A Divided Heart Keeps Us From His Heart….

You’ve read the proverb about guarding your heart, right? Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (4:23). Why do you think Solomon wrote this? Why would he make guarding your heart such a priority? The answer can be found throughout scripture. Here in Exodus 28, we read of the design of the priest’s chestpiece. The stones that represented the twelve tribes were to be worn closest to his heart, as a reminder to Aaron that every time he entered the presence of the Lord it was these objects that would be used to determine the Lord’s will for his people. Knowing our place, in relation to God and people determines everything. It’s not losing sight of what’s important, and not allowing ourselves to get too busy, too distracted, too lazy, too comfortable, or too complacent that drives us away from what God wants from us. God wants our best, and a divided heart keeps us from His best. Jesus also said that whatever we treasure most reveals what’s in our heart, what we prioritize to the highest degree (Matt6:21). Our goal is to love God and love people. Part of that process is guarding our hearts, always holding God closest to our heart, thus revealing to ourselves where our priorities truly lie.

29 “In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord. 30 Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for His people whenever he goes in before the Lord. Exodus 28:29-30

23 Guard your heart above all else,for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23

21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:21

God Is The Father Of Creativity….

Could you imagine God showing you something, either in tangible form or in a detailed vision, and asking you to build one? You’d have a visual reference in your mind to use as the blueprint/instructions. God did this very thing with Moses when He instructed him to build the altar in Exodus. Do you ever hear someone say, “I made it from an idea I had in my head”. Or maybe, “it’s exactly how I saw it in my head”. Artists and creatives have this kind of mental vision. Actually we all do, it’s just a matter of listening and doing something about it. How do I know this? Because God Himself is the ultimate Creator, and He has made us in His image. The downside to this is when we don’t nurture our creative side it dies. Once dead, there’s no reviving it, without Divine intervention. If we ask God for instructions, He will always provide a way. When He does, be ready to act on it, so when the final piece comes together, you can credit Him with the idea. God is the Father of creativity. We all have. Put it to good use today.

8 The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Build it just as you were shown on the mountain. Exodus 27:8

Deserved Of Our Focus And Attention….

If you ever want to know what intimacy with God looks like, read a psalm from scripture. There’s nothing like reading some of David’s writings. He got it. He knew God. And although he wasn’t perfect (like the rest of us), he knew where to turn when he was down-trodden. He knew where to go when he wanted to celebrate. He knew God is the center of his life. God is deserved of our focus and attention. When we step down off the throne of our life, and rightly place God there, our souls are revived. Joy comes to the heart when we volitionally serve God. It gives us insight for living. Our greatest reward in serving the Lord is His presence. There’s just no substitute this side of Heaven that can match the joy, peace, purpose, and security one gets when he fully surrenders his life to walking with God. Is He Lord of your life? David got it. You can’t help but see the mindset David had. The confidence, courage, satisfaction, purpose, and peace that come from knowing God are free to all who decide to learn their place by pursuing God. It’s the only true way to understand oneself. If you want that kind of life, you know what you have to do, don’t you? Simply ask, then put into action what you know to be true. You’ll experience everything David experienced and more. How do I know this? God promises it to all who believe and live by faith in Him.

 The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,making wise the simple.8 The commandments of the Lord are right,bringing joy to the heart.The commands of the Lord are clear,giving insight for living.9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,lasting forever.The laws of the Lord are true;each one is fair.10 They are more desirable than gold,even the finest gold.They are sweeter than honey,even honey dripping from the comb.11 They are a warning to Your servant,a great reward for those who obey them. 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?Cleanse me from these hidden faults.13 Keep Your servant from deliberate sins!Don’t let them control me.Then I will be free of guiltand innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouthand the meditation of my heartbe pleasing to You,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:7-14

No Excuses For The World’s Problems….

If people would only understand Christianity is more than a “religion”. It’s not a crutch, and it’s not a hocus-pocus practice. It’s about a relationship with our Creator. It’s a transformed heart and life. It’s a uniting of people, under God, that can achieve anything. Think about it? When people become united, they always accomplish more. It’s only when there’s disunity, that things start to lose its effectiveness. Imagine what Christians could do if they didn’t allow their own laziness or selfishness to filter into the Gospel’s cause? Imagine how effective their witness would be? Nothing is impossible with God, for He has given us everything we need. It’s just a matter of rearranging (changing our priorities) the things He’s given us. If every single person would acknowledge God, and surrender their own pride, there would be no need that goes unmet. God’s Spirit unites, and it’s only through His Spirit that eternally significant things are ever achieved. The Israelites united, they gave some of what they possessed. The ark of the covenant along with all the other necessities of the Tabernacle were built. Isn’t it amazing when people are united in Spirit by God? Imagine what can be done when you allow God’s Spirit to move inside of you. There really are no excuses for the world’s problems. It’s just a matter of Who/who you are living for?

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to bring Me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. 3 Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze;4 blue, purple, and scarlet thread;fine linen and goat hair for cloth;5 tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather;acacia wood;6 olive oil for the lamps;spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense;7 onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece. 8 “Have the people of Israel build Me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. 9 You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you. Exodus 25:1-9

Love The Lord… Love Your Neighbor…..

Reading through Exodus chapter 23 the theme is crystal clear. It can be summed up in two short commands: “Love the Lord your God with all your mind, strength, heart, and soul. And love your neighbor as yourself”. When we do these two things the earth and everything in it flourishes. God promised the Israelites good nutrition, protection from illness, and no reproduction problems to those that serve Him only. He even promises them a long, full life. His design for us incorporates these two principles. Which basically says, follow Him and live your life not so focused on yourself. It seems pretty simple and straight forward. It’s when we run into compromises that the train starts to derail. When we get away from these two commands that we lose sight and begin to stray away from doing what’s right. We must always use discernment when it comes to loving our neighbor. And sometimes that means not being too receptive to their anti-God ideas and lifestyles. We must insulate ourselves with His Holy Spirit, this helps us live in the world, without being of it. Anything that goes against God, should be carefully handled. If we don’t, we will eventually fail at both of these clear commands God has given us. Stay close to God, and love people, it’s what He wants from us. And it guarantees our significance, our peace, and our purpose in this life. All of which there is no law.

20 “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. 21 Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is My representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion. 22 But if you are careful to obey him, following all My instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you. 23 For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them completely. 24 You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars.25 “You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. 26 There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives.27 “I will send My terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run. 28 I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. 30 I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land. 31 And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River. I will hand over to you the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you.32 “Make no treaties with them or their gods. 33 They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against Me. If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry.” Exodus 23:20-33

Your Actions Will Speak For You….

I’ve always had an issue with arrogance. I’ve never liked it when I hear people brag, exalting themselves above others. Athletes and young men seem to be the majority of these arrogant folks. My take on this subject is if your good at what your bragging about, even the best at it, then keep your mouth shut, and let your actions speak for you. You don’t need to announce your greatness to others. Your actions will speak for you, and they will be louder than any words you could ever speak. God doesn’t like it when people exalt themselves. It’s like wanting extra attention when it’s not necessary. Our significance comes from God, so there is no need to exalt ourselves. Our job is to point others to God, and we can’t do that when our focus is drawing attention to ourselves. God will not share His Glory with anyone or thing. He will humble the proud and arrogant. It’s just something He does. In my life I’ve never been one to want attention. As a matter of fact, I tend to always try to deflect attention away from myself. Maybe it’s just my way of keeping myself in check, humbling myself. I’d rather see someone else lifted up, and most importantly, God lifted up, because it brings me joy to know that’s what God would want. Arrogance, aside from joking around, shouldn’t be part of the life of a believer. If it is, a humbling experience is waiting for you. And it’ll be here before you know it. In God’s economy, humility ranks right at the top.

11 The greatest among you must be a servant.12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12

The Important Part Of Mistakes…

What we do and say doesn’t always match up. We are human, we make mistakes. That’s part of life. The important part of mistakes is learning from them. Do they serve a purpose? Or do they just continue to frustrate you? Doing what you say should be the most important virtue you hold. If a man can’t be true to his word, what can he be true to? There’s an even more important aspect to this scenario. It’s what we do about the times we slip and fall, when we don’t live up to our word. When this happens, it’s paramount to make right what we’ve done wrong. It’s an even greater witness to a doubting world. The only thing wrong with making a mistake, is not learning from it. I’ll guarantee you this, your witness will be more powerful and effective, when others see how you handle your mistakes. And God will honor you when you choose to make them right.

28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’29 The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.30 Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?”They replied, “The first.”Then Jesus explained His meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins. Matthew 21:28-32

The Reason People Don’t Know God….

The number one reason there are problems in the Church today can be traced all the way back to Jesus’ day. The reason people don’t know God is because they don’t take the time to read and study the scriptures. It’s that simple. If you are not taking time to know God (by reading His word), then how can you expect to be in His will, or be doing what pleases Him if you’re clueless as to what He wants? How can you have a relationship with someone if you never spend time with them? If you want to know God, and know yourself, get into His word. You can’t know what you don’t try to know. This is the problem of the Church today.

29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. Matthew 22:29

Without Proper Fear Of God….

Fear is a good thing, when it’s put in its proper place. Think about it, fear protects. Fear humbles. Fear prevents us from doing stupid things. In our faith (Christianity) fear is a healthy thing. Fear of Hell, fear of disappointing God and other believers, and fear of not fulfilling our purpose, help keep us going. Some would say this fear is wrong, it shouldn’t be there. We shouldn’t live in fear. I would ask them what fear are you talking about and why? Sure fear causes people to do certain things, which can be detrimental, but true, honest, God-placed fear is good. If you don’t like the word fear, then substitute the word respect, or reverence for. Does that make it easier to accept? Our fear of God, i.e. reverence for, respect for, should keep us from adopting a mindset of sinning is okay. That’s when you know your fear is the kind that God designed for us. Without proper fear of God, willful sinning will become part of your everyday life. You won’t even bat an eye at it when you’re doing it. Fear is a test, to see what’s in your heart.

20 “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of Him will keep you from sinning!” Exodus 20:20

People’s Misconception Of Hell…..

One topic we hear very little about today is about Hell. We hear it it uttered in our language, but it’s usually mumbled as a cuss word. We read of Jesus’ words used in this parable, outer darkness. This would describe the darkness farthest from the light, i.e., outer darkness. Where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This speaks of inconsolable grief and unremitting torment. Jesus commonly used the phrases in this verse to describe hell. Does this sound like the words you hear when people talk about Hell. I hear people all the time say things like, “well, I’ll be there with my friends and party like it’s 1999”. Or even, “if that’s what a loving God does, then I’ll prefer to go to Hell, for I’ll be with my friends”. People’s misconception of Hell doesn’t even come close to the Hell Jesus described throughout scripture. It’s not a place where there will be partying, or even relationships. Outer darkness, weeping and gnashing teeth, eternal torment; do those statements sound like a place you’d want to go to? Me neither. Wake up, take heed to Jesus’ words. Hell wasn’t made for human beings, yet it’s a place we will go if we allow our pride to override our innate sense of truth and justice. Hell is a place of choice. You either choose Jesus, and follow Him throughout eternity. Or you choose “self”, deny God, and end up in “outer darkness”, where you’ll be weeping, angry, resentful, and alone, with no relief, ever. The choice is obvious. So the next time you here the word Hell, apply Jesus’ words to it. It just might have the impact it’s supposed to have.

1 Jesus also told them other parables. He said, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:1-14

Trying To Please Everyone….

Being honest with yourself means being able to recognize truth and respond accordingly (accept it). Being politically correct may “save face” temporarily, but in the end, you put a great amount of energy into it without going anywhere. It’s like reving your engine to show off the power of your car, but lacking the ability to move one inch in your drive way. Trying to please everyone only results in a dog and pony show that doesn’t get you paid. After awhile, you’ll find yourself begging on the streets looking for another job. Being “politically correct” is being willfully defiant to God. That’s just straight up truth.

23 When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to Him. They demanded, “By what authority are You doing all these things? Who gave You the right?”24 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 25 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, He will ask us why we didn’t believe John. 26 But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” 27 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things. Matthew 21:23-27

Enough…..

Enough. If only we understood this concept. God is enough. He gives us exactly what we need when we need it. To some, He gives more, and others He gives less. But in either case, it’s enough for that person. Yet in all of this, we try to get more than enough. Here’s a perfect example of this concept. In the wilderness, the Israelites complained about not having food. God provided manna for them. They were instructed to only collect enough for their family for one day. When people tried to get more than enough, the extra food rotted with maggots. But on the day before the Sabbath day, they were to collect enough manna for two days. This extra day’s food would not rot. God did this for 40 years. How often are we discontent with “enough”? How hard do we try to get more than “enough”? Why do we try? Is our faith “enough”? Is God going to break His promise to supply for our needs? Let go of this “I’m in control” attitude. Stop trying to play God, and allow God to do what He says He’ll do. Trust in Him. Watch your faith grow when you put it into action. Your works are evidence of your faith being real. Think about it, when we act on what we believe to be true, our faith becomes more real to us. We see God more and more in our lives. And that is evidence that proves our faith is real, especially to us. We need to get over “I need more”, and accept the fact that God will provide for our needs. Let go of the “wants”, and focus on God fulfilling our needs. It is “enough”.

Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow My instructions. 5 On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.”6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because He has heard your complaints, which are against Him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?” 8 Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for He has heard all your complaints against Him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.”9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Announce this to the entire community of Israel: ‘Present yourselves before the Lord, for He has heard your complaining.’ ” 10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the Lord in the cloud.11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”13 That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. 14 When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. 15 The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was.And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat. 16 These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.”17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.19 Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.21 After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual–four quarts for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. 23 He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.”24 So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. 25 Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord. There will be no food on the ground today. 26 You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.”27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. 28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey My commands and instructions? 29 They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why He gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.” 30 So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day.31 The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers.32 Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: Fill a two-quart container with manna to preserve it for your descendants. Then later generations will be able to see the food I gave you in the wilderness when I set you free from Egypt.”33 Moses said to Aaron, “Get a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna. Then put it in a sacred place before the Lord to preserve it for all future generations.” 34 Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it in the Ark of the Covenant–in front of the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. 35 So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.36 The container used to measure the manna was an omer, which was one tenth of an ephah; it held about two quarts. Exodus 16:1-36

25 To the faithful You show Yourself faithful;to those with integrity You show integrity.26 To the pure You show Yourself pure,but to the wicked You show Yourself hostile.27 You rescue the humble,but You humiliate the proud. Psalms 18:25-27

You Can’t Beat God….

One of the saddest things about people when they try to oppose God, in all their vigor to disprove, or ridicule believers, or even do evil acts out of hatred, their drive to win the battle is only because of deception employed by Satan himself. If people knew they couldn’t win against opposing God, maybe most of them wouldn’t even try. Satan fights a losing battle. He knows he can’t win, but that doesn’t stop him from continuing to deceive people away from God. If you think about it, Satan can’t beat God, but in his outright, blatant hatred of Him, he still tries to do everything in his power to oppose everything God wants for us. It’s his way of “getting back at God”. And we believe and follow him at times. Here in Exodus chapter 15, we read the song of deliverance of the Israelites after being rescued from pharaoh. Think about it, if the Egyptians knew they couldn’t defeat the Israelites, they wouldn’t have been deceived into chasing after them. They wouldn’t have hastened their own death, by entering the Red Sea. Their deception by Satan, and their belief that they could defeat God, led them to their demise. If the world, who preaches against racism, prejudice, and hatred, could truly see Satan’s vile deceptive plan to oppose God, maybe it wouldn’t rush into this destructive spider’s web so quickly. Maybe when it realizes “YOU CAN’T BEAT GOD”, it will realize the hypocrisy in its efforts and actually stand on its own principles that hate hatred. Regardless, for believers, we must see Satan’s deceptive practices and put a stop to allowing them to influence us in our behaviors and reactions to others who oppose God. When we see it this way, it should change our approach to how we treat others. Deception changes everything. And it’s our proper response to shine the light, God’s truth, into it to expose it for what it truly is, one being’s hatred for God, so much so, Satan is willing to go down in flames in a losing battle just to try to hurt God. It’s evil in its purest form. We must see it, and get rid of any form of it in our own lives first. Once we do that, we will be able to see more clearly to help those who lack spiritual sight.

7 In the greatness of Your majesty,You overthrow those who rise against You.You unleash Your blazing fury;it consumes them like straw.8 At the blast of Your breath,the waters piled up!The surging waters stood straight like a wall;in the heart of the sea the deep waters became hard. 9 “The enemy boasted, ‘I will chase them and catch up with them.I will plunder them and consume them.I will flash my sword;my powerful hand will destroy them.’10 But You blew with Your breath,and the sea covered them.They sank like lead in the mighty waters. Exodus 15:7-10

Pride Has A Way Of Justifying….

If pride isn’t a huge issue, then why does the Bible talk about it so much? Simply because it’s the one thing that keeps us out of God’s will the most. Pride has a way of justifying our mistakes over God’s truth. It’s like an insect getting caught in a spider’s web. The more you struggle in it, the more trapped you become, sealing your fate. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Examine yourself, see if there are any areas of pride roaming free. Then put an end to it before it scars you for life.

3 follow my advice and save yourself, for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy. Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased.4 Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do.5 Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net. Proverbs 6:3-5

Revolves Around Him, Not Us…

This parable can have many applications. Money, being first, selfishness, pride, assumption, to name a few. But the underlying principle is this: God is the One in control, and everything belongs to Him. It’s not until we accept this fact that life gets better for us. Better, meaning easier to understand. Once we accept God’s truth and authority (His way), we won’t find ourselves flying off the handle, getting mad and disappointed as much. Why? Because we understand the center of the universe revolves around Him, not us.

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage.10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage.11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner,12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage?14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16

God Knows Us Better…..

If there was a way to strip off the deception sin has and show a man it’s enslaving nature, do you think it would change him? Maybe. Some would get it right away and repent. Some would be devastated because they would realize the truth but not know how to deal with it. Some would just blow it off, wishing it away. And some would ignore it and continue on living the same way. Whichever category you see yourself in reveals the condition of your heart. If change is to occur, it starts with your willingness to accept truth. God knows us better than we know ourselves. And the truth is this, we are all sinners in need of a Savior.

21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,examining every path he takes.22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins;they are ropes that catch and hold him.23 He will die for lack of self-control;he will be lost because of his great foolishness. Proverbs 5:21-23

More Than The Boundaries Of Time Can Hold….

One mistake we all make is forgetting that all of this is temporary. Our home is with God. Our home is in Heaven. We are only here for a short while. Our duty is to know God and make Him known. Our significance comes from the process of doing this. When we look to this world for our reward, we never get the satisfaction we think it should deliver. We were made for so much more, more than the boundaries of time can hold. It’s only when we learn to live with eternity in mind that we realize this earth is not our home. And everything in it can only satisfy a temporary, external need. Nothing can fulfill our spirits like God does.... nothing on earth can make a dent in our pursuit of significance. It only comes from God. It’s taken a long time for me to understand this. I still struggle with it at times. But in the bigger picture of eternity, I find myself always coming back to the truth. Never allow your feelings and thoughts to cloud your theology. We must always act on what we know to be true. God spells it out for us in the Bible. One more reason to be in it daily. The temporary things of this world might be our rewards for little things, but they fail in comparison to that which is reserved in Heaven for our work done with a sincere heart and Eternity in our foresight. We are not home yet....

14 By the power of Your hand, O Lord,destroy those who look to this world for their reward.But satisfy the hunger of Your treasured ones.May their children have plenty,leaving an inheritance for their descendants.15 Because I am righteous, I will see You.When I awake, I will see You face to face and be satisfied. Psalms 17:14-15

Why Try To Fix What Ain’t Broke?

In a world confused of gender and marriage issues, I’m so glad God gave us His book. Jesus makes crystal clear here the realm of marriage, divorce, and gender design. Marriage is between one man and one woman. Divorce is a matter of hard hearts. And gender is a matter of God’s design. The problem with all of these issues is a matter of accepting God’s ways or not accepting them. If we choose to live within the parameters God has designed, things work (with His help). If we choose to cross over the boundaries of God’s design we invite chaos, conflict, and dissension into our lives. These are things that are difficult to deal with, and always rob us of the joy God has intended for us to experience. When we turn our backs on God, He allows the consequences of our rebellion to play themselves out; and that means misery to all. God has a design, and when we follow it, things work as they should. We benefit from living within the God’s design. Why try to fix what ain’t broken?

1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. 2 Large crowds followed Him there, and He healed their sick.3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap Him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’5 And He said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery–unless his wife has been unfaithful.”10 Jesus’ disciples then said to Him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”11 “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps.12 Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” Matthew 19:1-12

Never Share It With Strangers….

Is there specific evidence of God wanting sex to stay within the realm of marriage? Here in Proverbs chapter 5 we see clear evidence that would support this principle. I can’t explain any more clearly than Solomon does here. “Drink from your own well”, “share your love only with your wife”, “why spill the water of your springs in the streets”, “never share it with strangers”. What more evidence do we need? God’s design is for sex to be intimately shared between two people, a man and his wife. If Solomon was deemed by God, the wisest man to ever live, don’t you think we need to take heed to what he says about sex? Stop listening to what the world says about sex. And stop listening to what your mind says because it “feels right”. Do what’s right. And your body, your mind, and your relationships will all benefit from it.

15 Drink water from your own well–share your love only with your wife.16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,having sex with just anyone?17 You should reserve it for yourselves.Never share it with strangers. 18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.Rejoice in the wife of your youth.19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.Let her breasts satisfy you always.May you always be captivated by her love.20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman? Proverbs 5:15-20

Better? Or Just Better Off?

When people hate on Christians for believing salvation only comes through Jesus, we must remember God chose us for a reason. Not that we are better than others, just better off. This attitude must be taken to heart, or it will go to our head and turn into a haughty spirit. Here in Exodus chapter 8 we read about the plague of flies. God sends this plague to the people of Egypt, but spares the region of Goshen, where the Israelites live. What does this show? That God cares for all of us. In order to make Himself known in Egypt, He worked miracles there, numerous ones. The purpose was to show People that He is real, He is God. In the process, He spared the people that already believed some of the suffering necessary for the non-believers to come to know Him. Just one more example of God honoring those that honor Him. So the next time you hear about or experience for yourself someone hating on believers for their “narrow view” of salvation, examine your own heart. See if it exudes in you any type of haughty spirit deserved of this kind of treatment. Then ask God for a piece of humble pie. We never want to give anyone the impression that we are better than them. Instead, we want to give them the opportunity impression that God loves them too, He just spares us sometimes of some of the suffering necessary for them to come to know Him. Are we better than non-believing haters? No, just better off.

21 If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them. 22 But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where My people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I am present even in the heart of your land. 23 I will make a clear distinction between My people and your people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’ ” Exodus 8:21-23

Why Would God Choose To Make Things Worse?

When we read about God working in mysterious ways, or everything working out for His good, what comes to mind? Can you give an example of this in your life? In someone else’s? Here’s an example of this process taking place. God tells Moses to go tell Pharaoh (through his brothers Aaron) to let His people go. God proceeds to tell Moses that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart. Doesn’t this seem to make matters worse? Why would God choose to “make things worse”? The simple answer is to multiply the number of miraculous signs and wonders. Why? So that more people will witness them, and thus know God. Think about that. God uses a pagan king, an unbeliever, by making him even harder than he is in order to give people more evidence to know Who He is. I think that exemplifies the above point, don’t you? In the end, God will get the glory. Even if it seems like He’s going about it in a way that doesn’t make sense to us. As Joseph stated at the end of Genesis, “what you meant for evil, God meant for good”. Does this give you a better glimpse into the heart of our Creator?

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. 2 Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. 3 But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply My miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down My fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue My forces–My people, the Israelites–from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. 5 When I raise My powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” Exodus 7:1-5

Selifishness Shortens Our Memory…

One of the things selfishness does to us is it shortens our memory. It tends to help us forget the good and focus on the task ahead. It helps us lose sight of what life is really all about. And lastly, it helps us forget about the important lessons we learned or should’ve learned. Here we have a man who was forgiven a huge debt. The debt was so large he would never be able to repay it. He pleads with the king to allow him time to pay it back (which was impossible). The king feels compassion for the man so he forgives him of his debt. Instead of being grateful, the man goes out and abuses someone who owed him a small portion of money (as compared to his own debt). He throws him in jail. In his attempt to pay back the king’s debt, the man lost sight of what had transpired when the king forgave his debt. His pride, his selfishness caused him to treat another human being worse than he was treated before he was forgiven. I think that’s the biggest problem in society today. Our selfishness and pride misinterpret what forgiveness really is. We don’t know how to rightly respond to Gods Grace. Instead of seeing it as a release from a debt we can never repay, we see it as an opportunity to try to pay it all back. In the process we lose sight of the importance of what means most to God, human beings. We forget what we’ve been granted, and focus on what we can do to pay it all back. It’s impossible. Instead of focusing on ourselves, why not focus on the Granter of this Graceful act. Why not try to emulate what He has done for us. We are all debtors/transgressors. We have all broken the contract of the loan. We cannot pay it back. Stop trying to justify. Stop trying to figure out a way to pay back the loan (that’s what being religious does). Admit to yourself and to God that what He has done is the only remedy to the problem of sin. Then act on what you know to be true. And that is being grateful to the One Who paid your debt in full, cancelling the punishment you deserve. Emulate the grace that was extended to you toward others. That way, God will see the only right response we can have towards His mercy, and be proud of us. And just as important, it will prove to ourselves by being tangible evidence that we truly do love Him. “Be merciful, for I am merciful.” It’s how we thank God, out of gratitude not obligation.

21 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold–along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned–to pay the debt.26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded.30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened.32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me.33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.35 “That’s what My heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35

Seeking God’s Presence Is Our Ultimate Goal…

The ultimate goal for the believer is not getting to Heaven. The ultimate goal is enjoying the joy of God’s presence (knowing God). That can be experienced now, here on earth, as well as in Heaven. It’s our walk with Him on a daily basis that is the goal of the Christian believer. It’s our fellowship, our intimacy with Him that matters most. If we can experience it here on earth, just imagine, when we are freed from all the restrictions we have here in these mortal bodies, what it will be like in Heaven. Remember, Heaven is our hope for the future, seeking God’s presence is our ultimate goal. When we do this, Heaven becomes our guaranteed future, an even more intimate walk with the Lord.

I will bless the Lord who guides me;even at night my heart instructs me.8 I know the Lord is always with me.I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. 9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.My body rests in safety.10 For You will not leave my soul among the deador allow Your holy one to rot in the grave.11 You will show me the way of life,granting me the joy of Your presenceand the pleasures of living with You forever. Psalms 16:7-11a

Putting Your Trust In God, Not Yourself…

Moses seemed to have no confidence in himself when God asked Him to speak to Pharaoh. He whined and complained, and told God to pick someone else. But despite his lack of confidence in himself and unwillingness to go speak, God used him anyway. God granted Moses everything he needed to overcome his faults and lack of confidence. Look at the results. If God can do it with Moses, He certainly can do it with you. He only requires a desire to know Him, being honest with yourself, and put whatever trust you can muster in Him, not ourselves. Moses experienced the rewards of being faithful, and so can we. Times may change, and people may change, but God doesn’t. He always honors those that honor Him. It starts with humility, which really means, putting your trust in God, not yourself.

28 When the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 He said to him, “I am the Lord! Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, everything I am telling you.” 30 But Moses argued with the Lord, saying, “I can’t do it! I’m such a clumsy speaker! Why should Pharaoh listen to me?” Exodus 6:28-30

Bring Our Request To God….

When a situation doesn’t seem like it’s supposed to, you have to take it to God. Then be patient while you trust Him to work it out. Here Moses didn’t have patience. He saw Pharaoh increase the demand on the Hebrew slaves, making their lives more miserable and fearful. He heard the complaints and threats from his own people. So how did Moses react? He complained and whined and accused God of not doing anything about it. How often do we do the same exact thing, when we don’t get our way or things don’t seem to turn out the way we thought they should? Do we complain and whine? I know we are all human, fickle at its finest, but shouldn’t we bring our request to God, and then be patient and trust Him? If you’re struggling today with something that you don’t have answers for, go to God. Ask Him to work it out. Then, with all your might, be patient and trust Him. You’ll be surprised how different your attitude will be when you see the results of your faith. And most importantly, your faith will grow into an experience that will pay dividends in the future. Ask, trust, watch, see. That’s the basic formula of the Christian walk. God knows what He is doing, it’s just a matter of us seeing it, then acting responsibly to Him. Proof is in the pudding.

19 The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.” 20 As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. 21 The foremen said to them, “May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!”22 Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have You brought all this trouble on Your own people, Lord? Why did You send me? 23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh as Your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to Your people. And You have done nothing to rescue them!” Exodus 5:19-23

What Comes From The Heart….

Inner purity, what exactly does this mean? Simply put, using Jesus’ words, it’s what “come(s) from the heart”. When our hearts are aligned with God’s heart, inner purity exists. When our priority is God’s priority. It’s when we lay down our pride for Jesus’ sake. It’s when we empty ourselves of selfishness. When we are empty of self, God can fill us up with His Spirit. That’s inner purity. And it’s not something we compare, or brag about. It’s something we strive for as followers of Jesus. When we are right with God, our words reveal Who is really in control. Selfishness is the opposite of love. Until we understand this, inner purity is not possible, and our hearts lead us astray. The condition of the heart is what matters most to God. And it should matter most to us as well.

1 Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked Him, 2 “Why do Your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.”3 Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? 4 For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ 5 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’6 In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, 8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips,but their hearts are far from Me.9 Their worship is a farce,for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’” 10 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” He said, “and try to understand. 11 It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”12 Then the disciples came to Him and asked, “Do You realize You offended the Pharisees by what You just said?”13 Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by My heavenly Father will be uprooted, 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”15 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.”16 “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. 17 “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.18 But the words you speak come from the heart–that’s what defiles you.19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.” Matthew 15:1-20

It Was God Who Sent Me Here….

How many people do you know have the ability to forgive? I mean forgive major egregious acts? Even better, have you been able to forgive and work through a betrayal? When someone just flat out offended you on purpose? Joseph explains to his brothers that he forgave them after they sold him into slavery. To think they wanted him dead, all because of their jealousy, but God had a plan all along. The dream Joseph shared with his family about bowing down to him came true. All the years of being away from his family, being enslaved, and in prison, didn’t harm Joseph’s ability to forgive. He could’ve destroyed his brothers on the spot. Yet he chose to follow God, forgive, and was rewarded for his faithfulness. If you’ve ever set aside your pride and did what God wanted you to do, then you’ve tasted the glory God grants when we are obedient. If you’ve ever forgiven someone for treating you badly, then experienced freedom, then you know God’s ways are best. Could I forgive if I were in Joseph’s shoes? Not on my own, that’s for sure. It’s only when we make a decision to fully submit to God’s will that we can truly, honestly, freely, and fully forgive. Joseph did this, and so can you. If you’re struggling with unforgiveness in your life, ask God to help you, by empowering you with His Spirit. It’s the only avenue we can take that will lead to the freedom He has for us. It’s called grace.

1 Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was. 2 Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace.3 “I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. 4 “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. 6 This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. 8 So it was God who sent me here, not you! And He is the One who made me an adviser to Pharaoh–the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.9 “Now hurry back to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all the land of Egypt. So come down to me immediately! 10 You can live in the region of Goshen, where you can be near me with all your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. 11 I will take care of you there, for there are still five years of famine ahead of us. Otherwise you, your household, and all your animals will starve.’ ”12 Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph! 13 Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.” 14 Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same. 15 Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him. Genesis 45:1-15

Faith Takes Action…..

With Humanity, in all of its components, being distracted is high on the list. Here, Peter sees Jesus walking on water (a miracle), yet loses his focus by all the storm’s interactions. Here we have a man witnessing God Himself, walking on water. It’s not just water, but stormy water, tumultuous waves and high winds, all while standing in an unstable boat. Defying the natural laws of reality, would and should grab our attention. As long as Peter kept his eyes focused on Jesus, he was able to walk on the water towards Jesus. It’s when he allowed the storm to invade his focus that his ability to walk on water began to fail. Doubt is opposite of faith. It’s necessary, but we can’t allow it to grow and take over. Two points are clear here. First, faith takes focus. When faith is in action, there will be distractions. Satan won’t allow one single person to grow in faith without providing many distractions. Why? Because he doesn’t want God to get any glory. It’s that simple. Secondly, faith takes action. Use it or lose it. In order for faith to grow, it must be exercised. It’s when we act in “faith”, that we see it grow. And part of this action is for us to see it, to prove to ourselves that it’s real. Peter gives us a glimpse of these two principles. If you’re struggling with your faith, it may be because you’re distracted. You might just be focused on the wind and waves of life instead of on the One that has the answers to your struggle. Hunker down, concentrate on Jesus. Set your vision on the One Who walked on water. When you do, you’ll begin to see how important staying focused is, especially when the opportunity comes to walk with Jesus. Ask God to help you with your spiritual sight, and don’t be surprised when you have the opportunity to do what seems impossible. For with God, all things are possible.

22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that His disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while He sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. Night fell while He was there alone.24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage. I am here!”28 Then Peter called to Him, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water.”29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt Me?”32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped Him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.34 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 When the people recognized Jesus, the news of His arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. 36 They begged Him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of His robe, and all who touched Him were healed. Matthew 14:22-36

A Blessing Believers Tend To Take For Granted….

Here’s a blessing believers tend to take for granted. God blesses those who want to know Him with more knowledge about Him. For those who don’t want to know Him, He blocks knowledge of Him from ever entering their minds. Believers are blessed in more ways we can imagine. Thank Him today for what you know about Him. He chose you to reveal Himself to. Now that’s real treasure.

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see.They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say,you will not understand.When you see what I do,you will not comprehend.15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,and their ears cannot hear,and they have closed their eyes–so their eyes cannot see,and their ears cannot hear,and their hearts cannot understand,and they cannot turn to Meand let Me heal them.’ 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. Matthew 13:11-17

America Needs To Wake Up….

If God cannot lie. If God makes due on His promises. If God is in control and sovereign. Then any nation that turns their backs on Him, and ignores Him, will go down to the grave and be no more. America needs to wake up. If it continues to go down it’s liberal, anti-truth, anti-God path, it’s just a matter of time until it ceases to exist. Wake up. God will do what He says He’ll do. You can count on that.

17 The wicked will go down to the grave.This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.18 But the needy will not be ignored forever;the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed. Psalms 9:17-18