The Value of Faith!

As we face the stress of everyday life we need to remember the value of Faith!  We are quick to place our hope in “our” decisions and in “our” ability to direct life according to the outcomes based on factors and elements that are to great for our mortal control.  This reveals the concept of needing a “Savior”, someone who holds the key to our future, which is God almighty. 

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Do You Trust God?

As we go through life and the unexpected trial comes our way, how do we handle it?  

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

We are supposed to be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world.  This means we are secure in our savior and His plan for our lives regardless of our circumstances. God has our back in all things if He is truly Lord of our lives.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Humility and Prosperity

We battle against the pride inside of us and almost certainly it is what causes our stress and discomfort in life.  While I was reading the word this morning I gained a new revelation about humility. 

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

This scripture tells us that if we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, He will lift us up.  All of God’s word has meaning and there were 2 points in this scripture that spoke to me in a new way.

First of all, the part that says “in the sight of the Lord” is key in this scripture.  When we are walking in our flesh we are not in God’s view.  Similar to Adam and Eve after their sin in the garden, they hid from God. They are turned from God and pursuing their flesh nature.  To me this means that they are not in the sight of the Lord and must turn to Him so He can lift them up. 

Your Grace Leads Me Home

Who need some Grace today?.  This morning I was going through my past blogs and this really spoke to me.  I wanted to share it with you today.

I’ve been blessed to receive some great revelations from God through His word, ministry and even dreams.  He is not a respecter of persons and will reveal Himself to anyone who seeks Him.  God revealed another element of ministering to me through music.  I had been leading worship, playing rhythm guitar for about 3 years when I woke up with a message in the form of a song.

Unashamed Dependence

Carrie was reading her daily devotional this morning and there was a key phrase that jumped out at me.  It said; “you need to attach to God with “unashamed dependence”.  Our admission of needing help is so important in our walk with God. 

We must conclude that God is not only “relevant” to us, but He is completely necessary at the highest level in all areas of our life. 

Our pride is what has us walking around relying on our own dependence.  It is actually a foolish position when you think about it.  There is no way we can control all the elements and factors of life, much less the schemes and attacks of the enemy.  We are simply inadequate in our own ability to manage life. 

THE GOOD SHEPHERD!

To labor simply means to work hard and apply effort towards a task.  As Christians we are asked to labor for the harvest of God.

Matthew 9:36-38 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were wearyand scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.³⁷ Then He said to His disciples,“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

We Need Truth!

It is our nature as people to seek peace. This is difficult when society is telling us to do whatever we want and its “OK”.  It also is forcing us to accept "Everything" as truth.  

When this happens it causes everyone to live by “His or Her” own foundation while creating confrontation and conflict because a selfish foundation is not rooted in God's “Truth”. 

Psalm 52:2-4 You who practice deceit,
   your tongue plots destruction;
    it is like a sharpened razor.
³ You love evil rather than good,
    falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
⁴ You love every harmful word,
    you deceitful tongue!

What’s Next?

What’s Next God?

When we have uncertainty of our future we must hold on to the truth of God and trust Him.  This takes humility to turn loose of our fleshly perspective.  God has a great plan and we need to seek Him daily and rely on the fact that He will guide our steps.

Psalm 25:9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.

Question:  Do we want to “learn” from the ways of the world or from God?

Everlasting Glory

While driving down the interstate I recognized that the road construction was everywhere. Crews were constantly repairing the damage that the traffic had caused.  I started to ask the question.  Is there anything that is going in the opposite direction? 

It seems as if everything is in a cycle of withering away.  From the roadways to the flowers, trees and even people are in a process of dying off and or diminishing.  It seems that nothing is becoming better, or transforming into something beautiful.  

Winning and the Search for Truth

After being blessed to coach thousands of games and winning many championships, I have discovered that sports provide a very unique look into the spiritual realm.

The ability to achieve goals based on hard work and rules in a short-term setting allows us to view a goal and plan and the completion of a plan in a short time frame. We therefore can evaluate the individual behavior as well as the social behavior of a group. The same plan could be evaluated for a bigger group or “life” in general.

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

THE OUTWORKING OF LOVE

As we go through our day do we show our love to others by our deeds and from the “TRUTH” of God. 

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

The deeds and actions, which we display today, can come from a root of love if we choose the Godly path. 

QUESTION: Do we love in truth of God or with selfish intentions?

When God asks us to love in His truth there is an unselfish foundation from which we do so.  This means that we are operating in Agape Love, which is the unconditional type of love.

We Have A Trust Issue!

This morning I was having breakfast and thinking about trust.  I believe our biggest issue we face is trusting others and God.  Our “self reliance” has reached a level of personal dependency that we believe we can do everything without having to trust anything or anyone, especially God. 

Call it selfishness if you will, but people, beg, borrow and steal to maintain self-control of things in life rather than rely on God and others for anything. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Question: Do you trust the Lord in your life?

GOD'S SAFETY

I was seeking the word “safety” in the scripture this morning and was led to Psalm 91.  As I began to read this passage looking for an ending point with which to pull from, I found myself unable to stop reading.  The fullness of this passage is the WORD for today. 

Do you desire “SAFETY” in your life?

The safety of the Lord is available when we ABIDE in His presence.  To abide we must seek him by prayer and communion with Him through His word.

THE REWARD IS WAITING

When the struggles of life seem to get you in a corner its time to move forward.  Your reward is waiting.

Do you ever feel like throwing in the towel?  This saying came from the sport of boxing when a person was getting destroyed in the ring the manager could throw in the towel and end the match.

Philippians 3:13-15Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

What’s Next?

I woke up this morning with this thought on my mind. What’s Next God?

When we have uncertainty of our future we must hold on to the truth of God and trust Him.  This takes humility to turn loose of our fleshly perspective.  God has a great plan and we need to seek Him daily and rely on the fact that He will guide our steps.

Psalm 25:9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.

Question:  Do we want to “learn” from the ways of the world or from God?