Heartfelt Tears Are Never Wasted….

If God answers the prayers of an Egyptian slave woman, and He cares about sparrows, He certainly will take care of a believer when they reach out in prayer. Hagar was desperate. She didn’t want to watch her son die. Her tears weren’t wasted. God rescued both her and her son. And her son, Ishmael, became a large nation. There are no small things for God. His omniscience reaches to the ends of the universe. There are no voices faint enough, or tears small enough that God doesn’t recognize and respond to. Sometimes it takes desperate situations to get our attention, to genuinely cry out to God. Genuine, God-directed, heartfelt tears are never wasted.

8 When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. 9 But Sarah saw Ishmael–the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar–making fun of her son, Isaac. 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.15 When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. 16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, 21 and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt. Genesis 21:8-21

The Deep, Underlying Root Of Evil…..

When it comes to evil, wicked behavior, pay close attention to the threat you will receive if you oppose it. The deep, underlying root of evil is selfishness and pride. If you truly want to call it what it really is, it’s hatred of God. Lot experienced this in Sodom. The two angelic men came to Lot’s house because Lot knew it wasn’t safe in the town square at night. Regardless, the town’s men came to Lot’s house and demanded Lot to bring out the two angelic men in order to have sex with them. Lot, not knowing what to do, offered his two virgin daughters up for their sexual perversion (which doesn’t say much for Lot’s integrity). Anyway, the town’s mens’ response is the main idea in today’s passage. The town’s mens’ response, “this fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge. We will treat you far worse than those other men.” Translation “how dare you tell us what to do”. No matter how you spin the homosexual agenda, it will always be about selfishness and pride. Abortion is the same way. It’s not about a clump of tissue, rather it’s about you not telling me what to do when it comes to sex (my body, my rights). The sad part about this argument isn’t about a woman’s body, it’s about pregnancy, and another person’s body (the natural consequence of having sex). The irony about this is the consequences of both topics speak for themselves. The worst part is how people are treated when they don’t agree. Tell someone a behavior is a sin, and they want to punish you for it, as they did to Lot here. Look around, does this type of behavior still happen today? The sin nature that drives this behavior is in all of us. You can learn a great deal from reading the Bible. And even though this was written about an event that happen thousands of years ago, it still speaks volumes of how the Bible understands and explains human behavior (without God, it doesn’t change). If God wrote this book in order for us to know Him, why don’t more people make it a priority to read it daily? Answer, people don’t want to be told what to do.

1 That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground. 2 “My lords,” he said, “come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your way again.”“Oh no,” they replied. “We’ll just spend the night out here in the city square.”3 But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they ate. 4 But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. 5 They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”6 So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him. 7 “Please, my brothers,” he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing. 8 Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.”9 “Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge! We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door. 11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place–your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. 13 For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and He has sent us to destroy it.”14 So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking.15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!” Genesis 19:1-15

What We Treasure Matters….

The secret to contentment isn’t a secret. Contentment is found in what we treasure. If we view Jesus as our treasure, and trust that He will provide for our needs, while we seek to do as He instructs us to do, contentment will follow. Jesus is the only “Thing” worthy of our pursuits. Everything else will eventually perish. Jesus is the Answer to the world. In more ways than we could ever imagine. What we treasure matters.

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.22 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life–whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are?27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:19-34

Common Sense Isn’t Common Anymore…

The older I get the more I find myself saying, “common sense isn’t common anymore”. People seemed to have dumbed down. I mean preachers saying, “amen and awoman” at the end of prayers. Not being able to call people “he or she”. Being told to call a boy a girl’s name because he identifies himself as a girl, even though his name is a still a boy’s name on the roster. This is a no-brained, common sense issue, but yet we are prejudiced or bigoted, if we respond with common sense. The reason people have sunken to this level is because they’ve decided to abandon God in their lives. It’s only through God that common sense and wisdom are given. Without Him, common sense isn’t so common.

For the Lord grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.8 He guards the paths of the justand protects those who are faithful to Him. 9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,and you will find the right way to go.10 For wisdom will enter your heart,and knowledge will fill you with joy.11 Wise choices will watch over you.Understanding will keep you safe. 12 Wisdom will save you from evil people,from those whose words are twisted. Proverbs 2:6-12

Why We Pray….

It’s not where or how we pray that matters, it’s why we pray. It’s to acknowledge our need and dependence on God. And to communicate with Him on a moment by moment basis. If this is why you pray, then your prayers will not go unanswered.

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven,may Your name be kept holy.10 May Your Kingdom come soon.May Your will be done on earth,as it is in heaven.11 Give us today the food we need,12 and forgive us our sins,as we have forgiven those who sin against us.13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,but rescue us from the evil one. 14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:5-18

Who We Are To Pray To…..

It’s always bothered me when I hear people pray to saints, or other gods. I’m not exactly sure how God sees it, but in this Psalm David states that he prays only to God and no one else. If David was a “man after God’s own heart” designated by God Himself, then this passage in the Psalms must tell us something. Is it possible that we are not supposed to pray to saints or through saints, for they aren’t the channel in which we are saved. Asking someone to tell God for us, means we don’t have confidence in Jesus, Who is the One that made our salvation possible. Praying to saints or other gods, only shows our lack of understanding. It means we don’t know or trust the One Who grants us eternal life. It might just be a false piety, “I’m not worthy to pray because I’m a sinner, but praying to a forgiven sinner (a saint) is how God hears my prayer” seems sacrilegious, doesn’t it?We are to pray to God, and God alone. He is the One that hears and answers prayers. Why was the curtain torn in the temple when Jesus died on the cross? Because it was God’s way of showing us that the way to Him is now open to all that call on His name. It no longer required one designated person, once a year, to go into the temple to make the atoning sacrifice for everyone. Jesus did it once and for all. “There is no other name, given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus, God Himself, and the Holy Spirit are One. So that’s is Who we are to pray to and pray through. Anything else is idolatrous.

2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,for I pray to no one but You.3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly. Psalms 5:2-3

What’s Your Motive For Doing Good?

What’s your motive for doing good? Man’s approval, or God’s approval? Your answer determines everything. If it’s for public notice, it’ll be your only reward. True love is selfless. Your answer will also expose what truly lies in your heart, revealing to you the authenticity of your faith.

1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do–blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4