Archive - October 2007

October 29, 2007
Jeremiah 7:23
...Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you.
Life is much simpler than we often profess it to be. God is God and we are not. He's right about everything and is the authority on every matter concerning life and godliness. Whether we find life to be hard or easy is really based on our response to Him and His Lordship.
Is life heavy on your shoulders? Don't run to the phone. Run to the throne. Go to God. Listen to Him and do whatever He tells you to do. In the book of John, chapter two, Jesus and His mother are at a wedding. The host of the wedding finds himself in a difficult situation: he has run out of wine. Mary asks Jesus for help and then says to those serving at the feast, "Whatever He tells you to do, do it."
Feeling a little dry? Turn to Jesus, and whatever He tells you to do, do it. If you're not sure what He's saying, look into His Word and find wisdom for your situation. God will always speak from the truth of His Word.
The lighter side of life is found in the security and sweetness of honoring God as Lord. Listen to and obey His voice... "that it may be well with you."
 
October 25, 2007
 
How do you view authority?
In respect to those in leadership over us, it's tempting to look at personalities and policies rather than position. In a world full of opinions we may find our willingness to comply is based on our personal evaluation. We are called to recognize and cooperate with people in places of authority. Our behavior is viewed by God as a response to His will. God promotes; God lifts up or removes 'kings'. Whether or not we agree with policies, we must have a reverence for position and act accordingly, respectfully. This can become increasingly difficult for those who are very close to authority figures. Familiarity, if not disciplined, can breed contempt. Such an attitude will render you useless to God - powerless in life.
I encourage you today - take a look at your attitude regarding authority and ask God to check out your heart. Listen to Him and be willing to improve.
 
October 22, 2007
Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?
This Lord is the stronghold of my life - of who shall I be afraid?...
For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock...
My heart says of You, "Seek His face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek...
I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
You are not alone in your circumstance. God is with you and He is for you - there is nothing to fear! He will prove to be your source of wisdom and salvation. He will help you get through this time and rise up in victory.
Don't stop in the middle of the valley - follow Him to the summit. With God, you will overcome. While you wait - rest in the promise of His presence - He is with you - there is nothing to fear!
Just like David, you will see the goodness of God in the land of the living!
 
October 16, 2007
Matthew 11:29
Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.
I have spent a great deal of my life full of ambition and desire to do great things. Before I committed my life to Christ is was all about me - all ambition and desire was focused completely on what I would attain or acquire. Then after I got saved I asked God to baptize me in the Holy Spirit - everything changed. Suddenly I wanted to be in ministry - I wanted to help the world.
I would love to say that every selfish tendency was washed away that day. Unfortunately, there were still selfish areas within me which threatened to contaminate these new desires. For over a decade God has been removing the "me" part from the vision. It's not fun to be corrected but it sure feels good after God's done His work. So good, in fact, that God's really changed my desires from wanting to do great things into just wanting to be holy regardless of the task He sends me to do.
In Andrew Murray's book, Humility, he says "... humility is one of the chief and highest virtues, one of the most difficult to attain, and one to which our first and greatest efforts ought to be directed. Humility is a virtue that only comes in power when the fullness of the Spirit makes us partakers of the indwelling Christ and He lives within us."
I encourage you today to ask God to fill you fresh with His Holy Spirit and to give you a heart of humility. We can learn so much from Christ's example. The Spirit of God will instruct us along the way. Seek humility. Humility will allow us the freedom to really go the distance with God. Look to God - go the distance - live with humility!
 
October 13, 2007
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
When you come to God each day in prayer do you expect anything? Do you expect to be heard and have your prayers answered? Are you expectant when it comes to God?
Sometimes it's easy when a person has been a Christian for a while, to become mechanical. Praying and doing the walk without passion and expecting nothing, that's not faith and it does not demonstrate a high level of admiration for or trust in God. God is great! No really, God IS great! And He loves and cares for us, meaning He takes His greatness and puts it in action in our lives.
So who can really know God intimately? The Word of God tells us that it's the person who believes the best about God; believing that He is real, alive and that He is good and generous. That person will know God intimately.
He brings good into the life of every believer. I encourage you today to stir up your faith - look to the greatness of God - and truly, passionately, BELIEVE!
 
 
October 8, 2007
Philippians 1:6
And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Some time ago, God interrupted a long sorrowful period in my life with a startling statement. I had been in remorse over circumstances that turned out differently than I had hoped. I was stuck in a state of sadness and afraid to move forward. God had been working in me for months; giving me His Word to bring healing and hope. He was so faithful - but for some reason, I remained stuck.
Then one day it was as if I could see Him. He came right in front of me, grabbed me by the arms and said, "If I came right now to you in the flesh and promised you that I would make this work and help you to flourish in My Will - would you quit mourning and move on?" I don't know if it was the shock of the vivid picture or the words He spoke - but I woke up with a startle. "Yes, I would KNOW and could move on in the confidence of knowing everything would be alright."
Then He said "I did come in the flesh and everything I did was so that you could be free; free from the pain of sin, from the hurts of the past; free from every weight that would hinder you. I came and gave what you required to be free. It's done - now live free."
When I saw that, I realized God is truly walking ahead of me, causing all things to work together for my good. All I have to do is keep my head up, and my eyes set on Him. I earnestly want to obey Him and I am continually learning how to trust Him with the details of life that are beyond my control.
Feeling stuck? Want to move on? God's power is present to save, deliver and heal. What Christ did on the cross and through the resurrection established once and for all our freedom. Everything He said then, He's saying to you right now! His Word has not changed. Rise up, shake off the dust and move ahead - He's at work in your life! You will see the salvation of God as you move forward.
 
 
October 6, 2007
Isaiah 40:5
And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.
This morning as I consider the day and week ahead, I find great inspiration from the thought that the glory of God will be revealed before all mankind; everyone will see it. It's good to hold that thought up before our eyes, and like a compass, allow it to direct our lives. I want to live my life exuding faith in His return.
Luke 3 contains the same proclamation found in Isaiah. It is followed with this powerful response:
vs. 8 Bear fruits that are deserving and consistent with repentance [that is conduct worthy of a heart changed, a heart abhorring sin].
Be encouraged and challenged to watch for good fruit this week. As I am doing the work set before me, I will be checking for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentlenesss and self-control. When He returns may He find us faithful - and fruitful!
 
October 1, 2007
Colossians 3:8-10
But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips! Do not lie to one another for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices, and have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.
Last week as I was dressing, I had one of those woman moments where I didn't know what to wear. The weather was warm outside and the building where I would be speaking would be chilly. I was tired of my summer clothes and not ready to dive into my winter wardrobe. I felt unsure of what would be the right thing to wear.
Thankfully, getting our "inner self" dressed is not such a challenge. Or, is it? In a negative culture, I can look pretty normal wearing just a touch of a negative attitude or carrying what I consider to be a justifiable grudge. As Christians we have been re-made and fashioned to enjoy the freshness of a new life in Christ. To put on that new "outfit" we have to say good-bye to yesterday's wardrobe: anger, selfishness, greed etc. Those rags have got to go, completely. Not only do they not fit anymore - they make for terrible accessories - they just don't match the outfit.
I encourage you today - check out your clothes. Are you dressed for success, putting on the nature of Christ each day? Is it time to part with something that's not your style anymore? "Put away and rid yourselves of all these things" and clothe "yourselves with the new...!