MY HEART AND MY FLESH

Psalm 84:2 (NKJV) 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
      Hunger drives the world to seek physical satisfaction, what drives the soul to seek spiritual fulfillment? How can I know if I am hungry for the things of God, I am so glad you asked?
      Within the depths of the human being there is a drive to know our maker, many attribute that longing to the search for significance, this however is too broad a term, and leads to dead ends. God has made simple our search, He says in Matthew 11:28 (NKJV), Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, and in Hebrews 4:3 (NKJV) For we who have believed do enter that rest..., the entering into God's rest is where we find the trouble.
      Clouded is the truth that God has made a way for all to enter in, simple are the facts that lead to spiritual  filling, just as the body needs food to sustain it, the soul needs food to maintain its relationship to God. Jesus made that way possible by paying ahead of time the price for the spiritual food we need. He went into the restaurant of God's diner and paid the bill so we could dine on His resources. He simply asked us to believe go in sit down and receive, the plate is overflowing with God's delicacies and we only have to eat.
     Silly, I know, but it is that easy and Jesus has paid the price, so why don't you say to Him, I have lived too long my way, I am ready to eat at your table, will You forgive me and come into my life? That is so easy because it cost God so much. Does your soul long for God, it should, cry out to God?
Heavenly Father, let my spirit cry to You who will bring refreshing, and filling. Thank You, for all you have done for me, let my every breath be in seeking Your will for my life, may my heart even my flesh cry out to You. Amen

BETTER THAN THE MIGHTY

Proverbs 16:32 (NKJV) 32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
     We quickly jump to so many things, instant decisions, instant regrets, forgetting to wait is destroying the  tender ministry of the Holy Spirit. The writer of this proverb reminds us, control of self and steadiness in ones spirit is the rule, of the life sold out to God.
     David the great king of Israel writes in Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)  Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD, the warrior, poet, shepherd, leader, servant, king emphasizes waiting on God. He is all the things men are striving to be and his advice to us is slowing down and waiting on God to reveal what is needed.
     In Acts 1:4 Jesus, tells His followers to wait on the promise of God, they did and turned the world up side down for Christ.
     Waiting is tedious, it is time consuming, waiting is slow, however it is the virtue God has placed at our disposal to hear from Him the action needed to conquer and be victorious. What are you waiting for, I pray you are waiting on Him?
Heavenly Father, help us to be patient, waiting on Your counsel and the Holy Spirits guidance, so that others are blessed and not hurt. May all we do point others to You, and let us take time to hear and respond accordingly. Let Your presence by our guide in every thing. Amen

HE HAS APPOINTED A DAY

Acts 17:31 (NKJV) 31 ... He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness ...
     The world knows a day of judgment is coming, however most people live as if it will not be in their life time. The author to the Romans writes the whole earth is groaning, he means nature and all it contains is in an endless cycle of waiting, until God reveals Himself in all His Glory, "On that day!" What does this mean, I am so glad you asked?
     Jesus repeats again and again a day of judgment is coming for all mankind, to some a glorious eternity awaits, to others a horrible separation from human existence and deep, dark, fiery, punishment. Matthew 13:42 Some fear the reality of this conversation, others mock and live accordingly, still others find comfort in knowing there is justice for living by God's standards.
    Then there are those who have found peace in Jesus Christ, who says in, John 14:6 (NKJV) .., "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. The contract (an agreement that will not be broken) says, all who come to Jesus will receive eternal life, Romans 10:9-11, He promises to rescue us and that nothing will keep Him from that mission.
    Jesus will judge the world, it is waiting for that day, if creation is waiting for that day, shouldn't we be living like He will arrive any minute as well? "He has appointed a day."
Heavenly Father, help us to clearly articulate you are coming soon, all evidence points to that day. Let us be hopeful, helpful, and living full of You, so that others might drawn to You. May the Light of Jesus so shine through us that all see Your Love and Mercy! Amen

HIS MERCY

2 Chronicles 20:21 (NKJV) 21 … "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."

    It is very easy to speak evil of people, it comes naturally to us, the, wrong we see in others is often the very thing we refuse to deal with in our own lives. What is the problem, I am so glad you asked?

   We daily face battles of the flesh, for some health, others work, still others relationships, there is a war of words taking place around us, and we are very often wounded in the battle. Healing comes slow we get battle hardened and everyone becomes an enemy.

     Worship will cleanse the most hardened soldier, spending time with God cleans the heart and refreshing comes from the Lord. God will reveal the very depths of our straying heart and confession of sin will find forgiveness from heaven. 1 John 1:9

     But wait, I said, we see ourselves in others faults, God uses the short coming in others to point out the gross sin in our own lives, the reason we react so cruelly to those we associate with is, their actions are revealing to us our faults. You don’t agree, cheer up, ask, God to reveal to you why you despise others, ask Him to show you what makes another person so loathsome.

     Be careful, the thing God puts His finger on in your life, must be dealt with, you must leave it where God revealed it or that issue will come in like a flood. When He does reveal to you the thing offensive in your own life, right there begin to be thankful and give praise to God.

    When we sing praises to God in the conflicts of life His mercy comes shinning through and we see as He has revealed, victory in Christ rules the day. You might be thinking right now, I want that, simply bow your head and ask God to take that revealed sin and leave it with Him. Now what, begin to thank Him for His love to you, and remember His mercy endures forever. Always, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.”

Heavenly Father, You see all my faults and still You love me, thank you for that Love through Your Son Jesus. May all my thoughts be Your thoughts and let every care be a victory for You. Amen

ALL THAT IS

Psalm 103:1 (NKJV) 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
    The life of man is short and often spent chasing dreams, for some their dreams are realized while others search until they cannot. What is this living about, how do we find what we are searching for, I am so glad  you asked?
    The writer of this Psalm is offering a glimpse into the heart of the individual that has a goal oriented life. He gives the reader a taste of calling the body to task and making the flesh obey the commands of its creator.
    The picture is similar to an instrument that must be tuned to produce the proper sound, so that every ounce of pitch is achieved through the musician. A stringed instrument must be stretched to get the appropriate tone, stretching is what God does in us so that we achieve the goals He has for us. So properly tuned we vibrate with the sound of blessing or praise to God.
    Know that He is stretching you, to get what will eventually become the tune of a fine instrument that the musician, the Lord Jesus the Christ, will play for all to hear and see. Right now what reverberation are you making is it a screeching that is causing others to hold their ears and run, or is it a melody that causes our creator to lean in and rejoice over His creation? "Bless the Lord oh my soul!"
Heavenly Father, let the pressure in our lives make a melody for You, let the sound of our voices be sweet to you ears. May all we do be to glorify You, and may others see and hear You in us. Amen

THE SPIRIT RETURNS

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (ESV) 7 .., and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
   Man is a vapor Psalms 62:9, it does not matter who we are or where we have come from the end of the matter is we are all alike. We have a beginning and an end, the promise of life however, if we will allow God first place in this life, we are guaranteed a most amazing eternity. What will it be like, I am so glad you asked?
    Jesus describes heaven as His home, who better to tell of the house one lives in, than the occupants? He (Jesus) tells us that is where His Father is Matthew 10:32-33, He says the one who loves much is welcome in His house, 10:40-42, the Son of God is comfortable in saying, if you come to His house you will find a place to rest 11:28, in chapter 12: 3-8, He explains, in His house there is no condemnation, in other words when we get to His house we are safe from all worry, care, fear, and trouble, we are truly home!
    The God of eternity has promised heaven as a reward to all who believe in Jesus and ask Him to rule their lives, what is it like, real love, trouble free rest, and absolutely no judgment of any kind, we are in the House of The King. You see "the spirit returns to God" and He has the last say in what happens to you, trust Him today, it's going to be Awesome in His House!
Heavenly Father, thank you for your gift of eternity, and thank you for loving me. Let all I do be for You, and may all the credit be given to You. Amen.

HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE

Hebrews 2:3 (NKJV) 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation,..,
    The Word of God is for all people, however everyone will not receive it into themselves, there is a way of escape from this life, but few, according to the Author of life, will find it! Why doesn't everyone find salvation in Christ, I am so glad you asked?
    God has given to us His Son Jesus, so that we might receive forgiveness for our sins, God says, we have "all sinned and come short of His glory." Romans 3:23 We need to be cleansed of our sin stained living before God will allow us into His eternity, God cannot and will not allow sin into His heaven.
    The problem is our heart, it is full like a cup overflowing, of the desires for things in this life, lust for life, is eating us alive. Matthew 15:19 The answer to our living condition is found in the verse above, we are in need of salvation, from our sinful condition, and no one will escape from the prison of sin, without a savior. There is only one, 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.
     Enter the One, who is now seated at the right hand of God, see His work of redemption on the cross of calvary, and know that He is the Savior of all who will come to Him. Acknowledge that God alone is the way into eternity and the only one who can make us clean again and we receive His forgiveness, by asking Him to come into our lives. How else will we escape, there is no other name?
Heavenly Father thank you, for your Son Jesus and for allowing Him to give His Life as a payment for my sins, thank you Lord for laying down Your life that I might have a life. Thank You, for coming into my life and giving to me the gift of eternal life, let my life be a blessing to You, that others my see You. Amen