Judge Not

"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? Matthew 7:3

It is so easy to be a fault finder or condemning of others. I always heard when you point your finger at someone three more are printing back at you. Who are we to belittle others? Aren't all people created in the image of God? We have no idea what someone is going through so how dare we pass judgment on them. In other words we do not know their whole story. 

If you struggle with passing judgment on others, try to catch yourself doing it and instead say a prayer for the person you feel tempted to judge. It is easy to elevate ourselves above others. All of us have some issues in our life. Just because you have a degree from an Ivy League college for instance does not make you better than others. Each person has different skills and abilities and a different purpose on this Earth. One of the most common judgments I hear is calling people fat. Sure there are lots of overweight people in the world but that is their problem and not ours and what does talking about them do?  It is still a form of condemnation which is wrong. Perhaps they struggle with weight or have no self control or self esteem  so maybe utter a silent prayer for God to help them. 

The point is each of us has something that people could say about us. It is not our job to be the judge. Our job is to be a lover not a hater. A praiser, not a condemner. Do your best this day and the entire week to stop passing judgment on others. 

PRAYER: I am sorry for the times I have thought wrong thoughts about others Lord. You are the only judge. Help me Lord to only think uplifting thoughts and to pray for those who I would want to instead judge. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Name Calling And Being Loving

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, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:14-16

Those of us who are Christians are supposed to be recognizable as different to the world. Our light is supposed to shine for the glory of God and our actions and speech should likewise reflect the love of Christ. I have been called a moron, an idiot, a stalker, exasperating, and other names by both strangers and even a few former friends. Thankfully never to my face but still it hurts.

If you are claiming to know Jesus do you love those who love you even those you may not see eye to eye with you politically or otherwise? Do you gossip about a 'friend' behind their back? Are you jealous of another's success, looks, life experiences? If you have hurt someone can you say you are sorry or if you have been hurt can you let it go regardless of how the other person treats you? Shame on brothers and sisters in Christ for wounding others with their words. We should know better. Even harboring bad thoughts or dislike in your heart is wrong. If you struggle in this area God can set you free if you want to be free.

Start today and if envy is your problem try to rejoice with those who rejoice. Also if you have trouble liking or loving someone ask God to help you love with His love. Start changing your bad or jealous or hateful attitude and do it for Jesus!

PRAYER: Help me Lord never be guilty of thinking bad of those who I may not agree with. Help me not be jealous of another. I choose to love even when it is hard and to know you hold the future. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Faith....Live It!

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.  Luke 17:6

Faith is defined a complete trust or confidence in something.  To be faithful would mean you are a trustworthy person. We as believers say we have faith in God but how many of us may say that but then doubt in our hearts? If we were honest, many of us have probably been guilty of that.  Maybe you pray for something and think to yourself "how is this really ever going to happen?" Things that may be impossible with man are not impossible for God. He is God after all and miracles still happen in 2015. Do not doubt in your heart but believe and keep believing no matter what people may say. 

In the recent movie release '90 Minutes In Heaven' a real life miracle occurs. If you have not seen the movie I do not want to ruin it for you. This was a true modern day account of God doing what man thought would be impossible. Some people can not actually wrap their minds around things like miracles and call them chance or coincidence. Miracles, big or small, do still happen today. Do not doubt. I heard someone say once "believe receive or doubt and do without."

Where are you at today? Do you believe God is still working behind the scenes in your life and He does hear your prayers? Let me leave with two more verses of scripture to meditate upon. "

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

PRAYER: I choose to believe you and I trust in you and the promises in your word. Forgive me if I have ever started to doubt and not believe miracles still happen today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Don't Be Weary

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.Colossians 4:2

Have you prayed for a person in your life or a situation and it does not seem anything is ever changing? The answer for everyone is probably yes. I know for me it is. When this happens you can not grow weary, lose hope, and give up. Prayer is an ongoing constant thing. God likes to hear from His children. He knows hearts are breaking but His timing and His plan is way better than our manmade ideas of how something should turn out. 

No matter how seemingly impossible by human standards something may seem God is still God and He can intervene and still bring miracles today in 2015. His ways are not our ways. In the recent movie still playing in theaters nationwide,'War Room', the main character is forgiven and let off the hook for something illegal he had done within his company. A couple people I heard say " No way in real life would that ever happen" and Matthew 19:26 says "all things are possible with God" and they are! God is the God of the impossible. His miracles are still for today not just in Bible times. We are still in Bible times and His word is still true for today, yesterday and yes forever. 

Don't doubt and don't give up hope.  Keep praying, keep believing. Know that God is way bigger than any problem in your life. 

PRAYER: There have been times when I have wanted to rush things and wonder why prayers seem to go unheard.I know you hear me Lord and I thank you for your perfect timing and y our perfect plan. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Good Things Can Happen To Those Who Wait

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

No matter how much we may not like it, waiting is a part of life. I certainly learned that lesson in the military. In order to learn to succeed in life you have to learn the art of patience and trying to not rush things. Sometimes rushing into things has disastrous consequences. It is necessary to be wise and to use good judgement and of course to pray. Waiting for fast food, waiting for rides at an amusement park, waiting in traffic, waiting at the doctor office. There are many scenarios where patience is required. 

Sometimes in life 'doors' may be shut and we become discouraged. A certain job does not come through only to find out that down the road there was a better one waiting. Learning to wait is a valuable asset in life. It teaches you to be calm, cool, and collected and all of us could certainly benefit from that, right? In our case one 'ideal' assignment in the military may not come through only to find out a much better one awaited us. 

Basically, trust God to guide you in life and try to be still. Try to practice waiting with small tasks so you will be able to master this when a giant hurdle awaits you.

PRAYER: I for sure need to have more patience. Guide me through times Lord when I feel like wanting something instant. Give me the ability to have peace and stillness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Watch What You Say

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:6

Many of those reading may recall the childhood Sunday school song 'Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say"? It is an excellent tune that over time sticks in your brain and helps you remember to be careful what you say, look at, go to, and listen to as The Father knows. Yes He does and his desire is for you to not being doing things to bring discredit to you as a believer or to cause you to sin. 

Our mouth can be our downfall many times. Thoughts come to mind and we may overreact and blurt something out. Our mouth needs to be controlled. Stop and think of what you are about to say will bring glory or will even cause a misunderstanding. Many a misspoken word has ruined relationships. 

If you are weak in the area of speaking wrong and hurtful things do a subject search in the Bible about the tongue, speech, and words. God truly does want us to gain wisdom and control in this area. 

PRAYER: Our mouth can gossip, lie, hurt others, judge, and belittle among other things. I choose to be careful and think before I speak and insure what I say edifies instead of tearing down. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Fire Insurance

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16

I heard this term 'fire insurance' from Bible teacher Joyce Meyer so it is not my original idea. What is Fire Insurance? Not the kind you buy for your property but the kind to insure you go to heaven, not hell. Are you sure if you were to 'check out' , get beamed up, or whatever other term people use for dying, you would in fact be in heaven with Jesus?

Often around this time of year scary movies come out, Halloween costumes and total Halloween stores spring up. I heard that Halloween was second only to Christmas in the way people decorate. Parents may innocently dress their toddler in a devil outfit carrying a pitchfork. Somehow it is so cute and innocent but Hell is a real place no matter how much agnostics or atheists want to declare otherwise. To try to scream sermons at people from street corners or pulpits about "turn or burn" is sometimes not the best method for winning people to the Lord. Basically we need to proclaim the message of salvation and ask who really is on the throne of your heart? Is Jesus or are you? Have you asked Jesus to be Lord of your life?

Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day to make sure you have 'fire insurance'.

PRAYER: I love you Lord. I need you in my life every day and not just one hour on Sunday. Forgive me for ignoring that tug on my heart to do something more. In Jesus' name. Amen.