God’s Cause Always Trumps Man’s Causes....

Isn’t it ironic how the world chooses its causes? Global warming, animal abuse, feeding the impoverished, stopping human trafficking, and the list goes on and on... Some of these are worthy causes, and some are philanthropic quests for finding a good place to dispose their money. The part that’s missing is the “heart issue”. Regardless of these “causes”, God’s agenda always involves the humble, the “down and out”, and the widows and orphans. He always protects the weak from the arrogantly strong. His cause always helps the needy and the hopeless. And His cause always trumps man’s intentions. It’s just ironic how man causes these problems because they live without God, but want to fix them on their own. Man causes poverty because of selfish pursuits of riches, that usually lead to governments controlling the people. Playing favorites with those who “have”, creating poverty, and separating people into classes, the rich and poor (“have and have-nots”). I’m sure when these types of people try to do good, some benefits come as a result of their efforts, but if God is not in it, you’ll only be feeding a man for a day, which enables him to expect rather than work for it. Instead, ask God to help you teach them to fish, that way they can sustain themselves and help others as well.

10 With every bone in my body I will praise Him:“Lord, who can compare with You?Who else rescues the helpless from the strong?Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?” Psalms 35:10

Driven Out....

Here are two comparisons and consequences of God giving people choices. God instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel when they entered the promise land (referred as PL hereafter) to totally drive out all of the inhabitants living there. If they didn’t rid the PL of these people, those left would be like a splinter in your eye and a thorn in your side. On a side note, Paul referring to his “thorn in the flesh”, may have been human tormentors, instead of a physical weakness, as many have interpreted. Time after time we read about everywhere Paul went he was met with opposition when it came to spreading the Gospel. Maybe some of those “thorns in his flesh” were hybrids (the mixing of Hebrew and pagan beliefs) that resulted from those not driven out of the PL? Anyway, because the Israelites didn’t drive out all the people living in the PL, they suffered the consequences of their disobedience. Pagan worship, pagan wives and children, and many other practices that evoked God’s anger resulting from assimilation with these pagan people. Like the Samaritans; they were know as “Half-breeds”, who were despised by the Jews. You know the saying, “When in Rome...”. God knew this, that’s why He warned them. Does this consequence still exist in Israel today? Thousands of years later, Israel is still dealing with these “thorns in the flesh”. Now, let’s compare this lack of obedience with humanity’s lack of response to the Gospel. When man fails to bow a knee to the Lordship of Jesus, the consequence is spending an eternity in Hell, where there will be constant torment, forever. The splinter in your eye and thorn in your flesh will only be a tiny visual compared to the constant, eternal suffering man will experience in Hell. God warned His people and gave them a directive, to save themselves some pain and anguish when it came to conquering the PL. They didn’t listen, and still suffer from the constant chaos from those who weren’t “driven out” to this day. This tiny picture of not responding to God fails in comparison to the eternal torment one will experience when they fail to answer Gods’ call with the Good News and redemption of Jesus’ work on the cross. God gives man a choice, and with that choice comes rewards and consequences. Does this paint a vivid picture for you? Does it motivate you to be a “doer” of the Word instead of just a “hearer” only? If you’re not a believer, does this scare you about the reality of Hell? It should. You have a choice to make: do nothing, or do something about it. The outcome will be your triumph or tragedy.

50 While they were camped near the Jordan River on the plains of Moab opposite Jericho, the Lord said to Moses, 51 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: When you cross the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, 52 you must drive out all the people living there. You must destroy all their carved and molten images and demolish all their pagan shrines. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, because I have given it to you to occupy. 54 You must distribute the land among the clans by sacred lot and in proportion to their size. A larger portion of land will be allotted to each of the larger clans, and a smaller portion will be allotted to each of the smaller clans. The decision of the sacred lot is final. In this way, the portions of land will be divided among your ancestral tribes. 55 But if you fail to drive out the people who live in the land, those who remain will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land where you live. 56 And I will do to you what I had planned to do to them.” Numbers 33:50-56

I AM.....

When people ask, “where in the Bible did Jesus claim to be God?” I usually ask them, “where do you want me to start?” It’s throughout the Gospels. Here is one instance. When the High Priest asked Jesus if He was the Messiah, Jesus replied, “I AM”. That was God’s name in the OT. If you don’t want to accept that, then I would suggest you really don’t want to know God to begin with.

60 Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t You going to answer these charges? What do You have to say for Yourself?” 61 But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked Him, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”62 Jesus said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”63 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? 64 You have all heard His blasphemy. What is your verdict?”“Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!” Mark 14:60-64

Irony in the Bible...

Irony in the Bible is documented throughout scripture. It always comes down to either evil people falling into their own traps set for the righteous, or righteous people receiving things that they thought were impossible. Any time we doubt God or even criticize Him, the very thing we doubted or criticized comes back to meet us face to face. When you oppose God, be prepared to receive the treatment you prescribed for others.

7 I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me.I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.8 So let sudden ruin come upon them!Let them be caught in the trap they set for me!Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me. Psalms 35:7-8

A Man of His Word....

Call me “Old Fashion”, but I believe when a man gives His Word about something, it’s a binding agreement. When a man makes a promise, it’s a binding oath between whomever he made the promise to. It’s should be counted on to happen by the recipient of his word. God honors this principle. Here in Numbers chapter 32 we find 3 tribes of Israel making a promise to Moses and the rest of Israel to continue to fight for the “Promised Land” even though they want to live in the land East of the Jordan River. Moses was furious that they wanted the land outside of the land Promised by God. He thought since they would live there, they wouldn’t help the Israelites fight to conquer the land West of the Jordan River. When the 3 tribes promised to continue to fight, Moses conceded but gave them a stern warning; if they didn’t make due with their promise to fight, God would punish them for their sin of breaking a promise. Our word is everything. God will hold us accountable. If we don’t take our word seriously, how can we demand anything from anyone else. It’s not a double-standard. You are either a man of your word, or your not. If you’re not, don’t expect to hold anyone to their word. If you do, it’s called hypocrisy. And you know exactly how God feels about that.

20 Then Moses said, “If you keep your word and arm yourselves for the Lord’s battles, 21 and if your troops cross the Jordan and keep fighting until the Lord has driven out his enemies, 22 then you may return when the Lord has conquered the land. You will have fulfilled your duty to the Lord and to the rest of the people of Israel. And the land on the east side of the Jordan will be your property from the Lord. 23 But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. 24 Go ahead and build towns for your families and pens for your flocks, but do everything you have promised.” Numbers 32:20-24

We Don’t Have To Do It Alone...

We are born alone and we die alone, no human being can escort us in or out of this life. Sure, people can be there for the event, but only God can be by your side sharing the experience with you. In this life we are meant to have close relationships with people, particularly family and friends. But what do you do when family and friends disappoint? Or betray you? Let you down? Fail to be there when you need them most? Believers have Jesus, Who sticks closer than a brother. The bottom line to this is Jesus will never leave you or forsake you (Heb 13:5). Humans will always fail you, for the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Jesus is Spirit, and His flesh isn’t weak. He will be there in your darkest hour. He will escort you into the throne room of God. Walk with Him daily. Build your faith in Him. Share and experience life with Him. So when that day death comes knocking, you won’t have to do it alone.

32 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He became deeply troubled and distressed. 34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. 36 “Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”37 Then He returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with Me even one hour? 38 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:32-38

Often Overlooked...

One very important and often overlooked reason we should trust Jesus is because He knows us better than we know ourselves. By trusting Him, and not ourselves we can prevent the sorrow of our shortcomings when we listen to Him instead of acting on what we think is best. Save yourself some pain, let go of the pride that resides inside and trust God with your life today. Today is His gift to you, your response is your gift back to Him.

29 Peter said to Him, “Even if everyone else deserts You, I never will.”30 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter–this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know Me.”31 “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” And all the others vowed the same. Mark 14:29-31

What Makes Believers Different?

When people ask me what makes me different/better from them when it comes to my faith, I simply tell them “nothing”. There is no difference between me and you. We both face struggles in life. We both feel pain, sorrow, loss, joy, peace, and contentment. As people we all go through both good and bad times. Life is not easy, particularly when we experience the mundane and difficult times. When we face the death of a loved one, sickness, change of any kind, or separation in a relationship, we all cover the gamut of emotions. We all go through the grieving process. The only difference between a believer of the Lord Jesus and a non-believer is how we see it. God gives us new eyes to see and interpret life from His perspective. It doesn’t make it particularly easier, we still have to walk through the sorrow, pain, discomfort, and difficulty, but we have His hand to hold onto, when we feel lonely and disowned by the world. Believers don’t understand all things, we just trust the One Who does with our lives, believing that He will help us through to the other side. Believers have a place to put their anxieties, worries, fears, sorrows, tears, uncertainties, and the like (at the foot of the cross); for Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). You see believers are no different from non-believers, the difference lies in their ability to deal with life; their attitude. Believers have Jesus, the Author of life; the Editor of our book. Our faith in God is what makes us different. Our relationship in Jesus is what makes life bearable. It infuses us with hope. Hope is the anchor of our souls. Why would anyone not want that? Share your hope in the Lord today with someone in desperate need. Inspire them to want the same thing you possess. Ask God to empower you with His Spirit to make the necessary change in one life today.

15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;His ears are open to their cries for help.16 But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil;He will erase their memory from the earth.17 The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help.He rescues them from all their troubles.18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. 19 The righteous person faces many troubles,but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;not one of them is broken! 21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,and those who hate the righteous will be punished.22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve Him.No one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned. Psalms 34:15-22

Do What Money Tells You....

Money, you can’t trust it. The world tries to make you believe it, but in the end it won’t heal your body, buy you true friendship, save your marriage, or save your soul. It will only be left behind for someone else to do with it as they please. You may have worked hard for it, but it won’t be yours for long. What we value in this life determines how we live, and what happens to us when we die. The irony of the American dollar is so profound. People are willing to do just about anything to gain it, yet never take the time to do what it says, “In God We Trust”. Instead of doing whatever it takes to accumulate it, why don’t we just do what it tells us?

28 Trust in your money and down you go!But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. Proverbs 11:28

Who Doesn’t Want To Lack Something....

When people tell me, who reject the Bible, that they would never follow God because the Bible is outdated, cruel, or whatever reason they can come up with, I would quote a scripture (such as this psalm) and ask them, “what exactly in these verses do you not like”? Who doesn’t want to lack something that they need? Who doesn’t want to live a long and prosperous life? Who doesn’t want to be slandered by evil talk or lied to? Who doesn’t want peace? It’s funny how they don’t respond in the same manner, as when the conversation started.

 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!9 Fear the Lord, you His godly people,for those who fear Him will have all they need.10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, and listen to me,and I will teach you to fear the Lord.12 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!14 Turn away from evil and do good.Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Psalms 34:8-14

God Has Done More For Women...

God has done more for women and their rights in the history of the world than any rebellion, any group formation, or any political movement ever has. And yet, till this day, some of the most violent, God-hating people on earth are women wanting more rights. The irony of this is the very One Who evens the playing field (at the foot of the cross where equality is bestowed on everyone), is the very One that gets rejected the most. The most radical feminists, seeking more and more rights, are the most rebellious and Jesus haters on the planet. Just goes to show you what pride can do to the eyes; it blinds people to the truth. And prevents them from getting what they need (rescued).

So Moses brought their case before the Lord. 6 And the Lord replied to Moses, 7 “The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their father’s relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father.8 “And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters. Numbers 27:5-8

Discernment....

When Jesus tells us about people who will pretend to be authentic teachers of truth with the sole purpose to deceive, why do we have such a hard time with discerning modern day preachers? They are here, and they certainly are deceiving many. How do you know who is legit and who isn’t? Discernment. God gives it to those that ask. From a human standpoint, just like the IRS, you learn to spot a counterfeit by studying the real thing.

22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.23 Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time! Mark 13:22-23

More Than An Insurance Policy....

In a world so desperate for peace and security, those who have bowed a knee to Jesus, have experienced the joy and relief from condemnation that the world can only dream to have. Salvation is so much more than an “Escape-Hell” insurance policy. If only the world knew this. We must do a better job at presenting the Gospel. It’s starts with me. Ask God to empower you with His Spirit making you a more effective witness for Him.

5 Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy;no shadow of shame will darken their faces.6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;He saved me from all my troubles.7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;he surrounds and defends all who fear Him. Psalms 34:5-7

Zeal for God....

This may be a hard concept to grasp due to its nature going against modern-day “political correctness”, but it’s exactly what God wants from us. Zeal for Him and His people. In this particular case Phinehas killed a man and woman with a spear, ending the plague in which God placed on the adulterous (in more ways than one) Israelites. Some of the Israelites were having sex with foreign women, which eventually lead the men to take part in the pagan worship of Baal. God’s zealous anger was unleashed on the people because of this. Phinehas saw the man and woman enter his tent, so he rushed in and put an end to it. God rewarded him by ended the plague, where 24,000 people died. God also gave Phinehas and his descendants the permanent right to the priesthood. Phinehas’ zeal for God was recognized, acknowledged, and rewarded. I know most people reading this will be scratching their heads trying to figure out how murder can be rewarded. I too can think like that, but God’s ways are above our ways, and He calls the shots not me. Phinehas’ action saved many more lives, by demonstrating his zeal for the Lord. He was doing what God commanded Moses to do. Is your zeal for the Lord being demonstrated on a daily basis? And I don’t mean murdering someone. Are your actions, behavior, and devotion to God paramount in your life? If not, why not?

6 Just then one of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman into his tent, right before the eyes of Moses and all the people, as everyone was weeping at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest saw this, he jumped up and left the assembly. He took a spear 8 and rushed after the man into his tent. Phinehas thrust the spear all the way through the man’s body and into the woman’s stomach. So the plague against the Israelites was stopped, 9 but not before 24 ,000 people had died.10 Then the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest has turned my anger away from the Israelites by being as zealous among them as I was. So I stopped destroying all Israel as I had intended to do in my zealous anger. 12 Now tell him that I am making my special covenant of peace with him. 13 In this covenant, I give him and his descendants a permanent right to the priesthood, for in his zeal for me, his God, he purified the people of Israel, making them right with me.” Numbers 25:6-13

Persecution....

We always think of persecution as a bad thing. Maybe it’s God’s way of spreading the Gospel to people who would never hear it unless it happened. Maybe it’s an opportunity to be a spokesman for God to someone who has never heard or seen the Gospel on display. Look at how many times the Apostle Paul was persecuted. Each time he boldly proclaimed the Gospel. This persecution brought Truth into the presence of those who would’ve never heard it before. Look at China, the Gospel is raging through that country like a ravenous Fire. People there are willing to die for their faith, than live an unproductive life. Persecution might just be God’s way of furthering the Gospel in a society that has lost its way, or is just starting to form. It’s His way to re-ignite a fire that just smolders, due to lack of attention. Either way, it might just be God’s way of igniting the fire of regenerated souls. Think about it, don’t allow your wood to get wet (become complacent). Persecution just might be your opportunity to tell your persecutors about Jesus.

9 “When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are My followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about Me.10 For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:9-11

How We Perceive....

What we find when we search is dependent on how we perceive what we’re looking for. You’ll never find favor in evil, or evil in good.

27 If you search for good, you will find favor;but if you search for evil, it will find you! Proverbs 11:27

The Gospel is Transforming...

God is our refuge, our protector, and the Source of our hope and joy. He extends our life. Use that time wisely; to impact the world with truth by being a witness of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. Be a disciple of change, for the Gospel is transforming.

18 But the Lord watches over those who fear Him,those who rely on His unfailing love.19 He rescues them from deathand keeps them alive in times of famine. 20 We put our hope in the Lord.He is our help and our shield.21 In Him our hearts rejoice,for we trust in His holy name.22 Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord,for our hope is in You alone. Psalms 33:18-22

Forgetting God is in Control....

Why do we so easily forget God is in control? The Bible is a reminder of this. Story after story, we see God’s hand in every single event. It’s a book that not only tells us how to be saved, how to relate to God, and how to live, but it serves as a daily reminder of the Sovereignty of God. Nothing happens, not even a sparrow falling to the ground, that God didn’t ordain or know about. Why do we forget this principle? Why do we allow ourselves to get caught up in the now and panic, filled with worry of the uncertainty of the outcome? Why do we allow ourselves to listen to the lies of the devil, which lead us down a lonely and fearful path? Ask God today to give to the ability to see His Sovereign reign. Ask Him to give you the peace that can only come from Him. Ask Him to allow you to experience the security in knowing He has your back. Then act on it.

10 The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;His intentions can never be shaken. 12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,whose people He has chosen as His inheritance. 13 The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race.14 From His throne He observes all who live on the earth.15 He made their hearts,so He understands everything they do.16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king,nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory–for all its strength, it cannot save you.  Psalms 33:10

False Teachers...

Of all the people in the world, God will be the hardest on those that pretend they follow the truth, yet really do it for selfish gain. On judgement day, murders will have a less harsh judgement than those religious leaders who have led astray honest seekers from truly knowing Who God really is. All the “word faith” preachers and teachers are in for the harshest judgement of all people. It’s one thing to flat out reject God, it’s totally different to disguise yourself as a follower of truth, and lead many innocent truth seekers far away from God. Ask God for the discernment to know the difference between false teachers and legitimate followers of Christ Jesus.

38 Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. 39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.40 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.” Mark 12:38-40

Treating People as You Should....

It’s easy to miss this paramount truth: you are honoring God when you treat people as you should. The way you treat God and people is equally important. For how you treat people, shows God how much you reverence Him.

29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31

Generosity...

Generosity has more benefits than most people realize, and I’m not talking about money. When we realize that we don’t really own anything, what we have is only a temporary loan from the Owner, we tend to not be so selfish with our possessions. And even more important, we don’t hoard our time and talents solely on our own selfish pursuits. When we take the time to help another in times of need, or console a hurting soul, we are rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing we are being faithful stewards of all the gifts God has blessed us with. When we realize the world has everything it needs to function under God’s sovereign reign, then and only then, we can use our resources for the greatest gain. The reward we receive back is the rejuvenation of our spirit.

25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

The Anchor of Our Soul....

One major difference between believers and non-believers is the outlook in which they have. Believers know what’s ahead of them at the end, a reward. They look at life with anticipation. Non-believers live with the burden of coming judgement. They live life with regret, as if to say, “this is all there is”. Knowing this determines how you live. One has hope, and the other doesn’t. This Hope is what anchors our soul in the storms of life, and helps keep an even keel between the valley and mountaintop moments. Just one more reason to believe.

23 The godly can look forward to a reward,while the wicked can expect only judgment. Proverbs 11:23

A Talking Donkey...

Story after story we read in the Bible only reinforces the fact that we serve a God Who does the impossible. Why? Because sometimes that’s what it takes to open our eyes to the reality of His existence, and the need for us to stop trying to be a god ourselves and reverence Him. Does it take a donkey talking to you to get your attention?

21 So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, 23 Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road.24 Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. 27 This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.28 Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.29 “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”30 “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?”“No,” Balaam admitted.31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.32 “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. 33 Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”34 Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.” Numbers 22:21-34

Powerful or Powerless...

When will we realize we can do nothing to stop God’s will. And who do we think we are if we think we can?

18 But Balaam responded to Balak’s messengers, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord my God. Numbers 22:18

Truth Makes It’s Way Regardless....

Is it possible to speak truth and not fully understand it? Apparently so. Truth doesn’t change. It accomplishes its purpose. It can be spoken by honest people seeking God, and by those that reject God. Whatever the case, truth will be spoken, and it will accomplish what it was sent out to do, regardless if we understand it or not.

13 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which He could be arrested. 14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest You are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us–is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?”Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap Me? Show Me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” 16 When they handed it to Him, He asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”“Caesar’s,” they replied.17 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”His reply completely amazed them. Mark 12:13-17

True Beauty....

Beauty, a very misunderstood concept, especially when it comes to human beings’ physical appearances. The world’s view of beauty is thick, glowing hair, curvy, proportioned flesh. It’s muscles and symmetrical balance. Beauty in the world’s eyes is exactly that, 100% from what’s seen with the eyes, it’s physical. God’s version of beauty goes beyond skin deep. It incorporates all the senses, including the sixth sense; our spiritual side. Standing at the ocean’s edge, smelling, feeling, seeing, hearing the combination of salty air, misty splashed water of the incoming tide, knowing you are standing at the end of one world and at the beginning of another, grabs at your soul. It makes you look up and want to praise the One Who made it. His Beauty radiates from with in, and works it’s way outwardly teaching those with genuiness how to see it. His beauty isn’t vain, it’s not something that we can boast about it, for we possess it, but it doesn’t possess us. It doesn’t control our lives by being the goal of our existence. The older I get, I see so many people going to extremes to try to hold on to the world’s view of beauty only to find their attempts fall short. The true beauty they should pursue is that of fulfilling the path God has called us on. Pursuing the fruits of the spirit; peace, patience, kindness...(you know the rest). What I have come to discover in my life is this truth: “physical looks attract, but deep character keeps you attractive”. To prove my point, have you ever been around a physically attractive person? You think “wow, he or she is pleasant on my eyes”, only to have them open their mouth and totally ruin your perception by their attitude or behavior. Physical beauty will fade, but character that lives and is filled with integrity will continue to make you attractive to the people who matter most to you. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it’s a concept that is misconstrued today. It’s beyond just the physical. And true love sees beyond the physical side, deeper into one’s true self. Stop trying to be beautiful on the outside, and work on your character. It’s only then will you get a glimpse of what truly is beautiful.

22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. Proverbs 11:22

Where Do You Go In Times of Stress?

Where do you go in times of stress? Times of rejection? Times of sorrow? Times of disappointment? Times of loneliness? Moses and Aaron went straight to God when they were confronted by the people of Israel complaining of not having any water to drink. I’ve always remembered this saying by the late Pastor J. Vernon McGee, “Next to knowing, is knowing where to find out”. I know where to go to get answers or the comfort I need when times come that tear at my Spirit. God is my “Knowing where to find out”. Who you you go to when your spirit is tested?

2 There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers! 4 Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? 5 Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”6 Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, 7 and the Lord said to Moses, 8 “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” Numbers 20:2-8

Proper Fear....

Everyone has a choice to make in this life. You either fear God or fear man. You can’t do both. Which ever you choose will determine how you behave. You will be “Politically Correct”, or you will stand on the side of truth and be ostracized by those who are PC. There’s no other way around it. But before you choose, remember the words of Jesus, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). Every day we have to make a choice, when we choose to fear God over man, i.e. reverence and respect God, we not only silence our critics with truth (for PC people truth is irrelevant), we drive out all fear. For perfect love drives out fear (it only comes from God). “Saving face” is only temporary, truth will ultimately expose the darkness of pride. You have a choice to make today, choose wisely.

27 Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to Him. 28 They demanded, “By what authority are You doing all these things? Who gave You the right to do them?”29 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 30 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer Me!”31 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, He will ask why we didn’t believe John. 32 But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. 33 So they finally replied, “We don’t know. ” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.” Mark 11:27-33

No Holiday...

Integrity has no holiday.

20 The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,but He delights in those with integrity. Proverbs 11:20