ARE YOU IMITATING GOD?

Are you a Sunday Christian only or do you try to be like Him the other 6 days? Do you feel all you need to go to heaven is one hour on Sunday or join a church? Do you think people who get 'too serious' about God are sort of freaky?Maybe you are more religious than in a relationship with Jesus. Many people think the one day a week is just fine. To do more is sort of weird or goes overboard a bit. Really? Do you let problems get to you similar to those people who do not even read their Bible? I am sad to say there are believers who rarely ever pick up their Bible. If you live in a home with one, preaching to them is going to turn them more against it. The Holy Spirit has to work on them, not you! Just keep praying and be patient and walk with love in your house. In Psalm 101:2 it reminds us " I will be careful to lead a blameless life--when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart." Let God handle the details of your loved ones or friends as you continue to show love to them and keep praying.

Do you gossip, lie, cheat, backbite, fault find, speak harshly, refuse to forgive, and curse? Do you honestly think if Jesus were standing in the room with you that some of the things you did or said you would continue to do? Probably not. Why is it so hard to grasp that living the life dedicated to pleasing Jesus is something we are to be serious about? When you do not feed your mind and spirit a diet of God's word other than listening to watch the preacher or priest tells you on Sunday how can you possibly expect to be equipped for the battles, trials, and temptations that come your way? Your carnal nature will react negatively to things if you do not hide God's word in your  heart.

Are you an imitator of Jesus? Be honest. Ephesians 4:25-5:2 says "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body .“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. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 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. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

So do you imitate God? There are no qualifiers here such as "well you do not know what they did to me". "Well his sin is despicable and I have a right to react that way." "He had it coming." Do these statements sound like imitations of our Lord? No they do not. Start today each day getting into the word of God and responding with love, kindness and grace even to those who seemingly do not deserve it. That is what Jesus would do.

PRAYER: Father I am not the judge of other people. It is my job to try to love like you love and be kind to others. I am not supposed to be kind to those if they are acting good but all people. Forgive me if I have ever been hateful, crude, cruel, or mean to someone. In Jesus Name. Amen.

OUR WONDERFUL GOD

God almighty! Creator of heaven and earth. The Alpha and the Omega. The everlasting one. Jehovah Jirah. Our provider. The names of God are many and he is indeed king of kings and Lord of Lords. He is greater than any human leader and controls the universe. Nothing is too difficult for him. He allows things sometimes for a reason, even bad stuff. He loves us with an everlasting love.

Get alone sometime and turn off the noise boxes in your life such as your radio, phones, televisions and just spend time alone with God. Go to a park free of chattering voices. Just spend time meditating on the goodness of God and what he has done for you. Sometimes the commotion that seems nonstop in our busy lives tends to drown out God. You can be in church singing praise songs like you are just going through the motions. No impact, no change, no excitement about Jesus.  It is time to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength.

Do you realize just how wonderful God is? Take a look at the stars at night. Watch the thunderstorms roll in. Marvel at the flowers and the birds. He has made it all. He made us for His purposes.

Psalm 100:5 says "For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
1 Chronicles 16:34 says "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 108:4 says "For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies."

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for your goodness and mercy and your wonderful creation. At times I do not take enough time to just sit and reflect on how great and awesome you are. Thank you for creating me and placing me just where you have me. Help me shine for you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click link below for a song of worship and praise.
http://youtu.be/1saX9_Nmg5k

FAMILY IS FOREVER

In the movie 'Dolphin Tale' one of the main characters gave his nephew a token of his love before he went off to war and it was inscribed with the words "Family Is Forever'. Your family is there or should be when the world runs out on you. Too many families are fractured in today's world. Wedding vows seem to be meaningless to many. The traditional family is indeed the backbone of our society.

When a family member suffers all should want to help. I know of a family where two siblings had a quarrel a few years ago and neither one would budge to restore their relationship. To this day they have not spoken. When the family unit breaks down it affects all members. If you are the product of a divorce I am not trying to condemn you because God can and does forgive and redeem and heal. He is indeed the God of a second chance. When a member of the body hurts all members should hurt. Do not point the finger and condemn.

If you are reading this today pray for the unity of your own family unit. Pray that you will always do what it takes to keep things working properly. Above all keep Christ in the center. If you are a married couple and one spouse claims to know Jesus but yet does not read his or her Bible and seemingly acts like the rest of the world after Sunday do not preach to them, simply pray.

Parents out there, if you have a child who has messed up or is a prodigal, love them and pray for them. God is not through with them yet. If you have messed up and hurt someone ask forgiveness. Harboring resentment and hatred only keeps the argument going. Be the bigger person and seek to restore a relationship if one is broken.

Be devoted to your family and your spouse. It is okay to be independent and have your own interests but you should also try to find things that you like to do together. Some couples are already very uniquely matched in their interests so this is not hard to do. Be thankful if you are and nurture that time together for intimacy and building a strong married life. Romans 12:10 says "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Treat others like you want to be treated. Go out of your way to show kindness. If you are spoken to harshly do not retaliate but respond with love.

 If you are a part of an estranged family and maybe you have been the one not willing to budge, then pray and ask for courage to confront this to mend a broken relationship. Some family members can in fact be downright mean and try to bring dissension in the ranks, so to speak. That type of person would indeed be hard to embrace and love. Just keep praying. Try to love them. Perhaps this person has told lies to try to break the family apart or pit one against the other and you have just about had enough. Continue to pray for them. The more you pray the less you want to hate. Romans 12:21 reminds us to "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." That is a good thing to remember. When someone talks sarcastically or hateful to you try to ignore it and speak in love. Hard to do humanly but not with God's help.

 Leave and cleave is the key for marriages. If you are a parent let the children alone once they are married. Do not try to tell them what to do. Do not run to mommy or daddy but seek advice of your spouse. Genesis 2:24 says "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Leave and cleave that is the key. If you are a child living in the same town as your parents keep this in mind. Meddling families are not a good thing. If your marriage needs help go seek Christian counseling.

Today I write this in honor of my husband of 35 years who affectionately introduces me as his first wife Becky.Today is his birthday. Marriages and families today are under fire more than ever so appreciate and love your family. Remember the vows you took. If you are newlyweds maybe it is good to make it a practice to read your vows each month on the date of your anniversary.  Joel 2:25 reminds us this about God and it says "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten." Things aren't over if you have messed up. Keep on looking to Jesus. And if you are flourishing as a family keep it that way by looking to Jesus in all things. Keep him in the center. Keep in the word of God.

PRAYER: Lord God thank you for family. Thanks for the family you gave me. Thankyou Lord for problems for through them we learn to be strong. God I ask that you take care of my family and help grow them more and more into your image and  help me always love no matter what. In Jesus Name. Amen.

HANG ON! KEEP PRAYING!

What are you believing God for? A wayward child, a healing, a restored relationship, emotional stability, freedom from an addiction, healed marriage, a financial miracle? God loves you and he cares about you. Sometimes it seems we pray and pray and pray more. Why isn't God listening? Why doesn't he care? Why don't I see change? What is going on Lord? Discouragement sets in and maybe you feel like giving up. That is what the enemy wants.

Bible teacher Joyce Meyer said to say "I believe God is working." He is you know! Do you believe what it says in Luke 18:1 that "we should pray and never give up?"  We should in fact keep on keeping on and once you pray do not sit there wringing your hands in desperation or letting Satan lie to you and condemn you making you feel there is not any hope.

 Remember it says in 2 Chronicles 20:15 that "the battle is not ours but God's." Stand in the gap for your loved one or whoever it is who you are praying for. Ezekiel 22:30 says " I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none." Don't let that be the case with you. Be that person when no one else prays that will keep on lifting up the prayers. There is one thing to remember. Make sure your own life is on track. For instance Psalm 66:18 says "If I regard sin in my heart the Lord will not hear me."

God is not finished with you or with the subject of your prayers. Trust Him to work in  his time, not yours.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you that you hear my prayer and that you love me and care about me. Help me to let go and let you do your work and stop fretting. I trust you for the outcome. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link below to enjoy a wonderful song of praise to start your day.
http://youtu.be/9DlrpTUENSI

Note: moms and grandmas out there. The new school year is upon us and Moms in Prayer International prayer groups are starting up worldwide. To find a group praying for your childs' school to include college/career/military go to www.momsinprayer.org The ministry recently changed its' name from Moms in Touch to Moms in Prayer. Never doubt the power of a praying mom.

TRANSFORMED OR CONFORMED?

In the book of Romans Chapter 12 verse 2 it says " Do not be conformed anymore to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so then you may be able to test and approve what God's will is. His good, pleasing, and perfect will."  What  does this mean exactly for someone who says they are a Christian?

 First of all we know the world and America is getting less and less Christian friendly. Christians who take a Biblical stand against a sinful act are called 'hateful' when in fact no one said anything about hate. All they do is stand up for what the believe in the Bible. Society is trying to get sinful behaviors accepted. This has been a topic of mine previously but bears repeating. The more and more you accept sin and immorality the less it bothers you what is happening. You get desensitized. The more you stay in the true word of God and study it the more the more will know the standards of right and wrong and good and evil in the Bible.

Satan hates the Bible because it has power to change and transform lives. There is that word 'transform' which means change. If you start taking God's word into your heart by reading it on a daily basis you can not help but be changed. The problem  is many Christians are just Sunday church goers with no active spiritual life beyond the doors of their church on Sunday. How can you know about God if you do not get into his word? How can you  know how to dance unless you are dedicated to dance class? You get the idea. Practice and study are what it takes.

 When the Holy Spirit does truly come into your heart you will desire his word and want to devour it. That at least was my experience back in 1975 when I rededicated my life to Christ. The word has the power to make you into a 'nonconformist' so to speak. Who will be left to speak out against the atrocities of a sin filled life and sin filled nation if we all conform to the standards set by our world?
1 Peter 3:15  says "Instead you must worship Christ  as Lord of your life and if someone asks you about your Christian hope be ready to explain it." Set your standards as godly standards but not in a self righteous way. Be a light in the world to make people around you want what you have.

 How about you? Do you conform too much to the pattern of the world? Each person needs to examine their heart and ask themselves if they appear too much like the world and less like Jesus.

 PRAYER: Father I thank you for the Bible which is the word of truth. Help me Lord not make excuses for why I am too busy to read it each day. Forgive me for the times I have been too absorbed into the culture and pattern of this world. Give me your strength to make a difference for you wherever you place me. In Jesus name.Amen.

Click on link for a great song of praise.
http://youtu.be/8vNPcmLzlvI

PRAISE THEN CRITICIZE??

Are you guilty of going to church and worshipping God and praising him in song then when you get out of church you return to your 'old self' that of maybe gossiping, backbiting others, being critical, or judging? Did the message you heard in church even sink in or were you simply there doing your 'duty' to God to keep one of the Ten Commandments?

 Going to church should help transform you but if you are simply there out of some duty or because it was what your mom and dad taught you to do then what good is it really? Perhaps it is time to get serious about loving Jesus with all your heart. The Bible says in Mark 12:30 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." When you love the Lord you love people too. Think about that.

If you name the name of Jesus you should not hide your light and you should not just go to church but get to know Jesus. Spend time with him daily. Pray, read the Bible, perhaps even find a Bible study during the week to attend. If you are going there should be a change in your life. Don't walk outside on Sunday after church and put back on your old ragged stained garments of sin but look up and rejoice. Get to know what Christian love is and try to shine for Jesus every day everywhere you are. If you have wronged someone go ask forgiveness.

Above all let what comes out of your mouth reflect the goodness and glory of the Lord. Hate, criticism and gossip do not fall into that category.

 Psalm 19:14 says "let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh Lord my strength and my redeemer."

PRAYER: Lord I thank you that I get to go to church. There are no armed guards saying we cannot go in and no one has confiscated my Bible. Forgive me Lord if I have ever been guilty of acting holy in church then like a 'little devil' the rest of the week. I represent you and I want to do it well. In Jesus name.Amen!
 Click on link for awesome song of praise.
http://youtu.be/qaHmiFaX_pk

PITY PARTIES AREN'T COOL

 Have you ever had a day where you woke up and started thinking about your problems before you started praising Jesus? I know I have. To stay joyful in the Lord you have to have right thinking. It is a spiritual discipline I have mentioned numerous times in my blog. We all slip up every now and then and let the enemy try to get us in a 'poor me' slump where you don't think of Jesus or his glory at all! When this happened to me recently I wanted to go back to bed but knew that was the enemy keeping me from my time alone with God. What better thing to do than keep a Christian devotion blogger feeling down, right?  It had not happened in quite a while and thankfully I snapped out of it with God's help.

Later that same day while driving through nearby Madison,Alabama where I used to live, I drove past a cemetery and a lady, probably in her mid thirties I am guessing, was sitting on a small plastic chair hanging over a fresh grave. It got me to thinking about who had died. My first thought was her child. But never the less witnessing this snapped me back to reality and my problems, tiny in the big scope of what this lady was probably dealing with. I turned around and parked across the street where she did not see me, said a prayer for her, and watched her from a distance as  a  thunderstorm approached. I wanted to drive over and give her my rain jacket but decided not to as she probably wanted solitude.

Sometimes we may think we are the only ones feeling down or gloomy when in actuality there are many people facing horrendous situations on a daily basis. Take a person incarcerated in prison for instance. Do you think they wake up with much hope?

Anyway the point being is two fold. First don't always be into self and your own problems. When you think of others or help others you can't help having joy. The second thing is to be careful what you think about. Like I said you can become disciplined in your thought patterns and God's word is the best way to do it. So start today and when you feel yourself feeling worthless,self condemning, pitiful, or sense a feeling of rejection cry out to Jesus who is able to lift you out of your pit. Next get the Bible out and start reading the book of John or Psalms. You will feel better.

Psalm 40:1-3 says "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the more. He set my feet on solid ground, and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed.They will put their trust in the Lord." Finally Psalm 16:8 says " I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved."

PRAYER: Lord when I feel myself sinking into self pity help me remember all I have to be grateful for. I praise your name for simply having the gift of life. Thank you that you put me on earth to serve you. Help me always let my light shine.in Jesus name. Amen.