Life And Vows….

If there was a way to look into the spiritual or moral well-being of a nation, what would be the criteria? Personally, I think it would involve two measuring points. The first criteria would be how that society values life. Do they value unborn life? Do they value physically challenged life? Do they value long life? The second criteria would be how that society values vows. Do they value the marriage vow? Or the promises people make to their families, place of work, friends? Do they do what they say, or say what they do? Here in America we can easily measure our moral decline by viewing two things: divorce rate, and the legalization of abortion. If you don’t value life, and you don’t honor vows, there really is no consistency in our spiritual or moral behavior. God hates hands that shed innocent blood. And God hates divorce. What more can I say? If we practice, on a consistent basis, the very things God hates, isn’t that enough evidence to reveal our country’s decline in morality? How can you please God, when you’re doing the very thing that displeases Him? How can you expect unity, peace, security, or prosperity, when we dishonor God by the way we act out against His character? Simply put, you can’t. How we view life and vows are the measuring stick of the spiritual well-being of a society. The only way America can regain God’s favor is to repent, and honor God by sanctifying our hearts back into alignment with His. It’s starts with one heart at a time. Are you willing to participate?

14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”17 You have wearied the Lord with your words.“How have we wearied Him?” you ask.You have wearied Him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them. You have wearied Him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” Malachi 2:14-17

Fake News….

Why does the “fake news” and sensorship by all the big tech companies bother believers so much? Because it bothers God. When people violate God’s character by practicing things that dishonor Him, and then encourage others to do the same, God will discipline and punish them. Being “politically correct”, “fact checking” and exonerating “fake news”, ignoring real facts to promote your own agenda, and supporting evil behaviors to the point of wanting to punish people for disagreeing, are all forms of lying. God will not allow this kind of behavior to go unpunished. And unfortunately for those who recognize it and fight to put an end to it, they will suffer right along with those who continue to do it. When anyone violates God’s character, we all suffer. Stand up, fight against this hypocrisy. It’s the only way truth and peace can unify mankind.

15 But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid. 16 But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 17 Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.” Zechariah 8:15-17

Unity Is God’s Plan….

Here’s a thought I bet most have never entertained in their minds, when God is displeased with a group’s collective behavior, He can discipline them in many ways. One of those ways is division. If a group is more powerful than all other groups, God may turn the members of that group against each other as a form of discipline. It shows us that no one is above His law, His love, or His sovereignty. America needs to take heed. God’s discipline happens for a reason. As long as we continue to ignore His concerns, things will only get worse, until everyone is turned against each other, and their is no unity to be found anywhere. If God’s ultimate goal is to unify believers, thus accomplishing His plan of bringing glory to Himself by rescuing lost sinners, then why are we blind to the fact that promoting division will never achieve it? Division is one of God’s ways of punishing a powerful society for ignoring Him. Look at the examples in scripture. The Tower of Babel. The Babylonian empire. Even scattering the disciples in order for Jesus to suffer and die alone, were all part of God’s plan. Unity is God’s plan for all who believe, so when we see division, it must mean God is working out His plan of discipline in order to rescue those destined to be with Him. Examine your own heart, and reconcile with God. Unify with His Spirit, so you will recognize His moving in and around your own life.

6 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for Me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue My people from the east and from the west. 8 I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. 10 Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals. No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other. Zechariah 8:6-10

The Fastest Way To Upset God….

The fastest way to upset God is to ignore Him on a daily basis. With this in mind, do you think God is upset with America? With you?

4 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me this message in reply: 5 “Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for Me that you were fasting? 6 And even now in your holy festivals, aren’t you eating and drinking just to please yourselves? 7 Isn’t this the same message the Lord proclaimed through the prophets in years past when Jerusalem and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and the Negev and the foothills of Judah were well populated?’ ”8 Then this message came to Zechariah from the Lord: 9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. 10 Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.11 “Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. 12 They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was so angry with them.13 “Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to Me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 14 As with a whirlwind, I scattered them among the distant nations, where they lived as strangers. Their land became so desolate that no one even traveled through it. They turned their pleasant land into a desert.” Zechariah 7:4-14

Dying With Our Song Still Inside Of Us….

Humans celebrate strength. They celebrate winning. They hold achievement in the highest regards. With the internet and social media being the main way people communicate these days, “looking good” is the goal of many. God sees things differently. He takes no pleasure in human strength. Nor does He ever care about portraying Himself in a manner that others see Him as better than He really is. The Lord’s delight is found in our obedience to Him, our reverence for Him, and especially when we place our trust and hope in Him alone. The world’s ways differ dramatically from God’s ways. Until we realize this, we will continue to pursue the unattainable, eventually dying with our song still inside of us.

10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might.11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love. Psalms 147:10-11

Complacent With Our Own Sin….

You might think when you see or read about people who commit heinous crimes that they are the worst people on earth in God’s eyes. You might even think, “I’m so glad I’m not like that”. If you do, you might find yourself slowly creeping closer to the actual worst place anyone could ever be. And that is complacent with your unrepentant sin. The most wicked people and the most godly people God sees and deals with as normal. It’s the people who either used to worship Him, or still are half-heartedly worshipping Him, that hurts Him the most. Thinking God will do nothing to you, good or bad, and believing your current sinful behavior isn’t as bad as others, so you get complacent about it, places you in the worst situation a human being can be in. It’s like when Jesus said, “you are neither hot or cold, but lukewarm, so I will spit you out of my mouth” (my paraphrase). The worst place any human being can ever be is not committing violent or unspeakable crimes; it’s being complacent with our own sin. Never allow yourself to go there.

12 “I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad. Zephaniah 1:12

Do You Have This Kind Of Faith?

Like Job, Meshach, Shadrach, Abendigo, Daniel, and Abraham, Habakkuk knew God intimately, to a level of trust that he could wholeheartedly welcome adversity with a confidence that God would rescue him. Do you have this kind of faith? Before you answer, I’m not trying to compare the amount of your faith you have or not have. I’m asking do you see God as fully trustworthy with your life? Do you trust God no matter what it might cost you? It’s not the amount of faith we have that matters most, it’s the worthiness of the recipient in which we place our faith that is most important. How we see God, determines our faith. And in the end (as Jesus told Peter), we should pray that our faith never fails us. How can it fail when we place it in God alone?

I trembled inside when I heard this;my lips quivered with fear.My legs gave way beneath me,and I shook in terror.I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails,and the fields lie empty and barren;even though the flocks die in the fields,and the cattle barns are empty,18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:16-19a

What We Put Our Confidence In….

Confidence is a good thing. It’s not the actual confidence that can lead us down the wrong road, rather it’s what we put our confidence in that truly matters. It’s okay to place some confidence in ourselves. We have to, to exist and move. It’s only when we place more confidence than we need to that it becomes our god. Confidence comes from God, so the majority we should have should be placed in Him (it’s source). Pride, arrogance, and self-sufficiency all come from when we place too much confidence in ourselves, when we look to ourselves alone for the answers. It eventually turns what God meant for good, into something that competes for His affection, which leads to separation. Division from God by choice is what the Bible (OT) calls spiritual prostitution. We all know where that leads us, right? When God is no longer the center of our life, our unfaithfulness leads us to replace Him with something else. And this is not possible, God is irreplaceable. Make sure you place your confidence in the only place it can survive and thrive; a little in ourselves (necessary to function), and the majority in God. When you do, confidence becomes Godfidence, the fuel that makes faith go.

11 They sweep past like the wind and are gone.But they are deeply guilty,for their own strength is their god.” Habakkuk 1:11

“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. Habakkuk 2:4a

Afraid To Die….

Maybe one reason people fear death so much is because they live their lives disproportionally. Yes, God placed in us a will to live, but that desire goes beyond this life. Only when we have the right perspective of God, Who He is, and the right standing with Him, can we appropriately value our lives without being too self-centered. It’s only when we truly know God, His love puts everything in the right perspective.

11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Revelation 12:11

For Anyone Who Only Sees God As An Enemy….

In the matter of 4 verses Nahum covers a wide description of God’s character. God is slow to anger (meaning it takes a lot to rouse His anger). God is just. He never allows sin to go unpunished. Regardless of what anyone thinks, sinful behavior has consequences that cannot be wished away, forced away, or legislated away. God is good. He is a safe haven for those who trust in Him. His presence is the greatest answered prayer. With Him near our side life’s troubles aren’t so troublesome. Even though Nahum’s job was to declare God’s judgement on Nineveh, he also revealed God’s true nature and love for humanity. For any one who only sees God as an enemy, they’re not being totally honest with themselves. The evidence is quite clear.

The Lord is slow to get angry, but His power is great,and He never lets the guilty go unpunished.He displays His power in the whirlwind and the storm.The billowing clouds are the dust beneath His feet.4 At His command the oceans dry up,and the rivers disappear.The lush pastures of Bashan and Carmel fade,and the green forests of Lebanon wither.5 In His presence the mountains quake,and the hills melt away;the earth trembles,and its people are destroyed.6 Who can stand before His fierce anger?Who can survive His burning fury?His rage blazes forth like fire,and the mountains crumble to dust in His presence. 7 The Lord is good,a strong refuge when trouble comes.He is close to those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:3-7

The Problem With Selfishness….

The problem with selfishness is that it always needs to be fed; it wants more and more and is never satisfied.

The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” Proverbs 30:15a

What Does God Want From Us?

What does God want from us? It’s a question that’s been asked millions of times by millions of people. Is it possible to know the answer? Is it possible once we know to actually achieve it? The answer is clear, God has plainly told us through out scripture. Here is one example. What does God want from us? To do what is right, to love mercy (especially His mercy), and to walk humbly with Him throughout our lives. More simply put, to be like Him, to be like Jesus. The only way that is possible, is we have to know Him. In order to be like Jesus, we have to know Him first. If we aren’t pursuing Jesus, it’s impossible to please God, it’s impossible to do what’s right, it’s impossible to love mercy, and of course it’s impossible to walk along side someone you do not know. Knowing what God wants from us is a matter of “wanting to know”. Then actually doing something about it when we find out what it is. It’s not hard to find the answer. What’s hard is doing something about it once we do. If God matters to us, we will make righteousness, mercy, peace, and love at the core of our existence, and thus show the world, God, and ourselves what really matters most in life.

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,and this is what He requires of you:to do what is right, to love mercy,and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

How’s Your Prayer Life?

When I read about all the regulations and offerings the Israelites made in the Temple up until Jesus’ death and the Temple’s destruction, I can’t help but think the incense burning symbolizes our prayers going up to God. How’s your prayer life? Is it offered daily? Do your prayers flow up to God?

3 Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. Revelation 8:3-4

I Beg Two Favors….

This is a prayer I think every human being on this planet would benefit from asking God. I did it a long time ago. Sometimes it’s not fun struggling to make ends meet, but it can never compare to the alternative, living without God, trying to figure out why I’m here and what my purpose is. God always honors those that honor Him. He gives some wealth and some poverty, because He knows each one’s heart and where it will lead them. As for me, the greatest treasure any one could ever ask for is having God’s presence in one’s life. If I have that, I am truly wealthy, and I don’t have to worry about what I do with it.

7 O God, I beg two favors from You;let me have them before I die.8 First, help me never to tell a lie.Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.9 For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. Proverbs 30:7-9

He Gives Us A Choice….

All people are important to God, but not all get saved. Love is a choice. God loves us so much that He gives us a choice. Do you reciprocate His love? Or do you reject it? Heaven is for the former, and Hell is for the latter. In all reality, man chooses his eternal destiny by his response to the Gospel. God grants each human being that option. Now that’s real, genuine, and true love. It can’t come from anywhere other than from its only Source.

10 Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” Jonah 4:10-11

When Is It Okay To Play God?

Here’s the biggest question that man faces in life: when is it okay to play God? The answer is simple: only when our actions reveal our hearts are in line with His will. Any other time it’s off limits, especially when we feel we owe it to another human being. When is it okay to play God? When our behavior resembles Jesus’ behavior. The fruit we produce is above the law, when it glorifies our Heavenly Father. When is it okay to play God? Not when we feel the need to abuse the power we’ve been given. Playing God isn’t our job. Being like Jesus is. And Jesus was fully human and fully God, but He was a humble servant, obeying God in every aspect, without ever abusing His power. So I guess I need to rephrase my answer to the question. When is it okay to play God? Never. But it’s our duty to be like Jesus every day. And if that means “playing God”, then we must submit to the sanctifying process God has for every believer.

1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that You would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”10 Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120 ,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” Jonah 4:1-11

Forfeit All Of God’s Blessings…

When a person worships a false god, they forfeit all of God’s blessings, or at least lose the ability to recognize and acknowledge them. It’s one more reason to be careful where we direct our attention. It may end up robbing us of the One place where true joy, significance, purpose, rest, and everlasting peace come from.

8 Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. Jonah 2:8

God Always Has His Best Waiting For Us….

When we read Romans 8:28, believers are comforted and pagans roll their eyes in unbelief. But what do believers see in this verse? Do we really believe God can use tragedy, or evils acts for our good? What about rape, murder, or death? Can God use that for our good? Here in Jonah chapter one we get a small glimpse of this concept in actions. Jonah is running away from God. God told him to go preach to the city of Nineveh, the Babylonian capital. Jonah despised these people. He didn’t want to do it, so he found a ship going in the opposite direction. While on the ship a huge storm came. It was all Jonah’s fault. So to save the lives of all the boat’s crew, Jonah told them to throw him overboard. Whether Jonah actually died or not is another blog post, but the point I want to make is this: Jonah’s tragedy led to the boat’s crew repentance and serving God. Whether his death or suffering (whichever happened to get his full attention), it got the attention of the ship’s inhabitants, and changed their hearts. This is one Biblical example of God using “all things” (in this case bad) for the good of the men on board (and eventually Nineveh, and Jonah as well). Just because we lack the spiritual sight to always recognize God’s hand in all events, doesn’t mean He’s not there working it out for our good. Like I always say, “no matter how we feel about something, even if we don’t see it, we have to go with what we know to be true”. Even if it costs us our life. God always has His best waiting for us. If He didn’t, He would tell us He does.

1 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce My judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.4 But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. 5 Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship.But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. 6 So the captain went down after him. “How can you sleep at a time like this?” he shouted. “Get up and pray to your god! Maybe He will pay attention to us and spare our lives.”7 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. 8 “Why has this awful storm come down on us?” they demanded. “Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?”9 Jonah answered, “I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”10 The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned. 11 And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to you to stop this storm?”12 “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”13 Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, You have sent this storm upon him for Your own good reasons.”15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered Him a sacrifice and vowed to serve Him.17 Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah 1:1-17

Truth Matters….

Truth matters. It protects those who hold it dear to their hearts and refuse to compromise. It will protect and defend us when we are attacked by evil. It will set us free from the power of sin. When we speak truth, we never have to worry about what we said. Hold on tight to truth, for it sets us free from a world full of lies. Remember the Truth is a Person.

5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection. Proverbs 30:5

Knowing God’s Will Is Only Part Of Life….

Knowing God’s will is only part of life. Doing it is the other part. Train yourself to see life through God’s eyes, for that is the first part of living a life that’s pleasing to God. The other part is disciplining ourselves by living it out in obedience. These two things when done together are called the sanctifying process. In order to be sanctified, we must become more like Jesus, by doing what Jesus did. Being aware of God’s will is half the battle, the other half is putting what we know to be true into action.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to You to hide me.10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.11 For the glory of Your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of Your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.12 In Your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am Your servant. Psalms 143:9-12

His Retribution Is Unparalleled….

If there’s one trait about God that every believer tends to not know, it’s His retribution is unparalleled. His full knowledge of facts in every case is complete. His judgements are final. His punishments and disciplines are accurate. When people do evil to others, and then gloat about it, God’s retribution will prevail. It will be complete, deserved, more intense, and reciprocated to the evil doer. Revenge belongs to God because His vengeance cannot be replicated by man. Leave it up to Him, and satisfaction will follow. Ignore Him and take it on yourself, and you’ll find no peace, and no resolve. Evil gets back exactly what it tries to dish out, but to a greater degree of intensity. Evil gets back more than it can handle.

 12 “You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands.You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune.You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble.13 You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity.You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity.You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity.14 You should not have stood at the crossroads,killing those who tried to escape.You should not have captured the survivors and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble. 15 “The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations!As you have done to Israel,so it will be done to you.All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. Obadiah 1:12-15

Never Be Lost….

True believers may suffer, and some may die because of their faith, but God will see to it that they will never be lost. Now that’s true comfort and security.

8 “I, the Sovereign Lord,am watching this sinful nation of Israel.I will destroy it from the face of the earth.But I will never completely destroy the family of Israel,”says the Lord.9 “For I will give the command and will shake Israel along with the other nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, yet not one true kernel will be lost.

Godly And Wicked…

There are two kinds of people on this earth, godly and wicked. It’s just a matter of degrees. The godly promote right living, unity, and peace. And the wicked promote themselves, which leads to division and chaos. They will always be in opposition, because they follow different leaders. Never forget this.

27 The righteous despise the unjust; the wicked despise the godly. Proverbs 29:27

Bring You Closer To Your Day In Court…

Here’s a thought for those who shun God and practice evil: even though your actions distract you from your sense of irresponsibility, they bring you closer to your day in court with God. Judgement comes to those who disregard God much faster than they realize. For those that make Jesus Lord, judgement has already come.

2 But go over to Calneh and see what happened there.Then go to the great city of Hamath and down to the Philistine city of Gath. You are no better than they were, and look at how they were destroyed.3 You push away every thought of coming disaster, but your actions only bring the day of judgment closer. Amos 6:2-3

What He Pleased….

If God created what He pleased, why is it so hard to be pleased with what He created?

11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased.” Revelation 4:11

Barking Up The Wrong Tree….

We live in strange times. People want equality, they demand justice, and they protest just about everything. The reason most protesters and equality seekers seem angry and violent is because they are barking up the wrong tree. They seek these things from the wrong place/source. Equality and true justice come from God. Without Him, there is no justice, equality, hope, or peace.

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the Lord. Proverbs 29:26

A Sinful, Loveless Lifestyle…

The reason politics and economics remain the same, corrupt and untrustworthy, is because they are controlled by people whose lives are dictated by their sinful nature. Godless people have no effective way of dealing with their sin. They also have no access to true love. A life lived without God is characterized by living for self. How can we expect human beings striving for power, making laws that they themselves aren’t accountable to, and making deals that violate every aspect of integrity, to be trustworthy? A sinful, loveless lifestyle can only generate sinful and loveless behavior. How can we expect any different when God is shunned by people that make hopeful promises, but lack the Resource to make them a reality? We can’t. Jesus is the only One worthy of our faith. Do you trust Him with every aspect of your life? Even with the deepest, darkest corners of your heart? If not, how can you expect to be any different?

How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!11 You trample the poor,stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent.Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses,you will never live in them.Though you plant lush vineyards,you will never drink wine from them.12 For I know the vast number of your sins-and the depth of your rebellions.You oppress good people by taking bribes-and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.13 So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time. 14 Do what is good and run from evil-so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.15 Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of His people. Amos 5:10-15a

21 “I hate all your show and pretense–the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps.24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. Amos 5:21-24

Pride Is A God Killer….

If you haven’t noticed by now, Pride is a God killer. I don't mean it actually kills God, rather it prevents us from experiencing God and all of His blessings. It’s ultimate destination is humiliation, the very thing it tries to preserve and protect (one’s dignity). It opposes the very thing God wants from us, humility. When we honor God, He honors us. The only thing standing in our way of glorifying our Heavenly Father is our pride. The longer we give into it, the more humiliation we will experience. Pride is what Satan feeds off. It’s the only thing he can use that responds to his temptation. If we refuse to be prideful, and stop feeding the one who tempts us and keeps us from God’s presence, our true treasure, we will experience the honor that God sets aside for those who follow Him.

23 Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. Proverbs 29:23