Two Wisdoms

 

You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up. We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.

Galatians 6:7-10

Every time you encounter another human being, a seed falls into your heart or theirs, sometimes both. During the time of a pandemic, many people wear masks so they will not infect others or themselves with the current virus.

Every point of contact with the world around you is consequential. There is always “give and take.” The world tries to give you “fake truth.” Those who are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit broadcast God’s reality that comes straight from Heaven.

When you fellowship another disciple of Christ, the faith of both grows. You will “cheer each other on” in your walk of faith! Instead of being jealous of another believer in their close walk with Jesus, they encourage you to have that closeness in your own life.

Above all, don’t equate the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world. They are not the same and can never be. One Word from God contradicts all the world’s wise men. You can know that they are all wrong! God already knows everything that researchers are desperately trying to discover.

It is not your job to confirm that the wisdom of the world is right about this or that. As a follower of Jesus, it is yours to listen for the voice of God and obey it every day. When you plant that seed, you will harvest Eternal Life!

“Lord Jesus, plant Your seed in my heart today and in the hearts of everyone I encounter. Praise Your Holy Name, Now and Forever. Amen!”

A BEAUTIFUL MARRIAGE

 

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother to get married, and he becomes like one person with his wife.” This is a great mystery, but I understand it to mean Christ and his church. So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:31-33

Marriage is a great mystery. And we find the secret to the mystery in heaven. God created man, and He created woman. God designed a lifelong relationship between a man and a woman that speaks loudly about Jesus and those who belong to Him.

God did not create men and women to be the same. They are two pieces of the puzzle of life that when they come together, life goes on.

Of course, the Bible does not require that anyone marry. But if you do, you display the glory of Heaven to men and women on earth.

Men, when you love your wife you are stepping into the Stream of the joy of heaven. Women, when you respect your husband, you are learning a Secret from heaven.

So marriage is one of Satan's prime targets. He wants to destroy the most beautiful picture ever painted on earth!

A beautiful marriage makes the most beautiful sunset pale in comparison.

“Thank You, Jesus, for allowing us to experience being part of the picture of You and Your Bride. May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever. Amen.”

Surrender to God

 

Surrender to God! Resist the devil, and he will run from you. Come near to God, and He will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can’t make up your mind.

James 4:7-8

Have you surrendered your life to God, and are you resisting the devil? Many people resist God and surrender to the devil.

When you come near to God, the devil will run away from you.The evil one doesn't mind being near you, but when you are near God he is afraid and he runs away. So the way to get rid of the devil in your life is to live close to God. Begin your day thinking about Jesus and reading the word of God while you meditate on what it says.

When your heart and mind are not focused on Jesus Christ you will find temptations coming from every direction. But when you think about Jesus and contemplate His role in your life, the steps you take and the path you walk will be far from Satan.

The truth is this: either you will be near to God or the devil will be near to you!

“Lord Jesus, help me to stay near You today so the devil will stay away. May Your holy name be praised now and forever Amen.”

Believe It or Not

 

Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”

Philippians 2:8-11

Even those without faith now will one day bow the knee and proclaim that Jesus is Lord!

Atheism is a temporary condition that will come to an abrupt end when we stand before the king of kings and Lord of lords on the day of judgment.

God gave mankind the ability to not believe that he exists. It may be hard to fathom but everyone in hell will know for certain that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Before they arrive in the fiery pits of eternal suffering all mankind will stand before him on the Day of judgment.

Let the turmoil you see around you in the world today prompt your action to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Don't worry about whether the prophecies are being fulfilled in your presence. It may be soon or it may yet be a while, but Jesus is coming and you need to be ready!

Today, bow your knees in prayer so you will be ready to bow your knees in praise when you come before the throne of Jesus on that day.

“Thank You Jesus for coming to pay the price for my sins. And thank You for coming again to get me and take me home with You forever. Amen.”

Big Words About Jesus

 

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Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to tell the good news without using big words that would make the cross of Christ lose its power. The message about the cross doesn’t make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God’s power at work.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 CEV

The message of Jesus Christ is not an intellectual, reasonable, and logical argument. It makes little sense to those who are on the road to Hell and have not already turned their attention toward God. But when a man or woman recognizes the desperate state of affairs of their own life, the Good News of Jesus Christ comes alive. 

The hope you need for the future is not an intellectual argument, no matter how logical it may be. What you must have is a person who will save you from sin and the deadly effects of rebellion against God.  

You can know and even understand all the theologies in the Bible and still not know Jesus! For Eternity, it is not what you know that matters. Who you know determines your eternal destiny. 

On the Day of Judgment, a solid grasp of all the Biblical doctrines will count for nothing if you don’t know Jesus as your Lord. But if you know Jesus, He will see that the wisdom of the world does not corrupt your understanding of truth.

“Thank You, Jesus, that I don’t need to know Big Words about You. All I need is to know You and I will have Forever to learn everything about You I don’t know now. Praise Your Holy Name now and always. Amen.”

 

  

 

God Has No Unemployment Plan

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We also gave you the rule that if you don’t work, you don’t eat. Now we learn that some of you just loaf around and won’t do any work, except the work of a busybody. So, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, we ask and beg these people to settle down and start working for a living.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 CEV

Are you one of those refusing to go back to work in the wake of the Covid Pandemic? When thousands of people were dying every day from the disease, and no one knew what treatment worked, the entire world went into “lock-down.” Computers and the internet enabled many to continue to work from the safety of their homes. And many of those who stayed home without the ability to continue work received more than adequate unemployment checks from their government.

Now, the problem in the United States is: The Government is paying lots of people more money not to work than those same people would receive if they went back to their jobs. It stalled the most amazing and prosperous economy in the world for lack of workers.

Did you know that there is no unemployment plan for followers of Jesus Christ? Jesus has employment for you today and it includes nothing beyond your ability. His Spirit will direct you to the opportunities to work for Him and bring His blessings to those you encounter. If all you can do is pray for those in need, you are doing the greatest work of all!

Pandemic survivors who sit at home and refuse to work are like Christians who “go to church once a week” to get spiritual food from the pastor and only study the Bible to confirm that they are saved. There is no blessing from God for refusing to hear the call of the Holy Spirit to work for Him. 

“Lord Jesus, take away my fear of responding to Your call on my life today. Open my ears to hear Your plan for this day. Give me the courage to step onto the stormy seas of walking with You! Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen.”

 

Favorite Place for Me in Heaven

 

 

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Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.”

John 14:1-3 CEV

God’s house has many rooms, and as a follower of Jesus, your name is written above the door of one of them. For over 2000 years, Jesus has worked on places for all of His disciples, including you!

Reality TV shows that remodel houses often conclude the show with an almost life-size picture of the old house pulled out of the way to reveal the new creation. Many times, the new owners call on the Name of God in their joy and utter amazement.

The place that Jesus is preparing for you will shock you to your very core. The One who designed every beautiful sunset and glorious Spring flower is decorating a place in God’s house for you.  

Here on earth, I certainly like the city, town, or area in which I live, but my home is the best. My home is my favorite place to be. Jesus is preparing a Favorite Place for Me in Heaven. It will be better than I have ever dreamed.

When Jesus finishes the place for me, He will come back and take me to be with Him forever.

“Lord Jesus, I want to imagine the glory of the place You are preparing for me. As I look around here on earth and see all the suffering and pain, sin and death, and all the other things that came upon us because of our rebellion against You, give me a glimpse of what I will see on the day of my departure from this earth. May all men fall down and worship You and praise Your Holy Name. Amen.”

JESUS LOVES YOU MORE THAN LIFE

 

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The Lord says, “If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe. When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect and honor you. You will live a long life and see my saving power.”

Psalm 91:14-16 CEV

Real love is always a two way street.  When you love someone who doesn't love you, there is usually a sad ending to the story. But when you discover that the one you love also loves you, there is a rush of joy and peace that fills your heart and mind!

When you write the first lines of your love story with Jesus, the Devil always jumps in to say that you are not worthy to be loved by Jesus! As a frail and flawed human being why would the Creator of all there is love you? 

Jesus loves you, not because of who you are or what you have done, but because of who He is and what He has done! You see, every sinner on planet earth, even at the depths of his or her sin and shame is loved by Jesus with the full extent of His love!

Every love story has a beginning when one of the two, steps into the pool of love and sinks deep into a permanent place of caring! Jesus did that for all people when He allowed Himself to be lifted high on the Cross! Every being in all of Eternity must have heard the voice of Jesus screaming "I love you" for all mankind to hear!

The message of the Holy Bible is this: Jesus Loves You! 

The choice you have is simple: Step into the Love Story of Loving Jesus or say "no" to the One who loves you more than He loved His own life on earth!

"Lord Jesus, I want to walk in a loving relationship with You, today, tomorrow and forever! Praise Your Holy Name always! Amen." 

 

ECHO OFF THE WALLS OF ETERNITY!

 

 

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 At that time you will say,

“Our Lord, we are thankful,

and we worship only you.
We will tell the nations
how glorious you are 

and what you have done. 

Because of your wonderful deeds
we will sing your praises

everywhere on earth.”

Isaiah 12:4-5

Eye witness testimony is certainly more powerful than repeating what you hear someone else say! This morning I read an eye witness description of a car accident. A friend of mine saw the wreck and ran to assist the driver and his wife out of the destroyed vehicle. The incident came alive in my mind as I read her descriptions. Thank God, no one was killed. 

Can you give "eye witness testimony" to what you see God doing in the world around you, and especially in your own life? 

Personal testimony about your relationship with Jesus is like describing a beautiful sunrise or sunset. When you hear about the beautiful fellowship of Jesus and one of His followers you can never paint an exact copy of that picture in your own life! All the same colors may be there, but the way they touch the horizon is always unique.

When you tell the story about how Jesus impacts your life and walks with you on the road to Heaven, others will be encouraged to depend on Him as well. 

When you tell the world around you what Jesus has done for you, in you and through you, as well as what He has done and is doing in the world itself, the Power and Love of Jesus echos off the walls of Eternity!

Tell someone your story everyday! Especially, tell the parts about what you have seen Jesus do for you, in you and through you!

 

"Lord Jesus, may the sound of Your Power and Love Echo off the Walls of Eternity. Praise Your Holy Name now and forever! Amen."

Joy of Answered Prayer

 

 

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You are now very sad. But later I will see you, and you will be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel. When that time comes, you won’t have to ask me about anything. I tell you for certain that the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. You have not asked for anything in this way before, but now you must ask in my name. Then it will be given to you, so that you will be completely happy.

John 16:22-24

It is not the gift that makes you happy, but the One who gives it! 

Forty-three years ago, on my birthday, a friend of mine, Gary Arnold, gave me a small plaster, mushroom shaped paper weight with a circle of felt on the bottom. I can’t imagine that it cost more than a couple of dollars, but it still sits on my desk today as a reminder of the days I worked for Gary and the friendship that developed during the years after that.

The gift is precious to me because the one who gave it was a special friend!

Answered prayer is a gift from God! When God answers your prayer, His hand touches you at your point of need. It is not the blessing He provides that is so memorable. It is being totally aware that the Creator of everything is reaching out and touching you! That is amazing.

Today, when I look at my plaster mushroom, I see my friend Gary and I think about when I will see him again at the feet of Jesus!

And when I think of the many answered prayers during my years here on earth, I am reminded that God Almighty is the one who not only formed me in my mother’s womb, but enables every breath I have taken and will take until the day I die!

“Lord Jesus, make me completely happy today by reminding me You are the One who gives me life itself! May we praise forever Your Holy Name! Amen.”

When Jesus Breaks Your Bread

 

 

 

The disciples had forgotten to bring any bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.  Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

The disciples talked this over and said to each other, “He must be saying this because we don’t have any bread.”

Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you talking about not having any bread? Don’t you understand? Are your minds still closed? Are your eyes blind and your ears deaf? Don’t you remember how many baskets of leftovers you picked up when I fed those five thousand people with only five small loaves of bread?”

“Yes,” the disciples answered. “There were twelve baskets.”

Jesus then asked, “And how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up when I broke seven small loaves of bread for those four thousand people?”

“Seven,” they answered.

Mark 8:14-20

When Jesus needed bread for 5,000 people He used 5 small loaves and had 12 baskets of leftover bread after they ate.  When Jesus feed 4,000 people He started with 7 small loaves and collected 7 baskets of leftovers.  This sounds like the beginning of a high school math problem where you are asked to calculate how many people were satisfied with only one loaf.  

You probably realize though that there is no formula to determine how big the blessing of God's increase will be. The answer is surely this: When Jesus takes what you have and applies it to the need, you will have ENOUGH! 

Jesus never comes up short of the need! He often provides less than you think you need, but when Jesus breaks your bread, standard accounting measures lose track and are not able to see what He is doing!

If God calls you to do this or that, don't seek to "raise the funds" needed to accomplish it. Rather take what you have and put that in the hands of Jesus. Jesus doesn't need your money! Jesus needs your willingness to give Him whatever you have, no matter how small it is! Your small gift can satisfy thousands after it passes through the hands of Jesus and is broken by Him!

"Lord Jesus, I know you can take even one small loaf of bread and feed thousands of people. Lord, show me the needs of Your work on this earth and take my heart and everything I have to spread Your blessing to those who have not heard! Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen."

Perfect Love Story!

 

 

 

 

You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side. I can’t understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

Psalm 139:1-6

If someone loves you because you are perfect, you can know for certain that sooner or later you will disappoint and your "perfect love story" will end! You are not perfect. Born with the sinful nature of Adam and Eve, you are destined to sin and "fall short of the Glory of God!"

If you married your husband or wife because you thought you had found the "perfect person," you either have already found out, or will find out that you were wrong! 

There is no "perfect person" except Jesus Christ! He is calling you to come to Him and be part of His Bride forever in Heaven! Jesus loves you, not because you are perfect. He loves you because He is perfect and His perfection is His Eternal Wedding gift to all those who come to Him! You are given His righteousness and He takes responsibility for the judgement you deserve because of your sin! 

Jesus doesn't love you because you repented and cleaned up your life! You repent of your sins and begin to walk in His steps because Jesus loves you! The power of His Blood and Sacrifice on the Cross changes you into His likeness! 

It is amazing and beyond anyone's ability to understand!

"Lord Jesus, You are the author of the Perfect Love Story! Jesus, You are indeed my only hope of Eternal Glory! May Your Name be praised now and forever. Amen."

 

 

 

Please Come After Me!

 

 

I am your servant, but I have wandered away like a lost sheep. Please come after me, because I have not forgotten your teachings.

Psalm 119:176 

It only takes a moment to begin wandering away from the Lord! It may begin with a vengeful or hate filled thought, and then you go on to replace that thought with a sinful action.  

When you realize that you are wandering away from God, instead of crying out in sorrow for your sin, cry out for Him to come after you and rescue you from your foolishness! 

If you were lost at sea and suddenly a rescue boat appeared, you would not spend all your energy  weeping and wailing about how sorry you are for getting lost!

When the Holy Spirit begins the work of convicting your heart of sin, the miracle of a changed life sprouts from your hardened soil.

A pride filled man grieves because his expectations of personal perfection are destroyed by his need for Jesus!   

If you have wandered away from God, even for a moment, call out to Jesus to come after you and rescue you from your own foolishness!  

"Lord Jesus, come after me today and rescue me! It is only by Your Blood and Power that I can expect to come into the presence of God and fall down before the Throne! May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever. Amen!" 

 

Pipeline of Power from God

 

The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won’t come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.

John 3:19-21 CEV

When you come to Jesus, the “Light of the World” the power of the Lord reveals itself through your life! You become a pipeline of power from God to the world around you! 

It is not the pipeline that is the source of the energy needed to fuel the needs of a country. It is the oil in the pipeline!

Your job as a follower of Jesus Christ is to be a pipeline for His Power! The Enemy wants to stop the construction of your pipeline! He wants to make sure that you cannot deliver the Power of God to the lost world around you!

When you come to Jesus and begin a life of obedience to His every desire, He pours the Power of God through your life. When you obey, you become an open channel for Him to work His will through you every day! 

Remember, the power that flows through you is not your own. You are simply a channel of blessing. It is God who works through you. As a disciple of Jesus Christ you have a front-row seat to the Glory of God working through you. 

“Lord Jesus, You are the Power that changes those who come to You into Your image! They may look like You, but it is still Your Power that flows through them! May we praise Your Holy Name now and forever! Amen.”

The Real Enemy

 

Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.

Ephesians 6:10-13

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, your enemies are not people of a different political philosophy, or socioeconomic class. Men and women who love Jesus might be called “conservatives” or “liberals.” They are not at war with each other.  

When an earthly army is engaged in battle, the soldiers do not debate political orientations. They rather leave that for another time and another place. When the battle is raging, those who serve stand and fight together against the enemy!

As a Christian you may live your life under the rule of a tyrant, or you may live as a free man or woman. Being free to live as you choose is not essential for a follower of Jesus! 

Your Enemy is Satan and not men and women captured in his web of deceit!

Remember, God is both Liberal and Conservative! God saves sinners who do nothing to deserve salvation! He also expects you to yield your heart and mind to the indwelling Holy Spirit. He will then transform you into a person who pleases God in everything you do.

“Lord Jesus, direct my mind so that I will fight the Real Enemy and not waste my strength on opposing those who are themselves Prisoners of War! Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever! Amen.”  

 

Desire to Understand God

Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand His decisions or explain what He does?

Romans 11:33

Can you understand God's decisions and explain what He does? The answer to that question is a simple two letter word, NO! God's wealth, and wisdom and knowledge are greater than even our ability to measure. 

When you set your heart and mind on the task of "making sense" out of God's revelation to mankind you will spend your life digging a hole that has no bottom! You will be climbing a mountain with no peak! 

You can know all of the original languages of Scripture and spend your life studying every possible version of the Bible and know nothing of the love of Jesus!

Perhaps I am wrong, but I know of no Scripture that says the Bible will be with us in Heaven! Of course, the Word of God that is written on your heart will be with you forever! But I am convinced there will be no need for a Book of God's Word when you are standing face to face before Him!

A little child doesn't judge his father when his very limited perspective on life gives him no basis for agreeing with the one who by God's power and grace created him. The child simply believes his father knows everything there is to know and can do no wrong!  A child of God does the same! Understanding God is not the essence of life.  Loving and knowing God are the fundamentals of our existence on earth! 

When the desire to understand God becomes first place in your heart, you are taking a step away from the Throne of Heaven! Never "Under-estimate" God even if you never "Understand" Him!

"Lord Jesus, as a fallen man I want to know everything about You, but as Your child I want to You above everything else!  Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen." 

 

The Prize of Heaven

 

 

Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, He has given us new life and a hope that lives on. God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear.

1 Peter 1:3-4

Beautiful Christmas paper wrapped the box, and a ribbon finished the package with unknown contents! The card said it was from my father to me. My imagination went wild as I tore open the wrapping paper a hundred times in my mind! What could it be? The only way to find out was to wait until Christmas morning and open the gift as we celebrated that very special day!

If you are a child of God, He has “something stored up for you in heaven.” Your gift can never decay, be ruined or disappear. Your Father in Heaven knows your heart, and He knows what you need as well as what you want. When it comes time for you to open your gift from God in Eternity, you will not be disappointed!

You may speculate and guess what your gift will be, but the only way to “know” is to wait and see. On your journey to Eternity, there are many ways to become distracted by the devil as he tries to take your eyes off of Jesus and tempt you to pay attention to the world around you. But, let your heart stay focused on the prize in Heaven and the Day when you will see what God has stored up for you!

“Lord Jesus, help me keep my eyes on the Prize of Heaven and what You have planned for me there! May we praise always Your Holy Name! Amen.”

God Blesses Even Those Who Curse Him

 

 

Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you. Ask him to bless them and not to curse them. When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone. Dear friends, don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, “I am the one to take revenge and pay them back.” 

 

Romans 12:14-19 

 

 It just goes against every natural human feeling. Asking God to bless those who mistreat you does not come easily. Wanting to "strike back" is the way wars start as well as personal feuds. 

 

But I want to be like God! When someone sets themselves up as a sworn enemy of God Almighty, the warmth of the sun and the life sustaining refreshment of the rain does not stop. God blesses even those who curse Him! Their fields also produce corn and wheat! 

 

But God gives everyone a choice. A man or woman can choose to turn from their wicked ways and embrace the love of Jesus, or they can run away from the Lord and spend Eternity separated from the One who gave His life to save them! 

 

I believe the best measure of whether or not you are becoming like Jesus is how you feel about those who persecute you! If you love them, then you are becoming like Jesus! If you want vengeance on those who persecute you, it is not Jesus you see in the mirror! 

 

Hell is waiting for those who reject Jesus. But the love of Jesus is working to decrease the ultimate population of Hell! Jesus is calling all who love Him to join with Him in that effort. 

 

"Lord Jesus, help me today to love those who hate You and persecute Your followers! When I look into the mirror today may I see Your image in my heart! Praise Your Name, now and forever. Amen."

 

Searching for God

 

 

But without faith, no one can please God. We must believe that God is real, and that He rewards everyone who searches for Him.

Hebrews 11:6

Do you search for God in your life? Do you go through each day looking for signs of the Almighty even in the ordinary moments?

How does God reward those who search for Him? When you search for God, you might expect things in your life to go well. You might hope for financial success. Peace and prosperity in your life are not beyond the ability of God Almighty to grant to those who search for Him!

But the stated and guaranteed reward for seeking God is finding Him!

When you find God, everything changes! Chance meetings become Divine Appointments. Random thoughts are often a Holy Spirit leading!

When you find God, everything in nature reveals the Majesty of the Creator and His love of Beauty!  

Finding God in your life is the Ultimate Reward for seeking Him! Each day is an adventure of unimaginable joy and peace as you walk through life with your hand in the Hand of the nail scared Savior!

Remember, when you seek Him, you will find Him!

"Lord Jesus, finding You in my life is all the reward I can ever imagine! You, Jesus, are all I need now and forever! May Your followers Praise Your Holy Name always! Amen."

Suffering and Dying!

 

 

 

All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, so that somehow I also may be raised to life.

Philippians 3:10-11

I remember first discovering the words: "I want to know Christ and the power that raised Him to life." But while I rejoiced in knowing Jesus and His power, I ignored the part about wanting to "suffer and die as He did."

Frankly, I didn't want to suffer at all, and death was not something I desired!

But being like Jesus in His suffering and death is the path to being like Jesus in His Resurrection! Suffering and death is the transition of a human body to a glorified body like Jesus has today. Death is not a destination, rather it is a stepping off point from earth to Eternity!

Jesus suffered because He walked daily in the Will of God! All the Evil in the universe focused itself on trying to destroy Jesus! That is why you must suffer as well. Satan and all of his demons could not keep Jesus in the grave! And when you suffer and die as Jesus did, they cannot keep you in the grave either! 

So if you know someone who loved Jesus greatly, but suffered terribly as they were about to die, take heart! Suffering and dying as He did is part of the Journey to Glory!

“Lord Jesus, I want to know You and the power that raised You to life, but I also desire to suffer and die as You did so I may be raised to life with You forever. Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen.”

Faith and Poverty

 

 

My dear friends, pay attention. God has given a lot of faith to the poor people in this world. He has also promised them a share in his kingdom that he will give to everyone who loves him. 

James 2:5 CEV

A man or woman with great faith has received much from the Lord!  The best gifts from God are not fame, wealth or any of this world's luxuries. All those things will perish and become history's curiosities and footnotes!

How does God give faith to those who are poor in this world? The answer is simple. Poor people have fewer options than the rich. Wealth provides lots of ways to take care of your needs without the direct help of God! But without money and the "stuff" of this world trusting God is the most obvious and best option for navigating life!

When you are rich and have plenty of this world's provisions, trusting God completely is difficult! So when you pray, ask God to give you FAITH, and ask Him to withhold the "blessings" that fight against trusting Him!

The "Richest man in the world" is the one who depends on God for everything!    

"Thank You Jesus for giving me my daily bread and the things I need for this life. And thank You for not giving me so much that I depend on the gifts and not the Giver!  May Your Righteous Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."

 

When Jesus Says Amen

 

 

Christ says “Yes” to all of God’s promises. That’s why we have Christ to say “Amen” for us to the glory of God. And so God makes it possible for you and us to stand firmly together with Christ. God is also the one who chose us and put his Spirit in our hearts to show that we belong only to him.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 CEV

When I was a small child, my mother taught me to pray "in the Name of Jesus" and then to close the prayer with an "Amen." "Amen" means "let it be so!"

But when Jesus says the "Amen," your prayer steps up to another level altogether! When Jesus says "Let it be so" it is like God saying "Let there be light!" The Amen of God is behind all Creation!

Always say Amen to the Words of God! Declare your agreement with every Word uttered by God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit! 

Then, when your heart and mind become like Jesus, you can listen for the "Amen of Jesus" when you pray, or even think about whatever concerns you during each day! When you hear Jesus say "Amen" you can know for certain that it will happen as He desires it to be!

"Lord Jesus, take control of my heart and mind so that I can hear Your "Amen" after every prayer I pray, word I speak and even thought I think! Praise Your Holy Name now and forever! Amen.

LOVE WIPES AWAY SINS!

 

 

Everything will soon come to an end. So be serious and be sensible enough to pray. Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.

1 Peter 4:7-8

How does love wipe away sins? If I love you and you sin against me, I have a simple choice. I can choose to allow my love for you to be ruined by the hate that Satan wants me to embrace in response to your action. Or, I can choose to reject hate and continue walking in love for you because of the Love of Jesus in my heart. 

But what about the consequences of your sin? Jesus suffered because of your sin, so I don't have to!

 There is no evil on this earth that can do you Eternal Harm! The Blood of Jesus not only washes me clean from my sins, it also keeps Satan from having the power to send those who love Jesus to Hell.

The death of Jesus on the Cross was powerful enough to pay for every sin ever committed!

 
And when you become like Jesus, His love in you wipes out the power of sin to draw you back into a life of hate and revenge! Think of someone who offends you greatly and ask Jesus to fill your heart with love for that lost soul. Jesus loves to answer that prayer!

"Lord Jesus, fill my heart again today with your love, even for those who sin against me! I Praise Your Holy Name now and forever! Amen."

DO YOU LOVE GOD?

 

 

"God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him."

James 1:12

The most important question in life is not "are you saved?" Rather it is this: Do you love God?

When a man or woman loves God, "prayer time" never ceases as they listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit to direct every step!

When someone loves God, salvation is not an issue.
After Peter denied even knowing Jesus three times, the Lord asked Peter three times, "Do you love me!" Let your actions and re-actions today be in response to your love for Christ! Jesus, Himself said, "If you love Me you will keep My commands."

Spend this day thinking about the One you love and how you can bring Him joy by everything you do!

"Lord Jesus, I love You and long to see You face to face! May that day come soon when I will be with You forever! I praise You now and always! Amen."

KNOWING THE ENEMY

Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.

Ephesians 6:10-13

Professional sports teams spend lots of time and energy studying their opponents. Then, they can put together a plan to take advantage of the other team’s weaknesses and avoid being pummeled by their strengths.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, your enemy is the Devil! Some very foolish men and women of God believe Satan is not a threat to those who have proclaimed Jesus as Lord! They are very wrong. The Devil wants to cripple your ability to function effectively in the battle against evil. Even King David did not recognize the “Enemy of Righteousness” standing with him as he peered down on Bathsheba from his roof-top.

Another way of getting into spiritual jeopardy is to ignore the defensive and offensive tools God provides for those who follow Jesus! Don’t save your Faith for “big events.” Let your trust in God function in little things every day. Otherwise, you might be like a man who refuses to walk and rides in a wheelchair because he says he is a runner! The man who will not walk, will not run!

I have a Bible with “cross-references.” It gives me a list of verses that are related to the verse I am currently reading! Immerse yourself in the Word of God so every minute of every day you can expect God to bring Scripture to your mind, which is appropriate for that moment in time!

“Lord Jesus, I need You to show me the devil’s tricks today and give me the strength to stand firm against them! I praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen.”

 

GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD

 

 

“My friends, I will use an everyday example to explain what I mean. Once someone agrees to something, no one else can change or cancel the agreement. That is how it is with the promises God made to Abraham and his descendant. The promises were not made to many descendants, but only to one, and that one is Christ.”

Gal 3:15-16

The promises God made to Abraham were also for, and perhaps primarily for Jesus! Jesus was not a Knight in armor sent to rescue men. Jesus was on a Mission to rescue His Bride from Satan! The whole story of man is all about Jesus! God made the entire human race, so Jesus would have a bride!

God created you to bring Joy to Jesus! If it were not for Jesus, we would have no reason to exist. Every acorn that falls from an oak tree has within it the potential to become a mighty oak. And every man or woman born on planet earth can grow into becoming the Bride of Christ. But that can only happen when His Blood is applied to your heart! 

You are being pursued by Jesus Himself and you are the object of His desire.  He loves you so much that He died on the Cross to make a life with you a forever possibility! It is indeed “THE GREATEST LOVE STORY” ever told!

“Lord Jesus, You love me more than I can ever know, but I know I desire to love you more today than I ever have before! May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever. Amen.”

SECRET OF RUSH LIMBAUGH

 

You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. Before I even speak a word; you know what I will say.

Psalms 139:1-4 - CEV

I heard it again this morning. “Rush Limbaugh was the greatest talk radio host ever. And no one can replace him.”

Rush was great because of something no one has mentioned, at least not in my hearing. His audience didn’t really know Rush, but Rush knew his listeners! Rush had a three hour personal conversation with everyone who turned on the radio. Rush knew what the callers were going to say before they spoke the words, and even if you didn’t call, Rush knew what you were thinking. With Rush, you weren’t listening to a show. You were having a personal and sometimes rather intimate dialogue with a compassionate guru!

In Talk Radio, Rush was like God. God knows what you are going to say before you speak the words and He has the perfect answer to all your questions and concerns! The Bible says: Wisdom comes from God.

Rush impacted the lives of people by being available for 15 hours a week for over 30 years. Since God Created Adam, He has been ready to take personal calls 24-7. Unlike Rush, with God you can always connect! And when you “listen to the calls” of other people, it strengthens your Faith in the One who made it all.

Maybe that is why Rush would always say his “talent was on loan from God.”

“Lord Jesus, You know my heart and You know my thoughts. You know every word I speak even before I open my mouth. Thank You for always being there when I need You! Praise Your Holy and Righteous Name now and forever! Amen.”

JUST OBEY GOD!

 

 

If you obey God, you will have something to leave your grandchildren. If you don’t obey God, those who live right will get what you leave.

Proverbs 13:22 - CEV

Obedience to God is the best plan for building wealth. You may lay aside lots of money which you hope to pass on to your children and grandchildren, but have it all wiped out in one tragic day on the market! But if you spend your life obeying the voice of God, you will leave a legacy for your children that is more valuable than all the gold in the world!

The Bible says God paved the streets of Heaven with gold! All the gold in Heaven is no more valuable than a pile of asphalt!

Obeying God always means that He will provide you with what you need to live a life of doing His Will! Will you be rich? Oh, yes! Will you have lots of gold and silver and money? Maybe not!

But you will leave for those who come after you this: they will remember you as a man or woman who always obeyed God and trusted Him to give you everything you need! That inheritance is worth more than all the gold and silver!

Ask God to show you how you can obey Him today. When He shows you what to do, put aside everything else and JUST OBEY GOD!

“Lord Jesus, I want to be an obedient follower of You today. Show me how I can be obedient to You. Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen.”

NEW BODY FOREVER!

 

Everything in the heavens has a body, and so does everything on earth. But each one is very different from all the others. The sun isn’t like the moon; the moon isn’t like the stars, and each star is different. That’s how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever. These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong. As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:40-44 - CEV

There are some things you can do here on earth to change your body. Diet and exercise are helpful in shaping and firming parts of your body, but they are but temporary fixes. Even the most diligent body builder will one day die and his body will begin turning back to dust! It is a fact of life that death will come to all of us.

But those who give their hearts to Jesus Christ on this earth are promised a new body that will be beautiful and strong. Your body here may be “ugly and weak.” But in Heaven no one is ugly, and no one is weak!

It is of some earthly value to go to the gym here on earth. But it won’t last forever! Giving your heart to Jesus here on earth will guarantee a New Body forever in Heaven!

“Lord Jesus, bring thoughts of Heaven to my mind and help me be ready for Your return, or my departure from this earth, every moment of every day! What a Glory it will be to see You “Face to Face!” Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen.”

 

We Don't Need New Leaders!

 

 

“By the power of His Spirit the Lord God has sent me with this message: People of Israel, I am the holy Lord God, the one who rescues you. For your own good, I teach you, and I lead you along the right path. How I wish that you had obeyed my commands! Your success and good fortune then would have overflowed like a flooding river. Your nation would be blessed with more people than there are grains of sand along the seashore. And I would never have let your country be destroyed.”

ISAIAH 48:16b-19

The solution to the problems experienced by a nation that turns away from God is simple. It has nothing to do with electing better leaders or passing more “conservative” laws!

When a country tries to erase the history of its devotion to God, the Hand of the Almighty will let go.

To make things better, the leaders we have now will do nicely if they are filled with the Holy Spirit and become disciples of the Lord Jesus! It doesn’t matter what they were, or what they are now! God can use them to accomplish His righteous purposes!

“LORD JESUS show us how to pray for our leaders so that You may once again hold our hands and lead us in the way of righteousness! Grab hold of the hearts of those who lead our nation and make them into men and women of God! Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen.”