THE ONES

Psalms 69:26 (NKJV) 26 For they persecute the ones You have struck, And talk of the grief of those You have wounded. 
   Recently others laughed when one was caught doing wrong, the pain in the offenders face was enough to know justice had been served. God uses circumstance in this life to bring pressure to bear on our hearts so that we recognize His chastening, with the pressures an overwhelming desire is born to repair what we have broken.
   Be careful that you do not accuse or excuse others when Gods hand of judgment is at work. The psalmist reminds us there is a price to pay for being ungodly and overwhelming another with their sins.
Heavenly Father the air we breathe is yours, help us to be thankful for every expansion of the lungs and beating of the heart. We are in need of the life You give, help us to receive it with gracious thankfulness. Amen

PRAISE OF MEN

John 12:43 (NKJV) 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 
    Many came and listened to the teachings of our Lord, little has changed for many have come and listened today, and men still love the accolades. Jesus came as a servant to save, when men discovered His mission was to die and not to lead they were repulsed, they would rather have fellowship with sin than Eternity with God.
    Friend would you rather spend your days serving the flesh, there is a price for that, is your desire to fill your vault with pleasures, there is a price for that, do you long for fellowship with sinners rather than the Presence of God, there is a price for that! Living for self will certainly condemn you to an eternity without God, for me that price is too high, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
Heavenly Father these days are certain, they have been seen by You and allowed. May we long for the fellowship that saves, may we desire your Word and your Salvation over every other thing. Amen

BECAUSE OF ME

Psalms 69:6 (NKJV) 6 Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed because of me; Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel.
   The Watcher of the soul expects me to watch who I am, what I do and how I act. Why, because others are watching to see if I am what I claim to be? I either belong to Christ or I do not, I walk with Him or against Him, how do you walk today?
Heavenly Father help us to live in your Word with all our hearts, help us walk just as Jesus walked. Help us Lord that others do not stumble because of us. Amen

MUCH TREMBLING

1 Corinthians 2:3 (NKJV) 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 
   I still remember the first time I was asked to speak to a  group of people, in school I was to recite the preamble to the constitution. Nervously I stood as my name was called and walked to the front of the class, "We the people" is all that would come out of my mouth, after hours of standing in one spot and sweating the teacher finally said, "You only have 3 minutes finish or sit down."
   Paul recites the weakness and fear he experienced when sent to the Corinthians, called to a ministry, he feared failure, he soon discovered it was not his power but God's at work. Friend we are called, our ministry is to share the Faith we have been given in Jesus Christ, those whom we face day in and day out, are interested in how God has worked out in our lives Salvation. Do you get weak when thinking of sharing what God has done, "Fear not," Jesus says, "I am with you." Matt 10:28; 28:20
Heavenly Father in You everything we are is complete, help his to live as one who desires above all else to do your Will. Amen
 

THE LIGHT

John 11:10 (NKJV) 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."
    Once when the lights were out, we looked for flashlights to illuminate the darkness, finding none we lit oil lamps and were able to once again see. The lamps were not as bright as our flashlights, however the warmth from them served two purposes, comfort and sight.
    Jesus tells the disciples they are going to Bethany, they protest that it is dangerous, Jesus the Son of God assures them He is all they need. The understanding of the men, however was that their lives were at stake and they were afraid.
    God has a plan for our lives, nothing can hinder that plan as long as we are obedient to His will, He is the Light for our way, any other direction we go without His Light we will stumble and fall. Friend Jesus is the Way, don't attempt to walk under your own power and expect to receive Heaven, trust Him to illuminate the darkness.
Heavenly Father alone we are hopeless, in You we are victorious, help us to find The Way, may every other disturbance be left in the darkness. Amen

GREATER THAN ALL

John 10:29 (NKJV) 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
    We have all heard the stories of children bragging about their fathers, this story is one that opens the door of doubt and allows Truth to enter. Surrounded by antagonist the Lord is asked, "If You are the Christ, tell us plainly," vs 24, there was never any doubt as to whom Jesus claimed to be, the accusers were looking for a way to destroy His message. vs 31 Jesus unveils the Power of God and that He himself is the Son of that same God.
     Friend little has changed, today there are those trying to destroy His message, however time is short and the message preached from Adam to now is the same, Jesus said .., "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:5-6 (NKJV)
     Today your life can be changed and no one can take you from the Fathers hand.
Heavenly Father help us to look on You with obedience in mind, help us to listen to You and to quietly pursue your Truth. May every thought today seek Your Will for our lives. Amen

WE SEE

John 9:41 (NKJV) 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.
     A man in jail, listening to the Word of God kept repeating "I see, I see," one of the younger prisoners ridiculed him saying, "Why do you keep saying I see, you can't even read anymore your so blind." The man replied, "I had to come to jail to really see, God is showing my heart what I could not see before with my eyes."
    The religious leaders surrounded Jesus and asked "Are we blind also," His response was deafening, they were watching a former physically blind man, spiritually worship God, they were standing in the Presence of God and refused to acknowledge who He is, "Were they blind," YES indeed.
Heavenly Father in You we see, in You we live, in You we know Truth, without You we have no hope. Help us today to live for You, putting aside every desire that is not lived for You. Amen