Seeking God's Favor for My Intentions

2 Chronicales 17:1 – 18:34 King Jehoshaphat was a blessed king because if followed God's commandments but his friend, king Ahab was not favored by God still he wanted the blessings Jehoshaphat enjoyed so he asked Jehoshaphat to join him in battle but when Jehoshaphat sought the counsel of God's prophet the two kings did not get God's blessing to proceed but instead a warning that king Ahab would die if he continued with his plans. What was done next should be a warning to the church today, king Ahab put the prophet in jail and did what he intended to do in the first place but receiving the warning Ahab thought he'd out smart God by letting his friend Jehoshaphat be the only one dressed like a king leading his army. It worked at first and the enemy started chasing Jehoshaphat but then he prayed and the enemy realized it wasn't Ahab. What happened next was God ordained. A soldier from the opposing army randomly shot an arrow into the sky and it came down and struck king Ahab in the joint between his armor plating. Ahab then ordered the chariot driver to take him home because he was badly wounded but before night fall he died, just as God told him he would if he continued with his own plans. I don't care how smart you think yourself to be, if God says don't do it you better listen. You only fool yourself when you try to circumvent God's commands, still God is full of mercy and grace but He is holy and one day we must answer for all that we do and say. We are not perfect and we fall many times but this only proves our need for Jesus Christ and the fact we cannot save ourselves. Many people say God doesn't speak to me and thereby feel reading God's Word irrelevant but at the very heart of the matter is the idea that they would rather follow their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas than ask God. The results are deadly and should you live to a ripe old age and think, “I did alright for myself” the truth is this life is but a small portion of your existence compared to eternity.

God's Plan for My Life

I believe God's great desire for my life is for me to be fully alive no matter what I choose to put my mind and hands to. If I'm turning wrenches great, then do it filled with passion to fix what is broken. If I teach then I should teach with the full knowledge of that subject, if I build then I am to do so with skill and understanding of the design. No matter what I do, if it's something that is within me and I've made connection with the core of who I am then I must do it knowing that the Creator of all life has purposed this and ordained it from the beginning of time specifically for me and in this moment at which it has been revealed to me.

Just like large buildings have many different aspects and each piece must come together for the structure to be raised only the designer knows how each piece fits and the time for it to be placed so do we also have a Heavenly Father who sees across all eternity who knows the beginning from the end, for He is the Great Designer and He sets in motion each piece at the exact moment in time and each person's dream He has placed within them for a purpose that we cannot see or understand yet.

What I was reminded of this morning is that we can either struggle to obtain the dream within our own strength, depending upon our own measure and dealing with our own limitations and setbacks; coming to terms with circumstances set in place by rules and regulations made up by someone who has settled for lesser things and dealing with others who try to hold us back because they are concerned about how they might look if we do succeed or we can plug into the source of power that comes from the One who has destined for us to become this and more. Not only is His strength unlimited but His blessings are full; not only does He protect us but also the dream He has placed within our hearts. For what purpose do we struggle then? To prove our worth to others? Why does their opinion matter? For we do not run this race for the applause of the crowd but for the gold. We do not set our eyes on how many are cheering us on but our focus is undivided on the game. We must set our priorities on the things God says matter – anything else is a distraction. And how will we know what matters if we do not seek Him first? We must remember we are not the ones who designed all of this, we are not in control but it is the God we serve that knows how all the pieces connect and at what time. Do not allow yourself to be fooled into thinking because you have this dream, the desire, the skills required, even the passion for this thing your heart is set on is within your own reach. Simply put if it is then the dream is not big enough, if it doesn't take God to make it happen then you're thinking too small. Who gave you the dream, the desire, the skills, and this passion? No to become fully alive you must get your strength from the Source. Just like the battery in our mobile devices hold a charge for a little while so do we have the strength to accomplish some things but like that battery we must be plugged into the source of power on a daily basis if we are to serve our intended purpose.

My Security, My Anchor

It’s funny how God can speak to you through relationships with others if you are practiced in listening with spiritual ears and know His voice. I wonder how many times the things that look like faults in others are not my own relational issues with my Heavenly Father?

One such thing was brought to my attention early this morning just as clear as rays of sun shining through tree branches deep in the dark woods as it rises in the morning. His mercy is new every morning the question is will I receive it? Sometimes the things I hold onto for the purpose of security are the very things that keep me from knowing Him better and therefore impact my faith, my ability to love unselfishly, even my spiritual vision and purpose. My ability to give away freely that which has been given to me requires that I remember this. I am reminded those things that make me feel secure keep me from growing and anchor me. The familiar often is the enemy of faith and the freedom that comes from knowing Christ Jesus.

Christ is to be my anchor in the storms of life, for that is who we’ve all been made to be and also the reason why we sometimes feel the need to anchor to lesser things (if we don't chase after Him with all of our hearts we are left to our own devices). You see we want to anchor to things we trust in and the battle is this - our flesh tells us to hold fast to our careers, retirement plans, bank accounts, the cars we drive, even what seems good and right like giving back to the community with "our" time and money. Yes the enemy of God is sneaky and his plans are only revealed when God shines His light through the trees in the woods of our spiritual lives. All these things give us a sense of security and they tell us, “I’m good and of value". Like the rich man who tore down his barns to build bigger ones (Luke 12:18) I have a plan for the future but without Christ the value I bring is worthless and one might even say this way of thinking stirs God’s wrath against us, at least in the parable of the man who trusted in his money more than God as Jesus told.

Our value is not in what we do but who’s we are (if you belong to Jesus). When we are saved our value changes and no longer depends on how good we are. This morning I think God is telling me, “My son let go of these things then trust and follow me.” For I know the place I want to be can only be found by following the unseen. Yes I must walk with my eyes closed and learn to listen to the footsteps of the Master in order to see where I am going. It’s not easy but this one thing I know, my Redeemer will not crush me for trying and failing. If I belong to Christ then I must harbor hope within me at all times for this hope is the prerequisite of faith and we know without faith it is impossible to please God.

Spiritual Maturity

Spiritual maturity does not come from how long it’s been since we’ve received Christ Jesus as savior but instead spiritual maturity is only made known by the fruits of the spirit being developed and displayed in our own life. What are these fruits?

Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

In this life we face many trials and test, most often these come about because of our own sinful desires. If we choose to stand for Christ Jesus then our spirit is strengthened and we mature but should we give in to the ways of our flesh with bitterness, strife, envy, greed, unforgiveness, anger, hatred, and lust then we tear down the very thing which God has purposed in our lives for good and we do not know Him. It is for this reason there is a falling away from Christ Jesus.

Being spiritually mature does not mean we are never tempted but instead it means when these temptations come we choose to feed the spirit and not our flesh. What we feed is what becomes stronger. If you want to be spiritually mature then feed your spirit and there will come a time when these temptations will no longer have the same pull on you; no the temptations will not leave us in this life but if you feed the spirit and not the flesh they will lose their power over you.

You want a strong prayer life? James 5:16 “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” The earnest prayers of the righteous has great power and produces wonderful results, are you hearing this, for this is good news! The Holy Spirit gives understanding, is the Bible difficult to understand or is it that we’ve been feeding the flesh for so long we have starved our own spirit and its in a daze and can no longer comprehend what the Spirit of God is saying? How can the blind lead the blind? For if we are to make it home in the spirit realm we need a guide.

Wake up you mighty men and women of faith! 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Do not let the enemy of God hold you down any longer. For it is faith that moves God to action. When you pray do it as a child of the King, do not beg or plead but simply ask and by faith and with expectation look for God’s hand to move in your situation. How would it make you feel as a parent if your child continued to beg you for something yet you told them you would do it? You might be sad that they don’t believe you will do what you said or it could cause you to wait until they were ready to receive. The waiting is a test to see if we will trust, are you passing the test? Turn it around how would you feel as a parent if your child asked, you said you would, and before they received what they asked for every time you saw them they were thankful, even though it had not come to pass yet. Would that not make you want to give it to them all the more? How much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask? (Matthew 7:11). James 1:6 “But when you ask, you must believe that God will do it. You must not doubt and think, `Perhaps God will not do it.' A person who doubts is like a wave on the sea. The wind drives it this way and that way.”

We must understand when our heart is right (earnest) and we have put ourselves in alignment with God’s will (we know His will by our relationship with Him, which comes through prayer and the reading of His Word) it is His great pleasure to answer those prayers, for it is by this that our faith grows but understand He loves us too much to always say “yes”, our hearts must be set on pleasing and following Him even when the answer is “no”. As our Father He knows what's best for His children, again are we trusting Him?

Always be thankful and with humility and boldness live life expecting God’s favor, all the while understanding our need for His provisions, for I am desperate for His presence in my life, at all times. When God’s people live in the favor of our Lord, our Father, and God the world will take notice and by this His name will be glorified through out all the earth. You are the Master's vessel and when we are serving His purpose we are fully alive and He is glorified.

A Parent's Prayer

Philippians 1:3-11 NLT
(3) Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
(4) Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,
(5) for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
(6) And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
(7) So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.
(8) God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
(9) I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
(10) For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return.
(11) May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Paul wrote this to the Philippians while in prison but it struck me this morning this is the prayer every parent longs to pray over their children. Did you notice the first thing he says is that when he prays for them it is with joy? Implying this is not always the case, which speaks of those who are not doing the will of God. You see Paul considers himself a spiritual father figure to all he has brought the gospel to and who have accepted Christ Jesus as savior. While the hope is that each group will be a source of joy to him because of their servant attitudes towards the things of Christ, that is not always the case. Just like a parent with several children, not all align themselves with the commandments of Christ and though he loves them all sometimes a rebuke is needed instead of a blessing – something that is difficult for us parents to understand. Not all of his prayers (for his children) are easy to pray and so it is as a parent. Paul talks about being spiritual partners with the Philippians as they work with him and each other to spread the Good News of the gospel and he speaks of the maturing the Lord is doing on the inside of each one of them because he recognizes it as the same thing the Lord has done for him. As a parent is proud of their children when they are pleasing to the Lord, so is Paul of the Philippians and because of their partnership the experiences Paul has he gladly shares with them so that they may grow in faith as well, aligning not only himself with God's will but those he birthed to Christ Jesus as well. The bottom line is that regardless of Paul's praise or rebuke his hope is that all his children would choose to live pure blameless lives before Christ Jesus until the day of the Lord's return and Paul wraps it up by pointing their hopes not in him, as a matter of fact Paul prepares them for his passing, but to the worthy ambition of giving glory and praise to God with their very lives.

A New Day Dawning

2 Thessalonians 2:1-6 NLT
(1) Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet Him.
(2) Don't be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don't believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.
(3) Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed--the one who brings destruction.
(4) He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
(5) Don't you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?
(6) And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.

Do not fear for our Father in heaven knows the business of man and the tricks of the enemy are not hidden from Him. As we watch lawlessness rise up in this Christian nation we who hope in the Lord God Jehovah know that these things must happen before Jesus returns. To those who think His returning will happen while everything is going great, blue skies, and sunshine you are sorely mistaken. In fact those who have prepared and keep their lamps burning for the Bridegroom will know His coming is near because of the darkness that surrounds that time. Look at verse three again. “Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.”

Lord, thank you for the hope you give and the strength that is beyond my means. Please help me to be ever watchful for the signs of your return. Help me not to lose myself in matters of this world but be ever mindful of your presence. May I be an empty vessel to be used for your purpose so that my life may be poured out for your glory, not my own. Be near family and friends and help me to encourage them in times such as these. In Jesus' name, amen.

Test yourselves to see if you know Christ

John 1:1-14 NLT
(1) In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) He existed in the beginning with God.
(3) God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him.
(4) The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.
(5) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
(6) God sent a man, John the Baptist,
(7) to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
(8) John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.
(9) The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
(10) He came into the very world He created, but the world didn't recognize Him.
(11) He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.
(12) But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.
(13) They are reborn--not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
(14) So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

How do we know if we really have relationship with God's Son? Ask yourselves this question, “Am I a good person?” Simply put if your answer is “yes” then you have not known Him. If you are good then you have no need for a savior, still our hearts cry out for one. Why is it Marvel movies make over one billion dollars each? Whether we know it or not our hearts recognize the need for a hero but society tells us to pull ourselves up by our boot straps and earn that position and title, make people take notice but all along we leave behind the truth that tells us we need Jesus (BTW that's the Holy Spirit of God). So have you become a “good person”? Working to do what's right, still quietly falling short of where a true hero stands? Have you eliminated your need for a savior? John 1:12 But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.”

Lord, even if it means that we come face to face with our own shortcoming please show your children their need for Jesus, still do not crush us but let us find hope in your Son. Let us be reminded daily that though our righteousness is as dirty rags Jesus, the one who knew no sin, covers us and if we only believe in Him we shall be saved. Forgive me Father for trying to make it on my own and teach me your ways, lead me and guide me all the days of my life so that I may be called yours. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

You travel this road not alone

To all those tired and weary, to those who follow God without regard for man's thoughts, it is to you I say these things. Take not the judgment of man upon your shoulders for God Himself will judge, nor take thought of their schemes for God alone is your hiding place. The more they persecute you the more your spirit recognizes God's presence, the more you feel alone the more you realize that you never can be. Take heart for even Jesus' friends thought they were alone in the world after His Crucifixion but look at this story and see if there are not parts familiar with your own. God will not leave you, even when you do not recognize Him, He is there.

Luke 24:13-34 GNB
(13) On that same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
(14) and they were talking to each other about all the things that had happened.
(15) As they talked and discussed, Jesus himself drew near and walked along with them;
(16) they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him.
(17) Jesus said to them, "What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?" They stood still, with sad faces.
(18) One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?"
(19) "What things?" he asked. "The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. "This man was a prophet and was considered by God and by all the people to be powerful in everything he said and did.
(20) Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and he was crucified.
(21) And we had hoped that he would be the one who was going to set Israel free! Besides all that, this is now the third day since it happened.
(22) Some of the women of our group surprised us; they went at dawn to the tomb,
(23) but could not find his body. They came back saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive.
(24) Some of our group went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him."
(25) Then Jesus said to them, "How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said!
(26) Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?"
(27) And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.
(28) As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther;
(29) but they held him back, saying, "Stay with us; the day is almost over and it is getting dark." So he went in to stay with them.
(30) He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them.
(31) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.
(32) They said to each other, "Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"
(33) They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others
(34) and saying, "The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!"

Even when you know you are guilty or partly to blame there is hope, look again at verse 20 “OUR chief priests and rulers handed him over...” and though some have faith you just can't see it, verse 23 “THEY came back saying they had seen a vision of angels...” But Jesus Himself comforts us even if while rebuking us for doubting what we have been told by the scriptures, verse 25 “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said!”. Then it happens the Holy Spirit reveals unto you that you really are not alone, verse 31 “THEN their eyes were opened and they recognized him...”. At that moment your heart fills once again with hope and you can't wait to tell someone!

A lie, an offense, and unforgiveness

Colossians 3:9-13 NLT
(9) Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
(10) Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.
(11) In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.
(12) Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
(13) Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

When someone lies to you because of shameful sin how do you react? When that person's actions dishonor you or your family what should you say? Often what you want to say or do is not what you should say or do. How do you forgive the person without condoning the sin? How do you love them without pretending what they did was of no consequence? When a person has responded by lying and that reaction has become a life-style what does that say about the parent? Did the parent fail? Was the child unteachable because of ill feelings harbored inside? Remember both have fallen short and both are human. How does God see a life that refuses to submit to His authority? What does God say about an unrepentant sin? Can that person expect God's blessings in their life or the work of their hands?

These questions lead but to one answer – we know that everyone has fallen short of the glory of God because of what the Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 NLT (23) “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.” And we know because of what Jesus taught we are unable to point a finger at one without first condemning ourselves, because of our own broken nature. Look at John 8:7 and Matthew 18:32-35. We also know that God is holy and just and not defiled by sin and impurity, just look at what the Old Testament priests had to do in order to prepare to be in His presence (Leviticus chapter 16). We also know that God is the same yesterday, today, and for eternity, that's why we can only come before Him through what Jesus, the Christ, did for us on the cross – He has paid our sins with His own life so that we might live BUT we have to humbly confess Him as Lord and Savior (1 John 1:9). It's not enough to believe that Jesus lived and died but we must take up our cross and follow Him, love Him, and obey the leading of His Holy Spirit if we are to have eternal life. It is because of these things that we are to forgive, understanding our own desperate situation, knowing that God loves the person who has acted shamefully or even continues to do so just as much as He loves the one who is obedient (Luke 15:11-32) and those who feel self-righteous should be warned God's wrath is kindled against you just like the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18. So treading lightly knowing we are to forgive, understanding just how much we have been forgiven. We are to pray for this person so God's presence might be known by them and that He might bring about conviction so that this person's life might change to one that honors Him, and we are to love them by loving and honoring God in our own lives before them, knowing that God is good all the time and cares more than we can comprehend.

Is Today's Society Like Pharaoh?

Exodus 9:12 NLT
(12) But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and just as the LORD had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.

Regardless of what facts are presented people refuse to listen just like Moses told Pharaoh about the horrible plagues that would come if he did not listen to God and I believe once again God's people are being prepared for a great exodus as the Jewish people were being prepared to leave Egypt. The harder hearts become the closer we get to seeing God do something big! As it was with Pharaoh many opportunities have been provided to turn from his disobedience but in the end he chose selfishness which brought him low for the rest of the world to see and for all time but even then he did not surrender to God's authority. Is America headed for the same judgment, many think they can over-power or push God's hand. I was reminded of this as I watched video of the Black Lives Matter movement blocking traffic only to be ran over by angry motorist. God is kind and merciful but that does not mean He is weak. It seems odd to me people who dislike their country enough to come looking for a new life are trying so desperately to change America into the same type of country they came from but then sin and disobedience is not about common sense is it? For they, like Pharaoh, are being driven by demonic forces as Satan himself fights against the Living God by trying to destroy what is most important to Him, His people. I feel a great tribulation is coming and we know that only means the second returning of Christ Jesus is also coming. Some believe it will happen before things get bad but I know Jesus, our teacher did not leave this world before the great tribulation he faced and I know the Bible teaches we must be like him.

Matthew 10:24-28 NLT
(24) "Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.
(25) Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of My household will be called by even worse names!
(26) "But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
(27) What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
(28) "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

As days go on watch and see if people don't get more angry as the truth is revealed for that will be a sure sign that the time of Christ Jesus' return is near. Listen to the words of Jesus as he told His disciples what would take place before the end.

Matthew 24:1-51 NLT
(1) As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, His disciples pointed out to Him the various Temple buildings.
(2) But He responded, "Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!"
(3) Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to Him privately and said, "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal Your return and the end of the world? "
(4) Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you,
(5) for many will come in My name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many.
(6) And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately.
(7) Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
(8) But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
(9) "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are My followers.
(10) And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other.
(11) And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.
(12) Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
(13) But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
(14) And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
(15) "The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about--the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place." (Reader, pay attention!)
(16) "Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.
(17) A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack.
(18) A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.
(19) How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.
(20) And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
(21) For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.
(22) In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones.

For they know not what they do

Luke 23:33-35 NLT

(33) When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed Him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified--one on His right and one on His left.
(34) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice.
(35) The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let Him save Himself if He is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One."

We are quick to ask for forgiveness when we fall short of God's standard but if someone falls short of our standard how often do we follow Jesus' example, “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do”? No, more often we keep score remembering their deliberate choices against us. In our self-righteous position we justify our prayer for equality, completely forgetting what God has done in order to forgive our deliberate choices against His will. At some point we all come to this place due to the pain and hurt we have endured and we think somehow if we forgive then the offender will not be held accountable. Jesus was not concerned about those responsible for his pain and suffering being held accountable but instead looked past that and saw them as lost children who needed saving. Jesus knew the Father would judge and even though Jesus could have called them out in His righteousness that was not what He came to do, instead He trusted the Father to do what only the Father can do. Remember this the next time someone deliberately comes against you or your intended good; can you trust Father God to do what you cannot, to see what is really going on and judge each one not only by their deeds but also by their hearts?

I have a saying that I try to live by when someone is acting out, “Don't let their problem become your problem.” Meaning we are so often concerned about things being even that when someone hurts us we are quick to act in kind to show them how tough we can be but did you know when we take matters into our own hands God's judgment moves from the offender to us, in part because we had the opportunity to show them God's love and kindness but we were disobedient. Now instead of the offense being against a child of God it is against God himself!

Lord, help me to love like Jesus loves. Please forgive me for holding on to my hurt and pain like they are some sort of trophy to be worn in front of others as a indicator of what I have endured for You, how silly. I am reminded often of my own need for forgiveness and exactly where I would be without it. Give me spiritual eyes to see what is really going on and a heart that trust You know what You are doing. To worry about people being held accountable for their deeds is to worry that You don't know what You are doing and that too is silly. Lord I love You, thanks for loving me first. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Why dad?

Dad why do we read the Bible? Because son there is a journey we all travel but this journey is different than any other because you cannot see, touch, or hear it but this journey is the most import one of them all. But dad if I can't see, touch or hear it how do I know where I'm going? That's the best part son, we have a guide that leads us but you can't see, touch, or hear Him either. But dad I don't understand. How can I follow someone that I cannot see on a path that cannot be touched? Our guide is Jesus Christ and He has given us a road map, it's called the Bible. Those who try to find this path without it are hopelessly lost, as a matter of fact Jesus in His infinite wisdom has hidden the path from all including the rich, those who do well in school, and those who are over us so that all the glory might go to His Father in heaven. You see many have tried to get to heaven on their own but all have fallen short of the mark but Jesus knows we cannot make it without Him and has a plan. In the end all the winners read the Bible not so they can look good but so they can see, does that make sense son? Yes dad, Jesus gave us His Word so that we may know Him and be able to follow Him so that one day we can all go to live with Him in heaven. That's right son, I love you.

My Judge

Pastors and congregations can we please stop criticizing other churches? Small churches blaming big ones for offering short cuts to the life of Christ, big ones overlooking small ones for not reaching as many people, old verses new and on and on it goes. When the real issue is not how much spiritual depth is offered in a weekend or how many programs are offered during the week but it is the spiritual condition the individual heart. Yes, the church has a responsibility to point each member to Jesus Christ and challenge us to be more like him but no matter what church you attend on the weekend it is up to you to seek God's face during the week. Does our faith exist because it is convenient? Do we go to church on the weekend because it is socially acceptable or expected? When we go to church are we meeting God for the first time that week or are we bringing Him in the door with us? Why do we go to church? Is it so we can stay connected to the things of God, be fed, and feel good about ourselves for another week or are we going to worship God corporately, encourage one another, and see God move among His people?

No the differences in churches is not the problem, as long as the leadership is seeking God's direction. The religious be warned God has not given you the right to judge the heart of another (John 8:1-20). The issue is the difference between carnal Christians (those who are saved but still think of themselves first) and the spiritually mature Christians. We know that God's Word does not return void, there are no condition that must be met for this to be true but it instead it is true all the time. So if God's Word is being delivered then there is the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to move within His people, regardless of the method of delivery. In any given church you can see this division of spiritual growth with you own eyes – those who want to do what is right so they follow the crowd but lack the strength or desire to search for God on their own and those who really know God, who claim to hear God's voice, who faithfully obey His Word consistently.

We also know that the body is made up of different parts and no one part can say to the other it is not needed simply because it's functions differently (1 Corinthians 12). Yet comparisons between the body of Christ are announced from the stage almost every weekend – why? What purpose does it serve? Have you ever seen someone gain popularity only to be put down by another? Does that make the person trashing the other look better? I don't know about you but it turns my stomach. How much more true is that for the family of God? Yet it is rampant in social media, in our homes, work places, and churches. If it makes you sick to your stomach I wonder what God thinks about it? So stop yourself before you speak the next critical word of judgment and understand how that makes you appear and if that is not enough to change your mind then remember though we are not to judge the heart there is One who is worthy of fulfilling that role and He has promised to do it and the hour quickly approaches.

The purpose of the law

Romans 3:20 NLT

(20) For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

If we judge others by the law then it is clear we do not know the law, thereby voiding our own prosecution. No the law is there first to point us to our own need for Jesus. After coming to Jesus as Lord and in humility laying down our lives and the control we believe we have over it to His Lordship then those we were so quick to judge before are seen differently because we see them through the eyes of our Savior; no longer wanting to condemn but instead wanting to share the life we have found in Christ. Condemnation turns to compassion and contempt turns to serving and stonewalling turns into walking with that person until we are able to see where they are coming from, no longer do we take secondhand knowledge about a person in order to cast them out of the gates but instead we grow relationship and trust by speaking life into their very souls. In this way we become Christ-like, followers of Christ Jesus faithfully representing the love we have been shown, a love we could not earn to pay a price we could not pay.

Romans 3:25-26 NLT

(25) For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

(26) for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.

God respects Joseph

Matthew 2:13-23

God chooses to lead the family through Joseph, though He spoke to Mary first it was on a personal level to let her know God was with her concerning the birth of the Messiah but from that point on God led Joseph and Mary through Joseph's life, which gave respect and honor to Joseph as the husband and leader of his family. Had God not led them out of danger this way when Herod tried to kill Jesus but did it through Mary instead do you think that would have bond the family together or would Joseph start to feel excluded.

Too many times I've heard a husband say, “I'm just a paycheck to my wife. She doesn't need me otherwise.” If the husband is a good-willed man who loves God then it is natural for him to want to be included in decisions about the family, that's why it is so damaging when the wife makes choices about the kids, finances, schedule, etc. without talking to the husband first. I get that if the wife does not understand the reason for this it could be taken as the husband wanting to control everything, especially if her father was overbearing but by trying to be independent she cuts herself off from her husband's love, which leads to a “crazy cycle” Dr. Emerson Eggerichs talks about in his book Love and Respect. Remember it's the adoration of the wife for the husband that enables him to lay down his life for her and their children, as God intended.

I believe with Mary, as with all those who love Jehovah today, God continued to speak to her and reassure her on a personal level just as strongly as He did when the angel first spoke to her about the baby inside her womb and I also believe that when God led her family through her husband she had no resentment because she honored Joseph and knew that was God's plan.

Love and Respect changes everything

Within six months of marriage I knew what I needed out of our relationship was different than what my wife needed but I didn’t know how to express it. As years went by and we shared our home with teenagers it became ever more apparent that RESPECT was like an oasis in the middle of the desert and the absence of it was a burden too heavy for me to carry. The well-meaning “adult” that told my children that “respect is earned” either didn’t take time study the Bible on his own or never questioned the way he was taught for this teaching is prevalent in our homes, schools, and even churches. Ephesians 5:33 tells God’s command to both husbands and wives and when they marry they enter into an agreement with God but it is not dependent upon the other one’s ability to earn it. “So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” What’s being said, in case you missed it, is that the husband must have unconditional love for his wife and the wife must have unconditional respect for her husband – both being wired to receive God’s wonderful gift from the other one in this primary and unique way.

When we teach that love is to be unconditional but respect is to be earned it drains the husband of his God-given ability and/or desire to do anything for his wife or children because disrespect is seen as contempt but it does more than just that the husband is taken to into deep, dark place that no one else knows about and with one fell swoop the enemy of God has made his move against each one in the family. However, when respect is given unconditionally it causes something inside the husband to come alive. It’s the very same thing that makes a soldier willing to die for his friends – nothing is impossible or cost too much! “Mary tell me that you want the moon and I’ll lasso it and bring it down to you.” George Bailey could do anything for Mary because she honored him and in return he loved her. More than ever before the old movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” had real meaning to me this Christmas as God prepared me for this message, thanks Malachi.

I believe the wife has the ability to build her husband up to be the man God intended but she also has the ability to cut his legs out from under him and the sad thing is unless she also hears this message with her heart she won’t even realize it… she only knows that her husband isn’t loving her the way she needs to be loved. So who goes first? Which one is the more mature?

The following is an excerpt from the book I’ve been reading Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

The Law

Romans 7:4-6 NLT
(4) So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the One who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.
(5) When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.
(6) But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

I have been guilty of looking at the law the wrong way. When I fail to live according to God's Word the thing that is on my mind the most was the fact that I broke God's law and I am condemned by it but if I truly died to the law and was raised from the dead with Christ Jesus then the law no longer condemns me.

Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets but instead came to accomplish their purpose (Matthew 5:7). If that is the case what used to condemn because of the sin within me now once again points me back to Christ Jesus, as it was originally intended and that was what Jesus meant when He said that He came to accomplish the purpose of the law.

For too long the devil has used the law for his own means, trying to pull me out of the hands of my Savior but inside I knew this was wrong but felt I had no ground to stand on and because I judged others the same way therefore I too was condemned but no longer. Now this doesn't mean I have a free pass to live however I want but instead because of this great love inside of me for Jesus my one desire is to please Him in all things, again the law is fulfilled because of the work Jesus has done and at the same time He has canceled out the snare of the enemy. I am truly a new creature in Christ Jesus, old things have passed away and new things have come!

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NLT
(17) This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
(18) And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him.
(19) For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

What Motivates Us

James 1:9-12 NLT
(9) Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.
(10) And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field.
(11) The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
(12) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Is it financial wealth and possessions that drives us to do what we do? What about power and influence over others, deep down does that make us feel good at the end of the day? I read that no matter how great our achievements if it is not done for the Lord then it will all die with us when we pass from this life and though we think those achievements can be used as tokens when we stand before our Creator we will find only bitter disappointment because we have spent our lives chasing the wrong things.

If we truly believe God know all and sees all and that He really loves us then why wouldn't we obey His commandments? If my motivation is money or possessions then I have separated myself from a relationship with God and know nothing of Him. I then have effectively pulled away from Him not the other way around. The rich man asks where is God in times of trouble while his fists are clinched to his achievements and money, somehow hoping they will save him. It is not easy trusting in the unseen but that is faith and faith is required of us if we are to please our Heavenly Father.

You see it is not by my strength that I endure all the tests life throws at me but my strength comes from having relationship with my Savior, regardless of what others think, say, or do. It is too often too easy for someone not understanding the trial your going through to offer a solution because they think too highly of themselves and fail to realize, like you, just how dependent they really are. Like the teenager who brags to all his friends how independent he is but has not yet ventured out on his own, some never leave home. And like that teenager there are many spiritual teens who like to brag how well they're doing but fail to realize it's because of the protection of the Father.

Like a good father God also moves us toward maturity through trials and tribulations, not that He sends the test but that He pulls back His wing of protection enough for us to understand just how much we need Him but make no mistake the temptation is just that because of the evil desires within our own hearts. God allows us to see who we are as we grow closer to Him and as we come face-to-face with our own depravity there are ample opportunities to fear but James tells us this...

James 1:2-5 NLT
(2) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
(3) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
(4) So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
(5) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

It is God's good pleasure to help us through, as we look to Him but should we depend on something apart from Him the result is clear.

James 1:6-8 NLT
(6) But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
(7) Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
(8) Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

The Shrinking Army

Judges 7:4-7 NLT
(4) But the LORD told Gideon, "There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not."
(5) When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, "Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream."
(6) Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.
(7) The LORD told Gideon, "With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home."

Have you ever felt your list of friends get shorter as God leads you into a deeper understanding of what He wants to do in your life? The response of many would be that of defense but it is true. It doesn’t mean those who are unable to follow aren’t friends, some you would even consider close, it just means God says that they can’t go where you are going. Like Gideon the first group that went home before the battle began was 22,000. This group was allowed to leave because they feared for their lives and after that 10,000 remained but God said there were still too many so He tested them. After the test only 300 hundred warriors remained, the other 9,700 were indeed warriors and were ready to fight but God did not choose them. In the same way there are casual friends (the group of 22,000) who are scared of the places God leads you and there are friends who would go into battle by your side but God says they cannot go where you are going (the 9,700) but God has reserved a remnant that will work with you side by side until the victory is revealed. Your job is to allow God to do the selecting, trusting that He knows what He is doing. It’s not an easy process as I am sure Gideon watched a lot of people leave that he didn’t want to let go of but he chose to trust God. The 10,000 weren’t the only ones tested for Gideon’s test was the most difficult but did you notice the relationship between Gideon and the Lord? That’s where each of us needs to be if we are to ever hear God lead us into battle.

A similar situation happened to me recently. I do not think any less of this friend from my youth but have high regards for him. In typical fashion I needed to know it was God that I was following and three times a test came and three times God said no. I do not understand what God has planned but I do trust Him completely and I pray that He shapes me and molds me into the person He has purposed for me to be. 

To Fight Fear

To fight fear three things are required: Know who God is, be obedient to His call, and trust Him. It is that simple but those three things are the most difficult things to you’ll ever do.

Genesis 22:9-14 NLT
(9) When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood.
(10) And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.
(11) At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes," Abraham replied. "Here I am!"
(12) "Don't lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from Me even your son, your only son."
(13) Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
(14) Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means "the LORD will provide"). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Here we see first of all Abraham had relationship with God and he communed with God and God with him. What does that look like for us? It begins in our hearts, our hearts hunger to know more about who God is and then the Holy Spirit of God leads us to pray. Asking that He reveal more of Himself to us and we take the time to open the Word of God and we pray for understanding. God is faithful and if we seek Him our understanding of who He is will grow. That is the first step of conquering fear.

Matthew 14:24-30 NLT
(24) Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
(25) About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.
(26) When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!"
(27) But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," He said. "Take courage. I am here! "
(28) Then Peter called to Him, "Lord, if it's really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water."
(29) "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
(30) But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.

Like Peter we do many things wrong as followers of Christ Jesus but he was the only one willing to trust Jesus while the others were filled with fear. For all Peter has been criticized for he got this one right in that he was obedient to God’s call for him to step out of the boat. It was only after he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the circumstances surrounding him that he began to sink.

Jonah 2:1-10 NLT
(1) Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish.
(2) He said, "I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and He answered me. I called to You from the land of the dead, and LORD, You heard me!
(3) You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath Your wild and stormy waves.
(4) Then I said, 'O LORD, You have driven me from Your presence. Yet I will look once more toward Your holy Temple.'
(5) "I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
(6) I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But You, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!
(7) As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to You in Your holy Temple.
(8) Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies.
(9) But I will offer sacrifices to You with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone."
(10) Then the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

Though Jonah tried to run from God he knew deep within there was no escaping God’s call on his life. He then told the sailors to toss him into the sea and the storm would cease and it did. However for Jonah he had to learn his lesson in the belly of the great fish but even then Jonah could hear the call of God on his life. In the midst of his desperation Jonah stopped trying to run from God and decided the best thing to do was to instead trust God. I believe the moment he had experienced a true heart change the fish spit him out on dry land.

As God’s people we are not perfect and even in the midst of our failures, if we know Him, we can hear His call on our lives. That can either bring great misery or great joy but that depends on our willingness to trust and obey Him. In all three of these accounts fear had to be overcome; it wasn’t overcome by running away but instead running to God and in turn God was glorified through that individual for all the world to see! You want to do something big for God, you want to tear down the walls fear has built in your life, then know God, be obedient to His call, and trust Him in all things.