THESE THINGS

Romans 8:31 (NKJV) 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
   Security is sought after by everyone, the estrogen side of our lives wants to know there is nothing financially to worry about, the testosterone side wants a place to unwind. The male and female both desire security, however it is entirely different how we process what is necessary for the safety of the family.
  When God made man, the responsibility of work and providing was handed to him, (Gen. 2:15) in the making of the woman her assigned responsibility was to come along side and be the help, man is lacking. (Gen. 2:23) Equal in every sense in qualification for eternal life, separate in function.
   Man is told to love his wife, (Eph. 5:25) the woman is told to respect her husband, (Eph. 5:22) God was not surprised by the different natures of the man and woman, He designed us that way. God loves us and has made a way for us to spend eternity with Him, that really is all the security we need, nothing else matters. "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" 
   Have you trusted God for your eternal security, please do that today?
Heavenly Father You love with a Love that is beyond our finite understanding, help us to accept that Love and seek your ways. You have given us the desire to want You, help us to focus on just that. LORD You said, we are to seek, search and knock, may we never forget our hunger for life is really a desire for YOU. Amen

THE GOAL

Philippians 3:14 (NKJV)  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
   There is much to laugh about in this world, it is obvious our Creator has a sense of humor, He made us. Strange in deed, we live as if there is no God, we act as if there is no accounting, we run to nothing, and then we experience our last breath.
   Men row a long thin boat (sculling), at the sound of a cadence (coxswain), to a goal that has an imaginary line on the water, this then is called sport. Men put in play an oblong ball (pig skin), push each other for possession of the ball and finally kick it through an imaginary line on the ground and again call it a sport. However, there is a reward for those who participate in these sports and it has earthly value.
   Jesus says in Luke 11:9 (NKJV) "... ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you," this is referred to as religion, it has eternal value. Both are activities, yet only one deals with eternal life. One may bring worldly recognition, while the other brings an endless existence in the presence of our Maker. With the one, there is exertion and physical strength, which eventually goes away, with the other there is exertion, a peace that passes understanding, and a spiritual staying power, that will never cease.
   Wow, what a choice, live a short time take nothing with you, forever separated from God, or seek, search, knock for Jesus and receive Eternal Life. I think I will, "Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!"
Heavenly Father we have been created for your pleasure, to serve You. We are just so much dust, help us to wisely choose and trust You with everything in our short lives, that we may be eternally with You. Let us spend ourselves in seeking You and forget earthly pleasures that eventually cease. May we reach out to the only source of Life, Jesus? Amen
 

LOOK UP

Luke 21:28 (NKJV) ... look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. 
   We look with anticipation to so many things, 15 years ago a little girl came into our lives, with one hand she grabbed the doctors hand and with the other she grabbed the scissors, and thats when it all started, she has made her presence known to all who care to know her. Everyday since has been filled with new challenges and joyful anticipation of what the day brings.
   The disciples listened with anticipation as Jesus told of the day when all things past, present and future would change forever. What in your life has changed you forever, one event will and you will forever be thankful? The day you trust the Creator with everything in your life, on that day nothing will ever be the same.
   Have you given to Jesus every fiber of you're being, have you trusted the only One, who can make you what you will never be without Him? He says, "I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through Me!" Believe that, make that your next breath and you too will look up.
Heavenly Father may all we do bless You, may every breath bring joy to You. Let us always think on You and what You want to do through us. Help us to look up when everything around says no, help us to see You when the circumstances are dark, let all our fears be put away that You may have first place in our lives. Amen
   

BEING CONFIDENT

Philippians 1:6 (KJV) 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
  Some times we feel let down by others, we had expectations and found those hopes crushed, broken, and splintered. The fact that we allow others to control our emotions, reminds us we are just human and long for relationships. However, God has a much bigger plan than trusting mere human kindness, He wants you and I to experience Him and to personally recognize, He alone will satisfy and not disappoint.
  This letter may have been written from a prison cell in Rome, can we imagine writing an encouraging note to those who are free and without fear of death. Reminding them that it is God who will keep us and He, who will work in and through us until, the day of our emancipation.
   That day, is the day all of Gods children will be set free from the bondage of sin and this life of disappointments. We are encouraged to look up to a God who cares, who will not let us down, to One who will share His eternal Glory with those who love Him. Do you love Jesus, He loves you and will keep you until the day!
Heavenly Father, we know You never let us down, we can always look to You for comfort and love. May we listen to You and not the voice of confusion, may we trust You and never the deceit of enemy? Let our every thought be to trust You, to focus on You and never be side tracked by the promises of others. Amen

CANNOT SAVE

Isaiah 59:1 (NKJV) 1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
   When talking to people do you ever notice they are some times distracted or seem not to be paying attention? We know this is true of us, and we often associate that posture with our Creator, however it is not true with God, He is always watching, He is ever listening, He will always reach out if, sin has not become our friend.
    Hear Psalm 1:6 (NKJV), "For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish," He knows who we are from the inside out, there is no indifference with God. Have you been waiting on God to answer, examine yourself, the answer is only a confession away? Do you feel alone, look no further than you attention span, God is watching and waiting on you? Are your prayers cold and without substance, fall on your face before Him and repent of your uncaring attitude, He sees our attention span? "The Lords hand is not shortened, that He cannot save!"
Heavenly Father we look to You, there is no other name given under heaven, we trust in You there is no other way, we live and breath because of You there is no other life. Help us to examine ourselves and see that is the problem with our prayers. Remind of our desperate need of You in everything. Amen

UNDERSTAND

Ephesians 5:17 (NKJV) 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
   Choices are made by how we interpret our emotions at the moment. Example, buying groceries, more are purchased when you are hungry, a specific item is purchased when you have a craving, crises purchases are usually a waste of money. What will regulate our impulse reactions, I am so glad you asked?
   We use the same choice criteria when worshiping God, that should not be the case, but it is. From our first days we are trained to respond to our senses, those same senses God says betray us. Read Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trust). The obvious conclusion is to be wise about our selves, we are opportunists seeking to satisfy selfish cravings.
    God will not be understood by impulse behavior, He must be reckoned with by the deliberate action of putting me away and putting Him first. To trust Jesus, I must first deny me, I must then confess my sin, repent (turn away from my sin) and allow Him to have the first and only, place in my life. "Understand what the will of the Lord is!"
Heavenly Father may our love for You expose who we are to us. Let us carefully examine our motives and trust You with every thing. May all we do, be with a view of You, and may nothing interfere with what You want to do in us.

 
 

TEMPLE OF GOD

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and [that] the Spirit of God dwells in you?

   We tend to show more respect for the place we worship than the place God wants us to worship. What do I mean, I am so glad you asked?

   Jesus has made very clear, He sees our heart, He is looking on the inside of His creation and He knows just where we are spiritually. The Holy Spirit of God wants dwell in the heart, however He will no go where He is not wanted or prepared to dwell. 

   Our sins keep God out, that is why we must confess our sins to Him, and when we do, “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!”

    Can God worship in your heart, is the temple of God clean so that He may freely use you wherever you are, He will if you have been made clean by the Blood of the Lamb, (Jesus).

Heavenly Father help us to daily clean your temple, to daily sweep out the things that hinder us from worshiping You. Let our every thought remind us to keep Holy the place You wish to dwell. Amen