GIVE EAR

Psalm 78:1 (NKJV) 1 ... Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 
   There is a family that appears on TV, their story is one of unity and relationships, they practice what the psalmist declares, they incline their ears to God and they heed His Word. The world longs to see God in action, preparing the way before His people, however the people of God must walk with God to reveal His righteousness.
    Psalm 78 urges Gods people to speak, encourages them to share and emboldens them to live the life God has presented to those who name the name of Jesus. Friend, God has not quit, He does not slumber, He is not hiding, He is seeking those who will name His Name and follow His Will. What are you doing with the Word of God? Have you trusted Jesus with every area of your life?
Heavenly Father in You we are alive for the first time in our existence, in You we must live and breathe righteousness, in You oh God we are so much more than we could ever be without You. Help us today to walk in the Light You have given that others may see You. Amen

FAITH AND POWER

Acts 6:8 (NKJV) 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
   A little fellow walking home from school found himself surrounded by bullies, they taunted him and eventually made him cry. At home his father asked, "How was school," the little boy replied, "Just like work no body likes me." The father had unknowingly built into his son a bitter spirit, both were unhappy with their environment.
   Stephen is a servant of God, his obedience to Jesus Christ has incurred the wrath of those who follow the god of their choosing. However, this servant has the right relationship to the Creator, he has trusted Jesus the Messiah to live in him and through him to reach the world. Fear of others and fear of circumstances does not hinder him from telling the story of salvation, why because he is full of the faith and power that comes from above.
    Have you trusted Him with your whole being, then you too have great faith and power by which to live. Let God be in you what you could never be without Him, full of Faith and Power.
Heavenly Father may we look to you when things seem hard, may we look up when everything is dark, may reach out when the world brings hate, may we live for You in Faith and Power. Amen
 

MY ANGUISH

Psalm 77:10 (NKJV) 10 And I said, "This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High."
    Many morbidly dwell in the past, making no effort to redeem the present, what is past we cannot go back to, the present we must deal with. A woman recently complained "If I had only known, the cost I would not have been so wild, I would have made better choices." Paul writes to the church, "Brethren, 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," Philippians 3:13 (NKJV) David has taken the same stand, we must not get bogged down in the mire of defeatism.
    Right now today, look to God, put your entire trust of every fear and doubt in in His capable hands, what ever has bound you, refuse to allow another moment escape until you have reconciled with the Creator. How, simply acknowledge to the Lord Jesus Christ, you have allowed the past to control your life, tell Him you want to be clean of this sin, and ask Him to take control. David says, "I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High," I too, will remember the Right Hand of the Most High," will you?
Heavenly Father help us to look to You when the fear of the past comes knocking, help us Lord to acknowledge You alone are God and no other. Help Lord we are weak and our frames are dust, we need your hand to keep us today. Amen

OBEY GOD

Acts 5:29 (NKJV) 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 
   On June 17th 1963 the United States Supreme Court of the land, thought they knew better than the Creator and upheld a challenge to take the Word of God out of the public education system. Today we have by consent fallen into the miry clay of confusion and chaos, about what God has called His created creatures to do. Challenged with the same proposal to deny what God had done, Peter and the apostles continued at the threat of death, imprisonment and beatings to preach, teach and uphold to all people, God's Holy Plan to redeem all mankind.
   We stand on the brink today of moral collapse never before experienced in this country, that once boasted "In God We Trust." What will you do with the challenge to "Deny God and live as you please," make no mistake, the challenge is obvious, friend, "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Heavenly Father we have sinned against You and all of Heaven that has witnessed our present condition. Oh God help us to see, if the present affairs cannot be healed by repentance, then we are of all men most miserable. Amen

LET ALL

Psalm 76:11 (NKJV) 11 Make vows to the LORD your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared.
   A prisoner asked to speak privately with me, "God called me to serve Him many years ago," he confided, "I refused because I wanted to do things in this life, now look where I am." He believed it was too late to make right the wrong He had committed, I asked, "Are you paying back those you have wronged, "Yes," he replied, then do the same with God, ask Him now to be the center of your life and watch what He will do!
    We make vows over and over again, promising God we will do right if, He will bless what we believe is important. The prayers are answered and we dismiss what God has done.
    Friend if you have made vows to God and not followed through, STOP, right now ask forgiveness and make right what you have done. He will forgive you and make you a useable vessel again.
Heavenly Father we need You, there is nothing more important in this life than our relationship to You, help us Lord to look up and not around, for every blessing comes from above. Amen

GETS WISDOM

Proverbs 19:8 (NKJV) 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.
   A man recently said,"I love the Word of God, each time I open it, peace fills my soul." The writer of Proverbs knew, the wisdom that comes from above is the medicine that heals the total being, even to the soul of man. When the soul is at peace there is a Presence that cannot be explained to those who have never experienced God's Holiness. His Holy Spirit enters the believer through Jesus Christ, the moment, all self is put away and the seeker of God has no will of his own.
   Friend, God cannot be worked up, worked out, or worked in, He must be worshipped by the heart that is totally sold out to Him. To get wisdom we must spend time with the maker of thought, and we must observe the Spiritual Laws He only can write on the heart. Truly, "He who gets wisdom loves his own soul."
Heavenly Father we live because of You, we exist by You, our entire being is yours and yet You allow us to choose. I choose You, I will follow You, my soul longs for your Presence, help me to live in your Will. Amen

FILLED

Acts 4:8 (NKJV) 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
     The Word of God compels us to listen however the choice is ours to obey, if obedience is the desire of the heart, then the favor and blessings of God are the reward. Isaiah 55:11 Living the Life God puts in us, is not complicated, if we first desire to do His will, child like Faith is the key, trusting God as we would or own parents to keep us from failure.
    A child stepped up to the microphone in a play and quoted every line correctly, the manager of the play quickly ushered the child to the back and was heard saying "It's not time for your part yet," the child responded, "But my daddy is out there and he has to leave early." When we have turned to God, His will is the only thing that matters, His servants always desire to please Him. Peter stepped up to face his accusers and full of God's Presence, (the Holy Spirit) declared Jesus brings healing and there is salvation in no other. To be filled with His Spirit you must know Him!
Heavenly Father may your Spirit embolden us to obey with one desire, to please You. Amen

YOUR NAME IS NEAR

Psalm 75:1 (NKJV) ... We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. 
      A child is told every day, "The family is going to a place of fun and adventure," there is excitement, anticipation and the preparation for the day. The early church experienced the same unique anticipation,  God was, is and will do a work in our day as well, however we need conversion to experience what the Creator will do for His children. Acts 3:19 This reference to conversion is more clearly translated to turn from ignoring God and turn to walking with Him in every way, every day.
    The psalmist declares "We give thanks," giving thanks is an expression of deep appreciation for works done to another, in particular to the God who has redeemed us through His blood and made us partakers of the Heavenly gift of salvation. Have you too been saved through Jesus Christ, then by all means GIVE THANKS to the God who made possible Eternity with Him.
Heavenly Father in You we are thankful for the works of saving faith, in You we are made Holy, and in You alone we receive Eternal Life, namely Jesus. Amen

WHOEVER

Joel 2:32 (NKJV) 32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved...
   In Acts 1:5 Jesus told the disciples to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the anticipation, the expectation must have been agonizing. In such a short period of time they witnessed Jesus rise from the dead, people rise out of the graves, Jesus rise into Heaven and a scattered band of misfits unite in agreement to walk as Jesus walked. They wait in a upper room, Peter again rises to encourage, the air must have been charged with knowing, however it is not when someone is talking, but while they are praying, God anoints with His Power. Each one speaks to those from other nations in the language of their land, the gospel is proclaimed so that all may understand, the church is born and the world set on fire by the Holy Spirit.
   In that brief period of History, amazing numbers of people received Jesus into their hearts and changed forever, they too proclaimed His Story. God is still in the business of saving whoever calls on Him, friend, if you do not know Him, do so quickly, the time is short. Romans 10:9
Heavenly Father may our prayers be of salvation to those we come in contact with, may we be faithful witnesses, of all You want to do in us. May we live each moment to bless You. Amen

NO OTHER

Exodus 20:3 (NKJV) 3 You shall have no other gods before Me. 
   God has put a unique device in every human being, the conscience speaks volumes to each person about the moral values of this life. To direct our conscience God gave the Ten Commands, which deal in the first verses with our relationship to God and in the latter with our relation to men.
   A young man approached Jesus and asked what good He must do to enter heaven, Jesus told him to forsake his gods, the man like so many leave Jesus because the price is too high. Matthew 19:16 Most have gods that are not recognized by intellect because they seem harmless on the outside, within however they hinder the person from seeking God. They occupy time and space which God has ordained for you and I to use to learn to walk in Him.
   What gods have you embraced, that will hinder you from experiencing Heaven?
Heavenly Father help us to honestly observe pour lives, help us to see who we are from your Word that others may not be hindered by our living. Amen
   

GUIDE ME

Psalm 73:24 (NKJV) 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 
     A little fellow was trying to walk on tires suspended over the ground a challenge for the unskilled, an expression of excitement on his face as dad carefully helped him finish the course, they cheered together in triumph, for the little man had only one hand. We are all handicapped in this world, sin has taken the one thing we need to walk skillfully with God, that is, Holiness, without Holy living we cannot enter God's Heaven. He has made a way however to guide us safely through to victory, it can only come through Jesus, His Son. God's precious promise, to guide us through this world and triumphantly reach the other side, is fulfilled if we trust Him through His plan for us.
    He guides those who seek Him, and leads them to Glory, won't you trust Him today?
Heavenly Father we need You, help us to trust when we sense we are falling, help to see when we believe we cannot, help us Lord to believe when everyone says it is is not so, guide us that we might be with You in Glory. Amen

BUT THESE

John 20:31 (NKJV) 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. 
   One said recently "The church no longer has the Power it once had," the speaker was observing the influence of the world over the church in the last 100 years. Men today speak evil of the man called Jesus, He is mocked, and many have made the One who intersected time and eternity a laughable story, some have even accepted the ungodly characterizations as art.
   Friend the testimony of eye witnesses still send men to their deaths, the accounts of the life of the One called Jesus, The Christ, are not only true, they are those of The Son of God and He will not take lightly those who make the excuse, "I did not know." "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21 (NKJV) Why is the church weak, it is because most do not deny self, believe, and follow Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father we are in trouble who follow You, many do not see the Power or the Glory You are, we need oh God help, to walk in this world, that others may see You. Go before us our Father and move the mountains that get in the way of your Love for your people, make obvious the Way that leads to life in spite of the ones called christians. Amen

HIS NAME

Psalm 72:17 (NKJV) 17 His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed. 
   Whats in a name, Debbie means "busy as bee," Michael means "who is like God," Joshua means "God rescues," names have incredible influence on our lives. Ichabod means "the Glory has departed" what a terrible name, however that name was given to a child when Israel was walking away from God. The Psalmist reminds us God's name will endure forever, regardless of mans endeavors to prove He does not exist, God is on every heart and in every mind, man has the Name of God etched in his being.
   The name of Jesus is one that keeps the souls of men safe and secure forever. John 17:12 Friend if you have not made your eternal life secure in The Christ, please do so now, ask Him to forgive you and come into your life today and your name will remain in the book of life for ever.
Heavenly Father in You alone are we safe forever, help us look to You in every way we walk today. Amen

MY KINGDOM

John 18:36 (NKJV) 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, ... My kingdom is not from here."
    A man recently said aloud, "I am angry with God, nothing is working for me," he was asked, "What have you given to God," he replied "Nothing." Many believe God owes them something, when in fact we owe Him everything, we exist through Him and by Him, without Him nothing was made. John 1:3
    Jesus allows Himself to be captured by men, questioned about His mission, He replies "My kingdom is not of this world," a day is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue confess, that He is Lord, man will acknowledge he is not his own keeper and that God has sustained in every breath.
    Friend if you have not trusted God with every area of your life, please do so now, the army of God is preparing even now to follow their King in victory.
Heavenly Father in You alone we exist, help us to live for You, help us to walk in this life so others see You, help oh God that we might exalt You. Surely your Kingdom is at hand and all will bow before You, may every thing we do be for your Glory. Amen

STRONG TOWER

Proverbs 18:10-11 (NKJV) 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. 11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.
    Safety is a mind set, it has no real physical value, the person who feels safe is only as safe as the environment he/she lives in. If we believe a stone wall will protect us there is something that can tear it down, if we surround our selves with the strongest of material there is still an element of destruction that will move even that, since the beginning of time men have sought for a wall that would protect form anything, there is none!
   The writer declares the obvious Truth, the only real protection comes from above and that Wall is Jesus, He alone is the source of all security, in Him we will live, and in no other. The wealthy man believes his money is his strength, but God clearly is the One who gives and takes away. Friend will you trust in things that will never make you secure or will you trust in the only security there is Jesus.
Heavenly Father we are safe in You and in no other, help us to look to the Source of all protection. May our every thought remind us You are God. Amen

THE VINE

Ezekiel 15:2 (NKJV) 2 "Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?
   As we entered the prison the doors swung open automatically, a cheer echoed through the halls and prisoners clapped with excitement. New inmates were being housed in this section and those who had trusted their lives to Christ wanted the same for the new inmates.
    Not a single thing that happens in this world is without the knowledge of our Creator, He makes provision for all flesh, human, animal, foul, or fish, a vine is no better a vessel than a tree, both are sustained by God. The fruit of any plant is not produced of its own, God must be in the works, so men are not born of Gods Spirit unless He does the work.
     Friend God is in the business of revealing Himself to His creation, all of nature responds to His hands, how have you responded to the One who holds the breath of life in His hands?
Heavenly Father the blessings that come from above we live for, help us oh God to live everyday for You. Help us to produce the fruit of righteous living, that those around us may see You. Amen.

HAVE PEACE

John 16:33 (ESV) 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
    One said recently, "I have no peace," asked if he had trusted Jesus, he replied, "When I was young I went down to the front of the church and I believe I was changed." The life of an unbeliever to a believer is still the same unless you receive something from Jesus, namely His Presence enters your life and you become His. The man was then asked, "Did everything change in your life, did you begin to follow Jesus with all your heart," he replied sadly, "No!" The transformation of the unbeliever to the saved believer is one of changed heart, mind, will and emotions, unless you have asked him to enter on that plane, there is no relationship in Jesus.
   Jesus says, "In Me you have peace," to know Him is to know real peace, the world will continue for a season to be a place of tribulation, however the day is coming when even the world will pass away, for the appearing of all God's Glory through the Savior, Jesus The Christ. Do you have Peace?
Heavenly Father, everything depends on our trusting you with all our being, help us to see clearly the work You want to do in us. May the Peace You are, touch every area of our lives. Amen

EVERY BRANCH

John 15:2 (ESV) 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 
   Death is our final call, we will answer boldly or fearfully but we will face it. Life and death are necessary and final, we are born into this world or we are not, we are going to loose this life, however it is not a defeat as so many have been led to believe. Instead it is a victory to have lived, lived well and enter the Eternity Promised. Jesus Christ is Eternity, we live in Him or we do not, we have the breath of the Holy Spirit in us or we do not, we are full of the Presence of God or we are not, we produce fruit or we do not!
   Friend Jesus says, "He is the way the Truth and the Life, no one will get to the Father except through Him," John 14:6, if you know Jesus personally, you will receive Eternity with Him, if you do not have Him living in your heart, your eternity will be a waste. Everyone (branch) will bear fruit that belongs to Him.
Heavenly Father, help us to live in the Truth, help us to walk in the Light, help Lord, us to experience the Way. Amen

UNDERSTANDING

Proverbs 18:2 (NKJV) 2 A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.
    A little fellow was fussy and did not want to go to sleep, his father quietly insisted, "sleep and you will feel better," "No," he replied, "I want to play! "Children do not know when it is time to quit, often their bodies just shut down and peace is experienced by everyone, rest for all. Friend, God speaks clearly and concisely, we often do not listen because we have plans, He warns that kind of thinking is foolish and wrong.
    In this life we have but a few years to receive God's instruction and put it into practice, refuse to listen and there is a terrible price to pay. Obedience is taught by loving parents from birth, rebellion is the devils tool, follow the Truth of God and there will be Eternal Life, ignore the Light, argue with God and no light follows. Do not express your own heart, listen to God and Eternity with God is sure!
Heavenly Father help us to listen, help us to obey, help Lord we need You in all our ways. May we seek You early and carefully listen to the Voice of Truth? Amen

A SONG

Psalms 69:30 (NKJV) 30 I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
    The heart is said to be the seat of emotions, however the psalmist has said a song in the heart is more important than the works of men. The emphatic statement "I will praise," is key, determination is at its core and God is looking for the person who will "Stand in the gap," Ezek. 22:30, song in heart and God own the mind. This declaration is total surrender to the God who brings Salvation in Love to His children.
    Do you believe that you love God, is there a song in your heart, that will tell the whole story of who you are to Him? You cannot truly love someone unless you first let them into your heart, then you are truly thankful!
Heavenly Father in You alone is all we need, help Lord that we might sing songs of praise to You. Amen.

FREE INDEED

John 8:36 (NKJV) 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 
    We are free to live in Jesus Christ by His Power to do His will for his Glory, we may choose to live any way at all, however the servant believer of God will, seek Him. Jesus points out that sin makes us a servant to sin, those whom He was speaking to rejected His teaching and claimed to be sin less, nothing has changed in over two thousand years, men are still slaves to sin and in denial.
     The United Sates was founded by people who sought Godly freedom above all else, they willingly laid down their lives for freedom to worship, they were free in Jesus but not free to worship without the governing of the British empire. Out of a desire born of God, a Nation was born that has led the world, into that nation has crept the deceptive lies of the enemy and if it does not turn back to the freedom of a relationship with Jesus Christ it will perish.
     Friend we are free to do as we please, however there is a price to pay for perceived freedom, it means heaven or hell, I choose to be free in Jesus, that heaven may be my home. I want to live in a nation that seeks that freedom as well, but we must repent and turn to Jesus or we will witness the total loss of this free nation. On this day we declare our freedoms won't you set time aside to thank God and ask forgiveness for our disobedience?
Heavenly Father help we need You, cleanses us of our sinful ways, show us how to repent that You may again live through us. Amen

MIGHTY TO SAVE

Isaiah 63:1 (NKJV) 1 Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?-- "I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save."
     A friend went to be with the Lord this week, he had talent musically that so many wish for. In his late twenties he trusted Christ with his whole life you could see and experience the Lord working through him.
     God receives the sinner and turns what was fruitless into fruit bearing life, the person once captured by the world is set free in the blood of The Savior. A life that is actually dead to the Spirit of the Living God, lives throughout the Power and Presence of the Creator. By whom do we experience such wonderful forgiveness, none other than the One who is "Mighty to save," He is Righteousness, His Name is Jesus.
Heavenly Father may we with all our hearts lift up the Name that is above every name, Jesus. May we live every moment as if it is our last, may our every thought exalt You. May we be the fruit bearing branches You desire, may we walk as He walked. Amen

WOULD NOT

1 Kings 22:49 (NKJV) 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not. 
    There is danger in alliance with the ungodly, for God will not allow his servants the practice of sin without the judgment that goes with it. Jehoshaphat chose not to allow his servants to sail with wicked king Ahaziah, he had previously experienced ships wrecked and everything was lost. The man of God had made an allegiance with a man who had not morals or relationship to the King of Heaven.
    Friend the relationship we gain with the Son is one that must be protected at all costs, "make no provision for the flesh," Romans 13:4, our Father is jealous for His chosen and requires obedience not indulgence.
Heavenly Father help us see You will not pander to our sins, we must forsake foolish living and come apart to Holiness. Help us to acknowledge You and You alone. Amen