Who Do You Fear More….

Who do you fear more, God or man? Your answer will determine the trajectory of your life. It will give you answers to your problems. It will show you the “whys” to your every day issues. When I mention fear, I’m talking about reverence. I’m talking about respect. I’m talking about knowing our place. I’m talking about how we view Authority, and perceive Who has the power to save or condemn. Once you determine “Whom” it is you fear, your path becomes a little more clear. Until your fear of God surpasses your fear of man, your motives will be a distortion of reality. You’ll find yourself living a pseudo-lifestyle; chasing after the wind, trying to be liked or respected by fallible people, or trying to find security in random, immoral lifestyles. Our loyalties, responsibilities, and devotion belong only in one place. When we get it right (placed all on God), we begin to live right. Being right with God is the first and foremost step we must take in truly living life. We need to put fear in it’s only proper place. Then it will serve its purpose in humbling us, revering God, and not holding us captive to our own deceptive thoughts and feelings.

25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. Proverbs 29:25

Authentic Bullying…..

Have you ever really asked yourself why in our society when we have opposition to our beliefs, the only solution we get is “accept their viewpoint or suffer”? Why is this the only acceptable answer to the debate? The answer is simple: the truth is not wanted. It’s as if the people with radical ideas want to “shut up” reality. Knowing the truth will cause them to second guess their agendas; to feel guilt. So to avoid that experience, it’s either accept my viewpoint or I’ll make you suffer for not accepting it. It puts their displeasure into action, giving them something to focus on, to fight for, instead of having to think about this immutable truth staring them in the face. This acceptance isn’t the answer for either party. Wrong is wrong regardless if it’s popular or not. God determines this, not people. Accepting someone’s viewpoint doesn’t make it right, even if it makes someone “feel” better. Talk about authentic “bullying”. The very thing they say they fight, they actually promote. Sounds very hypocritical to me. And yet people never examine the motives behind the controversial issues today enough to know the truth. Manipulation with always exist, especially in a hypocritical, lazy, and willfully, ignorant society. Kinda gives new meaning to Jesus’ statement, “the truth will set you free”, doesn’t it?

12 “But you caused the Nazirites to sin by making them drink wine, and you commanded the prophets, ‘Shut up!’ Amos 2:12

God Is The Same, He Doesn’t Change….

It’s easy when reading the OT to get the impression that God is more of a Judge than the compassionate Savior we read about in the NT. This is one thing I’ve learned reading through both books each year; God is the same, He doesn’t change. We just don’t get to see the compassionate, loving, merciful, and full of grace side of Him as much in the OT. It’s there, and it’s more often than you think, you just have to read it. Here in the book of Joel, we get a clear picture of this OT compassionate, grace-filled God we serve. More than anything else, God wants our attention; our 100% undivided, pure-heart attention. He only wants what’s best for us, and that starts with being honest with ourselves, giving credit where credit is due, and finally, doing it all with a sincere heart. That’s what God wants. It’s not hard, it just takes effort, effort most people don’t want to give. The trade off equals the abundant life (not the prosperity gospel version), but one of peace, purpose, and passion. An experience the world cannot give.

12 That is why the Lord says,“Turn to Me now, while there is time.Give Me your hearts.Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,but tear your hearts instead.”Return to the Lord your God,for He is merciful and compassionate,slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.He is eager to relent and not punish. Joel 2:12-13

The Key Was The Key….

I worked at a place once, where I had my own office, yet didn’t have a key to unlock it. It was a drab, storage closet, yet I made it my own. I put up posters of some of my favorite landscape portraits. It was my own little “shangri la”. The only issue was getting in. I had to ask the “head dudes” to let me in, every single time (even when I left and came back later). I wasn’t allowed to have a key because I was't full-time. I don’t know if it was a “control thing” by the guys who had the keys or what, but all I knew was I needed the key to get in. If they weren’t around when I got there, I had to call security to let me in (waiting 20 min or more). The “key” was the key to doing my work. I was totally dependent on whoever had the key. I was at the mercy, and convenience of who ever possessed the key. I had to wait on, listen to, depend on, and put up with whatever mood they were in, good or bad attitude they had, and wait if they were busy doing something else. I got so frustrated so many times waiting around to be let in my own office. The only solution was to accept the fact that it was the way it was going to be. Once I did that, I didn’t get so frustrated, or disappointed much. I learned to accept the fact that they were in control. Once that happened, I was given a new office, and a key. Jesus is God’s key to our biggest fears, worries, and ultimate outcome. Why not accept the fact that we can trust Him with “the way it is”? Maybe then you’ll be rescued from all the fear and frustration of wanting to do it yourself. The fear of death wont hold you captive anymore. Once you do that, you’ll be granted the key of salvation, and the freedom to live in God’s Grace. Jesus is the key to life. His key sets us truly free. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come–the Almighty One.” Revelation 1:8 I am the living One. I died, but look–I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:18a

When All The Dust Settles….

When all the dust settles, and we are all alone, staring at ourselves in the mirror, our individual faith in God is the only thing that truly matters. People live their entire lives striving for solutions; solutions to the world’s problems, their own problems. The answer lies simply in their individual faith. If each person on this earth decided to follow God, there wouldn’t be a need for world peace. There wouldn’t be violent, selfish behaviors. There wouldn’t be hatred. You see God has the answer to sin. He’s given it to us in the form of His son, Jesus. But what the world misses is that this solution is an individual thing, a heart thing. Until we get it individually, collectively there will be no solution to the world’s problems, no answers. Man will continue to create problems, attempt to manage the chaos he creates, and never solve the big issues because he’s in it for himself. God’s way has always been, and always will be an individual heart issue. Until we get our hearts right with Him, nothing will be right in the world. Once we do, “our world” will forever be changed, and thus we will become more effective in changing the world, one person at a time. Start with the person you see in the mirror. Apply God’s word to your heart first. When you do, you’ll see the heart of God working in the world. It all comes down to each individual finding and serving God.

3 Assyria cannot save us,nor can our warhorses.Never again will we say to the idols we have made,‘You are our gods.’No, in You alone do the orphans find mercy.” Hosea 14:3

9 Let those who are wise understand these things.Let those with discernment listen carefully.The paths of the Lord are true and right,and righteous people live by walking in them.But in those paths sinners stumble and fall. Hosea 14:9

Creating A god Of Our Own Liking….

There is only one God. Yes, there may be many gods (little g), but only One that can save us. Yet we strive to worship and serve the little gods. For some reason we must have some input into our worship that makes us feel good. Even if we can’t craft a god, we certainly can prescribe attributes we want him to have, thus creating a god of our “own liking”. This idolatry, replacing God with something else, is rampant in today’s society. The only solution to it, and we are all guilty in some ways, is to stop, and be still, and know God. The God of the Bible is the only true God. And Jesus is the only One that can truly save. That’s exactly what His name means. Is He Lord of your life?

4 “I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but Me, for there is no other savior. Hosea 13:4

8 “O Israel, stay away from idols!I am the One who answers your prayers and cares for you.I am like a tree that is always green;all your fruit comes from Me.” 9 Let those who are wise understand these things.Let those with discernment listen carefully.The paths of the Lord are true and right,and righteous people live by walking in them.But in those paths sinners stumble and fall. Hosea 14:8-9

Number One Trait Anyone Could Ever Possess….

The number one trait anyone could ever possess that allows someone to be close to God, giving them the ability to love and live to the fullest, has to be honesty. I’m not talking about not lying. I’m talking about the ability to accept truth, specifically about ourselves. When you can apply God’s truth to yourself, you have an advantage over all other people. This humility is usually seen by the world as a weakness, but to God it’s His way of transferring His strength to us. When you open your heart to God, willing to expose all your warts, skeletons, and weaknesses, that’s when you discover who you really are. And most importantly, you discover Who God is. And when you discover that you find your significance, direction, and purpose in life. It all starts with honesty, your willingness to accept reality, and abide in the truth. If you can’t be honest with yourself, who can you be honest with?

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts.24 Point out anything in me that offends You,and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms 139:23-24

What God Wants….

Here in Hosea chapters 11 & 12 we read about God’s love for His people, Israel and Judah. We read about how His heart is torn because of Israel’s rebellious nature and His duty to carry out justice. His heart and character are right there on display for all who read it. Then a little further into chapter 12 we read of what God wants from them. He wants them to come back to Him, to act with love and justice, and always depend on Him. Think about it, God wants us close to Him. He wants us to love others. He wants us to be just (do the right thing). And the only way this is even possible is to get it from God; to depend on Him. So what does God want from us? To love Him first, and to strive to know Him. To share our lives with Him by walking with Him every day. You’ll find your character becoming more like His character, and the results will speak for themselves.

“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel?How can I let you go?How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim?My heart is torn within Me,and My compassion overflows.9 No, I will not unleash My fierce anger.I will not completely destroy Israel,for I am God and not a mere mortal.I am the Holy One living among you,and I will not come to destroy.10 For someday the people will follow Me. Hosea 11:8-10a

6 So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on Him. Hosea 12:6

Don’t Allow One Example…

I’ve always said, “don’t allow one example (one person) to be the entire representation of God, or Christianity, or of faith”. For to do that isn’t fair to God. As a matter of fact it’s not right to use any person or all of humanity as an example of God. We are all fickle; weak, fragile, and insecure. We are poor representations of our Maker. Whenever, there is a good example, it’s God working in and through that person, so He (God) should get the credit. Whatever the case, we shouldn’t ever allow bad examples of pseudo-Christians to influence our behavior, at least not in a negative way. Only goodness comes from God, so when someone is displaying godly qualities, praise Him Who granted them these qualities, for they represent the character of God Himself.

Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. 3 John 1:11a

The Privilege Of Seeing The Second Picture….

One lesson I used to teach my students was one of two pictures. I’d show them one picture and ask them to describe it. I would get all kinds of answers. Then I’d show the same picture from a wider angle view. It would reveal way more insight into the first picture. Every student would gasp when they saw the second picture, but then they would understand the point I was trying to make much clearer. My point in sharing this is the same for those who take a stand for being pro-life. They have been given a glimpse at the 2nd picture; the one that revealed more of the first. By getting this insight, they have a better, deeper understanding of what creation is all about. A better view of Who God is. Maybe what pro-lifers need to do is help the pro-choicers out there get a glimpse of the second picture. Then they might get it; a deeper insight into how complex we are, how wonderfully made we are, and how God is sovereign in it all. Maybe when they see the value God places in all of us, they’ll realize they have value too. And that value will change their views for good. It’s just a matter of getting the privilege of seeing the second picture.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my bodyand knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex!Your workmanship is marvelous–how well I know it.15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.16 You saw me before I was born.Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.Every moment was laid outbefore a single day had passed. Psalms 139:13-16

Trying To Hide From God….

It’s ludicrous to think we can hide from God. Yet we all actually believe it at times. Maybe that’s why so many of us do things in response to this truth. We busy ourselves, take prescription drugs, drink alcohol, pursue fame and money, or try to gain power, all in the name of trying to hide from God, or at least take our minds off this concept. No matter what we believe, or how hard we try to forget or escape this truth, we can’t run or hide from God. Stop trying.

7 I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence!8 If I go up to heaven, You are there;if I go down to the grave, You are there.9 If I ride the wings of the morning,if I dwell by the farthest oceans,10 even there Your hand will guide me,and Your strength will support me.11 I could ask the darkness to hide meand the light around me to become night–12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from You.To You the night shines as bright as day.Darkness and light are the same to You. Psalms 139:7-12

To Ourselves First….

I think the number one most important principle in the scripture is the Bible is God’s way of communication with us. We are accountable to God. Once we forget this, we either forget about Him all together, or we exempt ourselves from God’s precepts only holding others to them with scrupulous vigor. Both are dangerous behaviors, but the latter is what Jesus opposed so consistently. Self-righteousness forms in both of these behaviors. But it flourishes in the one that allows us a back seat in our accountability to God. We are responsible to Him, and it starts by applying scripture to ourselves first.

“Israel has built many altars to take away sin, but these very altars became places for sinning! 12 Even though I gave them all My laws, they act as if those laws don’t apply to them.13 The people of Israel love their rituals of sacrifice, but to Me their sacrifices are all meaningless. I will hold My people accountable for their sins, and I will punish them. They will return to Egypt. 14 Israel has forgotten its Maker and built great palaces, Hosea 8:11-14a

Too Late….

Time, we all have it, some more than others. We each have 24 hours in a day. It’s the equalizer of all men. We can use it wisely, by living with a “time is a gift” attitude. Or we can totally disregard it, as if we have an unlimited supply. In the end, one thing is for sure, it will run out. For those who treated it as limitless, just might find out it’s too late. We are all given time, some more than others, don’t waste it. “Too late” does not want to be the first thought in your head when your time comes to an end.

2 Now Israel pleads with Me,‘Help us, for You are our God!’3 But it is too late.The people of Israel have rejected what is good,and now their enemies will chase after them.4 The people have appointed kings without My consent,and princes without My knowledge.By making idols for themselves from their silver and gold,they have brought about their own destruction. Hosea 8:2-4

Do It By Myself…..

In America today we live in what has been called a “post Christian” society. What that means is we don’t seek out God any more (collectively speaking). We don’t try to find God, much less give Him credit for anything. I find myself wandering at times. Like I know I should go to Him in prayer, but something inside me allows me to “get distracted”, and thus the need goes unmet. I can only speak for myself but when this happens it’s easy to get down and depressed. Hope takes a holiday and I’m left with a lot more work I don’t want to do. When I get like this the only thing I can do is cry out to God. Search Him out. Then I can address my own issues and file them in the “adjusted” folder. It’s all about getting over my pride; my desire to “do it by myself”. It starts with setting aside my feelings and focusing on what I KNOW to be true. God’s truth matters. The road to restoration begins with talking with God, and that means turning around and running back to Him. Just like the prodigal father did, God does too. He’s right there waiting for us to see the bigger picture.

and no one cries to Me for help. Hosea 7:7c

10 Their arrogance testifies against them, yet they don’t return to the Lord their God or even try to find Him. Hosea 7:10

Under Our Own Load Of Guilt….

With all the chaos and anxiety so prevalent in society, you begin to wonder how much of it is directly due to stumbling under our own load of guilt?

I know what you are like, O Ephraim.You cannot hide yourself from Me, O Israel.You have left Me as a prostitute leaves her husband;you are utterly defiled.4 Your deeds won’t let you return to your God.You are a prostitute through and through,and you do not know the Lord. 5 “The arrogance of Israel testifies against her;Israel and Ephraim will stumble under their load of guilt.Judah, too, will fall with them. Hosea 5:3-5

One Foot Deeper In Darkness….

When a society, who once revered God, no longer seeks Him out, but instead loves the things of this world, beware. God gave us the Bible for one reason: to know Him. The Bible applies to the individual reader first, then to the masses of reverers. When people abandon their sense of truth and accountability, they lose touch with reality. The result is that everyone suffers. It’s a self-inflicted, and inescapable mess. Think about it, it’s okay to push anti-biological, anti-nature, and unproven science upon people in order to attempt to ease the guilt and gain man’s approval and acceptance, but it’s not okay to speak about the Creator of the Universe being in charge, loving His people, and warning them about the detrimental effects of sin? “You will accept me, but I won’t accept you” mentality. When we abandon the Source of truth how can we expect to have stability and security? We will eat and still be hungry, because the longing in our souls (for the relationship with God) cannot be fulfilled. Filling ourselves up on junk food (anything other than God Himself), only leaves us with a temporary sugar-high, then a serious crash occurs that will leave you one foot deeper in darkness.

1 Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel!The Lord has brought charges against you, saying:“There is no faithfulness, no kindness,no knowledge of God in your land.2 You make vows and break them;you kill and steal and commit adultery.There is violence everywhere–one murder after another.3 That is why your land is in mourning,and everyone is wasting away.Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,and the fish of the sea are disappearing. 4 “Don’t point your finger at someone elseand try to pass the blame!My complaint, you priests,is with you.5 So you will stumble in broad daylight,and your false prophets will fall with you in the night.And I will destroy Israel, your mother.6 My people are being destroyedbecause they don’t know Me.Since you priests refuse to know Me,I refuse to recognize you as My priests.Since you have forgotten the laws of your God,I will forget to bless your children.7 The more priests there are,the more they sin against Me.They have exchanged the glory of Godfor the shame of idols. 8 “When the people bring their sin offerings, the priests get fed.So the priests are glad when the people sin!9 ‘And what the priests do, the people also do.’So now I will punish both priests and peoplefor their wicked deeds.10 They will eat and still be hungry.They will play the prostitute and gain nothing from it,for they have deserted the Lord Hosea 4:1-10

If The Answer Is Yes….

One of the most effective and accurate tests of authentic Christianity is to ask the question: “do I genuinely love other believers?” Your answer will reveal what’s truly in your heart. And if the answer is “yes”, it’s because God First loved you.

10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. 1 John 3:10

14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion–how can God’s love be in that person?18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:14-20

23 And this is His commandment: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with Him, and He with them. And we know He lives in us because the Spirit He gave us lives in us. 1 John 3:23-24

Severing Relationships….

The one thing that pride does more than anything else, and is the most detrimental aspect to it, is it separates people by severing relationships. This is most true in our relationship with God. Our pride tells us, “we don’t need Him, we can figure it out on our own”. Or it says, “why should I, I’ve done nothing wrong”. Or it keeps us from forgiving when we are wounded by another. Pride drives us to focus on ourselves to the point of being the most important thing. This goes against every principle of love, which is what true Christianity is all about. Of all the above mentioned effects, the worst and most damaging thing pride does, is God distances Himself from us when we become prideful. We run from Him, and He in turn distances Himself from us, and thus creating a chasm wider than we imagine. When this happens, it takes more time and more effort to get back into fellowship with Him. Sometimes, it’s not even possible, because it’s too late. If you find yourself in a tough spot, it may be that God is disciplining you (being a believer) for your prideful actions, for He does discipline those He loves. The point here is one that is consistently stated throughout scripture: A kingdom divided will not last. Severed relationships are the chief cause of this principle. And pride promotes separation from both sides. Is being prideful really worth the consequences that always result from its initialization inside a human soul? Choose God’s gift of humility, for He cares enough to give it to us. And He honors it by drawing closer to us.

6 Though the Lord is great, He cares for the humble, but He keeps His distance from the proud. Psalms 138:6

Being “Me-Focused”…..

When you see someone who craves physical pleasure, has a obsession for physical things, takes extreme pride in achievements, and seeks significance from possessing things, that person is in love with the world. That person might just be the reflection in your mirror. Your focus is not on God. When we love the world, the love of God is not in us. It’s easy to see why so many people fail at relationships and at their jobs. Being “me-focused” inhibits true maturity. And even more so, it prevents the ability to truly love. It makes all the difference in the world, to live in it, and not be of it. God is the only One Who can help us not only stay grounded, but insulated as well. It’s His Spirit that helps us determine the difference, and live it out.

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Tell Them To Watch Your Life….

When people ask you to prove God exists, just tell them to watch your life. They will see proof of Jesus through you. Your behavior matters, not only to others, but proof to yourself that Jesus is your Lord. If you want others to know Jesus, live your life as Jesus did. God will certainly use you as proof that He exists. And when you stumble, it will be proof that all people are equal in their need of this real existing God. No one can deny our testimony, especially if our goal is to live it out.

3 And we can be sure that we know Him if we obey His commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6

100% Guaranteed….

Have you ever shopped at a store or purchased anything online that had a 100% money back guarantee? How did that influence your willingness to spend your money? Did it give you confidence with your purchase? Did it free up the stress of it not being the product you thought it might be? How much more are God’s promises? Are they 100% guaranteed? Does His Word give you a sense of security, relieving the stress and anxiety of this world? God’s Word can be trusted and counted on to strengthen us. His promises are backed by His good and honorable name. What’s holding you back? Trust Him today, and watch what happens.

1 I give You thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;I will sing Your praises before the gods.2 I bow before Your holy Temple as I worship.I praise Your name for Your unfailing love and faithfulness;for Your promises are backed by all the honor of Your name.3 As soon as I pray, You answer me;You encourage me by giving me strength. Psalms 138:1-3

To Give An Account….

We all will die someday. Then we will stand before God to give an account. Some will have Jesus and others will not. Those who have Jesus as their Lord will be ushered into everlasting life. For those without, they will be met with shame and everlasting disgrace. You can not live a dual life. You either live with God on earth, pursuing Him all of your days; benefiting tremendously and growing in grace. Ultimately rewarded with eternal life in Heaven with Him, an inheritance set aside for us. Or you live your life void of His presence, fumbling around trying to figure it out on the fly, only to be met in the end with the inability to answer your account. Ultimately rewarded with eternal shame everlasting disgrace, an eternal life void of His presence (Hell). Choose this day Whom you will serve. Its outcome has significant consequences.

1 “At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. 2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Daniel 12:1-2

Persecution As A Way of Separating…

Have you ever thought of persecution as a way of separating the sheep from the goats? A type of refining and cleansing of the true saints? The second we think we’ve got a good hold on scripture, God opens our eyes to new and much deeper understanding of Who He is; leaving us more humble and less confident in ourselves. It’s what His Word does. It’s alive and active, sharper than any double edge sword, separating our worldly thoughts from those of eternal value. It’s only when we seek Him whole-heartedly, that He allows us deeper understanding. Pursue Him today, with your whole heart; prove to yourself that He is LORD of your life.

34 During these persecutions, little help will arrive, and many who join them will not be sincere. 35 And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come. Daniel 11:34-35

TRUST Is The Basis Of Any Relationship…..

Regardless of what people think, God’s sovereignty reigns on this earth. Nothing happens without His knowledge; not even one sparrow falling to the ground. Yet we act as if chance and randomness reign. We worry about our finances. We struggle with worry, creating anxiety that often requires medication to remedy it. We watch the news and get terrified or depressed. We witness arrogant people boast and make claims as if they are in control. We see governments crumble or make decisions that hurt their own people. And in all of this we fail to see the God of all creation participating, patiently waiting and watching His plan play out. Why is it that we fail to see this? To trust Him in all of it? The answer is simple, we are fickle. We simple lack the consistent ability to stay steadfast in our faith. We fail to set aside our feelings and focus on what we know to be true. We fail to grasp the security right in front of us that only God provides. We fail to see the GOODNESS of God. Imagine how different our lives would be if we trusted God more and ourselves less? Everything happens at its appointed time. We can’t stop it. Why not accept God’s sovereignty and make Him Lord of our life? Then when adversity comes, and it will come, we can rest assured in His sovereign will. God’s grace and love covers a multitude of sins. And that makes us acceptable to Him. Everything has an appointed time. Embrace God’s sovereignty, for it it for our good, and it will help you truly live. Trust is the basis in any relationship. It’s a two-way street. God can and should be trusted. It’s for our own good. With it comes peace, security, and purpose; the kind that only God can give. Without it, well, you’ve probably experienced this all the days of your life, so you already know the answer to the question, “how’s it working for you?”

27 Seeking nothing but each other’s harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come at the appointed time. Daniel 11:27

29 “Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different. Daniel 11:29

36 “The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place. Daniel 11:36

The Word “Sorry”…..

One of the simplest and most life-changing words in the English language is the word “Sorry”. It’s hard to say if you’re the offender, but medicine to the ears of the offended. It’s what God wants from us when we mess up. Yet so many people refuse to use it. If God is quick to forgive when we repent, why is it so hard to say? If forgiveness is right there waiting for us to experience, why are we so reluctant to say it? If we want to hear it when we are offended, why is it so hard to say? Simply because we don’t want to. It’s simply a matter of pride. We want what we are not willing to give. When you boil it down to the core, it’s hypocritical isn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be relieved of guilt and shame? The deeper question that needs to be asked is, “is not saying it really worth it”?

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:8-10

Would A Glimpse Into Your Future Change You?

If I could take you into the future, and you were to get a glimpse of what your life would be like, do you think it would change you? What if I took you into Heaven? What kind of effect do you think it would have on you? Do you think your priorities would change? What you value most, would it be different? Peter tells us that every thing on this earth is going to burn up. That means all those fancy clothes you just bought, thinking they would satisfy a need or want you had, or that new (fill in here what drives your spending) will bring you temporary joy, really don’t matter. Things don’t satisfy, at least not for very long. To think that we work hard for an income, then spend that money on things that will eventually be burned up, is rather silly isn’t it? Here’s the truth to this: what we invest in reveals what’s in our hearts. If we invest in things, it shows us that we are focused on the temporal (things that will eventually be burned up). It’s not until we focus on the eternal, our experiences and relationships, that we begin to live out the eternal. In the end the only two things that will last forever are the souls of people and God’s Word. Why not start today to start investing in people’s lives by developing better relationships and creating experiences that point others to God. That type of attitude and work will last forever. And even more importantly, you’ll be pleasing God, bringing to yourself a sense of satisfaction that no one can take away. Being rich toward God both gives and receives at the same time. There’s no fire that can destroy that.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, He will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.15 And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. 2 Peter 3:10-15a

Response To “God Is A Ruthless Tyrant”…..

When someone tells you, “God is a ruthless tyrant; a killjoy”, respond by quoting this passage. See what their response is when they hear God doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. He wants everyone to repent. Sometimes, the only way that happens is for Him to allow adversity to reign in one’s life. When a person sees how their own selfishness impedes their growth and maturity, as well as hurts others, it kind of changes the perspective of the rebel, doesn’t it? What’s wrong with wanting someone to say “sorry” when they know they are guilty?

8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:8-9

If Only We Were Allowed To Get A Glimpse….

Have you ever thought about when the Bible talks about angels? How they are constantly at work, doing the will of God? How evil is allowed to reign, but only for a short while, even if for only 1 second? How we fight not against flesh and blood, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world? Here in Daniel chapter 10 we read on one such instance. An man dressed in white linen appeared to him on the bank of the Tigris River. His purpose was to fight against these evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world. If only we were allowed to get a glimpse of this battle. Maybe we wouldn’t take things for granted? Maybe we wouldn’t be so nonchalant about our faith? Maybe we’d see the spiritual world for the first time and it would change us permanently, forever. Even if we never get that chance we must never forget this is going on every day. Since we know this is true, believe it. Accept it. Ask God to help you live in such a way that your behavior reflects as if you actually experienced what Daniel did. Seeing spiritually isn’t difficult, especially when you ask God to give you His insights on this world we live in. It’s just a matter of persistence and focus on the invisible. Once trained, you’ll never see things the same ever again.

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future–times of war and great hardship.2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.4 On April 23 , as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. 16 Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”20 He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. 21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince. Daniel 10:1-21

Humility Is A Gift From God….

Humility is a gift from God; it’s a mindset. It starts from not expecting God to help you because you deserve it, rather He helps you because that’s Who He is. His mercy extends to us all, not based on merit, but on His reputation. The best way to see if you’re growing in grace is to examine your level of humility. The more you plead with God, asking Him for help without demanding anything, the more you’ll realize His grace is sufficient, and you’re selflessness (love) is maturing as well. Humility is not thinking less of who you are (for you are His child), it’s thinking of yourself less. When you focus on and follow God, it accomplishes this task. Daniel knew this, it’s crystal clear in his prayer.

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, You are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill Your covenant and keep Your promises of unfailing love to those who love You and obey Your commands. 5 But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against You and scorned Your commands and regulations. 6 We have refused to listen to Your servants the prophets, who spoke on Your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.7 “Lord, You are in the right; but as You see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever You have driven us because of our disloyalty to You. 8 O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against You. 9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him. 10 We have not obeyed the Lord our God, for we have not followed the instructions He gave us through His servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has disobeyed Your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to Your voice.“So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin. 12 You have kept Your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as You warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem. 13 Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing His truth. 14 Therefore, the Lord has brought upon us the disaster He prepared. The Lord our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey Him.15 “O Lord our God, You brought lasting honor to Your name by rescuing Your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness. 16 In view of all Your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn Your furious anger away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and Your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.17 “O our God, hear Your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For Your own sake, Lord, smile again on Your desolate sanctuary.18 “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open Your eyes and see our despair. See how Your city–the city that bears Your name–lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of Your mercy.19 “O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For Your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for Your people and Your city bear Your name.” Daniel 9:4-19

Restraints To Our Sexual Behavior….

There are restraints when it comes to our sexual behavior. “Rebellers” can give all kinds of answers as to why Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed, but the Bible clearly tells us it was because of its shameful immorality. This includes their “twisted sexual desire” and their despise of authority. You see God designed us to work a certain way, so when we choose to go a different path, there are consequences for this rebellious behavior. There will always be right and wrong, and some in between behaviors. But one thing is crystal clear, God is just and His justice is the most appropriately “fair” judgements possible. God cannot lie, and He doesn’t make mistakes. So when we go against Him, we will always suffer, not because He doesn’t love us, rather because of our own choosing to live in a way that is detrimental to us and others. No matter how society views a lifestyle, no amount of popular acceptance will ever “make right” a “wrong behavior”. When you go against God, you will always lose. We are accountable to this truth, regardless if we believe it or not.

7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. 2 Peter 2:7-10

18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 2 Peter 2:18-19

When Our Reverence Keeps Us Humble…

When our reverence for God keeps us humble, God uses us to show our enemies how great and awesome He is. So much so, they even praise Him with their own mouths. Nebuchadnezzar heard Daniel’s accurate interpretation of his dream and not only promoted Daniel into a powerful position, but also praised his God. Wow!!!

24 Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, whom the king had ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream.”25 Arioch quickly took Daniel to the king and said, “I have found one of the captives from Judah who will tell the king the meaning of his dream!”26 The king said to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), “Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?”27 Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.29 “While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen. 30 And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.31 “In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight. 32 The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, 33 its legs were iron, and its feet were a combination of iron and baked clay. 34 As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits. 35 The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.36 “That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means. 37 Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor. 38 He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.39 “But after your kingdom comes to an end, another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place. After that kingdom has fallen, yet a third kingdom, represented by bronze, will rise to rule the world. 40 Following that kingdom, there will be a fourth one, as strong as iron. That kingdom will smash and crush all previous empires, just as iron smashes and crushes everything it strikes. 41 The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron. 42 But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as clay. 43 This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.44 “During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever. 45 That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.” Nebuchadnezzar Rewards Daniel 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.”48 Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. 49 At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court. Daniel 2:24-49