Peace Be Still

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. John 14:27

I always like they names of lotions in various hotel chains we stay in. In one hotel  the lotion was called 'Peace Be Still' and I laughed thinking how appropriate that was for 'yours truly' to not get all upset about stuff you can not control. In other words 'go with the flow' and you are a much happier, calmer person. It is something for me I try to do. I am not there yet but am coming right along in my progress. 

What area of life are you having trouble being still in? Maybe worry about children. Wondering if you will have enough to money after retirement. Worried a tornado or hurricane will destroy your home. Perhaps concerned about the direction our country is going in. Maybe wondering if there is going to be a war. So many things can cause unnecessary stress and there is no reason we have to allow it to. 

God wants you to give Him your burdens. Just think for a moment. Does worry and fret accomplish anything other than giving you illnesses and inability to enjoy life? All the worry in the world is not going to do anything. There are those who may say "well that is just me, I am by nature a worrier." If that is you decide today to get a new nature and a new normal. Why live life consumed by things can not control? Now is the time to start trusting God to work things out. 

PRAYER: I realize there is nothing all the worry in the world is going to do to change a situation. Help me Lord rely on prayer instead of scare. Thank you for the peace I can have only through trusting you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Stand Still In Your Valleys

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

Pain and trouble are not fun to endure. For anyone who has been threatened with lawsuits, had friends betray you, been in estate situations with family, a long illness, or had financial difficulties you just sigh and wish it were over. 

Remember God has not abandoned you and all things you go through do in fact strengthen you. You often can not see any hope when you are stuck in a valley of despair. You may wonder why on Earth the pain won't stop. The enemy wants you to bail out, pull the plug and just end your life. That is not the plan of God so hang on!! 

It is sort of cliche but "all things do work together for the good" as it says in Romans 8:28. After a storm comes a rainbow. Keep believing. Be strong. Above all be still as God is still with you. 

PRAYER: You are greater than anything life can throw at me. Guide me into using your wisdom in decisions I make. Help me resist Satan's lies and he has to flee. In Jesus' name. Amen.

I Love You God!

Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.Psalm 99:9

Do you love God? Do you praise His name joyfully? Try this, say over and over "I love you  Lord most high. I praise your name. You are awesome, powerful, and above all. Great is your name and greatly to be praised!" How did that feel? Do it over and over again with enthusiasm. Make believe you are cheering on your favorite sports team. Don't hold back!

What do you think it is going to be like when the King of Glory comes back? Do you suppose people will just say "oh hi there Jesus." No indeed. You will not be able to contain yourself seeing Him in His splendor. Why is it so hard to get excited about Him down here on our temporary earthly home? Maybe you say "oh that's not my church tradition." Forget traditions and focus on God. Really focus on His majesty.

We do not know the day nor the hour our Lord will return. Get excited about serving Him and get excited about His return. He is coming, no doubt about it! 

PRAYER: I can imagine there are people who don't know if they will really go to Heaven. Help me be able to speak of how to be saved when confronted. Also help me never neglect my time alone with you each day. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below and truly worship the Lord your God.

http://youtu.be/mLvit7kMfiY

Envious? Be Content

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

Have you ever caught yourself jokingly or otherwise wishing you could do something,  have something, or be somewhere else one of your friends was?  Your friend does not have to work and you envy her. Your neighbor got a new car and you covet one yourself. Someone you know has tremendous travel adventures and you just wish you could be them. You are maybe jealous of another's success or wealth even though they spent years doing what they needed to do to achieve this. You maybe compare your marriage even to someone else's. A friend remodeled their home and you wish you could. Just never satisfied. 

The enemy loves us to be discontent. For when we are discontent we are taking our eyes off our own blessings and fixating on someone else instead of rejoicing with them. Romans 12:15 has reminded us to "rejoice with those who rejoice" and this means sharing others successes and joys. Jealousy is not a Christlike trait and something to get a grip on if you tend to do some of the things mentioned in paragraph one. It is human nature to maybe envy but not God's nature. 

We each have so much to give God thanks for and each of us is gifted and blessed in unique and different ways. Take your focus off Facebook posts which can tend to make people envy and get your eyes on Jesus and thank Him for what He has done for you. 

PRAYER: Thank you so much for creating me in my mother's womb Lord. You hide me in special ways and have blessed me. Forgive me if I ever become jealous of another and help me nip it in the bud before it takes over. In Jesus' name. Amen.

No Other gods

"You shall have no other gods before me". Exodus 20:3

There is only one true God. We are to worship only Him. But how many of us look to many other idols or god's to satisfy us? I thought about this during the recent broadcast of the Academy Awards in Hollywood. How many people idolize celebrities? I have done it, I confess. The children of the legendary Olympic Gold Medalist in Track and Field, Jesse Owens, whose life is depicted in the recent hit movie release 'Race' said as children, they were unaware their dad was famous. There wasn't TV like today and all the hoopla. Now we elevate celebrities almost above God.

Maybe your 'god' isn't a person, but instead a hobby, the lottery, a career, an obsession of sorts you spend most of your free time on. Our lives need proper balance in order to insure what is important truly is identifiable as important, not just because we say it is. Do you elevate anything else higher than God? Think that over and ask God to reveal to you if you do and convict you of it. 

The Oscars sadly push agendas and in many ways are devoid of God. I keep waiting for a recipient to look up and thank Jesus for their talent and success. I choose to not watch them and try to be careful what films I go to as well. Above all pray for these 'mere men'. We need Jesus. Pure, plain, and simple. Hollywood needs Jesus. Pro athletes need Jesus. Presidents need Jesus. Go seek Him and Him alone today and everyday. He is way better than Oprah or The National Championship in Football.

PRAYER: I am ever so grateful to live in a time when I can go to movies and watch hundreds of TV stations and also have so many things available for me to do. Help me Father to search my heart and make certain nothing I do is being elevated to a god like status. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Keep Your Focus On Him!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

So many people get turned off by politics and by those who dare write something about them in a Christian devotions. Well let's rename politics, concern for our country,  for the purpose of this writing. Lately so much anger, division, and lies has been spread. The populace is fearful and confused. We love our country and what it stands for and we want it back. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 is a verse I first heard at a rally entitled 'Washington for Jesus' back in 1980. Yes in 1980 a massive amount of people were concerned even 36 years ago! I was in attendance in the nation's Capitol. Since this event occurred things steadily got worse. Why? Doesn't God care? Yes of course He does, but mankind has a free will and many have chosen to ignore His word and not take being a Christian seriously. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 says the following "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." We have to not just read this verse but we have to truly do what it says. God is giving us another chance. Are you ready to follow His word and sincerely love and sincerely pray? 

PRAYER: I cry out to you Lord God. Ultimately you decide who is in office in our nation. This does not mean it is the perfect person but may at times be a judgment on our complacency and separation from you. Open my eyes Lord to the truth. Help me follow your word and not be in fear over mere man but trust you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Love Does Not Have To Mean Sex

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4

 I love chick flicks and many of my girlfriends do as well. What bothers me is the way the films have to go 'south' so to speak, in the realm of trying to make its viewers think what  love is.  For instance, a couple is attracted to each other and in two dates they are shown in bed together. This is what our young people are growing up seeing as normal. Sexuality in all its' forms has been perverted and no longer seen as peculiar or abnormal.

God is who we are here to please. We are to live in this world but not be of the world. Today's society with its' messed up thinking on morals and purity is a challenge for those who know the truth. Those Christians who dare speak up about sexuality as Christ sees it are vilified. So much for free speech and right of conscience.

 As a follower of Christ we are called to be set apart not to cave in to political and worldly pressure. Be strong and be kind and show mercy. And above all keep praying and speaking the truth in love to a confused world.

 PRAYER: Purity is important. Our enemy the devil has confused many people's minds as to what is found in the Bible. Help me as I stand strong and stand for moral purity in a world gone crazy. In Jesus' name. Amen.