Lord and Father, this morning I come to You with a heavy heart and a wounded spirit for circumstances have been too much to carry on my own. Help me to know You more and cast away the lies the enemy would have me believe. It is his purpose to separate me from You but I am determined to come through this while holding Your hand because I know no one knows me better than You do. No matter how much my wounds show You see me as nothing but lovely and beautiful, for I am Yours. Lord, I need to feel Your love this hour and I need to know You are holding me through this storm, please break through my doubt and let me know You are here with me in this time of sorrow. Bring peace to my children as I seek You and cause them to know You better as I journey on this path. Help me to set an example that is real and authentic but also help me to express the pieces of joy You cause me to find along the way so that they may learn how to find You when they need a hero too. You are God and You alone are my salvation where can I run but to You?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
My Judgment is Just
John 5
Jesus said His judgment is just (verse 30) because He carries out the will of His Father, the One who sent Him and not His own will. To be open and completely honest I ask myself, how many times have I passed judgment on someone and the motive behind it is because of my own will? Do you want to know if your judgment is just then ask yourself who’s will are you satisfying? Do you sense pride after the fact in that you are not like them? Do you somehow feel better about yourself later after condemning others for not keeping the faith? Jesus had much to say about this type of person in chapter five, as a matter of fact His healing of the sick man seems to serve the purpose of introduction to this conversation and to make sure this happened Jesus appeared to the sick man a second time and it was then the healed turned Jesus over to His accusers. The reality of the whole thing is that Jesus was drawing a line in the sand – continue judging this way and you yourselves will be judged! But instead put on the mind of Christ seeking the Father’s will in all you do and say.
Lord, I’ve done plenty to keep me humble. Help me not to seek a crown when I’m doing well but to seek You first in all things. As much as I don’t like thinking of my own failures please remind me of them when I am tempted to choose pride for it is better to be wounded and rescued than die on the battlefield. You have purposed for each of us much more than judging one another, help us to get closer to that purpose each day as we seek You and fill us with your Holy Spirit so that our hearts and minds will be on the Heavenly not the earthly, amen.
Jesus said His judgment is just (verse 30) because He carries out the will of His Father, the One who sent Him and not His own will. To be open and completely honest I ask myself, how many times have I passed judgment on someone and the motive behind it is because of my own will? Do you want to know if your judgment is just then ask yourself who’s will are you satisfying? Do you sense pride after the fact in that you are not like them? Do you somehow feel better about yourself later after condemning others for not keeping the faith? Jesus had much to say about this type of person in chapter five, as a matter of fact His healing of the sick man seems to serve the purpose of introduction to this conversation and to make sure this happened Jesus appeared to the sick man a second time and it was then the healed turned Jesus over to His accusers. The reality of the whole thing is that Jesus was drawing a line in the sand – continue judging this way and you yourselves will be judged! But instead put on the mind of Christ seeking the Father’s will in all you do and say.
Lord, I’ve done plenty to keep me humble. Help me not to seek a crown when I’m doing well but to seek You first in all things. As much as I don’t like thinking of my own failures please remind me of them when I am tempted to choose pride for it is better to be wounded and rescued than die on the battlefield. You have purposed for each of us much more than judging one another, help us to get closer to that purpose each day as we seek You and fill us with your Holy Spirit so that our hearts and minds will be on the Heavenly not the earthly, amen.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Living Water
John 4
Again the woman at the well, like Nicodemus, shows us there is more to this life than the day to day things we do or even concerns we have such as where we worship. Like this woman we many of us do our best understanding our particular given (uncontrolled) circumstances (she was a Samaritan) and her weaknesses and temptations (controlled). Some know and understand these things others turn a blind eye but it seems to be the former that are drawn to Jesus and He to them, even before they know what He has to offer. For Jesus told this woman (verse 10) “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water.” It was in this contact with Jesus that the individual is made to examine their own heart, their decisions, and their deep need for a Savior and it is in that moment that Jesus rescues and delivers. He is a hero standing on the hilltop with an unnerving care for your needs, causing you to let down your guard and lay aside the defenses you’ve used to protect your weary heart thus far but with a majestic stare into the distance you know there is great purpose in this man, this hero. Unknown to this woman this very man would lay down His life for all mankind soon and because of that the world would come to know who He is and many would be rescued, just as she was that day.
Again the woman at the well, like Nicodemus, shows us there is more to this life than the day to day things we do or even concerns we have such as where we worship. Like this woman we many of us do our best understanding our particular given (uncontrolled) circumstances (she was a Samaritan) and her weaknesses and temptations (controlled). Some know and understand these things others turn a blind eye but it seems to be the former that are drawn to Jesus and He to them, even before they know what He has to offer. For Jesus told this woman (verse 10) “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water.” It was in this contact with Jesus that the individual is made to examine their own heart, their decisions, and their deep need for a Savior and it is in that moment that Jesus rescues and delivers. He is a hero standing on the hilltop with an unnerving care for your needs, causing you to let down your guard and lay aside the defenses you’ve used to protect your weary heart thus far but with a majestic stare into the distance you know there is great purpose in this man, this hero. Unknown to this woman this very man would lay down His life for all mankind soon and because of that the world would come to know who He is and many would be rescued, just as she was that day.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
To be born of the Spirit
John 3
Jesus used Nicodemus’ questions to help us understand why the Son of Man had come down to earth. Many had waited in great expectation for a deliverer, someone who would set them free from those who tormented them and perhaps that is, in part, the reason why many overlooked Jesus’ purpose. John told his disciples this about Jesus (verse 32) “He testifies about what He has seen and heard, but how few believe what He tells them!” Nicodemus was well versed in the law and Jesus said he was respected for it but his spiritual understanding was in its infancy. Still it was because of the Holy Spirit he talked to Jesus that day and therefore opened the door to his own spiritual growth. When Jesus explained the first thing about his spiritual life Nicodemus returned to what he knew and understood best and therefore assumed Jesus was talking about the physical and wondered how a grown man could re-enter the womb. You can almost hear Jesus say, “Now stay with me Nicodemus” as He explained how the rebirth of the spirit is necessary to see heaven. Until then the Jewish people depended upon their own ability to live within the confines of the law of Moses to receive God’s goodness and mercy but Jesus had come to deliver them from these (chains). Only those who passed through the door of spiritual rebirth had eyes to see what Jesus had done for them, requiring the first step in faith. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” (NLT). For the Son of Man is the Deliverer they had all been waiting for but His work was masked by the people’s inability to understand the spiritual. For the tormentors of the flesh would pass away but Jesus was more concerned about that which tormented their spirits, the eternal but understood the physical needs sometimes required attention first therefore removing that which blinded them to their own spiritual needs.
Jesus used Nicodemus’ questions to help us understand why the Son of Man had come down to earth. Many had waited in great expectation for a deliverer, someone who would set them free from those who tormented them and perhaps that is, in part, the reason why many overlooked Jesus’ purpose. John told his disciples this about Jesus (verse 32) “He testifies about what He has seen and heard, but how few believe what He tells them!” Nicodemus was well versed in the law and Jesus said he was respected for it but his spiritual understanding was in its infancy. Still it was because of the Holy Spirit he talked to Jesus that day and therefore opened the door to his own spiritual growth. When Jesus explained the first thing about his spiritual life Nicodemus returned to what he knew and understood best and therefore assumed Jesus was talking about the physical and wondered how a grown man could re-enter the womb. You can almost hear Jesus say, “Now stay with me Nicodemus” as He explained how the rebirth of the spirit is necessary to see heaven. Until then the Jewish people depended upon their own ability to live within the confines of the law of Moses to receive God’s goodness and mercy but Jesus had come to deliver them from these (chains). Only those who passed through the door of spiritual rebirth had eyes to see what Jesus had done for them, requiring the first step in faith. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” (NLT). For the Son of Man is the Deliverer they had all been waiting for but His work was masked by the people’s inability to understand the spiritual. For the tormentors of the flesh would pass away but Jesus was more concerned about that which tormented their spirits, the eternal but understood the physical needs sometimes required attention first therefore removing that which blinded them to their own spiritual needs.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
"Passion for God's house will consume Me"
John 2
Do we have passion for God’s house? What is God’s house, where does He live? Is it in something we can make from brick and mortar or is it something more? God is omnipresent but He dwells among His people, we saw that in the Old Testament with Moses and how the veil separated the Holy from humanity so that He may live among them and we see it in the New Testament as Jesus walked, talked, loved, healed, taught, and ultimately laid down His life so that we could commune with God and He with us once again, as it was in the garden before sin took hold. Passion… God gave everything from the beginning of time to be part of our lives so when Jesus saw the unclean in that holy place He was consumed with it. How can we, being His followers be any less passionate about the condition of our hearts, the place where God dwells?
Lord, sometimes I forget who you are and lose sight of your passion for people. You are the Ancient of Days Daniel chapter seven talks about and you are my friend. You are king David’s Strong tower and Paul’s burning desire and Peter’s companion and teacher. Teach me to love people more and support my wife and children in all situations so that they may know you better, teach me to be more like Jesus today, amen.
Do we have passion for God’s house? What is God’s house, where does He live? Is it in something we can make from brick and mortar or is it something more? God is omnipresent but He dwells among His people, we saw that in the Old Testament with Moses and how the veil separated the Holy from humanity so that He may live among them and we see it in the New Testament as Jesus walked, talked, loved, healed, taught, and ultimately laid down His life so that we could commune with God and He with us once again, as it was in the garden before sin took hold. Passion… God gave everything from the beginning of time to be part of our lives so when Jesus saw the unclean in that holy place He was consumed with it. How can we, being His followers be any less passionate about the condition of our hearts, the place where God dwells?
Lord, sometimes I forget who you are and lose sight of your passion for people. You are the Ancient of Days Daniel chapter seven talks about and you are my friend. You are king David’s Strong tower and Paul’s burning desire and Peter’s companion and teacher. Teach me to love people more and support my wife and children in all situations so that they may know you better, teach me to be more like Jesus today, amen.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
"Come follow Me." Jesus
John 1
I love the picture in John 1 where you see people so hungry for the Messiah, the Savior because it brings them to the greatest decision they will ever make and it’s an opportunity to see the Holy Spirit of God work in their lives. Very quickly you see two camps, those who choose to believe and those who don’t but even those who were ready to believe required God’s touch and confirmation. For John saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and resting on Jesus, for Nathanael it was the moment Jesus told him what he was doing before Philip came and got him, for John’s two disciples it was their teacher’s simple words, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” The same is true for us, our souls were parched and dry and we were thirsty, our hearts were heavy and in need of rest, our minds had come to a dead end road not knowing what to do. All these things happened so that we might recognize our own need for a Savior, the Messiah! Once we heard of Jesus we only needed confirmation from God, through His Holy Spirit. Many come to this place yet cannot believe but others do. The longer I follow Jesus the more I know this is where I belong, notice I didn’t say it became easier but my determination has increased expeditiously and my soul longs for more of Him consistently through the good and the bad, through times of plenty and times of want. Paul said in (Romans 8:38 NLT) “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.” And that is why we follow Him.
I love the picture in John 1 where you see people so hungry for the Messiah, the Savior because it brings them to the greatest decision they will ever make and it’s an opportunity to see the Holy Spirit of God work in their lives. Very quickly you see two camps, those who choose to believe and those who don’t but even those who were ready to believe required God’s touch and confirmation. For John saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and resting on Jesus, for Nathanael it was the moment Jesus told him what he was doing before Philip came and got him, for John’s two disciples it was their teacher’s simple words, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” The same is true for us, our souls were parched and dry and we were thirsty, our hearts were heavy and in need of rest, our minds had come to a dead end road not knowing what to do. All these things happened so that we might recognize our own need for a Savior, the Messiah! Once we heard of Jesus we only needed confirmation from God, through His Holy Spirit. Many come to this place yet cannot believe but others do. The longer I follow Jesus the more I know this is where I belong, notice I didn’t say it became easier but my determination has increased expeditiously and my soul longs for more of Him consistently through the good and the bad, through times of plenty and times of want. Paul said in (Romans 8:38 NLT) “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.” And that is why we follow Him.
Monday, August 6, 2012
When you least expect it
Luke 24
When you least expect it God’s goodness shines through. It seems you hold out as long as you humanly can just to learn God has been waiting for you to relinquish control and you think, “If I had known this I would have let go a long time ago.” But that’s exactly the lesson we need to learn. Over and over we are reminded of this until one day we, without consideration, look to Him first in all things. We need Him not because we are incapable of doing things on our own but because we can, that’s the reason we need Him. Because our ways are not His, when we work things out apart from Him we drift from where we were meant to be and purpose is lost but God is good and like the disciples it seems to be many times in our dismay that God appears and gives us new hope and joy.
When you least expect it God’s goodness shines through. It seems you hold out as long as you humanly can just to learn God has been waiting for you to relinquish control and you think, “If I had known this I would have let go a long time ago.” But that’s exactly the lesson we need to learn. Over and over we are reminded of this until one day we, without consideration, look to Him first in all things. We need Him not because we are incapable of doing things on our own but because we can, that’s the reason we need Him. Because our ways are not His, when we work things out apart from Him we drift from where we were meant to be and purpose is lost but God is good and like the disciples it seems to be many times in our dismay that God appears and gives us new hope and joy.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
a prayer of thankfulness
Lord, help me to trust you more so that I may speak when you say so and remain quiet as you lead. Help me to know the difference between my will and yours so that I may know the truth. In this life at best we see things dimly but when your glory has come we will have new eyes, eyes that allow us to see you and your purpose for all that confuse us now. Surely goodness and mercy cover me all the days of my life, for you have delivered me so that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever more. God, I love you as best I know how but one day I will be free to love you even more and my heart cries out for that day to come quickly! Blessings and glory be unto your name and with a right mind and clean heart I declare You are my salvation unto whom shall I run but you? You are my refuge and my shelter in time of need.
Don't think the enemy is far off
Luke 23
Sometimes it is easy to forget there is an enemy of God who has sworn to bring down as many of God’s children as he possibly can. Unaware we get caught up in doing what is right and warring against the desires of our own flesh, so much so that the reason for those struggles is overlooked! Though there were those i.e. the priests and teachers of religious law who planned and schemed Jesus’ death for a long time and this day represented the climax to their intentions, there were also those that were used by the enemy unknowingly that day. At first glance it is difficult to understand how the people could be so blind when Pilate argued with them to release Jesus (verse 20) even he, being a sinner, could see Jesus was innocent but then the Holy Spirit reminded me these people had been prodded and compelled and ultimately blinded by pure evil, so much so that they believed what they were doing was for the best. That wasn’t completely clear to me until I read what took place during and immediately after Jesus’ death (verses 44 – 48). At noon that day the sky was dark, for the sun hid itself (Matthew 27:51-52 the earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened and many godly men and women were raised from the dead) back in Luke the Bible says, “…and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.” But something even more amazing happened, the veil of the temple that God had Moses make in Exodus 26 (1446 B.C.) which separated people from God Holiness, so He might live among His people, was torn that day (30 A.D.) completely down the middle! Then it is revealed in verses 47 and 48 the Bible says, “When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what happened, they went home in deep sorrow.” It was then the blind the enemy used to accomplish his goal had been removed by God Himself, revealing the truth which they were unable to see before. So when circumstances set themselves against you and your flesh seems to win don’t forget there is an enemy that has come with one purpose to steal and kill and destroy but Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
Sometimes it is easy to forget there is an enemy of God who has sworn to bring down as many of God’s children as he possibly can. Unaware we get caught up in doing what is right and warring against the desires of our own flesh, so much so that the reason for those struggles is overlooked! Though there were those i.e. the priests and teachers of religious law who planned and schemed Jesus’ death for a long time and this day represented the climax to their intentions, there were also those that were used by the enemy unknowingly that day. At first glance it is difficult to understand how the people could be so blind when Pilate argued with them to release Jesus (verse 20) even he, being a sinner, could see Jesus was innocent but then the Holy Spirit reminded me these people had been prodded and compelled and ultimately blinded by pure evil, so much so that they believed what they were doing was for the best. That wasn’t completely clear to me until I read what took place during and immediately after Jesus’ death (verses 44 – 48). At noon that day the sky was dark, for the sun hid itself (Matthew 27:51-52 the earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened and many godly men and women were raised from the dead) back in Luke the Bible says, “…and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.” But something even more amazing happened, the veil of the temple that God had Moses make in Exodus 26 (1446 B.C.) which separated people from God Holiness, so He might live among His people, was torn that day (30 A.D.) completely down the middle! Then it is revealed in verses 47 and 48 the Bible says, “When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what happened, they went home in deep sorrow.” It was then the blind the enemy used to accomplish his goal had been removed by God Himself, revealing the truth which they were unable to see before. So when circumstances set themselves against you and your flesh seems to win don’t forget there is an enemy that has come with one purpose to steal and kill and destroy but Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
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