Fire on the Mountain!

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When Moses went up on Mount Sinai, a cloud covered it, and the bright glory of the Lord came down and stayed there. The cloud covered the mountain for six days, and on the seventh day the Lord told Moses to come into the cloud.  Moses did so and stayed there 40 days and nights. To the people, the Lord's glory looked like a blazing fire on top of the mountain.

Exodus 24:15-18

God was on the mountain with Moses and the people could see the Glory of God on top of the mountain. But the Glory of God simply looked like a blazing fire! The Bible doesn't say that anyone did this, but it might have been easy to mistake the Glory of God for an erupting volcano.

Do you see evidence of God in your life and even around you daily and think it is simply "Fire on the Mountain?" The Bible says "the Heavens declare the Glory of God" and everywhere you look in this world you can see God's miraculous gift of life! The fool is the one who says "there is no God!" But if you are wise you will see God in everything! Nothing can be excluded!

When I am hungry it is God who gives me the ability to desire food to nourish and fuel my body and it is God who gives me the ability to be satisfied when I eat. God shows me His glory when I look at a tree and the miracle of that tree living from season to season with it's marvelous display of beauty. And of course when I look up on a clear night and see the stars, moon and planets I am stunned to know that God put them all together and knows the name of every one!

So as you walk through this day and yes even this life, and you see fire on the mountain remember that you are not looking at some "natural phenomenon," but rather you are seeing evidence of the Glory of God. You can see the Glory of God in everything that He created, and that is EVERYTHING!

"Lord Jesus, help me today to see Your Glory all around me. Open my eyes to the wonder of the "Fire on the Mountain" today. And may You be praised and Glorified Forever! Amen."

Good Comes from Evil!

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After Jacob died, Joseph's brothers said to each other, “What if Joseph still hates us and wants to get even with us for all the cruel things we did to him?”

So they sent this message to Joseph:

Before our father died, he told us, “You did some cruel and terrible things to Joseph, but you must ask him to forgive you.”

Now we ask you to please forgive the terrible things we did. After all, we serve the same God that your father worshiped.

When Joseph heard this, he started crying.

Right then, Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to the ground in front of him and said, “We are your slaves.”

But Joseph told them, “Don't be afraid! I have no right to change what God has decided. You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing.

Genesis 50:15-20

One of the most difficult things to grasp about God is that He even uses evil to bring good in this world! Joseph's brothers sold him as a slave, but God used that terrible sin to save the world from the famine that would come.

Has someone sinned against you? Maybe like Joseph it was someone in your own family. Perhaps you were a victim of "child abuse" or maybe you are a wife that has suffered from physical violence. Then, there is emotional abuse where you are ridiculed and are told that you are worthless and a "good for nothing" person. The new term for that is "bullying."

Instead of asking God: "Why did You let that happen to me?" Ask Him: "What good are You bringing forth from my suffering and abuse?" There is no bad thing that happens to a child of God that is not ultimately used for good. Jesus not only conquered Satan by providing for the forgiveness of sin, but also by using every evil deed and even thought to bring about Good in this world!

Does that mean that we should do something wrong so that God can work it for Good? Of course not! What it means is this: The ultimate victory over sin is that even the most evil act in all of history, which was killing Jesus Christ, was used by God for the salvation of all who would come to Jesus! Still today, Satan does something Bad and God uses it for Good! Wicked men with evil purposes are orchestrating world events that may indeed be the prophesied End Times before the return of Jesus!

So when you think of the evil that has been done to you, ask God to show you the good that has come or will come from it. Then you can be like Joseph who forgave his brothers for what they did to him.

"Lord Jesus, May I today begin to see the good that has come from all the things that I have suffered in this life. And by Your grace and power help me to love those who have hurt me even as You, Jesus love those who crucified You! And may You be praised forever. Amen."

Eternal Security

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Beside the Ahava River, I asked the people to go without eating and to pray. We humbled ourselves and asked God to bring us and our children safely to Jerusalem with all of our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers and cavalry to protect us against enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king that our God takes care of everyone who truly worships him, but that he gets very angry and punishes anyone who refuses to obey. So we went without food and asked God himself to protect us, and he answered our prayers.

Ezra 8:21-23

Ezra could have asked for protection from the King himself and there is no doubt he would have gotten it. But Ezra chose to depend on the protection of God rather than the protection of the king! Did the shipment need guarding? Well according to my very rough estimate they were transporting more than $100,000,000 worth of gold alone! Add to that the silver and you definitely have the need for security!

The question for me today is this: Am I depending on security systems, gated communities, armed guards and a stable government with reliable police for my security? Or am I depending on God to protect me on my journey through life? If I am looking for protection from humans, I can be sure that ultimately human security systems will break down and fail. But God will never and can never fail! If I love the Lord and trust Him in everything then I can know for sure that even those things that appear to be tragedies in my life will ultimately work together for good!

There is no situation in life where it is foolish to trust God instead of men. Certainly God uses men to accomplish his purposes on earth. But God alone is the One you should trust, depend on and rest in as you journey toward the New Jerusalem!

"Lord Jesus, I am so often tempted to trust men rather than trusting You. May You be the One today to guard my steps and keep my path safe from all enemies. And may Your praises be heard everywhere on earth! Amen."

Marvelous Messenger?

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My name is John, and I am the one who heard and saw these things. Then after I had heard and seen all this, I knelt down and began to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown it to me.

But the angel said,

Don't do that! I am a servant, just like you. I am the same as a follower or a prophet or anyone else who obeys what is written in this book. God is the one you should worship.

Revelation 22:8-9

These two verses contain an amazing reality and a stern warning!

God reveals to His children unfathomable truths that boggle the mind and really overwhelm your perspective on everything. If you begin at Genesis 1 and read carefully through the entire Bible you will continually be in awe of the Eternal, and yes Supernatural things that God has so carefully presented for those who have decided to follow Jesus!

Then comes the warning! How could it be that the Apostle John, in the midst of receiving the Revelation of Jesus Christ, would fall down and worship at the feet of the angel who was delivering it? The warning is that even when you are on the pinnacle of a "mountain top" experience with God you must guard against the temptation to worship the messenger instead of the Lord!

I frankly believe that the downfall of many great Messengers of God begins when they don't deliver that warning to a sincere believer who falls down and worships at their feet. If someone has put you on a pedestal then jump off!

I believe that God has called me to deliver His messages in these blogs, but I am as much of a struggling human believer as anyone else. I write and speak truth from God, but I am usually the one who needs to hear that truth more than anyone else!

Make sure that Jesus is the only one on the pedestal in your life and no one else! When someone impresses you with a "great" message from God remember that no messengers are to be worshiped. Fall down and worship at the feet of Jesus and stay there!

"Lord Jesus, help me today to take everyone but You off of the pedestal of my life! You Lord are the only one to be worshiped and You Lord are the only one to be praised. May all Glory and Honor be Yours forever and ever. Amen."

Full Time Follower!

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Now I ask you to make a promise. Make it in the presence of God, who gives life to all, and in the presence of Christ Jesus, who openly told Pontius Pilate about his faith. Promise to obey completely and fully all that you have been told until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

 

The glorious God

is the only Ruler,

the King of kings

and Lord of lords.

At the time that God

has already decided,

he will send Jesus Christ

back again.

 

Only God lives forever!

And he lives in light

that no one can come near.

No human has ever seen God

or ever can see him.

God will be honored,

and his power

will last forever. Amen.

I Timothy 6:13-16

In the current state of economic affairs in the United States many "full time" employees are being converted into "part time" workers. It is a disturbing shift of the labor force that cannot end well if it continues. Working only a few hours a week cannot for most people provide the income needed to live independently of the state welfare system.

Everyone who comes to Jesus is offered the "position" of a "FULL TIME FOLLOWER" of the Lord. In God's economy there is no need for Part Time Christians. They are the ones whose hearts are not totally given over to Jesus and the pull of the world will take it's toll on their lives.

In the world's labor force working 40 hours a week is considered full time, but followers of Jesus are "on the clock" 24-7 or 168 hours a week! Full time for Jesus is listening for His direction with every breath you take. Christians do not have the luxury of saying "I can't do that for You, Jesus because I am not 'one duty' right now."

So the question for me as a follower of Jesus is not: "How many hours I am working for Him in a week?" But rather: "Am I spending even one hour without being available to hear His call?"

If your honest answer is that you are a "Part Time" Christian, then you need to go to Jesus and ask Him for a "Full Time" job in the Kingdom of God!

"Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I very often take 'time off' from following You. Give me the strength to obey You completely and fully as I wait for Your return. And may You be praised forever! Amen."

The Blessing of Not Seeing!

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A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples and said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!”
Thomas replied, “You are my Lord and my God!”
Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!”
John 20:26-29
Jesus said there is a great blessing for those who have faith that is not based on anything that they have seen. Was Thomas the only one there whose faith was based on seeing Jesus alive? Thomas had simply said that he wanted to be absolutely certain that it was Jesus and not an impersonator.

The rest of the disciples had faith that was based on seeing Jesus. It is a common condition of even believers today. Our faith is strengthened because we see irrefutable evidence that Jesus is real and is really moving in power in the world around us. Or we like Thomas say, "Lord I will follow You if You will reveal Yourself to me in "this special way!"

Then after figuratively touching the scars of Jesus we declare that we are ready to be obedient to His Word! I have always thought this special blessing is for all of us who cannot see Jesus in the flesh. I now think it is more. I believe there is a blessing for following Jesus without looking for confirmation in the physical world around us. When you hear the Word of The Lord don't look for evidence in the world around you that confirms the Word of God. Of course the evidence is there, but you will be blessed if you spend your time walking the path He has set before you and not analyzing the circumstances!

"Lord Jesus, I choose to believe without seeing the evidence of Your Power and Majesty! May my faith be based on love for You and not on the things I see! May Your Name be praised forever. Amen."

Your Words and Your Life

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All you angels in heaven,

honor the glory and power

of the Lord!

 

Honor the wonderful name

of the Lord,

and worship the Lord

most holy and glorious.

 

The voice of the Lord

echoes over the oceans.

The glorious Lord God

thunders above the roar

of the raging sea,

and his voice is mighty

and marvelous.

Psalms 29:1-4

Sometimes it is hard to imagine what someone looks like by simply hearing their voice. Years ago I remember meeting a radio announcer who had a deep, low and rather profound voice. If you needed someone to use their voice to pretend to be the "Voice of God" Tom would have been a good choice. But when I finally met Tom I was very surprised. He was thin, small, and short. There was nothing in his physical appearance that reminded me of God, but his voice certainly did.

Think about the fact that it was the voice of God that created the world and everything in it. God said "LET THERE BE LIGHT" and there was light! The Creative power of the voice of God still echoes through the world as men and women obey His voice and experience the Glorious Life of being filled with the Holy Spirit as they move toward Eternity.

In the world of politics there are men who speak with loud and impressive voices and their words are inspiring to say the least, but we come to find out that the man behind the voice has nothing of substance to offer. It is sad and may I even say pathetic to see a man whose life doesn't match his rhetoric.

Consider yourself. Have you learned to "say the right words" about Jesus but your life isn't consistent with the words you speak? Following Jesus is not just speaking the right words. An actor can learn to speak the words of another man, but that does not mean that he becomes the one he imitates.

Following Jesus is not simply speaking His Words and imitating His life. When you truly follow Jesus He transforms you into His image, so that you become like Him in every way!

"Lord Jesus, help me not to be someone who is simply pretending to be Your follower. Show me today anything in my heart that needs to change and give me the strength to repent. Lord I want to speak Your Words from a heart that has been changed into Your likeness. May Glory and Honor be Yours forever. Amen."

Fall Down at His Feet!

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A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So Jesus went to the Pharisee's home and got ready to eat.

When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume. Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.

The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him! He would know that she is a sinner.”

Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Teacher, what is it?” Simon replied.

Jesus told him, “Two people were in debt to a moneylender. One of them owed him 500 silver coins, and the other owed him 50. Since neither of them could pay him back, the moneylender said that they didn't have to pay him anything. Which one of them will like him more?”

Simon answered, “I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn't have to pay it back.”

“You are right,” Jesus said.

He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn't give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.  You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn't even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.”

Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Some other guests started saying to one another, “Who is this who dares to forgive sins?”

But Jesus told the woman, “Because of your faith, you are now saved. May God give you peace!”

Luke 7:36-50

What more can I say? When you discover that you are a wicked and sinful person throw yourself at the feet of Jesus like the woman who came to the house of Simon. Let your tears wash over Him and trust Jesus for your forgiveness. He will certainly forgive you as well!

"Lord Jesus, I see my sin and Your righteousness as I bow down at your feet like the woman who washed Your feet with her tears. Have mercy on me again today, Blessed Lord Jesus. Amen."

God’s Word is Truth!

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I, the Lord, am the one who sends storm clouds and showers of rain to make fields produce. So when the crops need rain, you should pray to me.
You can't believe idols and fortunetellers, or depend on the hope you receive from witchcraft and interpreters of dreams. But you have tried all of these, and now you are like sheep without a shepherd.
I, the Lord All-Powerful, am fiercely angry with you leaders, and I will punish you. I care for my people, the nation of Judah, and I will change this flock of sheep into charging war horses.
From this flock will come leaders who will be strong like cornerstones and tent pegs and weapons of war.
They will join in the fighting, and together they will trample their enemies like mud. They will fight, because I, the Lord, will be on their side. And they will crush the enemy cavalry.

Zechariah 10:1-5

Many people think that Freedom is the right to "run out into the street and be hit by a car." Men do not fight and die for the right of other people to commit suicide! It just doesn't make sense for me to give up my life for your right to destroy yourself!

Freedom without Truth becomes chaos and foolishness! Freedom of religion originally meant that you would be free to worship God according to your own understanding of His Word and not have someone else tell you how to do it. Nowhere in the Bible does God support man's right to worship idols! But that is what we have changed freedom of religion to mean.

The second of the ten commandments clearly warns all men against worshiping any other god! God is not politically correct. He is totally against "freedom of religion" as defined by our 21 century culture.

Satan is in the business of redefining words and giving them meanings that are not Biblical. He has changed "love" into lust, "marriage" into adultery, and "freedom of religion" into idolatry. That is what Satan did in the Garden of Eden when he redefined God's command for Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

So the challenge for me today is this: Am I believing what God has said about everything in my life and in the world around me, or am I redefining those things according to the desire of Satan? The essence of spiritual warfare is living according to God's view of the world where Satan is continually changing the mile markers on the road of life!

"Lord Jesus, help me to define everything in life according to Your Word! Give me the courage to stand against Satan and his lies about Your Truth! Only You are God and Your Word is Truth. And Your Truth lasts forever. Amen."

Amazing Blessing!

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Count it a blessing when you suffer for being a Christian. This shows that God's glorious Spirit is with you. But you deserve to suffer if you are a murderer, a thief, a crook, or a busybody.  Don't be ashamed to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God that you belong to him.  God has already begun judging his own people. And if his judgment begins with us, imagine how terrible it will be for those who refuse to obey his message. The Scriptures say,

“If good people barely escape,

what will happen to sinners

and to others

who don't respect God?”

If you suffer for obeying God, you must have complete faith in your faithful Creator and keep on doing right.

1 Peter 4:14-19

The electronic feedback I get from the websites that carry this blog tell me that almost every day there are a number of people from a half a dozen countries who read what I have written. It is indeed possible and perhaps even likely that at least one reader of this blog is being persecuted simply for believing in Jesus. If that person is you then listen up!

When you count your blessings today don't forget to include in that list the suffering you are going through as a Christian. The pain itself should remind you that "God's glorious Spirit" is with you! Don't even ask yourself what you could do to make the enemies of God stop persecuting you. There is only one answer to that question and it is not an option. The only way to make them happy so that they will stop the persecution is to deny the Lord Jesus.

Jesus said that we must love our enemies. This is the amazing key to overcoming those who hate you. When I return love for hate and my life is resting safely in the arms of Jesus then I can be at peace no matter what happens otherwise. In fact, when Jesus forgave the ones who drove the nails in His hands He gave me a clear example of how I should feel toward those who persecute me. The men who put Jesus on the Cross served God's eternal purpose. Those who persecute me do the same!

Without persecution I would not be able to walk fully in the steps of Jesus! As painful as it is, what a blessing!

"Lord Jesus, I can only touch the hem of Your garment when it comes to understanding how to be like You! Even as I am suffering today for my faith in You may I come to see the Glory, and the Joy, of this Amazing Blessing! Praise be to You forever. Amen."

Do Not Fight Against God!

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These evil spirits had the power to work miracles. They went to every king on earth, to bring them together for a war against God All-Powerful. But that will be the day of God's great victory.

Remember Christ says, “When I come, it will surprise you like a thief! But God will bless you, if you are awake and ready. Then you won't have to walk around naked and be ashamed.”

Those armies came together in a place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

Revelation 16:14-16

The people of this world will one day try to destroy the people of God. It will be a time when even some evil spirits will have the power to work miracles. Except for those who follow Jesus, the whole world will gather itself together against God!

But the battle that comes on that day will be "God's great victory." The enemies of God will find out in no uncertain terms why He is called "God Almighty." The foolishness of fighting God will be seen by everyone.

But what about me and you? Do we sometimes try to fight against God's will for our lives? Do you know what God wants for your life to be and yet you have decided that another path is the one you want to take? And since you know that God will not force you to walk in His ways, you plod along, moving in a direction that He has not called you to go. That can be the source of so much turmoil and confusion in your life.

The warning is this: "Don't fight against God." You will not prevail and you will only bring difficulties to your daily life. You say you want to follow Jesus, but you resist when He pulls the reigns of your life one way or the other. You struggle to walk according to your will and not His.

"Lord Jesus, I want to follow you, but I so often resist Your leading my life in the way that You want it to go. So Lord I choose today to make my path and every step I take according to the way You lead. And may You be praised forever. Amen."

Written by Jesus!

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“But now I tell the people

of Israel

this is my new agreement:

‘The time will come

when I, the Lord,

will write my laws

on their minds and hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be

my people.

 

Not one of them

will have to teach another

to know me, their Lord.’

“All of them will know me,

no matter who they are.

 

I will treat them with kindness,

even though they are wicked.

I will forget their sins.”

Hebrews 8:10-12

My dog is a Cairn Terrier. Her name is Jente and she is very much like all the other dogs of her breed. My wife has read lots of descriptions of Cairn Terriers and we can see that Jente really is very much like the rest! When Jente was born, God wrote on her heart and mind the characteristics that would identify her as a Cairn.

When I was born I had a heart and mind like my father Adam and my mother Eve. I was self-centered and wanted to "enjoy" all the pleasures of this world even if it meant sinning against God Himself. I did want to be "good" and not sin, but I was overwhelmed with my own human nature.

But when I was "born again" everything changed. I then had the ability to say no to sin. I realized that I could "escape temptation" and choose the right things instead of the wrong things. And my mind was able to understand the things of God. Before I began this new life I could not make sense of much of what I read in the Bible. But after my new birth the puzzle pieces all fit together.

So if you are trying to live as a Christian without being one, you will eventually give up. If you have not given your whole life to Jesus then you cannot expect that He will write on your heart and mind. Only when you trust and obey the Lord Jesus can you expect that He will begin the process of changing you into His image.

You may know lots of people who are pretending to follow Jesus, but only when you truly follow Him yourself will you see and understand what He writes on your heart and mind. When Jesus writes on your heart then everyone who sees you will come to know that you belong to Jesus!

"Lord Jesus, take your pen and write on my heart and mind. May my desires and thoughts reflect Yours as I walk with You again today. Praise Your Holy Name. Amen."

Daniel Dilemma!

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They all went to the king and said:

“Your Majesty, we hope you live forever!  All of your officials, leaders, advisors, and governors agree that you should make a law forbidding anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next 30 days. Everyone who disobeys this law must be thrown into a pit of lions.  Order this to be written and then sign it, so it cannot be changed, just as no written law of the Medes and Persians can be changed.”

So King Darius made the law and had it written down.

Daniel heard about the law, but when he returned home, he went upstairs and prayed in front of the window that faced Jerusalem. In the same way that he had always done, he knelt down in prayer three times a day, giving thanks to God.

The men who had spoken to the king watched Daniel and saw him praying to his God for help. They went back to the king and said, “Didn't you make a law that forbids anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next 30 days? And doesn't the law say that everyone who disobeys it will be thrown into a pit of lions?”

“Yes, that's the law I made,” the king agreed. “And just like all written laws of the Medes and Persians, it cannot be changed.”

Daniel 6:6-12

Daniel was thrown into a pit of lions because he refused to obey a law that prohibited prayer for thirty days. Today in the United States we are faced with what might be called a "Daniel Dilemma." For many years now we have been told that praying in public is "unconstitutional!" We are especially intimidated when we even think about praying at a school function, or governmental meeting.

What we have is the perfect opportunity to let God show His power. When I refuse to stop calling on the Name of the Lord no matter who may try to stop me, then I step into the tradition of Daniel. When I do that am I guaranteed that God will shut the mouths of the Lions that are sent to devour me? No I am not, but there is still very good news.

When I run to the arms of Jesus and cling to Him, the "lions" have no power to hurt me. The worst thing the "lions" can do is to send me on to Heaven where I will rest in the sweet arms of Jesus forever!

The story of Daniel teaches us clearly that there is never a time when we should hide our faith in and relationship with Jesus from the world around us. And God wants us to disobey any and every law that would try to interfere with calling on Him!

"Lord Jesus, I call on You, the God of Daniel to rescue me from those who try to stand between us and keep me from praying! Give me the courage to always call on Your Name no matter what the law says or the world around me threatens. And may Your Name be praised around the world today and forever. Amen."

Think About Jesus Today!

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Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad.  Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here.  Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.  Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:4-8

In the world of Journalism there is "Good News" and there is "Bad News." But the saying "If it bleeds, it leads" lets us know that Bad News always wins in the reporting of news. Bad news includes, murders, wars, cheating, thievery, wife beating, child abuse and all sorts of sadness, grief and misery! Every day we all have ample opportunity to fill our minds with things to ponder that do not come under the categories of "true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper."

If beautiful thoughts are to be in the forefront of your mind you cannot be passive in the struggle for your mind and heart. If I were to tell you not to think about an elephant, and I repeated "don't think about an elephant" over and over all day long, how effective would that be in keeping your mind away from elephants? Well of course it would not. The more I tell you not to think about something, anything, the more your mind has that thought available for you to grab. You are then tempted to start thinking about the very thing I warned you about.

The other day my wife ask me about a situation and I told her that I had never heard of it before. She responded that I had definitely heard about it because she told me herself! Even though my ears had heard the words my mind had not stored the information away so that I could recall it later. It is not good that I forgot something my wife told me, but it is very good for me to forget the things the world tells me. The Bad News of this world drags me down and keeps my mind from thinking about the really good stuff!

Today, keep your mind on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking today about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.

Here is a good place to start. Think about the very first person who truly loved you. Maybe it was your mother or even someone else, but you cannot think about that love without feeling the blessing of it in your heart.

"Lord Jesus, help me today to think about You and Your love for me. Show me another way that Your love is evident in my life and how You have cared for me for all these years. You Lord Jesus are the beautiful thought that I need for today. Amen."

Fear God or Man?

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My friends, don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do. God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear!

Five sparrows are sold for only a few cents, but God doesn't forget a single one of them. Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:4-7

In the hearts of all men there is a battle that rages every day. The two sides of that war are the "FEAR OF MAN" and the "FEAR OF GOD!" If you fear man more than you fear God then you will not be obedient to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. But if you fear God more than men then you will be willing to disappoint and even disobey men when the rules of men come into conflict with the Word and Will of God!

Persecution of Christians is not dependent on how evil the world is around them. Persecution happens when Christians fear God more than they fear men. When men who govern others require that you engage in an activity of which God disapproves you must decide whether or not you fear God more than men.

A man or woman of faith is one that always obeys God and only obeys men when the command of man does not contradict the will of God. When you walk with God with that unfaltering determination you will suffer from persecution by men who do not trust God.

"Lord Jesus I choose today to fear You more than I fear men! May Your Will and Word be the itinerary of my life. May I go with You and not with the world every day for the rest of my life. Praise Your Name forever. Amen."

Wealth in Heaven

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Everyone on this earth,

now listen to what I say!

Listen, no matter who you are,

rich or poor.

 

I speak words of wisdom,

and my thoughts make sense.

I have in mind a mystery

that I will explain

while playing my harp.

 

Why should I be afraid

in times of trouble,

when I am surrounded

by vicious enemies?

They trust in their riches

and brag about

all their wealth.

 

You cannot buy back your life

or pay off God!

It costs far too much

to buy back your life.

You can never pay God enough

to stay alive forever

and safe from death.

 

We see that wise people die,

and so do stupid fools.

Then their money is left

for someone else.

Psalm 49:1-10

The economy of Heaven does not use money! With all the money on earth you cannot buy one minute in Heaven. Even if you had all the gold in the world you would only have the material to fill a few pot holes in the City of God.

So why do we put so much emphasis on the wealth of this world? If you desire to be rich on this earth you are revealing the fact that your heart is here on earth and not in Heaven. When you die and take the "Flight to Heaven" nothing goes with you. No luggage is allowed on that flight! Everything you have accumulated here on this earth stays here.

The follower of Jesus who lives in abject poverty will enter the "Gates of Glory" just like the man who was wealthy on this earth! In fact Jesus said that it is easier for a poor man to go to Heaven!

Are you spending your life trying to get things that you cannot take to Heaven, or are you "laying up treasure" in Heaven. Of course it is necessary to have "things" on this earth, but Jesus said that we should seek first "His kingdom and His righteousness" and God would see that we get the things that we need!

"Lord, may I seek You today and not the things of this world. May my heart be thrilled with the thought of the treasures of Heaven and not the treasures of this earth. And Jesus may Glory and Praise be given to You forever. Amen."

Heal My Eyes!

 

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Jesus was followed by a large crowd as he and his disciples were leaving Jericho. Two blind men were sitting beside the road. And when they heard that Jesus was coming their way, they shouted, “Lord and Son of David, have pity on us!”

The crowd told them to be quiet, but they shouted even louder, “Lord and Son of David, have pity on us!”

When Jesus heard them, he stopped and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

They answered, “Lord, we want to see!”

Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. At once they could see, and they became his followers.

Matthew 20:29-34

These two blind men thought that all they wanted from Jesus was to be healed. It must be very hard to live in a world without the ability to see anything around you. But when Jesus touched their eyes He also captured their hearts! They asked to be and were healed but also received an Eternity with Jesus as His followers.

In a real sense every man and woman alive today is blind and needs the touch of Jesus in order to see. If everyone were physically blind, then no one would know what they were missing. But when one Man comes who can see the light and offers to heal everyone else, everything changes!

Jesus was the only man who had seen God and by His death on the Cross He gives us the opportunity to receive our sight and see God as well! Has Jesus touched your spiritual eyes and healed you of your blindness? Because of Jesus do you see things that you have never seen before?

"Lord Jesus touch my eyes that I may see the things of Eternity. Open the eyes of my heart today and let me gaze on the Glories of Heaven! Show me things I have never seen before and haven't even imagined! And may You, Jesus be praised and glorified forever. Amen."

Greatest Man Ever Born!

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After John's messengers had gone, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John:

What kind of person did you go out to the desert to see? Was he like tall grass blown about by the wind?  What kind of man did you really go out to see? Was he someone dressed in fine clothes? People who wear expensive clothes and live in luxury are in the king's palace.  What then did you go out to see? Was he a prophet? He certainly was! I tell you that he was more than a prophet.  In the Scriptures, God calls John his messenger and says, “I am sending my messenger ahead of you to get things ready for you.”  No one ever born on this earth is greater than John. But whoever is least important in God's kingdom is greater than John.

Luke 7:24-28

Jesus said that John the Baptist was the greatest man who ever lived! How did John qualify for such praise from Jesus? It was not because of John's education or social position in Israel. John was not a rich man and he certainly was not powerful in the government of the country. John's clothes were rough and his diet was simple and he lived in the desert, but John was used by God to deliver the message which prepared the way for Jesus.

God had a purpose for John the Baptist and John set his hand to fulfill that purpose. John did the thing that God created him to do.

Did God make your life without a purpose? Did He just create you and set you down on this earth with nothing in His mind about what your life should mean? Are you simply one of millions who try to muddle though life the best they can and "hopefully" go to Heaven when they die?

Remember John the Baptist had none of the things in his life that would have caused the world to say that he was a success. But Jesus did not agree. How does Jesus see your life today? Are you faithful in doing the things that the Holy Spirit is leading you to do? Or are you trying to judge your importance to Jesus by your college degree, social standing, salary, and of course your ability to "dress for success?"

Remember that the greatest man ever born according to Jesus had none of the world's characteristics for success. Judge yourself by the standard of Jesus not the world around you!

"Lord Jesus, You created me for a purpose. I ask You to show me how to fulfill Your desire for my life today. Give me the courage to stand up for You and do Your will, today and always. Amen."

Where is Jesus?

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If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.

John 12:26

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then what you are is simply that a "follower." Jesus does not follow you, you follow Him!

We are sometimes tempted to think that when Jesus said, "I am with you always," He meant that it doesn't matter where we go or what we do because Jesus will be there with us. If you serve Jesus, then you go with Him. Look around and ask yourself, "Did I follow Jesus to this place?"

Is Jesus in the place where you are right now? Or do you know for sure that the Lord is not with you in what you are doing?

Have you stopped along the road in your walk with Jesus and said "Jesus, You stay here while I go in there and in a little while I will come back?" Maybe the first time or two when you come back He is there and you continue on your walk with Him. But then one day you linger longer in a place without Jesus and you forget that He is waiting for you. Then when you come out and look for Him, He has moved on without you, and you begin to question whether or not He was really there in the first place. For some who have such an experience it is years before they start walking with Jesus again.

The great lesson for me to learn is this: Never go anywhere that Jesus will not go with you! Don't separate yourself from Jesus even for a moment. When you walk away from Jesus you are like an alcoholic who takes "just one" drink. One minute away from Jesus can be a tragic experience for any follower of Him.

"Lord Jesus, convict my heart today every time I am tempted to step away from You for even a minute. Give me the courage and strength to say "No" every time my feet want to wander from You. And Lord show me now where You are leading me today! Praise Your Holy Name. Amen."

Greatest Love Story!

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Then the Lord told me to say:

People of Israel, I, the Lord, have power over you, just as a potter has power over clay. If I threaten to uproot and shatter an evil nation, and that nation turns from its evil, I will change my mind.

If I promise to make a nation strong, but its people start disobeying me and doing evil, then I will change my mind and not help them at all.

So listen to me, people of Judah and Jerusalem! I have decided to strike you with disaster, and I won't change my mind unless you stop sinning and start living right.

But I know you won't listen. You might as well answer, “We don't care what you say. We have made plans to sin, and we are going to be stubborn and do as we please!”

Jeremiah 18:5-12

So we sit like a lump of clay on the wheel of a potter waiting for the Lord to make us into the vessel He has chosen. The difference between a man and a lump of clay is that we can stubbornly refuse to be shaped as God wishes.

When men choose to disobey God, He has promised that He will not help them at all! It doesn't matter how much you fervently cry out to God for help if you are walking in disobedience to Him. In your heart you say "I have made plans to sin, and I am going to be stubborn and do as I please!"

The essence of "Free Will" is that God gives us the ability to reject Him and go our own way. He will not force us to be faithful to Him and He will not trap us into yielding to His will. God wants us to choose Him and to love Him like a young woman gives her heart to a young man! It is indeed the greatest love story ever told!

Are you in a "love relationship" with Jesus Christ or do you obey Him so you won't go to Hell? Do you desire Him like no one else and nothing else in this life? And when Jesus touches your heart is it the most memorable of moments? Is your life yielded to the hands of the Potter as He forms you into the vessel that He desires?

"Lord Jesus, this day I want to say "Yes" to You in everything and in every way. I want Your touch on every breath I take and every thought in my mind. May I be completely Yours now and forever. Amen."

Total Dependence!

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Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn't by obeying the Law of Moses.  God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.  But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.   God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life's blood, so by faith in him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive sinners. This also shows that God is right when he accepts people who have faith in Jesus.

What is left for us to brag about? Not a thing! Is it because we obeyed some law? No! It is because of faith.

Romans 3:21-27

What is the difference between believing in Jesus and having faith in Him? The Bible says that even demons believe and tremble, but they certainly don't have "Faith!"

The first step of Faith is, of course belief, but unless you take the other steps of Faith you are no better off than the demons.

The second step of Faith is Trust. When you have Faith in Jesus you can rest peacefully in what He says. You don't spend your life trying to "verify" everything you read about in the Bible and you are not amazed when someone tells you that an archaeological "find" confirms the truth of Scripture.

The final step of Faith is total dependence. So the man or woman of Faith believes in Jesus, trusts His every Word and comes to depend on Him for everything in this life as well as the next! That is the point where "the Peace of God rules your mind and heart." And that Peace shines on your face. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, the next time you are in a public place with lots of people you have never seen before, look at their faces. Look for the Peace of God shining on the face of a stranger. If you want to know for sure, you will have to ask, but total dependence on Jesus Christ is hard to hide from your face!

"Lord Jesus, help me to step beyond the belief that even demons have to the state of total dependence on You for everything. And Lord help me to let that Peace that comes from You shine on my face today. Praise Your Holy Name. Amen."

God Treasures People

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The Lord said:

Heaven is my throne;

the earth is my footstool.

What kind of house

could you build for me?

In what place will I rest?

 

I have made everything;

that's how it all came to be.

I, the Lord, have spoken.

The people I treasure most

are the humble—

they depend only on me

and tremble when I speak.

Isaiah 66:1-2

God's treasures people who are humble and depend only on Him. These are the people that tremble when God speaks. I have often in my life said that I want to hear the voice of God. But have I really considered what that means? The voice of God created the world and in fact the voice of God is awesome beyond our imagination.

God said, "Let there be light and there was light." When God speaks every molecule in the universe conforms itself to His Word and Will. It really is amazing that God gave men the ability to argue with Him about anything. But when you come to truly believe that God is who He says He is and that Jesus Christ actually came to this earth and died for you it seems utterly foolish to disagree with God.

If you hear the voice of God and do not tremble, then you need to find out more about who He really is. Don't take God lightly. He is not a figment of your imagination.

"Lord Jesus, I want to hear Your voice, but I also want to be changed by what I hear You say. Help me to be humble and depend only on You so that I may be part of Your treasure here on earth. Praise Your Name forever. Amen."

Cross Reference

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I saw a great white throne with someone sitting on it. Earth and heaven tried to run away, but there was no place for them to go.  I also saw all the dead people standing in front of that throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several books were opened, and then the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what those books said they had done.

The sea gave up the dead people who were in it, and death and its kingdom also gave up their dead. Then everyone was judged by what they had done. Afterwards, death and its kingdom were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  Anyone whose name wasn't written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-15

The Bible clearly says that everyone who has ever lived will be judged by what they have done on this earth. And those deeds are written in books that God will use on the day of judgment. God is just and fair. No one will be sent to Hell who does not deserve it. There is one exception to God's justice. If your name is written in the Book of Life then you will go to Heaven even if you deserve to go to Hell!

That is the simple and amazing truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though you have done plenty of evil deeds that show up in the Books that God will use to judge all of mankind, every one of those deeds will be "Cross-Referenced" to the Book of Life! And if your name is in the Book of Life you will not go to Hell.

Then why should you be concerned with living a good life on this earth? If you can go to Heaven in spite of the bad things you have done what is the purpose in living a life of righteousness? Well even though Jesus takes away the eternal consequences of your sin, it is for you to suffer the earthly ones. There are many people in prisons today whose sins have been covered and forgiven by Jesus, but the earthly authorities still demand punishment. So don't be foolish. There are many earthly blessings for avoiding sin!

Remember, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then your name is written in the Book of Life and all your sins which are listed in the other Books are "Cross-Referenced" to the Book of Life. When Jesus died on the Cross He put all of the names of His followers in the Book of Life!

"Lord Jesus, thank You for the Book of Life and the truth that my sins are cancelled out by Your sacrifice on the Cross. Praise Your Holy Name forever. Amen."

Obey Like Jesus Did

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But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law,  so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God's children.  Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. You are no longer slaves. You are God's children, and you will be given what he has promised.

Galatians 4:4-7

Obeying the Law of Moses was a human impossibility. Try as you may you cannot perfectly obey the Law that God gave and is recorded in the Old Testament.

Here is an amazing truth! What other men could not and cannot do, Jesus did! Jesus conformed His life in absolute obedience to the Law. That in itself is beyond impressive.

We spend most of our focus on the fact that Jesus went to the Cross and died in my place for my sins! And we should, but don't forget that Jesus was able to do that because for more than 30 years He never broke a law of God!

So why must I pay attention to the "Law of God?" Why should I try to be obedient to everything God has said? The answer to that is simple and yet very profound. When I obey God I am like Jesus. When I don't obey I am not living like my Lord.

I don't obey the Law in order to be saved, but I am obedient so I can be like Jesus! I am not saved by my obedience, but rather by His! If I have even one moment of disobeying God, then that moment is one in which I am not living as Jesus did!

If you want to be like Jesus you will see the miraculous power of God in the world around you and also have a cross to bear, but you will also be obedient to God!

Is there something still on your list of "Things God told me to do but I have not yet done?" If there is then begin today to be obedient to God so that even in that thing you will be like Jesus!

"Lord Jesus, I want to be like You in the complete way You were obedient to God. Show me one more desire that God has for me so that I may be obedient to it! Thank You Jesus. Amen."

Amazing Events!

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Our Lord, how long must I beg

for your help

before you listen?

How long before you save us

from all this violence?

 

Why do you make me watch

such terrible injustice?

Why do you allow violence,

lawlessness, crime, and cruelty

to spread everywhere?

 

Laws cannot be enforced;

justice is always the loser;

criminals crowd out honest people

and twist the laws around.

The Lord Answers Habakkuk

 

Look and be amazed

at what's happening

among the nations!

Even if you were told,

you would never believe

what's taking place now.

Habakkuk 1:2-5

One of the blessings or maybe it is a curse of being old is that you can see clearly how the world has changed over the years. But these words from Habakkuk the prophet sound like something that you might hear or even say after reading today's news.

The top news of this day is that the Russians are moving troops into the Ukraine. No one knows if this is just a temporary incursion that will not stir up further trouble in the world or the beginning of a tremendous escalation of hostilities.

But God told Habakkuk to "Look and be amazed at what's happening among the nations!" And we would be wise to do the same thing. God is still deeply involved in the life of every nation, whether or not that nation outwardly accepts God and seeks to follow Him. The movements of nations around the world are taking us toward that final day when Jesus will return. All the prophecies will be fulfilled and the purpose of God will reign triumphant over all!

When a storm comes some people want to hide their eyes and cover their heads waiting for the storm to pass. Other people want to find a "safe" place to watch the storm, see the lightning crashes and hear the thunder roar, trusting God to protect them from the storm or take them home by means of the storm. Either way they are safe with Jesus.

The display of God's power around the world today is the same. God will either protect you from it, or He will use it to take you to Glory! Either way you will be safe.

"Lord Jesus I am amazed at what is happening right now in the world. I see things happening that have never happened before. I see the world rushing toward a final conclusion even though they don't know that You are the Beginning and End of everything! May You Lord Jesus be glorified and praised today and forever more. Amen."