The world has always been willing to support religion, even Christianity, provided it has been allowed to alter, adapt and put its own mark upon it. In all ages Christians have accepted this condition and lost our sacred treasures. We have grown weary of being despised and hated. The world has promised peace and broken its promises over and over. How can we accept peace of this world without losing peace with GOD? Hebrews 12:2, "For the JOY that was set before HIM, HE endured the cross, despising the shame." Only those who have been crucified with CHRIST can truly say, "I LIVE"! What a wonderful expression, "I have been crucified with CHRIST"! Are we trying to have peace with the world and peace with GOD at the same time? This is a CONFLICT OF INTEREST!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD!
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When asked what he wanted most from GOD, King Solomon said, WISDOM. The Truth revealed in Proverbs attest to this amazing gift from GOD. But Solomon became Melancholy and Depressed as he grew older. Why? 1 Corinthians 5:6, "...a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" In order to provide peace, absence of war, to his kingdom Solomon took wives from surrounding countries to guarantee their fathers, the Kings, would not attack his country. In the process he allowed them bring idols of their gods to worship and he eventually worshiped them too. To compromise is to "settle differences by mutual concession". When we compromise we give up "just a little" until we have given up everything. We need to reaffirm what is important and that which is not. If it is not important there is no need to compromise, but if it is important (the Truth) never compromise. Do we feel depressed and MELANCHOLY? Look and see if we have COMPROMISED what is important!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! When someone tells you they REALLY love you; or I am REALLY praying for you: what does REALLY, really mean? REALLY refers to "in actual truth or fact; truly and genuinely. Matthew 12:34, "...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." To "really pray" is not just "saying a prayer"; it is asking the HOLY SPIRIT to help us pray, it is asking the HOLY SPIRIT to teach us to pray, it is the obedience to be prompted to go to prayer (not just when we think it is a good time; it may be many times, as the HOLY SPIRIT Prompts), and that the HOLY SPIRIT is the AUTHOR of our prayers! Now that's what REALLY, REALLY MEANS! May we REALLY pray for each other today.
All men are Dads, some biologically, the rest by adoption. When a man becomes a "dad" he is given a new heart; a heart that produces love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. If a man has these, he has evidence of the HOLY SPIRIT witnessing in him. Romans 8:16, "The SPIRIT HIMSELF bears witness with our spirit that we are children of GOD."Just as a window provides light into the home, the HOLY SPIRIT provides light to the SOUL. Dads are Dads because of the greatness of favor by GOD, in spite of our own sinfulness and unworthiness. Dads teach unselfishly, that we are all children of GOD and we are all "adopted" into HIS family. Many of us may not be physically with our families today, but in SPIRIT we are ONE. It is the revelation and witnessing of GOD'S Promises, that causes us to "overflow" and cry ABBA, FATHER; responding to OUR FATHER'S LOVE!
Abundant Blessings on FATHER'S DAY; and remember, those ties, shirts, hand-drawn pictures, emails, texts and other special gifts are all "badges of courage"; wear them with Love. Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Dreams are visionary creations of the imagination; a state of mind marked by by abstraction or release from reality. We no longer know what it is meant "to dream". Our youth are taught to "choose" from existing alternatives (there is nothing new under the sun). They are taught to "dream" to become a doctor, lawyer or President; and these are the extent of their dreams. So once we become whatever it is we want, is the dream over? Have we never experienced a mental image of something not present to the senses or experienced the power to perceive something beyond what we call reality? We don't "dream" because we are not renewed: Psalm 103:5, "...so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." The Eagle gains strength as it grows older and grows new feathers just like those of his youth. He SOARS because of the SOURCE of his strength; his dream is to be what he was created to be; GOD'S dream for him. SOAR WITH THE SOURCE!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! We have all met people that just have IT! They may not be "worldly beautiful" but they are completely radiant. We may not understand IT but we know. To know is to perceive directly with clarity and certainty; truth beyond doubt. IT is the harmony with all creation, produced by the HOLY SPIRIT and arises from the sense of pardon and favor of GOD. We don't understand IT, but we know IT. We have experienced IT in "fleeting" moments of our lives and we need (beyond wanting) IT to last forever. Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through CHRIST JESUS." IT is the peace which GOD has in HIMSELF, WHO is all peace and love, and passes and surprises all understanding of men and angels. IT is GOD!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! I remember a story of a man who was driving in a "poor" section of town when he had car trouble. He got out raised the hood and while he was looking for the trouble, he heard a noise on the side of the car. He saw a man taking the hub caps off his car; he yelled out: "what are you doing"? The other man replied; it's ok you take the battery and I'LL GET THE HUB CAPS! Romans 13:9-10, "One who loves his neighbor will do good, not harm." Our culture excuses, romanticizes, and justifies stealing. "Large stores won't miss a little shoplifting, they are rich anyway"; I found it, it's mine "Finders, keepers, losers, weepers"; violating a trusted position by taking money for yourself, "because you have it coming, or you will do more good with it"; and flat out stealing something because you need it, your need makes it OK! What about wasting time on your job, or "killing time" until you next appointment"? Isn't all of this stealing? What about the message GOD gives us to share with others about JESUS dying for our sins: GOD wants this message to go to everyone and if we withhold it or change it, we are keeping something from them that GOD wants them (as well as us) to have. Stealing, in any form, is a sin, because it violates the law of love. If we love GOD and others, we want to share the MESSAGE GOD HAS GIVEN and not "steal" it from them.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Prayer is an act of communion with GOD, by praising, meditating, listening, confessing, petitioning and thanking HIM. We often give a quick "thanks GOD", ask HIM to forgive our sins, and then, get right into our "grocery list"; Petitioning for what we want. When I pray these kind of prayers, I receive no satisfaction because deep down I don't expect anything from my prayer. Oh, maybe I hope a little but do I really expect action or manifestation? What am I doing wrong? First, I did not ask the HOLY SPIRIT to pray with me, reveal GOD'S WORDS to me. Romans 8:26, "Likewise the SPIRIT helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for...but the SPIRIT intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Second, when I don't think I know how or what to pray; I find a Scripture or Scriptures in the Bible and pray them back to GOD. I soon discover the WORD of GOD is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword when I speak in Faith. Third, now here is the hard part. Confession literally means to "say the same thing", and to be in "agreement with". It is to fully admit to our guilt. I like to "slide" right by this part with a quick "forgive me of my sins" because anything more is too painful. When I am really "seeking" GOD, I list my sins out (painful as it may be) discuss them with HIM, find Scriptures about these sins, and begin to view them from GOD'S eyes until I totally AGREE with HIM and repent (no longer feeling guilt). Fourth, "ask and you shall receive", by praying the Scriptures (THE WORD OF GOD) to GOD (HE is faithful to HIS own words because they are life) I know this is HIS WILL for me and it has already happened! As imitators of CHRIST (1 Corinthians 11:1) I am to "call those things that are not, as though they were..." Conclusion, praying can sometimes leave me exhausted but OHHH how satisfying being in HIS presence. THE WORLD HAS YET TO SEE, what GOD would do with, and for, and through, a person totally consecrated to GOD'S WILL! THE WORLD HAS YET TO SEE!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! 1 Timothy 6:10, "The love of money is the root of all evils." The Root, how can that be? First satan, temps and enslaves us through riches; this is followed by prestige which comes from riches and from there it is a short journey to "pride", the mother of all sins. By design we are create to worship "something" and if we get too focused on our possessions, they becomes our idols. "Spiritual Poverty" is the humility to know that everything we have come from GOD. Think about how GOD has blessed us with "every spiritual blessing in the heavens" (Ephesians 1:3). You see, we can never have enough money, prestige or pride; we will always want more, because our hearts are made for an infinite GOD, not finite wealth, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING! AMEN?
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Ephesians 5:15, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, making the best use of the time..." A tree, no matter how hard it may try, cannot push and prod its fruit to grow faster than they are meant to grow. All the tree can do is take in nutrients and receive the rays of the sun. The fruit then comes naturally - at its own pace and in its own time. How we INVEST the time we are given, will determine how we USE the time we are given. The Spiritual "seed" of spending time with GOD cannot help itself but "bear good fruit". We can't help ourselves, given the right nourishment and light; we will produce GOD'S fruit in our lives. We say we can't hear GOD? Get up in the morning before anyone else, watch the sun rise, and JUST LISTEN!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! |
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December 2015
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