STOP!! WAIT!! THINK!! PRAY!!CALM DOWN!! SHHH!!

Oh my goodness, the area of speaking before thinking is one area I could write oodles on. I am the queen of jumping to conclusions and making assumptions. This is a trait I do not like and am constantly working on. It is so critical in life to not be hasty especially in important decisions. In relationships with friends it is also important to think sometimes before speaking or answering email or texts. For those married, it is essential to be kind with your mouth to your spouse and try to keep being like you were when you were dating. 

Proverbs 29:20 (NIV) says 'Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for  him.'  That sort of summarizes it I would say. If you do not want to be classified as a fool then do not be blurting things out of your mouth without thinking first. Once those words go forth they can not be taken back. Sometimes a good rule of thumb, especially if you are angry or confused, is to wait 24 hours. I even wrote a devotion with that title a few weeks ago. 

Our words can sort of define us. Are you known for saying the wrong things, starting quarrels, lying, gossiping, hurting people or are you known as spreading cheer, giving praise and compliments, and being truthful and kind?  

1 Thessalonians 4:11(NIV) says 'Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you.'  Try to be known as the loving peacemaker and someone who is there to unite and encourage. I know encouragers are much more pleasant to be around than a griper or complainer. 

So there you have it. Stop,wait, think, pray, and calm down. It will improve your life dramatically.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I need your help to be careful what I say. Help me learn to slow down in all areas of life and to think before speaking. Thank you for loving me despite my faults. In Jesus' name. Amen.

DEBRIS IN THE ROAD

When we are driving on the streets and highways and byways it is critical to be paying close attention to the road ahead of us. We have to avoid potholes, roadkill, and debris that may be in the middle of the road. If we do not and are unfortunate hitting it, then we could do serious damage to our vehicle or worse yet, wreck and become injured.

Sin is like that foreign object or dead animal in the road. Somehow it is out there and gets into our path and we get injured. The injury could be devastating and life changing to take us off God's path and make us believe the enemies lies. The sin could be little and hardly noticeable such as a tissue on the highway. We do not see it and it will not really hurt us but it is still litter and should not be there. 

Satan sends powerful delusional spirits at times and tricks those who sometimes are even believers. That is why it is so critical to stay in an attitude of prayer and do not entertain things you know are against God's word. 2 Thessalonians 2:10(NLT)  says 'He will send us every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.'  Satan is real. He is tricky. He lies and is the father of lies. His task is to destroy the believer. Maybe he makes loving Jesus and serving Him seem crazy to you by putting wrong thoughts in your head. Remember what he did in the Garden of Eden? Maybe he deceives you into thinking going to church is all you need to do. 

John 10:10(NIV) says '

'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' Have you hit some "debris" in the pathway of your life that has taken you away from the things you know to be right? Has your love for Jesus grown cold? Do things of the world that you know separate you from still captive you? Do you feel the Bible is boring? Friend now is the time to remove the "debris" and make your life right with the Lord. You want to keep running but kick that debris out of the way. Philippians3:14(NIV) says 'I press onto receive the prize to which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.' Colossians 2:8(NIV) is a good verse to pray for a family member you may know that is caught up n believing a lie from the enemy or if it is you then pray it for yourself. It says ' See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.' Now go out and take notice of the "sinful debris" and  purge it from your road of life. PRAYER: Lord Guide my steps each and every day. Help me never be ashamed of you. Teach me your truth. Your word is truth. Help me to not listen to false teaching or the lures of this world. In Jesus' name. Amen.

JUST SAYING: NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!!

Do faith words or fear words come out of your mouth? Do you pray to God then in the next breath start to fret? Why even bother praying then? Remember worrying does not help get an answer to your pray any quicker. You offer your prayer up to the Lord and let Him take it  from there. Do you believe the scripture in Luke 1:37( NIV) which says 'Nothing is impossible with God.'  

        Why do you worry? Do you think God does not care?  God is bigger than our puny little problems. He has a plan for your life and it is not necessarily always about you. You need to trust Him for the outcome. Stop complaining to Him and be patient. Maybe that is half the battle training you in patience.  Don't pray then turn around and doubt him. What kind of prayer is that? 

Are you believing for something that seems impossible? Give your concern to God then let it go. Keep praising Him even when you do not see the answer. Even when things do not look good He has not left His throne. Have faith. 

There is a verse in Romans 4:17(NKJV) which says 'as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”  in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.'  For instance I would pray, 'Lord I thank you for giving me victory in this area.'  You pray this even before it has happened. Hebrews 11:8(ESV) says 'By faith Abraham believed when He was called to go out to a place that He was to receive an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going.' 

Can you believe that God is the God of the impossible? Then let go and let Him work.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I believe so help my unbelief. I know you have great plans for me and for my family. I need only be still and trust. Give me power from on high to do just that. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SPRING IS NOT TOO FAR OFF

What do you think of when you think of spring? Perhaps flowers,sunshine, new life as baby chicks hatch, Easter, March Madness NCAA basketball, and putting away winter clothes. Do not be too hasty on that last one as snow is in abundance still in many parts of the country. I for one am blessed to be enjoying the beautiful Northeast snow at a ski resort in Maine. In spring normally we  look forward to all things new such as the sight of a daffodil popping through the ground or in the nations Capitol, the infamous cherry  blossom trees.

Many times in March we are surprised with a sudden winter storm evenin places that do not expect it. Things that a new are nice. The freshness of green grass and blooms and a garden. Even a fresh new snow is very nice.

Spring could be a time to re order your life once again if you failed

at the task after the New Years resolutions were forgotten.

Being new means to also have a new attitude, new outlook, new

plan to get closer to God. Is spending time with God and getting to

know Him really important to you? If it is then why aren't you making

it happen? Sunday is nice but you need more to grow and be Christlike. Usually where you spend your time is the person you become.

What kind of person do you want to be? Do you want to be able to be peaceful and have joy in your heart? You can if you take time to get into the word of God. Why not start anew and let Christ rule your day?

2 Timothy 2:15(NIV) says 'Do your best to present yourself as one approved,a workmen who need not be ashamed, and who correctly handles the word of truth.'  One final verse I would like to leave you with is 2 Corinthians 5:17(NIV) and it says 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away,behold all things become new.' Are you a new creature in Christ? If not why not ask Him into your heart today?

PRAYER: Lord You are good and your mercies endure forever. I want to be able to have you truly first place. I want to be prepared when hard times come and I know I can not do it without knowing you and reading your word. Forgive me for listening to the world too much and not you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

CHANGE YOUR WORLD

Look around you. Are you happy with the way things are going in our world? Do you realize you can complain about things or you can be instrumental in trying to change things?

 First of all pray and ask God what He would have you do to impact your world in a positive way. For instance, if things are happening in our government that are against the word of God, and there are many, then take a stand for what is true and right or suffer the consequences. One example is the marriage battle raging now. Marriage is between one man and one woman.  God designed men and women to help each other and also reproduce to keep life going. No way can two men produce a baby. Satan has deceived many into believing the world's lies but it is crystal clear in the Bible what marriage is. Many Christians have bought into this lie and there are some caught in the trap of same sex attraction. When we disagree we are told we "hate them". That is pretty strong language for simply following the word of God. No one hates anyone.

There are many other examples of how you can positively change your world. Do not always wait for someone else to do something. Pray and get going. Above all, do things in the spirit of love and be kind and compassionate in whatever you do. Be Christlike in other words.Colossians 3:17(NIV) says '

Wherever we go try to be at peace. Praise  God regardless of what is happening. Keep praying and never give up as it says in Luke 18:1.
 Romans 12:12(NIV) says 'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.' Often times the road is long and time consuming trying to bring about changes. Think of the battle to end abortion which has been going on for 40 years.  Don't give up. Keep running your race to win. 

 You indeed can have a positive impact on your world. Never think you do not matter. Above all show kindness, trust not fear, keep running and looking ahead. Always remember what it says in Romans 8:31(NIV) and that is 'what shall we say in response to these things? If God is for me who can be against me.'

PRAYER:Lord I want to impact my world for Christ. Whether it is on the mission field in a far off land or the mission field in my own back yard. Convict my heart of how I can serve you and make a change in my world. In Jesus' name. Amen.

GET THE PADDLES!!

 'Clear! Clear!' For any of us that watch medical shows on television
like "Life in the ER", this phrase is common place when the
defibrillator paddles come out in order to revive an unresponsive

patient. The heart is flat lining and they are trying to get it back

to life by the shock from a defibrillator.

Is your "spiritual heart" in need of a fibrillation from the Lord?

Has it become cold, hard, calloused, uncaring and only concerned for
self?

God can, and will, renew you and give you a new heart. Ezekiel
36:26(NIV) says 'I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit
within you. I will remove from you the heart of stone and give you a
heart of flesh.' Hopefully your heart is not hardened. If it is ask
Him to come in an renew you and give you a heart that is turned to
Him.

Sin can create a hard heart it says in Hebrews 3:13. Take time to get
your Bible out and read it. Make up your mind today that you do not
want or need to be revived and that you will live for Christ.

PRAYER: Jesus I love you and I thank you for giving me a heart that
wants to serve you. There was a time when it was hard but you set me
free and gave me a heart for you. Help me resist the enemies attempts
to cause it to be hard. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Note to my readers: I will be out of town for a week but have written
my devotions ahead of time as I always do. Sometimes I have difficulty
sending them in group form to my email subscribers so if for some
reason you do not receive this you can access them also at
www.godslemonadestand.blogspot.com. Thanks. Let the joy of the Lord be
your strength!

UNCERTAIN TIMES

Today is the big day here in the USA where "mere men" ,with too much
power, have put fear in us with a word called Sequestration. Here in
a military town this is especially causing stress not knowing whose
jobs will be safe or if the whole town will fold. Defense cuts affect
not just the military and their family and defense contractors, but the entire US and the

civilian town the military is near. But God is bigger than this crisis created by man. Remember
the verse in 1 Timothy 6:17(NIV) which says 'Command those who are
rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in
wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who
richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.' Elsewhere in
Proverbs 23:5(NIV) further drives this point home when it says '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.'

For those "awake" and paying attention to world events and things in
our own country,we are living in uncertain times. A country of
freedom, prosperity, and independence is slowly being controlled by a
domineering tyrannical government trying to seemingly take over all
aspects of our lives. Many people are frightened today because this day was hyped by the media so much as doomsday.

 

When and if doomsday does come, as a believer we are not to

trust in riches or man to help us or save us. Our hope is to be in the
Lord who made the heavens and the earth and who is in control of it
all. Sometimes He allows men to reap what they sow and has warned us
many times. In scripture it says in 2 Chronicles 7:14(NIV) 'if my
people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and
seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.' Are we
truly humbling ourselves and seeking God's face or are we way too busy
to have time? Many may be so busy in their careers or at home that
they do not even realize what is happening in the world around them
especially not getting info from the right sources. Many are oblivious

to the impending economic, military, and moral downfall of America

around them. But once again we are not to be frightened by what "mere
men" can do to us as our trust is in God. (See Psalm 118:6 and Psalm
56:4).

Psalm 23(NIV) is often just thought of as a passage of scripture read
only at funerals but there is much more within the words of that
chapter. I have copied it here. Take a moment and read it over and
think about something other than the funeral context you often
probably hear it in.

'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down
in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my
soul.He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no
evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You
anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love
will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever.'

Today do not be afraid and read out loud the following scripture from
John 14:17(NIV). It says 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid." God will take care of us. Do not focus
on evil and bad around you but get into his word and let it transform
your heart and give you peace.

PRAYER: Lord we do not know what is happening. We in America have
always seemingly never had worries or fears like other countries and
have taken much for granted. Our morals have started to slide because
we chose back in 1963 to kick you out of our public schools. We did
not give heed to your precious lives you created and since 1973 have
killed millions of babies in the name of women's rights or choice. How
sad this makes me Lord. Please forgive our country for ignoring you
and turning its' back on you. Get us through the stormy days ahead
Lord and bring revival to this land. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on the link below and please take a moment and be comforted by
the words of the attached song.
http://youtu.be/2ZuVtA7Vyk8