Knowing It’s Not Permanent….

One of the greatest aspects of being a believer in Jesus is knowing when (not if) we mess up, it’s not permanent. Peter is the perfect example of this. Jesus told him when he repents and returns to being faithful to Him, he must strengthen his brothers. Jesus tells Peter he will fail. But immediately afterwards tells him that it’s not permanent. Forgiveness is one aspect Christianity has that no other religion has to offer, and it’s free. In all other religions forgiveness has to be earned. And you try in hope of God granting you that opportunity. Repentance is key. God knows we will fail Him, but He doesn’t have to hold it against us because Jesus paid the debt we owe. Do we take it for granted? It’s really easy to do. Our response out of gratitude for this free, unmerited, and undeserved gift, we live obediently to God. When we mess up, we turn around (repent) and return to Him. Being a Christian isn’t easy, we will mess up. Knowing it’s not permanent frees us from abandoning our service to the Lord. Thank God for His grace.

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers.”33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with You, and even to die with You.”34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let Me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.” Luke 22:31-34

Too Much…Forget…Too Little..Dishonor…

I made a decision a long time ago that money wasn’t going to be my greatest pursuit in life. I pray the Proverbs prayer (30:7-9) about God providing for me with just the right amount, meeting my needs. Too much and I might forget Him. Too little I may become desperate and dishonor Him. There have been many times when adversity pays me a visit where I begin to question my sanity for praying that prayer, but it always is overcome with the truth: God provides for our needs. It’s because I don’t focus on wealth that my mind can take in God’s word and make it relevant in today’s world. As this proverb states, I’d rather live by God’s standards, being guided and provided for, than have my insides tearing me apart trying to figure out why joy evades me because there is no room inside left for God.

16 Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. Proverbs 15:16

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

God Is The Scapegoat….

People can complain about God, they can hate Him, and they can do all they can to try to rid Him from society, but the one thing they can’t do is say He is not loving. Even in complete rejection, God allows us to live without Him. I’m certain it hurts Him when a human being, a body, mind, soul, and spirit that He made, decides to walk away, turning their back on Him. In all of this, if that’s what a person wants, He grants their wish, and hands them over to their own demise. Imagine having a pet, let’s say a puppy. You receive them from a friend, just past weaning age. You feed them, get them trained, healthy, and you love them more than any other. One day when the pet is 5 years old he starts to be mean to you. He bites your hand as you feed him. Then one day he runs away. How would you feel? And worse yet, if you knew he did it on purpose, would that change your response? God always gives us a choice. When we choose to not follow Him He grants us our request. When we choose to follow Him, He grants us our request. Either way He gives us what we want. God’s love is above all. It has no rival. And yet people reject Him, then blame Him for getting what they ask for. It’s not fair. It’s not right. It just doesn’t make sense. Neglecting God, then blaming Him for our problems is just an excuse from not dealing with our own problems. It’s avoidance of admitting “it’s our own fault”. God is the scapegoat in lost humanity’s self-inflicting struggles. We create our own pain when we abandon God, and it’s not a legit excuse to blame Him for our misery. He doesn’t deserve our wrongly directed hostility.

4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want Me to be their king any longer. 8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned Me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.” 10 So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 12 Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. 16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”21 So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, 22 and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home. 1 Samuel 8:4-22

Respect For God….

Reading through this story what stands out to me is the respect for God these Philistines had. Though they didn’t worship Him, they put two and two together about the plagues wrecking havoc on them since capturing the Ark of the Covenant. Out of their respect (fear) for God, they made an effort to appease Him. Imagine in America today that there was a respect for God? We probably wouldn’t be having so many abuses of freedom. “Shout Your Abortion”, “My body my choice”, “punish if you don’t agree”, and on and on. When America was founded there were people who didn’t follow God, but they had a respect for Him. And through the years that respect has diminished. I would say in the last 50 years, it has eroded exponentially. Look what has resulted! As believers, faithful followers of Jesus, we need to be the lighthouses on the coastlines, the beacons on the hills, and the sounding boards of truth. We may not be able to rescue all, but we can certainly give the world a reason to respect the God of the Bible. Honor Him today.

1 The Ark of the Lord remained in Philistine territory seven months in all. 2 Then the Philistines called in their priests and diviners and asked them, “What should we do about the Ark of the Lord? Tell us how to return it to its own country.”3 “Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift,” they were told. “Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop. Then, if you are healed, you will know it was His hand that caused the plague.”4 “What sort of guilt offering should we send?” they asked.And they were told, “Since the plague has struck both you and your five rulers, make five gold tumors and five gold rats, just like those that have ravaged your land. 5 Make these things to show honor to the God of Israel. Perhaps then He will stop afflicting you, your gods, and your land. 6 Don’t be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were. By the time God was finished with them, they were eager to let Israel go.7 “Now build a new cart, and find two cows that have just given birth to calves. Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen. 8 Put the Ark of the Lord on the cart, and beside it place a chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors you are sending as a guilt offering. Then let the cows go wherever they want. 9 If they cross the border of our land and go to Beth-shemesh, we will know it was the Lord who brought this great disaster upon us. If they don’t, we will know it was not His hand that caused the plague. It came simply by chance.”10 So these instructions were carried out. Two cows were hitched to the cart, and their newborn calves were shut up in a pen. 11 Then the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors were placed on the cart. 12 And sure enough, without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went. The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they saw the Ark, they were overjoyed! 14 The cart came into the field of a man named Joshua and stopped beside a large rock. So the people broke up the wood of the cart for a fire and killed the cows and sacrificed them to the Lord as a burnt offering. 15 Several men of the tribe of Levi lifted the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors from the cart and placed them on the large rock. Many sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered to the Lord that day by the people of Beth-shemesh. 16 The five Philistine rulers watched all this and then returned to Ekron that same day.17 The five gold tumors sent by the Philistines as a guilt offering to the Lord were gifts from the rulers of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 18 The five gold rats represented the five Philistine towns and their surrounding villages, which were controlled by the five rulers. The large rock at Beth-shemesh, where they set the Ark of the Lord, still stands in the field of Joshua as a witness to what happened there. 1 Samuel 6:1-18

People Don’t Hate Us Because….

The true test of a believer is how we stand when persecution comes. Will we bow to the gods of the day, or stand for the God of the Bible? We will win our souls by standing firm for Jesus. When we stand up to Satan’s lies, to society’s agenda, and all opposition to truth, it will prove not only to the people opposing us, but it will prove to ourselves that what we believe has the power to protect. People don’t hate us because of who we are, they hate us because of the One that made us who we are. God will honor those that honor Him.

12 “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are My followers.13 But this will be your opportunity to tell them about Me.14 So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you,15 for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!16 Even those closest to you–your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends–will betray you. They will even kill some of you.17 And everyone will hate you because you are My followers.18 But not a hair of your head will perish!19 By standing firm, you will win your souls. Luke 21:12-19

Seeing Spiritually….

Satan will always try to deceive. People who reject God serve Satan, even if they know it or not. People who hate God, that includes all who live for themselves, pretend to be honest, when they really are not. It’s God’s wisdom, called discernment, that helps a Christian navigator through our interactions with people that help protect us and others along the way. Seeing spiritually (discerning) helps spot imposters before they can do any damage in your life. If you’re not in the Word daily, and you’re not asking God for wisdom, you might just fall prey to these deceitful, pretending to be honest, hucksters.

20 Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus. 21 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. 22 Now tell us–is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”23 He saw through their trickery and said, 24 “Show Me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”“Caesar’s,” they replied.25 “Well then,” He said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”26 So they failed to trap Him by what He said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by His answer, and they became silent. Luke 20:20-26

If Only People Could See…

If only people could see the heart of God, they wouldn’t fight so hard to preserve their sinful nature, and understand the only way to true peace.

41 But as He came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, He began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side.44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.” Luke 19:41-44

Let God Know What’s Going On…

There are times when we fail to see God’s hand working in a situation. He is sovereign. He is in control. He knows what He’s doing. And it’s for our good. When we lose sight of this, it’s easy to allow the “woe is me” feelings to dictate our actions, which lead to further lowering of a positive, encouraging outlook. When we allow ourselves to get to this point, take a knee, bow your head, and let God know what’s going on. Ask for an infusion of hope. He will grant it, and you will be restored. God is always watching.

3 The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping His eye on both the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

A Permanent Resident….

Unlike in the OT, the Holy Spirit is a permanent resident when He is sent to us as believers. In the OT the Spirit of God was temporary, He would come and go. Many examples of this are documented throughout the OT. King Saul and Samson are two examples. David expressed this truth in this famous Psalm. He’s confessed his wrong doing, adultery and murder. He pleads with God to restore his joy, and to not take away The Holy Spirit. Isn’t it a secure feeling knowing that once we receive God’s Spirit, He will never leave us? Now that’s real security.

7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.8 Oh, give me back my joy again;You have broken me–now let me rejoice.9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.Remove the stain of my guilt.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.Renew a loyal spirit within me.11 Do not banish me from Your presence,and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalms 51:7-11

Giving Thanks Is A Sacrifice….

Have you ever thought about the sacrificial system the Israelites had instituted and practiced for years and years? It wasn’t the slaying of animals that God wanted, even though it was the blood of these animals that allowed their sins to be temporarily forgiven (meaning their actual death). It was their obedience to God in doing these acts that really mattered. Since the sacrificial system was halted by the Jews when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and permanently by Jesus on the cross, our obedience to God is revealed in different means. What May those be, you ask? Giving Thanks. It says it right here in Psalm 50. Giving thanks is a sacrifice. How is that? I’m not fully sure, but if you think about it, being thankful takes work. We don’t always “feel” grateful, do we? We allow our emotions to take over, giving into them, and we start down the “woe is me” path. We usually want to take the credit for what happens to us, right? Gratitude doesn’t exist on that journey. So we have to sacrifice our feelings and do what we know is right, what is true. That might just be the sacrifice this Psalm is talking about. We have to die to our selfishness, and do the right thing. That’s what real obedience looks like. Gratitude is hard work. Thankfulness is a sacrifice to God, that honors Him. Are you making a sacrifice to honor God today? If not, what’s holding you back?

23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me. If you keep to My path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” Psalms 50:23

Of The 10 Lepers Healed, Only One…

We live in a messed up world. This is not how God designed it to work. We as humans have corrupted it with our sinful desires. So how do we deal with it, what kind of attitude should we have? I’ll be the first to admit, I get down when I see the headlines that run across the feeds on my phone. I don’t have subscriptions to any mainstream media outlets. Even the conservative feeds contribute to the gloom and doom. This is why I always say, “feelings are legit, but often overrated. We have to go with what we know to be true”. This story of the ten lepers is exactly the type of story we need to hear in times like these. Of the 10 lepers healed, only one comes back to thank Jesus. Only one. We need to be like this one grateful, healed leper. Isn’t that what Christianity really is, a life response to what Jesus did for us on the cross? God’s acceptance of us on behalf of what Jesus did? We need to be thankful that Jesus not only chose us, but also walks with us. When times are bad, when our outlook on life slips below the “life is good” season, we have to go back to Jesus and thank Him for choosing us. We have to focus our attention on what is good. Jesus said, “only God is good”. If that’s the case, then we need to focus on God. Having an attitude of gratitude is always a good thing, especially when the feelings raging inside of us are screaming “life sucks right now”.

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, He reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As He entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan.17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” Luke 17:11-19

No One Gave Him Anything…..

One of the greatest stories in the Bible is the story of the Prodigal Son. Its purpose is to show us how Heaven rejoices when a sinner repents and returns to the God Who forgives and reconciles us back to Him. There are so many aspects to this story, so many side stories that can be drawn from it. Here’s one for instance, when the son was starving, Jesus tells us that no one gave him anything (reality of life). In modern times with our welfare system, the chances of “coming to our senses” is slim. Here though, the son’s suffering, his hardship, helped bring him back to reality. It humbled him. That’s the key ingredient in repentance. When times get bad, when adversity strikes, it’s the things that humble us that actually drive out the pride. If humility isn’t fostered in the process, people will continue living in their lostness (rebellion). Our welfare system indoctrinates people into this “it’s not so bad” mindset. Then it deceives them into thinking, “I can do nothing and still be provided for, why should I work when I don’t have to?” It lowers our standards and accepts mediocrity. Our welfare system rewards laziness and irresponsibility. Sure, there are a few it actually benefits, but for the majority, it prevents them from humility and repentance. The Bible tells us, “he who refuses to work, won’t eat”. The prodigal son experienced this. He suffered, to the point of repentance. That’s the key. And that’s God’s plan when He allows us to experience adversity. It’s to get us to the point of realizing Who is really in control, and in charge. And to direct us back to a right relationship with Him. For most of us, suffering does the trick. Never forget this.

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ Luke 15:11-21

Did Jesus Really Mean We Must Hate Others?

Did Jesus really mean we must hate others in order to be His disciple? It would be incorrect to assume that’s what He meant. He simply means our love for others will seem like hatred when compared to our love for Him. It will be like a lesser love. We are not commanded to hate people, or ourselves. That would be disobedient. What Jesus is saying is that unless our love for Him supersedes all of our love for everyone else and everything, then our discipleship isn’t worthy of Him. Think about it this way, true, real, authentic love comes from God. So unless our love comes from God, it will always fail us. If our love is from God then we will have an immense love for others. So it’s really love from God, or love from self. There’s only one real love that works. This is the part of the Bible that few people like. It’s the “are you participating or are you committed to God?” Part of our faith that determines its authenticity. You either die to self daily, or you serve yourself daily. As an analogy I learned in my Sunday School class a while back goes, are you a pig or a chicken? A chicken participates on a farm for breakfast, while a pig is committed. Are you committed or are you a participant when it comes to your Christianity. Jesus makes it crystal clear here: unless you are committed to Him, and your love for Him makes your natural love for others, including yourself, seem like hatred, you are not worthy of being one of His disciples.

25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be My disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison–your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple.27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple.28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10 ,000 could defeat the 20 ,000 soldiers marching against him?32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.33 So you cannot become My disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:25-33

Half-Hearted Christians….

The world has nothing but contempt for half-hearted Christians.

34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” Luke 14:34-35

Never Get To Taste….

When people reject God, for whatever reason or excuse, they will never get to taste any of God’s banquet. They will not experience His eternal love, mercy, grace, or kindness. Even when unbelievers are subjected to God’s common grace, they don’t recognize that it’s God doing the serving. They will permanently be banned from His presence, only hearing “away from Me you worker of iniquity”. All for the same reason Lucifer was kicked out of Heaven, because of his pride. Is it really worth it?

15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’ ” Luke 14:15-24

People Believe Everything They Hear….

We live in a day when people believe everything they hear. This hasn’t changed since the fall of man in the garden. A simple headline is taken as truth and never read through. The reason people do this is simple, they are lazy. And when the headline agrees with people’s distorted agenda, the effect is intensified even more. People want easy, they don’t want to have to think for themselves. People want to feel rather than think. As this proverb calls them, they are simpletons. Prudent people research topics/issues. They find the sources behind the research, within the stories. They find out who is funding the cause. This way it’s easy to spot a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Satan wants to deceive and destroy anyone who follows God. He finds it rather easy to distract a simpleton. Don’t be one.

15 Only simpletons believe everything they’re told!The prudent carefully consider their steps. 16 The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence. Proverbs 14:15-16

Prepared When The Pop Quiz…. Happens…

Sometimes, our mistakes are tests from God. When we fail to do this or that, God uses it as a test to see how we will react. An example of this is when Israel, specifically Joshua, failed to drive out all of the pagan people living in the “Promised Land”. God did it to show the Israelites their ineptness to be fully obedient. Because of this, they lacked discernment and faithfulness to God. The Israelites were not any different from the pagans living in the land. How much are we like that? How often to we allow ourselves to get caught up in the busyness of the day and fail to do things we should do? Like witness to co-workers? Or comfort a hurting, lost soul? Or even give God credit for doing something incredible? Or even something as simple as pointing another to God? Every single morning a Christian wakes up, he faces a battle, or a “test”, and how he responds determines his grade. Start your day getting into to God’s word, and in prayer ask for discernment, and I’ll guarantee you’ll be better prepared when the “pop quiz” that tests your faith happens.

22 I did this to test Israel–to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.” 23 That is why the Lord left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all. Judges 2:22-23

Faith Can Be Easy And Hard…

There are easy things in life and their are hard things in life. Christianity includes both. Having faith can be easy and hard. Being obedient to God can be easy, but most of the time it takes hard work. It takes discipline. It takes dedication. It takes a commitment. It takes fortitude. When we don’t listen to God, or better stated, disobey His commands, the consequences are much more difficult to deal with. Here in Judges we see an example of this playing out. The Israelites were instructed to drive out all of the pagan people living in the Promised Land. God told them He would fight for them and drive them out. But, as we all know, they failed to do it. As a result, God tells them that these pagan people will be a thorn in their side, and their false gods will be a constant temptation to them. This thorn in their sides was probably the same “thorn in the flesh” that the Apostle Paul had to deal with. When we don’t listen to God, and do what He says, we end up dealing with consequences far more complex than we ever imagined. And worse yet, they become a daily reminder of the fact that we failed in doing what we should’ve done. Be faithful, be obedient, for no one wants to deal with constant turmoil that could’ve been prevented.

1 The Angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said to the Israelites, “I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break My covenant with you. 2 For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed My command. Why did you do this? 3 So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”4 When the Angel of the Lord finished speaking to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. 5 So they called the place Bokim (which means “weeping”), and they offered sacrifices there to the Lord. Judges 2:1-5

When Your Source Of Joy Doesn’t….

When your source of joy doesn’t come from God, the laughter will eventually end. The “fake it till you make it” mentality robs us of authenticity. When a person tries to fix things through worldly means, leaving God out of the picture, withholding truth, grief and sorrow can only be disguised for so long. God is the Ultimate, Permanent Healer of the soul. Go to Him, ask Him to heal you. He never disappoints, for He never fakes anything.

13 Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains. Proverbs 14:13

Both Are Eternal….

There’s two ways to live your life, your way or God’s way. They each have different outcomes. Both are eternal, but in opposing places.

12 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Proverbs 14:12

God Speaks In The Still Moments….

Listening is such a lost art in modern times. Sometimes the simple act of stopping and listening makes all the difference in the world. God speaks in the still moments in life just as much, or more, than the chaotic times. Stop in listen, it may just help you.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!I will be honored by every nation.I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalms 46:10

We Must Choose Every Day….

Love, walk, obey, and serve, these are words given to the Israelite tribes living on the east side of the Jordan River. Joshua, Moses’ replacement, told this to them. If we ever need to adhere to a set of principles, these are it. If we follow these commands, our lives will be enriched, enhanced, protected, and fulfilled by God. If He tells us what to do, and we do it, shouldn’t our lives turn out as He planned them to turn out? Learning to manage our selfishness is key. It’s God’s way or our way. We must chose every day. The trajectory of our lives is based on how well we adhere to these principles.

5 But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, obey His commands, hold firmly to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.” 6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went home. Joshua 22:5-6

Read Past The Headlines…

All people have an intellectual capacity, but some lack the will to know. How many people read past the headlines? How many research beyond the articles? Only those that use their intellectual capacity. And sadly, how many run the topic through the magnifying glass of scripture? The problem in today’s society people don’t listen, they don’t question things to find out its real purpose and meaning. They believe everything they hear. “If a doctor says it, it must be true.” The problem with that mindset is this, a doctor is a human being. Human beings are Fallible. Doctors practice medicine because of this very point. It holds true to all professions and designated titles. Learn to use the mind God has given you. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve/create when you maximize your potential. Stop believing what you hear, your brain is worth training to reach its potential. With God, that’s way more than you think.

Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is.56 You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.57 “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? Luke 12:54-57

Guilt Is A Complex Subject…..

Guilt is a complex subject. In modern times, guilt is treated as an enemy of the human spirit. Anything that brings it about is slandered and all attempts are to demolish it. Guilt is seen as a bad thing. To the believer (transcending time), guilt is a way back to God. You see guilt comes about when we violate God’s order. Guilt comes about when we sin. Sin is in our nature, we are born with it. When we sin, our God-given conscience is stirred up. We can either go with the guilt and respond accordingly, by repenting. Or we can suppress the guilt and continuously fight against it. We do this by justifying and rationalizing our sinful behavior. We have a choice in how we see guilt. We can view it as a good thing, as a way of turning us back to God. Or we can view it as a bad thing and fight it by trying to rationalize it away. The difference between the two will determine how long the effects of guilt will last. For the believer, through true repentance, it will immediately be forgiven, relieved of its heaviness. For the worldly viewer, it will linger on and on, burdening the soul until the conscience is completely seared and no longer able to serve its function of warning. Guilt is a good thing. Its a warning system to us. It’s just a matter of how we see and respond to it.

9 Fools make fun of guilt,but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation. 10 Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy. Proverbs 14:9-10

True Prosperity….

These are the very words of Jesus, God incarnate. He calls a person a fool who puts things above God. There’s a purpose in creating savings, to help us in later years. But when we put our faith, security, and satisfaction in our wealth, we neglect our relationship with God. It’s a deception. “Wealth gives us the false notion that we can say ‘NO’ to God”. That’s foolish. Money won’t save anyone, it can’t. Imagine all those who pursue wealth. How many people they’ve trampled over in their pursuits? How many things they missed out on? How much they neglected their families? All for what? A bigger bank account? When they die, where is that wealth going? Not with them. It won’t make their destination any better. True prosperity is pursuing God. It’s knowing what really matters in life. It’s spending your time and efforts on investing in what will out last this life, what you will take with you after your time on this earth is up. Eternal things are worth our investment.

21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:21

These Are Jesus’ Words….

I’ve never understood the purpose of holding Mary, the mother of Jesus, above all other Saints. She does not need to be held in higher esteem than those who hear God’s word and obey it. These are Jesus’ words. How can you argue against them?

27 As He was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless Your mother–the womb from which You came, and the breasts that nursed You!”28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Luke 11:27-28

ASK…..

ASK, seek, knock….. these are the words of Jesus. If we continually ASK, because of our persistence, God will meet our needs. I’m not talking about asking for things like a pay raise at work (unless of course you need it to happen). What I’m saying is aligning your will with God’s will (Matthew 6:33). When we align our will with God’s will, we find our wants and desires to be His wants and desires. God’s will is always done. Instead of having a “me” mentality, we should have a “we” mentality. We should always be looking out for each other. How do we know God’s will? It starts with asking. God speaks to us mainly through His word. Get into God’s word, and His word will get into you. God is a God of mercy and grace. If we seek Him whole-heartedly, we will find Him. We just have to ASK.

8 But I tell you this–though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.11 “You fathers–if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” Luke 11:8-13

If God Is Truth…..

Is it possible to walk in truth and despise the Lord? Is it possible to follow truth but not listen to the Lord? If God is truth, then it isn’t possible to walk in something you despise. Maybe for a short period of time, but it won’t last. You’ll end up hating it more. It is possible to follow truth, but not listen to God, again, for a short period of time. You’ll either be convicted and repent or the truth you believe you’re following really isn’t of God, it’s your own made up truth. God is truth, so if you love truth, you love God. If you love God, you love truth. If you love truth, then you’ll live truth out. God and truth are the same. You can’t love one and despise the other. If you try you’ll discover the misery you’re living in was self-inflicted. Pretending, acting out your false truth, leads you down the wrong path, you’ll not only despise God, but you’ll end up despising yourself in the process.

2 Those who follow the right path fear the Lord; those who take the wrong path despise Him. Proverbs 14:2

The Practice Of Acceptance…

There’s a huge difference between parents that love their children and those who don’t. A big misconception these days is the practice of acceptance, and the lack of discipline. People think by accepting a person it equals loving that person. This is far from the truth. A loving parent disciplines their children because of that love. If a child starts behaving in a manner contrary to the Truth, opposing God’s ways, a parent must show the child that this pattern will eventually lead to their demise. Not only that, it may also hurt others in the process. A parent who doesn’t discipline their children, shows contempt towards them because they are not showing them that certain behaviors are bad. These consequences only grow in intensity as we age. Not showing our children, is like lying to them. When they get on their own, and consequences happen, they’ll hate their parents for not teaching them the truth about it. Love always gives us a choice, but it also warns us when we are in the wrong. Discipline is the process in which this concept takes place. Just as a parent disciplines a child, God disciplines us as well. When society tries to tell us to accept certain behaviors, and if we don’t, it tries to call us names and even punish us; we know it’s not out of its love for us, rather straight from Satan himself. Love does the hard things. It’s hard to speak the truth when someone is walking a path towards destruction, but love helps us warn them, and in the case of parenting, discipline our children, in order to show them true love cares enough to point you back to the right path. So the next time someone tries to tell you that acceptance is “love”, tell them “real love cares enough to tell you the truth”. And the truth is you’re walking away from God not towards Him. Lack of discipline tells us there’s a lack of love. Society today lacks true love. It’s our job to show the world where true love comes from, point them to Jesus, that way they at least are aware of their problem.

24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24

Decisions That We Don’t End Up Regretting….

The only way to know truth is to ask God. Even if we are believers, we can still be deceived. Unless we ask God to guide us and protect us, deception can still play a role in our lives. This is exactly what happened to the Israelites when they entered into the Promised land. They were told to destroy all the people there. The Gibeonites feared for their lives, so they concocted a plan to deceive Israel into making a peace treaty with them. And it worked. The reason it worked was due to Israel’s lack of consulting with God. They didn’t ask Him for guidance in the matter, and thus ended up making a peace treaty with an oath. When they found out they had been lied to, they were furious. However, since they swore an oath, they couldn’t break it. They ended up making the Gibeonites wood cutters and water carriers for them. This is just a reminder that we should go to God in all of our decision-making, especially with people we don’t know. God is omniscient, so going to Him with these matters gives us exactly what we need to make confident decisions that we don’t end up regretting.

14 So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath. 16 Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby! 17 The Israelites set out at once to investigate and reached their towns in three days. The names of these towns were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack the towns, for the Israelite leaders had made a vow to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.The people of Israel grumbled against their leaders because of the treaty. 19 But the leaders replied, “Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel, we cannot touch them. 20 This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath. 21 Let them live.” So they made them woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community, as the Israelite leaders directed.22 Joshua called together the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you lie to us? Why did you say that you live in a distant land when you live right here among us? 23 May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God.”24 They replied, “We did it because we–your servants–were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you this entire land and to destroy all the people living in it. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you. That is why we have done this. 25 Now we are at your mercy–do to us whatever you think is right.”26 So Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill them. 27 But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the Lord–wherever the Lord would choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day. Joshua 9:14-27