THOSE WHO DO

Psalm 111:10 (NKJV) ... A good understanding have all those who do His commandments ...
    I have heard a saying, "You catch more flies with honey, than with vinegar," may be you have heard it too? This is an odd statement, referring to the attitude of a person toward another. A proverb is the careful wording, of advice or thought provoking idea, to encourage or warn.
    The Word of God was never intended to be a thought provoker or a source of advise for the ages, it is the Presence, Power and Truth of God, it gives life and clearly instructs the believer in righteous living. The word of God provides not some ideas about what is good in life, it is the Source of life John 1:1-4.
Hear our Lord Jesus say, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
    Your life, my life and the lives of every living human depends entirely on the Word of God, we cannot exist without His Word. Knowing these things how then should we live? "A good understanding have all those who do!"
Heavenly Father, everything that exists is from You, help us to remember that You alone are the source of life. May all we do please You, may our lives bless You, may our every breath be for you. Let today be the first day of a renewed relationship with You through your Son Jesus. Amen

THE FRUIT

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, ...
   Life is riddled with analogies and comparisons, we often think in terms of, it is like this or compared to that. God brings clarity to the conversation and exposes our bent toward just getting by, He uncovers the desire to be status quo, or to say, "I am ok." The Creator didn't almost make a bird, it flies, He didn't almost make the mountains rise they tower above us, the lion doesn't almost roar he sends chills done the spine.
   Why then do we struggle so with the direct connect button, to God (Jesus), many will read a book on phycology to help understand why we function the way we do, go to a doctor for physical well being, consult the stars for some cosmic revelation, even invent a false god to worship, for comfort?
    Is the truth, what we are searching for, or just another comparison, in Galatians 5:19-21 living that will condemn men is given for evidence, in verses 22-24 how to know you belong to God is revealed, with closure?
    Now we may honestly compare, do I belong to God or not? Yes, you do, however the evidence is clear, if you live one way you will not enter heaven, if you live His way, eternity is sure!
Heavenly Father let the truth find its way into our hearts, may we consider your truth above all else. Help us to seek You with all our hearts, may we search with a passion, let us knock with desire to know You and You alone. Amen

NO LONGER I

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, ...
   We are passionate about the thing that most occupies our thoughts, it may be physical, material or spiritual, that thing whatever it may be is really the god in our life. There is a rule of thumb to determine what we have put first in our life. What is the first thing you do when you are stressed, coffee, cigarets, alcohol, blame circumstances or others? You see the thing that controls you in crises is the thing you are passionate about.
    God should be the center of our thoughts in every circumstance, however we easily see by simple examination what controls us. Paul writes of his eternal passion and it is no longer Paul but Christ, he clearly acknowledges "It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me." When Jesus is the center of our lives then it will be for Him that we live, nothing will keep us side tracked, we will always find ourselves coming back to Him.
   Now what do you long for, is it a closer walk with our Savior or have other things become your passion? Can you say, "I have been crucified with Christ?"
Heavenly Father in You alone there is life ever lasting, we have no other. Help us today to find our passion in You, let every other thing that distracts us from You be erased. May we take a deep breath today and remind ourselves we have been bought with a price we could not afford? Let us begin to make You our passion. Amen

I MAKE MYSELF

Galatians 2:18 (NKJV) 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 
   Many have gone through the challenge of life crisis, struggled to keep from drowning in debt or starvation, fought with vices, like alcohol, drugs and sex. Few however have struggled with eternal life crisis, because of blindness, and the deafening silence of truth to the masses. What is the cause I am glad you asked?
   The Word of God has not changed, neither has the ability of that same Word to transform lives diminished. The powerful Truth of salvation for the one who will trust Jesus with their whole being is often ignored for the "Have it your way," crowd. We are a world fixed on selfishness, self centeredness and self loathing all at the same time.
   Sounds confusing, however the plan of God for every human being is to know Him personally, through the only measure available from Heaven and that is Jesus. God has made a way for you and I to walk and talk with Him as Adam and Eve did in the beginning of creation. He challenges us to turn from this present evil world and trust the One who is "The Way, the Truth and the Life." So simple, yet so fulfilling, accept Gods Way (Jesus), acknowledge Gods Truth (Jesus), invite His Life into yours and you are free to live His way, no longer bound to things that destroy so many lives forever.
Heavenly Father we trust You with All of our lives, let every part of us be used to bless You. May the next person we see, observe You in us? May we never look back to those things that bound us and let all the past be forgotten? Amen

IT IS MOST HOLY

Exodus 30:1-10 (NKJV) ... where I will meet with you... It is most holy to the LORD.
   Is the church a Holy place for you, it once held in the believers heart a mystery of Godliness and Holiness that struck fear in all people? It was the place where sin was exposed, confessed, repented of and sinners walked out clean. To a few the wonder of a relationship with our Creator is still the blessing to seek and die for, to most the church has become a shell of traditional stick in the muds, where losers go to complain. What has happened, I am so glad you asked?
   The church is still the tool God uses for teaching, worship and fellowship of believers, however for most it has become an altar of entertainment. Paul warned in the last days, men would be lovers of pleasure and not lovers of God, 2 Timothy 3:4 church goers would have itching ears for new things rather than the Presence of God. 2 Timothy 4:3
   The picture of the church is laid out in the Old Testament, in the tabernacle, a small altar is placed next to the Holy of Holies, on this altar incense is offered morning and evening every day, by the priest, for the people. A symbol of the prayers offered by Jesus for us, that we might seek Him and as a result receive eternal life.
   The church is a mess today in some places because it has ceased to offer the incense of prayer daily to our Heavenly Father. The picture of the smoke of incense rising heavenward, should be the same of our prayers rising by all the saints of God. Today would you begin in your life the attitude of prayer to God, would you offer it continually as God prescribed, and would you begin in this prayer time to pray for others that they might again reverence the House of God? "It is most Holy to the Lord!"
Heavenly Father help us to pray as we know we should, give us a heart for the lost and for the church that has lost its way. Let our hearts be burdened with the souls of those who will not repent. Father please restore the reverence once seen in the church, that others might again be drawn to You. Amen

IT IS NOT GOOD TO EAT

Proverbs 25:27 (NKJV) 27 It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one's own glory is not glory.
   Indulging is a choice, it often complicates lives and seldom has a real reward. For example over eating is actually exceeding the feed limit, and getting what we want is satisfying the herd urge. Like many other desires in our lives restraint is the best option and waiting usually reveals there are more appropriate choices.
  In todays verse, over indulging in natures pantry will cause upset and nausea, which makes the receiver loathe, what is naturally good for us, when taken in moderation it is palatable and body conscious. However the same extreme is observed by all when someone exalts themselves, the person who indulges in their own self worth makes every one around them nauseous.
  Our Father makes a simple comparison for us, if we watch how and what we eat, we should also watch what and how much we say. We are warned by Jesus in Matthew 6:7 "when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." Remember, its not how much is said, it is how we say it.
Heavenly Father help us to pray effectively, let our every word come from the heart, may all we do please You. Let us carefully weigh the words on our minds that others benefit and are not hurt, let us check what we say with Your Word. Amen

PERFECT IN WEAKNESS

2 Corinthians 12:9 ..."My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." ...
   Communication is an exchange of information, it is the most common tool we posses for discovering news or details of events. Without this effective medium we have no basis to interact with others, we would certainly not know that we are creatures of a Supernatural Being that loves us and longs to fellowship with us. We could not know His name or know He has a plan for us, that will complete in you and I an Eternal Hope.
   In the exchange of information above Jesus, says to His follower, "I am all you need," translation mine. More clearly, there is nothing more to life than the presence of God in man and the desire of my heart must be Him.
   We often very child like say, "But I," the emphasis on self, and our Lord very clearly told His disciples, "Let the little children come to Me," however the Maker of men is looking at the innocence of men rather than self centered living.
   For you and I God is communicating, "I love you, come to Me," if we will listen to Him and allow Him to be first in every thing, we will find He is all we need. In our weakness He will become our Stength.
Heavenly Father we need You, help us to trust You in every trial and every difficulty. May we see that You are all we need, may we listen carefully to all You say? Let others see You in us, that they too may follow You. Amen