Love Your Enemies

"If your enemy is hungry, [then] give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, [then] give him water to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.'"Proverbs 25:21-22 

Easy to say “love your enemies” but are you really doing it? Who are your enemies? Think about all the junk Jesus endured yet He has no hatred in His heart for his oppressors. None! Whew! 

The love we must have for our enemies is supernatural love which only comes from the Holy Spirit. If you say you love God but hate your brother that is not real love. You have to ask God to help you love others through His eyes and with His strength. 

Ask God to help you not ‘go there’ when it comes to hating. You may get angry with certain people and how they are trying to change our nation into a pigpen, or you may get angry at those who are perpetuating lies being accepted as truth but your job is to love and pray. Period. Just do it. 

PRAYER: Lord I confess that there are those individuals who I may feel justified at classifying as enemies yet you want me to love them. Love is transformative. Give me supernatural ability to love the unlovable. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Don’t Negotiate...Set Your Standard

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Revelation 2:4

Church not on your priority list? Want to hike instead? Need to sleep in?  May say you don’t need to be in church to be a Christian? You can worship on your own but then do you? There is a game on TV at same time. Whatever the excuse many people don’t get excited about the Sabbath Day and keeping it Holy. Hope you are not one of them.

Embrace God and a higher standard or suffer the consequences. How can you know and grow in the Lord by saying any of the things above? Perhaps it is a heart issue?Excuses don’t get you closer to God and they don’t help you run hard after God. They do make Satan extremely delighted because he likes it when you don’t want to make an effort to have Christian fellowship cause then he and his minions can suck you further away from God and into the worlds idea of truth and make you believe lies.

Your strength comes from your Christian standards. How do you expect to grow as a believer if you have no desire for fellowship with other believers? Stop today and ask yourself what the problem is. Maybe it is time to find a new church home that preaches truth and is dynamic and growing. Keep in mind you are here on Earth for His purposes and it is essential that you stay grounded with fellow believers. What do you need to do to make some changes to get this to happen?

PRAYER: Oh Lord sometimes I give heed more to newspapers and books than in studying your truth in the Bible. Help me make you a priority and I lift up any friends and family who are not desiring Christian fellowship that they would run back to you and you keep pursuing them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Oscar Nomination Does Not Equate Wholesomeness

I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. Psalm 103:1

It is the time of year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tries to tell us what movies we should go see. Simply getting a nod for a Golden Globe or Oscar does not mean it is an edifying movie and glorifies God. We as believers need to set a standard for what we watch. And just because Hollywood says it is okay is not your standard. 

Think about it. Your body is the temple of God yet do we treat it like that? Abuse comes in many forms such as in your mind through movies and other media, through your physical body by being obese or drinking too much or smoking. Ponder for a moment how you can make sure your body is a true vessel that can bring glory to the Most High.

Don’t just think seeing everything is okay because you become like what you allow into your heart, spirit, and mind. Everyone needs discipline in order to maintain a close walk with the Lord. It is learning to say no to things even if others mock you. Are you up for the task or do you choose to remain in a desensitized stupor? 

PRAYER: Father I really want to honor you in my entertainment choices. Help me remember to be in the world but not OF the world. Help me be discerning enough that if look upon something inappropriate I will recognize it and be convicted to turn the other way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

His Praise Shall Continually Be On My Lips!

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

Did you know that in the Bible it says “In ALL things give thanks” like really? That is what the word of God says. You mean everything? 

It is certainly hard to say “Lord I want to thank you for the death of my spouse or my newborn.” I don’t think this means you are overjoyed but know that God has a way of making things right. Sure it is painful and in many cases you want to crawl in a hole and die yourself. 

Mainly the Lord wants you to know even though He did not cause the calamity you endure be it death, job loss, divorce, bankruptcy, wayward child, child who has made wrong life choices, and more that the years the locust has eaten can be restored. The main thing is to keep your faith. 

Some of the lowest most hurting people in society are those many people think deserve just what they got and I am referring to inmates in jails, prisons, and detention facilities. Prison ministry is flourishing and these men and women who choose to be a part of a prison church fellowship while incarcerated can get closer to God, repent, and get restoration right there when locked up. They praise the Lord in the midst of where they are? Can you? 

PRAYER: Thank you dear Lord for being here for us 24-7 with just a prayer. My heart aches for those who obviously have a valid reason to not feel joyful. Heal wounded hearts of anyone I know suffering. Help them not turn away from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Morally Bankrupt?

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5:20

Christians in this culture today are fighting against many who try to justify certain actions  by saying if we disagree we are ‘haters’ when really what is happening is Satan is dividing this land, many in families, many friends, by planting seeds of doubt in some to be morally confused. Satan divides and confuses and tries to keep believers who are caught up in certain situations from getting help to leave or justifies things by ‘it’s my right’. 

Being a believer means you follow the word of God but it does not mean we are not without fault but when a society tries to say ‘anything goes’ in marriage, changing to another gender,  or killing a creation of God at any stage of development is okay there is a MAJOR problem. 

We are not to stop loving people, beat them over the head with the Bible, or argue our point but simply to keep praying and to keep loving and let God work the miracle. 

PRAYER: Oh Lord God I hate the devil and how he is tricking and confusing many of those I dearly love into believing modern day lies to try to keep them from you. Take the hatred from hearts of those who refuse to pray for our leaders and let politics control their beliefs. Forgive this nation for killing 60 million babies or more. We ask you to turn evil hearts to good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sea Of Tranquility

He must increase and I must decrease. John 3:30

As I was flying back from the Nations Capitol one late afternoon and after punching through clouds the aircraft glided above what almost appeared like a ‘sea’ of clouds. When you fly and gaze out the window it is easy to  get so excited about God’s creation. 

I got to thinking how little we are and how gigantic God is. He is God! The Almighty. The creator of those who love Him and those who reject Him. Looking outside my window at this vast sky from a plane window at 35000 feet is nothing compared to the astronauts view  from the Space Shuttle who gazed at a ‘ball’ from space. How could a person be an atheist with all this beauty out the window? 

Maybe you are scared to fly or don’t fly, but get outside and look up at the vastness of God’s creation. His creation reminded me once again about how great God is. Stop and give him praise for all he has done for you and thank him for where he has you today. His ways are so much greater than ours. 

PRAYER: I stand in awe of you Lord and all you created for us to enjoy. My heart aches for those who reject you. I pray for a fresh revelation of you to those who may not know you or reject you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Peace Be With You Every Day!

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Has something got you frazzled today? It could be a bad medical report, fear of socialist destruction of democracy, anxiety of job termination, inability to pay bills, loss of a friendship, or many other things.

There are apps designed for purposeful relaxation and in this frazzled world of always busy and being worried and on edge it may be a good discipline to incorporate into your daily routine. Breathing exercises to help relax you and instill peace. Not referring to mind control but simply relaxing on purpose. There are even Christian apps that read scripture to you and help you change your mindset. One of my favorites of called Abide.

Just like the words I AM GOD in the verse for today remember who holds the future. Get to know Him better. Give him the first part of your day and trust Him above all others. Get rid of things causing you to fear and fret and saturate yourself with Jesus!

PRAYER: I love your word Lord and seeking you and bowing down to you and not fear that mere men create. I pray for any others today who may be anxious over things to let you take those concerns and help them have peace and pursue peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.