God Created Order...

God is the Creator of order. He organizes the chaos by creating structure. He gives answers to life’s most intriguing questions. Just think, people spend their entire lives devoted to trying to figure out one small aspect of life, and never even scratch the surface on the most important issues we face as human beings. It’s funny how people accept the separation of day and night, the days of the week, months of the year; our modern day calendar, but yet refuse to accept the fact that God created male and female. His order is supreme; it serves a purpose. His order is what sustains earth and everything on it. Yet, as human beings in rebellion against Him, we try to reorder things to our liking. Many times at the cost of hurting others. This is the heart of our sinful nature: we take God’s order and try to rearrange it to suit ourselves. That can even mean creating our own image of God, to suit our lifestyle. When we can’t get a blessing from God, we will demand it from man. God created order, and it’s only when we accept its structure do we really begin to live.

14 Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them mark off the seasons, days, and years. Genesis 1:14

27 So God created human beings in His own image.In the image of God He created them;male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27

How We View Genesis 1:1...

How we view Genesis chapter one determines our world view, and sets up our belief system. You can deny it, and do your own thing. You can pick and choose parts you want to believe and parts you don’t want to accept, creating your own belief system. Or you can accept what it says, and believe that God created everything. When you believe God created everything, you automatically place yourself in the domain of “I am not the One in charge, and am accountable to our Creator”. This sets up how you see things, how you are supposed to respond to happenings in your life, and ultimately answers the “WHY” of life. How you see Genesis sets up your world view and helps you begin to understand life.

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

When Life Gets You Down...

When life gets you down, look to the Hope we have in Jesus; an eternity with Him in a place devoid of death, sorrow, pain, or crying. It’s Hope for sure. God is faithful to His promises. We only need to realize what we are going through is only temporary.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:3-4

A Woman’s Beauty....

Why is it when a woman enters a room, the first thing she does is compare herself to every other women there? Why is the most effective way to advertise, is to have a less dressed woman in the ad? Is it because sex sells? Why do women who make it in Hollywood first have to make it with those in charge of making the casting decisions? Why are cosmetics, jewelry, and fashionable clothes always in high demand? Women, worldwide, would benefit greatly if they were determined to live by God’s standard of what beauty and character are instead of falling victims to the deception of the world’s definition of it.

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?She is more precious than rubies.11 Her husband can trust her,and she will greatly enrich his life.12 She brings him good, not harm,all the days of her life. 13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.14 She is like a merchant’s ship,bringing her food from afar.15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her householdand plan the day’s work for her servant girls. 16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;with her earnings she plants a vineyard.17 She is energetic and strong,a hard worker.18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;her lamp burns late into the night. 19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,her fingers twisting fiber.20 She extends a helping hand to the poorand opens her arms to the needy.21 She has no fear of winter for her household,for everyone has warm clothes. 22 She makes her own bedspreads.She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,where he sits with the other civic leaders.24 She makes belted linen garmentsand sashes to sell to the merchants. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,and she laughs without fear of the future.26 When she speaks, her words are wise,and she gives instructions with kindness.27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. 28 Her children stand and bless her.Her husband praises her:29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,but you surpass them all!” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done.Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. Proverbs 31:10-31

Future Hope That Helps Through the Rough Times...

I know this isn’t possible right now. Until Satan is cast into the lake of fire, sin will still wreck havoc on this earth. But one day, there will be peace and pure joy throughout the earth. A utopia that so many try to establish here on earth, only failing to find the Spring of Living Water, Jesus. One day every living thing on earth will praise God, and sing praises to Him. It’s the hope of this future event, that helps me get through rough days.

6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalms 150:6

Why We Serve...

Why do you serve God? Why do you go to Church? Pray? Help your neighbor? Why do you pursue God? Why, because that’s what we are created for. To serve, pray, fellowship, love your neighbor, and pursue our Maker. We do it not to get anything out of it (selfish desires to gain), but rather gain blessings not measurable with earthy standards that bring God glory and benefit our neighbor. If our attitude is “what do I get out of it?” Then we are totally missing the point. Our benefits are side effects from bringing God His glory and helping others. Our attitude in serving should be “what can I do to benefit others and bring God glory”. That’s when we thrive. That’s when we put to use the gifts God has given us, not for selfish reasons, rather selfless reasons. It’s humility lived out. Exactly what God wants. It’s how we honor God. For He honors those that honor Him.

14 “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying His commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? 15 From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’ ” The Lord’s Promise of Mercy 16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor of His name.17 “They will be My people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be My own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. 18 Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” Malachi 3:14-18

Cheating God...

Cheating God out of what already belongs to Him shows us where our hearts really are spiritually. When we give back to God it shows that we know where our provisions and blessings come from. Our hearts first loyalty is not to anything in this world rather it’s priority is to our Lord, the Maker of this world. The principle of this passage is this: Giving back to God what already belongs to Him, brings Him pleasure, shows Him where our loyalties are (revealing the condition of our heart), and brings us blessings beyond measurement.

8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated Me!“But you ask, ‘What do You mean? When did we ever cheat You?’“You have cheated Me of the tithes and offerings due to Me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating Me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in My Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put Me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Malachi 3:8-12

God is Constant...

God doesn’t change. He is the same forever. That’s why we trust Him. He is worthy of our devotion. When we stray He is still there for us to return through repentance. He wants our attention, our devotion; our focus. Our hearts and our minds have to be in sync with God.

6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. 7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned My decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.“But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ Malachi 3:6-7

God Hates Divorce...

Why does God hate divorce? Because it goes against His will. Because you allow your heart to be unguarded and thus unfaithful. Because the defiled union between a man and a woman doesn’t produce Godly children. And most importantly, because it is cruel to purposely hurt a faithful partner. What kind of example are you setting if you proclaim Jesus to be your Lord, and yet you seek out your selfish pursuits and fail to remain loyal to the promise of your marriage? Marriage is sacred. We should treat it as such. We fight for what we believe in. We should, in all circumstances, protect the one institution God created to further His kingdom, even if that means death to self.

15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” Malachi 2:15-16

When You Take the Lord for Granted...

When you take the Lord for granted these things follow: 1. neglecting your spiritual health leads to apathy and insecurity 2. Complacency in your faith 3. Insincere worship

14 “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and My name is feared among the nations! Malachi 1:14

Listen to Me and make up your minds to honor My name,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “or I will bring a terrible curse against you. I will curse even the blessings you receive. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you have not taken My warning to heart. Malachi 2:2

5 “The purpose of My covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and that is what I gave them. This required reverence from them, and they greatly revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6 They passed on to the people the truth of the instructions they received from Me. They did not lie or cheat; they walked with Me, living good and righteous lives, and they turned many from lives of sin.7 “The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 8 But you priests have left God’s paths. Your instructions have caused many to stumble into sin. You have corrupted the covenant I made with the Levites,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 9 “So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed Me but have shown favoritism in the way you carry out My instructions.” 10 Are we not all children of the same Father? Are we not all created by the same God? Then why do we betray each other, violating the covenant of our ancestors? Malachi 2:5-10

14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. Malachi 2:14

How Can Anyone Ignore....

How can anyone with a conscience read this passage and not be convicted of truth? God will judge us all according to what we do here on earth. Those that follow Him will remain with Him. Those whose names that aren’t written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire, where it says they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Is your pride worth that? Evidently to some it is, until it happens. Pure, godly rebellion is blind to truth. For the rest of us, it’s a wake up call to reality (repentance and trusting Jesus).

10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:10-15

Escaping Reality...

When I used to teach Health classes in high school, when we got to the drug chapters, I would always ask my students, “why do people use drugs?” I would get all kinds of answers, ranging from “it’s fun” to “to manage pain”. The students didn’t really think about what they were saying, but there was a lot of truth in their responses. Truth that they never took the time to dive deeper into. My response was always, “people do drugs to escape”, pain, sorrow, guilt or shame, etc... they did drugs to escape their reality. It’s just the cold hard truth. People may say that it’s fun, but what’s fun about giving up your control of yourself? Or waking up in a fuzz, wondering what you did or someone did to you the night before? What’s fun about waking up with a severe headache, or sickness that takes time to get over? What’s fun about waking up in a hospital and hearing about how you killed a family of four in an auto accident? What’s fun about knowing you have to be drugged to be able to be silly or comfortable around others? That doesn’t seem very fun to me. Here in chapter 31 of Proverbs you get a glimpse into the reality of drug use. Alcohol is for the dying, meaning to ease the pain of death and pain. Wine is for those in distress, to help calm down the overwhelming effects of stress. And to forget their problems. It doesn’t say it’s fun. People want to escape reality so they experiment with drugs instead of facing their realities. Have you ever heard a story of how drugs saved someone’s life? Made them a better person? Why? Because escaping reality doesn’t work. And worse yet, it effects everyone around the user, a detriment to society. Troubles don’t go away because you ignore them.

6 Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.7 Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more. Proverbs 31:6-7

God Spells it Out...

God spells it out for us here in Revelation. It’s crystal clear that our number one priority is to get our hearts right with God. Then, and only then, it’s possible to carry out His truth (proof in action of our redemption), which is to to be a clear, authentic, and effective witness for Jesus.

10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” Revelation 19:10

What Sets the Bible Apart...

One thing that sets the Bible apart from all other books is it’s prophecies. They come true. No other religion, book, or writings in all of history have more prophetic writings that have come true than the Bible. Why? Because God is the Author. He does what He says He’s gonna do. Here are two examples in Zechariah. First is the 30 pieces of silver used to pay Judas for turning Jesus over to the religious leaders. And second the piercing of Jesus side, on the cross. It’s was custom to break the legs of the crucified people on the cross, but not Jesus. These prophecies were written over 500 years before they happened. Only God could do that.

12 And I said to them, “If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.” So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.13 And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”–this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the Lord. Zechariah 11:12-13

10 “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on Me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for Him as for a firstborn son who has died. 11 The sorrow and mourning in Jerusalem on that day will be like the great mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo. Zechariah 12:10-11

In an Instant...

Here’s a thought for unbelievers: God’s judgement is coming, and It can come in an instant. This should prompt concern in the believer, enough to be bold and present the gospel to any and everyone we come into contact with.

10 They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for you,O Babylon, you great city! In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.” Revelation 18:10

Nearness to God...

God loves those who are close to Him, by giving them strength and honoring them. His nearness is to us for our good.

14 He has made His people strong, honoring His faithful ones–the people of Israel who are close to Him. Praise the Lord! Psalms 148:14

Humility in Leadership...

It’s almost impossible to see leadership these days being humble. In order to get ahead in the business world you have to put in long hours, compromise your beliefs, take short cuts by stepping on others, and sacrifice your integrity. Jesus didn’t do this. He was righteous and victorious, yet completely humble. Jesus should be our role model for everything, for He accomplished the impossible.

9 Rejoice, O people of Zion!Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!Look, your King is coming to you.He is righteous and victorious,yet He is humble, riding on a donkey–riding on a donkey’s colt. Zechariah 9:9

Stop Buying into the Lies...

If America wants to get back to flourishing and prospering as a nation, it must get back to its roots. Hard work, speaking truth, being just, promoting peace, stopping from being selfish/ covetousness, and it must stop telling lies that are being bought as truth. God hates all these practices.

15 But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid. 16 But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 17 Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.” Zechariah 8:15-17

Impossible...

Nothing is impossible with God... nothing.

6 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for Me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Zechariah 8:6

God Refuses to Listen When...

God refuses to listen to you when you completely forget Him in your daily life. It’s ludicrous to think God is a genie in a bottle, who answers your wishes whenever you want. If you abandon God, He grants you your wish, and abandons you.

12 They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was so angry with them.13 “Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to Me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Zechariah 7:12-13

“Don’t Judge Me”.....

You hear all the time “don’t judge me”. And most people use the Bible to justify their statement. Here’s where the problem lies with this concept. People who believe this don’t know their Bible. If we aren’t to judge how can we make decisions at all? How can we determine right from wrong? How are we to know the difference between good and evil? To allow our children to go places with their friend’s parents (strangers when you first meet them)? Allow our daughters to marry? And the list goes on. If you’ve read and know your Bible, we are to use discernment. That means we are to judge. But we are to judge correctly (John 7:24), as Jesus said. We are to use God’s standards. We are to weigh our own and other’s behavior based on God’s character. That’s the standard or measuring stick we are to use when it comes to discernment. The first person we are to apply this standard to is ourselves. Then, if we measure up or not, allow that to determine our approach to using this standard in other’s lives. There is a standard in which we are to use when discerning good from evil. Too bad the world has lost sight of this and have established the mantra, “don’t judge”, when in fact, their definition of it means “don’t tell me what I can and can’t do”. All because they have thrown out the standard in which we are to use. In order to “judge fairly”, we have to use a fair standard. God is just.

9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Zechariah 7:9

How Things Get Done....

The only real way to get things done starts with prayer, then action. It’s God Who makes things happen, i.e. things that last. It doesn’t take a strong man to force things to happen, even though this is how the world thinks. It’s by the spirit of God that everlasting things get started and finished. If you really think about it, the only two things that will last forever, God’s word and the souls of people, can only be moved by God’s Spirit. If we don’t go to Him and ask, how can we expect anything worthy to be accomplished?

6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’” Zechariah 4:6-7

Being Readily Responsibly Loyal...

Never lose sight of Christ’s return. It will keep you humble and readily responsibly loyal to Him.

15 “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for Me, who keep their clothing ready made are so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” Revelation 16:15

God’s Grace....

Grace: God giving us what we don’t deserve, and withholding from us what we do deserve. He hasn’t changed from the beginning. He wants our attention, our devotion. He wants our obedience. We are the ones that benefit from carrying out His instructions. We must never compromise or condone evil practices. Never. But more so than any of this, God wants our hearts. He wants us to trust Him with everything. He wants our attention and for us to pursue Him day and night. Yes, this may seem impossible to the unbeliever, and difficult for those who question His existence. But for those who are truly honest with themselves, they know He is real. He is out there waiting for us to return to Him so He can bless us, and provide for us. He wants our obedience so He can reach more and more people. We are the beneficiaries of His Grace. We must never lose sight of this and keep on, keeping on.

3 Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ 4 Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’ Zechariah 1:3-4

True Wealth...

It’s a shame that people spend their entire lives pursuing something that will eventually be turned to ashes. And think of all the sacrifices people exchange; loving relationships, time spent doing the important things, all for what? Truly living isn’t pursuing wealth, it’s using it to glorify God, and help people. If only people knew what true Wealth really is.

13 Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain! Habakkuk 2:13

Misinterpretation....

People often misinterpret God’s intent. What they think is punishment, just may be God’s way of clearing their path to salvation.

8 Was it in anger, Lord, that You struck the rivers and parted the sea?Were You displeased with them?No, You were sending your chariots of salvation! Habakkuk 3:8

When We Experience Firsthand, We Trust....

When we truly see God for who He really is, in light of the truth, and being honest with ourselves, we would humbly except His sovereignty and trust Him fully to do as He pleases, regardless of what it may require or cost us. It always amazes me when people make these bold statements about trusting God, no matter the circumstances. The reason they can say it is because they’ve experienced God firsthand, and have been touched by His Grace. Trusting God starts with letting go of trusting solely in yourself.

I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.  Habakkuk 3:16c-19

Nothing to Fear...

If it happens in my lifetime, I know I’m secure, and have nothing to fear. But for those who reject God, His return to judge will be the most frightening thing ever known to man.

18 The nations were filled with wrath,but now the time of Your wrath has come.It is time to judge the deadand reward Your servants the prophets,as well as Your holy people,and all who fear Your name,from the least to the greatest.It is time to destroyall who have caused destruction on the earth.” Revelation 11:18

A Life-Defeating Pursuit...

Do you ever think about why selfishness is such a life-defeating pursuit? Why greed, lust, murder, coveting, lying, stealing, abusing people, and adultery are sinful? It’s because it shifts the focus on you 100%. You become blind to satisfying your desires over doing the right thing, helping others and serving God. It won’t allow you to multi-task no matter how much you think it will. It’s like staring in your rear-view mirror while trying to drive your car forward on the highway. It just won’t work. Once you get that high, that a selfish act brings, it requires frequency and repetition to continue to bring you that “high”. As time goes on, you’ll need more and more frequency and quantity to continue to enjoy the “rush”. Finally, just as someone addicted to drugs, you’ll move from one simple easy drug (pot to the cocaine), to expensive stuff just to get that same feeling. You will find yourself spending long hours, working harder (with less money), spending less time with family and friends, all consumed with pursuing something that will never satisfy what it’s supposed too. It will leave you depressed, lonely, and dissatisfied with life. It’s like when you anticipate the sequel to a movie that has been all “hyped” up, only to leave the theater heavily disappointed because it didn’t live up to your expectations the first movie made for you. Jesus said that we become a slave to anything we devote ourselves to. And the sad thing is, it’ll never satisfy as it once did. When we habitually sin, we become a slave to sin. And we will never get that one last satisfying joy that we think it will bring, leaving us disappointed and unsatisfied with life.

15 The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied–no, four that never say, “Enough!”: 16 the grave,the barren womb,the thirsty desert,the blazing fire. Proverbs 30:15-16