Psalm 119:106, "I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep YOUR righteous rules." Do we think our tears wash away the blood and pain of some wars that betrayed us with false promise of GOD, HONOR AND FREEDOM? Do we know the fear, anger, and loneliness of those who died without holding their loved ones just one more time? Are we confused to learn that the Mother's Children we fought, were also fighting for GOD, HONOR AND FREEDOM? Maybe today we can HONOR ALL VETERANS, OR JUST REMAIN SILENT.
0 Comments
"A friend loves at all times..." (Proverbs 17:17). Have we experienced LOVE from someone during good AND bad times? What about when we are "cranky", "even sinful", "rude", and where those we love most are the ones we "hurt" most? They are the ones who still see GOD in us, when we don't see HIM in ourselves! Have we ever dreamt that anyone we had ever offended came up and forgave us? LOVED AT ALL TIMES!
We've been taught all of our lives that FEAR is the result of: being punished as the result of our actions; the unknown; or "harm" (anything that would happen that we don't want, deserved or undeserved) coming to us. Why does GOD let many of us live through our worst FEARS? Sometimes, OVER and OVER! Is it to teach us to FACE OUR FEARS? Maybe it is to teach us something far greater! Have you ever experienced realization that you are NO LONGER AFRAID? YOU ARE NOT AFRAID, APPREHENSIVE, ANXIOUS OR WORRYING ABOUT ANYTHING. Here is GOD'S TRUTH! FEAR IS THE ABSENCE OF GOD! Say it again, FEAR IS THE ABSENCE OF GOD! Psalm 23:4, "...I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me..." Psalm 118:6, "The LORD is with me, I will not be afraid...". Psalm 56:3-4, "When I am afraid, I will trust in YOU..." Romans 8:15, "...you did not receive a SPIRIT that makes you a slave to FEAR, but you received a SPIRIT of sonship...." and 1 John 4:18, "...The one who fears is not made perfect in LOVE..." GOD IS LOVE! GOD has shown me, over and over in my life; That FEAR is THE ABSENCE OF GOD! AMEN! HALLELUJAH!
NO FEAR, PEACE, LOVE AND JOY.... Have you ever tried to "remember" each specific day of your life, as far back as you can "remember"? Could you only come up with 20, 50 or even 100? And those were only fragmented days at that? When I awaken this morning, I immediately began planning what needed to be done, how I was going to do it, and if time permitted, I would start on tomorrow's tasks. No wonder I can't "remember" specific events in the other 24,024 days of my life, "I didn't ask GOD to Bless my plans", I didn't ask HIM to set before me what HE wanted me to do" (Proverbs 16:1-4). In short, I didn't talk WITH GOD (WITH GOD, MEANS I LISTEN TOO). My prayers were put off until I could feel more peaceful; when in all TRUTH, prayers let me be more PEACEFUL in HIS presence. So, if some day in the future I am asked, "Can you 'remember' each specific day of your life since November 5, 2013?" It will give me great JOY and PEACE to say, "Yes, the first thing I did was pray"; YOU KNOW, A DAY JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER!
GOD'S plan has been revealed before the BEGINNING of time, space, mater or even creation. Yes, HE had already planned you and me for this particular time and place in the eons of all creation. "The LORD possessed me at the BEGINNING of HIS work, I was the first of HIS acts..." Proverbs 8:22-30. "Before the mountains ...when HE established the Heavens, I was there...I was HIS daily delight..." So, Genesis 1:1, has SPECIAL MEANING; "IN THE BEGINNING, WE WERE THERE!
Today, think how special we must be, to be HIS delight I feel like Zacchaeus many times over, as I am continually forgiven of my sins! Remember the Tax Collector who climbed the tree so he could see JESUS? (Luke 19:4). And all of the people "grumbled" because JESUS was spending time with Zacchaeus and going to his home; the home of a sinner! Do we remember the JOY when we heard JESUS'S voice, feel to our knees in HIS love and had an "out of body" experience of HIS forgiveness of our sins? JESUS emphasized the URGENCY by saying, "I must stay at your house TODAY"! TODAY means now and eternity; each time we read the Scripture, we are in JESUS'S presence and experience DIVINE ACTION! Do we have the same JOY when others find Salvation (even if their sins are forgiven over and over), or have we "forgotten the JOY of our Salvation", AND GRUMBLE?
Let us pray for one another and experience HIS JOY! Have our hearts become so hardened that we no longer know what the truth is? Do we think our lies don't hurt someone, do we think lying is the lesser of sins? Proverbs 12:22, "Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD..." If we think people believe us because we get angry, try to intimidate or cry, think about this. Our lies make us the world's slave. And if you see a tear in the eye of the person you're lying to; IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU LIED TO THEM; IT'S BECAUSE THEY CAN NEVER BELIEVE YOU FROM THAT POINT ON! NO MATTER HOW CONVINCING YOU THINK YOU ARE!
When we have a "little" extra, do we find it more difficult to give? But when we have "LITTLE" we find that "giving" becomes a part of us; we know the JESUS JOY of selfless giving and love for others. When we give out of love, and a SPIRIT of generosity our giving becomes precious. Luke 21:3, "...she put in all she had..." Do you think that the AMOUNT OR SIZE OF THE GIFT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER; IT'S THE "COST" OR "SACRIFICE" OF THE GIVER? EVEN WHEN NO ONE ELSE KNOWS.
Share your Precious Gift with others |
About the Author and writerThe writer for our daily devotionals wishes to remain anonymous in regard to his work, giving instead Glory to the Author. Archives
December 2015
Categories |