When God Is Our Greatest Possession…

It is not until we realize God’s presence is our greatest gift and joy, and act on it, that God’s will and purpose is fulfilled on this earth. When God becomes our greatest possession, life changes. We see from His perspective. We are freed from Satan’s ploy to steal our attention and distract us. And all the wants, anxieties, worries, and ambitious pursuits lose their appeal. When we realize God will provide for our every need (not all of our wants), we are freed to pursue the things that bring us real joy, real peace, and real purpose. His presence is our good. Just like the Levites not being given any land because God would be their possession, so we are to surrender our wants and desires to Him, pursuing Him daily, learning that what we possess as believers is our greatest possession. When God becomes our greatest possession, we fulfill His will in our lives. And we experience what He planned for us all along, since the beginning. True Salvation guarantees Heaven to us, but also brings a little bit of of its paradise and plants it in our hearts. When God is our greatest possession, we will be effective witnesses for Him every where we go. Isn’t that God’s will for our lives? Won’t that bring Him glory? And won’t that give us exactly what God planned for us since our birth, our significance? It’s the secret of life. As Augustine once said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

20 And the Lord said to Aaron, “You priests will receive no allotment of land or share of property among the people of Israel. I am your share and your allotment. 21 As for the tribe of Levi, your relatives, I will compensate them for their service in the Tabernacle. Instead of an allotment of land, I will give them the tithes from the entire land of Israel. Numbers 18:20-21

He Is For Us, Not Against Us…

You hear people say, “if God is so good, why did He let so-and-so die? Or prevent this disaster from happening? Or why did He allow this or that person to succeed? Or why did He give me cancer?” As human beings we will always question God’s actions. But what we fail to admit is all the things God does for our benefit, protection, and preservation that go unnoticed. Here’s an example of this in Numbers chapter 17. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, after escaping Pharaoh through the parting of the Red Sea, and even after receiving Manna from Heaven every single day for food, the Israelites still complained. It got so bad that there was a rebellion against Moses. Korah led this coup to oust Moses and Aaron from their leadership positions. God put a stop to that immediately. Korah, his family, and all the rebels died. To be exact 14,950 people perished, along with Korah and his cohorts. Even that didn’t change the hearts of the fickle people. Finally God made Aaron’s staff blossom with flowers and almonds to prove His choice of leadership belonged to Moses and Aaron. This budding staff was left in front of the ark of the covenant as a reminder of what God did, is doing, and will do to those who rebel. It is a reminder that a God is in control. It was God’s way of warning the people, and thus saving more lives from destruction. How many people talk about God doing things to prevent deaths? Or Him doing things to save people from doing stupid stuff? Or warning people to prevent suffering from happening? God is in control. Yes, it is sad when tragedy strikes, but it’s even more of a tragedy when people don’t seek God out. The only reason people say these negative things about God, is because they don’t know Him. They don’t seek Him out. They don’t acknowledge His Omnipotence. They don’t want to know Him, or they simply selfishly live their lives oblivious to His sovereign hand weaving the threads of grace, love, and purpose throughout every single person on this earth. It’s not until people truly seek Him through surrender, that the evidences of His workings are clear and plain to see. So the next time someone comes to you with these types of statements about God, simply tell them, “I don’t have an answer for your ‘Why’ question, but I do know God is in control. And His purpose is for His glory and our best”. What we don’t see, or don’t know, or never acknowledge is the fact that God is always proving Himself to us. We are weak, fragile, and insecure. Our fickleness is the direct outcome of a life lived solely for the purpose of pleasing oneself. Surrender that pursuit, and His presence and purpose will bring peace and contentment to your uncertain world. There’s so much more to this life than we will ever see. But a life of pursuing God gives clarity in knowing He is for us, not against us.

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel’s ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader’s name on his staff. 3 Inscribe Aaron’s name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you. 5 Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.”6 So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff. 7 Moses placed the staffs in the Lord’s presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant. 8 When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!9 When Moses brought all the staffs out from the Lord’s presence, he showed them to the people. Each man claimed his own staff. 10 And the Lord said to Moses: “Place Aaron’s staff permanently before the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a warning to rebels. This should put an end to their complaints against me and prevent any further deaths.” 11 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him.12 Then the people of Israel said to Moses, “Look, we are doomed! We are dead! We are ruined! 13 Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle of the Lord dies. Are we all doomed to die?” Numbers 17:1-13

The Only One With A Guarantee…..

Of all the religions in the world, Christianity is the only one with a guarantee. Romans 10:9-13 clearly tells us that if we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts, God will save us. That’s it. It’s that simple. But the problem is the confessing part. If we don’t “fess up” to God, He won’t forgive. God doesn’t give eternal life to those who never ask. Salvation, being with God, is all about accepting your responsibility to God first. The way you do it is to agree with Him, to see yourself as what you are, a lost sinner. Once you acknowledge that, He grants eternal life. It’s all about being honest with yourself, seeing yourself for who you really are; an enemy of God. Once you acknowledge that, forgiveness follows. If people only believed this to be true, life wouldn’t get so complicated. One of the three greatest words in the human language is “sorry” (the other two are “please and thanks”). When we learn how simple this is, forgiveness follows. Getting right with God is simple, it’s just not easy to do when we are prideful. Having your guilt and shame removed is only one honest conversation with God away. It’s a shame that few people don’t realize this. The world would be such a better place if people understood this one simple concept; and it comes with a guarantee.

1 Oh, what joy for thosewhose disobedience is forgiven,whose sin is put out of sight!2 Yes, what joy for thosewhose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,whose lives are lived in complete honesty!3 When I refused to confess my sin,my body wasted away,and I groaned all day long.4 Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me.My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt.I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalms 32:1-5

God Protects Those Who Are Loyal To Him…

With the theme of faith in recent posts, here’s evidence of its outcome. God protects those who are loyal to Him. How does this truth play into your daily life? Does it eliminate fear? Does it allow you to push forward and accomplish things you normally wouldn’t do? Does it help you boldly proclaim your faith knowing you are helping others by sharing the truth with them without fear of rejection? Or do you lack this loyalty? Do you keep it inside because of fear of rejection, losing your job, or being made fun of? If God protects those loyal to Him, what’s holding you back from being faithful?

23 Love the Lord, all you godly ones!For the Lord protects those who are loyal to Him,but He harshly punishes the arrogant.24 So be strong and courageous,all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalms 31:23-24

Paying The Price For Our Faithlessness…

When parents don’t teach their children about God, everyone suffers, especially the children. When we fail to witness to others, the entire community suffers. Wake up America. Wake up believers. Our children are paying the price for our faithlessness, and it will continue to pass on what we started from generation to generation. By not teaching our children the truth, truth becomes subjective. And when truth becomes subjective, God is ushered out of society. Everyone suffers when God is not welcome.

33 And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness. Numbers 14:33

Perception vs Faith…

Isn’t it amazing that two people can participate in an event and yet tell two totally different stories about it. Two people can experience something and then have two different attitudes about it. Take this passage in Numbers chapter 12 for instance. The 12 spies go to the promised land. They see all that’s there, even taking some of the harvest as examples of its bounty, and return to give a report. Everyone agrees, it is a beautiful and prosperous place. However, 10 of the spies tell Moses and the Israelites the people there are too strong for them, but Joshua and Caleb tell them they can conquer the place and live in the “land of milk and honey”. Perception is heavily influenced by what you believe. Our world view has so much influence, most don’t even realize it. Joshua and Caleb’s perception was “this place can be ours, with God’s help”. Yet the other 10 spies painted the picture of “we can’t go in there or we will die”. How often do you allow your perception to override your faith? If You know God wants you to do something, how often do you let fear stop you from doing it? We live in a world in which feelings are given more and more power to influence, causing more and more anxiety, worry, strife, fear, and the list goes on. Instead of giving in to fear and causing us to stop and retreat, why not give faith a chance? If God is in it, it will succeed. You can’t stop God from accomplishing His will. Stop focusing on what you can’t, and start doing what you can. That’s perception that focuses on what God can do, and not what you can’t do. At the end of your life will you be filled with regret because you perceived things to be hard so you quit trying? Or will you be proud of all that you’ve done because you believed God and put your faith into action? Perception vs faith, they are two totally different things, don’t confuse the two. With God all things are possible.

25 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned 26 to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. 27 This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country–a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. 28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.”30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”31 But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” 32 So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. 33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” Numbers 13:25-33

His Spirit In Us…..

One thing I think modern day believers take for granted is the fact that God puts His Spirit in us. Before Jesus came, only few had the privilege of receiving His Spirit. And it was only temporary. Here in Numbers chapter 11 we read of 70 leaders chosen to receive God’s Spirit in order to help Moses lead the Israelites in the wilderness. Two of the men were not even with the rest of the men at the Tabernacle, yet they received the same Spirit. This was a preview of what was to come after Jesus’ resurrection. Joshua was perturbed by these two men receiving the Spirit, but Moses reply settled the issue. It was almost identical to Jesus’ words to His disciples when they tried to stop others from casting out demons in His name. Jesus’ reply was very similar to Moses’ words, “whoever is not against us is for us”; “I wish... the Lord would put His Spirit upon us all”. If you don’t read the Old Testament, you’ll never fully appreciate and understand the New Testament. The Holy Spirit’s dwelling in us is a gift. It’s a gift few had in the past, and anyone can have now, it’s just a matter of asking God to be Lord of your life. Don’t take it for granted, because you’re the one who will miss out on all of its blessings if you do.

24 So Moses went out and reported the Lord’s words to the people. He gathered the seventy elders and stationed them around the Tabernacle. 25 And the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Then he gave the seventy elders the same Spirit that was upon Moses. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But this never happened again.26 Two men, Eldad and Medad, had stayed behind in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but they had not gone out to the Tabernacle. Yet the Spirit rested upon them as well, so they prophesied there in the camp. 27 A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant since his youth, protested, “Moses, my master, make them stop!”29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!” 30 Then Moses returned to the camp with the elders of Israel. Numbers 11:24-30

The Reality Of Hell….

The reality of Hell couldn’t be more clear than here in Mark chapter 9. Jesus tells his disciples that it would be better to be maimed here on earth and enter Heaven with less of a body or missing an eye, than to go into Hell healthy, with all bodily functions working. What does that say? It says whatever you think suffering really is, it won’t compare to the suffering in Hell. It says that whatever you sacrifice here on earth for the Gospel’s sake, Heaven will be worth it (for your godly suffering is only temporary). Hell will be like the worst possible suffering you can imagine magnified 10 trillion times worse. When Jesus says, “where maggots never die, and the fire never goes out”, He means there will be no end to the anguish. Imagine being exponentially angry. The Adrenalin pumping through your veins. The heightened awareness of pin-point focus of retaliation. The gritting of your teeth. The elevated blood pressure. All of this will go on, and on, and on, with no relief, ever. You will be in that constant state, never being able to relax and take a breath. And the worst part is you will know the regret of your decision, and yet never be able to reconcile it. You’ll have to live out the consequences forever, with no relief. So my question to anyone out there living a habitual, sinful, God-absent lifestyle: is it worth it? Is the trade off of the temporary high and excitement of sin, worth the eternal (never-ending) suffering worth it? And to think it’s God’s love for us that gives us the choice to choose Him or reject Him, leaving us with no excuse with our decision. God only grants Hell to those who choose it (by rejecting Him). It’s what real love does. Hell exists because the absence of real love on our part. It won’t be a pretty place. It’s our responsibility to paint this accurate picture of Hell to all of humanity. If we leave it out of the Gospel presentation, then we are not really presenting the gospel. I mean why did Jesus die on the cross? To save us from what? The reality of Hell is paramount in the presentation of the Gospel. Leaving it out of our witness only hurts the recipient of our presentation. Hell is real, we don’t need to sugar-coat it for the sake of our own preservation. I’d rather make someone feel a little uncomfortable now, then have them suffer immensely forever with no relief. Wouldn’t you?

42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands.44 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet.46 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’49 “For everyone will be tested with fire.50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” Mark 9:42-50

We Find Ourselves Struggling When…

Living as a Christian can be difficult at times. And it can be frustrating at times as well. We typically find ourselves struggling when we lose sight of one main principle found throughout the Gospels: Humble service is the core of serving Jesus. And there is no room in the Christian life for an arrogant, “me-first” attitude. Whenever we get caught up in our “selfishness”, expect turmoil in your life. You can’t serve two masters at once (God and self). This happens because the Spirit doesn’t move in you, when there’s no room given to move. If you’re full of yourself, there’s no room for God to work in your life. When you’re full of yourself, trying to be first, you can’t serve the two roles. As Joshua said in his day, “choose this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. In order to serve in God’s economy, you have to give up your desire to be first. When you do, God will use you in mighty ways to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Jesus made this crystal clear in today’s passage. Step aside, give up your front row seat, submit your will to God. Then watch what happens.

33 After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked His disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” 34 But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to Him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”36 Then He put a little child among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes not only Me but also My Father who sent Me.” Mark 9:33-37

When The Godly Succeed….

Here’s a truth that’s not popular today, and unfortunately very few people “get it”. When the godly succeed, everyone benefits from it. When the wicked succeed, it hurts society as a whole. When the wicked accomplish their agendas, it not only hurts many people in the process, it sets up an evil pattern for future generations to follow. And although success for the wicked is temporary, it’s consequences are eternal. Wickedness never benefits everyone. It actually destroys what is good. Like it or not, Good unifies and benefits everyone.

11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart. Proverbs 11:11

Knowing Where Your Faith Comes From….

Part of being a believer is knowing where your faith comes from. It’s not something you decide to do on your own. We can’t make up our own faith. God has to call out to you. Your response then opens the door to receive this gift of faith only God, Himself can give. Real, genuine, saving Faith comes from God. Do you ask Him to give more to you? Do you ever ask Him to help you overcome the obstacles standing in your way of believing and trusting Him more? It’s a humbling thing to have faith. Sadly, it’s not until adversity strikes, that we find the necessity to ask Him for help. The father of this demon-possessed boy reached that point. He was without remedy and losing hope. Jesus’ appearance gave the man one last chance of hope, so he humbled himself and asked, and Jesus (like always) didn’t disappoint. He healed his son all the while helping the man with his unbelief. God does the same for those willing to humble themselves and ask. Are you willing? How often do you ask God to increase your faith?

14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. 15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet Him.16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so You could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if You can.”23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, He rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” He said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with His disciples, they asked Him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”29 Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” Mark 9:14-29

If We Never Look Up…

The reason it’s so hard to be rich and still be humble and useful to God is because having money tends to make us look within for security and look down at others. Money tends to push God out, and usher in self. It’s like money becomes our god, or tries to replace Him. We put our faith in money’s ability to solve our problems. Think about it, having money means we can do more things. If something breaks, we go out and buy another one. If we get sick, we go to the doctor. If he doesn’t have a cure, we go see another doctor across the globe who specializes in our infirmity. When we have enough, we stop working and retire, doing and traveling where we want to go. Money affords these luxuries. However, money also blocks our ability to look up, the only direction we will ever find God. That’s the problem. If we never look up, we will never find the answer to our problem. If we never look up, we will never find the only legitimate Recipient of our gratitude and praise. If we never look up, when adversity comes that money has no answer for, we will collapse spiritually right along with it. Money may prolong life, but it cannot keep you from death. And living life from the wrong perspective cannot be as vibrant as knowing the truth and living by it. Being “rich” is an attitude. You can be “rich” without having the attitude money usually brings. Being “rich” is truly appreciating what you have, and knowing where it comes from. “Right living” means obeying and following God. And a lot of times it has nothing to do with the size of your bank account. It’s an attitude of looking up, and knowing your place in this world. Put your faith in the only Thing that is worthy and legitimate, God. He is outside of ourselves, and He doesn’t move; the two requirements of secure faith. Money can be taken away or lost, and thus, so is your faith when you entrust it to tangible, changing things. Look up, you’ll find true “riches”, that cannot be taken away or lost. And on that day you stand before God, you’ll hear those ever so solidifying words, “well done, good and faithful servant”. Being “rich” is an attitude, and it’s only legit when we remember to look up.

4 Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. Proverbs 11:4

The Key to Life Is Held…

There’s a constant battle going on out there. In the unseen world there are two sides fighting for our souls. One side tries to open our eyes to Truth, while the other tries to deceive us into staying focused on ourselves. Every single minute of every day this war rages on. And if you don’t believe it to be true, then why in your head do you question things? Why do you ask yourself, is this good enough? Am I good enough? Why do we seek acceptance from others? Why is it when you enter a room of strangers you tend to look for the most inviting person to go talk to? This insecurity shows us the reality of life. The battle breeds insecurity for those who tend to want to be in charge. One side says, “make the best of the situation by trusting yourself”. And the other side says, “trust and obey God, for what He says and does is right”. This war that goes on in the unseen world also goes on in your head. It’s not until you entrust you’re spirit to God, that the unseen becomes seen. The war still goes on, but once you learn Who you can trust, you find comfort, peace, security, and purpose in the One Who is in control. So the most important question you will ever answer is, Who are you entrusting you’re heart to, God, your own self, or someone else? Your answer determines everything. David knew this, and thus tells us Who he entrusts his heart to. He found the key to life is held in the hand of the Maker of life. And his life benefited greatly when he did what he knew to be true. We have to entrust our hearts to God. And we must make that decision on a daily, moment by moment basis.

1 O Lord, I have come to You for protection;don’t let me be disgraced.Save me, for You do what is right.2 Turn Your ear to listen to me;rescue me quickly.Be my rock of protection,a fortress where I will be safe.3 You are my rock and my fortress.For the honor of Your name, lead me out of this danger.4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,for I find protection in You alone.5 I entrust my spirit into Your hand.Rescue me, Lord, for You are a faithful God. Psalms 31:1-5

Babe Truth Steps Up To The Plate….

I’ve always believed in truth. I mean it’s what I’m all about. I always want justice. Not in a entitlement kind of way. If someone speaks a lie, it’s hard for me to let it go. If someone wrongs me, and continues to try to abuse this power, I stand my ground. Jesus said it Himself, “you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free”. When you speak truth, you never have to worry about what you said. It’s like an insurance policy with no payments. It protects you all the time. That gives you confidence to stand your ground. It’s like being in a close game of baseball. It’s the bottom of the ninth; you’re down one run. And your slugger, named Babe Truth steps up to the plate. You know he’s going to hit a homerun and win the game. That’s what Truth does, it’s a stronghold to those who embrace it, who live their lives entrusting it. It’s like a foundation of a house. A strong foundation, helps the house withstand the big storms of life. Living God’s way is the most secure and fulfilling way to live. It brings peace, security, purpose and structure. And yet so many people see it as dull, boring, no fun, and restrictive. If they only knew the Truth....

27 Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life,but the years of the wicked are cut short. 28 The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. 29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked. Proverbs 10:27-29

Don’t Let A Few Scraps Turn You Away….

God’s compassion extends to all people; all creeds, races, male or female, black or white, slave or free, and Jew or Gentile. God shows no favoritism. We are all significant. Sometimes it just takes some fortitude to prove it to ourselves. The Syrian-Phoenician woman is proof of God’s mercy and grace being extended beyond one group of people. She loved her daughter, so she wasn’t afraid to approach Jesus and ask Him to heal her. This shows what true love can do, on both sides of the spectrum. God’s compassion is just one simple, honest prayer/conversation away. Don’t let a few scraps turn you away from enjoying the satisfying morsels of God’s Grace. Experience it today by setting aside your pride and pulling up a chair to the table of the Lord.

24 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house He was staying in, but He couldn’t keep it a secret. 25 Right away a woman who had heard about Him came and fell at His feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, 26 and she begged Him to cast out the demon from her daughter.Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, 27 Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children–My own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”28 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”29 “Good answer!” He said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.”30 And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone. Mark 7:24-30

Fear Of Things That Aren’t….

The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If that is true, then when does fear play a detrimental role in one’s life? Fearing God, or respecting God and His creation, is legitimate. Fearing potential dangerous situations is also legitimate; for its our concern in protecting life. But fear of things that aren’t of God, and aren’t life threatening causes unnecessary worry and anxiety. These are things that take us away from God. They are things that occupy our minds when God isn’t our focus. We all struggle with them, but it’s mostly unnecessary. In a recent study only 8% of all the things we stress about ever happen. That’s 92% of the worry and anxiety we take on ourselves that is wasted. God tells us to cast our burdens upon Him, for He cares for us. Believers have that option. And if you think about it, unbelievers have that same option. Unfortunately, most don’t take advantage of this solution. And when we ignore our duty to take all of our cares to God, they will eventually drive us crazy. Here’s an example of God telling the Israelites that if they rebel, and live in habitual sin, ignoring God, He would allow the consequences of improper fear to dominate their lives to the point of paranoia. It would demoralize them. Any time we find ourselves worrying about something, we must examine the type of fear it is. If it’s proper fear, go to God and ask for help. If it’s improper fear, go to God and ask for help. Either way, we are to go to God with our desires, concerns, and fears, for He is the Redeemer of all things.

36 “And for those of you who survive, I will demoralize you in the land of your enemies. You will live in such fear that the sound of a leaf driven by the wind will send you fleeing. You will run as though fleeing from a sword, and you will fall even when no one pursues you. Leviticus 26:36

24 The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;the hopes of the godly will be granted. Proverbs 10:24

The Only ONE Capable…..

God is in control. He has the ability to control Nature. He can stop a storm, make animals talk, and even stop/reverse time (making the Sun go backwards). God is just; never allowing sin to go unpunished. He rewards those that honor Him and allows the consequences of our poor decisions to play out in our lives. When God wants something done, it gets done. He also has a way to bring back to Him those that stray away. God is in control, what He wants to accomplish, He sets it into motion. However, He always allows a choice in the equation. It’s what LOVE does. He will never force you to love Him back, but He will do things that point you in His direction. For instance, one of the things He does to all people when they allow themselves to become enamored with things or processes over rightfully giving Him the honor He deserves is not letting satisfaction come to us from these things. If it’s food (the example here), or money, fame, possessions, power, beauty, or anything else, we may experience them, but He doesn’t allow us to be satisfied doing or pursuing them. If we are doing/pursuing something, and it’s not satisfying, maybe we need to examine where our heart is in it. The power of God is not fathomable. He is in control. And He is the only One capable of doing the job right. We need to step off His throne, get out of the way, and let Him do His job.

23 “And if you fail to learn the lesson and continue your hostility toward Me, 24 then I Myself will be hostile toward you. I will personally strike you with calamity seven times over for your sins. 25 I will send armies against you to carry out the curse of the covenant you have broken. When you run to your towns for safety, I will send a plague to destroy you there, and you will be handed over to your enemies. 26 I will destroy your food supply, so that ten women will need only one oven to bake bread for their families. They will ration your food by weight, and though you have food to eat, you will not be satisfied. Leviticus 26:23-26

We Are Not Home Yet…..

The other day I was talking with someone, and they were discussing current issues in our society. They were passionately ranting about how society has lost respect for certain professions and how the youth of the day are being conditioned to an “entitlement” mentality. After listening for about 5 minutes, I simply responded, “it’s just a reminder that we are not home yet”. We, as believers, cannot expect everyone to live the way God designed. Yes, there were times when more people did live like this, but it will never be like it should this side of Heaven. We can’t expect perfect behavior. We live in a fallen world, where things don’t work as they should. When I finished responding, the person smiled and agreed. Everything belongs to God, and we are sojourners passing through. We are tenants temporarily in charge of God’s business. Do you remember Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 19? It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.... well, it’s because we are not home yet. It’s easy to allow things to bring us comfort, so much so we start to believe this is the best we will ever have. We are to never get “too comfortable” here on earth. Since Eve ate the apple, earth is not the paradise God intended for us, Heaven is. So the next time you watch the news or have a bad day, remember, “we are not home yet”. God has so much more in store for us in Heaven. Jesus told us that He was going to prepare a room for us, remember? Paradise is with God. So until we get there, remember, “we are not home yet”. It should give you hope, and restore the right perspective for you.

23 “The land must never be sold on a permanent basis, for the land belongs to Me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for Me. Leviticus 25:23

You May Not “Like” Certain People…

One of the things that happens when you make Jesus your Lord, is your respect for other people increases with consistency. You may not “like” certain people, or they may annoy you, or rub you the “wrong way”, but out of respect (fear as the Bible calls it), you don’t take advantage of them. It seems like a lost art these days. If you respect God, you’ll have respect for His creation.

17 Show your fear of God by not taking advantage of each other. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 25:17

What You Do With TRUTH….

What you do with TRUTH, believing it or not, determines your fate. You can be one that respects TRUTH, but doesn’t apply it to your life, like Herod. You can be one that rejects TRUTH, living your life on your own terms. Or you can be one that embraces TRUTH, applying it to your life, like John. These are the only choices we have in life. What you choose determines everything. The quality of your life is a direct reflection of how you see TRUTH. God will always honor those that honor Him, for He is TRUTH.

14 Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about Him. Some were saying, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why He can do such miracles.” 15 Others said, “He’s the prophet Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.”16 When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.”17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her. 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. 22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” 23 He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”26 Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, 28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb. Mark 6:14-29

Go Find A Live One To Ride….

Here’s something believers should always remember when witnessing: if after you’ve presented the Gospel clearly, and the recipient still rejects your message, smile, quote John 3:16, and be on your way. There’s no point beating a dead horse. God grants everyone the choice to love Him back, or reject Him. It’s not up to us. We are to present the truth to others. Their choice in how they respond, seals their fate. You can usually determine this within the first 5 minutes of your conversation. You will never convert a lost soul no matter how hard you try. That’s God’s business. Our business is to live a life of gratitude towards God, love others, speak truth, and point others to Him. That’s it. It’s God’s job to save people. Be confident in God’s abilities. Stop trying so hard to save the world. And don’t beat yourself up when you come across an obstinent soul. Be sad, but don’t think it’s because you didn’t have a “good enough” testimony. Your testimony is the best witness you’ve got. People’s receptiveness to the Gospel is directly related to their own choice of rejecting God. God initiates every single salvation experience. Instead of trying to beat a dead horse, get off, and go find a live one to ride.

7 And He called His twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. 8 He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick–no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. 9 He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.10 “Wherever you go,” He said, “stay in the same house until you leave town.11 But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. 13 And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. Mark 6:7-13

God Uses Imperfect People….

You’ve heard the saying, “a prophet is honored everywhere, except his own hometown and with his relatives and his own family”. Do you ever think “why this is”? Maybe it’s because people associate faith in God with perfection. According to them, you have to be perfect to speak God’s word. When someone grows up in a family and town, everyone there sees the flaws and shortcomings of this person, which eliminates any calling of God on their lives. People associate these mistakes with disqualifying these prophets from being legit. This is so fickle. The truth is, God uses imperfect people to do His perfect will. It’s all He has to work with. There’s no such thing as perfect people. In this case (the exception to this theory), Jesus was perfect, and He still was rejected. So what does this say about people’s prescribed thought process on respect for prophets? People’s unbelief kept them from experiencing Who Jesus was. The fickleness of humanity paired along side their unbelief, guarantees little to no respect for prophets. I’m talking about people who speak God’s word (truth). Why were the prophets of the OT treated so harshly? Because the people didn’t want to hear what they had to say, especially those from their home towns. People are fickle, but we can’t allow this flaw from listening to truth. If we do, we will miss out on many miracles. Just like those in Nazareth did when Jesus walked the earth. How do you expect to get better if you never take the time to examine yourself, or when others do it for you?

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with His disciples to Nazareth, His hometown. 2 The next Sabbath He began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. They asked, “Where did He get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And His sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him.4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5 And because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. Mark 6:1-6a

Ability To Take Criticism….

The problem with most people in America today is our lack in ability to take criticism. Everyone criticizes, but few know how to handle criticism. I think the main cause is confusion between correction and judgement. We tend to blend them together, which doesn’t allow correction to do its job. People get so offended when someone tries to correct an inappropriate action on their part. They pull the blanket of “judgement” over the issue in order to “save face”, when in reality they need to “man up” and listen to what’s being said. I’ve always said, “when someone criticizes (tries to correct) you, you should weigh the facts. Take the accurate facts and apply them to your life. Take the inaccurate ones and throw them out”. Judgement is God’s business, not ours. We need to start seeing correction for what it is, for our good. How can God teach us anything if we are unwilling to listen to Him? And we need to stop hiding under the blanket of “don’t judge me”, and grow up. Our security comes from God, for no one can take that away from us. The problem lies in our seeking this security in all the wrong places. When we do this, our security becomes insecurity. What you place your security “in”, determines how you see correction/criticism. “Going astray” means walking through life not knowing where your security truly comes from. You can’t live secure if you don’t know where your purpose and significance come from. It’s as simple as that.

17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. Proverbs 10:17

When You Know God Is For You….

When you know God is for you, it gives you the ability to wait patiently.

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.Lead me along the right path,for my enemies are waiting for me.12 Do not let me fall into their hands.For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;with every breath they threaten me with violence.13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodnesswhile I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the Lord.Be brave and courageous.Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalms 27:11-14

If It’s Not Personal….

The Great Commission simplified. It’s a personal testimony. You can’t witness effectively if it’s not personal. If it is, no one can justifiably argue against it.

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. Mark 5:18-20

Ignorers And Refusers….

Reading through Leviticus chapter 20, we read about the punishment for parents that sacrifice their children to Molech. I can’t help but think that it still goes on today, in the form of abortion. People don’t value life. This angers God, because it violates and brings shame to His name. And to take it even further, God punishes those that watch this happen and do nothing to stop it. This is the reason Christians are to speak out about sinful behaviors. Abortion is most egregious. Why? Because the unborn don’t have a voice or a choice in the matter. God uses people to save the unborn. Pro-choice promoters that claim to be believers are those as Leviticus calls them “ignorers” and “refusers” to make right a wrong. Instead of sacrificing these children to Molech, they sacrifice them to the god of SELF. I don’t see any difference between these people sacrificing their children to Molech, and today’s society sacrificing their children to SELF. The bottom line is God is being disobeyed and innocent children are being murdered all because people are choosing to be deceived by Satan, or blatantly ignoring the truth. Those that believe God need to stand up and protect those that have no voice. You’ll not only be the helpless’s advocate, you won’t be angering God by standing around and doing nothing about it. It’s all a matter of the heart. Prove to yourself where your loyalty lies.

2 “Give the people of Israel these instructions, which apply both to native Israelites and to the foreigners living in Israel.“If any of them offer their children as a sacrifice to Molech, they must be put to death. The people of the community must stone them to death. 3 I Myself will turn against them and cut them off from the community, because they have defiled My sanctuary and brought shame on My holy name by offering their children to Molech. 4 And if the people of the community ignore those who offer their children to Molech and refuse to execute them, 5 I Myself will turn against them and their families and will cut them off from the community. This will happen to all who commit spiritual prostitution by worshiping Molech. Leviticus 20:2-5

If Respect For God Was Restored….

Just imagine if respect for God was restored in America today? It would be a totally different place. The atmosphere would be one of unity. Cheating, lying, taking advantage of others, and disrespect for our leaders and elders would be none existent. Imagine what that would be like? Now, ask yourself, is this possible for me? Of course it is. Imagine if you started implementing respect for God and others in your life, the impact it would have? This is exactly God’s plan: His Will lived out, one heart at a time. If this is something that you want, what’s stopping you from making it happen in your life? Imagine, one heart at a time, sincerely respecting God and others? It would make a huge impact on the world. Especially in your community. If you want to be obedient to God, make respect for Him and others a top priority. And never let anything get in your way of living it out. Real change comes from one heart at a time. When God sees the sincerity in your heart, or better yet, when you see the sincerity in your own heart, He ushers in the power to change. And when it does, you get the benefit of personally experiencing it.

32 “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:32

Too Big For Him?

If the wind and waves obey God, don’t you think He’s trustworthy? If God has the power to control a violent storm, do you think your problems are too big for Him?

35 As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t You care that we’re going to drown?”39 When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey Him!” Mark 4:35-41

Why Some People “Get It”….

If you have ever wondered why some people “get it” while others don’t, these words of Jesus give the answer. Paying attention, listening closely, and pursuing relationships will bring the promise of understanding. The reason people don’t “get it” is because they don’t pursue Him. As my favorite verse in all of scripture says, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. You can’t expect to understand truth if you’re not pursuing it whole-heartedly. Live in the moment. Be present in the present. You’ll find understanding when you pursue understanding with all of your heart.

24 Then He added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given–and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Mark 4:24-25

When You Speak The Truth….

When you speak the truth, you never have to worry about what you said. When you behave in a way that God sees as right, you never have to worry about being accused of doing wrong. Integrity doesn’t have a holiday. God honors those that honor Him.

9 People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. Proverbs 10:9

The World Gets Offended….

Sexual practices that were considered wicked and that defile people are spelled out in Leviticus chapter 18. We live in a society today that clearly doesn’t understand the principles behind them. God didn’t want His chosen people to behave in a manner that violates His character and design. The people of Canaan and Egypt clearly lived lifestyles contrary to His design. So He commanded the Israelites to be set apart from the people around them. Sexual practices that defile a person shouldn’t be practiced by those who follow God. It is one of the areas in which Christians are to live differently from society. When Christians promote “one man one woman” for marriage, same-sex sexual practices are forbidden, binary gender theory, and the world gets offended. When Christians promote this it’s for Christians, not the world. So if you’re offended, and not a Christian, get over it. It’s not meant for you. If you’re still offended, then maybe your conscience is working towards leading you to God. Ungodly people practice ungodly actions. To be offended when a Christian calls same-sex practices a sin, when you’re not a believer only makes sense if your conscience agrees with it. The reason you get offended is because deep down inside you want agreement, or approval, or acceptance, and you know you will never get it from God. So you try to pass laws and force people to conform to your way of life. That’s not tolerance, rather it’s intolerance. The very opposite of what most try to promote. If you’re not a Christian, and do not want to become one, stop trying to silence those who are, in an attempt to feel better about what you’re doing. If God is not in your life, and you don’t want Him in it, stop trying to force those that do have Him in their lives, to grant changing the definition of what sinful behavior is. If you don’t believe it’s a sin, then stop trying to change the minds of people who know it is and refrain from participating in it. If people only thought things through, we really wouldn’t have these issues. You either are a God follower, or you’re not. Stop trying to force those that are God-followers to be disobedient to their faith in order to make yourself feel better about a behavior they promote as sinful. This chapter spells out sexual sin that is unacceptable to God. Regardless of what you believe, this is what God says is sinful. If you disagree and call yourself Christian, your heart needs some refinement. If you are not a Christian and disagree that’s perfectly acceptable, so stop trying to make everyone accept it. It’s fighting a losing battle with people who believe God’s way and do their best to live it out.

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. I am the Lord your God. 3 So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. 4 You must obey all My regulations and be careful to obey My decrees, for I am the Lord your God. 5 If you obey My decrees and My regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord.6 “You must never have sexual relations with a close relative, for I am the Lord.7 “Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.8 “Do not have sexual relations with any of your father’s wives, for this would violate your father.9 “Do not have sexual relations with your sister or half sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born into your household or someone else’s.10 “Do not have sexual relations with your granddaughter, whether she is your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for this would violate yourself.11 “Do not have sexual relations with your stepsister, the daughter of any of your father’s wives, for she is your sister.12 “Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister, for she is your father’s close relative.13 “Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s close relative.14 “Do not violate your uncle, your father’s brother, by having sexual relations with his wife, for she is your aunt.15 “Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her.16 “Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife, for this would violate your brother.17 “Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. And do not take her granddaughter, whether her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives, and this would be a wicked act.18 “While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals.19 “Do not have sexual relations with a woman during her period of menstrual impurity.20 “Do not defile yourself by having sexual intercourse with your neighbor’s wife.21 “Do not permit any of your children to be offered as a sacrifice to Molech, for you must not bring shame on the name of your God. I am the Lord.22 “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.23 “A man must not defile himself by having sex with an animal. And a woman must not offer herself to a male animal to have intercourse with it. This is a perverse act.24 “Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways. 25 Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out. 26 You must obey all My decrees and regulations. You must not commit any of these detestable sins. This applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.27 “All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled. 28 So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now. 29 Whoever commits any of these detestable sins will be cut off from the community of Israel. 30 So obey My instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 18:1-30