Witnessing 101....

Witnessing 101: keep it simple, rely on prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and preach Jesus. God will honor you for it and do the rest. Never allow Satan to make you feel inadequate. You just have to discipline yourself in the basics and never get away from them.

4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

The Reward That Doesn’t Disappoint....

How many times in your life have you been disappointed? Who hasn’t? Does an unloving father make this kind of a promise to his children? Neither does an unloving God! God loves us enough to warn us from doing wrong, and promises us the reward of hope fulfilled when following Him whole-heartedly. Just think, our highest expectation and deepest desire will be met and exceeded. To those who are faithful to Him, the hope that God gives keeps us going, and rewards us with a reward that never disappoints. Now that’s something worthy of our focus, persistence, and dedication.

17 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. 18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. Proverbs 23:17-18

Flattery....

Flattery may get you far with some people, but it will get you no where with God. Your smooth words may fool the masses for a while, but it won’t fool God for a second. And those that follow Him, won’t buy into your eloquent speech either. Flattery is for the fool. It’s deceptive speech solely dedicated for selfish gain. It’s a language designed to manipulate others, taking advantage of their innocence or naive trust they have given the speaker. In the end it will be held against you if you continue to practice it on those who honestly grant you their attention. God is no fool.

22 For if I tried flattery,my Creator would soon destroy me. Job 32:22

In God We Trust.....

Even though Job had riches, and lost them, he knew that his security wasn’t in his money or gold. He never used his wealth to gloat or take advantage of others. In today’s society, money equates to security in the mind of a non-believer. But believers, like Job, know true security is only found in God. The current belief that riches gives us security will be proven false, it’s only a matter of time. Money can’t buy back your health, restore a relationship, or rescue your soul. It certainly can’t buy love (as the song goes). Having means gives us the ability to say “No” to God, only if you trust in the dollar bill and not God Himself. Think about it: if you don’t worship God and put Him in His right place, you’ll replace Him with something else, only to find out in the end He’s irreplaceable. If you hold a dollar bill up in front of your face, upon close inspection, you’ll read “In God we trust”, not our money.

24 “Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? 25 Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own? Job 31:24-25

God’s Foolish Plan....

Here’s a humbling thought. A concept that will keep you from “gettin’ too big for your britches”: God’s foolish plan is wiser than any human plan. And His weakness is stronger than the greatest human strength. Who’s side are you on? Now that you know this, your decision will only prove this true.

25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25

If You Lack Confidence....

If you lack confidence in spreading the Good News of the Gospel, never forget it’s not your eloquent speech that converts a soul, it’s God’s power that does. There are those it will be foolish chatter, and those that it will save. We don’t know who those are, so we preach to all. Never allow yourself to think you have to add more, or tell better stories, the truth of the Gospel stands on its own. It’s one story that never changes, so don’t try to change it by ad-libbing anything to it. As Paul says “preach the Good News”, getting out of the way and letting God do what He does best.

17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News–and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power. 18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

If God’s Word Is Boring, I’m the Problem...

If you’ve been reading these daily writings for very long you’ve probably established that the messages are very similar. The main concepts don’t change. It may seem like you’d want to learn new content, new concepts. It might even seem boring. Christianity’s message is simple, it doesn’t change. The main idea is crystal clear. Why? God doesn’t change. His word doesn’t change. The more we become familiar with it, the more we can become bored with it or take it for granted. Here’s the core truth about God’s word, it doesn’t change, rather it changes us. Never forget this. God’s word never changes. If you read it when you’re 20 years old, then read it when you’re 50 years old, the words will stay the same. The difference is their meaning to us will change. It will become deeper and more precious to us. The longer we stay connected it’s deeper message will resonate with us. It’s like digging for treasure. At first we are excited, then after a few feet we get tired, we start to lose that excitement. As we press on the anticipation may fade, but we know it’s there. After 10 or 20 feet, doubts creep in, but inside we know there’s treasure there so we keep digging. The hope of that treasure keeps us going until, “bam”, our shovel hits the treasure chest. The reward is well worth all the struggles and emotions we experience. The digging stayed the same, but the process brought about a rollercoaster of thoughts, anxieties, stress, and hard work. This experience solidifies our pursuit of more treasure. Each time we dig, it’s the same process, the same hard work, the same emotional experience, but it’s the treasure that makes it all worth it. We work side by side with new people and see how their responses have similarities and differences. Our experiences have shaped our thinking process to the point where the excitement isn’t as great as it once was, but the final outcome is always more rewarding. God’s word never changes. And His message doesn’t change either. However, His word and His message changes us. As we age (dig), we get closer to discovering its treasure. Finally we discover it, and enjoy the reward. As we press on, daily reading His word, it becomes alive, and it means so much more as we get through life. The Bible says God’s word is alive, it cuts through all the BS (Heb 4:12). It tells us it never returns void; it accomplishes exactly what it’s supposed to (Isa 55:8-11). It equips us for every good work (2Tim 3:16-17). You see, if God’s word every gets boring to us, there’s something wrong with us. His word doesn’t change, and His message remains the same, but it meets us where we are in life, and walks along side us. It helps us when we need it, and gives us insights into our lives that benefits not only us but others as well. The way we see God’s word is paramount. If we see it in any other way than what it actually is, the most powerful thing we can use snd possess, then we must examine our motives and evaluate our relational status with God. Most likely, we will find our stance creeping toward the worldly line, wanting to step across and have one foot in the world while digging in with solid traction on the Godly/Spiritual side. This is the most dangerous place to be. It’s the most susceptible position to be in. It’s also when we will find ourselves viewing God’s word as boring or not applicable to our lives. Don’t allow yourself to stay there. Pull back, retreat. You may find yourself experiencing anxiety or depression. You can’t serve two masters. God’s word never changes, it just changes us. It’s alive and active, and it stands forever. It’s what helps us through rough times, mediocre times, good times, and great times. God’s message may seem simple, and you may become so familiar with it, you start to take it for granted. Don’t lose heart, it will rescue lost souls, heal hurting souls, and continue to sanctify souls until He returns. We can count on that, even when we lose sight of its function and purpose. God’s word accomplishes everything it’s set out to do. It’s why I love it so much. In an ever changing world, it’s great to have an anchor for my soul.

8 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.“And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,so My ways are higher than your waysand My thoughts higher than your thoughts. 10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavensand stay on the ground to water the earth.They cause the grain to grow,producing seed for the farmerand bread for the hungry.11 It is the same with My word.I send it out, and it always produces fruit.It will accomplish all I want it to,and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:8-11

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

At the Foot of the Cross...

We all need the humbling, daily reminder that it’s nothing we can do that makes us right with God, it’s what Jesus did on our behalf that affords us the ability to stand before God as blameless and acceptable. This is the ultimate equalizer of all men. Time waits for no one, yet all men long for significance, equality, and respect. Only those that bow a knee to Jesus, ever find the longing of every heart. The world cries out for justice, yet looks everywhere but the only place it resides, at the foot of the cross. Try boasting about that.

2 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be His own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as He did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 1 Corinthians 1:2-3

Living Under Grace...

The goal of living under grace is not to earn brownie points with God, it’s to honor and glorify Him. When we act godly, God rejoices. Being like God is the greatest thing you can do to show Him the respect and love He deserves. It doesn’t make us better than those that don’t, just better off. Stop playing the comparison game. Stop being religious. Live your life with one goal in mind, being more like Jesus. Don’t do what you think Jesus would do (that movement got it wrong), instead do what Jesus actually did (leaving out your own interpretation). You will honor God, and He will rejoice because of it. That’s what it truly means to glorify God.

15 My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! 16 Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right. Proverbs 23:15-16

Our Sinful Nature....

When you hear the concept of “sinful nature”, what do you think? Most would say you learned about it in church, being read from an ancient, outdated book. Well, here in Job chapter 30, we read about how man’s sinful nature comes out in his behaviors. For instance, isn’t it peculiar to witness when someone who is or was successful gets bombarded by nay-sayers and critics the second they mess up. Why does man do that? Why does he wait till someone fails, then jump on the bandwagon of criticism, throwing off all restraint, and try to demolish whatever the failed person has left. The proper response would be to help, to comfort, to restore those that have fallen. It’s clearly written throughout scripture that true believers don’t rejoice in others sorrows. This just shows the sinful nature that resides in all of us. Regardless of what you think or agree or disagree with, gossip, slander, injustice, and taking advantage of others is part of that nature that we all try to overcome but fail. It’s only when we ask God for help, that it becomes a daily manageable issue that we do our best to keep under restraint. And it’s only through the freeing power of God’s grace that we succeed. So the next time you see people joining in and slandering someone when they fail, let it be a reminder of what the Bible says about our sinful nature being real, regardless what the world says. It’s only permanent when our pride allows it to stay, when you abandon God or keep Him at arm’s length.

9 “And now they mock me with vulgar songs!They taunt me!10 They despise me and won’t come near me,except to spit in my face.11 For God has cut my bowstring.He has humbled me, so they have thrown off all restraint.12 These outcasts oppose me to my face. They send me sprawlingand lay traps in my path.13 They block my roadand do everything they can to destroy me. They know I have no one to help me. 14 They come at me from all directions.They jump on me when I am down. Job 30:9-14

Holding Their Tongues....

When you live a life of integrity, and walk in humility, people you don’t even know respect you, to the point of holding their tongues. America today lacks both ends of this spectrum: leaders that walk in righteousness, and those that hold their tongues out of respect for higher positions. Christianity is the only answer to this declining dilemma. Ask God to start with you.

10 The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect. Job 29:10

The Counterfeit Effect....

I sometimes get paid in cash, and I must be able to spot a counterfeit bill. They say the best way to spot a counterfeit bill is to study the real one, that way the false copy fails by comparison. I’ve been given counterfeit money before. When you are given a counterfeit bill, the bank keeps it (when you try to deposit it), and you never get it back. That’s the thing about counterfeits, you do the work, but get cheated out of being paid. The person who gave you the counterfeit gets your product or services, and the only thing you get in return is gypped and frustrated. The same goes for false teachers in the Church. They get paid, and when you find out their teachings are counterfeit (not true), you get gypped and frustrated. You learn that what they said isn’t true and doesn’t work, leaving you deceived, empty, and worse off than when you started. This leads to depression and bitterness, that infiltrates your life. Paul warns us to be aware of these false teachers. Know your Bible, know the truth, and you’ll be able to spot a counterfeit from a mile away. These counterfeit preachers are not serving Christ; they are only serving themselves.

17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. Romans 16:17-18

Corporal Punishment....

When they took corporal punishment out of the school systems, the system lost its control. You may think spanking is cruel, but it’s very effective. So effective that it has saved millions of lives from death. I’m not talking about abuse. Yes abuse occurs, but you can’t use that as an excuse to not discipline. You may think there’s other ways to discipline, and I’m sure there are, but there is no better way, that’s swift, more effective, and doesn’t require more time and follow up, that has immediate consequences (pain plays a major role), than corporal punishment. I was spanked, and hopefully you were too. I don’t hate my parents, and I know that’s not the reason if you do. Being a public educator for 18 years, I’ve seen firsthand the consequences of no discipline at home or in the schools. I can honestly say the other proverb you’ve heard (spare the rod spoil the child), can’t be more true. Corporal punishment done in the right manner prevents more than it could ever do wrong. What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk.

Don’t fail to discipline your children. They won’t die if you spank them. 14 Physical discipline may well save them from death. Proverbs 23:13-14

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening–it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12:10-11

A Wise Man....

Job was a wise man. So wise, that even in his suffering, he still could say God is his redeemer. Even in his suffering he could elaborate on the wisdom of God. In such great detail Job spells out how to find true wisdom. God places wisdom above any and all things of value on earth. Why? It’s what we gain from truly pursuing Him while here on earth. Fearing God, revering Him, respecting Him, and honoring Him, is where true wisdom comes from. And it’s more precious than gold. Job got it right. He knows God’s ways. That’s why God chose him for this trial of testing. When you truly know God, you are wise.

 “But do people know where to find wisdom?Where can they find understanding?13 No one knows where to find it,for it is not found among the living.14 ‘It is not here,’ says the ocean.‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.15 It cannot be bought with gold.It cannot be purchased with silver.16 It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir,greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.17 Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.18 Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it.The price of wisdom is far above rubies.19 Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it.It’s worth more than the purest gold. 20 “But do people know where to find wisdom?Where can they find understanding?21 It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.22 Destruction and Death say,‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’ 23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom;He knows where it can be found,24 for He looks throughout the whole earthand sees everything under the heavens.25 He decided how hard the winds should blowand how much rain should fall.26 He made the laws for the rainand laid out a path for the lightning.27 Then He saw wisdom and evaluated it.He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.28 And this is what He says to all humanity:‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;to forsake evil is real understanding.’ ” Job 28:12-28

Evil Never Wins....

If you want to see a somewhat modern day example of what Job is saying here, look up the story of Voltaire, an atheist. He thought he was outwitting God, eventually only to be helping God’s followers by providing for them with his estate after his death. It is said to once be a place where the Bible Society stored Bibles. Evil never wins. You can’t beat God, even when your pride tells you, “you can”.

16 “Evil people may have piles of money and may store away mounds of clothing.17 But the righteous will wear that clothing, and the innocent will divide that money. Job 27:16-17

An Integral Part of the GOOD NEWS....

You don’t hear the word “Hell” much these days. The only time you hear it may be from an angry or disgruntled person letting out their anger. Or maybe someone telling someone else where to go when they are crossed by them. Rarely will you hear these words mentioned in church, or in any messages regarding the Gospel. If you hear the concept of it, they’ve changed it to a “Godless eternity”, or a “Christ-less existence”, etc.... Why? Because it’s too offensive. It’s not politically correct. You’d be better off cussing someone out than telling them about Hell. If you even type it in your phone, auto correct changes it to He’ll. Whose behind all this? Satan. He’ll do anything to deceive you. To blind you from the truth, or at least deceive you into to thinking it’s not as bad as some make it seem. Here’s the cold hard truth for anyone who believes God and follows Jesus authentically. The Gospel is the Good News. Why? Because it’s the only way to be saved. Saved from what? Punishment of our sin. Which is? An eternity in Hell. The Good News isn’t good news if it’s not presented in its truest form. It’s Good News because it’s about our redemption, redemption from the deserved punishment of our sin. And that reconciliation involves being rescued from a “Godless Eternity” called Hell. The Gospel isn’t Good News to people if you leave out what Jesus rescued us from (Hell) by suffering rejection, ridicule, and death on a cross. He did it out of love for us, because He knows all about Hell and doesn’t want anyone to go there. Hell is real and it’s permanent. If you love someone, you’ll love them enough to tell them the truth. Don’t be afraid of mentioning the word Hell, it’s an integral part of what makes the Good News good.

8 For what hope do the godless have when God cuts them off and takes away their life? Job 27:8

Where Is Our Agenda Based?

Here’s a question we all need to be asking ourselves before we speak: where is our agenda based? Is it coming from God? The world? Ourselves? You’ll soon realize that anything worthy of eternity (real purpose) is spoken through you by God!
4 Where have you gotten all these wise sayings? Whose spirit speaks through you? Job 26:4

The Ability to Change Our Attitude...

There once was a little boy who refused to sit at the table for dinner. When his mother finally got him to sit down, the little boy responded, “I may be sitting down physically, but in my mind I’m still standing”. How many of us are like that? I know I can be at times. If you know you will have to do things you may or may not want to do, how do you handle it? Do you do it with a bad attitude, or not do it with a good one? Or do you do it and change your attitude in the process? We all have a choice. We all have free will. We all have the ability to change our attitude. There is one thing that all people will do someday, honor God, what will your attitude be? I’ve already made my decision. And I’m not changing my mind.

10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,‘ every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’ ” 12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. Romans 14:10-13

Not Celebrating Other’s Demise....

Here’s a quality that helps define a true believer: they don’t celebrate and cheer when the wicked get what they deserve. Here in Job chapter 22, Eliphaz is dead wrong when he tells Job this. When you see people mock, ridicule, and celebrate when people get the justice they deserve (for evil acts), it’s a good sign that they are not mimicking their Heavenly Father, rather more like their earthly father, the Devil. Christians never revelry in other’s demise. Never.

19 “The righteous will be happy to see the wicked destroyed,and the innocent will laugh in contempt. Job 22:19

Two Different Views....

When you think about wicked behavior and people who do monstrous acts against others, there are two world views. First is the worldly, non-Biblical view. Here you witness these evil acts and wonder how they get away with it. The evil people live posh lives, have children, take vacations, and seem to be happy and content with life. This world view wishes justice is carried out, but when it isn’t, go away bitter and depressed. They lose hope that life can somehow be fair. They believe everything is by chance and no human being has any real value. Thus they start to live sporadically, trying to satisfy every feeling that comes their way. They eventually lose hope. The Biblical view on this topic, sees life as not fair as well. They also see evil people prosper. They also wish justice is carried out. The only difference is that these people know God is in control. They know He is in charge. They know that His justice will be carried out, it’s just in His timing and not ours. Vengeance belongs to Him. And even though it may not happen in this lifetime, His justice will be carried out. Many times justice is being carried out because the evil doers are slaves to their own sin. They live in constant fear of being caught and losing it all. They are often prisoners in their own homes. They don’t have peace and never will. These are the things we don’t see, only God does. So the next time you read about an evil act being carried out, ask yourself which view do you have. The only view that brings peace (allowing you to let go) is the one in which you trust the Judge to carry out true Justice. God cannot be mocked. He will judge all people. Justice will be served, it just might not be to our standards.

7 “Why do the wicked prosper,growing old and powerful?8 They live to see their children grow up and settle down,and they enjoy their grandchildren.9 Their homes are safe from every fear,and God does not punish them.10 Their bulls never fail to breed.Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.11 They let their children frisk about like lambs.Their little ones skip and dance.12 They sing with tambourine and harp.They celebrate to the sound of the flute.13 They spend their days in prosperity,then go down to the grave in peace.14 And yet they say to God, ‘Go away.We want no part of you and your ways.15 Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey Him?What good will it do us to pray?’16 (They think their prosperity is of their own doing,but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.) 17 “Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished.Do they ever have trouble?Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?18 Are they driven before the wind like straw?Are they carried away by the storm like chaff?Not at all! 19 “ ‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’But I say He should punish the ones who sin,so that they understand His judgment.20 Let them see their destruction with their own eyes.Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.21 For they will not care what happens to their familyafter they are dead. 22 “But who can teach a lesson to God,since He judges even the most powerful?23 One person dies in prosperity,completely comfortable and secure,24 the picture of good health,vigorous and fit.25 Another person dies in bitter poverty,never having tasted the good life.26 But both are buried in the same dust,both eaten by the same maggots. 27 “Look, I know what you’re thinking.I know the schemes you plot against me.28 You will tell me of rich and wicked peoplewhose houses have vanished because of their sins.29 But ask those who have been around,and they will tell you the truth.30 Evil people are spared in times of calamityand are allowed to escape disaster.31 No one criticizes them openlyor pays them back for what they have done.32 When they are carried to the grave,an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.33 A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery.Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest,and the earth gives sweet repose. Job 21:7-33

Our Thought-Life Matters....

Here’s a concept that most people tend to overlook, or never even grasp: our thought life matters. Jesus talked about this while preaching the beatitudes. Looking with lust is the same as committing adultery, hating someone is the same as murder, etc... How often do we consciously ask God to protect our thought life? How much is it influenced by TV, social media, or the internet? We can’t allow Satan to control our thoughts, but that’s exactly what we do when we don’t give it the proper attention. We must ask God to protect our thought life, and then do as Paul instructed, fill our minds with the fruits of the Spirit. Then and only then will we become effective witnesses of the Good News we preach.

13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:13-14

Do What the Dollar Tells Us....

God said you cannot serve both Him and money. Early in life we must choose which to serve, and most choose a lot earlier than they think. I have come to the realization that money is necessary to live in civilized areas, but it’s not to replace the security we have in God. Money tends to give us a false security in life. I mean having money gives us the belief that we can do whatever we want as long as it affords us to. I’ve heard it said, “Having means ($) gives us the ability to say “NO” to God.” It’s one of Satan’s biggest lies, yet we fall for it every time. Wealth, just like health, can vanish in the blink of an eye. Then what you are left with is disappointment, regret, broken relationships, stress, and most of the time, with less than before you began. We need to have the right perspective on money. We need to do what the dollar actually says, instead of what we think it tries to tell us; allowing it to control our selfish tendencies. “In God We Trust”, not “In me I trust”. You can’t serve both. Choose Whom you will serve, and do it whole-heartedly, never looking back with regret. Don’t waste your life pursuing the dollar, or one day, you will wake up to find out the pursuit of riches cost you more than money could ever buy.

4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wingsand fly away like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5

After All is Said and Done...

After all is said and done, even during suffering, will you be able to say what Job said? I can only hope my walk with God, won’t ever lead me astray. I know He won’t disappoint, my concern is that I may disappoint. Lord keep me in the right frame of mind, so that I can continue to trust You by living out my faith.

23 “Oh, that my words could be recorded.Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument,24 carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead,engraved forever in the rock. 25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,and He will stand upon the earth at last.26 And after my body has decayed,yet in my body I will see God!27 I will see Him for myself.Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes.I am overwhelmed at the thought! Job 19:23-27

The Attitude of the Humble...

Here’s some advice from Paul that would greatly benefit every single American citizen today: be honest, and don’t allow yourself to think you are better than you really are. It’s the attitude of the humble. It’s starts by knowing your place, and that only comes from pursuing God. The deeper the pursuit, the greater the humility. The more you learn about God, and experience His presence, the more grateful you’ll be in expressing it to Him (and others). Selfishness is the opposite of love, and Humility is the tunnel that bridges the gap. It (humility) leads you into the endless possibilities that only love can provide. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. Never forget that.

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:3

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Romans 12:9-11

Godfidence.....

Godfidence - knowing we are declared righteous by God (undeservedly), and being assured that we will inherit eternal life. Instead of trying to be confident in ourselves, why not pursue this virtue? It’s something no one can ever diminish, or take away. And it’s something we can always draw on to renew our hope.

4 But–“When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, 5 He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” 8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone. Titus 3:4-8

Train Yourself....

Train yourself to see spiritually, and you will begin to learn to know God’s will for your life. It begins by changing the way you think. The world’s system is man’s attempt to live and be happy without God. Conformity is change from the outside in - the flesh. Transformation is change from the inside out - the Spirit. Ask God to help you see more clearly. Then act on what you know to be true. It’s a one way process (inside out). Choose wisely. ~br>
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

The Only True God...

In Psalm 95, we read about how God is the only true God, not a pagan god placed high in a hill. For He holds the hills in His hands. How can God be held in His own hands? Just food for thought.

1 Come, let us sing to the Lord!Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.2 Let us come to Him with thanksgiving.Let us sing psalms of praise to Him.3 For the Lord is a great God,a great King above all gods.4 He holds in His hands the depths of the earthand the mightiest mountains.5 The sea belongs to Him, for He made it.His hands formed the dry land, too. Psalms 95:1-5

Stop Listening, Start Telling...

Reading through the book of Job, you begin to see the struggle Job was experiencing. He was literally suffering physically, relationally, and emotionally. He had just lost all of his children, a grief most would never recover from. He suffered physically; boils from head to toe. And to add to this unbearable infliction, Job’s friends have now falsely accused him of hiding a secret sin and demanding him to repent. All of this would’ve killed 99.9% of us. Not Job, even though he wanted to die, to the point he even stated that he wished he had never been born. This struggle is a perfect example of the battle all of us face when adversity pays us a visit. We experience a wide array of emotions, from “poor me” to “”I don’t deserve this”. But we also know the truth as well. This book of Job shows the two sides of a man, one that follows his feelings, and one that knows the truth and acts on it. We learn that we must go with what we know to be true, even at the expense of our feelings. Instead of listening to our selves, we need to tell ourselves what we know to be true. Think about it: if you base your life on how you feel, what’s it going to be like? A roller coaster of a ride; an unstable, inconsistent, wishy-washy, non-stable existence. But if we base our life on what we know to be true; God is sovereign, He has our back, He loves us enough to give us “free will”, then we can experience the peace that only He can give. When we align our will with His will, we are more willing to let go, and move on, than if we refuse to let Him be in charge of our lives. The point here is this: even though he suffered, Job knew his true alliance was to God, His Rock. We must realize this same truth and do whatever it takes to ween ourselves from the bottle of selfishness. If we don’t, when adversity pays us a visit, we will not make it through. We will become bitter and useless. Is that what you want? I certainly don’t. Life is hard, I don’t need to make it any harder. Remember Who your allegiance is to, and act accordingly.

3 “You must defend my innocence, O God, since no one else will stand up for me. Job 17:3

Dubious Questions...

Why do we exist? Why should we trust God? What’s the point of getting out of bed every morning? God is sovereign, omnipotent, immutable, and lovingly just. Do you believe this? If so, then serving Him quenches the thirst of our dubious questions.

36 For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen. Romans 11:36

Reason To Be Humble....

There are many reasons to be humble. It’s part of God’s character, and so it should be part of ours as well. There are so many references to humility in the Bible. These are reminders to us to keep our perspectives and attitudes in check. Here’s one in Romans chapter 11. Read it and let it really sink in. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Never forget this. Forge it into your character. If you don’t, someone else will.

19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” 20 Yes, but remember–those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, He won’t spare you either. Romans 11:19-21