Burden Bearers

1 Peter 5:8-9 "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are."

One of Satan's greatest lies is that we are alone in our struggles and no one will understand what we're going through or our struggle with our sin nature. If he can convince us to believe that lie, we will pull into ourselves and pull away from the very ones he has put in our lives to help us. 

Galatians 6:1-2 "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ."

This applies to any type of struggle not just sin issues. We are all part of one body. 

1 Corinthians 12:20, 26 "Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad."

When cancer develops in a person's body, the good cells from all over the body come to fight. The good cells in the leg don't say, "That is the breast's issue.  I'm staying right here where it is safe and cancer free."  In the same way, sometimes bearing each other's burdens can be messy too. We are commanded to bear the burdens of others, yet warned to be careful. 

If we only want to "help" those whose lives are mess free, we will never fulfill the command to "bear each other's burdens."  Life is messy and sometimes we need help with the messy stuff. The most amazing feeling and reward comes when we get down in the pit with a fellow believer and help them dig their way out. 

I know that it sounds more religious to say, "We can lower a ladder down and let them climb out." But in my life I've found that the greatest help comes from those who are not worried about getting dirty. Those who will get in the pit with me. This does not mean they participate in my sin or struggle (heed the warning in Galatians 6:1-2) but that they fight beside me as I fight my way out. 

The Christian walk is a daily battle field, as is evidenced by Paul's statement in Ephesians 6:12 "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

Bearing each other's burdens often involves sacrifice on our part. It may involve being available 24/7 for a friend, sacrificial giving to help with a need, or hours of intercession and spiritual warfare on behalf of another.  Whatever the cost to us, we need to remember two things: 

          1. One day we will be the one in need. Will there be someone to help bear our burden?  

          2. Jesus bore all our sin, guilt, and shame on his back when he died on the cross.  How could we refuse to partner with him to help someone in need?  

When we partner with Christ, to bear other's burdens, we become a force to reckon with. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Wether we are the one in need or the burden bearer, we can cling to the promise found in Psalm 18:2 "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety."

Let us never hold back from seeking others to help us bear our burdens or from "getting our hands dirty" bearing another's burden with them. This partnership is necessary to growth and freedom in the body of Christ and is crucial to our spiritual health as individuals within that body. 

How's Your Hearing?

Jesus told this parable about four types of hearers (soil).  

Mark 4:3-8 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.

Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 

Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 

Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 

The seed that fell on the footpath are those whose hearts are hard and when they hear the Word it can't penetrate and Satan steals it away quickly. 

The seed that fell on shallow soil are those who are nominal believers. They prayed the prayer but are not living for God. They are hears of the Word only.  James 1:22-24 "But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like."

The third seed fell among the thorns. This represents believers who are more concerned with the cares of this life then in their walk with Christ. Their focus is on what they see and they don't grow in their relationship past the infant stage. They hear the Word but don't apply the it to their lives. 

The fourth seed fell on fertile soil. This represents believers who have yielded their lives to Christ and who are walking by faith not by sight. Those who seek the giver rather then the gift. When they hear the Word it takes deep root because they apply it to their life by allowing the Holy Spirit to dig deep and make the necessary changes he desires to make. 

What kind of hearer am I?  We must ask ourselves this question daily. Am I applying the Word I hear and read to my life or am I just going through the motions?  

Life Offering

Romans 12:1 (MSG) "So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

When we place our lives on the altar as a sacrifice we need to realize that our life is no longer our own. Our decisions and choices must be based on God's desires and plans. 

Matthew 10:38 (MSG) “If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me."

We are living in a day when those who call themselves by the name of Christ (Christian) must stop playing games (thinking more about their own desires and concerns) and get serious about living for Christ (seeking him first). The world we knew even ten years ago is fading fast and the enemy is pulling out all the stops to destroy the church. 

Luke 9:62 (MSG) Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” 

Satan is not playing. He is out to crush anyone who gets in his way. One of his major tactics is to get us to focus on ourselves. To focus on our desires, cares, worries, concerns. To take our focus off Christ. He throws road blocks in our path in an attempt to get us to swerve to the right or the left.  

When we are driving along a mountain highway with the mountain on one side and a cliff on the other side, we stay as close to the middle of the road as possible. To run too far on either side could be deadly. If an obstacle comes along we have to make a tough choice. 

The same is true in our spiritual life. The difference is that, in our spiritual life, Jesus has already made the decision about our next step. He has already laid out the path. He gave us free will and we get to choose which way we will go, however, if we seek him first he will give us what we need to make the best choice. 

Matthew 6:30 (MSG) “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."

Let us offer our lives daily as a offering to Christ. Yielding our desires and cares to his faithful, loving care. If he cares for flowers, we can trust that he will take care of us. Will it always be the way we want it or the way we think it should be  No!! 

Isaiah 55:8a (MSG) "I don’t think the way you think.The way you work isn’t the way I work.”

God’s Decree.“For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think."

God sees the entire tapestry of our lives. He knew each stitch, each milestone, each failure, each joy, each sorrow before we were even born. If he sees ahead and is working for our good, can't we willingly offer all we are into his capable hands today?  

Isaiah 46:10 (NLT) "Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish."

Romans 8:28 (NLT) "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

Storm the Beach

Ephesians 4:26-27 (AMP) "When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath your exasperation, your fury or indignation last until the sun goes down. Leave no such room or foothold for the devil give no opportunity to him."

Footholds are areas of our life where we have opened the door and allowed the enemy admittance. The example here in Ephesians is anger, but it can be any negative emotion: fear, resentment, shame, worry, etc. 

Our emotions are powerful. God created us in his image and he is full of emotion.  Mark 3:5 "He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, 'Hold out your hand.' So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!"  Here we see anger and sorrow, two very strong emotions. Jesus felt the same emotions we do, yet he did not allow himself to be controlled by them. He didn't sin by allowing them to get out of control. 

When we allow our emotions to run out of control, we open the door for the enemy. When given a foothold, he will inch in and build a stronghold. 

Rick Warren explains it this way. "On D-Day, the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. It was critical that they establish a beachhead, that is, a foothold on the beach that would allow them to set up a staging area to bring more men and equipment in for the battle. From that tiny foothold, the Allied forces were able to push inland in an effort to liberate France."

The enemy isn't out to bring us freedom. Quite the opposite is true; he wants to destroy our lives by bringing us into such deep bondage that we cannot see any hope of freedom. 

Like the soldiers on D-Day, we must storm the beach. We must take on every emotion and keep it in check. We must take every thought captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5b "...and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

For example, when we feel worry starting to creep in, we can't afford to ignore it. We must fight back using the Sword of the Spirit, the Word. Quote Philippians 4:6 "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."  Then do just what that verse commands us to do. PRAY!!!!  

If fear rears it's ugly head; 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

Shame is a big one. The enemy likes to remind us of our mistakes. Remember, when we confess our sins and repent, God doesn't remember them any longer. The enemy does, however, and he will bring them up when we least expect it. If we are not careful we will "buy into" those feelings and open the door for him to set up camp.  

Shut him down with these:  Psalm 103:12 "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west."   Romans 8:1-2 "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."

Ephesians tells us," Do not to let the sun go down on our anger." This is vital with any negative emotion. We must deal with it quickly. We cannot allow it to fester and grow. If we do it will destroy our lives like a cancer. 

I have watched too many people I love allow themselves to be overtaken by the strongholds of the enemy. It doesn't happen over night. It begins with one out of control emotion that goes unchecked. Over time the stronghold is so large that they cannot see a way out, or in some cases don't feel their sin is wrong anymore. They have allowed themselves to believe the lies of the devil and are now living lives that they would have condemned a few short years ago. 

What emotion do you need to keep in check today?  We must storm the beach and remove the footholds before they become strongholds in our lives!

I AM

In the book of John, Jesus makes  seven statements about himself. Each statement begins with, I AM, and reveals something different about the character of Christ. 

John 6:35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” 

John 10:7, 9 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures."

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep."

John 11:25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying."

John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

John 15:1-2 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more."

We can see throughout the Word that each of these statements is true about Christ. The phrase "I am" is powerful. It determines our destiny. It reveals how we view ourself. It builds us up or tears us down. 

For example, when we say, I am not good at...", we become "not good" at what we put in the blank. Proverbs tells us why. Proverbs 23:7a (AMP) "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

If, however, we daily claim the promises about our identity found in the Word, they will shape who we become. They will become part of our character because they ARE part of our spiritual DNA. 

I am the righteousness of Christ in God. 1 Corinthians 5:21

I am complete in Christ who is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:10

I am free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

I am God's workmanship, created for good works in Christ. Ephesians 2:10

I am a joint-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17

I am more than a conqueror through Christ. Romans 8:37

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am not my own. 1 Corinthians 6:19 

I am loved by God. Romans 1:7

I am created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27

There are so many more statements about who we are in Christ that can be found in the Word. We need to dig them out and make them part of our daily focus. We need to remind ourselves each and everyday who we are in Christ. In so doing, we will be telling the enemy who we are as well. When we begin to believe that we can do all things through Christ or that we are more than a conqueror through Christ, we will begin to walk that out in our daily lives. We will become who we claim to be, when we are claiming the identity that God has planned for us from before the world began. Our destiny will be molded and shaped by who we believe we are. 

What promise about your identity do you need most today?  Put it in the blank, believe it, make it your own!!!  "I am..."

Easy and Light

Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

How can this be true?  Life is hard. It holds trials and suffering. It holds death and pain.

Matthew 11:28-29 "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'"

It's true because we are never carrying the load alone.  If we allow him to, Jesus bears the load with us. Just like two oxen are yoked together to pull the load, Jesus is yoked with us. The difference is that when you yoke oxen, you choose a pair that are the same size  so neither of them bears a greater load.
With Jesus we are yoked to one much "larger" greater than ourselves. If we come to him and give him our heavy burdens, he will do the greater part of the load bearing.

The issue is not that Jesus fails to carry the load, it is that we fail to leave it to him to carry it. We bring it to him but are not patient enough to leave it there till the answer comes.

We try to "fix" things on our own. This usually ends is more trouble. Let's think about Abraham and Sarah for a minute.

God promised Abraham a son. Genesis 15:4 "Then the Lord said to him, 'No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.'”

Ten years later, when Sarah got tired of waiting for the promise (answer) to be fulfilled, she took matters into her own hands. Genesis 16:1-5 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan. So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”

Whose idea was that again?  Our answers might not take ten years to come, but if we are honest, even a ten minute delay in our plans causes some of us to grow anxious.

This is where faith and trust come in. Webster defines faith as: firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust.

If we believe God is who he says he is we can put our faith in him. We can trust him to carry our burdens and to fulfill his promises to us. The Word is full of promises that are ours.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” which means “Yes” ascends to God for his glory.

Will God heal you?  YES!  Will God provide for ALL your needs?  YES!  Will God give you peace?  YES!  Will God sustain you through the trials of life?  YES! 

So we say AMEN!!!  Matthew 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”  

Hebrews 11 is the hallway of faith. As we travel down it, we see countless men and women who put their faith in God and saw amazing things happen. Noah (rescued from the flood), Enoch (didn't see death but was taken up to heaven), Moses (leaving Egypt, Red Sea parting, etc.)

These and many others are commended for their faith, however, many of them didn't see the fulfillment of their promise. Many of them faced great adversity. Many struggled under heavy burdens. Many lost everything. And none of then saw all the fulfillment. Yet they all placed their faith in God. Hebrews 11:39 "All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised."

Will we, like the men and women of old, put our faith in God, allow him to carry our burden, and keep trusting even when we can't see the answer?  Will we trust the One who promised?  

Stay Free!

Galatians 5:1 “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Romans 8:2 (ESV) “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”  

Because we live according to the Spirit, we are free from the law.  The law brought condemnation (guilt) because we could never live up to its standards, requirements.  When Jesus came in human form (in the likeness of sinful man), God condemned sin and broke its power in our flesh.  This took place by Jesus perfect life.  In human form he lived a sinless life.  This had never happened before or since.  From the fall of Adam till Jesus birth (and up till today) Christ is the only one who lived a sinless life.  Because he was able to live in flesh and not sin, that broke forever the power of sin in our flesh. (Asbury Bible Commentary)

Romans 8:3-6 (ESV)“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

The Asbury Bible Commentary states, “The righteous requirements of the law, however, are still valid as expressions of God’s will for human conduct.”  “The fruit of the Spirit lives in harmony with the law.”

We must work on developing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  As they grow, we will live according to the Spirit not the flesh.  Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"

To remain free, we need to set our minds on things above: put off our old flesh with its sinful deeds.  Colossians 3:2-10 (NIV) “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Let us ask our loving Savior today to reveal any area of the sin nature that needs to be put to death in our life today.  It is a battle we can and will win because the Word tells us the battle is the Lord’s and it is not by might or power, but by God’s Spirit that we overcome.  

Nothing Wasted

Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

This verse tells us that God uses our hurts, grief, pain, loss, joy, victories, etc. 

John 6:12 "After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, 'Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.'"

We see here that Jesus doesn't waste anything. He didn't waste the loaves or fish he multiplied even though he could have done it again. 

In the feeding of the 5,000 we see that, for the food not to be wasted, the disciples had to gather the pieces. They had to submit to the leading of Jesus. The same is true in our lives. When we face situations where the journey and outcome are pleasurable it is easy to praise God. However, when things don't go our way and the journey or the outcome is not as we want it, it becomes more difficult to praise God and easier to complain. 

Ephesians 5:20 "And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ephesians tells us to give thanks for everything. Not just the good or easy things, but everything.  

Matthew 5:45b "For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike."

Everyone faces good times and bad times. The difference is how we handle the situations. Do we give thanks even though things are hard? Or do we whine and complain?  

Joy Restored

Psalm 51:12 (NIV) "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Do you remember the day you accepted Jesus as your Savior. The deep joy you felt knowing your sins were forgiven?  The longing you felt to go anywhere and do anything with him?  

The day you aligned yourself with Christ you became the enemy of Satan. In that sweet moment you declared yourself free from slavery. Satan will not giving up his salves without a fight. As in the dark days of slavery in the United States, many shave owners would rather see their slave dead then free. John 10:10 (NIV) "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Our enemy will do everything in his power to destroy our lives and keep us from that "full" life Jesus wants us to have. 

He will try to increase our worry. Matthew 6:25 (NIV) "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"  

He will try to increase our fear. Isaiah 41:10 "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

He will try to steal out peace. John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid."

The Psalmist wrote, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."  

Our joy is resorted and we are sustained through all Satan throws at us when, first, we remember our salvation. Nothing can take that away. John 10:28 "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,"

The second, and most difficult step is having a willing spirit. Willing to obey, willing to trust, willing to submit. 

Obedience: an act or instance of obeying; the quality or state of being obedient

When we ask our children to do something, we don't want to hear whining or, "In a minute."  We want instant obedience. I believe that God desires the same from his children. 1 Samuel 15:22 "But Samuel replied, 'What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."

Trust: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. 

We trust our friends, parents, spouses, etc. yet we know they will fail us at times. They will hurt us at times. If, as Webster says, trust is based on the character, ability, strength, and truth of someone, why do we find it so hard to trust our Heavenly Father?  If his character is not proven, I don't know whose is!!!

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding."

Submission: the condition of being submissive, humble, or compliant; an act of submitting to the authority or control of another. 

As we get to know God in a deeper way, we begin to understand that he will never ask something of us that is not for our good. It may be painful but he is always with us. We often ask our children to do things they would rather not do, but even when it may hurt, if they trust our character they will submit because they know we love them and want what is best for them. How much more should we be willing to submit to God?  Job 22:21 “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you." 

Let us ask our loving Father to restore our joy and sustain us as we obey, trust, and submit today!!!

God with Us

Matthew 1:23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 

God with us...  How sweet and comforting those words are for a child of God. To know that he is ALWAYS there. To know that we are NEVER alone. 

Hebrews 13:5b (NIV). "God has said,'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” 

John 14:16-17 (NIV) "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

Matthew 28:20 "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

We can call on Jesus anytime, day or night, and he will always answer. He is not a far off God who misses our cries for help. He is an in-dwelling Savior who is always watching our lives and making provision for what we need. He knows what we need before we ask. 

Matthew 6:8 "Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!"

How awesome to know that he is so intimately involved in our lives that he knows our needs before we do. He sees what's ahead and plans in advance how to care for us in every situation. NOTHING ever takes God by surprise. 

2 Chronicles 16:9a "The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

The key here is full commitment. We can not serve the Lord in a half-hearted manner; serving our flesh and Christ. The Word tells us that this type of half-hearted attempt will leave us unstable. 

James 1:8 "Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do."

When we try to serve God and our flesh (this world) we will not have peace. However, when we keep Christ at the center of our focus his peace will be ours. 

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

Let us remember that God is always with us and focus on him today!!!

Thought Life

Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

What we choose to think about/ dwell on will directly affect the course of our lives. 

Psalm 119:97-99 "Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. 

We will be prosperous when our thought life is pure. We know that all sin or behavior of any kind begins with a thought. If our thoughts are dwelling on negative, unhealthy things, our life will be unhealthy spiritually. If our thoughts are on God's Word our spiritual life (the life that counts) will be healthy. 

Joshua 1:8 "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."

Psalm 1:2-3 "But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do."

Webster defines meditation as: the act or process of spending time in quiet thought. 

If we are not careful our thought life can be influenced by the enemy. When this happens and is allowed to go unchecked, sin is always the result. Satan tries to plant thoughts in our mind to replace our thoughts about God and his Word. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Our thoughts are like wildfire. If they go unchecked they will ravage our life. Romans 7:23 "But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me."

However, when we take authority over our thoughts we will become righteous and holy, more like Christ. 

Ephesians 4:22-24 "throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."

Come and Drink

John 7:37-38 "On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, 'Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare,' ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 

When we come to Christ we have 24/7 access to the River of Life. 

Isaiah 55:1 “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free! 

Jesus paid the price so our needs could be met. In him we find all we need to live a godly life. 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires."

We only need to remember that the battle is not ours, it's not by our strength that we win, and we are not fighting flesh and blood. 

2 Chronicles 20:5 "Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s."   

Zechariah 4:6b "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies."

Ephesians 6:12 "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

When we spend time in the presence of our Savior we gain the strength we need to face the battles ahead. Everyday we are buffeted but the cares of life. We are pushed and shoved by this world's belief system and by the morals of others. When we drink of his mercy and love we are refreshed from the daily struggles.  

The key is that we have to "come and drink."  When we choose to spend time in the secret place we will find the refreshing and strength we need. It is there that all our needs are met. 

Philippians 4:19 "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."

Lord, help us understand the importance of drinking from you daily. Of spending time in the secret place. Holy Spirit please tug on our heart strings to remind us that our Wonderful Savior is waiting for us to "come away" with him today and everyday. 

Let us "come and drink" today!!

Be Transformed

Romans 12:2 "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Being transformed involves a complete change from who we were before Christ to becoming more like Christ daily. A caterpillar builds a chrysalis and spends some time going through such a transformation. It begins to look differently. It begins to feel differently, and eventually it will act differently, it even changes its diet. The old caterpillar is still in there somewhere, but every part of it is changed. When it emerges from its chrysalis it will be a new creature.  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

When the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis it is totally a new creature.  It is exactly the way it will stay for the remainder of its life.  We, however, are daily becoming more like Christ.  This is called sanctification.  Webster defines sanctification as: the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion.  Our transformation will not be complete until we reach heaven; however, we must be daily growing to be more like Jesus.

The way we look will change. We will be walking in joy. We will have a smile where a frown once hung. Romans 12:11 (RSV) “Be aglow with the Spirit.”

We will begin the think differently.  Caterpillars are ground dwellers that are stuck on their stomach their entire life.  Butterflies soar above the trees and glide on the wind.  They have a new perspective on life after emerging from the chrysalis. They see things from a different vantage point.  We too will have a different perspective as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds.  Romans 12:2, says “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” We will begin to think like Christ, to see things as he sees them.  1 Corinthians 2:16 says, "for, Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." Philippians 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." 

We will also act differently.   Ephesians 4:21-24 "Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." 

When we begin to be transformed even our “diet” changes.  The caterpillar eats a diet made up entirely of vegetation.  Different species eat different leaves, but they all eat leaves.  They devour as much as they can to sustain them during their time of transformation inside the chrysalis.  We too must change our “diet.” The things we put into our minds through what we see, hear, and experience must change.  We may have to let go of ungodly relationships, change our “hangout” spots (i.e. the bar for Starbucks), change what we watch on T.V. and the movies, the music we listen to, etc.  The old adage “You are what you eat” applies here.  If we are constantly having a diet of ungodly language and sexual content on T.V., movies, or music, we will not have renewed minds.  Those things will come out of our hearts.  The Word tells us that, “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” Matthew 12:34b

Transformation is often painful.  Paul Whalley, in his book, Butterfly & Moth, states that, “Inside the chrysalis, the body of the caterpillar is broken down, special cells take over the insect’s development, and gradually the adult is formed.”  I am not sure, but “broken down” sounds like death to the caterpillar so the butterfly can be formed.  The same holds true for our spiritual man.  Romans 8:13 (NIV) “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” 

The caterpillar has an inborn nature to spin a cocoon, or build a chrysalis.  It doesn’t have to think about it.  It just does what comes naturally.  We too have an inborn nature that longs to be like Christ.  We were created in the image of God.  Genesis 1: 26a “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” 

We must abandon ourselves into the loving hands of the creator and allow him to change us into what he intended for us to become.  The caterpillar doesn’t have a choice about becoming a butterfly; it becomes what it was designed to be.  We can choose not to allow God to transform our lives into his grand design; however, the consequences are more painful than the transformation process itself.  

If we want to know God’s will for our lives, we must allow him to mold and shape us as he intends. Romans 12:2 says “Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."  If his will for us is good and pleasing and perfect, the implication is that living outside of that will is the opposite or at least not as good, pleasing, or perfect. 

Let us abandon ourselves into the hands of our loving, kind, patient, Father and allow him to transform us into who he planned for us to be.  

All Scripture is NLT, unless otherwise stated.

God's Plans

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

Jeremiah 1:5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” 

God knew us before we were born and had a design/plan for our lives. He has good plans for everyone of us!  

Sometimes we make choices that take us off the direct path to our destiny.  Sometimes we rebel against what we know/believe God is calling us to do. 

Jonah 1:1-3, 15, 17 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. 

When we fail to follow God's lead and rebel the consequences are usually not good. When we repent, however, God always gives us another chance and helps us set out in the right direction again. 

Jonah 2:1, 10 Jonah 3:3 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. 

I'm not sure about you, but I don't want to be whale vomit. If we only realized how much our Father loves us. Even though the path may be riddled with briars and thorns, we can trust him because he wants what is best for us. He wants us to prosper and be unharmed. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

We must put our trust where it belongs, not in our money, education, reputation, jobs, etc. but in God. When we do and we submit our ways to him, he will get us on and keep us on the right path. 

Joy Vs. Happiness

Psalm 28:7,"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."

Webster defines Joy as: the state of well-being or contentment. 

Happiness: a pleasurable or satisfying experience.  

Joy is a state of being. We have joy based in what we know. Psalm 32:2," Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!"  

Psalm 34:5, 8,"Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"

Happiness is momentary and fleeting. It is based on our circumstances. We can have joy in the midst of hard times because our hope and source of peace never cease. 

Habakkuk 3:17-18,"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!" 

2 Corinthians 6:10a,"Our hearts ache, but we always have joy."

1 Peter 1:6(NET),"This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials."

Happiness will come and go, but joy will last for a lifetime if we take our eyes off what we see and focus on what we don't see. 2 Corinthians 4:18,"So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."

Taste and See

Psalm 34:8-10,"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing."

Our God is holy. He is righteous. He is merciful. He is love. He is faithful. 

Due to God's complete holiness, sin cannot dwell in his presence. Revelation 21:8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” If we choose to live in willful sin, we are separating ourselves from God. God never leaves his kids, but just like our own children, we can choose to walk away from our Father. 

God is righteous. Because of his righteousness, all sin must be punished. That punishment is death. Praise God!  Jesus paid the price for our sin when he willingly gave up his life. Romans 6:23,"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."

God is merciful. He understands our human weakness and has already made provision for it. 2 Corinthians 12:9,"My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23,"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."

God is love. He is not just loving, but he is the embodiment of love.  

1 John 4:8,"But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

God is faithful. There is no shadow of turning with him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Deuteronomy 7:9,"Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands."

As we reflect on these characteristics of our Wonderful Father we can have joy. Our focus must be on daily seeking to know him more. As we seek to know him, he will show us deeper truths about himself. The more we know him, the more we love him and realize his deep love for us. The more we realize his love for us, the easier it will be to live our lives in faith and obedience. As children try to please someone they know really loves them, so we will want to obey our Heavenly Father. 

Oh taste and see...

Word Power

Proverbs 18:21,"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

Our words have power. With words God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:3, 6, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. Then God said, ‘Let there be...’ Genesis 1:11, “Then God said, ‘Let the land sprout with vegetation...’"

With words Jesus cursed a fig tree. Matthew 21:18-19,"In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up."

Our words have the same power. We can build ourselves and others up or we can tear ourselves and others down. Proverbs 12:18,"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

To illustrate, when I was a young teen, someone I trusted and respected told me I had a beautiful voice.  I have never been ashamed or embarrassed to sing because she spoke words of encouragement and life into my spirit.  On the other hand, someone I love dearly told me often when I was growing up that I was fat and ugly.  As an adult, I realize that he was teasing me and didn't really mean it.  However, I have struggled with my self-image, which adversely affected my self-esteem, all my life. 

Which of these “words” do you think the enemy reminds me of often?  Both!!!  Yes, it is true, he reminds me of the positive, uplifting words when he wants to work on pride in my life.  He tempts me to think more of my voice than I ought. He also reminds me of the negative, hurtful words daily as well.  I have to work hard every day to fight against negative feelings about my body.  I can tell you from personal experience, I would rather have to fight against pride then self-image and self-esteem issues.  Our words have so much power: life and death are in our tongue. 

David asked in Psalm 19:14,"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." What we say and what we focus our thoughts on will determine the course of our life. Philippians 4:8,"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

When we go through hard times or face circumstances we don't like it is easy to say things that will only make it worse. We can encourage ourselves like David, Psalm 42:5, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Or we can choose to speak negatively to ourselves and our situation.

When our lives feel weighed down by cares and trouble, we need to speak out God's promises and encourage our spirits. Proverbs 12:25,"Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up."

Sometimes there will be someone there to encourage us, however, we must encourage ourselves and speak to our spirit and tell it how to think. When we allow our flesh to dictate our feelings and our reactions to the things we face we will feel defeated, and sadly, we will end up defeated. Jesus told us in John 6:63 (ESV),"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."

Another area we need to think about is how we speak to others when we are in a conflict.  It is easy to want to return hurt for hurt.  Someone says something unkind to us, and we want to spout off with a string of hurtful words to.  The Word tells us that this is not ok. Ephesians 4:29, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”  Proverbs 16:24, “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”  Proverbs 17:9, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”  If we are responding to the other individual and not reacting, we can control our tongue and speak words that will be helpful to them, not harmful.

I have often heard people say, “Well if the truth hurts…”  The Word says to speak the truth in love.  Ephesians 4:15, “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”  It is often necessary to point out something to another that is uncomfortable or hard, but even in those times; our words can be tempered with love.  While the truth may hurt, it doesn't have to be hurtful. When our focus is on building others and our own spirit up, we will use words that are like apples of gold in settings of silver: priceless.  Proverbs 25:11(ESV), “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

We must work on our speech and thought habits. Are we speaking health and life to ourselves and those around us? Or are we speaking death?

All Scriptures are NLT unless otherwise stated.

Parched Ground

Psalm 63:1, "O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water."

Those of us who live in the desert really understand how desperate the land can get for rain. Dust storms are prevalent when the ground has gone without rain for long periods of time. Even the slightest breeze can kick up a cloud of dust.

The same is true in our spiritual lives.  When we go for prolonged periods is time without spending time in the Lord's presence we become parched spiritually. David wrote, Psalm 42:1, "As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God." We too must long for God with such yearning.

If we are not spending time in the Word, prayer, and in the presence of the Lord, we will become like the dry ground, blown by any wind of doctrine or blown over by the cares of life.  Ephesians 4:14, “Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.”  Proverbs 10:25, “When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.” 

Genesis tells us the sad story of the “fall of man.”  Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”  “The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”  “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”  “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.”

The enemy’s primary tactic for leading us astray is to twist the truth just a bit.  If the truth is twisted only a little, it is totally a lie.  God told Adam, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”   Then the serpent came along and twisted the words of God just a bit, putting a question in as well.  “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” God had only told Adam that the tree of Knowledge was off limits.  Satan came in to “question” Eve about eating from any tree.  Once Eve entertained this question/thought she was hooked.  Listen to her response, “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”   Eve responded like many of us do when questioned about things God says, we add to His Word to emphasis our point. God never said anything about touching the fruit, just eating it.  When she added her own words, she was diving deeper into the thought and thus toward sin.  Then Satan countered with the lie that death would not be imminent.  He implied that God was holding out on her because He knew that she would become like Him if she ate the fruit.  “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”  A few rightly places lies/deceptions and Eve was hooked, “The woman was convinced.” If Eve, who literally, physically, walked with God daily, was able to deceived by the twisting of the truth, how much more can we be deceived? 

We must not allow our spirits to become parched from lack of time with Christ.  If we do we will not have anything hidden in our hearts to combat the lies the enemy will throw at us.  We cannot continue to live a life of mediocrity.  Time is too short for playing games with our faith.   God always provides a way for his children to learn and understand the truth, but we must take those opportunities when they come. 

Our first line of defense is to spend time alone in the secret place with the Father in prayer and reading the Word.  Galatians 6:9, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  Often we grow tired of seeking, asking, and knocking, but we must not give up.  Reaping implies that there is a harvest and a harvest can only come when water is applied to the soil to enrich the plants.  Our soil will not grow parched if we continually spend time with the Father.  Our second defense is Christian fellowship and accountability.  We must work together to encourage and exhort each other.  1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” Here Paul is illustrating the need for each of us to minister to others and do our part for the Kingdom.  We never know if we are planting or watering, but without both, there is nothing for God to make grow. We may be adding water to a very parched life and in so doing saving a soul from eternal separation from Christ or we may be giving a weak soul the nourishment he/she needs to keep standing tall another day. 

We do not do this on our own, the Word tells us, in Isaiah, that when the Messiah comes he will bring healing, streams in the desert, and will satisfy the thirsty land.  When the presence of the Holy God meets our spirits, we will be healed and refreshed like the parched ground after a good rain. Isaiah 35:5-7, “And then he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived.”

Be encouraged dear friend, God longs to water the soil of our lives, if we will only spend time with him! 

Time With God

By Melissa Larabee

My time with God is important to Him, and very valuable to me.

It’s in those times His voice I hear, and there His love I see.

He holds me close with gentle arms, and draws me ever near.

I love my time alone with God, my Savoir is so dear.

Oft’ times I fail to meet with Him, my time seems stretched so thin.

I miss out on His strength and power, the battles I could win.

Instead I try to carry the load, the weight is hard to bear.

If I spend my time alone with Him, He provides for every care.

He longs for moments of my time, I choose to give Him alone.

I must remember in His arms, I am always safe at home.

Drawing near to God is always sweet, the peace, and joy, and rest. 

Spending time with Him each and every day, reminds me how much I’m blessed.

Why do I miss my times with Him, I really cannot say.

But as I do the cares of life grow greater every day.

Staying away is telling my Lord, “I can do life on my own.”

The longer I miss my times with Him, the further my heart gets from home.

Without His comfort and His love, my life is not complete.

When will I learn, like Mary, just to sit at Jesus’ feet?

“Stay close to me, my precious child, your burdens I will bear,

As you learn to sit and rest, you can release your every care.

My yoke is easy, my burden’s light, my arms always outstretched,

I long for my children to come to me and find their place of rest.”

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.

Our Rock

Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the Lord always,for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. 

Webster's Dictionary defines rock as:   Foundation, support, or refuge. 

2 Samuel 22:2-3 He sang:“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me,and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. 

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me,and my place of safety. 

Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. 

Psalm 62:7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. 

Jesus is our rock. He is our fortress against the schemes of the devil. He us our refuge during the storms of life. He is our strength in the battles we face. He is our protector, defender, strength, and salvation. 

We can look to Christ for all we need. He is all we need. Take every care to him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7,"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."

Our Inheritance

1 Peter 1:3-4,"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay." 

Webster’s Dictionary defines inheritance as: money, property, etc., that is received from someone when that person dies.  We receive our inheritance because Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the law of sin and death.  Praise God, he did not remain in the ground but he rose again and is now seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us daily. Romans 8:34 (NIV), “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Praise God!  We have a beautiful inheritance waiting for us in heaven. Colossians 3:1-2, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”  The life we live here on earth is not all there is to our existence. Some day we will see Jesus face to face. We will worship around the throne with all those who have gone before us. We must live our lives with eternity in mind.

Ephesians 2:19 (ESV), “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”  Webster’s Dictionary defines aliens as: relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government.  Our citizenship is in heaven and our allegiance must be there as well. 

  

We also have an inheritance through Christ while we travel this earthly path.

Romans 8:17,"And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering."   We often only think of the blessings that come from being heirs with Christ.  We need to understand that there may be suffering in this life too. However, we have the promises of God to stand on in those times.  Those promises are our inheritance here on earth.

The Word promises:

Help overcoming sin: 2 Peter 1:4, “And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

Future and Hope: Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

Help Carrying the Load and Rest: Matthew 11:28-29, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’”

Provision: Philippians 4:19,"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."

Healing: 1 Peter 2:24,"He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed."

The Word is full of promises that are ours to claim in this lifetime.  As we journey, God wants to bless us with life abundant.  Our inheritance begins the moment we confess Jesus as Lord and will be fulfilled when we see him face to face. 

This life is temporary. It will be gone before we know it. Our hope must lie in knowing that when we leave here we are going home!!!!!  This world is not our home we are just passing through!!!!

Unless otherwise stated, all Scriptures are NLT.

Shepherd and Sheep

John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.”  Psalm 100:3, “Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his.     We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

The Shepherd loves the sheep and will give up his life for them.  John 10:11 & 15b, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.”

Psalm 23 illustrates the roles of the shepherd and the sheep.

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need (Sheep cannot provide for their own needs, they need the shepherd to provide all of their needs.)

2 He lets me rest in green meadows; (Green meadows provide good grass for the sheep as well as providing easy terrain for walking.) he leads me beside peaceful streams. (Sheep have such heavy, thick wool, that if they were trying to drink from a rough, rushing stream, their wool would soak up the water and they would fall in and be pulled down stream before the shepherd could get to them.  They would drown.)

3 He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.  (Sheep are known for their following instinct.  They will follow the shepherd because they recognize his voice and trust him.  John 10:4, “After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.”  Because Christ is Holy, he will never lead us onto the wrong path.  If we are feeling lead in the wrong direction, we need to check the voice, it won’t be Christ!  John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”)

4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.  (The shepherd uses his staff to guide the sheep.  If they feel the tap on their side they feel comforted. If their shepherd is leading them, they don’t fear but simply follow, knowing he cares for them. He also uses his staff to pull the sheep out of danger.)

5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  (The sheep eat in the meadows even though there may be danger around them. A wolf could come at any moment but the shepherd is on the look out!)  You honor me by anointing my head with oil.  (The shepherd checks each sheep closely looking for any injury. He anoints the sheep with oil to prevent disease and to heal injury.)  My cup overflows with blessings.

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. (If the sheep don’t wander off, they will stay under the shepherd’s care their entire life and he will love and care for them.)

Jesus said this about himself, John 10:9, "Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures." As the door, Jesus is the security system for his sheep.

The shepherd slept in the doorway (the only way in or out) of the sheepfold. Nothing could get to his sheep unless it went through him.

In kind, nothing can touch our life unless it passes through Christ first. If he allows it to touch us, we can rest assured that he has already made provision (whatever is needed) for it in heaven and is waiting for us to ask for it.  Philippians 4:6, "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."

Like sheep, we need a shepherd to protect and guide us.  When we accept Christ as Lord we gain a security system for our spirit. Colossians 3:3b, "your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” No need for alarm.  God has us firmly in his grasp. John 10: 28, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,"  We can choose to walk away, but no force outside of our free will can take us out of his care.

Our shepherd is always on duty.  He never sleeps or slumbers.  There has never been, nor ever will be a moment of our lives in which he was uninvolved.  We like sheep, can rest assured that we are loved, protected, and provided for.  Our Shepherd is More Than Enough!!!

All Scriptures are NLT, unless otherwise noted.