I was woken the other night from a deep sleep, not by a noise or a thump in the night, but by a thought. The thoughts continued to come and fill my mind with all the tools that are robbing us. Tools that we look as maybe as good, maybe we use them, but they are to the tools that can take us from community, spending time with others, learning from them, talking to them, sharing with them. These tools we may not realize just what they are doing, but they are removing the need to interact with people from every part of life. These tools are about "I" or "me" instead of tools about "us" and "we". They are stealing the very aspect of communication of community.
I remember when I was growing up, we didn't have any of the tools that we have now, we couldn't go on the internet to buy things, we couldn't look at how our friends were doing by what they posted, we couldn't talk to someone without calling them on the phone or driving over to see them. We actually had to do to have something in return. We couldn't do research, we actually had to go to the library. Do you realize that Google has removed the need to even look into scriptures in the Bible, because we can search out answers on there, we don't even have to do the work it takes to look at the truth the Word of God has, because we just search out what others think, I have fallen victim to this. I need to be searching out the scriptures, just not regurgitating what others are saying, but seek the truth for myself.
We are losing touch with how to talk to people, because it is easier to text them. It is easier than dealing with the actual stress of a phone call. We no longer have to go out into society to deal with people in a store, because we can buy things right online, we don't even have to go to the grocery stores anymore to shop, because we can order it all online. People say that is good, but I am thinking that this actually bad. We shine God's light to people by how we interact with them and if we are no longer interacting with them, how are we shining God's light? Now some of us don't even have to leave our homes to go to work or to college, because everything is done online. We don't even have to leave the comforts of our home to go to church, we can watch it right online, but we are missing so much by doing this. We are no longer worshiping God, we are giving into the distractions of the age. We are no longer giving God what He deserves we are only focused on ourselves, what is good for "me".
God calls us to have community with other believers and that isn't through Facebook or Twitter or any other social media app, it is through face to face conversation, it is through talking to them. Seeing God move in each others lives. Social media hides the truth of what a person is going through, texting hides the truth of what the person is feeling, because anyone can sound happy in a text,. but the truth is you do not know what a person is feeling unless either you are face to face or even voice to voice. And the devil is taking that away from us. How many of our youths can't carry on a conversation face to face anymore, how many are texting instead of talking on the phone. It is sad to see what is happening and we as Christ followers need to stop to look at the truth, before we are sucked into it too.
My disclaimer there are good things that can come from these tools, we can reach more with a message, but remember the person has the choice if they will actually apply it to their life or not. We need to make sure we are using the tools not to destroy our relationship with others, but to build them. We need to do the work it takes to maintain, to grow, to share, to change. Most apps are about "I" we need to make sure they are about God and our witness of His love and truth.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Thursday, August 2, 2018
The Biggest Lie
I believe the Devil has infiltrated our Christian walks with many lies, but one of the biggest lies that I have seen and hear a lot is that:
"If God wanted me to be doing something He would give me that desire."
I believe that is a lie and goes against what the Bible teaches, we must do no matter how we feel. David had to tell his soul to praise the Lord, he wanted to do everything, but that, but when he praised God, his eyes went from poor me, to Praise God, but it was a choice that David had to make. We are just like David, we must make the choice and not just wait for the desire to follow the word of God. We must walk in it regardless of how we feel. We must die to self, self says I don't want to do it, but God says do it. We don't always have the desire to do the right thing, but we must do it, because that is how we grow our walk.
"If God wanted me to be doing something He would give me that desire."
I believe that is a lie and goes against what the Bible teaches, we must do no matter how we feel. David had to tell his soul to praise the Lord, he wanted to do everything, but that, but when he praised God, his eyes went from poor me, to Praise God, but it was a choice that David had to make. We are just like David, we must make the choice and not just wait for the desire to follow the word of God. We must walk in it regardless of how we feel. We must die to self, self says I don't want to do it, but God says do it. We don't always have the desire to do the right thing, but we must do it, because that is how we grow our walk.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
God Makes Ways
God Makes a Way
Psalm 18:36 "You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip."
When Moses led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, and headed for the Promised Land of Canaan, it could have been a short trip: follow the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea into Canaan. They would have immediately encountered the war-like Philistines who lived along the coast of Canaan and then fled straight back to Egypt. And there is no record of Moses telling the Hebrews this reasoning. They didn’t understand what was happening, which ultimately led to much grumbling after they tired of the Sinai Desert (Exodus 13:17).
Whether in daytime or nighttime, we like to see as far into the future as possible. But there is no light that will give us that kind of vision. The equivalent of modern flashlights in the biblical world was an oil lamp. They would illuminate, at best, a few feet ahead of one’s steps at night. The psalmist used an oil lamp as a metaphor for God’s Word to say that we are given as much light as we need or can use. Sometimes all we need is enough light to take just the next step—to do the next right thing. The apostle Paul called it walking by faith, not by sight.
Do you need light on your path? Turn to God’s Word for light enough to take the next step.
Made a Way
Travis Greene
Made a way
Don't know how but You did it
Made a way
Standing here not knowing how we'll get through this test
But holding unto faith You know that
Nothing can catch You by surprise
You got this figured out and You're watching us now
But when it looks as if we can't win
You wrap us in Your arm and step in
And everything we need You supply
You got this in control
And now we know that
You made a way
When our backs were against the wall
And it looked as if it was over
You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You made a way
And now we're here
Looking back on where we come from
Because of You and nothing we've done
To deserve the love and mercy You've shown
But Your grace was strong enough to pick us up
And You made a way
When our backs were against the wall
And it looked as if it was over
Lord You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You made a way
When our backs were against the wall
And it looked as if it was over
Lord You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
And you move mountains
You cause walls to fall
With Your power
You perform miracles
There is nothing that's impossible
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You move mountains
You cause walls to fall
With Your power
Perform miracles
There is nothing that's impossible
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You move mountains
You cause walls to fall
With Your power
Perform miracles
There is nothing that's impossible
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You made a way
You made a way
You made a way
You made a way
Don't know how but you did it
Made a way
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
And we're standing here
Only because You made
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made
'Cause You move mountains
You move mountains
You move mountains
You move mountains
And You cause walls to fall
You cause walls to fall
You cause walls to fall
You cause walls to fall
And You cause chains to break
You cause chains to break
You cause chains to break
You cause chains to break
And giants fall
Giants fall
Giants fall
Giants fall
'Cause you move mountain
You move mountain
And everything is easy for you
'Cause you move mountain
Yes you move mountain
Mountains are moving
Mountains are moving
Mountains are moving
Mountains are moving
Strong holds are breaking now
Strong holds are breaking now
Strong holds are breaking
Strong holds are breaking
'Cause you move mountain
You cause walls to fall
With your power
With your power
With your power
With your power
You perform miracles
You perform miracles
You perform miracles
You perform miracles
My son is breathing
My son is living
My son is breathing
My son is living
When the doctor said no
You said yes
When the doctor said no
You said yes
When they pronounced me dead
You said not yet
When they pronounced me dead
You said not yet
You perform miracles
You perform miracles
Psalm 18:36 "You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip."
When Moses led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, and headed for the Promised Land of Canaan, it could have been a short trip: follow the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea into Canaan. They would have immediately encountered the war-like Philistines who lived along the coast of Canaan and then fled straight back to Egypt. And there is no record of Moses telling the Hebrews this reasoning. They didn’t understand what was happening, which ultimately led to much grumbling after they tired of the Sinai Desert (Exodus 13:17).
Whether in daytime or nighttime, we like to see as far into the future as possible. But there is no light that will give us that kind of vision. The equivalent of modern flashlights in the biblical world was an oil lamp. They would illuminate, at best, a few feet ahead of one’s steps at night. The psalmist used an oil lamp as a metaphor for God’s Word to say that we are given as much light as we need or can use. Sometimes all we need is enough light to take just the next step—to do the next right thing. The apostle Paul called it walking by faith, not by sight.
Do you need light on your path? Turn to God’s Word for light enough to take the next step.
Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light. V. Raymond Edman
Made a Way
Travis Greene
Made a way
Don't know how but You did it
Made a way
Standing here not knowing how we'll get through this test
But holding unto faith You know that
Nothing can catch You by surprise
You got this figured out and You're watching us now
But when it looks as if we can't win
You wrap us in Your arm and step in
And everything we need You supply
You got this in control
And now we know that
You made a way
When our backs were against the wall
And it looked as if it was over
You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You made a way
And now we're here
Looking back on where we come from
Because of You and nothing we've done
To deserve the love and mercy You've shown
But Your grace was strong enough to pick us up
And You made a way
When our backs were against the wall
And it looked as if it was over
Lord You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You made a way
When our backs were against the wall
And it looked as if it was over
Lord You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
And you move mountains
You cause walls to fall
With Your power
You perform miracles
There is nothing that's impossible
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You move mountains
You cause walls to fall
With Your power
Perform miracles
There is nothing that's impossible
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You move mountains
You cause walls to fall
With Your power
Perform miracles
There is nothing that's impossible
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
You made a way
You made a way
You made a way
You made a way
Don't know how but you did it
Made a way
Don't know how but you did it
Made a way
Made a way
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know how but you did it
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
Don't know why but I'm grateful
And we're standing here
Only because You made
And we're standing here
Only because You made a way
And we're standing here
Only because You made
'Cause You move mountains
You move mountains
You move mountains
You move mountains
And You cause walls to fall
You cause walls to fall
You cause walls to fall
You cause walls to fall
And You cause chains to break
You cause chains to break
You cause chains to break
You cause chains to break
And giants fall
Giants fall
Giants fall
Giants fall
'Cause you move mountain
You move mountain
And everything is easy for you
'Cause you move mountain
Yes you move mountain
Mountains are moving
Mountains are moving
Mountains are moving
Mountains are moving
Strong holds are breaking now
Strong holds are breaking now
Strong holds are breaking
Strong holds are breaking
'Cause you move mountain
You cause walls to fall
With your power
With your power
With your power
With your power
You perform miracles
You perform miracles
You perform miracles
You perform miracles
My son is breathing
My son is living
My son is breathing
My son is living
When the doctor said no
You said yes
When the doctor said no
You said yes
When they pronounced me dead
You said not yet
When they pronounced me dead
You said not yet
You perform miracles
You perform miracles
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Oh Lord You're Beautiful
Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me
Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me
I want to take your word and shine it all around
But first help me to just, live it Lord
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to you
But first help me to just, live it Lord
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to you
Oh Lord, please light the fire
That once burned bright and clean
Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear
That once burned bright and clean
Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear
I want to take your word and shine it all around
But first help me to just, live it Lord
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to you
But first help me to just, live it Lord
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to you
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Self Help
I woke up last night thinking about self help books, thinking about all the time that we may spend reading them, looking for the answers of how to better ourselves. Or how to do things differently in our lives. There are all sorts of books and I thought about the things that I have said about choices. I thought about how I say we have to make a choice to live a better life, that isn't really it. I realized in all my own thoughts that I already made a choice. I said I will follow Jesus, that means that I will surrender all to Him. It isn't about myself, it isn't about making me better, it is through Him that I am made. Paul said it correctly in the Bible in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me."
The more I make the choices about me, the more I live for myself, but when I make the choices about how Jesus calls us to live, it is not longer about self but Christ who lives in me. The Bible holds the truths of how we are to walk, but we are to blind to see what it says. It is easy to say it doesn't apply to me or my life isn't like the Word of God, but Christ wrote it to apply to all of us. It is a tool, it is so much more than that, it should be our road map to follow.
We have set a course for our lives when we said we believe that we will follow Jesus. Today are you following Jesus or are you on a course that is all about yourself. Are you trying to do it in your own strength or is it in the power of Jesus name. Don't make your life about yourself, make it about Jesus Christ, make it about how He wants us to live. Who knows, by doing things the way Jesus calls us to do it, the lives we may touch.
It is not about my strength, but yours. 2 Corinthians 12:10 "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Apply the Word of God to your life, that is the choice. The choice is I am going to follow Jesus, not just in the good, but in all times. Apply the Word of our Living God to our lives, that is the choice that we need to make. Love like He calls us to, live like He calls us to and be free from the worry of self, for He calls us to follow Him.
The song that comes to mind is:
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.
The more I make the choices about me, the more I live for myself, but when I make the choices about how Jesus calls us to live, it is not longer about self but Christ who lives in me. The Bible holds the truths of how we are to walk, but we are to blind to see what it says. It is easy to say it doesn't apply to me or my life isn't like the Word of God, but Christ wrote it to apply to all of us. It is a tool, it is so much more than that, it should be our road map to follow.
We have set a course for our lives when we said we believe that we will follow Jesus. Today are you following Jesus or are you on a course that is all about yourself. Are you trying to do it in your own strength or is it in the power of Jesus name. Don't make your life about yourself, make it about Jesus Christ, make it about how He wants us to live. Who knows, by doing things the way Jesus calls us to do it, the lives we may touch.
It is not about my strength, but yours. 2 Corinthians 12:10 "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Apply the Word of God to your life, that is the choice. The choice is I am going to follow Jesus, not just in the good, but in all times. Apply the Word of our Living God to our lives, that is the choice that we need to make. Love like He calls us to, live like He calls us to and be free from the worry of self, for He calls us to follow Him.
The song that comes to mind is:
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Doing
I was thinking today about doing, we are full of praying. "Lord please help me to be a better husband, father and man of God." I was thinking about that very prayer and how it is all about myself. I can pray that till I am blue in my face, but until I put action into the prayer and walk by faith, that will just be a prayer. I need to do what I pray for, I need to be willing to put action into my prayers.
It is walking by faith and not by site or how I feel. It is actually putting my prayers into action, that is what belief is all about, it isn't just about praying and waiting, it is about doing.
How many times in our life do we pray for something, but if we do not do it, we think that our prayer is not answered, it comes down to am I willing to do it? Am I willing to put action into my prayers am I willing to walk by faith?
We ask for strength, but if we do not try, who is to say we don't have strength, or if we are looking for peace, but are not willing to walk in the peace God has given us, what are we than? We are being like the world, we are fluttering around like a leaf in the breeze, we go from the things that are the easiest, we do what comes easy and that is all. God didn't say our walk would be easy, but He did promise to give us just what we need to get through it. Are we walking by faith or are we walking by how we feel or what is easiest?
I want to put action into my prayers, am I willing to walk by faith? Am I doing it daily or am I just like a leaf fluttering to and fro landing where ever the wind takes me. Time to plant my roots in the ground and start standing in the promises of the living God, the one that came and conquered death, not so I would wait, but so I would walk by faith.
It is time to walk.
It is walking by faith and not by site or how I feel. It is actually putting my prayers into action, that is what belief is all about, it isn't just about praying and waiting, it is about doing.
How many times in our life do we pray for something, but if we do not do it, we think that our prayer is not answered, it comes down to am I willing to do it? Am I willing to put action into my prayers am I willing to walk by faith?
We ask for strength, but if we do not try, who is to say we don't have strength, or if we are looking for peace, but are not willing to walk in the peace God has given us, what are we than? We are being like the world, we are fluttering around like a leaf in the breeze, we go from the things that are the easiest, we do what comes easy and that is all. God didn't say our walk would be easy, but He did promise to give us just what we need to get through it. Are we walking by faith or are we walking by how we feel or what is easiest?
I want to put action into my prayers, am I willing to walk by faith? Am I doing it daily or am I just like a leaf fluttering to and fro landing where ever the wind takes me. Time to plant my roots in the ground and start standing in the promises of the living God, the one that came and conquered death, not so I would wait, but so I would walk by faith.
It is time to walk.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Plants
Have you ever walked into the woods, the trees are surrounding you, they block the sunlight from vegetation below, there are some plants that manage to grow, but they don't have the best root system nor do they grow too tall? The ones that you see growing are the ones that have a patch of light that makes it through the tree leaves. The other ones you will notice are growing upwards towards the light, they need light to grow. We can learn a lot from plants, right?
Remember this, what we put into our hearts, comes out of our months. What are you putting into your heart today?
If you doubt what I have written, stop listening to the garbage for a month, replace it with worship music, godly music and see if you feel closer to God.
I was thinking about the music that we listen to, we play it loud, quiet and maybe not at all, but plants have been tested with music as well. I found that in the 1970's they did a test on rock music and that is nothing like we have today, but they played it next to a plant, do you know that within 2 weeks that plant had grown away from the sound and then withered and died. They did this test with many different types of music and the music that caused the plant to grow was classical music and then they took the test further and played worship music and devotionals, that plant grew towards the speaker and grow not only upwards, but the roots grew deeper. It is said that the roots of the plant grow 2 inches more than any other kind of music. I check many different sources to see if the test was fake and it was not.
Can you imagine if music has that much of an impact on plants, what type of influence does it have in our lives? Does that make you question what you listen to?
Remember this, what we put into our hearts, comes out of our months. What are you putting into your heart today?
There are plenty of more sights if you want to do research yourself as well.
The devil has come to destroy our relationship with God, the devil wants to make sure we do not grow, what better way to do it, than to ruin our connection with Him, by not only shielding us from the light, but giving us a hunger to listen to garbage. This is a paraphrase of the Bible, but garbage in, garbage out.
The devil has come to destroy our relationship with God, the devil wants to make sure we do not grow, what better way to do it, than to ruin our connection with Him, by not only shielding us from the light, but giving us a hunger to listen to garbage. This is a paraphrase of the Bible, but garbage in, garbage out.
If you doubt what I have written, stop listening to the garbage for a month, replace it with worship music, godly music and see if you feel closer to God.
Recording from 1965
This recording was Paul Harvey, from 1965. I would recommend listening to it, because it gives us great insight of the world today.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Wind
Wind, you can't see wind, but you can feel it, you can see the effect it has on objects and things, you know it is there. Wind is a something that many people cannot explain. If you ask someone where wind come from they can't tell you, because it is one of those things that is produced from many different variables, but it is still all around us. We don't explain it, because it is something that is unexplainable.
God is much like the wind, He is present, unexplainable, but yet He is always around us, no matter where we are and what we are doing He is always there.
There are so many people that believe that there is a God, but they do not put there trust in Him, they don't believe and trust completely in Him. That is the difference between believing and trusting. When we trust in Him, we say no matter what we may go through, that God is greater than it, that He can handle it. We may believe that He is real, but do you trust that He is the complete and all powerful and only God? When we do not trust Him, we are all about what I can do, not about Him.
God allows hard times in our life, doesn't mean that He is upset with us, but it means He wants to make us who He desires us to be. Sometimes it takes losing it all to find what we had all along that was right in front of our face. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Do you trust in Him the way that He calls us too? What are you anxious about today? Can He handle it? When we surrender all to Him, it means that we have to surrender our worrying about it too. He will carry it, doesn't mean we stop moving, just means that we keep moving and believing that God has it. When we lay it at His feet, He changes our worry into the joy of the Lord and the Joy of the Lord is our strength. No joy, no strength or you can Know Joy and you will Know strength.
It comes down to making the choice that says God you have me here to teach me, what do you want me to learn. It isn't about "I" but Christ in me, teach me and I surrender to you.
What is God teaching you today? Is it windy and if so, do you trust Him?
Do you truly believe Jesus is who He says He is? Do you truly believe? That is the bottom line, wide is the path that leads to destruction, narrow is the gate that leads to eternal life. There are many that will say Lord Lord I believed in You, and He will say I never knew you.
God is much like the wind, He is present, unexplainable, but yet He is always around us, no matter where we are and what we are doing He is always there.
There are so many people that believe that there is a God, but they do not put there trust in Him, they don't believe and trust completely in Him. That is the difference between believing and trusting. When we trust in Him, we say no matter what we may go through, that God is greater than it, that He can handle it. We may believe that He is real, but do you trust that He is the complete and all powerful and only God? When we do not trust Him, we are all about what I can do, not about Him.
God allows hard times in our life, doesn't mean that He is upset with us, but it means He wants to make us who He desires us to be. Sometimes it takes losing it all to find what we had all along that was right in front of our face. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Do you trust in Him the way that He calls us too? What are you anxious about today? Can He handle it? When we surrender all to Him, it means that we have to surrender our worrying about it too. He will carry it, doesn't mean we stop moving, just means that we keep moving and believing that God has it. When we lay it at His feet, He changes our worry into the joy of the Lord and the Joy of the Lord is our strength. No joy, no strength or you can Know Joy and you will Know strength.
It comes down to making the choice that says God you have me here to teach me, what do you want me to learn. It isn't about "I" but Christ in me, teach me and I surrender to you.
What is God teaching you today? Is it windy and if so, do you trust Him?
You are who say You are
You'll do what You say You'll do
You’ll be who You’ve always been to us
Jesus
You'll do what You say You'll do
You’ll be who You’ve always been to us
Jesus
Our hope is in You alone
Our strength in your mighty name
Our peace in the darkest day remains
Jesus
Our strength in your mighty name
Our peace in the darkest day remains
Jesus
This we know
We will see the enemy run
This we know
We will see the victory come
We hold on to every promise You ever made
Jesus, You are unfailing
We will see the enemy run
This we know
We will see the victory come
We hold on to every promise You ever made
Jesus, You are unfailing
Our God through the wilderness
And our joy in the heaviness
Our way when it seems there is no way
Jesus
And our joy in the heaviness
Our way when it seems there is no way
Jesus
This we know
We will see the enemy run
This we know
We will see the victory come
We hold on to every promise You ever made
Jesus, You are unfailing
We will see the enemy run
This we know
We will see the victory come
We hold on to every promise You ever made
Jesus, You are unfailing
We trust You
We trust You
Your ways are higher than our own
We trust You
Your ways are higher than our own
We trust You
We trust You
Your ways are higher than our own
We trust You
Your ways are higher than our own
We trust You
We trust You
Your ways are higher than our own
We trust You
Your ways are higher than our own
Does He know you?
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Conform
Today I have been thinking about conforming. What makes me different then someone I work with? I had an interesting experience. A few weeks ago, I saw one of the guys I work with had a Bible on his desk, which I then asked about. Come to find out he is a Christian, well I had no idea and he also had no idea that I was one, which started me thinking. And I started asking myself the following questions: Am I different? If people were asked, do you think Geoff is different then others? What would their response be? I don't want to be like the worldly people I work with, but what makes me different than them? Do people even notice if I don't swear, or take the Lords name in vain? Do they notice that I have a glow about me? Do they notice anything that makes me different than them? As much as I want to say I am different, I am obviously not doing enough to be different than others. I want my light to shine, not be hidden under a bushel.
In Romans 12:2a it says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world," Conform, what does that mean? In the Webster dictionary, it says: (of a person) behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards. What does that mean? If I conform or I do things like the world does, that means I am conforming to there way of thinking. Haven't we as a Christian people, followed the way the world is? Are we being more like the world than like Christ? I think these are questions we must ask ourselves moment by moment. I can't answer it for you, but I know for me, that I will stand before God and give an account of all my words and my actions.
The number one item I think about when given this challenge to think about my own actions verses conforming to the world. The world puts an effusive on self, they are all about themselves, they put themselves before others, they focus on what makes them happy first. They are blind to what other people may think or feel and/or they do not care. However, Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" or in Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves," That in itself contradicts the world and what it believes, we are to put God first and then others. The last part of that is key, in humility value others above yourselves (myself). That just goes against everything the world says. When we are married, this is what God is getting at, He talks about how our spouse is to be valued is to be first in our lives, besides God of course, but what does the world say. We are to please ourselves, focus on ourselves and then we can worry about then if we have leftover we can give it to them, but that isn't what God says. He says they get your full amount, the leftover goes to work and such.
Can you imagine if we broke down every part of what God says to do in the Bible and compared it to the world today, where would that make us different? Or are we conforming, following the world, doing what it says. In Matthew 13:15 "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'" Or in: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."
Romans 12:2 it says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
In Romans 12:2a it says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world," Conform, what does that mean? In the Webster dictionary, it says: (of a person) behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards. What does that mean? If I conform or I do things like the world does, that means I am conforming to there way of thinking. Haven't we as a Christian people, followed the way the world is? Are we being more like the world than like Christ? I think these are questions we must ask ourselves moment by moment. I can't answer it for you, but I know for me, that I will stand before God and give an account of all my words and my actions.
The number one item I think about when given this challenge to think about my own actions verses conforming to the world. The world puts an effusive on self, they are all about themselves, they put themselves before others, they focus on what makes them happy first. They are blind to what other people may think or feel and/or they do not care. However, Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" or in Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves," That in itself contradicts the world and what it believes, we are to put God first and then others. The last part of that is key, in humility value others above yourselves (myself). That just goes against everything the world says. When we are married, this is what God is getting at, He talks about how our spouse is to be valued is to be first in our lives, besides God of course, but what does the world say. We are to please ourselves, focus on ourselves and then we can worry about then if we have leftover we can give it to them, but that isn't what God says. He says they get your full amount, the leftover goes to work and such.
Can you imagine if we broke down every part of what God says to do in the Bible and compared it to the world today, where would that make us different? Or are we conforming, following the world, doing what it says. In Matthew 13:15 "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'" Or in: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."
Ephesians 4:29-30 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to the needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Romans 12:2 it says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Satan's Schemes
In 2 Corinthians 2:11 it says "in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." Also in 1 Peter 5:8 "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Ephesians 4:27 warns us about the enemy "and do not give the devil a foothold."
There is a strong warning in the Bible about Satan because he is trying to destroy us Christians. He isn't interested in just tempting us, he is interested in destroying who we are. We do not know what his schemes are, we do not know how he has already warmed his way into our lives. He is dangerous and not something we should ignore or think that we are better than that. We are becoming blind to his schemes and we have been blind to him.
Back in the early 80's, there was so much talk about back-masking, so much talk about the bad music and what it does to our minds. Soon after that it was called that it doesn't control us playing it backward or forward, but listening to things that are not edifying to God, what does that do to us? In Matthew 12:34 Jesus says: "You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Or Proverbs 4:23 "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 10:11 "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." Proverbs 21:2 "All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart." Luke 6:45 "The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks."
What are you putting into your heart? Is it garbage, stuff that isn't Godly. Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
If we fill our hearts with garbage, garbage will come out from our mouths, but when we fill it with the things that glorify God, can you imagine the difference that we will be. Satan wants us to fill our hearts with garbage, he is plenty aware of what it will do to our souls, the more garbage we put in the more lies that come forth from our mouths. He is working on separating us from God, we need to be aware of our thoughts, our words and our actions, if they are not pleasing to God, then that is a scheme of Satan to separate us from what God wants. Satan makes us believe that those actions are alright, that they are acceptable when we are in fact going against the Bible, what God says.
Are your actions, your words and your thoughts pleasing to God? Are we living the way that God calls us to live, that is in our own lives, in our marriages, in our families, in our relationships? God knows your heart, what is in your heart?
There is a strong warning in the Bible about Satan because he is trying to destroy us Christians. He isn't interested in just tempting us, he is interested in destroying who we are. We do not know what his schemes are, we do not know how he has already warmed his way into our lives. He is dangerous and not something we should ignore or think that we are better than that. We are becoming blind to his schemes and we have been blind to him.
Back in the early 80's, there was so much talk about back-masking, so much talk about the bad music and what it does to our minds. Soon after that it was called that it doesn't control us playing it backward or forward, but listening to things that are not edifying to God, what does that do to us? In Matthew 12:34 Jesus says: "You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Or Proverbs 4:23 "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 10:11 "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." Proverbs 21:2 "All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart." Luke 6:45 "The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks."
What are you putting into your heart? Is it garbage, stuff that isn't Godly. Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
If we fill our hearts with garbage, garbage will come out from our mouths, but when we fill it with the things that glorify God, can you imagine the difference that we will be. Satan wants us to fill our hearts with garbage, he is plenty aware of what it will do to our souls, the more garbage we put in the more lies that come forth from our mouths. He is working on separating us from God, we need to be aware of our thoughts, our words and our actions, if they are not pleasing to God, then that is a scheme of Satan to separate us from what God wants. Satan makes us believe that those actions are alright, that they are acceptable when we are in fact going against the Bible, what God says.
Are your actions, your words and your thoughts pleasing to God? Are we living the way that God calls us to live, that is in our own lives, in our marriages, in our families, in our relationships? God knows your heart, what is in your heart?
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Song For Today
What was spoken at the beginning of the song was incredible, because how many times do we ask God to change what we are going through, but the call is not for Him to change the situation, but to change us to help us walk through what we may be going through.
One of the lines in the song is when they see me, let them see You. I believe that is the call on our lives, is to be different then the world, to act the way God calls us to act, sets us apart from those around us and actually we will look different to the world if we are willing to stand and walk the way God calls us to walk.
I read a bumper sticker the other day. It read, "Preach the Gospel all the times and when necessary use words." Isn't that fitting, we are called to live it, walk it and be who God calls us to be. We are to be a living example of Jesus Christ.
Are you being who He calls you to be?
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