HerFaithOnline

Let’s Stop Judging One Another

2011-08-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. – Matthew 7:1-5

We are often quick to judge one another according to our own standards. We view other people’s problems with the “this could never happen to me” attitude. The truth is everyone has their own messes they must deal and live with – the messes are just different. At best, we get to choose the mess we want to live with! There is no one without issues – married people have issues; single people have issues, parents have issues and those without kids have issues. The young have complaints and the old have problems. With a variety of life’s positions comes a variety of issues; it is simply the grace of God that allows anyone to stand.

We must be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking we are smarter or better informed than those that have to live through more conspicuous problems. If all life’s challenges we experience and dysfunctions that we possess is displayed for all to see, it is more than likely that we will realize that we are not as great as we think we are.

Rather than point fingers at others, discussing their afflictions to make us feel better about our not-so-great lives, It is important that we live our lives with the “there but for the grace of God go I” mentality. Let us be in a position to encourage one another, bear one another burdens and hold one another up, applying the same kind of grace and mercy afforded to us by God.

The Aptitude to Prepare for Marriage

2010-09-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

I was invited to talk to young singles at a conference about how they can avoid divorce in their future. I was extremely skeptical about sharing my story for a couple of reasons – one was because I am extremely private and was unsure whether I wanted to put all my business out there and two - divorce is not a thing of pride. However, I believed in my heart that by telling people what happened to me, I could help them avoid the same fate. I understand that when you come out of any tough trial, you ought to reach out and help others. It was my first real speaking engagement. I had spoken to small groups before but nothing like 30 or so people staring back at me. As I talked about the self-inflicted wounds that they might want to look out for before they get married to reduce the risk of divorce in their marriage relationships, I became strangely aware that their expectations were not exactly met.

Young people want to hear about dating and romance. They want to be told that relationships lead to engagement then to happily ever after unions but we all know that life does not quite work out that way. To be successful at marriage, preparation is crucial. Singles looking to get married must clean house and lose any emotional baggage they are carrying. Many women walk in to marriage with six to seven layers of men on them, on the other hand, young men are looking for a mother rather than a wife. Disobedience, arrogance, denial and rebellion must be brought under total subjection. Fellowship with God must be of utmost priority in the life of every believer – even when you are young, single and looking for a life partner.

I don’t think I connected with them. What I was saying seemed too “adult” for them to comprehend. I pray that they understand it before they step into marriage. I wish I had done the same.

The Infirmed Woman

2010-09-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. – Luke 13: 10-13

Most of us have been hurt by what someone did to us or what we have done to ourselves. Some objects of pain and stress never go away – they keep showing up like a bad resurrection. We are tired and worn out. We go about life “bent” over. We may be standing up straight on the outside but we are bent over and crippled on the inside. By all outward indications we are fine but deep down, we are broken. Some of us are angry because we feel we have been victimized. We look around for something or someone to blame and sometimes unconsciously we use others around as a narcotic to numb our painful feelings.

The infirmed woman had probably used all types of DIY remedies in an effort to stand up straight but nothing had worked. She probably took her ailment out on people around her unintentionally. But healing will never come if we do not stop looking outwards for a healer. Here's this woman, with a big problem given an opportunity to meet the Great Physician. Only Almighty God can heal the broken and infirmed – no-one else can.

I count myself lucky to be connected to the Healer. I am an example of an infirmed woman but God keeps showing up and healing me. The fiery darts of the enemy has not stopped; as soon as I raise my end and stand up straight, they show up again trying to break me. But I have a God that I can call on and I always rush to the Throne of Grace as soon as the firing begins to gain shelter and obtain deliverance.

The same Jesus who shows up for me all the time can also show up for you but first, you must surrender you life to Him. Are you tired of being bent over?

Keep on Fighting the Good Fight of Faith

2010-09-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,

“He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. – Hebrews 10:35-39

I have been silent for a long time now. My life has been filled with many challenges, changes and choices. Things have been difficult but through it all, I chose to hold onto the one thing that is constant and never changes – Almighty God. No-one is happy all the time; unless they are crazy! We all have our ups and downs. Anyone can have faith when things are going well but let’s face it – how do you hold on to faith when everything around you is falling apart.

I moved across the Atlantic to escape all the things that troubled and plagued my mind only to realize that you can never truly run away from yourself. I have since learnt that God is everywhere I am because He lives in me and works through me. No matter where I go and what happens, God will always be with me. In the last eighteen months, I have changed jobs, lost my home and lost one of the most important people in the world to me – my mother.

I am beginning to find my way now. My faith continues to give me the power and the strength to keep pressing forward. We all love and we all lose at some point; who am I to believe that my case will be different? What have I learnt in the past year and half? Hold on to the people you love. Take the few extra minutes a day to tell them how much they mean to you, don’t hold back. Take every disappointment in your stride and never give up. The Bible reminds us that ‘this too shall pass’. Challenges will come and they will go. Whatever doesn’t kill you will definitely make you stronger.

Never lose confidence in who you are and what you have accomplished. Troubles have a way of making us feel smaller than the giants we have been created to be. Know who you are and whose you are. No matter what comes your way, keep on fighting and never lose your conviction or give in. You will surely outlive the obstacles in your way.

A Chosen People

2009-12-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he freely given us in the One he loves. – Ephesians 1:4-6

We very often forget that we are a chosen generation. God hand-picked each of us specially for the role He intended for us to play. He has a plan for each life that he created. However, whether that plan will be realized or not depends on us. In order for us to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, we must be committed to Him and His will. In order to fully grasp God’s purpose, we must understand that we were never created to make money – money is just paper. It has no place in eternity. God has more than a million ways to give us money and bursting our guts and wearing ourselves out is not one of those ways! Rather we were created to be a true picture of what God would look like if He were walking the earth. Money does have its place in the world’s economy but I am yet to meet anyone on their death bed wishing they had acquired more of it.

We are chosen to be representatives or disciples of the Lord; to walk in His ways and make His love for mankind known to a decaying and dying world. We are to demonstrate His grace, mercy and love to others just as He has freely gave to us. Being chosen is the greatest privilege of all – the benefits must neither be ignored nor squandered.

What are doing in your life to show that you are part of a chosen people?

A Prayer for You

2009-11-27T10:51:00.000-08:00

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

Joy and peace are very elusive commodities. People always go looking for them. They search and search using various “feel good” methods. Some shop; others seek soothsayers and psychics. But these precious gifts cannot be achieved in isolation; they are by-products of a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we come to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us to guide us in all truth. When we can wrap our arms around the truth of God’s love, peace and joy that surpasses all understanding becomes ours. When the whole world seems to be upside down and everyone is going crazy, we have a unique sense of peace within that is difficult to explain. This peace and joy does not make us immune from the pain and aggravation that life can bring, but it gives us assurance through the hope of Christ of a better tomorrow.

I know things are difficult out there right now. People are losing their jobs and their homes. Our spirituality is being corroded daily by the pressures of life. Prayers are being lifted up to heaven but God does not come before they take the house and the car. I understand this situation perfectly because I have lived it. Even though those things are gone now, trust that God has something bigger and better for you around the corner. God never closes a door without opening a window. Yes – it may take time for the new door to be opened. The delay may seem unbearable but hang in there. Almighty God is never late – He always shows up just in time. His ways are not our ways and his timing is very different from us but one thing is for sure: God will always make a way where there seems to be no way.

My prayer for you today is simple. I pray that God will sustain you and keep you. I pray that He places His arms of love around you. I pray that you feel His presence in any situation you might be going through. I testify into your life that supernatural doors will be opened for you. The windows of heaven will open up and pour you out a blessing that you do not have room enough to contain. I proclaim that your help is on its way – simply hold on.

The Certainty of God’s Love

2009-11-20T12:57:00.000-08:00

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

At this age and stage in life, there are some things that I am pretty sure about. I have some absolutes; things I don’t have to doubt and guess about. One of those things is the love of God. God’s love for me is more certain than my next breath. He sent His Only Son to the Cross of Calvary for my sin and the sins of the entire world. I sometimes sit in awe of this Great Love. King David, the Psalmist said in Psalm 8:4 said “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”

We are indeed a blessed generation. God’s love for us is greater than any issues, problems, distress, circumstances or obstacles we can ever face. God promises us that nothing will ever be successful at separating us from His love. This gives me hope, confidence and assurance of a secure future. As long as God's love is for me, I fear nothing or anyone that may be against me. God's love brings us the security we all long for in our individual lives. It helps us to hold on regardless what might be going on around us. The Bible tells us in Luke 21:33 that even though heaven and earth may pass away, the word and promises of God will stay the same forever and ever. There's nothing more certain than that.

Trust

2009-11-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. – Psalm 18:2

I honestly have no idea where I’d be right now without God. There was a time in my life when I was as lost as anyone could be. I sometimes erroneously say that I eventually found God but I know now that He found me. He saw me in my state of decay, picked me up, dusted me off and gave me a chance to start over. As far as the folks around me where concerned, I didn’t really deserve another chance but God thought differently. He understood the treasures that He had placed within me. The Lord knew that I had something to offer.

Regardless of what you have done or where you have been, God has a plan for your life. He has something important for you to do. People might snicker and say that you are not the kind that to be used for God’s purposes but pay them no mind. God is not looking at perfection from a behavioral point of view; He is looking at the heart. God used Jacob even though he was a liar and a deceiver. The apostle Paul was murdering anyone who dared profess the name of Christ yet he wrote majority of the New Testament. David as not a picture of morality; he killed his best friend so he could take his wife. In spite of all of that, David was still a man of God.

No matter what you are dealing with or struggling with, God can help you; He can truly deliver you and set you free. He can protect you and be your anchor in troubled waters. He can save your soul from eternal damnation. Ask for His help. Call on Him today and watch your life transform like you cannot begin to imagine.

You Don’t Know What You Have

2009-11-06T09:08:00.000-08:00

For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge – because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. – 1 Corinthians 1:5-7

I remember talking with a friend over the phone a few weeks ago. She complained bitterly about her life. Nothing was going right for her. I did not understand her position because I knew her and her family. After what seemed like hours listening to her whine and complain, I decided to help her count her blessings since she did not know how. I reminded her that God has indeed been faithful. She had two healthy children who were doing well in school. Her husband was a man who is not afraid to serve God in private and in public. She was healthy and gainfully employed. She confessed that there is nothing she has asked from God that He hasn’t done. She has just simply forgotten how to be grateful. Unbeknown to her, she was beginning to lose a grasp on what she actually did have and instead was focusing on what she did not have.

Many of us believers are so deceived that we don’t know who we are and what we have. There is nothing more painful to see than a Christian trapped in the past. We are so busy looking in the rear view mirror; we have failed to look ahead through the windscreen. God has declared that through His Son, Jesus Christ, we are new creatures, yet we insist that we are still our old selves. We refuse to realize the gift that we have and the promises God has for us. When we become born again, we get the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who guides us into a whole new truth. If we tap into the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, we give our lives the opportunity to get the full benefits of the change that has come to our lives in the person of Jesus Christ.

Being a believer must not make us delusional. Change will take time. For our entire duration in this realm, we will have things in our lives that are not perfect. The key is not to allow the imperfections become the main thing that our lives are about. Besides all the things that are not going as we’d like, there are many more that are. Knowing what we do have and being grateful to Almighty God for those things will dictate how we view our lives.

Watch That Ego!

2009-10-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. – Romans 12:3

Even with the best intentions, we sometimes get ahead of ourselves. We have the job we want, the kind of house we like and the car we have longed for. Our family life is going well and everyone is healthy. Everything seems to be going right and before long we begin to place all the glory on ourselves. We gradually start to believe that we got all that we have because we are smart. Anyone that is struggling to get things going is definitely to blame. If they had been dedicated, diligent and applied themselves like you have, they will be getting on well in life. Arrogance starts to seep into our thinking and we begin to forget the God who made us what we are.

The Bible warns us about getting to a place where we feel invisible and untouchable. If we get to proud, God may have to bring us down to get humility to spring up in our hearts. I understand how difficult it can be for one to be grateful for what God has done without letting ego get in the way of things. Being humble about what God has done in our lives without being arrogant and condescending towards others can indeed be difficult but the Bible orders that it must be done.

We are called to greatness but there is a price to be paid. We are to help others find their way. We are to reach out a helping hand towards the poor and those in need. We are to keep our feet firmly on the ground while our minds soar to great heights.

What Have You Done With God’s Son?

2009-10-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. – John 1:10-13

It really hurts when I read or hear people mock Jesus Christ simply because they do not believe and don’t understand why anyone with a brain will believe in a God they cannot see. Someone was actually bold enough to say the disciples were thick and that is why they followed and believed in Christ. He didn’t know which one will last – Christianity or rock or roll. That just sounds so silly even as I write it. Needless to say, he didn’t last. He expired well before Christianity! The people of God are still rocking on.

God’s message to believers is clear. Because we know Him and recognize and acknowledge him, we must give Him our complete love and devotion and extend this love to all people that come our way. As we believe in His name, we must live a lifestyle that demonstrates what we believe. We cannot be of the world in public in a desperate attempt to blend in and then proclaim the name of the Lord when we are behind closed doors. Conversely, we cannot shout the name of God in public and be an atheist in the home. We must make sure that we honor the name of the Lord in all that we do. As the Bible says in Matthew 25:40 – “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”: let’s take some extra time to extend the love of God to people around us.

On a daily basis, ask yourself the crucial question – what can I do for Jesus

Are You Drifting Away?

2009-10-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

We must pay more careful attention therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. – Hebrews 2:1-3

Living the believer’s life is not just about being saved. There are the important concepts of growth and discipleship involved. We must continue to spend time with God through His Word and prayer so that we do not lose that important connection. There are many reports in the media about great men of God who were not cautious enough and as a consequence got caught up in different kinds of sin. It is so easy to drift away from God. We miss a day of prayer, then two and then three and before long we have gone weeks without praying or spending time in the Word. We fail to attend church one Sunday and one missed service becomes one year of none attendance in church. I understand this perfectly because I am a runner and I sometimes miss a day and then it becomes a week. When I find myself in this position, I pray for strength and get back out there before it really gets out of hand.

The above scripture is for everyone who has received Christ as their Lord and Savior. Salvation, no one can take from you, but without diligence and careful attention, it is very possible to disallow the Kingdom of God to come down in the piece of earth which is your body. Your neglect can prevent the glory of God from being displayed in your saved and sanctified self. Salvation is free = it is a gift from God but manifesting God’s glory in your life will require your attentive participation. You must never loose hold of the very God that saved you. Cling to the Lord with all your might. Saturate your mind and your heart with His Word. Talk to Him throughout your day lest you drift away and lose your way.

Be Careful About What You Say

2009-10-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. – Proverbs 13:3

Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs. Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. – James 3:5-12

We all need to be careful what we say. Once we speak, we cannot take our words back. The old saying ‘sticks and stones may break my back but words will never hurt me” is so not true. Words do hurt and the damage they can do can last a lifetime. Words are very powerful and can affect our entire lives. Being hurtful, disrespectful and mean is not ideal, even when we are angry and have a right to be. We must learn to control our mouths so that we do not release via our lips every thought that comes into our brains. We must put our brains in gear before we set our mouths in motion. Speaking irresponsibly and without caution can bring pain and cause heartbreak to others.

Rather than hurt and alienate people with our words, we can make a conscious decision to love, inspire, praise, commend and bring joy to others. We must decide to build one another up rather than tear each other down. I have met people who have what you can call a ‘critical spirit’ – they criticize everyone and everything around them. They spend their lives being pessimistic about every single opportunity and circumstance. They bring a negative aura with them wherever they go. It is no surprise that no one wants to be around them. The Bible tells us that we cannot curse and disrespect another one minute and then start to praise God the next. How can we have such negativity and evil residing in the same heart that claims to demonstrate the love of God? We have to decide what we want to be. We all must choose whether we want to be a builder of the body of Christ or a destroyer who brings in strife and discord.

For those of us who are married with children or with children and/or married, we must be extremely cautious. We must be vigilant about what is coming out of our mouths where our spouses are concerned. The wrong words can destroy a good relationship. With our children, we are writing on the slate of who they are on a daily basis – cursing them is just a really bad idea regardless of what they might have done.

Let’s not be critical of others. Let us choose our words carefully as we communicate with others.

The Power of Thoughts

2009-10-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. – Matthew 12:34b-37

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. – Proverbs 4:23-24

Our thoughts dictate our words and our behavior and consequently our lives. We are called to guard our hearts because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. If we open up our hearts to evil, it won’t be long before we find ourselves drowning in sin. We can never be more than our thoughts. There is the popular saying “As a man thinks; so is he”. Whatever we focus on in our lives will only get bigger. If we feed our minds with garbage on TV and in magazines, we open up our hearts to the ways of the world. We have to be careful what we let into our homes via the media.

You cannot squeeze water out of a rock and as such, our lives will represent only what we let into our hearts and minds. When I hear people talk, I can pretty much decipher where their hearts and heads are at. If we choose to spend our time on garbage, we will think garbage and spurt out garbage. As believers, we are to choose books, movies and friends very carefully so as not to get our thoughts contaminated. We are to keep our hearts pure and be very choosy about what we entertain.

Love: The Greatest Commandment

2009-10-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. – Romans 12:9-10

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

There’s nothing worse than discovering that someone who claimed to love you, didn’t really love you at all; they just wanted something that you had. Hypocritical love is rampant in the world today. The term ‘love’ is the most misused word in English language. The Bible is clear about what it means when it mentions the word ‘love’. The Word of God refers to love as being genuine, real, visible through actions rather than by words. God’s definition of love is tangible and unconditional and it reflects the condition of our hearts. We are called to chase after what is good and hate what is evil – yes, hate evil. The fact that we love does not mean we open ourselves up for the evil in our midst but it does mean that we love our enemies even if we do not like what they do.

Expressing brotherly love means we love like Christ loves. It means we reach out to the un-loveable and show them the love of God. This is the only way that we can bring light into the otherwise dark world of people who are yet to come to Christ. We are never to think ourselves as better than anyone because it is only by the grace of God that we can walk in His love.

Love can change so many things in this decaying world we are in right now. God knows that all we really need to thrive is love that is why love is the greatest commandment and the first item listed in the fruits of the Spirit.

Who’s Raising Your Children?

2009-10-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

And you took your sons and daughters whom you bore to me and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough? You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols. In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood. – Ezekiel 16:20-22

It will seem the world we live in now demands dual income families which means both parents have to hold down a job. The cost of living has risen dramatically over the years. We also want to be able to afford more and to have more so we work twice as hard for the material things of life. There was a time when I only spent a couple of hours a day with my children during the week. I would drop them at school at 7 a.m. and not come back for them until 6 p.m. (on a good day!). It looked like we only really saw each other on weekends. In between the rush in the morning to get ready and dinner/homework time at night, we managed to exchange a few sentences but that was pretty much the extent of it. I felt a tad bit of comfort because I made a conscious choice to place my children in Christian private education so I knew that the instruction they were getting was close to what I was giving them at home but at the same time, I believed deep down that I wasn’t doing enough to spend quality time with my children. I started to think that my children were spending more time with teachers and caregivers than with me.

Parenting is such a huge responsibility. We are to groom our children, instructing them in the way of the Lord and teaching them about the importance of prayer and holy living. Whether we work all day or not, we are to instruct them spiritually as we drive them to school and as we bring them home. We are to ensure that we are practicing what we are preaching. It does not good to send them to Christian schools or preach to them when the atmosphere in our home is contrary to what we are saying. Work and money has it place but higher on the lists of priorities are our children and family life. I am grateful to God that I have had the opportunity to spend quality time with my children in the last five months. It has been great talking with my teenage daughter and finding out what her opinions are on a wide range of issues and boy - does she have her own opinions!

Who’s really raising your children? How much time do you spend with them? Do you really know you children – I mean really talk to them to find out what is going on in their heads?

Prayer Changes Everything

2009-10-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. – Ephesians 6:18

I haven’t always been a very prayerful person. To be honest, I lived many years as a Christian with little emphasis on prayer. But as I grew older, had children and spent more time in the word of God, I discovered the blessings that comes with leading a prayerful life. This does not mean that I got all my prayers answered the way that I wanted – no – but I did see God’s hand begin to move powerfully on my behalf. The more I sought his face concerning the life changing decisions I needed to make; the more I saw him direct me in clear, succinct yet subtle ways. Knowing what I know now, it will be impossible for me to live this life without prayer.

No one in their right mind wants to live a mediocre life as a believer because when you settle for that you have to ask yourself the question – what’s the point? We all want a life of joy, fulfillment, love, peace and purpose. We all want our lives to count for something. We all want to leave our marks on this earth when we depart. The only way we can have the kind of Christian walk that is fulfilling is with a close relationship with God through prayer. When we pray, we call on heaven to look into our lives and our situation. When we approach God in humility, we are placing our flesh on the Cross and Christ in His rightful place which is on the throne. Living without prayer is an arrogant way to live; a life methodology that signifies that we have no need for God.

True prayer means communicating with God on regular basis. It does not necessarily mean a particular position at a particular time of the day. Prayer is an attitude and a way of life. Prayer can happen anywhere and at anytime. We can speak out loud or speak with our hearts. Our lips may move and they may not, it does not matter because God has a way of listening more to our hearts than our mouths. I once heard a powerful man of God make the statement – no prayer; no power, little prayer; little power and more prayer; more power. Every time we pray and worship God, our circumstances change for the better. Even if physical manifestations are not immediately apparent, something changes inside of us. We get a certain level of confidence that God is in control because we know that things always change when Almighty God shows up. Never give up on praying to the Lord. God sees your situation and he hears your prayers. He will show up right on time. Don’t fret or worry.

What Will Your Reward Be?

2009-10-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” – Revelations 22:12-15

I gave my life to Jesus Christ earlier on in life but I am just beginning to come into my own with my Christian walk. I am just learning to understand my purpose and doing all I can to live for God. I think getting along in age has a great deal to do with it because consequently as time passes, you get a feeling that you are running out of time. Let’s face it – no one will be around forever. This realm is just for a time so whatever time I do have left I intend to use it to promote the Word of God.

The Lord is indeed coming back. We do not know when but He will be back. It is important for us all to examine the works of our hands. These are really crucial and trying times. What are you doing for the Lord? Are all your efforts strictly for self-gratification? Can you see anything or anyone bigger or greater than yourself? What motivates you? What or who drives you? What controls your day? Take some time to think of eternity rather than right now. All that we see are temporal; what matters most are those things that we cannot see but that are eternal. We need to begin to shift our attention off ourselves and onto the Lord. We will all receive a reward in heaven. What will your reward be?

Life in Christ

2009-10-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10

Life can truly only be lived in two ways – with Christ or without Christ; the choice is up to you. You are either on the Lord’s side or the enemy’s side. Coming from someone who has tried both, I can advise that there is no real life without Jesus Christ. We are talking about someone who sticks closer than any brother. He is the One True Friend that will never let you down. Having a life with Christ is fulfilling and powerfully. God truly wants the best for us. He wants us to be healthy, prosperous and fulfilled. When Christ mentions the abundant life, He does not mean riches from man’s point of view. He means having a healthy mind, body and spirit. It means that all our needs will be met by the Lord himself. It does mean that we will not be disappointment or have no problems in life. His promise means that when we trip and fall, He’ll be there to pick us up, dust us off and give us a chance to start over. He gave us His word that he will restore everything the enemy steals from us. He reminds us that we will get double for our troubles.

The enemy has nothing for us except mirages. He dangles a carrot in front us of us and when we go for it, we get more trouble than we ever bargained for. Whatever sin he manages to convince us to indulge in brings short-term gain and a life-long world of hurt. His aim is simple – to kill and destroy in an attempt to abort God’s purpose for your life. With a continued walk with God and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, it becomes easier to recognize these “carrots” from the enemy. The strength to avoid these carrots and keep on the narrow path comes from God. A life in Christ secures your destiny and your inheritance. There is no other life worth living.

Trusting in Him – Why Is That So Hard?

2009-10-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. – Psalm 37:5-8

Many us profess to love God but we find it hard to trust him fully – especially when things get difficult. As Christians, we sometimes believe our prayers ought to be answered in the way that we want. We think because we pray and profess the Lord, we should be immune from the hardships of life. It is perfectly fine when misfortune touches and wrecks the lives of others but it mustn’t affect us – we are Christians. Because we trust in God, we ought not to get laid off, we shouldn’t lose our homes or cars and our credit must not be messed up. But in reality, difficult things happen to the strongest of believers.

Christianity is not a golden parachute that allows us to sail over problems. The Bible does not promise that we will always be on the mountain; valley times will surely come. We will have challenges just like everybody else but we have God to walk with us through those difficult times. It is crucial for our Christian walk that we trust in the Lord and in the power of His might. If we find that hard to do, we are going to have huge problems. Just because we heard God speak and tell us what road to take does not mean that the road will be easy. Challenges come to make us stronger and better prepared for the promises God has for us.

Prayer for Restoration

2009-10-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’ – Jeremiah 30:17

The world is in a terrible state of decay. Just the other day on TV, there was news about some parents killing their own child while another set of adults were molesting little children. I wonder what this world is coming to. There is a total and blatant disregard for human life and for the law. People have stopped caring and it really shows. The most dangerous diseases are the ones of the inside that no-one can’t see. Most of us are hurting in places the human eye cannot see – in the mind, the heart and the soul. We are carrying around residues of dysfunctional childhoods and stinking thinking. If the human body was like a drain, for most of us, it will be so backed up that there will be no room for fresh water to flow. We walk around as if everything is good. We portray a sense of freedom that experientially eludes us. When we go home and shut the door behind us, our true self comes out and it is not a pretty sight. We listen to the preacher go on and on about breakthrough we cannot really see. Everything sounds good at the prayer meeting until we get into the car to drive home and the reality of our circumstances hit us.

God is the ultimate healer. No motivational speaker or self help book can heal us. We can feel better for a while with these resources but all that will soon pass especially when the tough circumstance we are confronted with refuses to subside. Only God can truly restore us to health in all areas of our lives because His healing is from the inside out. Regardless of where we have been and what we have done, God loves us and He cares about us. Reach out to God for your healing and restoration today.

His Blood Is All We Need

2009-10-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

And the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. – 1 John 1:7b

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. – Romans 3:25

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! – Romans 5:9

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. – Ephesians 1:7

We all hold the famous last words of Jesus Christ at the Cross of Calvary “It is finished” (John 19:30), close to our hearts. I have been in churches where the preacher has made a decision that it is not finished as far as he is concerned and their is still a price the congregation must pay for sin. Preachers like these spend time figuring out ways to manipulate the congregation rather than on God to find out what He wants His people to hear. The Bible is clear that all our sin has been washed away and we are thoroughly cleansed and set free. God promises that once we accept His Son as the Lord over our lives and repent of our sins, He will remember our sins and lawless acts no more. He promises not to count our past against us. We get a brand new start and since we have been fully forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice necessary for sin.

The Blood of Jesus is powerful. We need the Blood for our everyday living just as much we needed it when we prayed for our salvation. How else do we prove that we are children of the Living God without the Blood? Death has no hold over us because of His Blood. We have been redeemed from all our sins – past, present and future. Halleluiah to the Lamb of God!

He Sees You

2009-10-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. – Luke 13:10-13

When I first read this piece of scripture years ago, I was focused on the woman having some kind of physical disability. As I grew more and walked more with God, I realized that there was more to this scripture than physical ailments. He was talking to people like me - anyone who was bent over on the inside. This woman had been crippled by a spirit to me, means that she may not have been physically crippled. Her condition may not have been one you would notice by looking at her. Her crippled condition was said to be spiritual; that means internal – a disability of her mind, soul and spirit that only Jesus could see. She had been in this state for eighteen years. That is a really long time to be bent and broken. Being a woman myself, I am sure that she had done all that she could humanely do. Women are known to be resourceful as well as resilient. She had probably spent all she had on do-it-yourself remedies – all to no avail. But when Jesus saw her, he saw her condition and called out to her. She didn’t move closer or touch Him, He called her out. The minute He touched her, she became whole again.

That’s what we all need – a touch from the Healer. If we are to be truthfully, we are all bowed over on the inside in some way or another. We all have crooked places in our lives we long to have made straight. We all need a touch from the Master Healer. God has all the power in His hands and all the authority to straighten us out and make us whole. Give your life to Jesus Christ today. Accept His Blood; accept His Word and change your life.

The Body Needs Your Gifts and Talents

2009-10-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. – Ephesians 4:11-13

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21

It is so easy for many of us to be church-goers; pew warmers on a Sunday morning. We love the Lord but we do nothing to help build up the body of Christ. All our gifts and talents are being used for the circular world to get more money and more toys. We are content to work overtime, under-time and at any costs but when it comes to service in the house of the Lord, we cannot do the same. I believe there is this disparity because of the lack of monetary compensation when we serve in the church. The Bible is clear when it warns us about focusing on earthly treasures that are not eternal. As we work in God’s house, we may not be getting money for our efforts but we are storing up treasures in heaven; treasures that really count.

We are all called to use our God-given gifts and talents to build up the body of Christ. Just like the world needs what we have, the church needs our talents. Working within the church not only promotes unity but builds up faith. What are you doing with your gifts and talents within the body of Christ?

God Has a Plan

2009-10-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

Be still and know that I am God; - Psalm 46:10

It is sometimes difficult to see God in difficult times. But it is important to remember that God’s love is unconditional. He loves us in good times and in bad times – even when our troubles are self-inflicted. God has a plan for all his creation. God does not derive any joy from seeing His children suffer but like our earthly fathers, He is compelled to rebuke us when we are going our own way. He does this so that our destinies are not aborted and we can become all He has created us to be. I always look for lessons to learn in tough times. I sit down and meditate in order to get the meaning behind the issues that confront me. It is during these quiet times of meditation that God speaks to my heart and shows me the right way to proceed. I know based on experience that when all hell breaks loose, I must find a place and time to be still; to be quiet. If I can get away from the noisy distraction of people who think there is no way out and step away from the problems, God can safely lead me to safety.

Our Constant Help During Troubled Times

2009-10-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. – Psalm 46:4-7

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5

I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its settings men may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. – Isaiah 45:5-7

Life can be pretty complicated. We often find ourselves in some very creative messes. I thank God for His mercy and His grace upon my life. Only He can testify about some of the trouble that I've brought upon myself! If not for Him, I have no idea where I’d be. God is indeed our refuge in times of trouble. When life suddenly seems hazy and we cannot see our way clearly, His Word becomes the light that guides us through. When tough times come, we are tempted to get overwhelmed, scared and disappointed with life. If the trouble we are in is self-inflicted, we are tempted to be burdened with some amount of guilt. Dangerously enough, this is the time we may be tempted to stop praying at the time we need to keep our connection with God tight. The Bible reminds us however, that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus so regardless of our source of troubles; God has set us free through the Blood of His Precious Son, Jesus Christ. The enemy will have us believe that we are doomed and will never get out of the situation we are in but we must know that the Devil is a liar.

There are simple things we ought to remember when we are going through struggles:

1) Whatever we are dealing with is only temporary – remember that “this too shall pass”. – Psalm 18:2
2) Keep your head up – if God be for you, who dare be against you? - Romans 8:31
3) Repent of any sin you may be involved with; cleanse your mind and your heart with the Word of God. Prove your repentance by what you do – change. – Acts 19:19
4) Regardless of where you’ve been and what you have done, God has washed your sins away with the Blood of His Precious Son, Jesus Christ. Remember, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
5) Keep God’s promises in your heart at all times; these promises bring such great comfort. – Psalm 73:25-26
6) Know that God’s Word will never return void; He will do all that He has said He will do. – Isaiah 55:11
7) Pray, Pray and Pray. Little Prayer; Little Power; More Prayer; More Power.

Delayed But Not Denied

2009-10-07T05:01:00.000-07:00

Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of meat to his wife Peninnah and all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her and the Lord had closed her womb. And because the Lord had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. – 1 Samuel 1:4-6

So in the cause of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” – 1 Samuel 1:20

And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. – 1 Samuel 2:21

Like Hannah, many of us are waiting on the Lord for something. We pray and pray and it seems our prayers hit the ceiling of heaven and merely fall to the ground unanswered. We are alive but not really living the way we want to. We know that we are destined to be more than we are right now but have no means to get to where we want to be. We cry and cry to the Lord; sleep eludes us and our favorite food just doesn’t taste that good anymore. People around us remind us to be thankful but they have no idea how it feels to be expectant but unable to deliver. Imagine a woman pregnant who cannot put to bed even after her due date has passed; it’s not a comfortable feeling. It is not as if we are not grateful to God for what we have right now but when a great need hasn’t been met, what one already has seems to lack the importance and value that it truly holds. I can identify with this kind of feeling – I am living in that town right now; the town of delay.

But I know enough to remind myself, and hopefully to encourage you that delay is not denial. God himself closed Hannah’s womb. How else do you get a testimony without adversity? Hannah herself testifies in 1 Samuel 2:6 that it is indeed the Lord that brings death and makes alive. The same God who closed her womb opened it up for her to have sons and daughters but in his own time. How we need to learn to be grateful at all times – even while we wait. I can testify that this is one of the hardest things to do. God answers all prayers. There are three ways he can answer – Yes, No and Wait. He knows the perfect time for us because He can see the end from the beginning. He can see around corners and bends that we have no visibility to. He knows and wants what is best for us.

Just like God had a plan for Hannah, He has a plan for us. All we need to do is trust Him and give glory to His Name. God will be there for us; He is always comes just in the nick of time. Believe that the delay you are experiencing right now does not mean denial. You will get there someday.

The Bitter Waters of Mara

2009-10-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

"Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." - Ruth 1:20-21

A woman of strength; a woman of substance
Richly honored and respected in my husband presence.
My sons, a symbol of my strong back and great will
You promised to keep me, protect me and fill me
Instead I went out full and came back empty
Don’t call me Naomi; that is no longer my name
I am Mara; I choose this calling for all my shame.
Now I am discouraged; tempted to be worldly.
My husband is gone and my sons are no more.
But you gave me a daughter whom I now adore.
Afflicted with pain, I long for you to heal my pain.
You gave my Ruth to Boaz to refill my cup
Because of your grace, I now have an attitude of worship.
I have a brand new son; I am Naomi once more.
No longer bitter; no longer angry.
I am filled with calm because I have been restored.

Are You a Lost Christian?

2009-10-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control, and perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is near-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:5-11

What are you pursuing in your life? What are the things that you are diligent about? What is your top priority in life? Is your big thing money, a business or a spouse? Or are you desperate for a child such that it is the only things you ponder upon? The truth is the most important priority for any believer is the Lord. What you focus on will determine whether you are a lost Christian or a victorious Christian with a great sense of direction. When we put God first in our lives, everything else falls into place. Sadly, many a believer relegates God to the background. We make life changing decisions without talking to God. We buy houses and make huge investments without prayer. It is no surprise that after all is said and done, all our efforts have the obvious markings of a DIY (do-it-yourself) job.

We must stay within the boundaries of the covering of God by spending adequate time in His presence and putting all our moves at His altar. Taking time to build up our spiritual resolve helps a great deal both when things are going well and when tough times arise. When we are on a mountain, our relationship with God humbles us and reminds us that if not for the Lord, we will not be where we are. It allows us to show kindness and love to others as we thank God for His grace and mercy on us. If things get difficult, God gives us the strength through His Word to persevere and hold on. We know because of His presence in us in the form of the Holy Spirit that help is on the way.

But when we fail to spend time with God and increase in various aspects of our spiritual walk, we put ourselves in a position where we become more or less spiritually blind. In no time, simple temptations that ought not to trip us, mess us up and make us fall publicly. Growing in Christ and fruits of the Spirit requires discipline. Are you lost as a Christian or well on your way to making your calling and election sure?

Doing the Word of God

2009-10-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

“For it is not those who hear the law that are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” – Romans 2:13

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does. – James 1:22-25

God’s Word is our manual for living. We are called to study and meditate of God’s Word so that our lives are transformed from the inside out. The knowledge of God’s Word and the application of it in our personal lives are crucial. The Word does us no good if all we have done is memorize the scriptures and we have ignored the application. What good does it go when we rattle off the scripture verses and our lives reflect the complete opposite of the image of God?

God is not moved by what we know but by how we live. He does not look at the outward display of our faith but rather at our hearts. It is easier to be a hearer than it is to be a doer. But sadly, unless we do what we have heard it has no effect on our lives. In order to tap into the power of the word, we have to apply the truth in God’s word diligently in our lives. God’s word is power – there is no doubt about that. But it is very possible to know the word and have no significant power in our lives because we have refused to do what the word says. When we demonstrate our knowledge of the word through speech alone and there is no action to back it up, we deceive ourselves.

Jesus has set a great example for us on what it means to be a doer of the Word. We have all the direction we need. It’s time to follow His example and start to practice what we preach.

What Comes Out Of Your Mouth?

2009-10-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will fill it. - Psalm 81:10

May the people praise you, O God; may all the nations’ peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him. – Psalm 67:5-7

We have to be mindful of what we are saying to ourselves, about or situations and about others. There is nothing more dangerous than a ruthless tongue. Sometimes people will say negative things concerning our lives but the Bible has told us what to do in such situations. In Isaiah 54:17, it declares that no weapon forged against you will prevail, and that you will refute every tongue that accuses you. It reminds us that this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and this is our vindication from Him. So we must never be worried, hung-up, upset, sad, suicidal or disillusioned about what somebody has said or done concerning us. It is of no importance – quite frankly it is a waste of time praying about it!

What we must focus on is what is coming out of our mouths during difficult times. You shall essentially have what you say. What you focus and ponder upon, you will surely become. Jesus tells us says in Mark 11:24 to have faith in God. Even when things look bad, we must continue to proclaim that Jesus is Lord. We must also continue to believe, confess and act according to what God has said and not how we feel.

The words that are coming out of our mouth are crucial. Maintaining an attitude of praise and belief is our key to victory so we must watch what are saying. It is only when we chose to praise God at all times that He comes to inhabit our praises and walk with us. If you want big rewards in your journey through life, make praising God a big part of your life. Life and death are in the power of the tongue and you will eat the fruits of your mouth!

You Can Turn Things Around

2009-10-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

“If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Those who hate the Lord will cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” – Psalm 81:13-16

Someone wise once said doing the same things and expecting different results is just insanity. If we do not like the results that we are getting, we need to change what we are doing. God’s Word is clear. He is not an opinion or a philosophy or a religion; the Lord is Reality! If He has given us instructions for us to follow and we chose to go our own way, we cannot expect to reap the promises that have been declared for those who obey. I always tell my children that to obey is much better than sacrifice.

It is so easy to see wisdom in our own methodologies and to go astray. I can identify with you if that is where you are. There are some things and some paths that God will ask us to do and to take that will make no sense. But the Bible has forewarned us in Isaiah 55:8 that our thoughts are not his thoughts neither are our ways his ways. It tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:14 that the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. They are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. We must never expect to get to the right destination going the wrong way neither can we do the wrong things in an attempt to make things right. If we are really serious about change and turning our lives around, we must listen to the Lord and surrender to His ways.

I am grateful that God is a God of grace and mercy. I am thankful that He is a God of many chances. If all hell is breaking loose around you today, check yourself; evaluate your commitment to the Lord. Are your problems self-inflicted or are you suffering because of your life of righteousness? If you are suffering because of your neglect of the Word of God, there is hope. God promises to turn things around when you listen to Him and follow His ways.

What Do You Allow Your Mind to Meditate On?

2009-10-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night that I may meditate on your promises. – Psalm 119:148

“What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean’. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’” – Mark 7:20-23

What you ponder upon, What you ponder upon, you will surely become. You are a wonderful sum total of all your thoughts and actions to date. What we look at, what we read, who we hang out with and where we go all control our thoughts. Our thoughts are formed into our words and our actions. If we plan to live a godly life, we must spend time meditating on the Word of God. You cannot live a godly life without constantly feeding on the Word of God. The issue with us Christians sometimes is that we know the lingo and we are great at “acting like”. We present a front in church, holding up holy hands when our hearts are in a state of decay. We display a form of godliness but deny the power therein. We are the moral police because there are certain things we won’t do and things we won’t say but in the same breath, we are the first to hold a grudge and be malicious to another.

Meditation is crucial in the life of any true believer. It is a time when we are silent in the presence of God. This is when we approach the throne of grace with humility understanding that all our attempts at righteousness at best are like filthy rags before the Lord. This is when we review what is in our hearts and how we treat others. The Bible is clear that it does not matter what title we hold or what position we hold in the church, it all comes to naught if we have not loved. The good news is like all hope is not lost. If we permit the Lord, he can mould our lives into what He wants us to be with His Word. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and instruct us on a daily basis. Whether we choose to accept it or not, something or someone is molding our hearts. I want God to mold my heart as I mediate on His Word, what about you?

Saved, Blessed & Chosen

2009-09-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.– Ephesians 1:3-8

I often pray to God in tears that my hope never depart from me. The reason that I pray this prayer very frequently is because I tend to get overwhelmed with my current circumstances. Due to my sensitivity to the Spirit, I can immediately tell when the enemy is trying to get a foothold in my mind. He knows that if he can steal my hope, he can get to my thoughts, pollute them and corrupt my actions. God directs me to scriptures such as the one above to remind me that regardless of my outward circumstances, I am part of a blessed and chosen generation. He reminds me that I am covered by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and as such no weapon fashioned against me will ever prosper. The weapon can be fashioned but it will not prosper. I am reminded that He loves me that is why He sent His Precious Son, Jesus Christ to die on the Cross of Calvary – for me. I am saved and washed in the Blood of Christ. What more do I need to be victorious in this realm? Nothing! It’s all up to you and I now. We have all that we need built into us. So let’s get to work and step over the obstacles that threaten to steal our dreams and purpose. We are saved, blessed and chosen. Halleluiah to the Lamb of God!

The Grace for Change

2009-09-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

We all need to change. God is a picture of perfection. We can never be perfect but with God and His Word, our minds can be gradually transformed such that we start to think like him. I don’t know about you but I am grateful for God’s grace. With His grace, I am shown areas in my life that I need to work on. I get the tug in my heart by the Holy Spirit to adjust my attitude and my temperament when I am tempted to go my own way. It is God that gives us the grace to change so it is important that we welcome the conviction by the Holy Spirit with humility and gratitude. Some are never convicted. Their consciences are dead to the Spirit. So be thankful that God is prompting you to change – for the better.

There are three crucial elements to lasting change – Grace, Truth and of course, Time. Grace and truth go hand-in-hand. We cannot have truth without grace because then we become judgmental. In the same token, we cannot have grace without truth as that will bring liberty to sin. Then there is the important component called Time. Any real change will take time. Fast change will never last and it is often very shallow and cannot withstand strong opposition. When we invest time in our change process, we give the roots of change to run deep. And when our roots in God run deep, our mind is being transformed and we begin to resemble our God. We will not be frail in the face of opposition. We will be able to stand firm in the midst of adversity.

With God, It’s All Good

2009-09-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Mistakes are a fact of life. Unfortunately, there is no golden parachute for the believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will make errors and we will fall at some point or another. We will get disappointed and wounded by something or another. But God is a God of second, third, fourth and fifth chances. He is always there for us when difficult times arise – even when they come upon us as a result of our own doing. When we make a wrong move and we make mistakes, God works all our mistakes out for our own good. He does not take away the consequences of our erroneous ways but He allows us to learn from them and use the lessons to take us to our next level of development.

Constant Guidance from the Lord

2009-09-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. – Psalm 119:105

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. – Proverbs 3:5-7

Sometimes we think we know it all. We try to make the wrong choices to get this right. We head in the wrong direction hoping to get to the right destination. We take the law into our own hands; get in the driver’s eat of our lives and run the car right into a ditch. We fail to acknowledge the Lord as our God and ask Him for directions as to how to lead our lives. To make matters worse, some of us profess to be Christians but get to guidance from the Word of God. We trust only in the physical – what we can actually see. We often do the right thing and are optimistic about the things of God when things are going our way but the minute difficulties arise, we start to go our own way. In truth it is when things become tough that we ought to move closer to God so that we do not lose hope.

God’s Word remains the same yesterday, today and forever more. We must learn to trust in Him and the instructions He has provided for us in His Holy Word. We are to focus not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For all that we see is temporary but what we cannot see is eternal. God promises us that if we follow Him, He will make our paths straight. He tells us never to take matters in our own hands – if the Bible does not condone an action or a behavior that simply means we must never partake in it – period. We have the Bible, our manual for living available to us. God’s Word is to be the Light that illuminates our paths; that guides us in our journey through this realm.

Never Alone

2009-09-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9

I am in a period of transition right now. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the enormity of the decision I have had to make in order to follow my dreams and make my life count for something. Don’t get me wrong – I have achieved some level of success in my personal and professional life but I have also had my own share of disappointments. But I have been plagued by this nagging feeling that God has a lot more for me to do so hence a big change had to me made. The planning and preparations that needed to be made often left me frustrated and discouraged. On some days, I wanted to give it all up and stay in my comfort zone. I wanted to get another day job, pay my bills and mind my own business.

One night as I lay down and was talking to God about my transition, he put all my fears to rest. He reminded me that I am called; designed for a purpose. He reminded me about Joshua 1:9. He told me never to be afraid and not to be discouraged and give up, regardless of the obstacles that come my way. He promised to be with me through it all; never to leave me or forsake me. These promises I will hold onto for the next six to eighteen months. I am confident that I am going to need them.

The Meaning of Life

2009-09-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

Life can be complicated. Things aren’t always what they seem and people aren’t always who they appear to be. But God is our anchor and our foundation and as long as we not only know that but have a firm grasp on that understanding, life becomes what it is – just life. God has a plan for you and I – He has a unique plan for every creation, which means that we are not accidents or coincidences; we are all here for various reasons. God’s plans for us are great plans; plans to give us hope and a secure future.

Life always has meaning for a believer. We must approach our lives with passion and enthusiasm. With God, we can achieve extraordinary things. We can make our lives count. We can impact our generation and leave legacies for our children and grandchildren.

Transform Your Life

2009-09-24T12:31:00.001-07:00

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

It does not really matter how gifted and you are, if your mind is unstable and you are indecisive, it will affect every area of your life. It is so very easy to get sucked into the ways of this world. One minute you are pledging to follow the Lord with vigor and the next, you are knee-deep in questionable behavior.

Making the right decisions can only be accomplished when we walk with God and lean on his understanding and not our own. The more we study the Word of God and spend time in His presence, the more our minds are transformed and we start to think in the way He purposed us to think.

Walk the Talk

2009-09-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But a man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does. – James 1:22-25

There is nothing worse than hypocrisy. It is crucial that we do our best to live what we profess. When we fail to do this, we are talking out of both sides of our mouths. The sad thing about living a double-life is that we stop people from coming to Christ. When people see us on Sunday preaching against adultery and we are right smack in the middle of the behavior all other days of the week, they laugh behind our backs and we make a mockery of our God. But the Bible tells us not to be deceived and that God cannot be mocked. Whatever we sow, we will surely reap. Anyone who sows to please his or her sinful flesh, from that same flesh will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8). It does not matter how crafty we are, we can never be successful in fooling the Lord. People may look at you and think you are the best thing since sliced bread but God knows and sees the real you. He can see right through you to your heart. You may look like the perfect Christian and smell like a Christian; park your body religiously in a pew every Sunday but if you are not practicing what you are preaching, you are being a hypocrite. Unfortunately, God is not looking at how you look, what you wear or how many scriptures you quote. He is looking deep into your heart to see what it is you truly believe.

It is not enough to be mere hearers of the Word of God, we need to be doers. We need to get our actions in line with what we claim to believe. If we are truly born again and have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our attitude and way of life needs to reflect our faith. The more we study the Bible, the more our minds are transformed. We’ve all heard that “As a man thinks in his heart so is he” so the more we learn about God, the more our thought process changes and we start to think like God thinks. Every action is preceded by a thought. If we can change the way we think with the word of God, we can change our lives for the better.

Forgive, Forgive and Forgive

2009-09-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

“And when you start praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” - Mark 11:25

Jesus set for us a great example on what it means to truly forgive. The only snag is that most of us find it hard to truly forgive. We’ve all heard people make statements like “I can forgive but I can never forget”. I believe the reason why we find it hard to fully forgive is because the true benefits of forgiving is not fully understood. When we know what forgiving can do for us, we will find it easier to follow Christ's example. If we make a decision to stop replaying events over and over again, forgetting can really be achieved in time. When you make a conscious choice not to focus on the mistakes that were made and rehashing the issue with everyone that will listen, we have a strong chance at letting go of the hurt. I can testify that there is so much to gain from being a person who fully forgives. I have personally enjoyed improved health, physical and spiritual strength, peace and inner joy as some of the benefits of forgiving. When the Bible instructs us to forgive, it is for us and not for the offender. Refusing to forgive does great harm to the body internally. Holding grudges and refusing to let go and let God has negative implications on the quality of our lives.

I was told a story of a woman who had cancer and was abandoned by her husband. She was sick and to top it off, she had two children to care of. She became very bitter and resentful. She prayed and prayed regarding her health. She even had the entire church praying for me but her situation did not change. She had no idea why her prayers were going unanswered until God revealed to her in a dream that if she wanted her healing she needed to work on her feelings. She had so much anger and bitterness toward her husband that it was slowly killing her. The woman decided to follow the instructions of the Lord and worked on the state of her heart toward her husband. In time, she was able to forgive and release her bitterness. The speed at which her healing came after her heart changed was remarkable. She was shocked to discover that she had the key to her healing all along; she just needed to turn the key.

We must forgive, forgive and keep on forgiving. It is in our best interest to do so. I myself find it easier to forgive when I put people in their proper place. Humans will always be human and they will make mistakes just like I do. Learning to set expectations in a realistic manner minimizes the chances of being wronged. Only God does not disappoint; human beings will disappoint you – you can count on it. So when you have that squared away, you can view people in the right way; you can give them room to make mistakes and forgive them as they do so.

Learn To Put God First In Your Life

2009-09-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

We all have priorities whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. There are things that are important to each and every one of us; the things that we must do or our lives will not be complete. There are some who must work 60-72 hours a week to sustain themselves and their families. By the time they are done with working, there is very little time left for the things of God. Others choose to work on weekends because of time and half and double pay. Taking care of the home, the kids and the demands of our circular job can very often leave us drained. If care is not taken God starts to move further and further down the list of our priorities. Maybe we miss church for one Sunday, one becomes two and before we know it we go months without fellowshipping with other believers. We console ourselves by saying “I don’t have to attend church too meet with God”. True, God can meet with us anywhere but iron sharpens iron. If we are to remain in the spirit, we must spend time with people who believe in the same things that we do. We must be engaged in the work of the kingdom helping to edify the saints and build up the body of Christ. Imagine if everyone stayed home on Sunday with the same belief, what would happen to the church?

God does not want to be included in our to-do list; he wants to at the top of our priorities. If our lives are to be genuinely successful, God must come first. All other things must be laid aside to give way for our time with God. For a believer, this is not optional. During our every waking day, we have to make allowances for the Lord – planned allowances. We must seek God’s face every day understanding that failing to do so may result in an aimless day – busy but aimless. I encourage you to invest in a 30 – 45 minute time with God each day, preferably in the morning before you do anything else to set the tone for your entire day. Making this investment may very well mean the difference between a result-filled day and a day filled with endless frustration.

Be Grateful For Your Miracles

2009-09-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

When he came near the place where the road goes down to the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” - Luke 19:37-38

I have been out of commission for a while but I am grateful to be back. In the chaos of life, we often forget the Lord. We are quick with our laundry list of requests – asking for a new car, a new house, a bigger job with a larger salary that we forget to thank God for what He has already done. I was watching a show called “The Secret Millionaire” and caught a glimpse of some problems that other human beings just like me, had to live with. When our families are healthy and we can put food on the table, God deserves praise. When we have a job to go to that enables us to work out our gifts and our talents, God is worthy to be praised. When we can rise in the morning and see the dawn of a new day, we must appreciate that Our God is still on the throne.

If we want to know where we stand in regards to thanksgiving, we must analyze our prayers. How much time to we spend in worship and praise as opposed to making requests? Do our prayers predominantly contain requests for things or do we spend a great deal of time just thanking God for what He has done. Are our prayers one sided or do we take time to just sit and be still in God’s presence? Praise and thanksgiving brings an atmosphere of worship. God loves to inhabit the praises of His people. As a parent, when I can see that my daughters are grateful for the gifts they have received and I can see that they are putting these gifts to good use, I am encouraged to give them more. So before you start to ask God for more, search your heart and see if you have been full of praise and thanksgiving for what the Lord has already provided. Do an inventory of your life and see if what he has previously allocated has been put to good use.

I don’t know about you but I want to spend the other half of my life as a true worshipper and disciple. I will spend my time thanking God each moment for the miracles He has graciously brought my way. My existence today in the Spirit is itself a miracle. As I keep my eyes and my heart open, I anticipate my relationship with my Father in heaven to deepen. As I spend more time appreciating Him and thankful for every single experience, I will be able to see His divine authority, His compassion and His presence in my life.

Godliness With Contentment

2009-06-14T14:53:00.001-07:00

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5

But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. – 1Timothy 6:6

It is such a blessing to know what is important; to have a strong grip on what truly matters in life. As I age I am beginning to learn more about my destiny and what is crucial to my existence. The period that can be wasted on frivolities and inconsequential things are long gone. Time is now an extremely rare and valuable resource to me. Luckily, I have never been one to be controlled by money. I was content growing up and I still am as an adult. I do not have everything I would like nor am I where I would like to be but I am wise enough to know that God knows where I ought to be. I am confident that I will have what He says that I will have and I will be whatever He says that I will be. I watch with a sense of pity at those who sacrifice their family lives, their health and their sanity trying to get rich. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 23:4-5 that “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle”. When we spend our lives chasing after money, it’s either we never quite catch it or when we lay our hands on it, we realize that financial wealth is not all that is cracked up to be.

As long as Almighty God in heaven promises to stand by our side, why we do we worry? Why do we find it hard to be content with what we have and where we are? Why do we find it hard to believe that we are on a journey and the Great God who has brought us this far will definitely see us to the end? Why can we not see that Jehovah that was graceful and merciful enough to start a good work in us, will surely bring it to completion? My friend, be content with what you have – little or much. When you pray, ask God for what you need. Accompanied with the right motives in your heart, He will surely supply all your needs.

The Curse of Self-Centeredness

2009-06-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. – John 12:24-25

My command is this: Love ach other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. – John 15:12-14

Self-centeredness is described in the dictionary as being concerned solely with one’s desires, needs or interest. Self-centeredness is a force that drives the carnal lifestyle. The carnal and self-centered man strives as hard as he can to get everything that he can. He cans all that he gets and sits on the lid. He lives a life that is geared solely towards getting without any thought of sacrifice. He tries all that he can within his power to preserve all that he has accumulated, not understanding that unless you live a life of sacrifice you can never be fruitful. His love for his life is so intense that there is no room to give up anything to preserve the life of another. His ambitious desires have gotten so out of control that his concern is only for himself and no one else. There is no room for dependence on God – only on self.

We all have the desire and ability to strive, to be assertive, self-promoting and to focus heavily on what we want. No one is immune to the desire to get ahead. Truth be told, there is nothing wrong with ambition. But the price we are willing to pay to satisfy this human need varies from one person to another. Where self-centeredness abounds, pride is not hard to fine and the Bible tells us that pride goes before destruction. When we are successful with our ambitious plans, we glorify in self rather than in the Lord. Living a life of I, me and mine is not what Christ requires of any believer. Jesus was not thinking of Himself when He went to the Cross. He sacrificed Himself so that we can have life and have it abundantly.

Unless we get to a point in our lives when we recognize that we ought to live a life of service to others, we will truly miss our calling in this realm. Until we understand that we are called to serve and live a life of servant-hood, we will continue to live solely for self.

The Main Thing

2009-06-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

Aligning our priorities right is so crucial to having a fruitful and productive life. God must be our number one priority. Yes – things are tough and we have lots of things to do but if we do not place the Lord in His rightful place, we can very quickly find ourselves busy but going round and round the mulberry bush. Being constantly busy and occupied does not equate being fruitful and productive.

God wants to be in relationship for each one of His children but we must seek His face. God has given us freewill to spend our time in any manner that we choose. He does not want robots that are forced to spend time in His presence. He wants us to choose to commune with Him because we understand how important it is to be in constant fellowship with the Lord of our lives.

When we come into the presence of God we have the opportunity to share our joy, pain and desires with Him. Most importantly, we get the wonderful opportunity to clear our minds, remain silent and focus on what He wants to say to us. Putting God first in our lives is not a choice; it is a necessity. The peace and contentment that comes from placing God above any other thing or person cannot be achieved by any other means.

His Mercy

2009-06-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

Be merciful to us, O Lord, for we are in distress;
Our eyes grow weak with sorrow, our souls and our bodies with grief.
Our lives are consumed by anguish and our years by groaning;
Our strength fails because of our afflictions, and our bones grow weak.
But you compassionate and gracious; slow to anger, abounding in love.
You does not always accuse, nor do you harbor your anger forever;
We are grateful that you do not treat us as our sins deserve.
You do not repay us according to our iniquities.
As high as the heavens are above the earth so is your love for us.
You are exceedingly rich in mercy.
You make us alive with Christ even though we are dead in transgressions.
We thank you Lord for your love endures forever.
We thank you because you are indeed good.
(Psalm 31:9-10; Psalm 103:8-11; Ephesians 2:4; Psalm 136:1)

God Lift's Us Up

2009-06-10T17:06:00.000-07:00

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went on a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree. Sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” – 1 Kings 19:3-4

“What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? Do I have the power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me? – Job 6:11-13

Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. – Psalm 41:9

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon – from Mount Mizar. – Psalm 42:5-6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. – Psalm 3:2-3

Things may be tough right now but God sees all that we are dealing with. We are never alone and He is truly the lifter of our heads. It is crucial that we understand that we are in a controlled environment and nothing happens to us unless God allows it. Even though the present economic circumstances dictate that we live on less and some of us are without jobs, God still has a plan for our lives. Maybe you have been abandoned by a spouse or a friend and all hell is breaking loose around you. Or maybe you lost a loved one to death by disease, accident or old age. It is a give that financial trouble leads to some level of anxiety, emotional and physical distress but God tells us in His Word that He stands by to supply all our needs.

God’s word reminds us in Psalm 37:25 that the righteous will neither be forsaken nor their children begging for bread. Sadness, grief, fear, anxiety, depression, helplessness and stress are all negative emotions that can drag us down. But there is hope. There is hope because even Elijah, God’s own prophet in the Bible felt like giving up. The Apostle Paul complained in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 about a thorn in his flesh. He pleaded with the Lord to take it away but God reminded him that His grace is sufficient and that His mighty power is made perfect in weakness. When we are weak because of disappointment, God strength is revealed in our lives.

Being a Christian does not make us immune from the pressures that an economic downturn can present. We all suffer directly or indirectly when things go bad. The fact that we are having a difficult time does not mean we have no faith. I have heard a lot of hogwash that faith is the key to a smooth sailing life. It is so not true. Just because you have no issues with your life right now does not mean that you have more faith or favor in and with God. Without adversity there is no spiritual growth in the life of a man. We all need tough times to see God at work. When you expect nothing to change in your life you have no need for faith. Personally, it is because of the circumstances that I have overcome with God by my side that my faith is built up.

Regardless of what you are going through right now, hold on and don’t give up. God will show himself strong in your life. He never disappoints and He is always right on time.

Six Things Our Lord Hates

2009-06-09T17:03:00.000-07:00

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

Haughty eyes
A lying tongue
Hands that shed innocent blood
A heart that devises wicked schemes
Feet that are quick to rush into evil
A false witness who pours out lies
A man who stirs up dissension among brothers – Psalm 6:16-19

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. – Proverbs 16:18-19

God has many scriptures in his word to warn us about the things He dislikes. Most of them are pretty straight-forward. We are called to live holy lives by following in the footsteps of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Having haughty eyes means being disdainfully prideful. One of the things the Lords hates is the proud. There is good pride and bad pride. Good pride is being happy about doing a good job on an assigned task. Bad pride is feeling self-sufficient and self-righteousness; having no need for a Savior.

Pride is a high-speed train that leads to destruction. When we are prideful in a negative way, we are engaging in an emotion that is the direct opposite of humility. When we think of ourselves more highly than others, we tend to cross the line in an effort to keep up the image of ourselves that we are desperate to maintain. Lying becomes very easy when we are prideful. We are quick to lie and shed innocent blood to keep the image we are proud of. We easily start to devise all sorts of plans that are wicked in the sight of the Lord - whatever it takes to maintain the status quo. Our heart becomes the wellspring of evil rather than the wellspring of life. Evil thoughts allow us to lose self-control over our actions. We start rumors and spread them in the church, amongst families and friends – all in an effort to satisfy our evil agendas. The Bible is clear that pride will almost always end in disgrace but humility always brings wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).

What Do You See?

2009-06-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Lord said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” – Numbers 13:1-2

When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” – Numbers 13:17-20

When they reached the valley of Eschol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. – Numbers 13:23

They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and large. - Numbers 13:28

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We seemed like grasshoppers in their own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” – Numbers 13:30-32, 32b

Moses had sent them to scope out the land of Canaan as instructed by God. Even though they were able to bring back good fruit from the land, only one person felt that they could possess the land. The others felt timid and intimidated. They started to make up fearful stories to prevent them from moving forward with possessing the land. One saw a great opportunity and others saw definite defeat.

What makes a huge determination of how far we will go in life is based on how and what we see. Do you see difficulties and obstacles everywhere you turn or do you see God-given opportunities? The way we perceive and view situations in which we find ourselves will determine whether we will be victorious or victims. If we choose to focus on only the difficulties, we will not get very far. A wise man once said that whatever we focus on will get bigger. If you are positive like Caleb and focus on the opportunities – refusing to view them as stumbling blocks but rather as stepping stones, you can ascend to great heights. But if you elect to grumble, complain and retreat in defeat anytime things don’t go your way you will forever remain a victim of the system.

Change how you see and change your life.

Rejoice Today and Always

2009-06-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! – Philippians 4:4

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Regardless of our circumstances, we must make a conscious decision to praise and rejoice in the Lord always. The joy of the Lord is not based on circumstances; it is with us at all times. When the Holy Spirit dwells within, there is an indescribable type of rest that comes into our hearts that gives us an assurance and confidence that everything will be alright. The Holy Spirit reinforces the scripture passage in Romans 8:28 that tell us in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Joy is a choice. It is a state of mind and a state of being not a mere feeling. The only way to experience joy is to give thanks to God at all times, understanding that we are a work in progress and not a final product. When we understand that God is at work in our lives and our situations, we can accept that things don’t have to be perfect at this time. We can freely give thanks and praise even with the imperfections that surround our lives. We can do this while trusting that God has his hand upon us and everything will turn out ok.

There is no denying that God is indeed good – especially when you think back to all the things He has brought you through in your life. When you think back on all the messes you were in and God showed up just in time to rescue you, it allows you to thank God and rejoice in Him knowing that He will see you through yet again. So rejoice today and always in Almighty God. No matter how tough things seem there is always something or someone that we can be thankful for. We can be thankful for the life of a loved one, a relationship or a career. Everyone has something to rejoice about.

Be a Peacemaker

2009-06-06T17:25:00.000-07:00

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God. – Matthew 5:9

There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace. – Proverbs 12:20

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. – Romans 14:17-19

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. – Hebrews 12:14

The world is full of strife today. Family members are at odds with one another. Husbands and wives are fighting with one another with no regard for the wellbeing of the children. The family, the foundation upon which society must be built is crumbling to pieces. The Bible knows how destructive discord can be that is why it tells us in Colossians 3:13-15 to bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. We are called to forgive as Christ forgave us. Love is to be a garment that we put on to bind all o us together in perfect unity. The peace of Christ must rule in our hearts as we are all parts of one body that is called to peace.

The only way we can live in peace with others as God instructs is to first be at peace with our individual selves. When each and every one of us is at peace with our own bodies, we can extend peace to others. I have found that I guard the peace of God that I finally found with great vigor. Because I want to hold onto it, I avoid strife at all costs. Even when I have cause to retaliate towards another offensively, I make a conscious choice to overlook the offense and move on. I am careful not to let anyone or anything contaminate me on the inside because it took a lot of work to get my mind to where it is today.

To be a peacemaker is to be called a son of God. When we choose peace over discord we are affirming the God to whom we belong; we are beginning to be more Christ-like. Being peaceful means that we are learning how to focus on God and not ourselves.

See the Light

2009-06-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. – Psalm 36:9

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. – Isaiah 60:19-20

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” – Ephesians 5:8-14

It is indeed true that the eye is the lamp of our entire body. When our eyes are good, our whole body is full of light but when they are bad, the body is filled with darkness. The Bible warns us to see to it that what we are carrying around inside of us as light is not darkness. It is our responsibility to see the Light of God through His Word. It is impossible to be filled with the Light of the Lord if the Holy Spirit has not been invited to dwell within by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Doing what pleases the Lord is not possible without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. As long as we are human and we are flesh we cannot achieve any kind of righteousness before God in our own strength.

Accepting Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross of Calvary brings light into our dark lives. Darkness and light cannot dwell in harmony together so when the Holy Spirit comes in, darkness must take its leave. But there is work on our part to keep the Lamp of the Lord burning in our hearts and our lives. The enemy is forever lurking around looking for ways to snuff out the light we have inside of us. We must do our part by studying and listening to the Word of God. Anytime we feel darkness trying to creep in we must return to that place where we first encountered Christ so that we can be reminded of what He sacrificed for us. If we make a conscious decision to surround ourselves with the Light of God, darkness can never take over our lives.

Choose to see the light today. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Come out of the darkness into the Light of God.

Remedy For Troubled Hearts

2009-06-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go there to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” – John 14:1-3

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – Psalm 73:26

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. – Psalm 16:8-10

I find it very helpful when I am troubled to focus my attention on Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross of Calvary. Feeding a troubled heart with worrying about circumstances that cannot be changed is draining and time consuming. When we are stressed out, it’s almost always because of the worldly things of life. I have never heard anyone say that there were worried about the inheritance in heaven. Maybe it’s because we focus more on earthly treasures than what Jesus has promised to every believer. We allow ourselves to get frazzled about things that have no place in eternity. The world we live in today makes it extremely easy to get carried away. Believers have to make a conscious decision and effort to keep their focus on what God has deemed as important.

Someone once told me that perception is everything. The way we view and value things in our lives can make a world of difference. It stands to reason that where our hearts lie so there shall our treasures be. If what is most important to us is our material possessions, our foundation and anchor will be on those things. If unfortunate circumstances occur – which they sometimes will as we are experiencing with the current economic downturn, and we loose these things, our entire world crumbles.

I pray today that you will lay hold of the scripture passage above and refuse to let your hearts be troubled. I pray that you efforts will be placed on the things of heaven which are eternal rather than the things on earth which are temporal. Jesus has promised to go ahead of you and prepare a room for you in the house of the Father. What could be better or more important than that?

Instead of Worrying Choose to Rejoice Always

2009-06-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-7

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than clothes? – Matthew 6:25

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. – Luke 21:34

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

Experience has taught me that worrying is pointless. I worried myself so badly at some point in my life that I became sick and suffered nervous breakdowns. I can tell you firsthand that worrying is a futile exercise. It serves no purpose except that it raises one’s blood pressure and causes a great deal of anxiety. Precious time that can otherwise be used doing fruitful things is wasted worrying. God calls us as Christians not to worry. Instead of worrying we are told to spend our time rejoicing in the Lord. Rather than waste our time and energy worrying about circumstances that we cannot change, we are to turn over our problems to Him and let Him be the God over our lives. When we have the faith and courage to allow God to be God, He promises to give us His peace which transcends all understanding.

Choosing to worry displays a lack of trust in God. If we spend our time worrying instead of rejoicing, we cannot pray effectively. If we choose to focus on what is going on around us rather than the God of the heavens, we lose focus and direction. I have found a few remedies that help with worry and anxiety:

· Praise and Worshipping God
· Exercising
· Writing a list of what I need to do and taking steps to get them done
· Get enough rest
· Go out and do something I enjoy

No One Can Steal Your Joy

2009-06-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever. – Psalm 30:11-12

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; - Psalm 31:14 – 15a

A friend of mine spoke with me at length recently about troubles that he was facing in his life. He sounded drained and weary. He had been fasting and praying but he was not getting any relieve. Life seemed to have lost its luster and his peace was gone. I could understand that the circumstances he was dealing with were very difficult. This economy has put a lot of people in a very tough spot. Suicides are suddenly on the rise and many see no other way out of their problems. I volunteered to pray with him and tried my past to encourage him to divert his attention off of himself and unto the Lord. We sometimes place too much importance on the problems of this world. Material things may come and go but the Kingdom of God is everlasting. I explained to him that regardless of how much money he had in the bank; how much he has in is 401K or whether his house was up for sale or not, his spirit belonged to God. His credit may be maxed out but his inheritance in heaven is sure and secure. Letting financial woes bring one down does not do the heart any good neither does it improve the situation.

Keeping one’s attention on God and His Word makes it easier to maintain peace and joy while taking steps to rectify financial problems. A life with God is a life filled with joy. It is a life that allows you to dance with joy even when things are not going so well. When our relationship with God is intact, we are able to give thanks to the Lord at all times. The presence of God clothes us with joy and peace in spite of difficult times. Difficulty is what tests the faith of a blood-washed believer. When we start to run around like a chicken with it's head cut off rather than looking up and seeking the counsel of God, peace will elude us. As long as we are seeking the opinion of others instead of talking to God and doing what He tells us, our joy will be stolen from us.

I explained to my friend that doing nothing will only make matters worse. The truth is no one can squeeze water out of a stone. Things are tough today but with God nothing is impossible. You can only pay back what you have and many institutions are willing to work with their customers. I am glad to say that my friend is now taking positive steps in line with his prayers to turn things around. He is now facing the problems head on and his joy in the Lord is returning in the process. He now understands that his life is in the hands of God and not in the hands of the financial institutions or the economy.

If You Need Help.....

2009-06-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. – Isaiah 50:7

We all need a helping hand at some point or another in our lives. The cares of life can get extremely overwhelming and hard to deal with. Many are extremely blessed to have close friends and family who act as God’s hands and feet and come to their aid. But maybe you are one of those who have no one to turn to in times of trouble. The “friends” you thought you had quickly vanished as your circumstances changed. Those who were screaming accolades when everything was going well are now nowhere to be found. All of a sudden, you are all alone with your secrets and your pain.

But there is a God is who is waiting to rescue you. He is willing to be closer to you than any friend or brother. He wants to be there for you when no one else will. He is the only true anchor that there is. Once you invite God into your life, you will never be alone. He will be with you in good times and bad times; in sickness and in health. With God by your side, what you are going through may hurt you; it may bring you pain but it will never destroy you. God has the power to turn everything negative in your life around for good and for His glory. Get to work now with renewing your mind with the Word of God. Refuse to be destroyed by external circumstances that will not last for ever. Stand firm with God and in His Word. All the difficulties and obstacles that you are facing today will surely come to pass.

God Never Fails

2009-05-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23

We do all we can to help ourselves. We get a good education, work hard at our jobs, buy a home and try to provide for our families. But sometimes our best just isn’t good enough. The powers that be oftentimes are greedy and have no regard for the average person and all that we worked so hard to get can be lost in an instant. In time, all our efforts to provide a decent standard of living for ourselves and our families fail. But one thing stands true now and always. God always stands the test of time. His faithfulness to us is true and dependable. With God we never have to worry about our inheritance in the way we worry over our retirement funds. We don’t need to be plagued by the knowledge that what we see on paper does not match our reality. The Word of God as written in the Bible is alive, true and remains the same – never changing or fluctuating.

I am thankful that God’s mercies are new every day. With the dawn of every new day, I encouraged to press forward with the things that the Lord has shown me. I am reminded that I believe in a God who holds the sun, moon and stars up in the sky. He is the same God who will hold me up regardless of what happens around me. I am confident once again that my God never fails and that He will see me through to the other side.

If things are difficult today, don’t lose hope and never give up. Trust in the Lord and all His promises. They are all yours. Claim them and live as though they have been realized. God’s word never fails.

You Will Get There

2009-05-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stooped down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn. – Psalm 18:35-36

The path to true success is never easy. There will be ups and there will be downs. There will be happy times and sad times. There will be times when you feel at the top of your game and times when you wonder if you’ll ever make it. God never promised us that our lives will be easy when we follow Him; rather the Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:12 that everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Being a child of God does not entitle us to a golden parachute that helps us escape life’s troubles. We are however promised in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Believe that you will get there; believe in the promises God made to you and to your purpose in Christ Jesus. Live your life everyday overlooking all the negative circumstances that present themselves in your daily life. Decide not focus on what the media is saying and ignore the meaningless chatter around you. Rather, choose to focus on God’s heavenly promises as God’s purpose will always prevail.

God’s Timing

2009-05-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. – Ecclesiastes 1:1

He has made everything beautiful in its time. – Ecclesiastes 3:11a

God has a unique plan for the life of every one of us. Nothing happens to us by accident. I believe we live in a “controlled” environment where the Lord has his hand securely on the knob. He knows when to let us relax and when to get us out of our comfort zone. God’s timing is never too early or too late. Our God is always on time. When a new baby arrives into the world, it is based on God’s timing. Sadly, when a person dies and departs this world, it is also God’s timing. The dates of birth and the dates of death are in the hands of God unless man-made intervention comes into play. Our success and failure at life is all based on our acute understanding of timing.

It is important that we know and understand God’s timing and this only comes through a relationship with God. The Bible tells us there is a season for every activity under heaven and seasons determine timing. Choosing what to do in the seasons of life ultimately dictate our success or failure. There are four seasons – winter, spring, summer and fall. During the winter circumstances of our lives, for example, when we lose our jobs or our homes due to the economic downturn, we must spend our time planning and figuring out what we want to do. This is the time to develop roadmaps and plans of action. Spring allows us to start putting actions behind the plans we spent the winter season developing and perfecting. In the summer, we must work at our plans, watering and pruning; taking the steps to grow and develop all that we have planted and fall is when we reap all that we have sown.

Understanding the seasons of your life allows you to plug into God’s timing.

Changing Gears

2009-05-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. –Jeremiah 29:11

Today is a very important day for me for many reasons. I will share two: my youngest daughter turns six today. I remember the day she was born and all the test and trials that got us to this day. I glorify the name of the Lord for keeping us and protecting us. His hand upon our lives is evident for all to see. God has been really good. We never would have made it without Him. On another note, my job of the last four and half years ends today as my company got bought over by a bigger retailer and 99% of the workforce are being released. For this also, I glorify the name of God for sustaining me all these years and for the bigger and greater door that He is about to open. I have no regrets, anxiety or anger. Surprisingly, I am full of thanks as I know that nothing happens to me without God allowing it. I will be one of the very few that accepts my severance package with excitement and joy. This is God’s time for me to move into the other things that He has shown me and start on the wonderful journey of fulfilling His purpose for my life.

Too Sad to Pray

2009-05-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. – Romans 8:26-27

There was a period in my life not too long ago when I was going through a very difficult time. I felt as if my heart had sunk to the bowels of my stomach and was about to come out through my mouth. Many days, I will get out of bed, get my daughters dressed, drive to school and to work and I will have no memory of the trip. I will arrive at work and sit in my vehicle, trying to summon the strength to get out and walk into the building. On some days, I will arrive at my office parking lot; turn right around and drive back home. On days such as these, I knew I had neither strength nor courage to face a work day.

I was suffering and yes, I was a Christian at the time. I believe we all have a cross which we must bear as we journey through life and suffering is just part of the trip. Romans 5:3-4 reminds us to rejoice in our times of suffering because suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character produces hope. It goes on to say that hope never disappoints because God Himself has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. As I learnt the validity of these verses of scripture courtesy of my devotional Bible, I still felt a lot of pain and hopelessness. Nothing I did or said seemed to change the situation I was in. Most importantly, I found it extremely difficult to pray during these times. Not only did I have no clue as to what to pray for; I also could not seem to form any words when I tried. All I seemed to do without effort was to cry.

During this time of weakness, all I could do was move from one day to the next and shout the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus was not far from my lips as I cried out repeatedly in pain. Unbeknown to me, during this time, the Holy Spirit within me was continuously interceding for me and all I needed to do was hold on to the Word of God. I was still trying to wrap my head around it all intellectually but I knew that my logical thinking was not relevant – the Holy Spirit was there for me during my weakest and most vulnerable times and He brought me through to the other side.

Are you dealing with very difficult circumstances in your life at this time? Are you too sad and confused to pray? Trust in the Lord and His Word. Sit calmly in His presence even if all you can do right now is cry. God hears you and He sees what you are going through. Believe that your help is on the way.

What Kind of a Witness Are You?

2009-05-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 7-8

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, our lives must reflect our beliefs. This does not mean that we have all that money can buy but it does mean that we have the most important things in life which no amount of money can ever purchase. It makes no sense to proclaim that we are blood-washed believers if the way we live our lives speak contrary to the fact. Any time we talk about the Lord and how much we love and trust Him, people are not necessarily listening to all that we are saying, rather they are watching what we do.

When we truly give our lives to the Lord, we are gradually transformed from the inside out. The Holy Spirit that comes to dwell within us starts to change the way we think and the way that we live. Our hearts, minds and souls are cleansed and we start to view the world through a completely different lens; the eyes of the Spirit. People who encounter us can immediately tell that there is something different about us and they are curious to know what it is. Our lives essentially become a testimony of the glory of God and a roadmap to meeting with Him. This does not mean that we have attained perfection. No, we will still make mistakes but the greater part of us is walking in the Spirit rather than in the flesh. People can see a picture of God through us in the way that we conduct ourselves.

We are all called to be a living witness to the glory of the Lord. Are you a witness?

You Are Blessed When You Obey

2009-05-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” – Luke 11:28

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on this law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. – Psalm 1:1-3

To obey is truly better than sacrifice. Choosing to disobey the Lord has its consequences and these consequences can be very difficult to endure. It is important to understand that the Word of God is designed to guide us and give us peaceful and joyful lives. God does not want His children to suffer so He gave us a clear roadmap with which to navigate this crazy, intoxicated world. The problem is the devil is also out there luring us with attractive temptations; presenting us with countless opportunities by which we can go against God’s instructions. As soon as we accept one of the attractive carrots dangled in front of us by the devil, we get caught in a big trap. The next thing we see is our lives unraveling right before our very eyes.

But the Book says that those that hear the Word of God and elect to obey it will be blessed. If we choose to delight and mediate on the God’s Word, we will be fruitful in our lives. Our obedience will pay off in multiple folds.

Resting in the Comfort of the Lord

2009-05-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

Life can sometimes be overwhelming and cumbersome. Jobs and homes are being lost and people are going hungry, depending on food banks for their daily bread – in America. People have become shadows of themselves as they watch everything they have labored for vanish into thin air. Yet in the midst of all the chaos, Christ is inviting us to learn from His life. His commandments are not designed to harm or make life difficult for us but rather to make life easy. The Bible tells us not to be moved by the “things” of the world but rather to store up treasures up in heaven. As we can now clearly see, the laborious process of focusing on getting all we can, canning all we can get and sitting on the lid is not fool-proof.

Finding rest in the Lord, away from all the worries of this world and the complexities of religiosity is what this passage promises us. Jesus Christ wants us to know that trying to do things in our own strength and according to the Law can be exhausting. When we give our lives to Christ and allow Him to order our footsteps and minister to us via the Holy Spirit, we can rest in His comfort. Our relationship and love for Him makes it easier to live according to His commands. We are able to focus on the things that are important; the heavenly things that help us keep the main thing the main thing and give us rest.

Blessed and Highly Favored

2009-05-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will swell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23:6

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. – Psalm 27:4

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. – Psalm 20:7

Regardless of what may be going on around me, I remain encouraged – encouraged by my faith in the Lord. My joy and excitement about the future has nothing to do with the economy or money but rather what I can do to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the beginning of my relationship with the Lord, my prayer was always loaded with requests but now I am constantly asking God to direct me in ways that I can serve and love Him more. Fear has become a thing of the past. Even when the economy went belly up and things didn’t look promising, God was able to direct my focus to what I do have and will never lose instead of focusing on what I might need to give up.

I am grateful to be blessed and highly favored. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that God will always be with me and that His goodness and mercies shall always follow me regardless of where I end up on the planet. My trust is totally in the Lord and nothing else; He knows what I need and He sees the desires of my heart. No one knows me like He does. All I really need in this life is to be close to God, to dwell in His house all the days of my life and to have my family and friends around me.

Be Slow To Anger

2009-05-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. – Proverbs 16:32

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. – Ephesians 4:26-27

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. – James 1:19
An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. – Proverbs 29:22

I used to lose my temper really quickly. It didn’t take much to set me off but life taught me. It is never ok to have unresolved anger towards anything or anyone. All it does is eat away at one’s soul and makes one bitter, negative and cynical. God wants us to be a people who spend more time listening than talking. I guess that is why He gave us one mouth and two ears! As I studied more, I was relieved that learn that it was ok to get angry. God does not forbid one from getting angry. It is what you do when you get angry that matters. When we get angry, we are warned not to sin.

Developing patience and compassion has enabled me to get angry less often and even when I do, it does not last for long. I have learnt not to be easily stirred up by what anyone says or does. Life has taught me to make sure that my brain is carefully engaged in the right gear before my mouth goes into motion. Now I can pick up the phone to call someone to give them a piece of my mind but set it down and walk away to think and to pray. As I pray, I am gently reminded by the Spirit what God did for me through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and how no one is perfect and my anger dissolves very quickly.

Anger that is out of control does not display the righteousness of God in anyway. All it does is make us do things that we will not ordinarily do – things that do not glorify the name of the Lord in any way, shape or form.

Live Your Life Right

2009-05-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. – Ephesians 5:15-18

Regardless of what is going on in the world, there ought to be a marked sense of peace and joy in the life of any believer. The same way we feel good about ourselves when we are worshipping God in our quiet time and in the presence of other believers, we must feel at peace with our lives and where we are. This does not mean that we do not aspire to be more or to do more, it just mean that we are content with how far we have come and we are trusting in God to take us all the way just as He has promised in His Word.

When the Bible tells us in the above passage of scripture to be wise, it means we are to look at every situation through both the eyes of our hearts and our physical eyes. We are never to take anything at face value. Every situation must be approached with God’s purpose in mind. When we deal with our lives with God’s will as our compass, we are able to make good use of every opportunity that comes our way. Focusing on the things of this world will only takes us completely away from the path the Lord wants us to tread.

It is crucial we make the most of the time we have. We are called to be continuously motivated in our walk with the Lord so that we can understand His will for our lives and develop spiritual strength. There are two dates no man can dictate – the day he is born and the day that he dies. The only way to live a fruitful life is to understand the will of God and live according to it.

Choose Your Friends Very Carefully!

2009-05-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17

Encourage one another daily as long as it is Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. – Hebrews 3:13

As I write this I remember the popular saying “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you really are”. We must be very careful when choosing the people that we will call friends. There are friends that can build you up and there are friends that can very quickly tear you down. In time, friends rub off on each other. Whether we choose to or not, we unconsciously influence one another – for better or for worse. When we are not vigilant in the process of selecting our friends, we can end up used, abused, stressed out and filled with anxiety.

It is wonderful to be in positive relationships – associations that encourages and builds one up. Isolating oneself because of fear is not what the Bible teaches. We were created by God to be relational beings. We thrive and grow when we associate with people who are of like mind and are headed in a similar direction as we are. We have the ability to encourage and pray for one another when our values are similar.

Look around you and honestly evaluate the people you spend majority of your free time with. Are they helping you along to achieving your purpose or are they holding you back? If your values have changed because you recently gave your life to Christ, changing the friends you once hung out with may be an essential requirement. The fact that you’ve been friends for a long time does not mean that the friendship must continue. The more you line up your thinking with what the Bible teaches, the less you will begin to have in common because your life is being transformed and you are no longer the same person that you once were.

Leaving relationships that no longer match up with your new life does not mean that you stop caring for your “old” friends. In fact the opposite is the case – you care for them and love them by praying that they encounter the God of the Bible for themselves but you simply do all this from a safe emotional distance.

Our Lives Depend On His Word

2009-05-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. – Joshua 1:8

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on this law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. – Psalm 1:1-3

There is great power in the Word of God. It is God’s instruction for living for any blood-washed believer in Jesus Christ. When you spend time in the Word of God, you strengthen your relationship with Him and get to know for sure what He desires of you and for you. Every day comes with its own set of problems and challenges. The grace of tomorrow cannot handle the issues of today. It is important to spend time daily in God’s Word so that we can grow in spiritual strength and faith. The Bible tells us in John 15:7 that if we abide in the Lord and His words abide in us, when we ask whatever we desire (according to His will and purpose), it shall be given to us. This means that if we spend time with God and never depart from His Word, our purpose in this life will be fulfilled.

Furthermore, it is not possible to claim to be a child of God and not spend time in His Word. If we are to bar the enemy from having a foothold in our lives, we must be diligent scholars of God’s Holy Word. John 8:31-32 reminds us that if we hold to the Lord’s teachings, we are indeed His disciples. Only then can we know the truth and have the truth set us free.

Distance Yourself

2009-05-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather clothes yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. – Romans 13:13-14

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character”. – 1 Corinthians 15:33

Keep to a path far from her; do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel. – Proverbs 5:8-9

What you ponder upon, you will surely become and what you focus on in your life will get bigger. If we choose to keep our eye on Jesus Christ, the temptation to succumb to the desires of the flesh reduces. Whatever our “drug” of choice is, it is important to stay clear of people and situations that will tempt us. For example, if your issue is with alcohol, hanging around bars and folks who drink will not help you stay sober for long. I have heard recovery alcoholics say they can go to bars and just not drink. But the Bible tells us clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that if we think we can be good in the midst of evil, we are misled. Keeping one’s eye on heavenly things can be impossible if one is surrounded by sinful things and people. If we want to stay on the straight and narrow, we must distance ourselves from all those things that have a remote chance of dragging us into sin.

Is All the Toiling Worth Anything?

2009-05-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. – Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. – Ecclesiastes 4:4

To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. – Ecclesiastes 2:26

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. – Ecclesiastes 4:6

In reality, most people hate their jobs. It is not common to find folks who genuinely like what they do. People give up their dreams to work and toil in an effort to accumulate wealth only to arrive at their 50s and 60s angry and disappointed with life – wishing they had been strong and determined enough to follow the life-long dreams. It has been reported that most heart attacks happen between 8 and 9 am in the morning when people are returning to work. So if work is such drudgery, why do we believe that we have to keep at it? Well I guess you can say that we can’t stop because we are getting paid and the bills don’t allow excuses. All the same wouldn’t it be great to have a job we liked so much that we will gladly do it for nothing?

How do we find work that we love? I believe it all starts with God. Putting God first and spending time in His presence allows you to discover the true purpose for your life. When your purpose is revealed to you, you will find yourself in a “job” that feels nothing like work. You will be waking up every morning simply to do you. Your work will be as easy as breathing and the concept of toiling never comes into play. This does not mean that you will not have challenges, but you will have the zeal and the desire to face the challenges that come your way head-on. When you are operating in God’s purpose for your life, the Lord becomes the wind at your back that propels you forward with ease. The road will rise up to meet you. And most importantly because you have placed God first above everything else, you are pleasing Him. Scripture tells us that when we please God, He gives us wisdom, knowledge and happiness – the most important ingredients for a fruitful and successful life.

The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves

2009-05-16T16:21:00.000-07:00

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:5-11

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. – Proverbs 3:11-12

A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. – Proverbs 15:5

Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. – Colossians 3:25

When I was growing up my father was a great disciplinarian. He was quick to dish out punishment when you knew for sure you deserved it and sometimes when you think he was being unfair. Some of the things he said to me did not make any sense at the time that he said them. But now as a parent myself, I see the wisdom in his words in hindsight. He rebuked me when I was headed in the wrong direction, especially during my teenage years when I believed I knew it all and could make my own decisions. I can say that being disciplined was no fun at the time – it hurt every single time!

In the same way, our Heavenly Father often sees the need to rebuke us. If he didn’t, we will have no clue when we are wrong and need to repent and change direction. How does the Lord warn or rebuke us? The Holy Spirit that dwells within us will often convict us when we do wrong. I have also been rebuked by a sermon being preached by a minister who had no clue as to what my mistakes were but God used him as a tool to get me to change my ways and repent. As believers, we get away with nothing. When we sin and fail to repent it comes back to bite us in the butt. Let’s face it, if we are left to abuse the grace of God and live in perpetual sin, how will we ever get to share in the holiness of God mentioned in Hebrews 12? Even though God is merciful, patient and kind, He will never turn a blind eye to unrepentant sin because of grace.

It brings great comfort to blame all the wrongs in our lives on Satan but truthfully some of the issues we face is because of unrepentant sin in our lives. The Lord will discipline us as His children when we are disobedient to His Word and instruction. When we acknowledge our sin and repent, God will cleanse us and renew us.

Living a Life of Confession and Repentance

2009-05-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but he whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. – Proverbs 28:13

No one is perfect. We are all a work in progress. Mistakes will be made yet life must go on. But how do we rightly move on when we mess up? How do we continue walking with God in the wake of errors and blunders? God is faithful and He is merciful. He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. Even though God sent His Only Son to die for sin, we are still accountable when we do wrong. God isn’t asleep and He sees us every time we screw up but because He longs to be in fellowship with us, He wants us to come to Him in confession. We can’t hide anything from the Lord; He is omnipresent which means He is everywhere at every time. When we go to God and admit what we have done with humility, He forgives us, restores us and gives us an opportunity to start over.

Repentance is not easy. It is a gift of God. Some people sin day-in, day-out and feel no remorse and no sense of wrongdoing. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that nudges us when we do wrong and gives us the desire to want to seek repentance from the Lord. No-one can live a life of confession and repentance without the Holy Spirit. He is there to make us aware of our spiritual condition so that we can take steps to cleanse and renew our hearts and mind.

Every believer must endeavor to live a life of continuous confession and repentance. It is this attitude to life that reminds us that we are human with flaws serving a perfect God.

Watch Your Tongue

2009-05-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. – James 3:5b-12

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. – Psalm 34:13

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat is fruits. – Proverbs 18:21

Have you ever said something about or to someone that you later regretted? Have you ever been possible for propagating a rumor? When you get angry or do not get your way, do you resort to verbal abuse? As a Christian, we are instructed to guard our tongue. Our tongue has the power to build another up but it can also tear them down. The old saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” is so not true. Words can be very damaging especially where children are concerned. We must be careful with what we say and how we say it to anyone – young or old.

Our tongue is the control centre of our lives. We can use it for good or evil – the choice is ours. It dictates what happens to us in life. An employee who cannot control their tongue will very soon be out of a job. A woman who cannot tame her tongue will have serious issues in her home. A man who finds it hard to watch the things that he says will look like a clown amongst his friends. There is no doubt that no one is perfect. Women especially find it hard to tame their tongues. We are more vocal than men. We tend to talk more and as such, are more vulnerable to loose talk. God gave us tongues to use to His glory. It is not ok to pray one minute and be cursing the next. God wants us to be of one voice – a voice that brings honor and glory to His name. We cannot be of two voices being tossed about by the things of this world.

Just like a fresh water spring can never produce salt water, our tongues designed to sing praises to the Lord must not be used for spreading curses. We must use our tongues to speak truth and light into the lives of other; to help build people up and not tear them down. We are called to be source of hope and encouragement - a picture of how God looks.

So next time you have something to say, put some thought into your words before you speak them. They could very well be the difference between life and death.

Seek God's Counsel

2009-05-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. – Proverbs 19:2

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5

God is interested in the intricate details of our lives. We were never designed to walk alone. God intended for us all to believe and commit our lives to His Son Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross. When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to guide us, counsel us and walk with us. We humans have a tendency to believe we know it all and that all knowledge is within man. But God is the only true all-knowing God. He is the Only One with the power to see the end from the beginning.

God is defined as the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End. But in our quest to get ahead we often fail to consult the Lord. We put life-changing plans in motion without once considering the need for prayer. We go full steam ahead, planning and executing - forgetting that what we are doing may not be in line with what God has for us. It is dangerous to be hasty. We must never be in too much of a hurry that we forget to pray. When the essential ingredient for successfully navigating through life is missing, things can go horribly wrong. Without continuous prayer, what once seemed like a good idea can very quickly become one’s worst nightmare!

Experience has taught me that prayer is not a specific position at a specific time but a constant state of mind. Talking to God to me is an all-day affair. It is indeed true that we must schedule some time everyday to study the Word and be still in God’s presence but prayer is something that must go on all day and every day – sometimes even in sleep!

Never run ahead without praying. It is without prayer that good ideas and good intentions come to naught.

Crucial Steps to Forgiveness

2009-05-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

Step 1: Admit the offense

Offenses will always occur especially where relationships are concerned. Some offenses will be accidental and some will be intentional. Some will be minor infractions and some will be major. The most important thing to do when we feel we have been wronged is to admit the offense to ourselves. Staying in denial when we believe we have been wronged does us no good. All that does is allow us to bury negative feelings inside of us that germinate into destructive emotions, attitudes and actions. We must admit to ourselves that we feel offended and own all the associated feelings.

Step 2: Acknowledge the consequences of the offense

Next we must determine the changes the offense has created in our lives. Every offense creates consequences. Maybe we have lost out financially or a relationship has been severed. It could be that we have started to give the person who we believe offended us the cold shoulder. We may start going down the route of implementing the famous “an eye for an eye” strategy, trying desperately to make them pay for what we think that they have done to us. It is important to acknowledge the consequences of the offense and take positive steps to deal with them appropriately through prayer.

Step 3: Make a conscious decision not to retaliate

It is never a good idea to take matters into our own hands. When we do that we stand in a position of judgment – saying that we are in the right and the person(s) who offended us are in the wrong. Retaliation is never a good idea. Not only that it takes us down to the level of the person who we believed did us wrong, it also makes us go against God’s prescription for problem solving. Deciding to pay another back will most likely make a bad situation even worse. Rather than spend our time trying to get back at them, we are better off praying to God to soften and change our hearts towards the offender.

Step 4: Choose to see some good in the offender

I believe there is good in everyone. When we are offended, it helps to see some good in the offender. Maybe we can think back to a time when they did something nice for us. Remembering them in a good way makes it easier to forgive. If we choose to focus on the good things we know they can do, we are more inclined to be sympathetic to their shortcomings. If we have a good relationship with the person who offended us, knowing their good side makes it possible to approach them in a loving way. Coming to them in a tender confrontational way also makes it easy for them to acknowledge their errors and opens the door to reconciliation.

Step 5: Choose not to stand in a place of judgment

The Bible reminds us constantly not to judge one another. Only God can stand in the place of judgment against any man. Following God’s instructions with regards to continuous forgiveness does not mean that we ignore the consequences of the offender’s actions. Sometimes the consequences of an offender can be devastating and far-reaching. The effects of their actions can be a lifetime thing. But we must remember that when Christ forgave us for our sins – past, present and future, His act of forgiveness did not eliminate the natural Law of Sowing and Reaping. Whatever any man sows, he will surely reap. If someone truly does us wrong, we have no need to judge because we know that they will surely reap what they have sown.

Step 6: Do not put the past on replay

We must choose never to keep replaying or talking about the offense. As long as we decide to go on and on about it, it remains fresh in our minds and in our hearts. Whatever we ponder upon or focus on will surely become bigger. It is best to put the offense out of our minds and focus on other positive, more fruitful things.

Step 7: Decide to forgive and ask God for help through meditation and prayer

Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a choice. When we are offended, we have to make a conscious decision to forgive – it will happen no other way! Forgiveness is however not without its price. As an offended person, you must be ready to release the offender of the “debt”. You must accept and acknowledge that revenge is not the answer. You must also be willing to reconcile if the offender is truly repentant. The offender must be willing to humble themselves, confess and seek repentance. They must be ready to take responsibility for their actions and not resort to finger pointing. If both the offended and the offender are willing to pay the price, they will surely enjoy the joy of the Lord that comes with reconciliation. How do the offended and the offender get to this point? They price that must be paid can only be done through meditation and prayer. Hearts can only change when God and His Word is at work.

Resentment, Bitterness and Anger: Poisoned Fruits of Un-Forgiveness

2009-05-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. – Proverbs 10:12

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. – Hebrews 12:14-15

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:31-32

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. – James 4:14-18

Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die. – Unknown

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. – Catherine Ponder

Forgiveness is not for the offender but for us. It helps to release all the negativity from our hearts and minds so that we are free from hurt and pain that can cause lasting devastating effects. When we refuse to forgive, the seeds of offense germinate in our hearts and gives rise to a forest that yields bitterness, anger and resentment as its fruits. Unconsciously when we refuse to forgive, it is because we are standing in judgment of the person who wronged us. And even though they may have sinned and acted unjustly towards us, we cannot judge their actions. The Bible tells us that none of us can stand in righteousness. Any righteousness we try to portray in our own strength appear like filthy rags to God. Rather than be judgmental about the actions of others towards us, we must turn everything over to God. He is the One and true Judge. Even when Our Lord Jesus was persecuted at the Cross of Calvary, He could have caused lightning and thunder to strike all this assaulters dead but instead He chose to pray for them and leave their fate to His Father.

There is no value to harboring anger, bitterness and resentment because we have been wronged. It can pollute our minds and our hearts and cause us to self-destruct. We can very quickly get overwhelmed by nursing these negative emotions. They can wreak terrible havoc on our health and our relationships. Anger, bitterness and resentment very quickly evolve into anger. Peace of mind and joy will elude you when you are under the influence of these toxic emotions. The only way out is to repent and have a change of heart. We must not deny how we feel. A problem is half solved the minute we acknowledge it. Regardless of what we have experienced, we must walk in obedience to God’s commands and choose to obey by extending forgiveness. Regardless of how angry and slighted we may feel when we must elect to forgive, and allow God to help us.

Choosing to stay away from the fruits of un-forgiveness is a very wise choice. When we seek to be a person who seeks the things of heaven and pursue peace in all our relationships, the Bible says “we reap a harvest of righteousness”.

The Truth about Forgiveness

2009-05-10T19:33:00.000-07:00

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. – Matthew 18:21-22

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. – Mark 11:25

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you. – Corrie Ten Boom

He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass. –George Herbert

I don’t know about you but I have been in situations where I have found forgiving be very difficult. It is at times like this that I am humbled and accept whole heartedly that I am still a work in progress. It’s one thing for you to have to forgive someone who borrowed your car and crashed it and still refuses to take responsibility. It is quite another to be confronted with the act of forgiving a man who raped and murdered your friend or your child. How do we forgive when the offense is great? How do we let go of the pain and the hurt when the repercussions of someone else’s actions will affect us for the rest of our earthly existence? We cannot truly completely forgive in our own strength. We can only forgive through prayer and a personal and intimate relationship with God.

Forgiveness is not always easy; it is oftentimes very difficult. Depending on the gravity of the offense, our natural instinct is to hold on to anger, bitterness and resentment. But we are instructed to forgive by God and when we do, we do it in obedience. We forgive not because we like to but because we are told to. God tells us in His Word that we must clearly continue to forgive as long as we live – whether we like it or not. He tells us that there is no limit to the number of times we ought to forgive another. We are to keep on doing it as long as it is necessary to do so! God wants us to forgive out of obedience to Him and His Word.

The truth is that forgiveness is only possible when we extend it by faith. We cannot forgive on our own; we must do it in faith. We do it confident that the Lord will work on our hearts and make true and lasting forgiveness possible. When the Lord sees that we desire to honor his Word and do is will, He steps in to help us really forgive. With His help, we can extend complete forgiveness that sets us free.

Choosing Forgiveness

2009-05-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. – Colossians 3:13

There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love. – Bryant H. McGill

Forgiveness is a word that is talked about extensively, taught on and preached on in the church. It is emphasized greatly because of its importance. It is crucial to having a healthy state of mind. Being offended is simply a fact of life. At some point someone is going to do something that we do not agree with or are not happy about. Sometimes, it may even be the same person that keeps being on the offensive over and over again? What are we to do when are wronged by another?

Forgiveness brings to mind many things. It means helping to assuage the guilt of someone who is remorseful because they hurt us and letting them off the hook. It means being empowered and set free by letting go of all the wrong that has impacted our lives. It helps us to stop the pain and anger that can be very overwhelming from being offended. It makes possible the cleansing of the heart and the mind, freeing it from unhealthy negativity. It allows us to show and extend the love of God to another human being.

In order for forgiveness to be required, sin must be involved. There would be no need for forgiveness is there is no sin. A great example of forgiveness is shown by God. He sacrificed His Only Son, Jesus Christ for us. He used His Son to lovingly cancel a debt that we could never pay. So if Almighty God can find it in His heart to lovingly forgive us of all debt – past, present and future, why do we find it so hard to forgive one another? Why do we find it very acceptable to hold grudges and sever relationships with each other? We could all learn a thing or two from Our Father in heaven.

Are you holding anyone in un-forgiveness today? If you are, take steps to forgive and cleanse your heart.

A Call to Service

2009-05-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

Then said he to his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; - Matthew 9:37

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. – Matthew 10:6-8

And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, In as much as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. – Matthew 25:40

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen. – Matthew 28:18-20

For everything created there is a purpose. Nothing exists that was not created for some reason. As believers, we all have a role to play in the body of Christ – we all have a job to do. There is work still to be done within the Body of Christ itself and in the world. Many people are part of the body of Christ and are hurting and in pain. Not everyone that shows up in church is really experientially free. Some are trapped in various financial, economic and emotional conditions. Others are oppressed and depressed. The Body of Christ itself is in need of healing. We must first respond to the call within before we can reach out to unbelievers. One of the biggest reasons a lot of people in the world will not give their lives to Christ is because of the examples of Christians they know and see around them.

Jesus Christ knew what He was talking about when He said that the harvest is truly plenteous but the Christians responding to the call to service are few. God has indeed called us to be His mouthpiece here on earth. We are called to be His hands and feet. We are to preach the truth that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is so that people can repent and come to know the God that we serve. If we believe and we enjoy the benefits of our faith, it is required that we share that with the world so they can enjoy some of the peace and joy that we have acquired through Christ. We are not called to come to Christ and keep our faith to ourselves. Jesus Christ came to die for the sins of all not for a few select people. The ultimate work has been accomplished – all we need do is make people aware of this great sacrifice and the change that it will bring to their lives.

So why do so few Christians respond to this great call to service? Many people fail to participate in ministry for many reasons. Some are afraid of what to say; they believe they do not know enough about the Bible to answer questions that may come their way and others think no one will belief them especially if they have had a very shady past. But Jesus assures us that He himself through His Holy Spirit will teach us what to say. If we can truly appreciate that it is the work of the Spirit to convert anyone and change does not come via what we say, we can eradicate any fear or apprehension about preaching the Gospel.

The Great Commission requires us to spread the Lord’s teachings around the world. As believers, we must all participate in ministry and mission work. There is so much to do.

The Lord Will Always Provide

2009-05-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who keep on asking him! – Matthew 7:11

But first be concerned about God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well. – Matthew 6:33

And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus. – Philippians 4:19

Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow. – James 1:17

We all have doubts when we encounter difficult times. We question if the Lord will really come through on our rent before the landlord serves the eviction notice. We have no money in the bank and we have been praying for a breakthrough in the area of employment but nothing has come forth. Sometimes nothing shows up and we become homeless, living with family while we try to get back on our feet. We wonder why we prayed and prayed and God didn’t come. This is the time we ought to remember that God’s way is not our way; that when God closes a door it’s because He is about to open a bigger window. Difficult things happen to believers and non-believers alike – the only difference is believers have a guarantee that God will make a way of some kind. He knows best what it is that we need. He sees ahead into the future and can tell before hand what will work according to His plan for us. The job we may have been so upset we did not get may not be the right job for us. The house we lost may be so that we can develop strength and endurance to prepare us for the bigger job and house that God is about to move us into. Provided we are focused on the things on God and have our minds set on him, we are guaranteed that all things will be provided for us no matter what comes our way – unemployment, bankruptcy, death, illness or homelessness. Our greatest inheritance in heaven is secure and can never be taken away from us no matter what happens in this realm.

God always has His children on His mind and wishes great things for us. If you are experiencing difficulty in your life right now, trust in the Lord and His ability to provide. Do not lose your hope or your faith. Keep your eyes fixed onto Him and He will come through just in time.

We Are Never Alone

2009-05-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen. – Matthew 28:20

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. – Hebrews 13:5

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God, he it is that does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6

And the LORD, he it is that does go before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you, neither forsake you: fear not, neither be dismayed. – Deuteronomy 31:8

The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: - 1 Kings 8:57

And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. – John 10:28

A life without Jesus Christ is really no life at all. When we accept the work of Christ at the Cross we are welcomed into the His body. From then on, we are never alone. We have the Holy Spirit inside of us to help and guide us. We are never alone. God has promised in many places in His Word that He will never abandon us. With everything that life has to throw at us, our God promises to be there every step of the way. It is a great and comforting thing to have God to lean on during these very difficult economic times because when all is said and done, only the Lord matters – having faith in anything or anyone else is just like standing on sinking sand.

The minute I wrapped my head and my arms around the scripture verses above, nothing else had the power to steal my joy and my peace. I feel good knowing that even when I feel lonely, I am not alone as I always have the companionship of the Father through the presence of the Holy Spirit that dwells within me. When things get extremely difficult for me, I am constantly strengthened by the knowledge that God will always be there until the end. I get encouraged to face whatever life throws at me because I know that with God, nothing is impossible.

Letting go of material things and toxic relationships are now quite easy for me to do. I am making moves to pursue my Ph.D. and I understand that working as hard as I do now on my “day job” my not be possible in conjunction with studies but I am trusting that the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me and that He will provide for me. The future is uncertain for me at this juncture for me but knowing the Lord will always be behind me100% gives me peace. It also allows me to have a spirit of contentment with what I have in this crazy intoxicated world we live in where everyone wants more and more.

If we succumb to the feelings of rejection, isolation and desolation, we make room for the enemy to operate in our lives. The Bible reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 that we already have the victory through Our Lord, Jesus Christ so no circumstance or anyone can move us off the foundation of our faith. We must diligently continue to excel in whatever work we are doing for the Lord – remembering that the hard work and diligence we demonstrate towards the things of God is never in vain.

Keep Your Mind On Him

2009-05-05T21:22:00.001-07:00

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you. – Isaiah 26:3

The worries and cares of life can very quickly get us worked up and steal our peace – if we allow it. We have so much to get done and for single parents, the task list is doubled. They must worry about finances as well as keeping the children and the household in check. Couples are quarreling and bickering over money during these tough economic times causing strife in a lot of homes. Disagreements with family and friends can spiral out of control such that you have siblings who have not spoken to each other for years. Friends have fallen out and taken their affairs to the streets looking for sympathetic ears to listen to their woes. When you ask what started the issue that has robbed everyone involved of peace and tranquility, no one can really remember. Even when they can remember what happened, the issue that seems to have caused so much pain now looks trivial.

We have to be very guarded with our hearts and our minds. No circumstance or person should have the power to get so deep under our skin that we lose our peace. Once we know that God is control and at work in our lives, it is easy to focus on him. The enemy of our souls understands how crucial our peace of mind is to us. He knows what buttons to press to get us rattled. If we do not have enough wisdom to keep our minds focused on the Lord, Satan will get the better of us.

How do we keep our minds on God? We do this by being in constant fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. As long as we study scriptures, listen to His Word, worship and praise God on a daily basis, He will never be far from our minds. With God on our minds, we will remain in perfect peace.

Diligence Has Great Rewards

2009-05-04T21:22:00.000-07:00

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. – Proverbs 10:4

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat. – Proverbs 13:4

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5

See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. – Proverbs 22:29

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. – Mark 1:35

And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father's business? – Luke 2:49

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; - 2 Peter 1:10

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. – Deuteronomy 6:7

A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest: Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man. – Proverbs 6:10-11

It pays to have a diligent spirit. The dictionary describes diligence as being steady, earnest or prompt, and energetic in effort. It means to apply ourselves wholly, thoroughly and be dedicated to whatever we do. The Christian is meant to be diligent. We are to work for our employers with diligence and consistency. Our employers must recognize us as reliable and dependable. When we show commitment and effort, our Father in heaven sees us and we will be rewarded for our efforts. Diligence is what leads to lasting promotion. The act of diligence and commitment never goes un-noticed especially when we make the effort to persevere and press through tough times.

God always rewards diligence. When we are diligent in our work and in our service to the Lord, we will never be overlooked. God wants us to be diligent in the studying of His Word and in building our relationship with Him. We are to be diligent and commitment to prayer. The Bible encourages us in Hebrews 6:11 to be diligent to the very end. Joseph was diligent with the gift God bestowed upon Him with the interpretation of dreams. He was diligent to his believe in God and what God hates when he turned down Potiphar’s wife and her advances towards him. Daniel was diligent in prayer and Apostle Paul was diligent in his work for the Lord. Jesus Christ applied Himself diligently to prayer and to the work He was called to do by the Father. He was dedicated to His Father’s business. As parents, we are called to diligently and faithfully teach our children the ways of the Lord. Our children will bring honor to the family name if they are trained to be diligent and faithful in the things that concern God. We bring honor to our Father in heaven when we show diligence and honesty in all that we do.

The true wealth of this world is only harnessed through diligence and hard work. Any other manner of acquiring wealth will not bring joy or peace.

A Way Out of Temptation

2009-05-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

When someone is tempted, he should not say, "I am being tempted by God,"
Instead, each person is tempted by his own desire, being lured and trapped by it. Because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death. – James 1:13-15

Flee from youthful passions. Instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. – 2 Timothy 2:22

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. – Matthew 6:13

Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell. - Anonymous

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. - Anonymous

We all run into situations that tempt us to deviate from the Word of God. Everyone will face situations in his or her lifetime that will present opportunities to violate God’s laws. Maybe you work in a government position and you have been offered a substantial amount of money to do something illegal or you feel tempted to take the credit for someone else’s work to get that promotion you really want. Or maybe you work in a bank and are faced with a daily temptation to walk home with some of the money you oversee. For you it could be that you are tempted to have an affair outside your marriage or cheat on an exam. Regardless of the kind of temptation that you are facing right now or may face in the future, God is always faithful. No-one is exempt from facing temptation. Jesus, the Son of God, was Himself tempted by the Devil but He overcame by the power of the Father.

We must know that God never gives us more than we can bear nor does he lead us to sin. The Bible tells us in James 1:13-15 that we are never tempted by God. If we feel tempted at any time, we are being tempted by our own desire because God cannot be tempted by evil neither does he tempt anyone. God may allow circumstances to come our way that tests our belief and trust in Him so we can build endurance but He never lures us into sin. It is when we pay around with temptation that we succumb to sinful actions.

How do we get out of temptation? We can avoid temptation. We are called to pray so that we do not fall victim to temptation. If certain places and people cause us to face temptation to sin, these people and places must be boycotted. For example, If you find that you cannot go to a bar without getting drunk with wine, you must avoid bars. God’s Word is also power against temptation. The Bible tells us in Psalm 119:11 that when we hide the Word of God in our hearts, we are less likely to fall into sin. God’s Word gives us power to overcome temptation. When we are knowledgeable about the Word of God, we will never be outsmarted by Satan because we are aware of all his intentions towards us. The Word and prayer are the tools with which we use to fight the enemy in any situation.

The Gift of Repentance

2009-05-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning every one of you from your evil ways. – Acts 3:26

God has exalted to his right hand this very man as our Leader and Savior in order to extend repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. – Acts 5:31

Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. – Ezekiel 36:31

The Bible calls to us in Matthew 3:2 to repent for the kingdom of God is near but true repentance is not easily done. Repentance is truly a gift from God. It means for one to completely turn around and to change one’s mind. It means to exchange one’s old way of thinking and acting in the flesh with thinking and acting in the Spirit. Only Almighty God can help us achieve this transformation of mind that we all desperately need. In Romans 2:4, we are reminded not to think so little of God’s kindness, tolerance and patience by failing to realize that He is the one who leads us into repentance. True repentance can only come through the power of God and not in our own strength. If we will ourselves to be transformed outside the power of God, our change will be short-lived. It will only be a matter of time before we are back in our old sinful ways.

With the true gift of repentance from God, our transformation is gradual and lasting. It happens from the inside out. The sinful things that once used to excite us will all of a sudden fail to move us. Things and people that used to have the ability to get under our skin have no effect on us anymore. We have a changed mind resulting in a changed attitude towards God and the things of God. When we truly repent, we turn to the Lord to have our sins blotted out which brings us to the ultimate place where we receive salvation.

The Good Kind of Fear

2009-05-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil. – Proverbs 16:6

Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. – Ecclesiastes 8:12

His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him. – Luke 1:50

The LORD is pleased with those who fear him, with those who wait with hope for his mercy. – Psalm 147:11

And I will give them one heart, and one way that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them. – Jeremiah 32:39

Fear is a basic human emotion. We all feel it at one time or another. For some it can be a fleeting emotion that quickly passes and for other it can be a lifetime phobia. Fear can be experienced as a mild, average or intense emotion depending on the individual and the circumstance they are in. Fear is not necessarily bad, if put in put in proper perspective, it can actually help protect us. It alerts us to possible immediate danger so that we can be more careful and avoid mishaps.

There is good fear and there is bad fear. A good example of bad fear is when one is too afraid to come out of the house for fear of an external factor. I have heard of people who are so afraid of stepping out of their homes that they hide in closets or behind closed doors and have to be fed through a trap in the door. Bad fear can also be fear of other human beings because of what we believe they may do to us. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but one of power, and of love and most also of a sound mind. We are not called to live in fear of places, people, insects, height and confined spaces. The only good fear that we must all have as believers, is a fear for God.

When I say the “fear of the Lord”, I do not mean the “shaking like a lily” kind of fear. I refer to a reverence and respect. I mean our spiritual attitude to God the Father. For example we will not steal, not because we are afraid that God will reach out from heaven and strike us dead but because we know stealing will not make the Lord happy. Our sovereign respect for Him makes us want to do all we can to avoid offending Him. We love Him and we want to do his will. The fear of the Lord is predicated on love. Perfect love drives out all fear and when we love the Lord we want to obey His Word.

Put Your Trust in the Lord Our God

2009-04-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. – Psalm 112:7-8

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him. – Psalm 34:8

An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. – Proverbs 28:25

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you Trust you in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: - Isaiah 26:3-4

We all have to trust in something. Some place their trust in the wealth they have acquired. Others place their trust in people. But as we can clearly see with the current state of the global economy, trusting in wealth is not very wise because all that we have stored away can be worthless at any time. We have seen stock plummet to ridiculously low levels. I know a man who has lost over $198,000 in his retirement money and he is 67 years old. Another lost over $700,000 to the greed of another and has to take up a mediocre job at a supermarket at 77 years of age. I know a woman who trusted her spouse to continue to make his six-figure salary and placed all her hopes and dreams on this man only to find out by the ring of the front doorbell that the men had shot seven people at the office and turned the gun oh himself when he got the news that he was being laid off.

People and wealth will never be stable. All they can provide is a shaky foundation at best. The only true foundation is God and His Holy Word. It is only when we place our trust in the Lord and only Him that we can stand secured. Our God is a very jealous God and He does not like to see anything or anyone placed above Him. He was to be priority number one in our lives. He wants to be the first person we go to everyday concerning our lives.

Obedience

2009-04-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. – Job 36:11

Now therefore listen, O Israel, to the statutes and to the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers gives you. – Deuteronomy 4:1

You'll be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I'm giving you today. – Deuteronomy 11:27

If you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both you and also the king that reigns over you continue following the LORD your God: But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. – 1 Samuel 12:14-15

Only the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God Then shall you prosper, if you take heed to fulfill the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. – 1 Chronicles 22:12-13

Obedience is indeed better than sacrifice. There is an African saying which dictates that what an old man can see sitting down, a child can never see whilst standing on a ladder. All the commandments that God has given us in His Word are not designed to prevent us from having a good time but rather are to help us live fruitful lives. God created the heavens and the earth. He sees things that we can never see. He sees the end from the beginning. I don’t know about you but I will definitely walk in obedience to a God who can see all the curve balls ahead that I cannot even begin to fathom.

Obedience is for our own good. The sacrifice that we will pay if we are disobedient is far too costly. We never get away with anything. Anytime we choose to go against God’s instructions for living, we must pay a stiff price. But when we obey, we get to have peace, joy and prosperity in our lives. So how do we learn to obey? We can never obey in the flesh and in our own strength. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to assist us, strengthen us and guide us. It is with God’s divine assistance that we can follow His instructions.

We must all spend time in prayer asking God to help us be obedient to His Word. We can never achieve obedience on our own. The Bible reminds us in John 15:10 that if we keep God’s commandments, we will abide in His love.

Hope in the Lord

2009-04-28T20:41:00.000-07:00

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the LORD. – Psalm 31:24

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. – Psalm 42:11

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. – 1 Peter 1:20-21

You have been trying for years to get ahead and make progress in your life but crushing circumstances keep arising – one after the other. You wonder if you will ever catch a break; you wonder if you’d ever win. You’ve haven’t been silent. You have been praying. You have been paying your tithes and offerings. You have been going to church and serving diligently in ministry. You are now beginning to lose hope. Maybe this is all there is to your life. You have decided to give up and stop pressing forward. Your heart and your spirit is weak and you are exhausted. Your faith and your belief is dwindling and hanging by a thread. Where is God in all of this you ask? How can God let them take my car and my house? Why did God allow the loss of my job?

The current economic times has brought pain and despair to many a Christian but as believers we must understand that faith does not make us immune to the troubles of this world. The Bible reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Christianity has never been proclaimed as a golden parachute that gets us out of troubled times. But we are told in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 that we have the power of the greatness of God at work within us such that even when we are afflicted in every possible way, we are not crushed, we may be persecuted but will never be destroyed. The Bible goes on to tell us in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that God’s grace is sufficient for us for His power is perfected in our weakness. Trouble and trials make us weak at heart but it builds up our spiritual strength.

So when we suffer in this world while doing well, we must never lose hope. We must be of good courage and God will strengthen our hearts. We must remember that no trouble, no trial, no circumstance can be greater than our God. The joy of the Lord is indeed our greatest strength.

What Really Matters?

2009-04-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. – Romans 14:17

We are all guilty of placing a lot of emphasis on inconsequential stuff. We worry about what others will think and what they may say. We toil from dawn to dusk to get more money to satisfy our need for excess material possessions. We try all that we can to elevate our class in a man-made society and according to man-made social structures. We focus all our efforts on external things, forgetting that God is ultimately only interested in the state of our hearts. On the Day of Judgment, no-one will ask how much you made or what your status was in society. The only question that will matter is what we did with the Father’s Son, Jesus Christ. How we treat others and our actions clearly dictate the condition of our hearts. So when we spend time in prayer praying for God to bless us in terms of riches, we must remember that our motives that lay buried deep in our hearts is all that God is looking at. He is more concerned about the spiritual condition of our hearts than giving us more “things” than we need.

All the things that money can buy will never bring the blessings that really count – righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. These true blessings only come when we are not focused on external things but on God the Father.

I Live Because He Lives In Me

2009-04-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also. – John 14:19

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10

The life I have now I cannot take any credit for. The only reason that I am alive is because Christ lives in me. He who knew no sin took my sin upon Himself and died on the Cross, was buried and arose again so that I can have the kind of life that He designed for me. He gave up himself just for me. That makes me feel very special and keen to do all that I can to promote His message – the message of love, forgiveness and acceptance. If God could take me as I was, His arms are open wide to anyone who decides to come. God is a God of mercy. He desires lives for us that are so beyond anything we can even begin to think or imagine. God’s plan for us is to walk in His light, His power, His peace, His joy and His love.

The enemy of our souls, Satan, prowls around looking for who He can devour and destroy. His main agenda is to rob us of our joy and our peace by keeping us preoccupied with all the things that have no place in eternity whilst we ignore our heavenly inheritance. He has us chasing shadows and we are weary and exhausted from running after the things of this world. It was just a few years ago that I came to realize that the life that I was living could never be what God intended for me. As I studied more, it became clear that I was exhausting trying to do and change things that only the Lord can. What great peace I found when I decided to let go and let God. I am finally beginning to move into the life that God intended for me to live. I can say that this only became possible when I placed my total reliance on Him and His Word; when I decided that my way was not working and that I needed the life of Jesus Christ within me to have the kind of life that I wanted.

Immanuel – God with Us

2009-04-25T18:58:00.000-07:00

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14

When we give our lives to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us. We are no longer alone and left to our own devises but we have a new confidante, a counselor; a guide and a helper. If we are in tune with the Spirit inside of us, we can enjoy sweet continuous communion with the Father and with the Son. If we are still enough for a considerable length of time, we can hear all the things He longs to share with us. God is indeed with us His children. We are never alone anywhere and at anytime. The Psalmist David said in Psalm 139:8 that “If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there”.

God is with us everywhere we go. When we choose to follow His ways and do the right thins, He is there. When we decide to go astray and do our won thing, He is also there. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the Cross of Calvary, we have direct access to the throne of God. God now works in us and through us. We are now with the Spirit, the Father and the Son. God is never far away from His beloved children. He is always readily available to us even when we cannot feel His presence. God is always there. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is omnipresent which means He is everywhere at the same time. He dwells in us and with us to make us complete because without Him, life will have little or no meaning.

Grace to Persevere

2009-04-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: - Philippians 1:6

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. – Galatians 6:9

And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. – Matthew 10:22

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. – Romans 5:1-5

It is so easy to give up when difficult circumstances plague our lives. Things happen that make us doubt ourselves and the things that God has spoken concerning our lives. Calamity strikes and we try desperately to find meaning in all that we are experiencing. We try to find the presence of God in the midst of it all but it appears that the Lord is silent. Even friends and family wonder why we chose to persevere; they don’t know why we will not simply take the law into our own hands. They tell us that “The Lord helps those who help themselves”. Yet something deep down in the recesses of our mind tells us to hold on; a voice that reminds us that help is on the way.

The Bible tells us never to be weary whilst doing the right thing as we will reap the reward in due time if we do not give up. Giving up is so easy because it is the natural thing to do. Many view obstacles as permanent road blocks and do not make the effort to push through them. How can we have appreciation for our achievements if there were no obstacles to overcome? It is only when we suffer for a while that we can learn the real meaningful lessons in life. There are some lessons that can only be learnt in times of misery. In Ecclesiastes chapter 3, the Bible reminds us that there is a time and a season to every purpose under heaven. In life, there will be a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time for sorrow and a time for dancing. Because of the different seasons that we must go through in life, we must develop the ability to persevere - understanding that even when times are tough we have not been forgotten; remembering that delay does not necessarily mean denial. The ability to persevere strengthens one’s resolve and builds character.

Pray to God for His grace to persevere – to stand strong even in the midst of adversity; to trust in His promise that there will be better days ahead.

He Orders My Steps

2009-04-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way. – Psalm 37:23

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do to them, and not forsake them. – Isaiah 42:16

A man's heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps. – Proverbs 16:9

We are always looking for direction in our lives. Often times we arrive at crossroads and we are unsure of what path to tread. The world we live in now is full of choices. Being a believer certainly helps us narrow the good and right choices somewhat based on scripture, still there are specific decisions that must be made. This is where prayer comes into play. When we fail to pray, we are left guessing about which way the Lord will have us go. Prayer is important when we are faced with directional and life changing decisions. It is when we make the time to be still in the presence of God that He speaks to our hearts.

It is so very easy to get lost in this world. Many are busy running around but they are getting none of the important things done. Many fathers are so busy trying to make a living or enjoy adventures of their own that they fail to connect with their spouses and children. Even women today are getting preoccupied with climbing the corporate ladder at the expense of their homes. The secret to being on the right path and headed in the right direction lies with God. If you are feeling lost and overwhelmed by life’s troubles, get in the presence of God and be still. He will tell you which way you ought to go as He gently gives you wisdom on how to navigate life’s rough terrain.

You Are Forgiven So Forgive Others

2009-04-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. – Isaiah 43:25

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. – Hebrews 10:17

When we come to Christ, we come to Him often broken and bruised. We are bogged down by things that have happened in our lives in the past. We may have been hurt by others or have been a source of pain to others. As we go through life, difficult circumstances change who we are and our perception on things. If we are not careful, we begin to view the world through the lens of our experiences. The problem with this is that, our lenses may be blurred.

Forgiveness is a gift that we have through the Blood of Jesus Christ. One of the core fundamental principles of Christianity is forgiveness. Because we have been totally forgiven, we must also forgive others who trespass against us. Understanding that people always do people “stuff” makes it easier to let go of past hurts. No-one can behave better than they know. If we know better, we do better. God understands this perfectly when He sent His Only Son to die on the Cross for man. He knew we can never attain the righteousness we need on our own. In the same way, we must understand that people will wrong us from time to time. That is why it is so important to have a place in our heart reserved exclusively for God that no man can touch. When someone hurts our feelings, we can go to this special place and react to them from there.

Past hurts and pains, if not dealt with, can severely taint our futures. It is possible allow our pasts to seep in and pollute our futures. It is up to us to partner with the Lord and make sure this does not happen. Remembering the sacrifice of Christ makes it easier to extend forgiveness to others even when we feel that they don’t deserve it. We forgive for ourselves and not our offenders. Forgiveness cleanses us and relieves us of un-necessary burdens so we can enjoy the abundant life that Christ promised us.

He’s Got Your Back

2009-04-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. – Psalm 27:14

God is our refuge and strength, and ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with the surging. Selah. – Psalm 46:1-3

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. – Psalm 55:22

When trouble comes, we are sometimes tempted to take the law into our own hands. We start to run around; trying everything we can to fix things in our own strength. Sometimes, we end up in with a bigger mess than we actually started with. Or we get a solution that cannot stand the test of time.

God is available to all those who believe. He does not want us to worry and fuss when trouble arises. He wants us to bring all our issues to Him in prayer and leave them at the altar, trusting that He will work things out for us in ways that are best for us. When we are blood-washed believers, we must look up to the Lord in the times of trouble. God must be who we consult first – before we talk to our friends and our family, we must pray about the circumstances that face us. I find that praying anytime trouble arises gives me great peace and keeps me calm – regardless of what the issue is. I am reminded during prayer to compare the size of my “little” problem to the size of my great God.

If life is getting you down today, go to the Lord in prayer. He is the Only One who can bring true lasting solutions to your problems.

Peace Is Mine

2009-04-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land. – Leviticus 26:6

The LORD will give strength to his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. – Psalm 29:11

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves. – Psalm 127:2

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. – Proverbs 3:24

The world we live in is at war. People are killing one another over things that have no place in eternity. Greed and dishonesty reigns supreme amongst us and we fight and fuss at one another over inconsequential stuff. God has promised peace to those who are His. Peace is a gift from God – it cannot be sold or bought. Money will not bring peace; power will not bring peace. Real inner peace comes when ones has a relationship with God. His wonderful peace allows us to hold our head up high and give thanks to His Holy Name even when the world is crumbling around us. His peace is what allows us to say “It is well” when by all hell is breaking loose. God’s peace keeps us focused on the heavenly realm and the inheritance that awaits us rather than the toxicity of the world we live in.

Got peace?