"Wait" is a naughty word! (8/29/13)

It must have taken between 2 and 4 hours for Abraham's servant to kill and roast the calf as the meal for his heavenly visitors-all the while they sat and waited, rested and visited (Gen. 18). Today, if McDonald's, Hardees or Taco Bell aren't speedy enough we get frustrated. Waiting seems to eat at our society, it's a naughty word!

What eats the time God's given you? As I look back I can see where I didn't take time to wait on the Lord, and I paid the consequences of doing things in my own time. Just as reading something too quickly can bring errors in understanding so can trying to get a quick fix of God. Anytime you take short cuts in relationships the relationship suffers; ask your kids!

Isa 40:31 But those who wait (bind to, tarry, look patiently) on the LORD shall renew their strength (vigor, capacity to produce); they shall mount up with wings like eagles (rising above, enabled to see from the heavenly perspective), they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Part of following God is waiting.....when we shorten the time of waiting we move over into trying to lead Him.

The Death of Faith (8/27/13)

The death of faith!

There's something I've noticed over the years-stretching the Truth of the Bible kills faith.

God's word never returns to Him without accomplishing the thing for which He sent it (Is 55:11), but that which is NOT his word will not return His promise! The effect of wrong doctrine is that we don't see His word come to pass-we see nothing! This sometimes prompts people to dangerous territory: trying to make the wrong doctrine "work" by pushing it along in the flesh!

The long term effect of operating in wrong doctrine can be the death of faith-losing confidence and trust that God is what He says He is and does what He says He does. This in turn leads to nominal Christianity or simply returning to the way of the world.

One remedy for this problem is to be as the noble Bereans: search the Word for Truth (Acts 17:11). Let the Word reveal the Word before allowing outside influences to reveal it for you. Books, blogs, etc., are great for extra learning and encouragement-but you are responsible for discerning the Truth of the Word and the Holy Spirit is God's means of doing so. Let the water of the Word wash you and bring revelation-spend time with the Living Word-Jesus Christ!

2Ti 3:15 "...And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus..."

All for His glory!

Prayers that avail beyond 'much' (8/26/13)

Inside of the prayers you pray for your nation and your state and your community are prayers for your children and yourself!

I like to call these 'compound prayers', kind of like compound interest.... it's GOD'S MATH. The investment you make has a greater affect on more than what you are praying for!

With compound prayers, you pray for your nation and community - your family/friends live in that community. You are seeking God's will and God's way for that community. In turn, your children and friends and family members living in that community are affected by your prayers, moving them into the their part in God's work in that community. In essence, you are also praying for your grandchildren and future family members!

Abraham is a perfect example of this. Not only did Abraham seek and do God's will, but doing so brought a blessing on his descendants. Heb 7:9-10 "Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his [fore]father [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him."
WOW-what does that mean? The meaning in part is that your children and grandchildren are reaping the benefit of your Godliness....this example is through Abraham's tithe, but the spiritual principal applies to spiritual actions! Prayers, giving, forgiving....the list goes on....the benefits of these things to the next generation are immeasurable!

As you pray, as you give, as you live the life of Christ, you become the seed for the next generation. What will you plant today-and expect to see the results tomorrow?

All for the glory of God!

No Enemies in the Body (8/23/13)

How do you view the church down the street?  Or the one who's leaders made a big mistake and they're striving to get back on track?  How do you view the church who views yours with enmity?  What about the one who's members believe in speaking in tongues and you don't?  Does one church have the perfect doctrine?  What about the one you left a few years ago-surely God must be done with them?

Today I'm thinking about the Body of Christ. It's not just a group of people that meet together each week, that's a subset of it....it's much bigger than that. It's a worldwide Body. The Body you belong to is in New York and Singapore and Zimbabwe and wherever 2 or more are gathered. Don't lose touch with His universal work!  

The Body of Christ, in different locations, are not enemies-but members of one another-we are not severed from one another. Rejoice in what God is doing through one another-recognize God's work-affirm the good!

Love the family, be the Body, reach out, stay connected,focus on Him!

 

 

 

 

Bring back the teacher, make my heart teachable! (8/15/13)

Bring back the teacher and make my heart teachable!

While praying together and gathering to hear a message preached are both God ordained activities in the Church, what is also needed is teaching and learning in a setting where people can converse and discuss.

Today many churches have mixed groups of people: older Christians, those new in Christ, some who have come out of cultish atmospheres and those with various other backgrounds. The importance of sitting together in an examination of scriptures cannot be underestimated. Here are a couple of reasons why:

1. Opening the Word together brings common understanding and clarification of what the Word says-it clears up doctrinal differences
2. Opening the Word together breaks apart quarrels and false expectations before they begin-knowing how God wants the Body to operate in unity is the basic building block for being in a church
3. Opening the Word together brings life into the body-God's Word is life
4. Opening the Word together brings the basic plans of living into the life of new and old Christians. Once we are taught what the Word says about finances, marriage, friendship, love and a multitude of other subjects, we are better able to carry out His way of living. Having older and younger Christians in the mix brings the Word to life as true to life examples are given during these times.

Eph 4:11-23 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God...speaking the Truth in love, [so that we] may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ...and be renewed in the spirit of your mind...

Do not forsake gathering, but make teaching and learning a part of that gathering.

Some scripture references on teachers and the work of the Word in our lives: Matt 22:16, Acts 20:32, Eph 4:11-17, Matt 7:27-29.

To God be the Glory!

An Unpopular Post! (8/14/13)

This is not going to be a popular post!  As a person who's born again, serving God and has worked with other people's finances for 25 years, here are some observations I've made and pondered on for quite a while now. 

If a family of 4 eats out 1x/week, at a very reasonable cost of $12/person, the tab would come to about $55 with tip. At 4x/month this comes to $220.00 That's enough to make a car payment, save for retirement or pay your mortgage off early.

While it's wonderful to enjoy a good life, we might want to question ourselves as to whether we are our own worst enemy in this area. Are we using our $$ in this way, then borrowing money or financing with a credit card for a car or other necessities of life?

Sometimes eating at the world's table is at the price of owning our own table...we may be sacrificing the Lord's blessing to fill our bellies with the world's food.

In essence, this post is not necessarily about the cost of eating out, but what we might be swallowing by the lifestyles we've bought into. I'm not suggesting we live as hermits and block out the world, but that we not be absorbed by the world's system and teeter on the brink of misappropriating the blessings of God by pouring our selves and our finances into the open throat of the plan of the the enemy of our souls, who is waiting to steal, kill and destroy.

Evaluate what God has called you to do, what He's given you and how He calls you to steward those blessings. No longer can we sit and wish we had this or could go there-it's time to discipline ourselves and put the flesh under....there is kingdom work to be done and people are in need of help. You may be the one that's called to help-will you be able to do so when He says "now?"

All for His glory!

 

 

Prayers of Anguish... (8/13/13)

The Lord hears your silent prayers-when you cry out to him with a heart of anguish!

In 1 Samuel 1:11-15 Hannah cries out to the Lord from her heart...not her mouth. She is in anguish of soul and the Lord hears her prayer. "Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard (1 Samuel 1:13)." 

Be encouraged today that the Lord is moving on your behalf to bring about His perfect will in your life! Pour out your heart to Him, then rejoice and live a life of honoring Him as you wait for His response to manifest.

1Sa 1:20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD." Hannah dedicated her son, Samuel, to the Lord and the Lord used him as a prophet to his people.

God will put His desires in your heart and then bring them to pass-in His perfect timing. 

Submit both your heart and your requests to Him. Wait on the Lord-He has perfect timing.

To Him be all glory!

"Against You, and You only, have I sinned" (8/10/13)

"Against You and You only have I sinned."

The ultimate sin is denial of God, so it follows that sin in our lives, even as Christians, is forsaking God, however momentary it may be.

David came to this understanding after he abused his position as King by shirking his responsibility as commander of his army, committing adultery with Bathsheba, and forcing the head of his army (Joab) to position Bathsheba's husband for death in battle (2 Samuel 11).
David's prayer of repentance included the words "against You and You only have I sinned" (Psalm 51:4). What a strange thing to say after the serious indiscretions he committed and hurts he brought on others! But when David came to repentance he had the revelation that his actions would have followed his heart if his heart had been seeking God above all else. That was his ultimate sin-he distanced God and blocked out His voice-if he hadn't turned away from the face and voice of God, these sins would not have occurred. If the heart is right with God, right motives and actions will follow.

True love for God is the impetus for loving others. Let me be found with a heart after you!

To God be all the glory!

Tossing Your Pearls... (8/2/13)

Having relationship with someone means you can talk to that person and approach difficult subjects, if need be. Keep the relationship in order by going directly to that person, not to the person on his/her right or left, to deal with situations as they come up. Keep the door open for loving conversation, encouragement and instruction in all patience. Communicate directly to that person-others don't need to hear your concerns with that person.

There may be times when we need advice, the Lord knows we need His counselors. Trusted followers of God will keep confidence and love all parties involved. Be cautious who you give your pearls to....those people you are dealing with are pearls but so are the words you speak in order to bring resolution...don't toss them to careless people.

Luk 10:27 He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"Poor Wimp or Man of Valor?" (8/1/13)

Ever have a day when you wake up feeling somewhat useless-like a lump on a log? I had one of those days yesterday. Years ago I may have let it get me down, believing it to be true and allowing the enemy of bring me to a state of misery. Today, however, I recognize it as an attack of the enemy against my mind. Even further, now I can see that an attack like this is usually followed by a breakthrough or an opportunity to bring the love of God to someone in need.

Difficulties come and go...some are worse than others....but we must keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. These difficulties look impossible to us, but the Lord allows them as opportunities to seek Him and claim the victory that's already been payed for. He has not said 'you will one day be conqueror's' but 'you ARE more than conquerors' and that is RIGHT NOW!

Gideon was in the process of hiding his food from the Midianites when the Lord called him a "mighty man of valor [wealth, virtue and strength]." Gideon was so convinced of the opposite that he argued with God, saying "I'm poor and I'm a wimp!" But God is not interested in what the enemy is telling us is impossible, He is interested in bringing us to the destiny in Him which will give Him glory and fulfill our purpose for His Kingdom.

Today, pick yourself up by the seat of the pants and look upwards to your victory....there's work to be done for the kingdom and He's given you the skills to do it!!!

Eph 2:10 For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].