A Deep Sea Adventure…..

When people ask “where does it say in the Bible that God is against abortion?”, I respond with this verse. Then I go on to tell them about Jeremiah, David, Moses, John the Baptist, and Jesus, all of which give clear evidence of God’s affirmation of His love for all human life, born and unborn. When it says “Lord hates”, and “He detests”, it’s easy to understand, correct? God is angered when this happens. “Hands that shed innocent blood”, would include anything unworthy of death, correct? I mean a baby in the womb of a woman didn’t get there because it did something to hurt or destroy the woman, right? There’s nothing more innocent than a growing life inside of a woman. It hasn’t had time to sin against anyone, has it? When a woman chooses abortion, she chooses death for that child. And that falls under what God hates. When innocent blood is shed, God knows that death was caused by murder, the selfish act of taking a life for premeditated, calculated revenge or personal gain. When a human being murders another human being, God says “that’s enough, you are not Me, you don’t not have the authority to do that”. And that my friend is why He hates murder. Hands that shed innocent blood includes abortion. Now you know why it means so much to people who want to end it. Stopping something God hates is a noble and selfless act. It’s something people who truly love God want to put an end to. And even though it’s legal in this country at this time, it’s not a God given right (He doesn’t approve). And the consequences, no matter how many people try to rationalize them away, do irreversible damage when not addressed with God’s way. Will God forgive someone who has had an abortion, of course, but woe to the one who justifies it and promotes others that it is okay. A millstone with their name on it is waiting to take them on a deep sea adventure.

16 There are six things the Lord hates–no, seven things He detests:17 haughty eyes,a lying tongue,hands that kill the innocent,18 a heart that plots evil,feet that race to do wrong,19 a false witness who pours out lies,a person who sows discord in a family. Proverbs 6:16-19

1 One day Jesus said to His disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. Luke 17:1-2

People Striving For Perfection….

Here’s a thought: according to David, God’s way is perfect. If that is true, then why is it that so many people striving for perfection ignore or reject God’s way? Doesn’t that seem contradictory? If God’s way is perfect, and we do strive for perfection, shouldn’t we strive for perfection using God’s way? The reason people don’t is because people don’t want God’s help. They want to do it themselves (pride). So in summary, man can never achieve perfection without Jesus. With Jesus, we are seen by God as perfect. Jesus imputes His perfection onto us, and thus we reach the state of grace and forgiveness. People’s pursuit of perfection is a vain attempt never to be reached without God. And even then it’s not achieved by anything we do, rather by what Jesus has already done.

30 God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection. Psalms 18:30

But Not Through Me….

Reading Jethro’s advice to Moses, I can’t help but think this is how our government got started. I’m sure our founding fathers selected representatives who were capable, honest, God-fearing men, who hated bribes. Back then all men of power knew how to conduct their lives. The key was that they feared God, they knew they were ultimately responsible to God (or at least knew He is the Ultimate Judge). Fast forward to today. The lack of integrity, the love of bribes, and the absence of God, all play a vital role in the corruption of our government. To think this type of system was set up by Moses’ father-in-law almost 3500 years ago and is still effective when you place the right people in those positions proves that God’s ways never go out of style. It’s people’s fault that God’s ways go out of fashion. The way America makes a come back is when men and women of integrity, God-fearing people are placed into government offices. That way, evil will not prosper, destroying the fabric of our Republic. As a famous author once said, “You can resolve to live your life with integrity. Let your credo be this: Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.” That’s the attitude of a true servant of the Most High God. These are the people we need to elect as our representatives. Integrity has no holiday. If an elected official is supposed to represent the people, selfishness has no place doing business with him/her.

13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them His instructions.”17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out–and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to Him. 20 Teach them God’s decrees, and give them His instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.27 Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land. Exodus 18:13-27

It May Not Taste The Best…

No one ever talks about this outside of church, but the truth should be shouted by all believers. God rewards those that honor Him. Those with integrity, receive integrity. Those with faith are rewarded with more faith. And those who rebel are brought low. Whenever you are confronted and have to chose between pride and humility, choose a slice of humble pie. It may not taste the best at the time, but it will strengthen you for future trials.

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

Should We Even See This As Unfair?

Reading the parable of the vineyard workers seems a little strange and can be misconstrued very easily. The point is simple. God’s grace is given to anyone who repents of their sin and receives God’s salvation. It doesn’t matter if you’ve followed God for 90 years or 5 minutes. God grants the greatest gift, His love and forgiveness to every genuine believer. Everyone wins the million dollar jackpot (so to speak). People will say that doesn’t seem fair or right. It is fair and it is right. God’s standards are not our standards. God is not in a competition. He graciously rewards all of us the same. Is it not His prerogative to do? Can He not do with His authority what He wants to do with it? The problem doesn’t lay with God, rather it lies with us (when we try to play God). It’s our competitive, comparing nature that misinterprets this truth, revealing our fallible, selfish being. Man’s sinful nature is always trying to rationalize, compare, and promote himself above others. Our works-based mentality, tries to convince us that we have to earn salvation, which is impossible. We know that’s the exact opposite of what God’s Spirit promotes. We see The vineyard owner’s business plan as unfair to pay someone a full day’s wage that only worked 1 hour. And from a worldly view, that would be accurate. But God sees humanity differently. It’s His vineyard, His goal to bring in the harvest, so who are we to tell Him He’s wrong? He gives all of us a lot of time to “see the light”. Some see it sooner than others and reap the benefit of living within His boundaries, walking with Him, and not being affected by sin and suffering more than those who take longer to “get it” (a reward within itself). That doesn’t disqualify the others who take longer, from receiving the same ultimate gift of salvation. God owns it all. And He sees to it that everyone (who believes) receives the prize of salvation, regardless of how long it takes them to get there. It’s only after we receive this gracious gift (salvation) that we realize the scope of His grace and it no longer becomes an issue. God’s grace, His unmerited favor, equalizes humanity. It levels the playing field, humbling us, moving us past the point of unfair comparison. If we don’t deserve anything, than receiving something should be enough, correct? If we deserve condemnation, and yet receive salvation, should we even see this as “unfair”? If you still don’t understand this parable, think how is it possible for “the first to be last and last be first”? If we all start a race at different distances, going through life at different paces, there will be times when some people will be in front while others will be behind. In God’s race, we may not all start together, but we all finish at the exact same place, even, at God’s finish line. And we all stand on the same level platform to receive our gold medal for first place. That’s why Jesus is so special. He eliminates the competition. There is not one winner, but all winners (those who make Him Lord). When we get to Heaven there will be different rewards, but regardless who has more, we will lay them all at the feet of Jesus in gratitude for His ultimate gift. You see Jesus makes us all equal. God’s ways are not our ways and His thought are above our thoughts. When the Holy Spirit resides in us, our competitive, comparison nature, steps aside and welcomes in all those who didn’t start with us. What matters more, where we start, or where we finish? God makes it crystal clear what matters to Him. And He rewards us all the same for finishing.

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

It’s Foolish To Pretend…

God sees everything we do. There’s nothing we think or do that God doesn’t know about. Therefore it’s foolish to pretend He doesn’t know what we are doing. Sin has a way of deceiving us into believing we can get away with our sinful behavior. What a lie. It’s His omniscience that’s shows His grace. He knows sinful behavior entangles and controls us, and yet His patience extends far beyond our capacities to understand. It’s that patience that allows us to see His concern as His invisible hand moves through our adversity, leading us to repentance. For those that still refuse His grace, their willful foolishness will only lead them to permanent lostness. We can’t fool ourselves forever. There comes a day when sin will reveal itself for what it is, rebellion against God, and we will have a choice to make: repent or condemn ourselves by continuing to remain hypocritically blind.

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

When We Seek God’s Presence….

When we accept God as our Lord, our purpose, and our refuge, He provides for us, our children, and our children’s children. When pursuing God is our ultimate reward, the world’s offerings lose their appeal. When we seek God’s presence, we find satisfaction. God is the ultimate source of completeness we could ever possess. Never lose sight of this truth. David knew it; he wrote about it here.

 Show me Your unfailing love in wonderful ways.By Your mighty power You rescuethose who seek refuge from their enemies.8 Guard me as You would guard Your own eyes.Hide me in the shadow of Your wings.9 Protect me from wicked people who attack me,from murderous enemies who surround me.10 They are without pity.Listen to their boasting!11 They track me down and surround me,watching for the chance to throw me to the ground.12 They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart–like young lions hiding in ambush. 13 Arise, O Lord!Stand against them, and bring them to their knees!Rescue me from the wicked with Your sword!14 By the power of Your hand, O Lord,destroy those who look to this world for their reward.But satisfy the hunger of Your treasured ones.May their children have plenty,leaving an inheritance for their descendants.15 Because I am righteous, I will see You.When I awake, I will see You face to face and be satisfied. Psalms 17:7-15

A Close Connection….

We may never fully understand God, but full knowledge isn’t necessary in order to have a close connection with Him. Just when we think we got God “figured out”, we learn more about/from Him. Take for example the Exodus. Why didn’t God just destroy the Egyptians, like He did to Sodom and Gomorrah? Why did He produce 10 plagues on them knowing that 9 of them wouldn’t change Pharaoh’s mind to let them go? Why did He concede and use both Aaron and Moses to do the job that Moses should’ve done by himself? The answers are all part of His plan. And that always has to do with showing people His glory and power. God gives us an answer to the first question in today’s passage. He didn’t immediately destroy Egypt because He was using them for His purpose of displaying His power and spreading His fame throughout the earth. God allowed the wickedness and harsh treatment of the Israelites by the Egyptians to show the world Who is in control (it wasn’t Pharaoh). He used the 10 plagues (9 of them) to show the Egyptians that the 9 gods they worshipped didn’t stand up to El Shaddai (God Himself). He used both Aaron and Moses to be His priest and prophet to carry out His plan. We may never know everything about God, but that shouldn’t stop us from pursuing the Reason for our existence. The more we learn about God, the closer we become to Him. And that means the closer we come to fully being who we are meant to become, sanctified, like Jesus.

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go, so they can worship Me. 14 If you don’t, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. 15 By now I could have lifted My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. 16 But I have spared you for a purpose–to show you My power and to spread My fame throughout the earth. Exodus 9:13-16

Show Me The Way Of Life….

The problem with the modern, “Americanized” version of Christianity is its members have forgotten the most important thing about Jesus, His presence. The AVoC focuses on what God can give us, what He can do for us, or what He can prevent from happening to us. We are so focused on ourselves that we miss the greatest part of our faith, God’s presence. If God is with us, that’s enough; that’s the point. The greatest thing Jesus’ atonement on the cross was restoring that severed relationship with God. It’s God’s presence that we should long for and pursue. David understood this, and wrote about it all the time. Do you long for God’s presence in your life? If not, why not?

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

Excuses Only Delay The Inevitable…..

I have spent well-nigh 50 years working on the history of our Revolution; in the process I’ve read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and I’ve already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible, the main cause of the ruinous Revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: men have forgotten God, that’s why all of this has happened. -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

As you read above, man’s problem is not God, man’s problem is that he doesn’t know Him. Pharaoh had the same problem, as do we all at some point in our lives. Excuses only delay the inevitable. If we don’t respond to the call of God with all the evidence that exists, then the only people responsible for the downfall of humanity is the reflection we see when we stand in front of a mirror.

1 After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let My people go so they may hold a festival in My honor in the wilderness.”2 “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to Him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”3 But Aaron and Moses persisted. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, He will kill us with a plague or with the sword.”4 Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! 5 Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.” Exodus 5:1-5

American Christianity….

American Christianity has falsely accepted the world’s view on judgement. People say, “don’t judge me”. Then they go on to tell you “Jesus said don’t judge”. Most professing Christians don’t read their Bibles, so they have no rebuttal. Here’s the Bible’s view on judging. If the person is not a believer, tell them the truth, share the gospel, and move on. If they claim to be a believer, share the truth, point out their sinful behavior, and wait for their response. If they repent, celebrate. If they don’t, follow the steps outlined in today’s passage. The problem with judging others is knowing the difference between condemning someone versus knowing what standard to use to bring them back to a right relationship with God. The world doesn’t want us to judge because their standard varies, and is subjective. Sin runs rampant, and thus God’s standard poses a threat to the sin practioner’s temporary pleasure. God’s standard is objective, fair, and just. When we use it appropriately, it accomplishes His will by either convicting a repentant willing heart back to Him, or condemns an unrepentant soul by exposing their sin, and reminding them of their eternal destination. Using God’s standard equalizes the playing field. It’s just a shame that all people don’t realize this. They cry for equality, but refuse the One that can grant their request. We need to move on from the Americanized version of Christianity, and get back to the eternal (good for all times) Word of God. It’s not judging people that’s the problem, it’s the standard we use, and the condition of our hearts that matter most. When we are in a right standing with God, we know where we stand. The view from there if full of grace and love. It has a way of reminding us that God loves us in spite of our not deserving it. Never forget this.

15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for you.20 For where two or three gather together as My followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:15-20

Being Cast Into Hell With Perfect Health…

God hates sin. He hates it so much that He warns us throughout scripture. Here’s a passage that spells it out for us. Any one who acts out sinful behavior has the option of repentance. That’s all of us. Those that promote sinful behavior, especially to children, will be held to a higher standard. Those that promote sinful behavior, as Jesus states, “would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” False teachers, politicians who promote abortion, allow cross-dressing men to read stories to little children in public places, boys to dress in girls locker rooms, etc... are better off drowned. These are not the only examples, just current ones in our society today that help illustrate the point. Jesus goes on to tell us that it would be better to lose an eye or hand than to believe sinning is okay. We’d enter Heaven maimed, but still enter, versus being cast into Hell with perfect health. These are strong words. It must tell us how much God hates sin. Sin ruins lives, and those that promote immoral behavior will pay the ultimate price if they do not repent of their spiritual blindness. Another reason why our example, our love, our connection with God is of utmost importance. It’s why we fight for the orphans and oppressed, and why we stand to defend truth. The wages of sin is death, not just one death, but two. Knowing this should help open our eyes to what matters most.

1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”2 Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. 3 Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me.6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My heavenly Father. Matthew 18:1-10

A Loving Soul Trying To Help A Hurting One…

Even though this passage is referring to an immoral woman, it applies to anyone who practices or promotes immorality. Immoral behavior blinds a person to the truth. It leads them down a path of destruction. They can’t see past themselves and thus don’t care about the end result because they don’t see it. Believers know the outcome of immoral behavior. They see the path that leads to doom. It’s why believers warn others and fight for their deliverance. It’s just sad that the world sees our rescue attempt, our warning, to be a threat to their pride, instead of a loving soul trying to help a hurting one. Immorality blinds us to the truth. Continuing down immoral path not only hurts the person practicing it, but also those that love them deeply.

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;listen carefully to my wise counsel.2 Then you will show discernment,and your lips will express what you’ve learned.3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,and her mouth is smoother than oil.4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,as dangerous as a double-edged sword.5 Her feet go down to death;her steps lead straight to the grave.6 For she cares nothing about the path to life.She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it. Proverbs 5:1-6

Positive-Thinking…..

How is real, genuine faith different from positive-thinking? The object of our faith, no matter it’s size, is God. And the object of our confidence is God as well. The Source and Object of our faith is always God. When we lose sight of this, we lose sight of God’s will, and thus we lose connection with Him. Once that happens, we get confused where our confidence goes, and start putting it back into ourselves. If we do not ask God to reveal His will to us, our faith loses its effectiveness. Miracles don’t happen without God. The perfect example of this is here in today’s passage. The disciples lost the power to heal because they lost sight of Who it was actually doing the healing. Faith and confidence always start and end with God. Anything else is just positive-thinking.

14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”17 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.21 ” Matthew 17:14-21

When We Keep Our Promises…

One behavior that God always honors is when we keep our promises, even if they hurt us. Integrity has no holiday.

1 Who may worship in Your sanctuary, Lord?Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill?2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,speaking the truth from sincere hearts.3 Those who refuse to gossipor harm their neighborsor speak evil of their friends.4 Those who despise flagrant sinners,and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,and keep their promises even when it hurts.5 Those who lend money without charging interest,and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.Such people will stand firm forever. Psalms 15:1-5

The First Adoption…

The first adoption referenced in the Bible was Moses. His mother placed him in a basket in the Nile river at the exact location pharaoh’s daughter bathed. She knew that pharaoh’s daughter would take him in and raise him as her own, not killing him as her father decreed. What does this show us? That killing children, infants, and the unborn is wrong. God has given us an example of what one woman did to save her baby boy. She put him up for adoption. Isn’t that the choice mothers should make when they do not think they can raise a child due to their circumstances? Being Pro-choice is accepted as you have a right to kill your unborn child. That’s not really a choice, it’s a dead-end decision. A choice would be keeping and raising your child, or put him/her up for adoption. That’s a choice. Women back in Moses’ time didn’t even consider killing their unborn children, this is why Moses was put into the basket and floated down the Nile. It wasn’t a dead-end decision. God is the God of the living. So when did things change?

1 About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said.7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked.8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother.9 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.” Exodus 2:1-10

Playing God, Without His Credentials…

What makes Pharaoh’s command to kill baby boys in the time of Moses evil? The simple answer is selfishness. What makes the Egyptian midwives refusal to honor his demand of killing the babies righteous? They feared God. Proof of what they did was right, going against their leader’s decree, was God rewarding them with their own children. Does any of this seem familiar? Seems a lot like modern day America, doesn’t it? Pro-choice legislation being opposed by pro-life opposition. Just because it’s legal doesn’t justify it being right. Just because the leader of our country believes it’s okay to murder a baby in the womb a day before it’s born, doesn’t make it right. The Egyptians reason for murdering these baby boys was to prevent a fear of them rebellion due to their harsh treatment of the Israelites (still unjustified). But here in America the reason is because a woman has a right to murder her own child if she doesn’t want it? We live in a sick society. And sadly those that believe it are just as guilty as those that allow it and do it. God loves children. A baby is the only thing God can use to make men and women. Think about that for a second and let it sink in. Murder is always a selfish act. It’s playing God, without His credentials.

8 Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. 9 He said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are. 10 We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country.”11 So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king. 12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became. 13 So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy. 14 They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands.15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: 16 “When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to live, too.18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. “Why have you done this?” he demanded. “Why have you allowed the boys to live?”19 “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” the midwives replied. “They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time.”20 So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful. 21 And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.” Exodus 1:8-22

See The Signs He Has Already Given Us….

Do you ever think God gets tired of us asking for signs? He gives us signs every single day. Instead, Maybe we should start asking for the ability to see the signs He has already given us.

1 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that He show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove His authority.2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; 3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times! 4 Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away. Matthew 16:1-4

From A Worldly Point Of View…

We as always need to be careful of how we see things. It’s easy to look at things from a worldly point of view. Peter gives us the ultimate example (right after declaring Jesus as the Messiah), and gets reprimanded for it. If he viewed things from a worldly view all the while walking with Jesus, don’t you think it’s also possible that we can do the same? That’s why Jesus told us to always stay connected to Him (apart from Me you can do nothing - John 15). Seeing life through God’s eyes is paramount in the life of a believer, it’s what spiritual sight is all about. Make it your priority to stay connect to the Vine.

21 From then on Jesus began to tell His disciples plainly that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and that He would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised from the dead.22 But Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to You!”23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from Me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to Me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it.26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?27 For the Son of Man will come with His angels in the glory of His Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.” Matthew 16:21-28

What You Allow Into Your Heart….

Why is guarding our heart so important? The heart is the center of our thinking and reason. It is where our WILL starts, our emotions are birthed, and it’s the bank of our memories and experiences. It affects our words, our outlook, and our behavior. When we fill it with things that contradict truth, the behavior that follows mimics the input. Garbage in, garbage out. If we focus on things that the Bible calls “above the law” we reap the fruits it produces: peace, patience, kindness, etc... We use filters for our air conditioning units, gas and oil filters in our cars, filters for our coffee, and filters for our pools. There are even filters put on cigarettes (for whatever reason I’m still trying to figure out). We use firewalls for our internet usage to keep out malware, viruses, and many other detrimental outside predators to protect our information. But what do we do to protect and guard our hearts? The Bible says “Above all else”. Don’t you think we should listen to God’s most important command? Look around, the evidence is clear of what society becomes when we don’t guard our hearts. Start today. Ask God to protect you from the evil one. And start filtering what you allow into your heart, it will pay big dividends in your life. We reap what we sow.

20 My child, pay attention to what I say.Listen carefully to my words.21 Don’t lose sight of them.Let them penetrate deep into your heart,22 for they bring life to those who find them,and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else,for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:20-23

Helpless And Hopeless….

David knew God, he knew the truth about God. He knew the truth about his own nature. To think over 3,000 years ago David wrote, “only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God’”. People are still saying it today. Times may change but people don’t. David then goes on to explain why people say this, they have corrupt hearts. We all have corrupt hearts. It is not until we repent, and accept God’s terms of reconciliation, that we desire to seek God, serve Him, and begin to understand our sinful nature. Without God’s invitation, we are helpless and hopeless. The true nature of man, the flesh, fights against God. Until we come to this realization, pursuing God is impossible.

1 Only fools say in their hearts,“There is no God.”They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;not one of them does good! 2 The Lord looks down from heavenon the entire human race;He looks to see if anyone is truly wise,if anyone seeks God.3 But no, all have turned away;all have become corrupt.No one does good,not a single one! 4 Will those who do evil never learn?They eat up my people like breadand wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord.5 Terror will grip them,for God is with those who obey Him.6 The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,but the Lord will protect His people. 7 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?When the Lord restores His people,Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice. Psalms 14:1-7

Harsh, Elitist, and Even Rude….

When I read the story of the Gentile woman coming to beg Jesus to heal her demon possessed daughter, I can see His reaction disturbing people. His initial reaction could be seen as very harsh, elitist, and even rude. Is this the same Jesus that everyone praises about His love and non-judgemental attitude? Is this the compassionate, loving, defender of the weak and helpless? How can Jesus respond so coldly to this desperate woman’s plea for help? His reaction, though as harsh as it may seem, was a test. This test was to see how genuine this woman’s request was. Jesus was brought all kinds of people to be healed. And as we read the story of the ten lepers, about how only one came back to thank Him, we must realize more and more people were using Jesus to be healed and not because they loved Him, and wanted to be saved. Didn’t Jesus have plenty of people around Him that we’re disingenuous? They wanted to follow Him because they wanted Him to overthrow the government? Those that wanted Him to heal the sick without thanking Him? Those that wanted to trap Him, so they could eventually kill Him? They wanted something from Him, not Him. His methods whittled away the false believers from the true believers. Yes, some of them (unbelievers) got healed, but it was the ones that expressed their true faith in Him that really got the full blessing, healing and salvation. I’ll finish with a story that will help illustrate my point. In Russia, during the Cold War, many Christians were persecuted under the communist regime. One particular church continued to hold services, but were very discreet about it. One late night during the service, several Russian KGB agents burst into the church. They told every one that denounced their faith could leave. After more than half the church people left, they locked the doors and told the pastor to continue his sermon. You see they were Christians too, and the only way they could attend services is if they weeded out all the pretenders, for the true followers of Christ would not rat them out. This is exactly what Jesus did here. He purposely (in a harsh way) told the woman, you are not as important as the Jews, so stop asking me to heal your daughter. The woman proved her faith in Him by telling Him (my paraphrase), “if you are God, then You care about all people, so please care about me”. Jesus’ response proves this to be true. Sometimes we need to be prodded, offended, or persecuted to prove our faith is authentic and real to ourselves, and that it is the most important thing to us in our lives (where our true loyalty lies). The only way to bring it out is through adversity. God’s ways are above our ways. And He knows us better than we know ourselves. Do you believe this?

21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to Him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then His disciples urged Him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep–the people of Israel.”25 But she came and worshiped Him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. Matthew 15:21-28

Where The Genuine “Me” Resides….

The heart is what matters to God. That’s where the genuine “me” resides. That’s why the proverb says, “above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well-spring of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Once you realize this, it changes everything. Once you realize how wicked your heart naturally is (selfish), you realize why we need a Savior (Someone Else to be righteous for us). That’s exactly what justified means. Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins, for He was the only One qualified to do it (sinless). Since He justified our sin (just if I had never sinned 😁), He gives us the ability to come to God. It’s His Spirit in us that makes room in our heart (giving us reason to clear out our selfishness) that allows the fruits of the Spirit to grow and reproduce. With all of this said, it’s what resides in our heart that justifies or condemns us. That’s where our focus should be as believers. That’s what we should be guarding day and night. That’s what we should fight for in the lives of others, especially our children and loved ones. That’s what God wants from us.

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

Never Buy Into The Message….

Never buy into the message of the wicked. Even though they seem to flourish, gleaming at the break of day, turn away and keep moving. Wickedness and violence follow them wherever they go. They cannot rest until they spewed their venom on unsuspecting souls. If it seems odd when an apparent decent person speaks, and it raises question inside you, it’s because your conscience is doing it’s job. Any time I hear or see of a movement, protest, or demonstration, I immediately look into it to see what it’s really about, not what it tries to promote. Each time I find evidence that reveals its true motives. Not every thing out there is wickedly bad, but without discernment, it’s almost impossible to discern the difference. Ask God to reveal the truth to you. Then use it to uncover the motives of that group. You’ll never find friendship with people that eat the food of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

14 Don’t do as the wicked do,and don’t follow the path of evildoers.15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.Turn away and keep moving.16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.17 They eat the food of wickednessand drink the wine of violence! Proverbs 4:14-17

We Prosper In His Promises….

It’s easy to get caught up in our changing times. Seeing evil gain power can be disheartening. Watching people lie to each other, speaking from deceitful hearts certainly can rob us of a positive outlook. But that’s when we lift our heads toward the Heavens and seek out God. His motives are pure and can be trusted. In times like these the faithful need to be just that, faithful. Trust God with your life, for His promises are as pure as silver and gold. We prosper in His promises.

1 Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!The faithful have vanished from the earth!2 Neighbors lie to each other,speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.3 May the Lord cut off their flattering lipsand silence their boastful tongues.4 They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content.Our lips are our own–who can stop us?” 5 The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless,and I have heard the groans of the poor.Now I will rise up to rescue them,as they have longed for Me to do.”6 The Lord’s promises are pure,like silver refined in a furnace,purified seven times over.7 Therefore, Lord, we know You will protect the oppressed,preserving them forever from this lying generation,8 even though the wicked strut about,and evil is praised throughout the land. Psalms 12:1-8

God’s Word Is The Key To Life…

God’s word is the key to life. It unlocks the door of truth, and that truth sets us free when we embrace it. Never try to stifle being honest with yourself. Your paths will be straight and your life will be long.

10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,and you will have a long, good life.11 I will teach you wisdom’s waysand lead you in straight paths.12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;when you run, you won’t stumble.13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.Guard them, for they are the key to life. Proverbs 4:10-13

God Places Leaders In Power….

In a time of transition of our country’s leadership, with policies reverting back to previous tenures of leadership that promote ungodly behaviors disguised under the veil of “being progressive”, we have to remember it is God Who is in control. God places leaders in power for a reason. We may never know (at the moment) what that reason is, but we can still fully trust God because He is worthy of it all. So regardless who is in power in America, remember, Salvation will never arrive on Air Force One.

I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me,“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!2 The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right.3 The foundations of law and order have collapsed.What can the righteous do?” 4 But the Lord is in His holy Temple;the Lord still rules from heaven.He watches everyone closely,examining every person on earth.5 The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.He hates those who love violence.6 He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,punishing them with scorching winds.7 For the righteous Lord loves justice.The virtuous will see His face. Psalms 11:1-7

Fully Human…

Jesus was fully human. When he was informed of John the Baptist’s death, He left in a boat to a remote area. The Bible doesn’t tell us any more details, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why. He left to grieve the death of His cousin. He left to mourn the loss of the greatest prophet. His leaving shows His humanity. Sure, He could’ve just carried on with His mission, ignoring His feelings, knowing John was in Heaven, safe and secure, but He didn’t. This shows us the heart of God. When a true follower is persecuted, suffers, or dies, it affects God. When good is stifled by evil, God takes offense to that. He sees His creation being abused by the very people He created. He knows this is not how it is supposed to be, but allows it until the last person responds to His calling. In the mean time He grieves over every single sorrow created by the ill-effects of sin. Until we see things the way God sees them, we are not being fully human, in the manner in which we were created to be. Jesus was fully God, and fully human. It’s our duty as Christians to become more like Jesus. And that means viewing life like He did/does. If it doesn’t bother us when we see suffering, persecution, death, and sorrow, then that should show us we are not being fully human, and we still have a way to go in the sanctification process.

10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. 13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, He left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where He was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as He stepped from the boat, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:10-14

People Long For Wisdom And Insight…

We live in a day that says “don’t judge”. We live in a day that tells us there is no such thing as absolute truth. And despite all of this, people long for wisdom and insight, longing to know we are significant and serve a purpose. There are so many people in the world listening to Satan’s deceptive lies trying to re-write our history, change the definition of words, remove statues, and redefine common sense, which makes it’s difficult to find meaning in anything. All of this should be a wakeup call. It should reveal to us how important God’s word is. The only wisdom we can ever gain will only comes from God, Himself. God’s truth (the only truth there is) is objective. It doesn’t change. It remains the same throughout eternity. This wisdom helps us form our judging skills. Jesus tells us “when we judge, we are to judge rightly”. How can anyone judge accurately when there is no standard in which to judge. That’s where God comes in. His standard is the standard. His word is the sharp, two-edged sword that separates truth from falsehood. When we seek it from Him, we find purpose, meaning, and significance. It’s what gives us solid ground to stand on. Its what gives us the ability to discern. It’s what helps us to recognize a tree by the fruit it produces. It’s the very reason why Jesus tells us “the Truth will sets us free”. When we seek wisdom, and ask God for it, He will honor us and grant our request, giving us the humility to judge accurately. I’ve always said, “when we honor God, He will honor us”. Seeking wisdom is honoring God, because it shows us our dependence upon Him, and with obedience, we learn to use it for His glory. Wisdom comes from God.... and His standard forms our ability to judge. Ask Him to grant you some wisdom today. Then give it to someone else as a gift, and watch how it changes the world of those that receive it.

7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.Embrace her, and she will honor you.9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;she will present you with a beautiful crown.” Proverbs 4:7-9

When You Get Over Yourself…

Relationships are funny. You can have good ones and bad ones. Relationships can make you feel great or drag you down. People are fickle, so relationships have a wide range of effects on people. You can never truly have a perfect relationship because humans are imperfect. The only possible way that a relationship can be genuine and real is if one or both of the parties have made Jesus their Lord. It’s only when you get over yourself (the requirement of repentance), that we can give of ourselves without restraint or caution. Until then, any relationship can only go so far, for it doesn’t have an eternal stamp in it. This includes family as well. Jesus spoke with authority and great wisdom. The people in His hometown marveled at His ability to speak and do miracles. However, they were offended by Him; even His own family. The underlying truth to this is: truth cannot set you free when you don’t accept it. So when people speak truth, it offends. Jesus’ family was offended by Him because He spoke truth. And it wasn’t accepted until after His death and resurrection. Then, His family accepted/embraced the truth, and some of them eventually died because of it. Becoming a Christian means embracing truth. Once we do that it opens us up to have real, authentic relationships; ones that turn from temporary to eternal. Is that the kind of relationships you want? It starts with Jesus. It starts with accepting truth.

53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, He left that part of the country. 54 He returned to Nazareth, His hometown. When He taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does He get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” 55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, His mother, and His brothers–James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All His sisters live right here among us. Where did He learn all these things?” 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him.Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” 58 And so He did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:53-58