It really does seem like it is taking a month to catch up from being gone to Ukraine. It felt like my sleep was never going to be right again (thank you Advil PM). My heart has not recovered from leaving all of the children in Ukraine behind yet. I am trying to prepare to go see all the African babies in Diepsloot again, but I can't get my head and heart out of Ukraine. During this time I am also trying to register for school (pray for me that this works out!!) so I can be a full time student, full time employee, full time husband, full time dad, and full time follower of Jesus Christ trying to take His love and His message of hope to the world. I don't know how many of you remember the old commercial that said this is your brain and showed an egg and then said this is your brain on drugs and cracked the egg and poured the egg into a hot skillet. My brain is feeling like that little scrambled egg only with no narcotics to get me there. I feel like I am under attack from the enemy on all fronts and he's using every available tactic. My wife and I are going through a VERY difficult season right now in a lot of respects, but our marriage and relationship are doing better than they have since.....
Weird how that can happen. When my wife was lead to Christ by my uncle, he showed her a triangle and said that the point at the top was God and the two bottom points are my wife and I. He traced his fingers up the sides of the triangle and said as these two points (my wife and I) get closer and closer to the top point (God) the closer they come to each other. It is now 9 years since he shared that with her (he has gone on to be with God) and we are now starting to live out this seemingly very simple principle. We have had times in our lives where the surrounding circumstances have been much better but our relationship was terrible. We were not striving to get closer to God and thus we were not getting closer to each other. One of the leadingcauses of divorce is money problems. I believe it is number two actually (second only to marriage which is the leading cause of divorce). Too many families are split by money issues these days. Now that is only one of the ways we are being attacked by the enemy but it's a big one. Yet when by the world's standards we should be drifting apart, we're coming closer to each other and closer to God even though the pressure is DEFINITELY on! For that, all praise goes to God! I can tell you it is truly not of us! Thank you, Jesus!
Hopefully soon I will return to normal, but until then, may God's blessings pour down on you like rain!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
More Than Conquerors
Ever notice that it seems like when we leave work for a week it takes us a month to catch up! I apologize for my delinquency in posting. We should be back in the saddle on Monday. I am looking forward to sharing about our trip to Ukraine starting then! Until then, here is a newer poem:
More Than Conquerors
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies
We’re in His command
On all of God’s promises
In Victory we’ll stand
If anyone is in Christ
They’re a new creation
Old things have passed away
Standing firm on a new foundation
We’re marching through this life
With our King victorious
Till we leave behind this old house
For one so glorious
Traded in the house on sand
For one built upon the Rock
And until I see my Jesus
I am never going to stop
Not wanting to condemn the world
But to save it through His Son
That by His grace and not my works
My new life has begun
I’ll fight the fight
I’ll run the race
I’ll live in Victory
Until I see Your face
We are more than conquerors
With the Savior King
We are more than conquerors
His praises we’ll sing
We are more than conquerors
With Jesus above
We are more than conquerors
Because of His love
Thank you Jesus for making us more than conquerors!! True victory in Jesus!
More Than Conquerors
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies
We’re in His command
On all of God’s promises
In Victory we’ll stand
If anyone is in Christ
They’re a new creation
Old things have passed away
Standing firm on a new foundation
We’re marching through this life
With our King victorious
Till we leave behind this old house
For one so glorious
Traded in the house on sand
For one built upon the Rock
And until I see my Jesus
I am never going to stop
Not wanting to condemn the world
But to save it through His Son
That by His grace and not my works
My new life has begun
I’ll fight the fight
I’ll run the race
I’ll live in Victory
Until I see Your face
We are more than conquerors
With the Savior King
We are more than conquerors
His praises we’ll sing
We are more than conquerors
With Jesus above
We are more than conquerors
Because of His love
Thank you Jesus for making us more than conquerors!! True victory in Jesus!
Monday, July 6, 2009
What's in a name?
Apparently for the little children that I met in Ukraine last week....it was their hearts! It only took a few moments of remembering their names and they acted as if their world was now complete. How simple a task; how great the result! I thought I was headed there to show them the love of Jesus; instead they showed me what love Jesus must have for all of us. Their love was unconditional and overflowing! From the kids at VBS to the kids in the hospitals, they have had an everlasting effect on me. The next time I post I will go into more detail about the children. I just had to share something about these beautiful creatures that I was blessed to make the acquaintance of.
MAY GOD KEEP THEM ALL SAFE IN HIS HANDS!!
Thank You, Abba!
MAY GOD KEEP THEM ALL SAFE IN HIS HANDS!!
Thank You, Abba!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Appreciation
I just wanted to take a few moments and express some appreciation. I'm appreciative of the fact that God allowed me a front row seat as 4 people had their hearts and lives changed forever. I'm appreciative of the fact that I go to a church that allows more forms of worship than the traditional 3 hymns before the sermon. All forms of worship are encouraged....THANKFULLY!!
I write worship poetry. At no time in my life (I grew up in church) have I ever attended a church that had that as part of it's corporate worship time....and why? David was a man after God's own heart, whose specialty was song and poetry (ever read the book of Psalms?). So why do we not see more forms of worship in our churches today since we as the church are supposed to reflect the heart of God to a watching world? How did the people worship in Daivid's time? Song, dance, and poetry are just a few of those ways. Do we see those types of worship in most churches today? NO!
Poetry - no
Dance - absolutely not
Songs - yes.....with restrictions
Now here's a good question; what kind of music is acceptable to God? Is it your traditional hymns? Is it your modern praise and worship music? Now about the spontaneous song of praise that flows from the heart of someone who has a real intimate knowledge of and love for God. Well, while the first two choices are both excellent choices, it's the third one that really reaches the heart of God. You style of music doesn't matter, it's the heart that sings the song that matters! There's where the real worship comes from. So in my case, there's no music attached as I offer up this form of worship to my Wonderful, Loving Heavenly Father!
More Than Conquerors
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies
We’re in His command
On all of God’s promises
In Victory we’ll stand
If anyone is in Christ
They’re a new creation
Old things have passed away
Standing firm on a new foundation
We’re marching through this life
With our King victorious
Till we leave behind this old house
For one so glorious
Traded in the house on sand
For one built upon the Rock
And until I see my Jesus
I am never going to stop
Not wanting to condemn the world
But to save it through His Son
That by His grace and not my works
My new life has begun
I’ll fight the fight
I’ll run the race
I’ll live in Victory
Until I see Your face
We are more than conquerors
With the Savior King
We are more than conquerors
His praises we’ll sing
We are more than conquerors
With Jesus above
We are more than conquerors
Because of His love
I write worship poetry. At no time in my life (I grew up in church) have I ever attended a church that had that as part of it's corporate worship time....and why? David was a man after God's own heart, whose specialty was song and poetry (ever read the book of Psalms?). So why do we not see more forms of worship in our churches today since we as the church are supposed to reflect the heart of God to a watching world? How did the people worship in Daivid's time? Song, dance, and poetry are just a few of those ways. Do we see those types of worship in most churches today? NO!
Poetry - no
Dance - absolutely not
Songs - yes.....with restrictions
Now here's a good question; what kind of music is acceptable to God? Is it your traditional hymns? Is it your modern praise and worship music? Now about the spontaneous song of praise that flows from the heart of someone who has a real intimate knowledge of and love for God. Well, while the first two choices are both excellent choices, it's the third one that really reaches the heart of God. You style of music doesn't matter, it's the heart that sings the song that matters! There's where the real worship comes from. So in my case, there's no music attached as I offer up this form of worship to my Wonderful, Loving Heavenly Father!
More Than Conquerors
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies
We’re in His command
On all of God’s promises
In Victory we’ll stand
If anyone is in Christ
They’re a new creation
Old things have passed away
Standing firm on a new foundation
We’re marching through this life
With our King victorious
Till we leave behind this old house
For one so glorious
Traded in the house on sand
For one built upon the Rock
And until I see my Jesus
I am never going to stop
Not wanting to condemn the world
But to save it through His Son
That by His grace and not my works
My new life has begun
I’ll fight the fight
I’ll run the race
I’ll live in Victory
Until I see Your face
We are more than conquerors
With the Savior King
We are more than conquerors
His praises we’ll sing
We are more than conquerors
With Jesus above
We are more than conquerors
Because of His love
Friday, June 12, 2009
UKRAINE
As the day approaches that we leave for Ukraine, I can't help but to get in mission mode. Today I am sharing a poem that is born out of the heart of missions. Until you go, you may never understand this. If you've gone before, this will probably put the picture of a child you've seen on the mission field in your head. I know for me, there are numerous faces that come to mind when I read this:
Window to the World
A loving hug, a tender touch
They ask so little, they give so much
Ever looking, seeking God’s love
The kind that comes from the Father above
You see their hurt, you see their pain
You see their joy when you know their name
You see the darkness, their misery
You see without Him, their lives are empty
Go and tell all the nations
Tell them they were bought, He paid the price
Making disciples, teaching His word
Sharing the Good News of His sacrifice
They live without love, without a home
They live in this world, but they’re all alone
They feel forsaken, no hope for them
They can know His love if they’re told about Him
For God so loved the world He sent His Son for you and me
Not that anyone would perish but worship Him for eternity
Jesus loves them all, every boy and every girl
You can see their need for Him in their eyes, their windows to the world
The eyes are the window to the soul, so our society deems
They’re the soul’s window to the world is how it really seems
The world stands there looking in, to decide what you’re about
But it’s the broken heart, the searching soul, that’s really looking out
They’re all His little children, each and every one
To love Him is to love them, just as He has done
Jesus died for us, finally providing us our worth
He did this while we were yet sinners, even before our birth
You’re forever blessed with a broken heart, at home and while away
Though your body may be forced to leave, your heart will always stay
Pieces of your heart, forever scattered, like chaff thrown in the wind
So happy to get home, but never complete, till you return again
Once you go you will never be the same. Thank God for that! If you start to feel like they will just take from you, you could never be more wrong. They will give to you more than you will ever give to them!
Window to the World
A loving hug, a tender touch
They ask so little, they give so much
Ever looking, seeking God’s love
The kind that comes from the Father above
You see their hurt, you see their pain
You see their joy when you know their name
You see the darkness, their misery
You see without Him, their lives are empty
Go and tell all the nations
Tell them they were bought, He paid the price
Making disciples, teaching His word
Sharing the Good News of His sacrifice
They live without love, without a home
They live in this world, but they’re all alone
They feel forsaken, no hope for them
They can know His love if they’re told about Him
For God so loved the world He sent His Son for you and me
Not that anyone would perish but worship Him for eternity
Jesus loves them all, every boy and every girl
You can see their need for Him in their eyes, their windows to the world
The eyes are the window to the soul, so our society deems
They’re the soul’s window to the world is how it really seems
The world stands there looking in, to decide what you’re about
But it’s the broken heart, the searching soul, that’s really looking out
They’re all His little children, each and every one
To love Him is to love them, just as He has done
Jesus died for us, finally providing us our worth
He did this while we were yet sinners, even before our birth
You’re forever blessed with a broken heart, at home and while away
Though your body may be forced to leave, your heart will always stay
Pieces of your heart, forever scattered, like chaff thrown in the wind
So happy to get home, but never complete, till you return again
Once you go you will never be the same. Thank God for that! If you start to feel like they will just take from you, you could never be more wrong. They will give to you more than you will ever give to them!
Friday, June 5, 2009
The Great Physician
Today I have a praise report!
My brother's mother-in-law was hospitalized last week with a sinus infection, pneumonia, and a stroke. Today she WALKS out of the hospital! Yes I said she is walking out of the hospital today.
Now who has ever heard of someone in their sixties, entering the hospital already taxing their body fighting pneumonia and a sinus infection, to see them WALK out of the hospital a week after having a stroke? I never have seen somebody beat those odds in grand fashion like that! Never!
How did this happen? A miracle of modern medicine maybe? NO! The healing hand of Jehovah-Rapha or Rophe (Hebrew name for the God who heals us)! All thanks, all praise, and all glory goes to our Creator who heard the cries of many on this woman's behalf.
She will tell you herself that she is getting a second lease on life and will not waste it. This stroke could have very easily killed her. God saw fit to spare her. Why? We don't know yet, but His purpose for her will be revealed in His time. This is a woman that walked with God at one point in her life,only to walk away from Him.
When we walk away from God, He will do WHATEVER it takes to get us back! He is more concerned with our end result, with the building of our character, and most of all with our relationship with Him. God will do anything it takes to have that relationship with you (remember: He sacrificed His own Son so we could be in fellowship with Him)!
What does the statement (WHATEVER) look like in action? In her case, her left side may not regain full motor function, but her life was spared so she could regain the fellowship with God she once had. He is not limited to just affecting our health. He may affect the health of those around us (kids, parents, spouse, etc), he may cause us to lose our job, it could be a car accident, an accidental pregnancy, a natural disaster, an act of violence, or ANYTHING else it takes to get our attention! If you walk away from Him because of some form of hidden sin (only from man, not from God), He will put the spotlight on that sin for you.
Now you may be thinking; would God really cause me to lose my job resulting in the loss of my home and many other possessions? Yes! Would God allow my daughter to have an accident on her jet ski and be hospitalized, never making a full recovery? Yes! Would God allow my mistress to become pregnant which would just rip my family apart? Yes! In all of these situations and many more like them, God is allowing something that looks bad to us as humans to happen. But in any one of these situations, the affected persons may need just that to get their attention, to bring them back into the right fellowship with God, or to get help with a problem or an addiction that they may have never otherwise allowed to be fixed. It may be a parent that is no longer setting that Godly example for their children and/ or spouse. It may be a person in ministry, that if they're not doing right by God, they may be destroying the very people they are charged with helping. It may be somebody that is carrying the "christian" banner and the devil's baby at the same time. He will remove whatever idol or "god" you put before Him. Check the ten commandments, He warned us already!
I have a devo that is dedicated to this subject. I will leave you with that, today. But remember, if you're not living the way God says you should, and you know it, repent today! If He has not brought judgement against you yet, thank Him heavily as you get your life back on track, but know this; if you continue walking away from the Lord, He WILL do whatever it takes to get you back.
None Before Me
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. This is a rather familiar phrase, easily recognizable from the Ten Commandments. Most of our children have heard it and can give you a brief synopsis of its meaning. Yet how deep does that answer go?
In Ukraine (Summer 2008) I heard two ladies giving a testimony about their lives. These are two very godly women that had a story to share. Each one had a story very different from the other; yet the message that the Holy Spirit was giving me from the two was the same. One tells how her husband had a very successful job making more than enough money and how they lived very well. She knew God, just not very well. She had been babied in her early years by her dad and then her husband took over that position. She had full faith in her husband, his job and his relationship with Christ, but little regard for her own relationship. God decided to increase His efforts to draw her near; so in one evening, she lost her husband and his job. All the things that she had faith in disappeared instantly. She now had a husband that was incapacitated; his person, his job, and his faith were removed from her all in the span of a couple of hours. The result though, was that she did (eventually) gain that personal relationship with Christ that she needed to have all along the way. The whole time I was hearing her share this, the Holy Spirit kept saying there shall be no other gods before me. Fortunately they are both serving the Lord now in full time ministry.
The second lady shared the story of her life and how it was dominated for so many years by her mother. She had spent a lifetime worshipping her mother and having the kind of relationship with her mother that should have been focused on God the Father. As she would share the little bits of her faith with her mom that she could, she was met with laughter and ridicule. This would cause her faith to shrink and her relationship with God to suffer greatly. God had plans to use this woman to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. But before she could share with people her relationship with Christ and how they could have one, hers needed to grow exponentially. Unfortunately for her, because of her priorities being out of alignment, God took her mother. This was very difficult for her to swallow. Honestly, she spent more than a year being mad at God. With the drawing power of the Holy Spirit though, she did come into an incredible relationship with God. God was then able to use her to reach a lost world. She has an awesome burden for the lost and Christ-like love for children. Once again, as I heard her story unfold, the Holy Spirit kept reminding me that there shall be no other gods before me.
Now, what do you have in your life that is being that “god that is before God”? Do you have a souped up muscle car that you take to car shows that sometimes fall on Sundays? Do you play softball for teams that have you away from church on Sundays? Do you have a boat that you take fishing on Sundays because you can’t get out there on Saturdays, or worse yet, Saturday is just not enough. Do you take your little princess to pageants that happen to only fall on Sunday? Dog Shows? Sports of any type (played or watched)? Do you have anything that causes you to put your relationship with God in second place? When God gives us a command, He means it! When He says no other gods before me, when He says don’t forsake the assembling of yourselves together…He means it! As He continues to draw you back to Him, He will remove whatever we put in His way. He does not do this to punish us, but because he is most concerned with our character and has our long term benefit in mind.
We must learn to prioritize.; God said to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, not keep it selfishly for ourselves!
He will do anything, removing any person, place or object of affection to have a deeper, more personal relationship with the people He created. We were created to worship the King and not our things!
My brother's mother-in-law was hospitalized last week with a sinus infection, pneumonia, and a stroke. Today she WALKS out of the hospital! Yes I said she is walking out of the hospital today.
Now who has ever heard of someone in their sixties, entering the hospital already taxing their body fighting pneumonia and a sinus infection, to see them WALK out of the hospital a week after having a stroke? I never have seen somebody beat those odds in grand fashion like that! Never!
How did this happen? A miracle of modern medicine maybe? NO! The healing hand of Jehovah-Rapha or Rophe (Hebrew name for the God who heals us)! All thanks, all praise, and all glory goes to our Creator who heard the cries of many on this woman's behalf.
She will tell you herself that she is getting a second lease on life and will not waste it. This stroke could have very easily killed her. God saw fit to spare her. Why? We don't know yet, but His purpose for her will be revealed in His time. This is a woman that walked with God at one point in her life,only to walk away from Him.
When we walk away from God, He will do WHATEVER it takes to get us back! He is more concerned with our end result, with the building of our character, and most of all with our relationship with Him. God will do anything it takes to have that relationship with you (remember: He sacrificed His own Son so we could be in fellowship with Him)!
What does the statement (WHATEVER) look like in action? In her case, her left side may not regain full motor function, but her life was spared so she could regain the fellowship with God she once had. He is not limited to just affecting our health. He may affect the health of those around us (kids, parents, spouse, etc), he may cause us to lose our job, it could be a car accident, an accidental pregnancy, a natural disaster, an act of violence, or ANYTHING else it takes to get our attention! If you walk away from Him because of some form of hidden sin (only from man, not from God), He will put the spotlight on that sin for you.
Now you may be thinking; would God really cause me to lose my job resulting in the loss of my home and many other possessions? Yes! Would God allow my daughter to have an accident on her jet ski and be hospitalized, never making a full recovery? Yes! Would God allow my mistress to become pregnant which would just rip my family apart? Yes! In all of these situations and many more like them, God is allowing something that looks bad to us as humans to happen. But in any one of these situations, the affected persons may need just that to get their attention, to bring them back into the right fellowship with God, or to get help with a problem or an addiction that they may have never otherwise allowed to be fixed. It may be a parent that is no longer setting that Godly example for their children and/ or spouse. It may be a person in ministry, that if they're not doing right by God, they may be destroying the very people they are charged with helping. It may be somebody that is carrying the "christian" banner and the devil's baby at the same time. He will remove whatever idol or "god" you put before Him. Check the ten commandments, He warned us already!
I have a devo that is dedicated to this subject. I will leave you with that, today. But remember, if you're not living the way God says you should, and you know it, repent today! If He has not brought judgement against you yet, thank Him heavily as you get your life back on track, but know this; if you continue walking away from the Lord, He WILL do whatever it takes to get you back.
None Before Me
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. This is a rather familiar phrase, easily recognizable from the Ten Commandments. Most of our children have heard it and can give you a brief synopsis of its meaning. Yet how deep does that answer go?
In Ukraine (Summer 2008) I heard two ladies giving a testimony about their lives. These are two very godly women that had a story to share. Each one had a story very different from the other; yet the message that the Holy Spirit was giving me from the two was the same. One tells how her husband had a very successful job making more than enough money and how they lived very well. She knew God, just not very well. She had been babied in her early years by her dad and then her husband took over that position. She had full faith in her husband, his job and his relationship with Christ, but little regard for her own relationship. God decided to increase His efforts to draw her near; so in one evening, she lost her husband and his job. All the things that she had faith in disappeared instantly. She now had a husband that was incapacitated; his person, his job, and his faith were removed from her all in the span of a couple of hours. The result though, was that she did (eventually) gain that personal relationship with Christ that she needed to have all along the way. The whole time I was hearing her share this, the Holy Spirit kept saying there shall be no other gods before me. Fortunately they are both serving the Lord now in full time ministry.
The second lady shared the story of her life and how it was dominated for so many years by her mother. She had spent a lifetime worshipping her mother and having the kind of relationship with her mother that should have been focused on God the Father. As she would share the little bits of her faith with her mom that she could, she was met with laughter and ridicule. This would cause her faith to shrink and her relationship with God to suffer greatly. God had plans to use this woman to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. But before she could share with people her relationship with Christ and how they could have one, hers needed to grow exponentially. Unfortunately for her, because of her priorities being out of alignment, God took her mother. This was very difficult for her to swallow. Honestly, she spent more than a year being mad at God. With the drawing power of the Holy Spirit though, she did come into an incredible relationship with God. God was then able to use her to reach a lost world. She has an awesome burden for the lost and Christ-like love for children. Once again, as I heard her story unfold, the Holy Spirit kept reminding me that there shall be no other gods before me.
Now, what do you have in your life that is being that “god that is before God”? Do you have a souped up muscle car that you take to car shows that sometimes fall on Sundays? Do you play softball for teams that have you away from church on Sundays? Do you have a boat that you take fishing on Sundays because you can’t get out there on Saturdays, or worse yet, Saturday is just not enough. Do you take your little princess to pageants that happen to only fall on Sunday? Dog Shows? Sports of any type (played or watched)? Do you have anything that causes you to put your relationship with God in second place? When God gives us a command, He means it! When He says no other gods before me, when He says don’t forsake the assembling of yourselves together…He means it! As He continues to draw you back to Him, He will remove whatever we put in His way. He does not do this to punish us, but because he is most concerned with our character and has our long term benefit in mind.
We must learn to prioritize.; God said to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, not keep it selfishly for ourselves!
He will do anything, removing any person, place or object of affection to have a deeper, more personal relationship with the people He created. We were created to worship the King and not our things!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
heart, life, or both
When we hear the Good News of the Gospel and choose to respond to it, should we give our heart to Christ, our life to Christ, OR BOTH? The answer is both!
Some people give their hearts to the Lord but they decide to keep the lifestyle for themselves. They show up in church and say YES I am a Christian, but their lifestyle reflects that of someone who has never given their lives to Christ. This causes people outside of the church to view the church as a den of hypocrites. They want to know why is he/ she living the same way I am, but he/ she is going to Heaven and I’m going to hell? This “religion thing” must be bogus and made up. Remember, we as the church body, represent Jesus to the world. How well are we representing Him?
Some people give their lives to the Lord, but they decide to keep their heart for themselves. They attend all church functions, their on committees, they sing, they teach, they go on mission trips, and sometimes they even preach. They may even have the “Jesus fish” on the back of their car next to their Christians aren’t perfect, they’re just forgiven bumper sticker. But they have a fence around their heart, so they can feed it whatever they want to. Pride, anger, lust, envy, gossip, arrogance, jealousy, selfishness, and worldly ways are some of the dangerous things that can be fed to the heart that is kept away from God, even though the life has been given to Him. Even though their life looks so religious, it may still be in trouble. Remember, religious people had Jesus put to death so they could go back to watching for the Messiah. Talk about not seeing the forest because of all those trees in the way….wow!
For me personally, I want to be a full moon for God. Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun to the whole earth, I too, want to reflect the Light of the Son to the whole earth. The Christians described above, can be anything from a waning moon, to a half moon, or worst of all a new moon. Now I have had times where I was nothing more than a new moon for Christ, but I pray He will eventually use me as a full moon.
The best example I’ve heard is: if you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you. Just as an apple tree would be convicted of being an apple tree by the fruit it bears, we too would be convicted or found “innocent” of being a Christian, by the fruits we bear. Unfortunately, I believe the day where we will be put on trial for being a Christian in America is not that far away! We are to be in this world, but not of this world. We are to be a people that is set apart! Are you set apart or just camouflaged in with the rest of the world? Do you look and sound like the world, or have you given your everything to your Creator?
The hope of this world does not lie in the lost, it lies within the people of God! We are their only hope of coming to know God personally. We are the ones charged with praying for this world. A true change can only come about when we pray and allow God to work! Repentance means a change in direction, so if we are going to see a change in the direction of the lives of those around us and in our country, we (God’s people) must first repent and seek God.
I am including some verses that go with today’s entry, but I am also posting (see below) a piece that I have posted before, that I think goes with today’s entry.
Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
2 Timothy 2:12
12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with him.If we deny him, he will deny us.
John 15:20
20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
1 Thessalonians 4:7,8
7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
It says right there in His Word that His people are to repent and pray. It says we are to live holy lives.Not my words but His! Are we hearing Him?
Selah
Some people give their hearts to the Lord but they decide to keep the lifestyle for themselves. They show up in church and say YES I am a Christian, but their lifestyle reflects that of someone who has never given their lives to Christ. This causes people outside of the church to view the church as a den of hypocrites. They want to know why is he/ she living the same way I am, but he/ she is going to Heaven and I’m going to hell? This “religion thing” must be bogus and made up. Remember, we as the church body, represent Jesus to the world. How well are we representing Him?
Some people give their lives to the Lord, but they decide to keep their heart for themselves. They attend all church functions, their on committees, they sing, they teach, they go on mission trips, and sometimes they even preach. They may even have the “Jesus fish” on the back of their car next to their Christians aren’t perfect, they’re just forgiven bumper sticker. But they have a fence around their heart, so they can feed it whatever they want to. Pride, anger, lust, envy, gossip, arrogance, jealousy, selfishness, and worldly ways are some of the dangerous things that can be fed to the heart that is kept away from God, even though the life has been given to Him. Even though their life looks so religious, it may still be in trouble. Remember, religious people had Jesus put to death so they could go back to watching for the Messiah. Talk about not seeing the forest because of all those trees in the way….wow!
For me personally, I want to be a full moon for God. Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun to the whole earth, I too, want to reflect the Light of the Son to the whole earth. The Christians described above, can be anything from a waning moon, to a half moon, or worst of all a new moon. Now I have had times where I was nothing more than a new moon for Christ, but I pray He will eventually use me as a full moon.
The best example I’ve heard is: if you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you. Just as an apple tree would be convicted of being an apple tree by the fruit it bears, we too would be convicted or found “innocent” of being a Christian, by the fruits we bear. Unfortunately, I believe the day where we will be put on trial for being a Christian in America is not that far away! We are to be in this world, but not of this world. We are to be a people that is set apart! Are you set apart or just camouflaged in with the rest of the world? Do you look and sound like the world, or have you given your everything to your Creator?
The hope of this world does not lie in the lost, it lies within the people of God! We are their only hope of coming to know God personally. We are the ones charged with praying for this world. A true change can only come about when we pray and allow God to work! Repentance means a change in direction, so if we are going to see a change in the direction of the lives of those around us and in our country, we (God’s people) must first repent and seek God.
I am including some verses that go with today’s entry, but I am also posting (see below) a piece that I have posted before, that I think goes with today’s entry.
Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
2 Timothy 2:12
12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with him.If we deny him, he will deny us.
John 15:20
20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
1 Thessalonians 4:7,8
7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
It says right there in His Word that His people are to repent and pray. It says we are to live holy lives.Not my words but His! Are we hearing Him?
Selah
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