BE COMMITTED

Revelation 3:19 (HCSB) 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent.
  Ever felt the sting and disappointment of again doing wrong, a lady confided I think about things I shouldn't, even when I make up my mind no to. The servant of God is confronted with temptations, so are the servants of the world, the only difference is our relationship to our Savior, the One who makes us clean.
   When We allow Christ into our hearts, we are transformed into saved sinners, the flesh still has all the same desires, however the new heart we possess no longer enjoys the lust for sin it once embraced. Sin brings rebuke from God, like the mother or father that corrected us when we were young.
   Feeling guilty today rejoice, He will not let you go on in sin without bringing it to your attention. What should we do, "be committed and repent."
Heavenly Father in You alone we live, in You alone we have the breath to live, in You alone there is Salvation for eternal life, thank You. Lord keep us in your tender care may our thoughts continually run to You. Amen
 

TO KEEP YOU

Psalm 91:11 (NKJV) 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
    Temptation to do wrong is a real process in our lives, a man was told, "if you will rob that store we can split the loot, and I will do the next one, we will be a team." He was caught and sent to jail, he had never done anything like that before.
   There are real consequences for sin and no one is exempt, many around us suffer when we yield to temptation. Jesus was tempted by satan but He would not yield, even when the enemy used scripture to justify the temptation, our Lord stood firm.
    Do you say no when temptation knocks, do you refuse to yield to the desires that cause everyone to fall? We can if, we will practice looking to God, if when tempted we refuse to yield, there will be amazing victory to stand again and put temptation away. How, 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. His angels have charge over you.
Heavenly Father help us to remember You never leave us alone, when we sin we sin in your presence. May all our thoughts be captive to You and your will for us, to live sin free. Amen

CONTEND EARNESTLY

Jude 1:3 (NKJV) 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
   To contend for the faith we must put ourselves in the battle, we may choose the side lines, but Gods servant always stands where he is instructed. A soldier was told to hold a line against impossible odds, he prayed, "God help me do what I cannot do on my own," bullets barely missed as he fought with renewed energy, finally the battle stopped. The line was intact and no one was killed or wounded, as the soldier stood to examine his surroundings he noticed the enemy lying on the ground and waving in surrender. Summoning the enemy leader he asked, "why did you give up with the numbers of men surrounding you?" The enemy replied, "we could see we were completely out numbered your army covered the hills." The brave soldier had a shattered unit of six men who stood faithfully, against seven hundred.
   Our commitment to God must be on these same lines, we must be more committed to Gods purposes that our own, stay in the battle He is not finished with you yet.
Heavenly Father help us to stand in this day, give us victory where everyone sees defeat. Let our hearts turn to You and leave every fear outside. Amen

HIS NAME'S SAKE

3 John 1:7 (NKJV) 7 because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
   Examining our own heart is absolutely necessary for Spiritual growth, 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified. How we are seen by the world tells the whole story of what is in the heart.
  To go forth for God involves walking Holy and in His Power, you will not stand for Him if He is not in you. The struggle is right there, we belong to Jesus or we do not, ask your self this question, do those around me say I act, just like Jesus? The answer is in the way we live, is it for His name's sake?
Heavenly Father help us to conquer the desire to serve self and deliberately put our trust in You and nothing else. Amen

FROM AFAR

Psalm 138:6 (NKJV) 6 Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
   We notice those who offend very quickly, they are often marked mentally by us as unimportant or unworthy of our time. God has a place and plan for every living being, no one is outside of His attention, no person is misplaced by The Creator.
  A child born in a stable, in a country far away, to a people not accepted by the world, is not insignificant history, He is The Savior of the world and in Him there is Life and through Him we will see Gods Glory. Too proud to accept that, He sees you, even far away!
Heavenly Father let us look up and see all You intend for us, may we recognize the gift of Jesus, the Savior of the world. Amen

THE WHOLE WORLD

1 John 2:2 (NKJV) 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 
    The Lord knows our ways and sees all too well our hearts, like the mother who knows her child will not do the right thing until trained, so our Creator knows us. Sin has arms that do not release its victims, no matter the strength of the individual or the personal stamina, sin will establish a stronghold.
    A child caught taking cookies, confessed, "I can't help me," so is sin to all people. Christ, the Savior and Lord of all, is willing to receive those who confess, "I cannot do this I need You."
    My hand, your hand and that of all people has been caught in the cookie jar, our only redemption is through the One, born into this world, to save me from me. Celebrate this Christmas season the birth of the One who can save me from me.
Heavenly Father in You alone is the gift of eternal life and in this day we trust You with our lives knowing, in You we will find salvation. Eternal life is from You, it is through You and comes from no other. Help us to seek You only. Amen

LOOKING FORWARD

2 Peter 3:14 (NKJV) 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
   Shepherds working in the night are confronted with the presence of an angel, proclaiming a birth only read and discussed among the religious elite. Fear comes knocking and these humble men find themselves being comforted and encouraged, by Gods heavenly choir. They hear Good News and discover Great Joy, a child will restore Gods people to their rightful place. He is called "Savior, Christ and Lord" referring to the work of Grace to be produced through Him, for all people who come to Him will be blessed.
   This season is referred to as Peace, we are to seek good for others, however the Word of God says that must be our life style if, we belong to Him. We are to live diligent lives working at peace and making sure we encourage others without causing anyone to stumble by our sinfulness.
   As Gods servants we are looking forward to the day of His appearing just as the shepherds did many years ago, He will come and we must be busy sharing Peace with those around us. Won't you trust Him completely today?
Heavenly Father in you we find Peace and Rest, let us embrace all that You have planned and give all Glory and Honor to You. Amen

HE IS PLEASED

Luke 2:14 (ESV) 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
    God is often put into a personal box, to pull out when things are not right with our world, He will never be cornered or captive to mans imagination. The God of all things is concerned about every situation in our lives, no matter how small or overwhelming He alone has the answer.
     The angelic beings, when first they observed the Creator in the form of a human baby, the choir of heaven erupted into praises and adoration of Gods Holy works among men. The purpose of God to redeem all mankind from the sin that separates, was being fulfilled in there presence, a baby in a manger worshipped by angels and shepherds would be the savior of all the world. Who knew, God, who cared God, who planned for our security forever, God and who made the only way to Him, Jesus the Son of God. Have you trusted the adult Jesus with all your heart, He will make you what you can never be without Him. If you belong to Him He is pleased.
Heavenly Father blessed is your name forever, let every thing that breaths worship You. Amen

A LIVING STONE

1 Peter 2:4 (NKJV) 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
   We are always trying to find solid ground in our lives on which to build our beliefs, for the one faith that satisfies personal wants, for another faith that builds the bridge to God and eternal life. On what are you building today, things that make you happy or the only Rock that will support Eternity.
   Trail blazers all over the world have used stones to mark the way of their travels, to bring them back to that point or help another find the way. Every soul has cut a stone for eternity, it leads to Christ or away from the Heaven of secure eternal living. Life here is but a vapor, we will exist in this environment for a short period and then a day of reckoning.
   If you have trusted Jesus with your life you are a living stone pointing others to Him, should that not be the case those around you are stumbling into a Christ less eternity. The "living stone," is not a babe in a manger, He is the King of Eternity, chosen by God and precious.
Heavenly Father in You alone we live or cease to exist, help us to show others the way, that You may be blessed. May all we do be in the light of your Truth and your Way. Amen

LIVE FOREVEMORE

Psalm 133:3 (NKJV) 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing-- Life forevermore. 

    Singing and making melody to the Lord in the heart is a reference to Ephesians 5:19, when we discover the joy that comes from heaven an overwhelming desire to express that joy is revealed in the believer.

   For the one who has trusted in Jesus the promise of eternity is overwhelming, the realization that God loves us so much He desires to share His dwelling place with all who will receive His Spirit into their lives, is staggering. We have access to all God would have given Adam and Eve had they chosen to be blessed of the Creator.

    The verse above is a picture of the Spirit of God descending on the one who asks Jesus into their hearts. Refreshing, life giving, unending, overwhelming, blessings that are worthy of singing and rejoicing over. Are you happy in this season of celebrating the birth of our Savior, you can be happier if you trust Him, “Live forevermore!”

Heavenly Father may all you wish for us, be received with thanks giving, let us rejoice in song in our hearts, for the things You have done, are doing and will do. Amen

BE PATIENT

James 5:8 (NKJV) 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
    Patience is a very difficult term, its root comes from Latin and refers to suffering. Many are not in any way, shape, or form, in the business of patience. A young man said to his father, "can we get a deer now," the father replied, "we have to wait," the boy questioned, "can't we just go find one?"
     The maturing process of waiting, for most takes a life time, for others learning patience seems easy, Gods Word tells us in Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! If we will habitually trust God and not our selves the truth of life will begin to enter our thoughts and we begin to see what He has prepeared for those who trust Him.
     He is coming we must be ready, first in our hearts and second in our actions, the Lord is at hand. Have you trusted Him with everything in your life, only Jesus do?
Heavenly Father You are Holy Lord and in You we will live for eternity. Life for us will not exist without You, help us to pateintly wait, let all we do bless You, as we worship You with all our hearts. Amen

WITHIN YOU

Ezekiel 36:27 (NKJV) 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 

     A  man recently watched a carpenter and said, “help me do what you do,” an old proverb says, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” Many have a desire to do or be good, however the ability to perform goes no further. Why?

     Man must make a conscious decision about what he will do with his life, he will either trust himself or another. God has promised to put His Spirit in us if we will make room, there is no place for Him in our heart as long as we occupy that spot. Joshua 24:15 ... choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, ... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 

    The Savior of all the world will come into your life, not a s a child in a manager, but as the One who took ours sins to the grave and redeemed us before God who wants to live in us. What will you do with the One called Jesus, He wants to put His Spirit within you, it will then truly be Christmas.

Heavenly Father we trust You with our whole heart to do as You please, may this season of celebration for your gift to us be the greatest ever. May all who name the name of Jesus remember the reason for the season. Amen

GUILTY OF ALL

James 2:10 (NKJV) 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
   A child is told don't do that you will get hurt, he responds ok and does it anyway, the results are disastrous he has a burned hand. The consequences for saying one thing and doing another are often painful lessons.
   God has clearly said, "Thou shalt not," what then is the excuse for hearing His Word and not obeying, the results are obvious, multitudes of gods, insulting language, abuse of Gods Day, disobedience to parents, murder, adultery, theft, lies and desiring what others have.
   To obey God is to reject self, what have we taught our children, what are we showing the world? If we stumble in one point and we are guilty of ALL. Trust Jesus today and He will keep Gods Word through you.
Heavenly Father may all of your Word fill us to over flowing, may those around us know that You are God by what they see in our lives. Let us not cause another to stumble, may we carefully examine our motives that we serve You and not ourselves. Amen

GRACE

Hebrews 13:25 (NKJV) 25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
  The unmerited favor of God, or the word we refer to as blessings is so much more than our desire to know, God has given us attention. The murder who sits on death row, receiving a life sentence instead of death, cries God has blessed me, the victims cry where is Gods mercy, how are these circumstance to be viewed?
   John 1:17... but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, the evidence that Jesus forgives the most wretched of us, is enough to know Grace is provided to any and everyone who breathes. Why then the disparity between who receives Grace and who does not? The obvious is perception, we do not know what God knows and we do not see how He sees, yet His blessings are for the "good" and the "bad".
   Romans 3:12 ... There is none who does good, no, not one," we are all under a curse and it is God who knows all too well where we stand, I know Gods grace but I do not deserve it, He sent His only Son to make a way for me and for you. Trust Him with every ounce of your being today, that babe in the manger grew up to be that King on the Throne, He alone is Grace.
Heavenly Father we celebrate in this season the birth of your Son, help us to remember it is His death that made the way to your Eternity. It is His life that gives us life, in You alone we live or die, may our every breath remind us we are yours. Amen

BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN

Hebrews 11:5 (NKJV) 5 By faith Enoch ... before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 
    We all stand at the threshold of eternity, for some the reward is beyond an earthly description, for others the eternal abyss is horror beyond belief. Mark 9:44-48 What then is the testimony that will please God?
     1 John 2:6 says, we must walk like Jesus, in Matthew 19:21 Jesus says, forsake all and "follow Him," in 1 John 3:14 we read "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death." The answer is clear, to please God we must have a testimony, and that statement we make with our lives is the test for eternity.
    Could you put your name in the place of Enoch and know that you please God?
Heavenly Father help us we are weak, show us the way through your Word, let all the trues of your spoken word sink into our hearts and grow up into life for those around us. Amen

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: ... 
  In school I learned of involuntary muscles, it was exciting to think the body could exist without conscious effort. Certain muscle groups will work without our prompting and yet they are essential for life.
  The same is true for our relationship to God, we cannot make ourselves acceptable to God there is absolutely nothing you and I can do to please Him, by our doing. The whole process of serving God is involuntary, our salvation depends entirely on the work of Jesus Christ.
  I can do nothing to please Him without His presence in my life, how is that accomplished, by trusting and believing in Jesus the Savior. Won't you celebrate the season of Christmas by trusting your entire life to Him? Without faith it is impossible to please Him!
Heavenly Father in You we live and breath and in You we exist for the purpose of sharing You with others. May all I do today please You with every breath. Amen

CHILD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Matthew 1:18 (NKJV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: ... she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
   Miracles have not ceased, they have as much impact today as they did thousands of years ago. They cannot be explained by science or mere conjecture, only the faith of the few will see what God has done.
   The world ridicules the birth of the Holy One because He requires the heart be turned over to Him for safe keeping, as long as we maintain possesion of our heart there is no room for Jesus. Mary let her heart hear what God required, and through her the world received The Redemer.
   The Holy Spirit of God chose the only vessel ready to deliver Truth to the world, He has also chosen you to deliver the same Truth of the miracle of salvation for all mankind. Have you been found with the presence of God, and are you ready to deliver to those around you the One called Jesus?
Heavenly Father may others see You in us, may we be found with the presence of Jesus and may all our days be filled with sharing You with the world. Amen 

YOUR NAME

John 17:11 (NKJV) 11 ... Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
  The Name given to Jesus is the greatest name ever given, that name creates, heals, forgives, raises the dead, transforms lives, redeems, saves and drives the world crazy.
   What is the Power behind that Name, it is the Nature of God, there is no other name capable of transforming the world. Acts 4:12 (NKJV) 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
   With this information we have all the resources of heaven and earth to be what God is calling us to, namely, Him. God is keeping through that Name, those who will live eternally with Him, are you one as He is One with the Father?
Heavenly Father in You we are, in You we exist, in You there is no other Name, thank you for all You do. Amen
   

THE MAIN POINT

Hebrews 8:1-6 (NKJV) 1 Now this is the main point ... He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
   Getting to the point, the punch line, the end, is gratifying for us, however it may not always satisfy the longing for truth. A little fellow said to his father, "I know why your not happy, you drink!"
    Most people search in vain for happiness, it is illusive, it is wary, it is often not the friend we remember, happiness is not at all what God says we need. Instead, John 17:13 (NKJV) 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves, the Creator wants us to receive His Joy, in that alone we are fulfilled.
    The main point of our existence is to know God, He will meet every need, He alone will satisfy, because He alone has a Better Covenant (Jesus). Will you be His joy filled saint today, ask Jesus to be the center of your life, you will then be filled with JOY?
Heavenly Father in You we alone we are filled with joy, may this season please You, with our hearts desire to share You with others. May all our days be filled with Joy for You? Amen

FOLLOWING FRIVOLITY

Proverbs 28:19 (NKJV) 19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! 
  Work ethics seem to be a past culture, so many today want to be filled with the best life has to offer, without hard work to earn it. For generations, many worked in a 24 hour period almost non stop, sleeping long enough to recuperate and start again, enjoying the work and reaping blessings.
  Today we find people standing in line for a hand out, when even that was a shameful occupation, and few would take it, if first, there had not been hard work to earn it. When God is placed second in society, so goes the moral fabric of that society and laziness becomes that god.
   When men put God first, the spiritual fabric of our lives becomes a strong bond for doing the right thing and showing others how to live. Jesus calls for men to follow Him, the call is still heard by the few, and the payment is still the same, Eternal Life for those who will put him first. Have you tilled your land lately, your heart is waiting, He will provide all you need.
Heavenly Father with the breath You give we praise You, and give thanks for the abundance. Blessed be the Lord who supplies all we need, and blessed be the God who gives eternal Life. Amen

GOD IS NOT UNJUST

Hebrews 6:10 (NKJV) 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 
   For most people, there is no retirement, it is reserved for the few, many work hard until they take their last breath. In the life of the christian there is no day of retirement, we are continually working to share the Glory of Gods salvation with those around us. Read, 1 John 3:14 (NKJV) 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death, the servant of God is overwhelmingly aware of the privileged to share the Gospel.
  We are chosen to share our faith in God with others, John 15:16 (NKJV) 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. It is true God does not forget, the things we do for Him, what are you doing for God?
Heavenly Father lead us to the Rock, that we may share with those around us your Love. May we seek You in everything. Amen