MY STRENGTH

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV) ... Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 
      There is a false joy permeating society, it has been present since the very fall of man, the sense of being free and wreck less is actually bondage to the design of an enemy that desires you fail. How has this happened, I am so glad you asked?
      We have a fleshly desire to throw off restraints of any kind, do not tell me what to do, mind your own business, get out of my way, all remind us of a design to bring moral value into our lives. There is nothing good in us, in Matthew 19:17 Jesus says, "None is good but one, that is God," and in Romans 7:18 we read, "in me nothing good dwells," the conclusion is we need help.
      The manufactured happiness in our lives does not last or comfort, we need real joy, that will come only through our God. Israel has fallen away from God, they are lost in the land of promise following false gods, they have tried everything the land has to offer and God is not in their sins. They are captive to other nations and sinful living deprived of real joy, following leaders that have no direction. (Sounds very familiar.)
       The Word of God is found, read to the people and a great revival follows, brokeness, grieving and repentance is overwhelming the people, the leaders respond to God and the word and recognize it is now a time for rejoicing. The joy of the Lord becomes their strength, this joy can be ours as well, simply trust Him today with all your heart, believe Jesus died for your sins, and ask Him to come into your life. "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!"
Heavenly Father, let all my joy be in You, may others find You to be all they need. May we trust You in all we do to lead us in and through every difficulty, let us rejoice in You! Amen
      

THEN HE FELL

Job 1:20 (NIV) 20 ... Then he fell to the ground in worship
    Faced with difficult circumstances, we often withdraw and find ourselves depressed, worse we shut down and withdraw from everyone and everything. What can be done, I am so glad you asked?
    The news that a catastrophe has occurred that directly affects us brings to light emotions that must be dealt with. Many years ago my brothers life was taken, the person responsible was tried and found not guilty. My family was devastated when we knew we lost one we loved, but news of injustice was wrecking faith in everything.
    A question surfaced, "Is God in control of everything or not?" Wrestling with this thought, personal emotional pain, and watching the effect of death on others, brought to the light a wonderful truth. Jesus cares for us more than we can comprehend, read Luke 7:11-17 a woman has lost everything in life, including her only son, she is without hope, the Son of God arrives and gives her hope again, spontaneous worship breaks out for God.
    The reason, God's presence brings hope, we are not alone in our grief, He is with us all the way. Job hears devastating news, his entire family is gone with all that he has worked for, a life time of labor lost in a moment, and the bible says. "Then he fell to the ground in worship," when we allow God into our hurt, we let all the pain of the situation go and our Heavenly Father has access to the deep recesses of the heart. Healing begins and we find God is the source, why do we wait when God is the answer to sufferings relief?
    We have not spent enough time with the Healer, right now today, let God have all your struggles, give to Him all your hurt, ask Him to come into your life and use the pain to bring healing. Worship God by giving him first place even in your difficulties, trust Him to right the wrong and know He loves you.
Heavenly Father, there are so many hurts in others today, help, we need You, we need Your presence, let us see You where You are in our lives. May our prayers be worship of You, no matter the hurt let us look to You, and give thanks even in the pain? Thank you for your love to me and let my very breath be for You. Amen

FOR HE HIMSELF

John 6:6 (NKJV) 6 ..., for He Himself knew what He would do. 
     Jesus is in the habit of exposing us to ourselves, we have many character flaws that we must get at, to deal with the sin in our lives. How, I am so glad you asked?
    In this historical account of Jesus and His disciples we see and hear Him, teaching a difficult lesson about how we think. First the obvious sense we trust is, what we see, faced with five thousand hungry men and that does not include the family members in this story, the disciples are asked "how will we meet the need?" One reasonably says, 200 days worth of wages will not give even a small amount, another affected by this obvious truth, chimes in with five loaves and two fish couldn't possibly make a dent. One negative thought is contagious and infects the others. How can this be done, this question is too hard to accomplish with so little.
    However, Jesus reminds us little is much with the God of creation, and after blessing the resources avaiable, everyone is fed in abundance. Why did the disciples not know this, it is because we have trained ourselves to look at the obvious and not the supernatural. Trust God right now to rule your life without thinking by faith say, Jesus You are the only way of salvation, will You forgive me of doubt, fear, self serving and come into my life, I will trust You with everything. He will, because "He himself knows what to do!"
Heavenly Father thank you for loving me, knowing I am full of self serving and thank you for caring enough that You would lay down your life, giving your own blood for my sins. Thank you for make a way for me to enter into your eternity and live with You. Amen

GOD AND MEN

Acts 24:16 (NKJV) 16 ... always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
    Character is a double edged sword, it either gives credit to who we are both external and internally, or it destroys the integrity of the person we were meant to be. Who is in charge of my character, I am so glad you asked?
    The person we are is expressed in the character that everyone sees and experiences. What others think about us and draw conclusions of, is based on who or what they see in us. Are you hot headed, that is expressed in your countenance, are you greedy, that is seen in daly living, are you gentle, that is observed as well. The person we are is seen, and it is not too difficult to determine by casual observation what the desire of our heart is.
    When we are in difficulties, the character inside reveals itself, the struggles within come to the surface, and almost everyone is aware something is not right. Jesus says, what is in the heart comes out, Mark 7:20, the  person we are will come to the surface and others will see.
     To maintain a right relationship with our Heavenly Father we must first have a relationship, we must be connected to the source of healing and forgiveness. We must then maintain that relationship through daily communion with our Lord that all the hidden things of the heart may be revealed. When we allow God to check who we are, then what we are becomes like Him, 1 John 2:6, our walk is like His walk, our talk is like His talk. Are you striving for a conscience without offense, then you are seeking God's will.
Heavenly Father, help me to be like You, I want my life to be lost in Yours that others may see You. May all I say be first drawn through You, that no contamination be found in me. Let all I do be as You direct, for Your Glory and Your Honor. Amen

HE ANSWERED OUR PRAYER

Ezra 8:23 (NKJV) 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. 
    Everyone wants to do the right thing, for somethings in their life, there is the desire to accomplish things the way they were intended. What is right and what is wrong, is a curious thinking process, so what is the answer, I am so glad you asked?
    Years ago I met a young man who was responsible for writing instructions, for the assembly of popular toys made in America. His job was to make as easily and clearly as possible the task of assembly. We laughed about the parts list and always having something left over, then he said, "If it wasn't for the alcohol and drugs, I couldn't do the job." What?
    A short time later, I asked Christ to come into my life and everything took on new meaning for me and my family. God became the center of our lives and we soon learned Jesus has the answer for all my questions about right and wrong living and the choices we are to make. He gave the instruction booklet that  has all the tools needed, the proper place for each piece, the correct attitude for applications and how to avoid the wrong choices. God gave instructions that work, and never have parts left over.
   Ezra says, "We fasted, prayed, and God answered," that is exactly how it works. Trust the instructions of the word of God and you will find He will answer your prayers as well. Let Christ have first place in your life and He will fill you with all you need, to accomplish the living of this life.
    Simply confess you have been writing your own instructions under the wrong influence of your ideas, ask Him to forgive you and give you the instructions that will complete your life. Read Romans 10:8-11 and trust God with all your heart, He will answer your prayers too!
Heavenly Father, let me seek you early, that the instructions might be fresh on my mind all day, may the plans you have given me make it clear for others to find You as well. Amen

ALL MY SPRINGS

Psalm 87:7 (NKJV) 7 Both the singers and the players on instruments say, "All my springs are in you."
     There is a joy that most people will not receive, it is the song of a soul that is experiencing God. How, I am so glad you asked?
     The talents of every person are registered with God, He knows exactly what we are capable of, and looks to see if we are willing to be used to our full potential. The life of man is like a spring of flowing water to our Creator, He can make us more than we have ever been or will be. God wants to fellowship with you, in so doing, the very presence of God is seen by others, it is a joy that cannot be contained in these frail houses. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
     The One who created us has a plan to let us experience Him, everything we are we owe to Him, would you let God have access to your life today? He will change you from the inside out, if you will ask His son to come into your life, and all your springs will be in HIM!
     Heavenly Father, we are Your creation made to honor You, let every breath be for Your Glory, and may we hinder no one from finding their place in You. Remind us Lord that all our springs are in You and nothing can happen to us that doesn't first come through You. Amen

I HAVE LOVED YOU

Malachi 1:2 (NKJV) "I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us? ...
    Man left to himself is on a course of self destruction, oblivious to the moral compass God has placed within, he blunders from one catastrophe to another, taking credit for minor gains and blaming God for major setbacks. What is causing all the trouble, I am so glad you asked?
    Look to Genesis, we read God created, no one cried out "create me," but God does, knowing the responsibility. Through out the account of this book, we read not one time of the word love being spoken by God to man, yet we hear God speaking to man in every line I want you to succeed. He identifies the aspect of love within the hearts of the books characters, and love is understood to live in the lives of these same people.
     Right in the middle of a mighty deliverance by God for Israel, we read in Exodus 15:13 "You have redeemed with Your faithful love," wow, a nation understands, some 2 million people recognize God's love for them and He has never uttered that word to them and had it recorded. What do you think love meant to them, caring, compassion, sharing, giving, providing, protection, are these possible in so ancient a text? I think so, and even more, they acknowledged God not only provided all things, but He heard their cries for help and they experienced His love.
     Conclusion, He does love us and we have only uncovered one small aspect of that love, He loves us so much He wants us to be with Him in a perfect eternal relationship, that He will provide for, any one who will seek Him through His Son. We are loved, by God the Creator, the Savior, the Redeemer, the One who gave His blood, that we might have eternal life. I am experiencing much love from God right now, are you?
Heavenly Father, thank You for the love you have given in abundance to us, it is being poured out like a mighty river and we are the intended recipients. Thank You that You care so much You would even die for me that I might live with You. May my life be a living sacrifice for You? Amen