 |
|
| |
Well long time no write, God has really had me busy the last few weeks. Anyway, here is a little something He gave me to share...
Our God is a loving and caring God. He cares what happens to us and He loves us no matter what. But just like your earthly father God has to put us back in line once and a while. We have all seen it or we have all had to have it done to us at one time or another. You slip, go the wrong direction and yet time after time of God trying to gently lead us in the right direction we still think it is better our way. And whamo, that is when you feel that slap on the back of your head. You know that light loving tap, that corrective adjustment tap that your mom used to give you when you were younger. Yeah that one. Well sometimes God has to use those on us.
What we need to do when we feel that tap, that nudge from God, we need to take inventory of how we are living our lives and whom we are living them for. You see, we are to live our lives for God and His will. Sometimes we do not even realize we are walking the wrong way. Sometimes we do realize it and ignore it. Sometimes we just openly disobey what God is telling us to do. Whatever the case, accidental, half-heartedly or intentional, we must stop and listen to God. Pause for a moment and ask God what He wants you to do today. Naw I mean really pause and talk to God, I will wait….
Are you back? Good! What did God tell you?? Did He say He wants you to follow His will and seek out others in need? Did He say He wants you to plant a church? Did He say He wants you to witness your buddy at work or school? Did He say He wanted you to study His Word? Did He say He wanted you to obey your parents? Did He say He wants you to seek help for your addiction? Did He say He wants you drop to your knees and pray for someone other than yourself? Whatever He said to you, are you going to ignore it? Are you going to decide you have better things to do?? Are you going to pursue the things of this world and not the things of God? Are you going to go down a path which God will have to reach down and give you that slap on the back of the head so you wake up and realize that His way is the only way?
Seek God’s will in all you do. Follow His instructions, follow His leading in your life. Do not stumble brother. Do not falter sister. Stand firm in God and His will for your life. Make your Father proud. When I see my kids doing good it warms my heart, when my kids are in trouble it breaks my heart. I think it is the same way with God. Just like a worldly father, God cares about what happens to us. I know when you follow His will and talk to someone about Him and then help lead that person to Him, I know He is smiling, His heart is jumping for joy. But I also know that when we disobey Him or think we can follow our own ways, I know then His heart is aching. In your life give God every reason and every opportunity for His heart to jump with joy. Please the Lord. Look at the Words of God below...
In Christ's Love,
Skip
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Philippians 2:14-16
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Romans 8:16
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
|
| |
| |
1 John 2:3-4
3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Wow, we read some words that may seem harsh to some, in 1 John 2. The man who says “I know him” but does not do as he commands is a liar. Have you ever claimed or been around someone who claimed to know how to do something and you/they really did not know how. It would be like me saying I know how to speak Hebrew, eventually you are going to find out I can not speak Hebrew. This all goes to the fact that we need not put on a show. We do not have to pretend to know how to do something just to fit in. If you were in a room full of doctors, in order to fit in would you volunteer to do surgery? Well of course not. If a pilot on a plane suddenly passed out would you tell the passengers you know how to fly a plane even though you do not? Well I guess if you played your airplane game on the PS3 that would be ok, no of course you would not. You would not want the lives of all those passengers in your hands when you did not know what you were doing.
So why does John tell us this? Are there really people out there pretending to be Christians just to fit in or to please someone? It is a possibility. Sometimes it may seem easier to take the level roads of life. You know the ones, say yes when they want to hear yes and say no when they want to hear no. I have seen it before, you are at a youth function and an invitation is given. Youth start to come up knowing that Jesus is what they have been missing. Then you see the young man come forward, he says all the right stuff, does what he is supposed to, but after he is done he does nothing to change his life. He continues to live a life outside of God’s will. He continues to walk in darkness. But wait, he came forward, he accepted Jesus, he dedicated his life. Yes he did do that, but did his life change, no. Upon talking to this young man about his decision, he said that he only came forward because every one else was doing it. He wasn’t sure what he was doing. He just wanted to go with the crowd. He didn’t mean what he said when he dedicated his life to Jesus. He was just trying to fit in. He said he did not know or believe in what he was doing. So, if he believed or not is between his heart and God. We must believe in order to receive. Belief in Jesus as your Savior starts with your heart, you must believe Jesus is Lord.
Look at Romans 10:9-10
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
So how did John tell us we would know someone who really knows God? Look at verse 5 and 6.
1 John 2:5-6
5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
If we are in His Word and obeying His Word, that is when God’s love is made complete in us. We know we are in God’s will when we walk as Jesus did. Yes, your Jesus walk. So you can have your “fire insurance”, you can act a good act, but to truly be in God’s will for your life you must walk as Jesus did. Let your Jesus walk be your testimony to others. This young man that came forward at the youth function, yes he could have had his “fire insurance” but was He really living his life for God? No, he was still unchanged by the events that had unfolded that night. Our Jesus walk is not only about accepting the gift He so freely offers but it is also about us becoming a new creation in Him.
Look at 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
And we see in Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Did you catch it? We are new. The old is removed and the new is revealed. Are we pretending just so we can fit in? You have to give your life to God, not just your Sunday life but your everyday of the week life. Give God everything you have, seek His will in all you do. Live in such a way as to have others look at your life and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are a child of God. Do not just hear the word but do what it says! I am no doctor, I am not a pilot but I am a Christian and in being a Christian I must live my life for God. So if you are pretending, turn to God and seek His will for your life. No more fitting in, no more conforming to the ways of this world, no more following the crowd. Stand up and let others know you are a child of God, a follower of Jesus. Proclaim it to the four corners of the earth.
In Christ’s Love,
Skip
|
| |
| |
Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Paul had a heart for the Philippians. He had a concern that they live right for God. You know Paul’s words could not be more true today. I mean when was the last time you really rejoiced in God? When was the last time you took time out of your busy schedule to really thank God for all He has done in your life? Think about it, everything you have, everything you are about is from God. The air you breathe, the water you drink, the heart that beats within you. Everything is from God! When someone gives you something, even if it is a little value, do you treat that person with a ho-hum attitude or are you happy that you have received something and that someone was thinking about you. God cares more for you than anyone on this earth. He loves you so much He gave everything for you. His love is so deep and so strong that it is called agape. So REJOICE in the Lord!!!! Be happy to be in His presence. Be as giddy as a little child on Christmas morning. Be as excited as a parent watching their child graduate or get married. Just focus on Him, and while this life on earth may still be difficult, revel in the fact that you are His child. God is the ultimate Father, He cares more, He loves more, He provides more than anyone every could.
Now look again at what Paul says starting in verse 5.
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
We are to be gentle and not only that, we are to let others see it. We are to live our lives in such a way that others will wonder what is going on and seek out what has made us this way. And did you catch the add-on at the end of verse 5. The Lord is near. How cool is that? Good old Paul, always encouraging. Now in verses 5-9 Paul is getting at everything we, as Christians, should try to attain. A guide to our daily life, if you will.
Continue on to verse 6.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Here Paul is telling us go to God in prayer, ask God for help and seek Him in all you do. In verse 7, here is Paul encouraging again, Paul tells us, that the peace of God, the peace that is higher than any we will understand on this earth, will guard our hearts and minds in Jesus. Now why do you think God needs to guard our hearts and minds? Well, but on your imagination hats for a minute…
A family of adventurers, a mother, father, and four year old son, went to the Amazon on a family vacation. During one of their deep jungle treks the parents got separated from the child. Now remember the child has had four years of influence and up-bringing from his parents. The parents searched and searched for weeks on end. After three weeks the devastated parents acknowledged the fact that their child was gone forever, the search was terminated and the parents returned home, broken hearted.
Every year the parents returned to the spot where their beloved child was lost and every year they mourned as if it had just happened. This continued for nine years. Two weeks before the tenth year anniversary the mother lay dying in her bed, mainly from the constant heartache of knowing her child was gone. She made the father promise to continue the yearly trips of remembrance. The wife died two days before the trip was to take place. After the funeral, the father did not know if he could make the trip this year. After much debate within himself he decided he must go because of the promise he had made.
The day of his return, on the tenth year anniversary of the loss of their child, the father heard news of a young boy who had been found by the local authorities. He thought to himself, no it can’t be. Just in case, he rushed to the hospital where the boy was being cared for. To the father’s astonishment there he was, the son whom they thought had been lost forever. But the young boy that stood before him was different. He showed no excitement, no love, and no care for anyone in the room. He blankly stared out the window longing to return to the jungle which had become his home. Even though he had four years of interaction with his parents he showed no interest in his father. Every time the father tried to talk to him he ignored him and grunted as if saying, “Let me go.”
The young boy was lost and had no connection to anyone or anything other than his life in the jungle. His childhood memories were but a speck far off in the distance no longer noticeable to him. The father was once again scared and devastated, the memories of his wife’s death flooded back into his mind. He tried and tried to get through to his son. The father made it his mission in life to care for the boy and try to bring him back from his dark pit. It was hard, the child did not know about love, friendship and the caring heart of a loving parent. Eventually the fog of forgetfulness and lost memories cleared and the young boy grew and reacquainted himself with his father. The father’s love made all of the difference in the world.
You see God needs to guard our hearts and minds because when we loss focus on God, when we get lost in the jungle, those are the times when satan will try to pull us away. He will try to make us forget about the love of God and about all He does for us. He pulls us further and further into the deepest, darkest area of the jungle until finally we forget and we go into that little shell we all have. We no longer love, we no longer care, and we no longer seek. Lost in the loneliest, darkest place we can imagine until our Father comes to find us. God is seeking us, He wants us to stay with Him and not get lost. When those times come and we do venture off into that jungle, He is always searching for us, waiting until the glorious reunion. Allow God to guard your heart and your mind. Allow Him to protect you from the influences of this world. Allow Him to care for you. Allow His love to make all of the difference in the world.
We continue looking at what Paul has to tell us in verse 8 and 9.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
We must grasp hold of the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. We must take those things and apply them to our everyday, ordinary life. If we do that then we will be living a life for God because all of these things are in His will. Throw away the evil desires of this world. Throw away the influence this world has. Catch and never let go of the things that God offers. Wholly turn yourself over to His will, to His guidance in your life.
And in verse 9 Paul makes a big statement about his way of living a life for God. Paul is an example for all Christians. He lived life in such a way as to reflect everything that Jesus wanted in us. He cared, he loved, he worked, he shared, he sought, he wept, he taught, he tried, he walk his Jesus walk with his head held high so all could see him as the beacon that he was and is today.
Christian, live your life for God. Exemplify everything that Jesus wanted. Live your life for others. Love with every ounce of your being. Use God’s Word as the instruction manual for you Jesus walk. Allow God to lead you where He wants you to be. Do not allow satan to pull you into the jungle of loneliness. When you find that happening yell out, shout out, cry out to God your Father!! Rejoice in the Lord all you Christians, rejoice!! Celebrate the fact that you have a loving, caring Father. His hand is strong and always there for you to hold.
In Christ’s Love,
Skip
|
| |
| |
Isaiah 55:10-11 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it
Man, God is so awesome!! He is always constant, always there. Yeah, sure your day may be troubled, your life may not be headed the way you think it should but guess what God is there. You gotta love that. Here in Isaiah, God is telling us that His Word is like the rain and snow, it comes down from Heaven and does not return without nourishing the earth thus producing nourishment for us. God’s Word is the same way. He shares it with us (Christians) so we can go and further nourish others, just like rain flowing down, we are vessels God uses to share and spread His love. God supplies us with the ability and power to accomplish great things through Him. We are nourished by His Word and in turn nourish others through our sharing of it.
So are you catching this? We are here to nourish other people. We being the messengers of God’s Word are sent, by Him, to do His will. And we see in the Bible that part of God’s will is that none should perish without knowing Him. Are we doing our part? Are we allowing God to work through us to nourish others?
Look what Jesus said in Matthew 25:37-40 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Do ya get it? When we use what God has blessed us with to help (nourish) others we are really helping God. How cool is that!!?? When did we see you thirsty, hunger, needing clothes? Everyday in your life, your community, your family, there are needs. As Children of God are we filling the needs of our brothers and sisters? Are we helping those who need it? We are lead by God to do so. Guess what, time to step up and do it!!
But let’s finish reading the excerpt from Isaiah verse 12…
Isaiah 55:12 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
The mountains and hills will sing before us, the trees will clap for us. How cool, better than any standing ovation I have every seen.!! Imagine it next time you are following God’s will. Look around you and see His creation celebrate!! God loves you and wants the best for you but He also wants us to apply that same attitude toward others. Do not allow God’s Word to be spoken to you and then thrown aside or forgotten. Do not allow the rain to flow from Heaven only to be dried up by you. Soak it in, spread it out. Apply it, live it, do it. So maybe when Jesus looks at you and says “do you remember that day when I was hungry and thirsty?” you can say “yes Lord how was the water and bread, did I give you enough??”
In Christ Love,
Skip
|
| |
| |
There you are bottom of the ninth, two outs, your at bat, two strikes down. This is it, the moment you have been waiting for all of your life. You have studied this pitcher; you know his every move in a situation like this. He has always thrown a fastball when his opponent has two strikes. You wait, he winds up, he releases. The ball is headed right towards you, you swing knowing full well this is it, homerun here you come. The bat leaves your arm but halfway through the swing there is not the sting of contact between a speeding ball and a wooden bat. On no, it was not a fast ball; he changed it up and threw you a curve ball.
You know sometimes life has a way of not going the way we think it should. It is weird I guess because even though we know things go a certain way because it is God’s will, we still may not be happy about it. See, that is worldly side of us coming out. We want so bad to have this or have that, for things to go this way or that way. I have three words for you on that, worldly, worldly, worldly. As Christians we need to get over that. We need to quit worrying about what happens in this life because as long as we are in God’s will He will take care of us.
Look at what Jesus says in Matthew 6:28
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Jesus is trying to show us that God takes care of all things. Why worry when worry accomplishes nothing? God takes care of the birds, the flowers, everything; so why would He not take care of us? Sure it may not always seem easy but God is there. Your job is in jeopardy, God is there. A loved one is very ill, God is there. A big plan in your life has fallen through, God is there. See we plan things, but sometimes we plan them without God’s leading. There will also be times where we try to plan ahead of God; we try to make things happen before God wants them to.
Look at Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
God will make things come to pass in His own time and His own way. We just need to be ready and willing to see and accept them. Embrace God’s will and follow it. But most of wait on God, He knows the perfect time for everything to happen.
Look at how God’s Word is full of verses that address the topic of change, worry and God’s will.
Starting in Psalm 31:24
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Be strong in the Lord. He is your rock! Your hope should be in God and His will for your life.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Remove the worldly; seek the Godly way of life! He will show you the way you just need to trust in Him. Sure sometimes God’s path does not match the path that you think you should be on but believe me God’s path is always right!
Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Bingo, did you hear that? We plan things for ourselves, but God determines how we get there. When we totally give into God’s will, when we are in-tune with God that is when our Jesus walk really gets cool. We see things that we would not see, we learn things that we would not learn, and we love (that agape kind of love) in a way we would not have loved.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Sure you have big plans but if they do not jive with God’s then guess what; you better pack your bags because God is moving you.
James 4:8
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Are you in trouble, are you in need, are you lost, then come near to God and He will come near to you. He is always there, just reach out to Him. Jesus is ready, are you?
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Well, would you look at that, there it is in a nutshell, when we come upon trying times; do not be anxious, instead we should pray. Trust in God because His peace will guard your heart. Sure it may seem tough, but if God is for you who can be against you?
2 Corinthians 4:15-17
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Paul knew how to face this issue of the curve ball, the trying times. He knew how to persevere through anything and keep his focus on God and His will. Paul is a prime example of how we should address our trying times. Yes the curve ball hurts, but no matter how cliché this sounds, it is for the better. We grow stronger through our trials if we focus on God when we go through them. Rely on God, trust in Him to work in you and the lives of others. Be willing and prepared to have a few bumps in the road of your Jesus walk. Sure when you are faced with lose, pain, anguish, it may seem hard to focus on God but when you truly give yourself to Him it is easier. Let go of the world, grasp hold of God. Make Him the center of all you do and say.
In Christ’s Love,
Skip
|
| |
|
