Stay Out Of The Pig Pen

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

Oh my goodness what has happened to America! Compromise of values, tolerating of obvious sin. Turning the other cheek and getting desensitized to what is blatantly not of the Lord.

The more we tolerate an evil society that can’t tell right from wrong, the closer we are to God’s judgment. If it feels right do it should not be our national Motto. Nor should happiness over holiness.

To stay out of the pig pen keep your mind saturated with truth. That little voice inside of you should be keeping you on the right path.Run from wrong and evil. Don’t lower your standards to be part of the crowd. Be ready to in love answer anyone who would ask how you are able to live a life like this. Only Jesus can give you strength to not run with the world.

PRAYER: Father God I have slipped into the pig pen on occasion but you are there to lift me out and clean me up. I pray for those I know in this worldly pig pen to see God’s light and turn from evil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Don't Leave Home Without Him!

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

 Many of you have probably seen the TV commercial for a certain credit card company telling us to “not leave home without it”. Have you ever considered not leaving home without Jesus?

Everything else is so crucial to your day but what about putting on that armor of God before heading out the door to start the day. The armor of course I am referring to is reading the word of God. It is your shield and buckler and lifter of your head when you need strength.

What is more important than your walk with God? Maybe it is time to prioritize your morning and get Jesus back in the place he rightfully belongs.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I need discipline in my life and more importantly desire for the word. Teach me to do what is right and not let the activities of my day put you on back burner. In  Jesus’ name. Amen.

Flipping Out

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

Does something ever happen that makes you feel crazy? Conflicts, turmoil, sudden changes in life, relationship issues, work situations? Whatever it is when you start to lean too much on yourself that is not good. 

The verse today says to trust with ALL your heart. Don’t try to figure things out on your own. Seek God’s advice and comfort. He is your friend,counselor, and confidant. 

So when things in life get a little crazy and haywire don’t run to the phone but run to the throne, of God that is! 

PRAYER: Sometimes big time spiritual warfare kicks in and if not careful I can get nuts and succumb to the attacks of Satan. Help me to stand strong in the storms of life that come my way and keep focused on above. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Under The Hood

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Have you popped your vehicle’s hood lately and checked the oil and other fluid levels? This is something many don’t think of and joke they are waiting for the red light to come on to get their oil changed. Too late then. To keep your vehicle running it needs maintenance and care on a daily basis. 

Likewise believers need to check under their ‘spiritual hood’ daily too. Are you getting fed scripture on a daily basis? Are you listening to worship music to lift your soul? Are you keeping distractions that could pull you away from the Lord away such as bad movies, too much TV, inappropriate reading material? Are you keeping the Sabbath day Holy by attending a place to worship? This is more than what some say is a ‘brick and mortar building’ which they don’t need cause they love God. The point of a ‘building’ is that is where you find fellowship with other believers which is essential to grow and stay on track. 

So is it time for you to do a spiritual check up to make sure your spirit man is in working order? 

PRAYER: Thanks so much for living in a nation where at least for now I can read my Bible freely in public if I so choose. I can worship publicly and not have to go to an underground church. Help me stay tuned up for you Lord and convict me when I start to stray and need to get back into my spiritual garage. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Not On God’s Watch

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”Ezekiel 36:37-38 

These verses above indicate the Lord would fill the ruined cities with flocks of people, and they would know that He is the Lord. There is much chaos and anti Jewish sentiment in our nation and in the world and now even a couple of our US elected officials are part of the anti Semitic crowd. It is unbelievable. But hey, God is still God and the truth will set people free. 

You need to be praying daily for those who stir up hate, terrorism, anger, lies, bigotry against believers, and further those who seek to disrupt by manipulating others and twisting the truth. There are some in Congress who definitely wreak of anti patriotism and try to get others on their bandwagon. Pray for those confused souls to find the Lord instead of getting angry at them. 

The Bible tells us to pray for our enemies. Also pray for the blinders of  Satanic deception to be lifted off thousands some of which may be friends or family. God is love and where there is a spirit of anger and division that is not from God but from the pit of hell. Do not engage in arguments with others either directly or on social media but stay peaceful and pray. God is on the throne and He is staying there. 

PRAYER: Father God I thank you for placing me just where I am in the world. I pray for those who are gifted at interacting with those who try to commit Jihad and destroy America and take over the world. I pray for the spirit of love and truth to increase more and more as believers shine the light of Jesus wherever their journey takes them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessed Is The Man

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. Psalm 1:1

Did you know that as you run your race to win you have to keep looking to the cross and avoid the pull of this world to drag you into the lusts of this world? As this verse indicates it is essential you don’t follow the path of the wicked.

The Holy Spirit living inside of you convicts of sin and can let you know when you need to run far and fast away from something. Some of you may know others who have strayed from the truth as they listened to captivating voices sent by the evil one to try to destroy them. When you don’t study and read God’s word it can be very easy to follow enticing voices and be convinced they are right.

Is your delight in the law of the Lord and the scriptures or are you more delighted in the captivating voices and lies of the world? In order to recognize the truth you have to stay in the word. Where are your loyalties in life? Worldliness or Godliness?

PRAYER: Lord I love your word and I want to try on the path you have for me never turning to the right or left. Help me recognize evil and run from it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When There Are No Words

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Philippians 1:21-24

Life has twists and turns. When you are going full steam ahead and there is a sudden horrible bump in the road such as loss of a child, spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, or something so unexpected it throws you for  a loop where do you turn?

When the tragedy comes in the form of death of a newlywed spouse where are the words? All I can say is stuff happens and God has a way of redeeming and setting things on the right course. “Yeah that is all fine and good Lord but why did you take my child away?” “I can’t stand it Lord, we were only married two years, why oh why?”
“How do I raise two small children without a dad?”

Pain and heartbreak is part of life. With the good comes the not so good or at least at the time it is horrible and you want to die yourself. There are no words to really answer questions such as the ones I included today but hold on to God’s rope and He will see you through. Talk to Him in prayer, even cry out and scream if it makes you feel better. If you have a person in your life this has happened to just be there for them and listen. Don’t try to say “well they are in a better place” because that hurts even though we know it is true. Stand firm, keep praying, keep breathing, keep believing in hope and don’t just quit on life. God will get you through this horrible time and can turn those ashes into beauty.

PRAYER: Father I need help in knowing what to say to someone when the unpredicted and unexplainable happens in their life. Comfort those reading who have gone through this valley of the shadow of death and strengthen them to see the light at the end of this very dark tunnel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NOTE: In memory of Michael Eisenhour husband of my friend Lenore Appelhans. May God strengthen Lenore and his children and get them through this tragedy.