DON'T JUDGE. JUST PRAY. OKAY?

 

How many of us are guilty of judging someone without knowing all the facts or 'their story'? I know I have been. We assume things. We may look at a person with body piercings all over and think the worst. We do not know their heart. There is no way we can have a clue what people have gone through or are experiencing right now. Do not be so quick to form an opinion. What if others were observing you and forming anop inion without knowing you. It is not really fair is it?

I am sure glad God does not do that to us. We do many things to break His heart and perhaps startle Him, but He loves us never the less. Aren't we supposed to be like Him? Being a Christian is not just about Sunday for two hours. It should be your lifestyle. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and strength it says in Deuteronomy 6:5. Do things you do make God sad? Are you living a life to please Him?

1 Peter 14:16 says "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Many who are living a sinful life may claim to be believers and indeed they are but may be turning away and sinning and ignoring what scripture says in order to lead the life they want. Psalm 19:13 says "Keep your servant also from willful sins, may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless innocent of great transgression." There are Christians caught up in homosexual lifestyle, which is not God's purpose for them for any of his creation. Satan, the great deceiver, has blinded them and made them justify their desires. People can innocently drink alcohol, which is not a sin in itself, but if they drink to the point of alcohol dependency or not being able to life life without it, it can then be harmful causing family problems,sickness, disease or even death. There are those who may be sharing a prayer need that ends up in gossip instead. We are to take care of God's temple, our bodies, yet many may overeat experiencing health problems as a result.

Now back to the judging. All the things above I mentioned are not listed as the worse things therefore you are not to judge and condemn or poke fun at people suffering from these or other problems. We all have our 'issues'. Instead we are to pray. Prayer is always much better than opening our mouth with an ungodly opinion.

So today wherever you are, stop and when tempted to judge a stranger, friend, or family member, remember all of us have sinned and fallen short of his glory according to Romans 3:23.

Matthew 7:1 says "Judge not or you too will be judged."

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for your creation. I thank you for my family and friends. I thank you for all the people you place in my path each day. Help me Lord to not be quick to judge others as I do not know what they are going through. Help me lord instead to pray. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link for powerful praise song:

http://youtu.be/mBcqria2wmg

GOD CAN'T DO WHAT??

GOD CAN'T DO WHAT??

A few years ago someone gave me a picture with a comic character having a real belly laugh with a caption that read 'God Cant Do What!? '  Seemingly many of us can tend to put God in a box of sorts and think our problem or family members problem is way too big for Him to handle.Say what?! He is the real true Master of the Universe. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. He is the Alpha and The Omega. He is the designer of all things. His works are marvelous. He is there behind the scenes even when it seems the world has gone crazy.  His plan is something we can not fathom.

Satan will come against us and make us doubt that God cares. For some people that little tiny no good devil will put thoughts of suicide,depression, unworthiness and doubt inside their head. If you are there today and feel like all hope is lost turn to Jesus!! He is mighty  to save.

Isaiah 55:9 says "As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Why sit around being a nervous wreck crying and not believing a situation is every going to change. God can uses all things for His glory. Mark 9:23reminds us that "nothing is impossible to God".

Friend, what are you going through today? Note the word 'through' indicating you are not 'stuck' there. Run to God. Fear not. He is with you.

Psalm 23 commonly is read at funerals but it is appropriate also when we tend to worry. Let me end by siting a few verses. Verses one thru three say the following " The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right path for His name's sake."

Run to Him today!!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus forgive me when I tend to let my situation control me. I know you have my best interest at heart and I know you are in control. I will hold on and not let go. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below to worship the Lord with a praise song.
http://youtu.be/sR8rlTIU8_Y

JESUS LOVES SINNERS

 

We are all sinners and our righteousness is like filthy rags.(See Isaiah 64:6). Romans 3:23 reminds us that " All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." Yes indeed we are all sinners saved by grace it says in Ephesians 2:8.

Here in the year 2012 many commit sin and do not think it is sin. For instance, two men or two women wanting to be married is not part of God's design. He created males and females to fall in love and reproduce but with the opposite sex. Satan has deluded men's minds to believe a lie. God did not intend for a man to be in love with another man or a woman with a woman. Mankind has become blinded and desensitized. Many Christians are caught in this trap of the enemy thinking they were born that way but that is a lie from the pit of hell. Also taking the life of an unborn child in the name of 'women's rights' is just not right. God created all life whether it is convenient or desired and all life is to be respected, not snuffed out at an abortion clinic. (Read Psalm 139). Sexual relations with your girlfriend or boyfriend before marriage is wrong. Looking at pornography is wrong and can have devastating consequences. Stealing is wrong even if it is something as innocent as an ink pen from work. Lying is wrong for Christians. Gossip is not right either. I am sure you can add to the list. The first four mentioned have more dire emotional consequences but all sin is wrong. One is not the 'worst' one. The good news is we can be set free and forgiven!!

God desires holiness. Ask yourself if what you are doing is holy.If God were to come to your home today would He be pleased with the TV shows you are watching or the books on your shelf? Would it be necessary to hide some magazines that were not appropriate for the King of Kings to look at? Perhaps you would have to go search for your Bible to make it look like you read it? Colossians 3:5 tells us to put to death the desires of the earthly nature.

Isaiah 5:20 says "Woe to them who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." In 2012 we find ourselves under attack from the enemy like never before. Many people coast along through life and do not see any danger. That makes Satan happy as he has them blinded and fooled. Many are not convicted of things happening in this world as being wrong. Another victory for Satan when this occurs.

Do not harden your heart towards God. If you are caught up in a sin and know you are, run to Jesus who can heal, deliver you and set you free. You can be forgiven. Do not allow the enemy to put thoughts in your head that you are okay and God is okay with what you are doing. Do not twist scriptures to justify an unholy life. Jesus can forgive so let Him!!

1 Corinthians 6:11 reminds us "And this is what some of you were, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God."

PRAYER: Lord God I know I am not perfect. Help me be alert to the enemies attacks in my life. keep me from believing a lie of the devil. Help me Lord to order my day so as to spend time with you. I pray for any friends or family members caught up in a lie as well. I want to stay on the path you have planned for me and resist Satan. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below and worship the Lord with an awesome uplifting song.

http://youtu.be/ipwEtvWL_3c

JESUS WEPT

The title refers to the shortest verse in the Bible found in John 11:35. Do things you do bring tears to God's eyes? Sometimes do you sense that what you are engaging in will not help bring anyone to Jesus or glory to God? Do you participate in activities you know are wrong and certainly will not identify you as a believer?

Some like to poke fun of the 'WWJD' acronym, but really ask yourself before you do anything, 'What Would Jesus Do' and perhaps it might keep you from making a terrible mistake. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin. When you wonder how Jesus would react it may make you think twice before engaging in some activities.

Many things could make Jesus weep. When you sin and you know better it makes Him sad. Misusing your body, which is God's Holy temple, by joining it with a prostitute, committing adultery, defiling it with homosexual sex , or sexual relations before marriage all would seemingly make Jesus weep. He created us for a purpose and when we especially disregard our 'temple of God' it makes the Lord sad. Temptation may be strong but it says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that "No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear but when you are tempted will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it."

What in your life is not pleasing God right now? Judging others? Caught up in sexual sin? Looking at pornography? Drinking way too much and on the verge of a DUI or alcoholism? Talking about others behind their back? Lying? Stealing? Cheating? Adultery? (By the way the Bible says in Matthew 5:28 "That looking on a woman lustfully" is adultery).Gluttony? Men, speaking harshly to the wife of your youth? Not managing the resources God has blessed you with? Abortion? (You can be forgiven). Homosexual tendencies? Cursing?

Cry out to God today. He loves you and wants you to run to Him and leave sin behind. Do not allow Satan to lie to you making it sound like God will not ever love you. The enemy tricks,deceives, and tries his best to get Christians off the path God has prepared for them. Run away from the devil and I to the arms of a loving Saviour . He is waiting to forgive you.

PRAYER: Lord God I love you and I know at times my life brings sadness to you. Help me Lord resist the attacks of the enemy to dismantle my spiritual walk. I pray for family members who are caught up in Satan's web of deceit. Open their eyes to the truth. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below to worship the Lord in song.
http://youtu.be/rtD-_q2kl-Q

DO YOU NEED A TRANSFORMATION?

 

How many times do we feel everyone else has a sin or a problem but not yourself? Many people are good at pointing the finger of ridicule and blame at others. Perhaps when things are going on in your life or a family member's life maybe it is you who needs the transformation. Just something to think about. Sometimes I feel problems occur to help in our own spiritual walk? Maybe we need a good trial or test to shape us up?

If you think you may need to be transformed to be more Christlike then God can help. Sorry to those of you who thought this was a beauty makeover transformation. In a way it is. It is a makeover of your inner self which once it is joyful and serving the Lord can not help but shine on the outside. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."

Our outward appearance is not what is important in this transformation. Colossians 3:12 says "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Ephesians 4:24 says what we are to do after this spiritual trasnformaton and that is "to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." So how do you get this transformed life and stop trying to conform to the world?

Romans 12:2 says "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." This renewal of your mind comes when you intentionally say yes to God and to the reading of His word. It is by reading the word and letting it change you from the inside out that total transformation occurs.

PRAYER: Father I do thank you for the word of God which sets us free to live a non conformist life. I know Lord I am to be your light in this world and to stand for the truth so I want to be conformed to your image. Change me oh Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below to worship and praise the Lord in song.

http://youtu.be/jAsjlLVOajI

KEEP PRAYING!! KEEP BELIEVING!! GOD HEARS!!

KEEP PRAYING!! KEEP BELIEVING!! GOD HEARS!!

 

What have you been praying about it seems forever? Perhaps a wayward child? Healing for a loved one? New job? That a person who hurt you would ask forgiveness? Whatever it is we require patience for most things in life. No instant fixes.At times maybe the Lord is working on us through the need in the others life. Who is to say? But I know what it says in Luke 18:1 and that is "We should pray and never give up." 

 

The most familiar prayer to almost everyone is the Lords prayer found in Matthew 6:9-14. Get your Bible out and read it when  you can. Basically it is a familiar prayer to most people even those not going to church. "Thy will be done" it says. So what is God's will. Only God knows. But we are not to give up on praying.

 

Prayer is simply put, talking to God. You do not need to go to him with big 'thee's' and 'thou's' and all the rest. He is ready and waiting around the clock to hear you talk to him. And the answer may not always be yes. There was a comical scene in the Hollywood movie 'Bruce Almighty' where Jim Carrey was allowed to have God's powers for a day. Yes I know this would not really happen but in the film it made a good point. When it came to hearing and answering prayers he said "What is all that noise in my head" to which  Morgan Freeman who played "The Almighty' in the film replied "Well Bruce those are people saying their prayers." When Jim Carrey's character decided to answer all prayers 'yes' so as to not be bothered total chaos resulted.

 

There is a plan and a purpose but part of the plan is staying on your knees in prayer. If you are a married couple you should be praying together as much as possible. Praying together draws people closer together.

 

I am blessed to be in a prayer ministry which formerly was called Moms in Touch International but just last year changed its' name to Moms in Prayer International since it was more easily translated in foreign nations. It is a ministry which prays for children and the schools they attend and there is also one for moms of college, career, and military. "Never doubt the power of a praying mom" we say in Moms in Prayer.

 

One thing to make sure of is that you confess your sins before you go to the Lord in prayer as it says in Psalm 66:18 "If I had regarded sin in my heart, the Lord would not have heard." What things in your life do you need to confess to the Lord and start walking away from?

 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I need you in my life and I love to have a talk with you each day. Show me Lord how to pray if nothing more than the Lords' Prayer. I thank  you to the answers to prayer and the ones you are still working on. In Jesus Name. Amen.

 

Click on link below to worship the Lord in song.

http://youtu.be/iN_DMuahD5o

 

THE LAST WORD

THE LAST WORD

 

When you get into a situation with someone where angry words flare up do you feel it necessary to get the last word? It sometimes is so difficult to hold that tongue and keep quiet. Maybe you want to prove your point. Bible teacher Joyce Meyer often says to say to yourself  "Maybe I might just be wrong." It is better to try to defuse an argument before one starts up.

 

Proverbs 15:1 has a great scripture to commit to memory and it is " A soft answer turns away wrath". If someone is trying to pick a fight with you try to stay calm and remember this verse. Do not start into a yelling match or it will never end. Words can be spoken when angry that you do not even mean. So chill out and stay calm.

 

Fights sometimes start for the dumbest reasons. Do something one day when you have time. Get your Bible concordance and look up 'words', 'the mouth', 'danger of the tongue' and you will find a tremendous amount of verses on the little tongue of ours.

 

The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln said this about words.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Well said Mr. President! Honest Abe was also wise Abe. Let me end with this. Ecclesiastes 12:13 says "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."  Proverbs 10:8 says "The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces." Do not allow yourself to be a babbling fool. PRAYER: Lord you are  good and your mercies endure forever. You are there for me when I stumble with the words that come out of my mouth. Help me to think before I speak. Give me peace, wisdom, and discernment. In Jesus Name. Amen.