Out To Get You...

God is for us not against us. It’s only those that believe and trust Him that see this. Those that don’t trust Him, believe He’s out to get them, and thus, think He’s against them. Unbelievers are partially correct when they say, “God is out to get me”. God does go out of His way to reach the lost.

 13 For Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps His promises;He is gracious in all He does.14 The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.15 The eyes of all look to You in hope; You give them their food as they need it.16 When You open your hand, You satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.17 The Lord is righteous in everything He does; He is filled with kindness.18 The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth.19 He grants the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them.20 The Lord protects all those who love Him, but He destroys the wicked. 21 I will praise the Lord,and may everyone on earth bless His holy name forever and ever. Psalms 145:13-21

The First Step in Growing Up...

The first step in growing up is accepting responsibility and enduring the consequences of our sin. This leads to restoration from God, and sets us up for greater things. This process is called sanctification. It’s much easier when you have the right mindset.

 7 As for me, I look to the Lord for help.I wait confidently for God to save me,and my God will certainly hear me.8 Do not gloat over me, my enemies!For though I fall, I will rise again.Though I sit in darkness,the Lord will be my light.9 I will be patient as the Lord punishes me,for I have sinned against Him.But after that, He will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.The Lord will bring me into the light,and I will see His righteousness.10 Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side.They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying,“So where is the Lord–that God of yours?”With my own eyes I will see their downfall;they will be trampled like mud in the streets. Micah 7:7-10

What Does God Require?

What does God require from us? To be like Him. To emulate Him. To show others His character. To extend the spiritual realm into this world. Doing what is right, Loving mercy, and pursuing God with your whole heart is how we are to accomplish this. This is only possible if you know Him. You can’t give what you don’t possess.

6 What can we bring to the Lord?What kind of offerings should we give Him?Should we bow before Godwith offerings of yearling calves?7 Should we offer Him thousands of ramsand ten thousand rivers of olive oil?Should we sacrifice our firstborn childrento pay for our sins? 8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,and this is what He requires of you:to do what is right, to love mercy,and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6-8

What Has God Done....

This question is not so much for the unbeliever as it is for the believer. What has God done to make you tired of Him? A question that should bring the true heart of the faithful believing soul to repentance, and constantly keep him humble.

3 “O My people, what have I done to you?What have I done to make you tired of Me? Answer Me! Micah 6:3

Pride That Keeps From...

There are people out there destined for Hell. That number may be higher than you think. The problem for believers is we don’t know who’s Heaven bound and who’s not. We must treat all people with gentleness and respect, lovingly preaching the Gospel to all. Proclaiming truth is part of God’s will: salvation for those that believe, and condemnation for those that don’t. But as it has been stated numerous times throughout scripture, no matter how much God’s truth makes sense to those that believe, it’s foolishness to those who refuse to believe God. Sad, but true. And the pride that keeps people from God is the same pride that sends them to Hell.

20 But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood–idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts. Revelation 9:20-21

Everyday Showers...

Everyday God is merciful and compassionate. He showers compassion on all of us, followers and non-followers alike. Do you see this? If so, what do you do about it? If not, why not?

8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate,slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.9 The Lord is good to everyone.He showers compassion on all His creation. Psalms 145:8-9

Confusing the Wrong Side of Justice...

Anti-God people can’t see or understand the Lord’s thoughts and plans. Just because He doesn’t immediately do something about their sinful behavior doesn’t mean He doesn’t know or won’t bring justice to the matter. It usually involves His patience and our time. His plan is so much more intricate than we can imagine. The very thing you see as lack of God’s involvement, is His patience in carrying out His righteous plan. All I know is I don’t want to be on the wrong side of justice, even it that means suffering for a short while at the hands of those who oppose His side.

But the Lord will rescue you there;He will redeem you from the grip of your enemies. 11 Now many nations have gathered against you.“Let her be desecrated,” they say.“Let us see the destruction of Jerusalem.”12 But they do not know the Lord’s thoughts or understand His plan.These nations don’t know that He is gathering them together to be beaten and trampled like sheaves of grain on a threshing floor. Micah 4:10c-12

A Religious Promoter of Self...

God hates religious behavior. In that I mean behavior that promotes one’s reputation over God’s glory. Behavior that exalts self over being right with God. Behavior that points others to anything other than Jesus or attention to those in need. Doing things that make you look better than you are at the expense of not having your heart close to God is the most offensive to Him. God doesn’t respond to people who consistently practice this type of behavior. “What’s in it for me”, isn’t found anywhere in the Bible as an acceptable behavior. There is nothing worse than being a hypocrite, a religious promoter of self. Be careful not to fall into this practice. It’s easy to do when you’re not connected to our Source of life.

I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel!You are supposed to know right from wrong,2 but you are the very oneswho hate good and love evil. Micah 3:1-2a

You chop them uplike meat for the cooking pot.4 Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble!Do you really expect Him to answer?After all the evil you have done,He won’t even look at you!” Micah 3:3c-4

Deaf When Comfortable...

People don’t want to hear truth when they are comfortable in their sinful behavior.

6 “Don’t say such things,”the people respond.“Don’t prophesy like that.Such disasters will never come our way!” 7 Should you talk that way, O family of Israel?Will the Lord’s Spirit have patience with such behavior?If you would do what is right,you would find My words comforting. Micah 2:6-7

11 Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you,“I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!”That’s just the kind of prophet you would like! Micah 2:11 I

Suppressing That Tiny Voice...

God always repays people with what they deserve. He repays people’s good with good, and people’s evil with calamity. Always. Those who repent may be punished, but they won’t be destroyed. His Grace is sufficient. The average person knows this deep down inside, but they forget because they suppress that tiny voice with their evil deeds.

3 But this is what the Lord says:“I will reward your evil with evil;you won’t be able to pull your neck out of the noose.You will no longer walk around proudly,for it will be a terrible time.” Micah 2:3

Dishonest Gain...

Dishonest gains will never satisfy for long. The same way they come will be the same way they will go. They can only be used in the same manner. People who think these ill-gotten gains can bring lasting satisfaction, will only be reminded of this truth when they are taken away.

7 All her carved images will be smashed. All her sacred treasures will be burned. These things were bought with the money earned by her prostitution, and they will now be carried away to pay prostitutes elsewhere.” Micah 1:7

A Black or White Issue...

I hear people say all the time, “it’s not just a black or white issue, there’s some gray in there.” Yes, in some instances that’s true. But for this event, you either belong to this world, or you belong to God. There’s no sitting on the fence on this one, regardless what people want you to believe. It’s a cut and dry, crystal clear case. I wish people would stop trying to gray in a black and white issue with all their “many ways to Heaven” rhetoric.

13 Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.” Revelation 8:13

Neither Poverty nor Riches...

This is an honest prayer from someone (Agur) who knows God. I’ve prayed the second half of this prayer many years ago and find myself referring back to it when I get caught up in the “American Way”. It certainly is in conflict with modern thinking. And if we look at it from that perspective, depression will certainly stop by for a visit. We will always struggle with worldly ways when we stop seeing the importance of our continual spiritual development.

7 O God, I beg two favors from You; let me have them before I die. 8 First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. 9 For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. Proverbs 30:7-9

The “ME” Train...

How often to we allow our pride to stand in the way of doing God’s will? Do we really think we know more than God? Do we think we are a better judge than He is? Because we don’t get our way in the process, do we pout and wish we hadn’t participated? Are we more important than the souls of others? I think not. We need to get off the “ME Train” and learn the word Humility, putting it into practice and start serving.

1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that You would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”10 Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120 ,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” Jonah 4:1-11

Sometimes it takes ...

It sometimes takes a near-death experience for us to come around to our senses. In some cases, even death itself. Anything that brings reality back into perspective, either being pain, suffering, despair, or death, God will use to bring us back into the right relationship with Him.

1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. 2 He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,and He answered me.I called to You from the land of the dead,and Lord, You heard me!3 You threw me into the ocean depths,and I sank down to the heart of the sea.The mighty waters engulfed me;I was buried beneath Your wild and stormy waves.4 Then I said, ‘O Lord, You have driven me from Your presence.Yet I will look once more toward Your holy Temple.’ 5 “I sank beneath the waves,and the waters closed over me.Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.6 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.I was imprisoned in the earth,whose gates lock shut forever.But You, O Lord my God,snatched me from the jaws of death!7 As my life was slipping away,I remembered the Lord.And my earnest prayer went out to Youin Your holy Temple.8 Those who worship false godsturn their backs on all God’s mercies.9 But I will offer sacrifices to You with songs of praise,and I will fulfill all my vows.For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” 10 Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. Jonah 2:1-10

Missing Out...

Here’s something unbelievers miss and true followers understand. Those that turn their backs on God miss out on all of God’s mercies. Those that follow God, especially when they screw up, embrace His willingness to forgive. His Grace is free to all, but only a few embrace it, and experience its power.

8 Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. Jonah 2:8

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, He changed His mind and did not carry out the destruction He had threatened. Jonah 3:10

The Smaller Picture...

God’s will is most always complex. Here in Jonah, God’s will was for Jonah to preach in Nineveh. Jonah rebelled and fled far away in the opposite direction. When the boat he was on ran into trouble, God used the smaller part of His plan of Jonah going to Nineveh, to reach the sailors on the ship. They recognized God’s hand in this and worshipped Him, vowing to serve Him from then on. Never think God’s will is too big or too small. It always accomplishes what it sets out to do. The next time you get caught up in seeing things not turn out the way you thought they should, God may be using you to reach someone else. The smaller picture matters just as much as the larger one may appear. In fact, the smaller picture in your eyes may be God’s bigger picture. It’s all about perspective.

15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered Him a sacrifice and vowed to serve Him. Jonah 1:15-16

The One Thing...

The one thing that never leaves my mind about God is this: He loves me. He’s compassionate with us. So compassionate, that it says in Revelation chapter 7 that He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. I look so forward to Heaven knowing that one day I will meet face to face the Loving and Compassionate God I serve here on earth. And there will be no more sorrow or pain because He will take it all away. Why would anyone in their right mind turn their back on such a tender and caring Being?

16 They will never again be hungry or thirsty;they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.17 For the Lamb on the thronewill be their Shepherd.He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:16-17

Train Your Eyes And Heart....

Train yourself to see life through God’s eyes. This is His will. Knowing God’s will is only part of life, doing it is the other part. Pray, listen, and do what the Holy Spirits leads you to do. Ask God to train your eyes and heart to see and do His will.

10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. Psalms 143:10

Deserved Attention....

Our survival depends on our humility before Almighty God. We are to never gloat or celebrate in the misfortunes of anyone. God repays those who do evil. Most of the time His retribution involves irony, i.e. the very way people carry out evil is used to carry out His justice with them. Some examples of this are Haman and Jezebel, to name a few. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s just thinking of yourself less, being focused on God’s agenda and less in your own. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Let’s give this character quality the attention it deserves.

3 You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains.‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’you ask boastfully. Obadiah 1:3

“Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel,you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever.11 When they were invaded,you stood aloof, refusing to help them. Obadiah 1:10-11a

12 “You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands.You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune.You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble.13 You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity.You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity.You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity. Obadiah 1:12-13

15 “The day is near when I, the Lord,will judge all godless nations!As you have done to Israel,so it will be done to you.All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. Obadiah 1:15

Absolute Truth...

Jesus said, when asked if He was King by Pilate, “... I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” It also says in Isaiah that God’s word never returns void. It accomplishes whatever it was sent out to do. Here in proverbs chapter 30, we get another glimpse of the unlimited, unrestrained power of God’s word. It’s true, and it protects all that come to Him for refuge. If we can’t base our existence on that, and accept this concept of absolute truth, then we deserve to live a life of uncertainty, searching endlessly for meaning, purpose, and security.

5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection. Proverbs 30:5

Knowing Long Ago...

It just blows my mind that people knew of Jesus even in OT times. How is it possible? For those that pursued God with their whole heart, He revealed it to them. Oh, to have a heart fully devoted to God. Curse all these worldly distractions!

4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?Who holds the wind in His fists?Who wraps up the oceans in His cloak?Who has created the whole wide world?What is His name–and His Son’s name?Tell me if you know! Proverbs 30:4

Never Walk Too Far...

Never walk too far from God. Stay close and in hard times, He won’t seem far away.

8 Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning,for I am trusting You.Show me where to walk,for I give myself to You.9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;I run to You to hide me.10 Teach me to do Your will,for You are my God.May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. Psalms 143:8-10

The Equalizer...

The equalizer in life is only found in the Christian faith. No one is better, no one is worse. We are all equally guilty and must stand before God One day. Some will do it now and be acquitted. Some will delay and do it later and be condemned. This should help you see people differently and help you treat them the same, regardless of their fame, popularity, or status.

2 Don’t put Your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before You. Psalms 143:2

Upon Close Examination...

Just in case some people think the OT and NT differ greatly. Most people think the NT is where God shows His grace to all through Jesus, but upon close examination, He’s been doing that in the OT since the beginning. Here in Amos chapter 9, we get a glimpse of this grace. Grace to the Gentiles has been going on since the beginning of time. God just chose the Israelites to display it through the writing of His book, the Bible. And it took thousands of years for the Jews to see it and accept the fact that He loves all people, not just them.

7 “Are you Israelites more important to Me than the Ethiopians?” asks the Lord. “I brought Israel out of Egypt, but I also brought the Philistines from Crete and led the Arameans out of Kir. Amos 9:7

Connecting the Dots...

How often do we read God’s word and miss the tiny details of our Creator? Here’s an example. Amos is asked what he sees, “A basket full of ripe fruit”, he replies. Most people keep reading, never giving this a thought. What we miss is this: God knows everything about us, what we do, think, say, and feel. He knows how we see the world and how we learn. Here He gives Amos a vision. He uses a basket filled with ripe fruit. Why? Because Amos is a fig farmer. What better way to communicate with someone than use something they already understand. It makes an instant connection, and leaves no room for ambiguity. This is a trait God uses throughout scripture. He uses what we already understand to take us deeper into knowing His character. Just another quality about God that shows His love and holiness that makes Him One of a Kind, with no equal.

Then the Sovereign Lord showed me another vision. In it I saw a basket filled with ripe fruit. 2 “What do you see, Amos?” He asked. I replied, “A basket full of ripe fruit.” Amos 8:1-2

Ransomed, Redeemed, Rescued...

Thought of the day for those who believe God: you have be ransomed by God, rescued for His glory. Rejoice, you have purpose.

9 And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For You were slaughtered, and Your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.10 And You have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10

How We Respond...

There are two kinds of people in this world: the redeemed and the ungodly. They share a common trait: sin. What makes them different is how they respond to it.

27 The righteous despise the unjust;the wicked despise the godly. Proverbs 29:27

God is Our Home...

In psalm 142 David reveals truth about God that all of us should see, take heed to, and cherish once put into practice. God knows which paths we need to take, we just need to ask Him for guidance and listen and put into action what He answers. We must realize when we are down and lonely, He will send to us the right person, at the right time. And most importantly, the most ideal place we can be spiritually, is to make God our home, a refuge we can go to no matter where we are geographically.

1 I cry out to the Lord;I plead for the Lord’s mercy.2 I pour out my complaints before Him and tell Him all my troubles.3 When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go,my enemies have set traps for me.4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.5 Then I pray to You, O Lord.I say, “You are my place of refuge.You are all I really want in life. 6 Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors,for they are too strong for me. 7 Bring me out of prison so I can thank You.The godly will crowd around me, for You are good to me.” Psalms 142

Right Where You Are...

People think they have to have a job that puts them in the right position to do great things for the Lord. They think they must go into the ministry to serve God more effectively. Sure, having that kind of training and education would help, but it is not required. You can serve God effectively from right where you are. Look at Amos. He was a fig farmer. He wasn’t a “professional prophet”. He learned his knowledge out in the fields, and probably from his family. The only thing God requires to serve Him is a heart willing to listen to Him, and the will to be faithful in obedience.

Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: “Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! 13 Don’t bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the king’s sanctuary and the national place of worship!”14 But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to My people in Israel.’ 16 Now then, listen to this message from the Lord: Amos 7:12-16a

Part of the Problem....

When I think about America and how far She’s fallen, I ask myself how much do I contribute to it? Do I think I’m better than others? Do I ignore all the signs of Her deterioration? What do I do about Her ruin? Am I ever arrogant about the way I live my life? Do I ever use God as a self-promotional tool? Do I ever turn a blind eye to justice? Do I ever turn someone one’s righteousness into bitterness? If I was being honest with myself I would have to say yes to some of these questions. I’m part of the problem. But I won’t allow that to defeat my purpose in spreading the Gospel, because I also know that I can be part of the solution. Guilt serves a purpose. It points us to the Savior. I just need to stop, pray, listen, and do what the Holy Spirit prompts me to do. I can’t allow myself to get caught up in the things the world deems important. I must press on towards the goal of Jesus, the one Who has forgiven my guilt.

1 What sorrow awaits you who lounge in luxury in Jerusalem,and you who feel secure in Samaria!You are famous and popular in Israel,and people go to you for help.2 But go over to Calnehand see what happened there.Then go to the great city of Hamath and down to the Philistine city of Gath.You are no better than they were,and look at how they were destroyed.3 You push away every thought of coming disaster, but your actions only bring the day of judgment closer. 4 How terrible for you who sprawl on ivory beds and lounge on your couches, eating the meat of tender lambs from the flock and of choice calves fattened in the stall.5 You sing trivial songs to the sound of the harp and fancy yourselves to be great musicians like David.6 You drink wine by the bowlful and perfume yourselves with fragrant lotions.You care nothing about the ruin of your nation.7 Therefore, you will be the first to be led away as captives. Suddenly, all your parties will end. 8 The Sovereign Lord has sworn by His own name, and this is what He, the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, says: “I despise the arrogance of Israel,and I hate their fortresses.I will give this city and everything in it to their enemies.” 9 If there are ten men left in one house, they will all die. 10 And when a relative who is responsible to dispose of the dead goes into the house to carry out the bodies, he will ask the last survivor, “Is anyone else with you?” When the person begins to swear, “No, by . . .,” he will interrupt and say, “Stop! Don’t even mention the name of the Lord.”) 11 When the Lord gives the command, homes both great and small will be smashed to pieces. 12 Can horses gallop over boulders?Can oxen be used to plow them? But that’s how foolish you are when you turn justice into poison and the sweet fruit of righteousness into bitterness.13 And you brag about your conquest of Lo-debar.You boast, “Didn’t we take Karnaim by our own strength?” 14 “O people of Israel, I am about to bring an enemy nation against you,”says the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.“They will oppress you throughout your land–from Lebo-hamath in the north to the Arabah Valley in the south. Amos 6:1-14