DO NOT BE DECEIVED

Galatians 6:7 (NKJV) 7 Do not be deceived, ...; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
     In the Old Testament the son of Solomon assumes the kingdom, he is rejected by the Israelites and flees for his life. He recognizes the issue is his leadership and he makes needed changes, however finding his way he soon falls back into sinful living and is confronted by God. The results are his repentance, and humbling, he begins to seek God again. Does this sound familiar, is your life a yo-yo of living, God has the answer?
    The things we do are a testimony to who we are, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil ...," Mark 7:21 (NKJV), and God is in the business of transforming what is wrong to right. The king,
Rehoboam, is restored because he humbled himself before God, the key to this destructive living is presented in 2 Chronicles 12:14 (NKJV) 14 And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.
    A heart that has never repented and trusted God with every area is an unprepared vessel and God says, we are to present all of our hearts to Him. The person who gives only part of the heart to God, will not get God's presence, God only inhabits the heart broken in repentance and willing to allow Him first place.
     If you will have Jesus on the throne of your heart, you must step down from your leadership to let Him lead. "Do not be deceived."
Heavenly Father, I give you every area of my life to do as You see fit, use me that others might see You. Let my life burn for You, and may nothing hinder Your work in me. Amen

THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS

 Acts 14:22 (NKJV) …, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

      There is a gospel being preached today that is not from God was not a part of the original church and will not have part in the kingdom to come. It wrecks lives, disrupts families, destroys relationships and gives license to more deception. What is this religion, I am so glad you asked?

     Today like no other time in history, the gospel is going to the four corners of the earth, it is being sent through many mediums of communication and the Word is being translated into every language. However, there is as will always be until our Lord returns, deceit, it lies in the open and is easily seen, all our problems do not disappear when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The sick are still with us, the weak live among us, and the poor will be with us until our last breath. These are the ones Jesus ministered to and it is to these we must preach the truth of God’s salvation. 

     The obvious truth is “through many tribulations” we will enter God’s eternity that is through daily life struggles we seek help through dependence on our Heavenly Father. 

     The early church flourished through persecution that would shake the faith of any believer today, remember God created us to fellowship with Him and tribulation must come so that His work may be accomplished through us. 

     We must seek God’s help in the struggle, if we were to live struggle free, Jesus would not have needed to die for my sins. He did die for my sins and He set me free to do His will, the same is true for you, have you trusted Him today?

Heavenly Father, thank you, for all You have done and are doing in this world, thank you for the life You have given us. Lord help us to accept what we are and where You have put us s that others see You in us. Amen

LET IT BE KNOWN

Acts 13:38-39 (NKJV) 38 Therefore let it be known ... 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things ...
       In prison recently a woman with many tattoos and a hardened appearance sat crying after hearing the gospel, she motioned to me and asked, how can God forgive me if I cannot forgive myself? She told of a life that would make the most hardened individual cry. What is the answer to her question, I am so glad you asked?
      God is our creator, He knows everything about me, if He is willing to forgive my sins, who am I to question Him? Paul an authority on God's Word, trained in the law, explains, everyone "who believes is justified," that is, trusting God's mercy for us, to make right the wrong in my living. No matter what I have done, God's love for me is greater, no matter how bad it looks to me, He has made (Jesus) the way, to right the wrong. Note, Paul adds, not just some things but all things are forgiven and washed away. The rules of men and the rules I have made in my life will not correct my faults and clear my sins, however the law of forgiveness in Jesus Christ will wash away everything. Wow, God loves me enough to clean the slate and say, I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV) that is real forgiveness, my sins will not be brought up again.
     So, God forgives me, then I must forgive myself, because He created me to love Him. Do you love Him, have you trusted Him with everything in your life?
Heavenly Father, we are Your creation, we have been bought with the price of blood, forgiving all our sins, thank you for the finished work of Jesus that sets us free form our selves and sin. Let me live the way You intended that others may see You! Amen.

NOT A WORD ON MY TONGUE

Psalm 139:4 (NKJV) 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. 
    Words often come out of our mouths that surprise us, they take catch us off guard, some times funny, some times harsh, there may be some wisdom occasionally. However not a word ready to be spoken is missed by our Creator, He is aware of all that can be said.
     God warns the servant of His to be careful what is said, Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:8 and James warns the tongue must be kept under control. Still the tongue is used to tell others of God's mercy, its intended use, and it is used to preach truth so that people might hear about God. The tongue can produce wonderful joy and terrible tragedy all from the same source, you and I.
      Job is attacked by Satan because of his righteous living and still he says in, Job 27:4 (NKJV) 4 My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit, he is a man who has determined to guard his words. Yes, God knows our words before they are ever uttered and He is carefully listening to our conversation, Matthew 12:36 (NKJV) 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. Watch your words, we will have to answer for them!
Heavenly Father, let my mouth utter only what pleases You, let others hear only what brings attention to You, and let my mouth be a safe haven for Your Truth. May we consider all our words before they fall out of our mouths? Amen

A FOOL VENTS

Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV) 11 A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.
     Being heard is not always the answer, we often need to wait and consider the source of the intrusion, it is probable that God is bringing into the life of the believer new insight to grow on. Wait, you are thinking there are things that must be answered imeaditely, they cannot be left undone, maybe they need to marinate before they are ready to consume?
     Have you ever encountered an explosive person, the trigger on their fuse is set off by a hair, there seems to be little control in their emotions? A woman hit a car and threw the door open to scream at the other driver, "Why don't you people look where your going, your the forth car I hit today!
     A prisoner recently complained, I didn't do it they just caught me! There seems to be a ready defense for any occasion when we explode, "It's not my fault," really, then allowing ourselves to spew volcanic ash all over others is ok?
    The scripture teaches we are to be in control of our emotions, a person out of control, is one not under the influence of the God of creation. What does that mean? We who have tusted Jesus Christ with our lives and made Him our Savior, have agreed to the contract signed in His blood, that we belong to Him. A contract signed by God will not be broken by Him, so who is doing the breaking? The person who vents is called a fool for good reason, he has no reason, the servant of God who waits on God will always be called wise. Who is in control you or God?
Heavenly Father, let all that occurs today remind me that You are in charge and nothing can touch me without Your permission. Let me respond with kind words that will point others to You. Amen

HE OBSERVES HIMSELF

James 1:24 (NKJV) 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 
    Working with kids this week one pretended he could not cut out a pair of ears with scissors, leaning over I held his project and cut it for him. A smile came across his face and he said thanks, he just wanted someone to care. Do we really care about others?
    A popular song by Branden Heath, says, "Give me Your eyes for just one-second," wanting to see the world from God's perspective. The author James, says we are like people who look in mirrors and forget what we look like. Natural to man is the ability to push to the back what we have been created to do, effectively saying to God your important, but not now. Every thing around us demands we acknowledge Him, yet we flounder in circumstances as if He didn't care.
     Early in his letter James says, "Count it all joy," it is so easy to put a smile on the face of another by just being you, God wants your life to count, only you can make that happen. The instructions are written clearly on the label, read Matthew 5:3-12, you will find we are blessed when we follow the instructions, they are tried and proven over thousands of years.
     Trust Him with all your heart and He will give you His promise of life, you will not fail when you allow God control of your life. What kind of person are you?
Heavenly Father, Your love is amazing, You made a way for all of us to get to You, thank You, that it cost You so much and yet we cannot buy this Love, it is freely given. May I trust in all you want to do in this life You have given me, and let my every breath count for You? Amen

THE LORD SEARCHES ALL HEARTS

1 Chronicles 28:9 (NKJV) 9 "...; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. ...
    How many thoughts go through our minds in a day, how many decisions are made on those thoughts, how many times have those decisions been wrong? How do we get them right, I am so glad you asked?
    In John 5, a man lies sick in public by a pool of water known for healing. Jesus enters the scene and asks the man "Do you want to get well?" His thoughts ramble and he blames his circumstances, then he blames others, does that sound familiar, the excuses of fairness and others won't cooperate.
    The story continues and the man is made completely well, no more sickness, and no more excuses, yet there is a dire warning form our Lord John 5:14 (NKJV) 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." God holds you and I accountable for what we do and how we think. What are you thinking today, know that He is searching the heart and He knows the intent? Have you trusted Jesus with everything, even you're thinking?
Heavenly Father, all we are is created by You, You know all that is in us, help us to trust You with every thought and desire, that others may see Jesus in all we do. May we stay focused on You and the promise of your eternity?