a little, when you can put your trust in God he will multiply the little…..but not without your faith in action. Second, this principle doesn’t JUST relate to money. If you don’t exercise your love for people don’t expect more people (relationships) to gravitate to you; or if you are not exercising discipline in eating or physical training it is unrealistic to expect health or physical strength to be added to you. But if you have it (even a little of it) and you use it in faith, bank on the fact it will grow!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

I Timothy 4 (Message)

8 Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart.

My high school baseball coach used to always say the best athlete is always the best student. He didn’t say this to mean that only braniacs could be star players, but rather that a person who was diligent in both areas was someone who could be counted on to not only play the physical aspect of the game well, but also wouldn’t make boneheaded mistakes. If you are going to be all you can in God, and in this life than you must realize exercising discipline for your body and your spirit go hand in hand. Make it a regular habit to strengthen your body through healthy eating habits and some physical training and you will have the energy to fulfill everything God has for you to do in the KIngdom.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Matthew 11 (Message)

28-30 “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.”

Jesus urged those who had been beaten down by the struggles of life to “learn of” him. By emulating the ways of the Lord, that of prayer, meditation, and communion with the father you can’t help but to reduce your stress level. When you spend time with your heavenly father you will find that the things that previously caused fear and worry to rise up inside you no longer have the same burden producing effect. That is why the scriptures teach that those that “know their God” will be strong and do great exploits! (Daniel 11:32) Today get busy learning about the Lord and establishing your relationship with HIM.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Proverbs 16 (Message) 1 Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word. 2 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good. 3 Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place.

 While planning is a key part of succesful living we need to be careful NOT to make our plans without seeking the counsel of God….FIRST. If you are accustomed to being in control, believe me I know this is not always easy; but, the result of doing it the other way has lead many to blame God for the poor outcomes. When we make bad choices (in business, relationships, etc.) then try to get God to “bless our mess” the consequences can be disastrous. I thank God for his mercy and goodness and I also know that the time to listen for his guiding is prior to making a move, not after. If you are faced with a BIG decison today allow God’s input to direct you out of harm and into success!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Mark 2 (YLT) 4and not being able to come near to him because of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was, and, having broken [it] up, they let down the couch on which the paralytic was lying, 5 and Jesus having seen their faith, saith to the paralytic, `Child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.’

Sometimes we read the scriptures as if we are reading a story book, but I want you to get a picture for what actually takes place here. 4 men are trying to get their friend to see Jesus; however, because the crowd of “interested spectators” is so vast that can’t even get near the front door. Big Problem, right? Not for these guys, who decide to go up onto the roof of the home owned by one of the people in their community, probably someone they will have to see on the street the next day, and proceed to TEAR UP his roof to get their friend to the Master. What are you willing to do to come before him? Will you tear up your schedule, your agenda? Will you put some recreation on the backburner? If you are going to get “UNSTUCK” it is going to necessitate some roof breaking activity, in other words doing whatever it takes to be in the presence of The LORD.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Mark 2 (KJV) 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

In Bible lingo “palsy” referred to a condition in which a person had no control over there body’s movements. Often people with this condition would get STUCK in a position and couldn’t get themselves out under their own power. My question to you this morning is what is it that has you Stuck? Have you been hung up by negative words that someone spoke over you years ago? Are you holding in a position not wanting to risk the betrayal of someone close to you….again? Perhaps you were paralyzed by fear of failure in business or education? Today, get yourself in the presence of Jesus who has already “borne” all your sin and sickness and has made a way of escape from the things that are holding you back. If you are having a hard time doing it yourself get around some people who are filled with the joy and presence of God in their own lives and allow that tttitude to rub off on you.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

I Samuel 17 (NIV) 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear. 25 Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father’s family from taxes in Israel.” 26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Certain chances are not worth taking. For example, when driving it is not worth the few extra minutes it could save you to cut out in front of a Mack truck barrelling down the road at 70 MPH, especially when there isn’t another vehicle for a mile down the road behind him. BUT, when there is a reward worth reaching for you had better believe the risks are worth it. This is the situation that David found himself in when dropping off some supplies to his brothers on the battle lines. The King, Saul, had offered up a great reward for the man who would fight the Philistine giant, Goliath - both money and position. More than this, though, David saw the reward God had in store for him because that is who Goliath’s rants and mocking defiance was really directed at. Since David had seen God’s hand in every instance of challenge and trial he had faced to that point, he was confident that God would be with him in this, his greatest obstacle yet; and so should you. Trust that the God who loved you enough to deliver your soul from the pit is with you to help you take down every Giant that stands in your way.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Mark 11 (AMP)

22And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. 23Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. 24For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. (underlines added)

Remember this: God IS NOT a respector of persons. Meaning he doesn’t care about your credentials or your background. BUT…..He IS a respector of faith. He is not moved by our level of need as much as he is moved by the level of belief we have in him to meet and exceed our needs. Unbelief kept the Israelites out of the Promised Land for 40 years and kept he Pharisees from receiving miracles in Jesus’ presence. Today take your eyes off of your needs, no matter how pressing, and trust the voice of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit completely.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Matthew 17 (KJV)

19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Even the disciples who had seen Jesus in action, walked with him for three years, and had even performed miracles of their own when faced with something they had not previously encountered fell into unbelief. This left them powerless because when fear strikes and gets a foothold on you it is impossible to operate in faith. And unbelief is like a thief that will rob you of God’s best for your life! Fortunately Jesus had the remedy for the disciples unbelief, and that same remedy is available to you and me today. When you fast and pray you can quiet down the flesh and allow your spirit man to hear more clearly what the Holy Spirit wants to communicate with you. Remember though, fasting without prayer (and study of The Word) is just a glorified diet!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Deuteronomy 28 (KJV)

1And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. (underline added)

Have you found yourself in the position of trying to chase down the blessings of God? While God has called us to an abundant life the more of his word I read the more I find that he hasn’t instructed us to pursue wealth or material things. Now before you jump off the train and think that means being a Christian means staying broke and busted keep reading…… In this passage we see that the blessings will OVERTAKE us! The only way something can overtake you is if it comes from behind. The thing is if we focus on the blessings coming up from the rear we are likely to crash. Instead we need to focus forward -On God and follow the conditions set for blessing - hearing his voice and obeying his word. Then God will take care of the blessings.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Deuteronomy 1 (KJV)

29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

It is often not the anticipation of reward but the fear of harm that causes people to act or, unfortunately is often the case, suffer from a paralysis of analysis. Fear is your greatest enemy, not the devil, not any physical impairment, and not your background. A great man once said the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself. Something tells me he may have taken comfort in this passage from Deuteronomy 1. Today receive the boldness from the Lord to declare that you are free from the fear of your enemy and pray that every one of Satan’s weapons of False Evidence Appearing Real will be frustrated by the LORD.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Proverbs 29 (KJV)

11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Be careful not to sabotage your own success through ill placed words. Although there can be tremendous temporary satisfaction in giving full vent to your emotions, in most cases the long term consequences will far outweigh any gain. This is not always easy, believe me I know from experience, so don’t depend on your will to keep you from this type of foolishness. Seek counsel from people you trust and ask the LORD for the wisdom to bridle your tongue.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Psalms 2 (NIV)

2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. [b] 3 “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

One of the tactics of the enemy is to attempt to sabotage our best efforts to live for God. Whether it be through temptations or outright attacks on your health, family, or finances. In those times when you feel the tide of opposition is trying to overtake you take comfort in these powerful words from Psalms 2 which tells us that even though the kings of the eart’s system conspire against the Lord (and his people) Our God (and us, his children) will have the last laugh. Realize this that The LORD is the enemy of your enemies, ask Him to expose every plot against you , and thank God in advance for the fact that the dreams He has put in your heart will not be stopped!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Psalms 24 (KJV)

7-9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Have you ever felt like someone or something has been blocking you; setting up a barricade to keep you from the good life you have been marked for? If so, realize today that it is not the Father above trying to establish unreachable goals or attempting to tantalize you with the fruits of victory. All attempts to thwart God’s good plans for your life are the work of the enemy, the snake, Satan himself. The good news, Jesus has already defeated him and you and I have authority over him. As you meditate on this Psalm visualize the Gates to your dreams being slammed open by the King of glory on your behalf and declare that in spite of the negatives you are either hearing or seeing that your life IS going forward. Command every door before you that has demonic padlocks to begin to break open in the name of Jesus, the LORD.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Romans 4 (KJV)

 17-18 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

 A little discouraged lately by a lack of advancement or growth? You are not alone. Abraham, had been given a promise directly from the mouth of God, and 20 years later felt like a forgotten man….fortunately God hadn’t forgotten him and Abraham learned to exercise the creative power God had given him by using his mouth to “call things into the seen realm”. I encourage you to do the same and declare to every lying spirit that in spite of what you see the Lord is the strength of your life and you will hope in HIM. Then recieve the grace to act contrary to the enemy’s expectation in the middle of your troubles.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Phillipians 4 (KJV)

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday; it’s a lifestyle. If you can learn to be grateful no matter what your present situation no man can ever hold you back from the glory that God has in store for you. Thankfulness is a cornerstone of faith and is a key to answered prayer; that is why, in this letter to the Phillipians we recieve instruction that our prayers and supplication must be made with an attitude of gratitude! May you experience the blessings of a thankful heart today! Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Jeremiah 1(KJV)

12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

There are those that think when it comes to the proimises of God that “sometimes he says yes, somethimes he says no, and sometimes he says WAIT!” If you are in the waiting mode right now you may be tempted to believe the same way. Don’t. When tradition or the wisdom of men tells you something before chiming in always go to the source: God’s Word. I didn’t see the father telling me to wait when it concerns His promises, in fact I read he will “hasten” or cause it to come upon me quickly. If you are experiencing an “on hold” moment take dominion over the enemy who is attempting to ransack your peace, joy, and fulfillment, boldly declare that ALL the blessings intended for THIS season shall manifest.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Ezekiel 12 (KJV)

28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD. (underline added)

 If you have been given a promise by the Lord and are presently experiencing delay be encouraged by this passage from Ezekiel 12. The enemy has no right to hold back what has been provided for you already by your heavenly father. Don’t sit idly by while the crime of delay is perpetrated against you, take authority and begin to boldly confess that the word of the Lord will manifest in your life, decree that the day of delay of God’s word in your life is over, and declare that the same God who remembered Hannah remembers you (I Samuel 1). The Days of Delay Are Over!!!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Deuteronomy 13 (NIV)

1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

We live in a day and age where people are drawn to the miraculous. We want to see signs and wonders take place before our eyes. As a result even Christians are chasing the latest movement or prediction about the future. Believers and unbelievers alike are running to and fro from mentalist to astrologers and ministers of “other gospels” than the one of Jesus Christ. I know it’s tempting, but do yourself a favor: give every prediction or “word” you recieve the Bible litmus test. First ask yourself does this person represent the Lord or are they self-serving; a true prophet will always give the glory for his/her gifts to God. Next, be certain that the “word” you recieve lines up with the Word of God (ex: If someone gives you a message that God is reserving a new spouse for you but that person is already married run fast, that message is NOT form The Lord). Remember God will never do anything to transgress his word. Lastly, don’t be fooled by someone who attempts to water down the message of Jesus or make you think that God has sent down someone new to save you because it just isn’t so….”Jesus is the way, the truthh, and the life and mno man comes to the father except through Him.”

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Deuteronomy 11 (AMP)

22For if you diligently keep all this commandment which I command you to do, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave to Him– 23Then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you shall dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.

For some reason we are a society who loves to root for the underdog. WE get excited when we see a team that no one thought had a chance, take on and defeat one considered to be stronger, faster, and more experienced. In Deuteronomy 11 I get the impression that our love for the underdog comes from God. As he was preparing the Israelites to enter into the promised land he told them right up front that the people who inhabitated that territory were greater in number and mightier in strength than they; but none of that mattered as long as they trusted and obeyed Him. Today, you may be facing a debt that is more than you can imagine paying, a conflict that is as heavy as the weight of the world, or a foe who has never been defeated…… decide to trust and obey the Lord your God today and that enemy is going down!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Deuteronomy 8 (AMP)

5Know also in your [minds and] hearts that, as a man disciplines and instructs his son, so the Lord your God disciplines and instructs you.

Whether they verbalize it or not children require the discipline of loving parents and authority figures. As a young man I didn’t agree with that statement; in fact there were times when I resented the guidelines my parents has set for me and my brother. I would often complain about the unfairness, especially when certain friends were able to roam the streets as they pleased, stay up to all hours of the night, and watch whatever they wanted on television. Now, with the advantage of 38 years expereince I can look back and see that the boundaries I was “forced” to live under, though not always in my parents’ best interest (believe it or not no parent wants their children to be angry with them), were in mine. The rules and habits that I saw as bothersome way back when have helped preserve and protect me. Daddy God sees us a valuable and precious and because of that He is willing to teach us and correct us when we go off line; not for His benefit, but for ours. When you miss the mark, recieve His correction as a sign of his love for you. If you do so I guarantee you that your future will be filled with growth.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Deuteronomy 6 (KJV)

6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Sometime in the mid 1980’s the Orange Growers of America became concerned that they were not selling enough oranges and so they (with the help of some great marketers) came up with a great new slogan; “Orange Juice, it ain’t just for breakfast anymore!” As a result sales of oranges and orange juice increased dramatically. This is the approach we need to take with the Word of God, “It ain’t just for Sundays.” In fact this passage teaches that we need to constantly remind our children (and ourselves) of the promises and principles found in God’s Word so much so that those words are as fronlets on our eyes. Frontlets are those devices you see on race horses to keep them from straying out of their lanes or being “spooked” by the other horses in the race. If you want to win the race you are in and go after your dreams without fear let God’s word be on the forefront of your mind and thoughts.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Deuteronomy 3 (KJV)

28But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

If you find yourslef in any capacity of leadership (coach, manager, supervisor, parent, etc.) do not undersetimate the power of positive affirmation. In this day and age people need to be encouraged, whether they tell you or not (and believe when I tell you most will not). Joshua was already a proven leader among the people of God and yet God made sure to remind Moses that even proven leaders under his authority would benefit from spoken praise. You may think that people should serve, volunteer, or work just because it is the right thing to do (and I would agree to a certain extent) but even among the most committed people there is a desire for recognition of a job well done and verbally expressed confidence in their ability to handle the tasks you have assigned them.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Deuteronomy 1(KJV)

21Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

The reason many people are facing lack in areas of their life today is not due to an insufficient supply of resources or even an inadequate level of skill or talent. How do I know this? Just look around at some of this world’s models of success and you will find a host of corporate leaders, business owners, and entrepreneurs who started with little or no financial assets and experience. What enabled them to be successful is available in abundant supply. It is the willingness to capitalize on the opportunities that have been placed before you and build on those one level at a time. That is why God told the Israelites to “go up and possess the land.” It was there for the taking but they had to do something about it; and they had to make the determination that taking hold of their moment was more important than holding onto the fear of advancement. Overcome your fear of success today, don’t let past failures discourage you, and GO UP to a new level of success!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Deuteronomy 1(KJV)

2(There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.) 3And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them; (underlines added)

The promises in the word of God apply to everyone, and include health for your body, peace for your soul, salvation for your family, and financial abundance. Why, you ask are so many members of the Body of Christ living so far below the standards set by these promises? Deuternonmony 1 gives us a clue. God delivered the children of Israel from the heavy hand of the Egyptians and put them on the precipice of The Promised Land, just “eleven days” journey by foot. Imagine being less than two weeks away from the lifestyle and peace you have always wanted. That is exactly the position God’s people were in after crossing the Red Sea between two walls of Jello on dry ground and yet it took FORTY YEARS to finally fulfill that promise. Had God fallen asleep? Did he change his mind? No, what kept the Jews from reaching their Promised Land is the same thing that can keep you and me from reaching ours. Even after seeing The Lord move miraculously on their behalf they continued to fall into the trap of being ruled by their 5 senses and failed to take God at His word. What do you do when everything in the natural looks like it is spinning out of control or is not going the way you planned? Make the decision today to STILL trust God when you don’t understand what is going on around you….it is the quickest short cut to where you want to go.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Numbers 23 (KJV)

5And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. 6And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. 8How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? (underline added)

 Perhaps at some point in your life you looked at your circumstances and wondered or even said aloud “I’m cursed”. If you have experienced a slew of bad breaks recently I can see how those thoughts could cross your mind. These words from Numbers 23 should be a source of comfort to you. Balak, the King of Moab was willling to pay an evil prophet named Balaam to curse Israel, but God would have none of it. Instead Balaam could only bless the Israelites and responded (in verse eight) by telling the King “what God hasn’t cursed, neither can I.” If you have made the decision to follow Christ the Bible says you are BLESSED, so you can’t be cursed. You may experience difficult circumstances, but every negative situation you face in your life is subject to change….and that is God’s will for your life.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Numbers 14 (KJV) 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

It is not usually easy to go against the crowd or the pressure of popular opinion. When you do you can expect to be ridiculed, put down, and thought of as strange. As someone once said, what is popular is not always right and what is right is not usually popular. If Caleb (and Joshua) had followed the trend of popular opinion they too would have missed out on the blessing of God and been barred from the Promised Land. God, though, is moved by people who will risk public humiliation to honor Him. He is not a respector of persons (he doesn’t care about your degree or position) BUT he is a respector of Faith. When you stand in faith, you and the generations of your family that follow will inherit the land!!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Numbers 13 (KJV)

30And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Do you know where the majority of people get their perception of you from? It’s not from something they have heard others say about you. No, in most cases it comes from the body language you give off, which is based on what YOU think about yourself. That is precisely the phenomenom we have here in Numbers 13. God instructed the children of Israel to spy out the Promised land, a land lush with greenery and wealth, knowing full well the size and stature of the inhabitants that possessed the land. He was prepared to make the entrance of the Israelites a reality. One problem, 10 of the 12 spies weren’t down with that plan. Instead of viewing themselves as champions ready to take ownership of the ground God had already promised them they saw themselves as grasshoppers in their own eyes. No doubt their countenance communicated this to everyone within eye sight as the passage goes on to say “so we were in their sight.” God is ready to bring you to your destiny, the question is will you see yourself as HE sees you or as something less?

Friday, November 14, 2008

Numbers 6 (The Message)

22-23 God spoke to Moses: “Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the People of Israel. Say to them, 24 God bless you and keep you, 25 God smile on you and gift you, 26 God look you full in the face and make you prosper.

It is interesting to note the instruction God gave to Moses with regard to how he wanted the people addressed. Notice he makes no distinction as to whether this is for a specific class or color of people. Every son and daughter of God is worthy of this blessing, no matter how you or I feel about them on a particular day. The second thing this blessing reveals is the way God sees each one of us. If you don’t already know it you are the apple of HIS eye, the crowning glory of all his creation. His will for you is that you would prosper in everything you set your hand to and walk in complete health. He won’t place a disease on you to punish you and he didn’t cause your IRA or real estate values to plummet to humble you.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Leviticus 26 (The Message)

3-5 “If you live by my decrees and obediently keep my commandments, I will send the rains in their seasons, the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. You will thresh until the grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting time; you’ll have more than enough to eat and will live safe and secure in your land. 6-10 “I’ll make the country a place of peace—you’ll be able to go to sleep at night without fear; I’ll get rid of the wild beasts; I’ll eliminate war. You’ll chase out your enemies and defeat them: Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand and do away with them. I’ll give you my full attention: I’ll make sure you prosper, make sure you grow in numbers, and keep my covenant with you in good working order. You’ll still be eating from last year’s harvest when you have to clean out the barns to make room for the new crops.

The reason why the United States has experienced the prosperity it has through the years is because it was founded on godly principles. The way for us to return to abundance is not through an economic stimulus package, but by being stimulated and motivated to seek the Lord’s face and to obediently follow his precepts and time proven principles. The same holds true for you as an individual. Do You want the supernatural, unstoppable favor of God to flow in your life? Start by living your life to please HIM: repent for the way you have missed the mark by putting your relationship with Him on the backburner, turn from the things you have justified as being acceptable when in your heart of hearts you know they are not, and pursue HIM with all your being. If you do so HE has promised to give you his “full attention” and “make sure you prosper”.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Exodus 33 (NIV) 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

 Do you want to know the secret to a peaceful life? Moses had an inkling. In his conversations with God we never see him asking for riches or honor. His requests always centered around knowing God and understanding HIS ways. More importantly, no matter how much success he experienced, Moses recognized he needed The Lord’s presence. The times in our lives when we are most vulnerable is when we reach a high level of expertise or annointing, the challenge at this stage is to keep from getting caught up in our own abilities. Look around, you will find it is not just pro athletes and celebrity entertainers who get “too big for their britches”. Men and women of God need to maintain proper focus, and the only way to do that is by keeing your eyes on Jesus as the source of your favor and success.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Exodus 31 (KJV)

1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

Did you know that God has strategically positioned you? Whether you are a doctor or lawyer, plumber or electrician, secretary or grocery store manager God has a specific work for you to do. In fact, in your day to day work you can be just as effective in promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ as the best preacher in any pulpit in this or any other country. I have seen men and women who were great at what they do in our labor force leave those post because they didn’t think they were “spiritual enough”, only to go into full time ministry and flop. If The Lord tells you to go that is one thing, but don’t see yourself as unspiritual because you don’t preach or teach to thousands….. if He has called you to a specific profession, dedicate your work to him in that field and believe me, it is spiritual enough!!

Monday November 10, 2008

Exodus 23 (KJVV)

25And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

In today’s society the sanctity of a contract is definitely not what it used to be. We see it everyday; athletes walking out on a contract because they believe they are worth more money than when they originally signed the deal, businesses failing to honor their promises, and celebrity marriages (as well as regualr joe marriages) over before the ink on the marriage documents has had a chance to dry. Regardless of what we see in our natural world though, you can rest assured that The God of The Universe is a covenant keeping God. The promises found in His word are true, and include the promise of health for our physical body’s. Realize this, it is never God’s will that you be sick, infirmed, or filled with disease (that comes form the enemy who wants to kill, steal, and destroy). It IS God’s will that you walk in abundant health. So why are there so many believers who walk around sick and tired you ask? One reason is failure on our part to exercise discipline in our daily habits. He has created foods that are meant to sustain and rejuvenate us physically, but if we continue to eat junk foods that don’t support normal body processes and healthy activity levels we are faced with the consequences of our actions. Today, take God at His word and take personal responsibility as well.

Saturday November 8, 2008

Exodus 23 (KJVV)

29I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. 30By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

If you like the microwave you appreciate the convenience of having food that used to take hours to prepare ready in minutes. The invention of the microwave may one of the most influential devices in the raising up a society of people who are used to a “quick fix”. After spending over two hundred years in bondage you would think the Israelites were accustomed to waiting for things; but here we have God reminding them that their entry and possession of their Promised Land was going to be a PROCESS. That is a good warning for us today; yes God is the God of the miraculous, but more often than not He is the God of the process. Rather than just quickly changing situations His goal is to change you and me in the midst of the circumstances. So, today believe for the miraculous, but don’t forget to embrace the process

Friday November 7, 2008

Exodus 18 (NIV)

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.

One of the most difficult things to do as a leader is to learn how to relinquish control. The desire to see things done just so often drives people in a position of authority to wear more hats than they should even consider handling. This is exactly what Moses, one of the greatest leaders in recorded history, was doing when his father-in-law stepped in. Jethro rightly surmised that Moses was on the road to burnout. For you to be effective as a leader, be it of a family, business ,or team something you are going to need to become proficient at is delegating authority. If you haven’t already start to train and raise up people with a heart to do things as well as you do. As long as the desire to do it is there, the skills necessary to do the task with excellence will follow and…..allow you to focus more on the specific plan that God has for your life.

Thursday November 6, 2008

Exodus 15 (KJV)

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

When trouble comes in the form of sickness, disease, or financial difficulties their is a tendency to want to fix the blame on God. The mother whose son or daughter dies tragically young, the couple who encounters unexpected hardship, and the salesman who lost his job may ask the question, “Why would a loving God, do this to me.” The answer is he won’t. God is a good God who loves you so much he sent his only son to die on your behalf. If he was willing to sacrifice his son it should stand to reason that he will care for you physically, mentally, and be your financial source as well. Troubles and hardship come when we violate the principles that God has established from the beginning of time, the result of poor decisions we make in areas like diet, exercise, financial stewardship, and fidelity in relationships. The good news is that even when we miss the mark He is there to pick up the pieces and heal us.

Wednesday November 5, 2008

Exodus 4 (KJV)

1And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. 2And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

I don’t know precisely what it is, but something about human nature causes us to focus our attention more on what we lack than on what we have. While it is critical to understand the areas in which we need to improve, a “lack centered” mindset will not help you move from having less than enough to abundance. In this passage Moses easily identified what he didn’t have but the Lord was quick to draw his attention to the resources that were available to him and the potency of those assets when surrendered to God. You and I would be wise to do the same. Dedicate what you have; be it your children, a small business, a special skill or talent, and your tithe and offering to the Lord and watch Him expand its influence and value in your life and the lives of others.

Tuesday November 4, 2008

Exodus 3 (KJV)

 13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

The difference between religion and relationship is knowing and loving someone for who they are, not what they’ve done. It will never cease to amaze me that the God of the Universe wants to have a relationship with us! He wants to talk with you and reveal things about himself and the world he made for you to live in, to comfort, and to guide your steps. He even delights in lavishing good things on us. Notice in this passage God calls himself I AM, not I Do. Make it a point today to seek his face and not just his hand. He knows the needs you have and has promised not to forsake you so determine not to let the challenges you deal with deter you from finding out who you really are through the Great I AM.

Monday November 3, 2008

Exodus 1 (KJV)

17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. ………… 20Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

Despite what you have been led to believe by the mass media success in life is not tied to the economic, political, or even social environment in which you live. That is, not if you trust in God as your source. By the same token if you can’t trust God with the little details of your life, no matter how favourable the socioeconomic circumstances you will find it very difficult, if not impossible to be all you can be. The midwives in Exodus 1 defied the orders of Pharaoh to murder all Israelite male babies as they came out of the womb at great personal risk, not because they expected to be rewarded but, because they knew it was right in God’s eyes. They feared God more than the most powerful person in the land and protected the rights of the unborn. Because they took care of God’s business preserving the lives of his children (including the one who was meant to be the deliverer, Moses) he took good care of their’s and gave them families of their own to care for! Let your trust be in him today.