Walking It Out

Going through life to try to do the right things in following our God can be challenging. We may do well sometimes and not so well at other times. In all cases one thing is true. God never changes.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

If God never changes and we are experiencing challenges, what shall we say this is? Likely there is not one perfect answer here that fits all situations. But there are some indicators in scripture.

Philippians 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

We can be encouraged to know that the changes are likely from God. He is moving in us for our good. When we see changes, good or bad, we should pray and seek God’s wisdom. He will guide, comfort, and encourage us in the direction he wants us to go.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. You alone are worthy to be praised. We long for Your kingdom in the earth. We praise Your Holy Name. You alone are worthy of our praise. Help us when we get off track. We need Your grace, love, and encouragement, today and everyday. Please send today Your healing, deliverance, and overwhelming provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Rain Falls

It is encouraging to know that God is not like us and that He loves us all. For me at least, at times I can become very upset with some people. Yet if I want to follow Jesus, if I want to do His will by doing His words, then I must get past all that. It can be tough, but it is what Jesus encouraged us to do.

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

God sends rain on the crops of the just and the unjust. It is challenging for me to understand this, and I do my best to live it. But it also seems that we are to pursue life which God values above even the Sabbath. What I try to do is when I am faced with evil men doing evil things, I pray for judgement because God’s judgement simply sets things right in the earth. He alone is the one that brings about the truth and righteousness of His kingdom.

If you are like me and have those that speak evil of you and persecute you from time to time, pray for them to be enlightened. Pray for God’s judgement to set things right in the way He chooses (not the way we choose). To God be the glory.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. We want to be in Your kingdom here on earth. We want to be like You. But we are frail human beings and we mess up and get angry with other people. Please forgive us when we do that. Please help us get past these things. Please send Your judgement to set things right. Please deliver us from those that oppress us. Please send Your healing and Your deliverance and Your overwhelming overflowing provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

How Does The Garden Grow

It has been a number of years since I planted a garden. This year it seemed like God was nudging me to do it, so I have. As I look out my kitchen window I see some large green tomatoes, herbs, and other interesting things that managed to survive my handiwork. Most house plants I have had have died a slow death, so this garden flourishing seems unusual for me. This morning God answered the question above for me.

Dueteronomy 28:12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

Deuteronomy 15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

The answer is really simple. God is blessing the work of our hands. He teaches us His ways, and He blesses our ability to follow Him. He even picks us up when we fall down, brushes us off, and puts us back on the path.

God is good!

Prayer
Father, we praise You our Most High King. Thank You for your blessings in our lives. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Please forgive us our errors. We ask that You show Yourself strong on our behalf with healing, deliverance, and provision that all men might know that You alone have done this. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Bigger Than The Ocean

Back in high school I remember this one team we played that was their JV team. We were only freshmen. They looked really big compared to our guys. I can remember thinking to myself that they looked gigantic, and I wondered how we would beat them. Somehow we did beat them 6-0, but I always remembered that game and one play where a guy hit me on a kickoff and I went flying. I think it has stayed with me all these years because of the size difference, yet we won. This morning as I was praying I was directed to the Psalms, and the psalm I read reminded me that no matter how big the opposition is, our God is bigger.

Psalms 93:1 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

For me, I can see life as an ocean of huge waves at times. I can wonder at just how we will navigate one situation or another. The answer is our God is far above and big problem we may face. He will deliver us, just as He always has. His work is sure, and He will complete His work in us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the One True God. You alone are worthy of our praise today. We thank You for the work of Your hands. We praise You as You are on High above any ocean of problems we may bring to You. We ask today that You forgive us when we do not believe, when we give place to our fears, and ask You help us overcome these things. Please send today Your deliverance, healing, and abundant provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

What To Do, What To Do…

In troubled times it is good to know that God is on our side. When I think of the Old Testament saints I often think of David. What a passionate person David was! He served God with his whole heart, and yet still he blew it from time to time. David wrote of this often. He even tells us in places just how to get right with God, and that we can do this at any time. Our enemy would like us to believe that we cannot cry out to God if we are not completely clean from sin already. David said just the opposite, that in those times is exactly when we should cry out to God for forgiveness.

Psalms 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Here David notes what a blessing it is to be the person that is forgiven. How did David know? Because he messed up on a regular basis, but always sought God for forgiveness. When David gave in to the enemy’s idea that he could not cry out to God, it wore him out – his bones waxed old. Once he prayed to God and confessed his sin, he was delivered through songs. David also tells us that when times get really hard, everyone will cry out to God. One of the messages that David is giving us here I believe is, why wait?

We can know that at all times, no matter what state we are in, if we cry out to our God, He will deliver us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our Mighty King. When all others fail, You never turn away. You are with us in all places and at all times. We give You thanks and praise for being our Delivering King. Please forgive us today our transgressions. We ask that today You send in a mighty way Your healing, Your deliverance, and Your overwhelming provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Remembering Those That Went All In

Today across America it is a holiday where we remember those that fought for our freedom. Some came home, some perished on the battlefield, and some struggle to come home even though they are here with us. One thing is true about them all. They went all in. They gave everything for us so that we might have a chance at Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, that we might have our freedom. Today we want to remember those people.

WE have a choice every day with God. We can choose to be all in, or not. We can choose to take a casual attitude towards our relationship with God, or we can choose to chase Him with out whole heart.

Psalms 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

David chased after God like the water we drink. If we choose to casually consider drinking in the living water that God offers to us, then we will miss the fullness of the blessing. The same is true in all we do, whether it is relationship, work, or play. We do all unto God.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Today, in everything in your life, do all as unto God, just as those brave warriors gave their all for us.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. Thank You for this day. Please bless those that went to defend our freedoms, and their loved ones. Please forgive our iniquities. Please send us today healing, deliverance, and abundant provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name.

Love And Care

This morning as I was looking at my garden I noticed it needs some watering. The plants are a little droopy, as if they were calling to me. It reminded me of the love and care that God extends toward us. One of my favorite scriptures about this (there are so many it is hard to pick just one) is in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

When I think about what our Messiah did so selflessly giving His life, I am encouraged that He has a plan. We will be His bride. He would not pay such a price only to walk away from us. It is a blessing to remember this when times are challenging, and it gives us something to look forward to in the future. He is changing us into His perfect wife. He loves us enough to go through the challenges with us unto the end, knowing that He will not fail us. And all these thoughts from just seeing I need to water my garden.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. You alone are worthy to be praised. Thank You for not giving up on us. Thank You for staying by our side until the end when we will finally be like You. Please forgive us our shortcomings. Send us today Your healing, deliverance, and overwhelming provision. We love You. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Stretching Our Belief

Last night we had a storm that was very intense. Thunder and lighting that lit up the sky, and much rain. This morning the birds are happily getting worms, the grass is green, and the garden plants looked revived. There is a beautiful time in the creation after the storm. Our life with God is like that as well if we can only believe.

Mark 5:35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

The ruler of the synagogue had asked Jesus to come heal his daughter. On the way Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood. Then came the message to the ruler that his daughter was dead. What was the response of Jesus? “Be not afraid, only believe.” He then takes only a few of the disciples and goes to the house saying the girl is only asleep. When He goes into the room, Jesus prays over her in the Spirit, and she is raised from the dead. This is a dramatic example of what God will do for His people, and wants to do.

We are promised repeatedly in the bible that God wants to take care of us and provide for us. In this story, imagine being the father. He could not read to the end. He had to cling to those words of Jesus and fight off the fear. He had to make the journey to the house with this small band of men, and somehow cling to Jesus words. The result – his daughter was raised from the dead – she was alive! We can have these same things, the promises of God, if we will cling to the words of our Messiah.

“Be not afraid, only believe.”

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the Most High King. Please forgive us when we doubt or are afraid. We have been given so many thoughts like this from our world. Help us to believe in You and Your words. Please send us today Your healing, Your deliverance, and Your abundant provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

We Will Arrive

Every day we have many opportunities. We have choices. We can choose to help our neighbors, or not. We can choose to use kind and loving words in talking with our families, or not. We can choose to follow God and His ways, or not. It is easy to get caught up in not getting everything right. Growing up I was led to believe it is all or nothing, that if I made even one little mistake, it wiped away any good or any progress toward the good that I had made. For me this was taught at home and reinforced by the church. Over the years I have come to discover this belief is not true.

Our God is not a taskmaster. That is the devil. For many of us we did not experience that perfect loving father growing up. But our God is a perfect loving Father. He is permanently on our side. Yes, He wants us to follow His ways. That is our destination. In fact we have a promise that we will get there.

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

John tells us that we will one day be as He is. John also tells us to do the right thing. But humans are prone to make mistakes. It’s called being human. What is important is to fan the fire of desire to do the right thing within us, which God has given us by His Spirit.

God believes in us, even more than we believe in Him. Today, do not condemn yourself for the mistakes. Rather, confess sin to God, ask for forgiveness, and let His peace fill You and move you, inch by inch, closer to that mark of the high calling in the Messiah, Jesus.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the Most High. We thank You that we can count on You to forgive us when we ask, and we ask now. Please deal with us according to You mercy and truth, and not as we deal with each other. Help us to follow Your ways and to be more like You. We need Your love and Your grace. Please send today Your healing, Your deliverance, and Your abundant provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

One Reason To Keep Going

Today looking out my window the snow is gone and in its place is a gray and rainy day. It would be easy to be discouraged today, to get caught up in the dreariness, to be overwhelmed by all that must be done in the days and weeks ahead, or by the news. We all want the world and life to be better. But we need not be overwhelmed. We can find peace and encouragement in knowing who and where we are, and where we are going. This is what Paul did in similar situations.

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.

Paul had already seen and done some fairly significant things for God’s kingdom by the time he wrote this letter. He was also the same person that said he did things he should not do and did not do things he should do. But all of this he considered to be nothing. Paul always put the past where it belongs – in the past. He knew that what mattered was not what we have or have not done, but what we choose to do today to move toward God’s calling in our lives. When we focus on the immediate and ling term future, we get to create that anew. And here is an important point that I had not noticed before today. Paul said that from our maturity (perfect) we can put the past behind us and if there is something more we need to be doing, God will reveal it to us. If we know someone that has already overcome something, then we can imitate them (mark them) to learn from their example.

We press on…

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You! Everyday You give us a reason to keep going, to stay in the battle, and to reach out to Your calling. Thank You for giving us a goal. Please forgive us our past transgressions, and help us to keep our eyes on the prize. We want to see and live in Your kingdom in this earth. Please give us the healing, the deliverance, and the provision we need in abundance. Please help us to heal the sick, raise the dead, and show the world the power of Your might. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.