WITHOUT CONTROVERSY

1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
  Without argument God is exactly whom He says He is, no one can refute His commands, counsel, or judgment, He alone is God. He alone created, he alone sustains, He alone holds the outcome of everything that exist in His hands. So then what is man or who are we to question His motives or design?
   Paul writes to his protege Timothy and explains Gods ways for the church, instructing him how to manage the local gathering of believers. Timothy is clearly shown how to officiate in the church and how those around him should function as well.
   Godliness is a mystery and we see that Godliness, reflected in His flesh (Jesus), by the Presence of His Spirit (Holy Spirit), the announcement of Angels, the preaching of His Power, the obvious, overwhelming reception by believers and the fact He walked out of the grave alive and is now seated in Eternity.
   How should we respond to this, simply, reverently, confess He alone is all we need, and without Him we could not exist. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and live through you His way. Great is the mystery of Godliness.
Heavenly Father may every breath we breath exalt You. May every action, consider You, let all we do focus on our need for You. May those around us see You in us and may we always seek your Face. Amen

THERE SHALL BE A DAY

Jeremiah 31:6-14 (NKJV) 6 For there shall be a day ... And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD."
   Have you noticed some people are not satisfied, with anything, and there are somethings things that never satisfy. Contentment is an elusive quarry, we try so many things in life that look appealing or from appearance seem to be the one thing that will bring satisfaction, yet it never materializes. We come into this world with a built in "peace meter" it is designed with the latest technology, the most intricate details, and is activated in a split second.
   We have a desire for peace, Jesus said, "My peace I leave with you," John 14:27 but know, this peace is just a small taste of the eternal peace to come. In Matthew 10:34 Jesus said, "I did not come to bring peace," He is reminding us that peace in this life from this world is not possible, it will only be fulfilled in the believer through Jesus Christ "On that Day."
   You will know true peace, but only if you know Jesus Christ as Savior, and that peace comes when He does. Do you know Him, then you know peace, and your are satisfied with His goodness.
Heavenly Father we are looking up, yet the world seems so difficult, we are looking to You, but all around us is trouble, help us to remember that You alone are God and a Day of Peace is coming. We will be satisfied in You and there will Peace in your Goodness. Amen

FACE REFLECTS FACE

Proverbs 27:19 (NKJV) 19 As in water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man.
    Questions reveal answers, however the answer is not always what we expect, neither is every answer correct. A student was asked, "Where was the American Declaration of Independence signed? Answer, "At the Bottom," true but not the answer.
    God asks, "Who do men say that I, the Son of man am," answers were varied and not accurate, then He asked, "Who do you, say that I am?" Answer, "You are the Christ, son of the Living God." Matthew 16:13-16 Only the ones who know the Teacher know the answer. He will only be the Christ the Savior of the world to those who know Him personally.
    A persons heart really does reveal who they are, all you need do is examine yourself, to find the answer. So what is the question, I am so glad you asked? Who is God the redeemer of the world to you?
Heavenly Father you have created all things, therefore everything belongs to You. We are yours to do with as You please, help us be today what You have created us for, let others see You in us. May everyone we come in contact with today see YOU! Amen

TEACH ME

Psalm 119:33 (NKJV) 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end.
  To focus on anything for a length of time, seems drudgery until we find what interests us. The thing that holds our attention is what we really are interested in. "What we are in the dark, when no one is looking, that is who we are!" Oswald Chambers If we want to know where our heart is seated, what the affection of our life is, all we need do is find what captures our attention.
  The psalmist reaches out to The Creator and implores, "teach me," he knows what is wrong inside, there is no desire for God, or His ways. True to all people, there is no desire for God until, we recognize who we are, when the reality of our living crashes into the facts of Gods eternity, we begin to investigate our motives and seek answers.
  There is a resonating joy that follows the heart seated in Jesus, why, He is teaching that heart His statutes and there is a desire to keep them to the end. Are you excited about worship, are you looking forward to spending time with believers, are you planning to look up and see the Creator this weekend? My prayer is that you are.
Heavenly Father may all who know You seek You with all their heart. Let every soul offer honest Praise to You and may every place of True worship, exalt You with all their being. "Bless the Lord oh my soul!" Amen

AGAINST ME

Matthew 12:30 (NKJV) 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. 
  Have you ever felt the pressure of those who stood in the way, maybe you have been ridiculed or been the object of others condescending talk. The cruelty of others is some times unbearable, forcing us into bitter retreat, or lashing out at the offenders.
  Jesus says, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10 (NKJV)  Those who practice hurting others are thieves, their mission is clear, however the Lord of all things points us to Him and reminds us He has purchased life for the believer. We need life, this one is short lived and full of trouble, Jesus wants to give something of such abundance, it will take eternity to discover and receive it.
  The life we live must be in accord with the Savior, if we live opposed to Him or opposite of His life    
that living is against Him and we are scattering those who would follow Him, away.
   Ask Gods forgiveness today, trust in Him now, believe His truth at this moment and you will find rest, peace and comfort in Him. No one can take that away from you.
Heavenly Father bless those who trust You, show mercy to those who deny You. Help us to help others see You, may all we do point those around us to You. Let us look to You and forget the things that hurt and wound, we are yours. Amen

OPEN MY EYES

Psalm 119:18 (NKJV) 18 Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. 
  There are so many technological advances today it is easy to get excited about the next gadget that will make life better. The evidence however points to this being true from the very beginning of time, we are constantly improving our surroundings to get more done with less effort. Then we schedule a work out day to improve our cardiovascular system because of, our doctors words "lack of exercise." So, naturally (human nature) we look for better ways to do the task at hand.
   I wonder if observing the Psalmist words, "Open my eyes," is a thought on the minds of anyone today? Consider the idea that our eyes are closed to God and what He wants to do in our lives, that we cannot see Him by choice. He is available, He is present, He is waiting, but we choose not to see Him. Like the child who puts his hands over his eyes and says,"I can't see you," you therefore are not there.
  God is here and He is waiting on us to look at the "Wondrous things," He has prepared for those who will attempt to see. Would you be honest with yourself and ask, does God have my mind, my heart and my ear, have I really given everything to Him? When you begin to seek Him He will be found, then He will open your eyes to see Wondrous things from His Law. Your excitement for Him will prevail over  the little things in this world, get excited about God today, its eternal.
Heavenly Father open our eyes to see those things hidden to hearts that will not seek You. Let us know You the way You intended. Help us to see You that we may know your ways and help others to see them as well. May we seek You with all the breath we have? Amen

THUS SAYS THE LORD

Jeremiah 21:4 (NKJV) 4 'Thus says the LORD God ... "Behold, I ... 
   There is always a day of reckoning, a moment when we must face the difficult circumstance and justify or excuse it. Report cards from school were always for me a day of reckoning. When man lives his life entirely his way there is a day he must answer for all he has done, in himself and to all those around him.
   In the verse above Israel has turned from The God, for the gods of the land they live in, they have forsaken the God of creation for the god of self serving, they have become brutal to their children and denied they were once the envy of all the world. They find themselves down and out again and this time with consequences that seem impossible to survive, they again turn to God and beg salvation, but it is too late the line has been drawn and they now face God as their enemy and He has said enough.
   Everyone of us will face this day, we will answer for what we have done, how we have lived and to whom we have given allegiance. If we have looked unto Jesus, and made Him our reason for living we are safe, if He is the hope of our lives we are secure, if The Redeemer has become our faith for the future, we will experience eternal life with Him. Gods word to us is "Behold I," are you looking to Him?
Heavenly Father You made the way for us to live with You. You supplied all we need for safe shelter from the coming storm of judgment. In You alone we live and breath, help us to stand in this adversity and look to You. Amen