Do You Love The Word?

Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, But he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] will be rewarded. Proverbs 13:13

I love reading the Bible. I am no scholar by any means but daily it guides me in life and encourages me. It is a light to me in a dark world. Your enemy Satan would do anything to keep you from reading the word and teaching it to your children because through it your learn to defeat him and his schemes. 

Why is it so many seem to either go to church but never pick up the word or don’t go at all and have no desire for the word? They may be good decent people but are either puzzled as to where to start or to them it is boring and they would rather feed their mind on morning shows. The Holy Spirit has to draw them to it. So if you need more of Jesus pray for the Holy Spirit to give you that yearning. And if you are praying for family members to seek Him keep on and don’t quit. 

Don’t be guilty of rejecting God’s word. He loves you. He is knocking on your hearts door you need only to answer the call. Find a church home and keep the Sabbath day Holy as it says in the Ten Commandments. Seek Him and you find Him. The more you avoid Jesus the more Satan can captivate and mislead you. Don’t let him. 

PRAYER: Lord I love you but it always was not that way. I remember when I ignored your word and thought church was enough. Forgive me. Draw those people to you who seem complacent and say they hate church. Help them be guided by truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

God Is Bigger

It is God who arms me with strength  and keeps my way secure. Psalm 18:32

What is looming over you like a giant mountain? Problems, situations, fears can abound and really drag you down if you let them. Stop and say out loud “My God is way bigger than this problem!” and then believe it and live it. Don’t start entertaining doubt, doom, and gloom.

Don’t ‘nurse’ scenarios and ‘what if’s’ in your mind. That is a sure fire way to stay defeated. Start speaking positive and staying hopeful and defeat the enemy at his game of trying to defeat you. You can be joyful even when life throws punches at you. Don’t feed your mind on negative stuff like news and gossip of others.

Every day get up and say “This is the day the Lord has made and I WILL rejoice and be GLAD in it” then do it!

PRAYER: Lord God I know you are with me even when it does not appear so. I choose to stay positive in a negative fearful world. Your ways are great and good. I love you Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Love Regardless

Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. Luke 29:31

I have been part of a small group at my church called Freedom and two principles we discussed were the Tree of Life versus the Tree of Good and Evil. When you have ugly less than kind Christ centered moments you are living in the Tree of Good and Evil. When you are forgiving, Christ centered, and loving you are in the Tree of Life. 

Human nature tends to lean towards the mean selfish side of wanting to be right and have your own way. If you deal with people like this whether in your family, at work, or in public try to remember to stay in the Tree of Life and turn the other cheek. When someone hurts you the Tree of good and evil side of you wants to strike back. Resist that urge and stay calm. 

How many squabbles could be avoided if you could stay peaceful through conflict and hurt? Why is it necessary to be right? Why is it necessary to get the final word? Be cool, calm, and collected and love and forgive. 

PRAYER: Father God I love you and I love your word and want to stay joyful and content even when I am being kicked under the table so to speak. Let your love shine through me to others and even to those who have wronged me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Raging Mockery

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Proverbs 9:7-8

Today these United States are torn mainly by political divide and a media who seemingly is one sided stoking the fire. You may be tempted to chime in on social media but it will do no good as supposed friends and associates who don’t agree will engage you in a battle of mockery. It can get ugly. It is no way to witness to others that is for sure.

Stay peaceful. Keep opinions to yourself. Pray. Show love. Reach across the great divide to sow goodness. It is the enemy who wants to have this mockery and hatred continue. The evil demonic spirits rejoice when division occurs. They love false witnesses and spreading dissent. Your job is to continue in prayer, love, and be still. 

God has this so let Him handle it. 

PRAYER: Oh Lord I thank you for freedom. I thank you for truth. I thank you for the word of God. Help me learn to not feed my mind with things that get me angry and upset. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Righteous Living

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. Psalm 112:5-6

A righteous person is highly thought of and will be remembered long after he or she departs this earth. One known for giving, sharing, honesty, integrity, good morale character and one who is sold out to God. Do you feel this description fits you or needs some tweaking perhaps? 

Each day you have choices to make. Choices to do right or wrong. Choices to be kind or mean. Choices to share or be stingy. Choices to love unconditionally or judge. Where do you fit in? Just asking so you will ponder this for a while. 

Righteous people are not self righteous, where that be would proving to everyone how good you are, but instead are right standing with God. He is first. They strive to be like Him and are not ashamed to identify with Him. Today start living the kind of life where others can see Jesus in you. Don’t be ashamed of Him. Don’t deny Him. Someday then you will hear “well done my good and faithful servant!”.

PRAYER: Oh Lord you are beautiful. Your face is all I seek. Forgive me when I put the Today Show before my time alone with you. Draw me to your side and never let me go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Awestruck!

Let  all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. Psalm 33:8

What makes you awestruck? A beautiful sunset. Last year’s total eclipse. A newborn baby. Gazing at the purple mountain majesty. Today’s verse indicates that perhaps we should be awestruck by God His majesty and power. Are you? It also says to “fear Him” and this is not in the sense of being frightened but fear as in respect. 

Maybe you don’t give a passing thought of how awesome God is. Stop for a moment from whatever is you are doing and think of His creation. Next think of his mighty power. There is truly nothing like our God. The church I attend has many worship songs before the sermon begins and many lift their hands in the air in praise to our Almighty God. It is a wonderful thing to truly lift up your arms in praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

If you are not in awe of Him do you want to be? Hopefully your answer is yes. Pause from your busyness and meditate on the goodness, power, and glory of God. Give Him praise just for who He is. He is Great and Greatly to be praised.

PRAYER: Your majesty is awesome Lord. I lift your name on high and love to sing your praises. Wake up those I know who have not experienced this type of freedom to truly worship you for who you are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Death Where Is Your Sting?

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

As I sat in my local Subaru dealer service waiting area, I noticed a picture up on the glass on the cashier cage, of a young man who worked there whose memorial service was that very day. Come to find out he was only 21 and apparently died in an accident. Very tragic. So young. Leaves behind shocked co workers and heart broken parents and family. 

Death is something all of us will face. There is no escape. No one knows how, when , where, or why but no one lives forever although many wish they could. Death is part of life. The thing is, you need to prepare for death and not dread it. For one,  make sure you have asked Jesus into your heart so when you take your final breath you don’t await a terrifying fate for eternity. Heaven and hell are real my friend. 

Grief is normal and makes us ponder eternity. In grief, think of the person you are grieving for and do what you can to help those left behind. The person who died, if a believer, is walking with Jesus free from all the junk here on Earth. Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I pray you will use me to lead others to you. I pray for those I know who are confused about heaven and hell to not let the enemy trick them or get mad at God for the death of a loved one. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

In memory of Danny Storch, Subaru technician, Huntsville, AL.