A Deceptive Charm....

Prosperity has a way of deceiving people into thinking all is well. This mindset breeds complacency, which eventually leads us down the path to say “NO” to God. Having this type of mindset shifts our focus from God to self. We can get what we want, when we want, exactly as we desire it. It changes our thinking from being dependent on God, to independence from Him. It’s has no thoughts of our health or our spiritual development, because it redirects our thoughts to “the now”, away from the “bigger picture”. This lie is big in wealthier nations of the world today. Having means allows us the ability to say “NO” to God. When that happens, the only positive side of the outcome is the opportunity to repent, and return to God, which is extremely hard, and rarely happens. Don’t live your life trying to get rich. It’s a deceptive charm that will pull you away from God, leading you down the path of self-destruction.

Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare, and their prosperity become a trap. Psalms 69:22

Man’s Approval...

One cannot be truly saved if he seeks man’s approval. You cannot believe in God and not follow Jesus, and expect your faith to be real.

41 Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. 42 Many people did believe in Him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust Me, you are trusting not only Me, but also God who sent Me. 45 For when you see Me, you are seeing the One who sent Me.46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark.47 I will not judge those who hear Me but don’t obey Me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.48 But all who reject Me and My message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.49 I don’t speak on My own authority. The Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.50 And I know His commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells Me to say.” John 12:41-50

When in Rome....

You’ve heard it said many times, “when in Rome...”, well that’s the worst advice you could ever be given when it comes to the Christian faith. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (ROM 12:1-2). Here in 1 Kings 14, we read about how the people adopted the pagan way of doing many things. When it comes to seeking to do the right thing, follow God. You may never be fully welcomed here on earth, but remember, the earth is not your permanent home.

22 During Rehoboam’s reign, the people of Judah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, provoking His anger with their sin, for it was even worse than that of their ancestors. 23 For they also built for themselves pagan shrines and set up sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. 24 There were even male and female shrine prostitutes throughout the land. The people imitated the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. 1 Kings 14:22-24

A Different Catastrophe....

It’s one thing to sin against God, but it’s an entirely different catastrophe to encourage or even promote sin to others. I’m sure the consequences for those who do this will be unbearably great.

14 “In addition, the Lord will raise up a king over Israel who will destroy the family of Jeroboam. This will happen today, even now! 15 Then the Lord will shake Israel like a reed whipped about in a stream. He will uproot the people of Israel from this good land that He gave their ancestors and will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, for they have angered the Lord with the Asherah poles they have set up for worship. 16 He will abandon Israel because Jeroboam sinned and made Israel sin along with him.” 1 Kings 14:14-16

Who You Listen To Matters....

There are stories in the Bible that I just miss the point (don’t understand). Here’s one for instance. The prophet of God dies because of his disobedience. He was lied to by an older man who called himself a prophet too. It doesn’t seem right that a man trusting another who says he is of God, but what do I know? God told him not to go back the same way he came. And to not eat or drink anything while he was there. The prophet’s disobedience was his downfall. The only sense I can make out of this is when God tells you to do or not do something, follow His directions. If you err, do it in obedience to the initial commands. If God changes His mind, err on being disobedient to the newer command, so that you are not deceived by anyone claiming to be from God. If God changes His mind on the issue, allow only Him to relay the message to you. That way, you’re not eaten by a lion on your way home. Who you listen to matters.

1 At the Lord’s command, a man of God from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to burn incense. 2 Then at the Lord’s command, he shouted, “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: A child named Josiah will be born into the dynasty of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who come here to burn incense, and human bones will be burned on you.” 3 That same day the man of God gave a sign to prove his message. He said, “The Lord has promised to give this sign: This altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground.”4 When King Jeroboam heard the man of God speaking against the altar at Bethel, he pointed at him and shouted, “Seize that man!” But instantly the king’s hand became paralyzed in that position, and he couldn’t pull it back. 5 At the same time a wide crack appeared in the altar, and the ashes poured out, just as the man of God had predicted in his message from the Lord.6 The king cried out to the man of God, “Please ask the Lord your God to restore my hand again!” So the man of God prayed to the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and he could move it again.7 Then the king said to the man of God, “Come to the palace with me and have something to eat, and I will give you a gift.”8 But the man of God said to the king, “Even if you gave me half of everything you own, I would not go with you. I would not eat or drink anything in this place. 9 For the Lord gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’ ” 10 So he left Bethel and went home another way.11 As it happened, there was an old prophet living in Bethel, and his sons came home and told him what the man of God had done in Bethel that day. They also told their father what the man had said to the king. 12 The old prophet asked them, “Which way did he go?” So they showed their father which road the man of God had taken. 13 “Quick, saddle the donkey,” the old man said. So they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it.14 Then he rode after the man of God and found him sitting under a great tree. The old prophet asked him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”“Yes, I am,” he replied.15 Then he said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some food.”16 “No, I cannot,” he replied. “I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this place. 17 For the Lord gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’ ”18 But the old prophet answered, “I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the Lord: ‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’ ” But the old man was lying to him. 19 So they went back together, and the man of God ate and drank at the prophet’s home.20 Then while they were sitting at the table, a command from the Lord came to the old prophet. 21 He cried out to the man of God from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: You have defied the word of the Lord and have disobeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. 22 You came back to this place and ate and drank where He told you not to eat or drink. Because of this, your body will not be buried in the grave of your ancestors.”23 After the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet saddled his own donkey for him, 24 and the man of God started off again. But as he was traveling along, a lion came out and killed him. His body lay there on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. 25 People who passed by saw the body lying in the road and the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported it in Bethel, where the old prophet lived.26 When the prophet heard the report, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the Lord’s command. The Lord has fulfilled His word by causing the lion to attack and kill him.”27 Then the prophet said to his sons, “Saddle a donkey for me.” So they saddled a donkey, 28 and he went out and found the body lying in the road. The donkey and lion were still standing there beside it, for the lion had not eaten the body nor attacked the donkey. 29 So the prophet laid the body of the man of God on the donkey and took it back to the town to mourn over him and bury him. 30 He laid the body in his own grave, crying out in grief, “Oh, my brother!”31 Afterward the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. 32 For the message the Lord told him to proclaim against the altar in Bethel and against the pagan shrines in the towns of Samaria will certainly come true.”33 But even after this, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil ways. He continued to choose priests from the common people. He appointed anyone who wanted to become a priest for the pagan shrines. 34 This became a great sin and resulted in the utter destruction of Jeroboam’s dynasty from the face of the earth. 1 Kings 13

Serving Willingly or Unwillingly...

Here’s the question everyone must answer in this life: do you want to be used by God willingly or unwillingly? God will use you to accomplish His will. The question really is will you help Him carry it out, or will you unknowingly (against your will) carry it out? Either way His will gets accomplished. You will either share in his Glory, or be used for His glory and receive no benefits for doing so. For me, I’d rather help God, than focus all my attention on myself, wishing for happiness, when I can know I’m significant, and fulfilling my purpose by serving Him and others. The ultimate reward of serving Him will not compare to the minuscule rewards of living for self might bring. Again, for all those anti-God, Christian haters out there; you will help fulfill the will of God, but you won’t reap the rewards, if you are unaware by not knowing God in the process. Here, the high priest was prophesying without realizing the magnitude of his very words. Killing Jesus to them was to save their way of life, an extremely selfish act. They were serving a much greater purpose, unknowingly, serving the One they pretended to know. The irony of the unbeliever’s life is far more complex than most realize. In the very act of rebelling against God, through selfish acts, you might just end up helping God accomplish great things, like the religious leaders did here in John chapter 11. In your resolve to abandon God, He May use you to bring others to Him. And worse yet, you’ll do it thinking your going against Him in your rebelliousness.

45 Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46 But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow Him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in Him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.53 So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. 54 As a result, Jesus stopped His public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with His disciples.55 It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, “What do you think? He won’t come for Passover, will He?” 57 Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest Him. John 11:45-57

Good Medicine...

God is the source of life. A regenerated spirit refreshes others. It like medicine for the soul. Those who live without God, have a harder time coping with life. His spirit gives us the ability to build others up in truth, which refreshes the soul. How we need this in difficult, uncertain times. Share your source of life with others today and watch good medicine take effect.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Proverbs 17:22

A Predicament That Works Against You...

We were meant to worship God. When we fail, we appoint something else to take His place. Trying to be religious is the exact process I’m talking about. It’s in our nature to worship. If God isn’t your focus in life, the center of your being, you will replace His appointed position with something else. That’s when you find yourself in a predicament that works against you. God will not share His glory with anyone, and you shouldn’t allow it in your own life either.

25 Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Peniel.26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David. 27 When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the Lord, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead.”28 So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!”29 He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan–at either end of his kingdom. 30 But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.31 Jeroboam also erected buildings at the pagan shrines and ordained priests from the common people–those who were not from the priestly tribe of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah. There at Bethel he himself offered sacrifices to the calves he had made, and he appointed priests for the pagan shrines he had made. 33 So on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn incense. 1 Kings 12:25-33

In Tune To His Voice....

What might seem wrong to you, might just be God working His will through. The will of God is not always what we think. Things happen to accomplish what we might not think of later. We have to be diligent in seeking Him out daily. And be in tune to His voice forever.

22 But God said to Shemaiah, the man of God, 23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is My doing!’ ” So they obeyed the message of the Lord and went home, as the Lord had commanded. 1 Kings 12:22-24

The Battle of the Intellect...

You’d think wisdom would prevent someone from falling away from God, right? Here in 1 Kings chapter 11 we read of Solomon, the wisest man ever to live, went against God’s commands, married over 700 wives, and failed to worship God whole-heartedly. The consequences were tremendous. You see sin is anything that opposes God, or goes against His Word. He knows the behaviors that lead us away from Him, that’s why SIN is such a big deal. And no matter how wise you are, without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our fleshly nature will overcome our intellect every time. Wisdom has to be applied with the assistance of God, in order to be truly wise. Knowing something, and applying that knowledge are two different things. Here we see this principle played out in Solomon’s life. When you fail to listen to God in obedience, you will always lose out, regardless of how wise you think you are. If you struggle with the battle of the intellect, seek God’s guidance first and foremost. He will provide all that you need to remain faithful in times of uncertainty.

1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. 2 The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. 3 He had 700  wives of royal birth and 300  concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.4 In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. 5 Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.7 On the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, he even built a pagan shrine for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and another for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 Solomon built such shrines for all his foreign wives to use for burning incense and sacrificing to their gods.9 The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. 11 So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept My covenant and have disobeyed My decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants. 12 But for the sake of your father, David, I will not do this while you are still alive. I will take the kingdom away from your son. 13 And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, My chosen city.” 1 Kings 11:1-13

God’s Reason for Hating Sin...

You could read this 10 times and still miss this. God is angry at the consequences of sin. When He sees people in sorrow, weeping and distraught over the death of a loved one (sin’s ultimate consequence), His righteous indignation is naturally aroused. Here we see Jesus’ anger well up when he sees Mary weeping and her entourage of mourners. It culminated with Jesus weeping. When people say Christians worship a tyrant, self-centered, ruthless, heartless Being, I would beg to differ. They certainly don’t know the God of the Bible. I serve a compassionate, loving, and righteous God. His will is for our best. I just wish others would see this. Maybe it would change the world, matter-of-fact, it would, one heart at a time. God hates sin so much, not only because it’s in direct opposition to His will, but also because He knows it’s detrimental effects on humanity. I side with God on this matter, regardless of what people say.

33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within Him, and He was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” He asked them.They told Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much He loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t He have kept Lazarus from dying?”38 Jesus was still angry as He arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank You for hearing Me. 42 You always hear Me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe You sent Me.”43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” John 11:33-44

Life Without God....

When you abandon God, you welcome disaster upon yourself. Life without God is one big deception. Abandoning Him is a guarantee of a life lived in vain; very little meaning, empty of lasting joy, and void of significance. How those cope with life’s happenings without God is beyond my comprehension. Yes, I know what they do to deal with it, but the hopeless, insignificant mindset is beyond my ability to understand. Solomon lived the best and worst of both lives. His conclusion is written about in the book of Ecclesiastes. It backs up what is previously mentioned here. Life without God is meaningless. And when you abandon Him, it’s much, much worse.

4 “As for you, if you will follow Me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all My commands, decrees, and regulations, 5 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’6 “But if you or your descendants abandon Me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 7 then I will uproot Israel from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor My name. I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. 8 And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads in amazement. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’9 “And the answer will be, ‘Because His people abandoned the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why the Lord has brought all these disasters on them.’ ” 1 Kings 9:4-9

Mysterious Ways....

You’ve heard it said millions of times, “God works in mysterious ways”, but have you ever thought why? The simple answer is to bring Himself more glory. How do we benefit from this? Simply our faith is strengthened and our resolve increased, especially when we’ve given up all hope. Just because we don’t understand, doesn’t mean God isn’t in it. Most of the time God is taking us on a journey that will change us in ways we’ve never imagined, while bringing Himself all the glory. If Martha and Mary believed Jesus before their brother’s death, just think what happened when they saw him walk out of the cave, after being 4 days dead? Talk about life altering.

1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling Him, “Lord, Your dear friend is very sick.”4 But when Jesus heard about it He said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 He stayed where He was for the next two days. 7 Finally, He said to His disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”8 But His disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone You. Are You going there again?”9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.”11 Then He said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.14 So He told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too–and die with Jesus.”17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, He was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask.”23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”27 “Yes, Lord,” she told Him. “I have always believed You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who has come into the world from God.” 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to Him.30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met Him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would not have died.”33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within Him, and He was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” He asked them.They told Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much He loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t He have kept Lazarus from dying?”38 Jesus was still angry as He arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank You for hearing Me. 42 You always hear Me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe You sent Me.”43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” John 11:1-44

Educating a Fool....

Here is the reason why education here in America is failing: You can’t educate a fool. Yet we try and try, to the point of indoctrination; reciting facts and memorizing answers to test questions. This is not education. It’s conditioning people to be lazy, to not question things, to be unable to handle life. It doesn’t teach children how to learn for themselves. It breeds irresponsibility. Look at the college graduation rate. Learn from it. When will we realize that educating the masses will never work? It breeds apathy in those who have no heart for learning. Sure, no one wants to be called a fool, but those who fail to learn, rightfully earn the name.

16 It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning. Proverbs 17:16

Responsibility and Liberty...

Responsibility and Liberty, that’s what our Democracy was built on. One without the other, leads to collapse. Our constitution, in its few pages, gives us liberties, and protects us from every kind of situation. The breakdown in our society is from the responsibility part. As a nation, America never established a national religion. It didn’t have to. Christianity was the accepted way of life; it didn’t need to be established, because it already was part of all who believed. The problem came about when people started leaving out the “responsibility” part of the Republic makeup. Our responsibility to God became a passing phase. Now we are left with Liberty alone, “my rights vs your rights”. And where has it gotten us? In one big courtroom mess. What we need to do as a country is re-establish the “Responsibility” part of the equation. And that can only be done in the heart; one person at a time.

39 then hear from heaven where You live, and forgive. Give Your people what their actions deserve, for You alone know each human heart. 40 Then they will fear You as long as they live in the land You gave to our ancestors. 1 Kings 8:39-40

46 “If they sin against You–and who has never sinned?–You might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near. 47 But in that land of exile, they might turn to You in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’ 48 If they turn to You with their whole heart and soul in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land You gave to their ancestors–toward this city You have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor Your name–49 then hear their prayers and their petition from heaven where You live, and uphold their cause. 1 Kings 8:46-49

The Reason for the Attempted Stoning.....

When people say Jesus never claimed to be God, I guess they have never read John 10:33. Why were the Jews trying to stone Jesus? They answered that question, emphatically.

31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill Him. 32 Jesus said, “At My Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone Me?”33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:31-33

Our Day in Court...

I’ve heard it said, in regards to trial law, if you’re innocent, argue the facts. If you’re guilty, argue the law. I’ve watched many high-profile cases work out and send innocent people to jail, and allow guilty people to go free. It seems to work in this earthly court system we have. But it certainly will not work in God’s system of justice. The next time you see injustice being played out in our court system, just remember, we will all have our day in God’s court. The innocent will be acquitted, and the guilty will be condemned.

13 If you repay good with evil,evil will never leave your house. Proverbs 17:13

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent–both are detestable to the Lord. Proverbs 17:15

The True Test of Value...

The true test of something’s value, or it’s importance to you, is how you behave when a crisis happens. When it happens, your true priorities will be revealed. Is it just for money that you do what you do, or do you truly care about what you do. How we react in a Crisis will always reveal our priorities in life.

13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. John 10:13

Expecting Others to Come Clean...

If you’ve ever been out in the wild you know to never mess with wild animals, especially a mother bear and her cubs. That’s the absolute last place you’d ever want to be. Barring a miracle, you’re as good as dead when you come between a momma bear and her cubs. Reading this proverb makes me feel foolish. Why? Not because I’m not willing to come clean when I mess up, but the fact that I expect others to come clean when they mess up is foolish on my part. Don’t waste your time when people won’t confess their sin and vow to make right what they’ve wronged. Those expectations just set us up for a huge disappointment. And to expect it to happen with everyone is foolish on our part. Yes, there are some who do make right what they’ve wronged, but when you get the signs of foolishness in one’s behavior, let it go and walk away. Your desire to get them to confess and do the right thing is never going to happen.

12 It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness. Proverbs 17:12

True Love Promotes Life...

When reading through this passage in 1 Kings chapter 3, I can’t help but think about the lies and deception Pro-Choice organizations have been feeding America ever since 1973 (and before). Here in this story two mothers have babies. One baby dies and the deception of the now childless mother began. When Solomon recognized the situation, he knew exactly what to do to reveal the true mother of the remaining child. He knew this principle rings true, regardless of the situation. It’s an objective truth: TRUE LOVE PROMOTES LIFE. the mother of the deceased child, instead of accepting the fact that her child was dead, wanted either to have the other mother’s child, or for both if them to be childless. The truth was revealed in her reaction. If the roles were reversed, she would’ve responded in the same manner the other mother did. Why? Because God has placed inside a mother a love that promotes life. Shouldn’t we all?

16 Some time later two prostitutes came to the king to have an argument settled. 17 “Please, my lord,” one of them began, “this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby while she was with me in the house. 18 Three days later this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there were only two of us in the house.19 “But her baby died during the night when she rolled over on it. 20 Then she got up in the night and took my son from beside me while I was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms and took mine to sleep beside her. 21 And in the morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! But when I looked more closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t my son at all.”22 Then the other woman interrupted, “It certainly was your son, and the living child is mine.”“No,” the first woman said, “the living child is mine, and the dead one is yours.” And so they argued back and forth before the king.23 Then the king said, “Let’s get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead one belongs to the other. 24 All right, bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought to the king.25 Then he said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!”26 Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, “Oh no, my lord! Give her the child–please do not kill him!”But the other woman said, “All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!”27 Then the king said, “Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!”28 When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice. 1 Kings 3:16-28

Honest and True, and Faithful to YOU...

“Honest and true, and faithful to You”. This is why David was considered a man after God’s own heart. It had nothing to do with perfection. It had nothing to do with his fame or power as king. It didn’t even have anything to do with his track record as a poor father. It was all about aligning his heart with God’s heart. Do you seek this? Is it important for you to be close to God? To seek out His righteousness in your life? To seek His wisdom in every decision you make? To view the world from His perspective? If it is, then you need to make a decision today: His will be done, or your will be done. The emphasis is on today, and every day thereafter.

6 Solomon replied, “You showed faithful love to Your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to You. And You have continued Your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne. 1 Kings 3:6

The Purpose of the Law....

You’ve probably read in my blog entries about the purpose of the 10 Commandments. I will usually ask others what the purpose is? They usually answer to help us live, guidelines for us to live, or rules to live by. All are common answers among the masses. The real purpose of the 10 Commandments is recited here by Jesus in John chapter 9: “to show those who think they see that they are blind.” You see the purpose isn’t for us to keep them, that’s impossible. The purpose is to show us that we are sinners. We are under God’s judgement. We are doomed. Once we have that perspective, it makes us open to hearing the Gospel. It prepares our hearts for Jesus. It allows our pride to run its course and open our eyes to the truth. The 10 Commandments show us we are sinners in need of a Savior. It prepares the way to salvation. When Jesus was speaking, He knew the hearts of the religious leaders were blind to His words, yet they claimed they could see. Their guilt was acknowledged publicly, and of course they didn’t like it. If they had been blind, they wouldn’t be guilty. Pride in oneself will always lead to spiritual blindness. It’s the number one ingredient in religiosity.

39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment–to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard Him and asked, “Are You saying we’re blind?”41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.” John 9:39-41

Lack of Discipline...

Lack of discipline has caused more problems in society than any other single action carried out by man. This lack of discipline has destroyed the structured system in education. It has taught children to focus solely on themselves and that consequences aren’t anything to fret over. The lack of discipline in the home has done even more damage. I just read a story about a 30-year-old man being taken to court by his parents because he still lived at home, didn’t pay rent, and refused to do anything to help around the house. You’d think this was rare, but it isn’t. The lack of discipline, along with the absence of God in our society has completely destroyed the basic fabric of our democracy. Without responsibility to God (which we all have), people in this country only have the Rights granted through our government to work with. Rights without responsibilities lead to battles that can only be settled in courts. Do you see this playing out? If you are a parent, do yourself a favor, discipline your children. Teach them that the world doesn’t revolve around them. If you’re single, realize that consequences are real, and if you don’t treat people fairly, those consequences will drive you to your grave faster than you think. Adonijah is a good example of this. Go to God today, and ask Him to reveal this truth to you. And ask that He will gently restore this view of an equal balance of Responsibility and Rights. America’s future depends on it. It starts with you.

 5 About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. 6 Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.7 Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah. 1 Kings 1:5-8

23 Then King Solomon made a vow before the Lord: “May God strike me and even kill me if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request. 24 The Lord has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; He has established my dynasty as He promised. So as surely as the Lord lives, Adonijah will die this very day!” 25 So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death. 1 Kings 2:23-25

Evidence of a Changed Life....

The effectiveness of a believer lies not in the amount of faith he has, it’s the evidence of his changed heart. Actions speak louder than words. When God does a work in you, the evidence is irrefutable.

24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”25 “I don’t know whether He is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”26 “But what did He do?” they asked. “How did He heal you?”27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His disciples, too?”28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where He comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but He is ready to hear those who worship Him and do His will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He couldn’t have done it.”34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue. John 9:24-34

The Core of Human Existence...

The family structure is the core of human existence. Growing older is a blessing. It’s sad to say but society doesn’t see it this way. And when people try to destroy the family by introducing ways of redefining it to suit their own selfish desires, they do a great disservice to the institution of what God called “Good”.

6 Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6

Knowing Your Place...

Humility is knowing your place. And that place has a direct, vertical alignment with God.

5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. Proverbs 17:5

Hard to Believe God?

Why is it hard sometimes to believe God? I mean He has made promises to us throughout scripture to protect us, not to harm us, all for His Glory and our good. Why do we so easily forget this? I think in today’s modern, technological age, we base most of our decisions on how we feel. It’s because of the heavy influence of a God-less, “all about me” society. Sure we will feel scared, excited, depressed, anxious, elated, or hurt, but those feelings are just feelings. They are subjective; they change over time. God is objective. His promises don’t change over time. He is immutable, remember. He is as dependable today as He was in David’s time, He doesn’t change. We should base our actions, decisions, and outlook on His promises, instead of of on our ever-so-fleeting, subjective feelings. When David’s last words tell us that God’s promises are “arranged and guaranteed in every detail”, we need to believe it, and act accordingly. Base your life on the objective, never-changing, words of God, rather than the always-changing, subjective feelings we have been trained by society to live our lives by. True North is still True North, regardless of how we feel about it. God’s word and His promises will always lead us down the right path; it’s just a matter of trusting It over our feelings.

5 “Is it not my family God has chosen?Yes, He has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success. 2 Samuel 23:5

Room in Your Heart....

The #1 reason people don’t believe in God, or even try to know Him, is because there’s no room in their heart for Him. Think about that, no room in their hearts for His message. Just like Mary and Joseph, finding no room in the Inn when they came to Bethlehem, so Jesus finds no welcome from those whose hearts have no room for Him. Mary and Joseph eventually found a place to stay, and so does Jesus when He finds room in the hearts of those willing to believe and follow. What is the status of your heart today? Is it full of self, leaving no room for God? Or is it in order, allowing God to work in you and through you, blessing others and rewarding you in the process?

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill Me because there’s no room in your hearts for My message. John 8:36-37

Testing Our Hearts...

Sometimes things happen to us to test our hearts. Be it trials, or events that stretch us. In order for some of the impurities to be removed, it must be burned off. High temperature certainly does the trick. God is not content with us sitting around, being complacent with life. We need to be up and running. How else would we win the prize that we are supposed to be keeping our eyes on? How would we remove the unnecessary sludge, if we don’t have the power and method to do so? Remember, God knows our hearts best, so we should trust Him to do with us as He pleases. His best is our best.

3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3

Reaping What We Sow...

This should be required reading for every Christian. It’s a reminder of Who God is and how He rewards those faithful to Him. We reap what we sow. God repays us for what we sow. Our faithfulness has its own rewards here on earth. Some of them are immeasurable. God honors those that honor Him.

26 “To the faithful you show Yourself faithful;to those with integrity you show integrity.27 To the pure you show Yourself pure,but to the wicked you show Yourself hostile.28 You rescue the humble,but Your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.29 O Lord, you are my lamp.The Lord lights up my darkness.30 In Your strength I can crush an army;with my God I can scale any wall. 31 “God’s way is perfect.All the Lord’s promises prove true.He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.32 For who is God except the Lord?Who but our God is a solid rock?33 God is my strong fortress,and He makes my way perfect.34 He makes me as surefooted as a deer,enabling me to stand on mountain heights. 2 Samuel 22:26-34

5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows–this is God, whose dwelling is holy.6 God places the lonely in families;He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.But He makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalms 68:5-6

Real, But Often Overrated...

Feelings are real, but often overrated. When we feel a certain way, we need to go to God first, and ask Him to help us to see clearly. Often times, our feelings lead us off course and bring about the emotions Satan loves to manipulate. Depression, sadness, shame, guilt, regret, and second guessing ourselves to name a few. Feelings are so subjective, so by basing our self-worth on something that’s so transient, fluctuating like Spring weather in Texas, how then can someone remain stable? You can’t. Then how do we deal with this issue? First, acknowledge that your feelings are real, but often overrated. Next, go to God with your requests. Lastly, talk to yourself, instead of listening to yourself. What I mean by this is instead of listening to yourself, “maybe I should ..., I wish I hadn’t..., etc... we should tell ourselves the truth, God’s word. Any time you are tempted or made to feel inferior, tell yourself to remember Whom it is we belong to. Whom it is who wrote the Bible. What the Bible says about our self-worth. And start being a hypocrite when it comes to your feelings. Even though they might say something, we need to do the opposite. Of course that’s taking them into consideration, yet not acting on them, when deemed appropriate. We need to talk to ourselves with truth, and stop listening to ourselves with untruth. Feelings are real, but often overrated...

1 Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2 As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. 3 They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. 4 The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”5 Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. 6 You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. 7 Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.” 8 So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him.Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes. 2 Samuel 19:1-8