NOW

Psalm 118:25 (NKJV) 25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
   Have you ever wanted something now, later will not do, it must be in this day or ...? What will happen if we wait, maybe reason will prevail and we realize it wasn't all that important, maybe we see through a fresh set of eyes and recognize we didn't really need that thing, well, so much for things.
   Suppose we look at the person who needs an organ to survive and mere hours prove the difference between life and death, then how do we process the word NOW? How about the person who has lost their job and bills must be paid now, or they loose what they have? The word NOW becomes extremely important and of necessity the cry is for help now, not later when all is lost.
   God knows our struggles and He has a plan for us if, we are willing to come to grips with life His Way. Our Creator is not on our time schedule, however, He does recognize that some needs must be met now, the child dying of cancer, the single mother struggling to pay a bill. These things are a part of life, and the Psalmist recognizes that the time is now, today is the day for relief.
   When we come to God His way, all of Heaven and earth is at our disposal, The Lord of all things will make the way straight. If you will cry out to Him now, know that He will meet the need and so much more, trust Him today with your whole heart.
Heavenly Father we give our lives to You that You may use us as You please. May all You want to do through me be accomplished. Let me live today as if it is my last. May others be blessed that look to You only. Lord use us now that You might be blessed. Amen

HE WHO COMES

Psalm 118:26 (NKJV) 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. 
   We find things get us excited when they exceed our expectations, for instance going to the gas station and finding gas for .50, that is enough to make you want to buy a tractor trailer load for a rainy day. Rare and maybe unlikely, it stirs the imagination to want something and find it true. For the most part humans are optimists looking for something better, seeking the next best thing, however that doesn't apply for everything.
   In most people service to God is more in the line of duty, rather than looking for the blessing God wants us to have and finding He has prepared far more than we could imagine or expect, we often find religion drudgery. Why, because our gaze is on the horizontal instead of the vertical. Jesus gives an amazing oration on things that are blessed from Gods perspective, it may surprise you that they are not what we would call blessings, because they deal with the heart the seat of who we are, or must be. Matthew 5:3-16
   The Psalmist writes, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," we are blessed by what must become the focus of our lives, namely Jesus, nothing else will satisfy.
Heavenly Father we need You, we need your Presence, we need your Infilling, we need your Hand in our lives. Lord help us to look to You and nothing else, may all our thoughts be consumed with what You want to do in us. Amen

MY STRENGTH AND SONG

Psalm 118:14 (NKJV) 14 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 
   Recognizing the source of life and its benefits brings one to the realization, that supernatural forces are at work around us. Things we cannot explain away by mere science, the perfect tilt of the earth, the bird and its ability to recognize its kind, the stars holding their place, are minor examples of a universe that moves to a source of power yet undefined by mans thought. At a glance, we appear to be players on a field of dreams that keep getting pushed back by bad calls.
   Intellectual confusion about our existence is clouding the ability of the human mind to receive truth and simply ignore the obvious, God is on the throne of creation. Man has a built in guidance system far superior to any man made device, he comes equipped with the unique desire to seek out God and the amazing ability to sort through the mountains of ill conceived information and find the source of Truth.
   Put this to the test of your will, simply bow your head, honestly ask God to reveal Himself to you, ask Him to make an end to your desire and your will, and simply trust in the Name (Jesus) that is above every name. When He reveals to you His presence, ask Him to forgive you of living for you and come into your life. Note, Romans 10:9 (NKJV) 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. You too, will be able to say, The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.

Heavenly Father You are all we need, every other thing fades in your Presence. Let all those who seek You today find You, True and Faithful and may every sincere prayer of trust in You be honored for your Glory. May every person that You make whole, begin to seek You with a desire to know your will. Amen

SO SHALL YOU BE

Jeremiah 11:4 (KJV) ... Obey my voice, ..., according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
   There is a reward for most everything we undertake to do. The runner who crosses the finish line first gets the prize, the new mother a child to love, the farmer a crop, knowing this why are we so quick to avoid obedience to God, when He explains in detail all we need do, to receive the reward.
   Man has the ability to choose what he desires, the only creature in creation that God bestowed thought to, and man may choose to live for God or not. All of our choices bring consequences, for the Israelites the choice was to worship the gods of the people with whom they lived, their choice was fatal, God allowed them to become captives to other nations. Many are held captive today, to one thing or another, we are captives of the choices we make.
   Make a choice for eternity today, choose to serve God, the reward is eternal life and a life filled with the expectation of Gods soon appearing, choose to serve yourself and the reward is eternal separation from God and a life of hopeless drudgery. Listen to Gods voice, do what He commands, and you will be His child. Oh, by the way, you have already chosen, by the way you live.
Heavenly Father we look to You as your children, help us to see all that will draw us closer to You. Let none of your words escape our hearing and may we obey all you have commanded us to do. Help us to be your people, and may You continually be our God. Amen

FROM THE LORD

Colossians 3:24 (NKJV) 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
    In this nation it is so easy to enjoy many things, baseball, hunting, hiking, biking, shopping even eating is an easy venture. Looking forward to weekends, serves a purpose, it fulfills a desire to accomplish something satisfying, however these things mask what God our Creator has called us to.
   Hear Jesus say, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work," John 9:4 and to those who are busy he replies,  "... you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and _______ has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away ..." Luke 10:41-42
   Our focus is the clue to the desires of the heart, what are you longing for, what makes your day better, what choices have you motivated, to accomplish the task at hand? If it is the works of God that have you excited, then know, "that from the Lord you will receive the reward." If it is the things of this world that have your heart, you are not serving God.
Heavenly Father, blessing are in your hands to give as You please, bless us Lord according to our diligence for You. Let everything that is not of You be put away, that we might be found living obedient lives in this world. May all You want to accomplish in us be fulfilled. Amen

THE HARVEST IS PAST

Jeremiah 8:20 (NKJV) 20 "The harvest is past, The summer is ended, And we are not saved!"
  Many tears are shed, for those we love, and there is no lack of want for them to have better, than has been received. The prophet Jeremiah wept over the sins of Israel, and the judgment that God showed him would come. The people chose sin over service and self over a relationship with the God of creation. Turning away from the Truth and seeking pleasures over righteous living, God gave them the desires of their hearts, however they received lean souls. Ps 106:15
   The mother of the thief, desires the same mercy for her child as the mother of the child, sick and dying of a terrible disease. Mercy is available for both, and God does what is best, however we often misunderstand what He is doing.
   The cry of anguish is heard by our Father and His ear is turned to the broken hearted, but the heart that is unrepentant and stubborn will not receive mercy. God is looking at His creation waiting for that last soul to make the choice, choose God and live, reject Him and eternal separation. For many, "The harvest is past, The summer is ended, And we are not saved," for the few, Psalm 40:1 (NKJV) ... I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.
   What will you do?
Heavenly Father look on us with favor and know we are but dust, show us your ways that we may follow You and be saved. Give us eyes today to see You and trust your way, let nothing hinder us from acknowledging You are our God. Let us look up when we realize there is no other way, and give Glory to You. Amen

HIS CROSS

Colossians 1:20 (NKJV) ... having made peace through the blood of His cross.
   We find ourselves uncomfortable when there is strife or turmoil around us, when the environment we live in is upset, there is a desire for peace. While flying to California one year, two young ladies were paying a lot of attention to our middle son Charlie. The conversation was about many things and finally Charlie age 3 blurted out, "this is so frustrating," his statement sent the ladies in to hysterics. They would occasionally turn around in their seat, look at Charlie and burst into laughter again.
   The Word of God (Jesus) came to make peace with man through the only means, blood and that blood had to be that of God. God was not reconciled to man until, the time was right for redemption, then Jesus came lived a life of righteousness, embraced all our sins and died on a cruel cross. He alone took my sins and yours to the grave, there He left them and walked out, setting us free to live righteous with God once again. However, we must now choose to live for God through Jesus, He has already chosen us. John 15:16
    What will you do with The Creators gift of life, you must choose, His peace?
Heavenly Father your love is most amazing, it gives life that we do not deserve, it brings peace where there is none. In You we will live eternally if we choose You alone. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Amen