Snack or Feast?

Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. 1 Peter 2:2

Are you snacking on the things of the Lord or feasting on them? Think about that question for a moment. Snacks are grabbed on the run and normally are not the healthiest thing. A feast, on the other hand, takes time to prepare and time to consume. It is usually the best, especially for company.

Do you desire more than just snack time with the Lord? You have the power to change your schedule and to stop making excuses. If He is really important you will make feast time for Him each day. You make time for other things such as the coffee shop, the gym, shopping, eating out, playing with your pets, doing your hobbies, so isn't God more important? I hope you say yes.

Search your heart today and see if you need some spiritual tweaking to get you on a regular feast time schedule with God.

PRAYER: Help me Lord as I seek to let go of things distracting me from daily time with you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Sit, Stop, Stay!

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

When our beautiful labrador, Sandy, was still with us we often would have to give her commands to get her to obey. "Sit, Stop, Stay!" If trained properly she should follow the commands and obediently do what we asked her to do. It was a necessary measure to keep her under control and let her know who the boss was. 

In our prayer life sometimes we need to learn to be patient and not give up hope. Literally we could use a dose of 'sit, stop, and stay' in our prayers.  Don't rush into prayer and just make it something you feel you have to do but make a dedicated time to lift up concerns to the Lord. During this time don't forget to praise and thank Him for answers He has brought your way. At times God wants to teach us something through our waiting and being still process. The staying processing would be the part where we do not lose hope. Even something that seems far fetched or way out of reach such as the reunion of an estranged family member or friend, believe me it can happen and does happen. A prodigal child can return to the faith their parents instilled in them as a child. 

What is it you are holding out hope for? God hears your prayers and He is working behind the scenes. His ways are best and He has a plan. 

PRAYER: Lord you are good and thank you for hearing my pleas and my prayers. Help me to remember to get my own life right with God so my prayers are not hindered.(See Isaiah 59:2) Help me not listen to the lies of Satan and be still as I wait to hear from you and see your answers. In Jesus' Name. Amen. 

Breathe In God, Breathe Out Problems

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Are you feeling worn out or do you remember a time when you were? Maybe you feel problems and situations beyond your control are pressing in on you. Perhaps you feel trapped like it will always be this way and tend to get hopeless. My friend hope is right around the corner. There is always hope so do not lose hope.

I'd like you to do a little exercise for me. First stop and go somewhere quiet. No music. No blaring television set. Just peaceful and quiet. Now sit and shut your eyes and breathe in God. Take a deep breath. When you do this just think of how big God is and how He loves you Yes He loves you. After that exhale and breathe out bad stuff. Give Jesus your cares, concerns, fears, issues, worries and know He does not want you to carry this unnecessary burden. Our enemy Satan is the one trying to pile junk on you. It is not God. Breathe in goodness and breathe out bad thoughts and concerns. Keep doing it till you feel better. I guarantee you will. Praise God and thank Him as you breathe in and forget your troubles breathing out. 

God is good all the time and He is waiting to hear from you. 

PRAYER: It is stupid for me to worry about things I can not control. Forgive me when I have not shared my concerns in prayer with you. I choose to have peace in the midst of things going on and know you are working. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Progressive Christian....Say What?

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

I recently saw this terminology, 'progressive Christian'  on a website claiming to be Christian yet more modernized in their approach to topics and world events. Now granted I am not here to judge my fellow man, but there is only one kind of Christian in my humble opinion and that is a 'Christian'. To pick and choose what we think is 'okay' with the Almighty is not our job. And to listen to humans like they know more than God does,  is a bit scary. 

God is love, period. There are a standard set for actions and behavior in the Bible. Many choose to think the Bible is old fashioned. Others may think they are pretty good because they don't engage in 'that sin' meaning the ones God surely said were the ultimate worst ever. If not careful, a person can become puffed up with pride thinking because they don't do 'that' they are pretty good. Well I have news for you. Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." All means all! Yes you and me brother and sister are sinners saved by grace. 

Just remember to follow God's word and not the world's idea of what is correct behavior because our world is greatly misled. We are living in crazy times today. Jesus is still in the business of saving, transforming, healing, and setting free. Don't be deceived by the enemy Satan trying to lure you into a sense everything is permissible. 

PRAYER: I lift up those people in my life who I know are believing lies of the enemy. Please protect me from being caught off guard and deceived. I choose to stay in your word daily and keep praying. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Hot Mike

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

'Hot Mike' is not the name of a movie theater candy nor am I referring to a person named Mike being 'handsome'. The term for purposes of this writing is meaning when a famous person, such as a Congressman or President, does not realize a microphone is turned on and says things they would rather not the public know they said that embarrass them a great deal.We 'not famous' people may not have 'hot mikes' to look out for but we need to still be very careful what we speak and when we speak it. This could pertain to accidental texts and emails too that go to the wrong recipient. 

If we applied the Bible verse in today's reading to every day life it would be easier to do the right thing. First what we think usually comes out of our mouths so if you are aware you have wrong feelings towards someone ask God first to heal that area of your life. We are not to go around hating people and being jealous of them. Nor are we to go around plotting evil. We are to overcome evil with good as it says in Romans 12:21.

In order to avoid the 'hot mikes' in your life try to think good thoughts and take captive wrong thoughts(See 2 Corinthians 10:5) so what comes out of the  mouth is always pleasing to God.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus put a watch of sorts over my heart and my mouth so I only utter things that will bring glory to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.  

Salvation

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.Romans 10:9

Not everyone who reads these devotions may be 'saved' or 'know' Jesus. I can remember when I lived in California in the mid 1970's the 'Jesus Movement' was going on and a cute campaign entitled "I Found It'.  I was a relatively new born again 'baby' Christian then and did some of the work on this campaign door to door. It was a bit out of my comfort zone. Many people feel they have done their part simply due to being baptized or joining a church. Many surprises await folks at the gates of heaven when a person has not asked Jesus into their heart. 

I just remember how excited I was about the things of the Lord after being born again. I had been raised in church but never had a personal experience until I was a young adult. I wanted to read my Bible. I wanted to go to a vibrant church. I wanted to get away from religiosity and judging and manmade requirements about salvation. Sure I had a journey ahead of me and it was not all a bed of roses, but in these years since that day in 1975 I have stumbled a few times but the Lord has lifted me back up.  I just love sharing about Jesus with others and label me a Jesus freak, that is okay. 

Do you get excited about the Lord? Maybe you have been in same church all your life and really do not feel on fire or excited about Sunday at all. Maybe church is your hobby. It might be time to breakaway and find somewhere that you can come alive and grow in Christ. 

PRAYER: Lord you are good, all the time. I love you and I love your word. Forgive me for ever letting the world shape my thinking and not You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Authentication Required

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

I am settled into a cozy chair in a coffee shop to begin writing for about an hour. I have a delicious large iced latte in front of me and proceed to log in. This is a place I had been recently and created a log in account. You can probably guess what happened. Nothing I tried got me onto the network so for the next hour I would either do what I could without Internet or be frustrated. The message I kept getting was 'Authentication Required'.

Aren't you glad that when we pray we have direct access to the Father with no error messages? No passwords required to get into church,open our Bibles,listen to Christian radio yet how many people still fail to even have the desire to get closer to God. We have 'all access' passes to the Father in Heaven. How great is that?! Until there is a tragedy or reason to cry out to Him for help He is sadly ignored by many. Maybe you don't mean to ignore Him but other things in your busy life tend to squeeze out a morning quiet time. You used to do it but they sort of went by the wayside when you got caught up in the world and the fun stuff you chose to do instead.

Maybe it is time to come back to the Savior making Him the priority above all else. There is no secret handshake, gold card, or special key needed to access Him. Just open up your mouth and say "Jesus I'm here and I need you."

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I am thankful I can talk to you any time and any where. I thank you that you love me even when I have ignored you. I choose to be still and listen to your still small voice. Help me order my days to make time for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link for a song of worship:

http://youtu.be/rVQqdMt0NNQ