HAVE PEACE

John 16:33 (ESV) 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
    One said recently, "I have no peace," asked if he had trusted Jesus, he replied, "When I was young I went down to the front of the church and I believe I was changed." The life of an unbeliever to a believer is still the same unless you receive something from Jesus, namely His Presence enters your life and you become His. The man was then asked, "Did everything change in your life, did you begin to follow Jesus with all your heart," he replied sadly, "No!" The transformation of the unbeliever to the saved believer is one of changed heart, mind, will and emotions, unless you have asked him to enter on that plane, there is no relationship in Jesus.
   Jesus says, "In Me you have peace," to know Him is to know real peace, the world will continue for a season to be a place of tribulation, however the day is coming when even the world will pass away, for the appearing of all God's Glory through the Savior, Jesus The Christ. Do you have Peace?
Heavenly Father, everything depends on our trusting you with all our being, help us to see clearly the work You want to do in us. May the Peace You are, touch every area of our lives. Amen

EVERY BRANCH

John 15:2 (ESV) 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 
   Death is our final call, we will answer boldly or fearfully but we will face it. Life and death are necessary and final, we are born into this world or we are not, we are going to loose this life, however it is not a defeat as so many have been led to believe. Instead it is a victory to have lived, lived well and enter the Eternity Promised. Jesus Christ is Eternity, we live in Him or we do not, we have the breath of the Holy Spirit in us or we do not, we are full of the Presence of God or we are not, we produce fruit or we do not!
   Friend Jesus says, "He is the way the Truth and the Life, no one will get to the Father except through Him," John 14:6, if you know Jesus personally, you will receive Eternity with Him, if you do not have Him living in your heart, your eternity will be a waste. Everyone (branch) will bear fruit that belongs to Him.
Heavenly Father, help us to live in the Truth, help us to walk in the Light, help Lord, us to experience the Way. Amen

UNDERSTANDING

Proverbs 18:2 (NKJV) 2 A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.
    A little fellow was fussy and did not want to go to sleep, his father quietly insisted, "sleep and you will feel better," "No," he replied, "I want to play! "Children do not know when it is time to quit, often their bodies just shut down and peace is experienced by everyone, rest for all. Friend, God speaks clearly and concisely, we often do not listen because we have plans, He warns that kind of thinking is foolish and wrong.
    In this life we have but a few years to receive God's instruction and put it into practice, refuse to listen and there is a terrible price to pay. Obedience is taught by loving parents from birth, rebellion is the devils tool, follow the Truth of God and there will be Eternal Life, ignore the Light, argue with God and no light follows. Do not express your own heart, listen to God and Eternity with God is sure!
Heavenly Father help us to listen, help us to obey, help Lord we need You in all our ways. May we seek You early and carefully listen to the Voice of Truth? Amen

A SONG

Psalms 69:30 (NKJV) 30 I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
    The heart is said to be the seat of emotions, however the psalmist has said a song in the heart is more important than the works of men. The emphatic statement "I will praise," is key, determination is at its core and God is looking for the person who will "Stand in the gap," Ezek. 22:30, song in heart and God own the mind. This declaration is total surrender to the God who brings Salvation in Love to His children.
    Do you believe that you love God, is there a song in your heart, that will tell the whole story of who you are to Him? You cannot truly love someone unless you first let them into your heart, then you are truly thankful!
Heavenly Father in You alone is all we need, help Lord that we might sing songs of praise to You. Amen.

FREE INDEED

John 8:36 (NKJV) 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 
    We are free to live in Jesus Christ by His Power to do His will for his Glory, we may choose to live any way at all, however the servant believer of God will, seek Him. Jesus points out that sin makes us a servant to sin, those whom He was speaking to rejected His teaching and claimed to be sin less, nothing has changed in over two thousand years, men are still slaves to sin and in denial.
     The United Sates was founded by people who sought Godly freedom above all else, they willingly laid down their lives for freedom to worship, they were free in Jesus but not free to worship without the governing of the British empire. Out of a desire born of God, a Nation was born that has led the world, into that nation has crept the deceptive lies of the enemy and if it does not turn back to the freedom of a relationship with Jesus Christ it will perish.
     Friend we are free to do as we please, however there is a price to pay for perceived freedom, it means heaven or hell, I choose to be free in Jesus, that heaven may be my home. I want to live in a nation that seeks that freedom as well, but we must repent and turn to Jesus or we will witness the total loss of this free nation. On this day we declare our freedoms won't you set time aside to thank God and ask forgiveness for our disobedience?
Heavenly Father help we need You, cleanses us of our sinful ways, show us how to repent that You may again live through us. Amen

MIGHTY TO SAVE

Isaiah 63:1 (NKJV) 1 Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?-- "I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save."
     A friend went to be with the Lord this week, he had talent musically that so many wish for. In his late twenties he trusted Christ with his whole life you could see and experience the Lord working through him.
     God receives the sinner and turns what was fruitless into fruit bearing life, the person once captured by the world is set free in the blood of The Savior. A life that is actually dead to the Spirit of the Living God, lives throughout the Power and Presence of the Creator. By whom do we experience such wonderful forgiveness, none other than the One who is "Mighty to save," He is Righteousness, His Name is Jesus.
Heavenly Father may we with all our hearts lift up the Name that is above every name, Jesus. May we live every moment as if it is our last, may our every thought exalt You. May we be the fruit bearing branches You desire, may we walk as He walked. Amen

WOULD NOT

1 Kings 22:49 (NKJV) 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not. 
    There is danger in alliance with the ungodly, for God will not allow his servants the practice of sin without the judgment that goes with it. Jehoshaphat chose not to allow his servants to sail with wicked king Ahaziah, he had previously experienced ships wrecked and everything was lost. The man of God had made an allegiance with a man who had not morals or relationship to the King of Heaven.
    Friend the relationship we gain with the Son is one that must be protected at all costs, "make no provision for the flesh," Romans 13:4, our Father is jealous for His chosen and requires obedience not indulgence.
Heavenly Father help us see You will not pander to our sins, we must forsake foolish living and come apart to Holiness. Help us to acknowledge You and You alone. Amen