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Aug

01

Be still

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With all that goes on in our lives, making the time just to be still is important. The Lord speaks to us so softly sometimes, it’s not always easy to hear his voice in a world filled with distractions and noise. Take a moment and step away from it all and listen for him.

 

Be still and know that I am God ~ Psalm 46

 

One can sense God’s presence in the midst of his awesome handiwork:  the silence of a forest…the rolling of the ocean waves… the serenity of a mountaintop.  Even quiet time alone at home can yield his awesome presence when we seek him and listen with our hearts.  When we draw near to him, he draws near to us (James 4:8).

 

To be still before the Lord is not always a physical position or something to do in the midst of a silent moment. To be still also means to let your ways yield unto his…to mentally put everything else aside and let the Holy Spirit lead.

 

As we are only strong in the Lord’s strength, taking the time to consider his ways above and beyond our own can only lead to opening ourselves up to the direction of the Holy Spirit. This is the only direction we’ll ever need in life.

 

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him ~ Psalm 62:5

Jul

25

Are we there yet?

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The roads of life aren’t always smooth, and the rough spots can lead us astray as we navigate our way. In a world where life is so much of a battlefield between good and evil, it’s comforting to know we have an advocate who is on our side. He’s no ordinary comrade or friend who has your back. No, he’s more than that. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Rock of Ages, the Name Above All Names. God is our fortress.

Though the paths are not always free of trouble and debris, God’s word tells us that for those who love Him, everything along our route will work together for good. He has a plan and purpose for everything. Not everything is good, but…

“All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose” ~ Romans 8:28

 Our wonderful, Almighty God and Creator of the universe wants to have a personal relationship with each of us as we travel the terrains of life. He wants to be our shield and deliverer, and what better way to go than to yield our lives to Him—our creator—to find the ultimate direction. Like a father, he will withhold no good thing from his children. And even above and beyond the most sophisticated GPS system, God knows the better way to go.

Though we may encounter tribulation and trials, the wise man sees beyond the storms of life, knowing that God is in the midst of every suffering and is not immune to the cares and worries of those who belong to him. His strength will shield and sustain us—always.

Jul

20

Going somewhere?

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When traveling, vacationing, or just visiting a new place, knowing where you’re going will often save time and keep you on the right track.

In the course of our lives, there are so many paths to take while on this planet. Some are better than others. As we walk, we’ll find the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life do not stop once we are saved. In fact, these temptations often appear stronger when we’re walking with the Lord.

When confronted with any kind of situation where we think we’ve got it covered, remember how many times the wrong decision was made simply because we thought we knew best.

Walking with the Lord is not a set of arbitrary rules and regulations to keep us boxed in; rather, it is relationship tethered by a mutual love and bond fostered through the power of the Holy Spirit—our helper—and for our good. It’s a commitment to God. Out of our love for him, we walk according to his precepts.

If we seek Him first…put His way above our own way, and trust in Him as we would our dearest friend, then He will lead us on the path we’re supposed to travel. If you’re ever in doubt as to which way to go, remember, the road map is as close as your faith walk with God.

Show me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths ~ Psalm 25:4

Jul

12

Got love?

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In Apostle Paul’s day, the church in Corinth had a number of problems. Among them were divisions and contentions among the Corinthians, and with their infighting, Paul learned that some were joining different leaders. Some were now following Apollos while others aligned with Cephas.

Why the split? Why had contentious groups and factions formed among the brethren? Had they taken their eyes off of Jesus?

“…let there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment…”

~ 1 Corinthians 1:10

 In his letter to the Philippians, Paul encouraged them also to do everything within the fellowship of a united spirit, intent on one purpose—to love without selfishness or empty conceit—while maintaining the same mind and heart and to let each one consider one another as more important than himself.

At times, we need a self-awareness check, lest we get too full of self. Sometimes, self takes a wrong turn. In gentleness and love, we need to heed to a willingness to learn from one another and accept that we might not always see things the same way. Or is the goal to win the battle at all costs, despite the crossfire over being right? Love would rather be wronged. There should be a spirit of love so present that the differences in the matter become secondary and not what really counts. Love is always the goal, and in our personal relationships, all that matters is that love wins.

Jul

04

Happy Birthday, America!

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When it comes to our beloved nation, America, there’s a few important things to remember:

In the words of Ronald Reagan, ” In America, WE THE PEOPLE, tell the government what to do. It doesn’t tell us. WE THE PEOPLE are the driver; the government is the car, and we decide where it should go and by what route and how fast.. Almost all the world’s constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a document in which WE THE PEOPLE tell the government what it is allowed to do. WE THE PEOPLE are free!

When we consider all that went into the founding of our nation—the struggles, the hardships—the historical events are incredible. The separation from a tyrannical British king to gain freedom didn’t come easy. But are we truly free in America?

In the USA, we have freedoms other countries only dream about. However, in our nation today, many citizens are still enslaved. The evil master who ensnares many is way wiser than any tyrannical king and even more menacing.

It’s easy to be led away by carnal devices and become entangled in sin. Though the Holy Spirit of our living God gives believers the power to overcome sin, we alone make the choice of which master we will serve. We cannot serve both God and mammon. We may be free in this land, but we are only truly free when Jesus is on the throne of our lives.

Sadly, there are some who have no interest in protecting our rights set forth in our Constitution, including our religious freedom. They have spent decades chipping away at our rights and will continue to do so until they control everything we do, say, think, and believe. What do you think the “political correctness” agenda is all about?

But thanks be to the one who is over and above the fray of tyrannical men in high places and to whom all believers worship and serve. Thanks be to God for the freedom He gives us through his Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus.

“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” ~ John 8:31-32

Happy 245th birthday to the greatest nation on God’s earth. Until he takes us home, we praise God for the land where freedom rings.

Jun

27

Got trust?

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In times of fear or uncertainty, it should be comforting to know that to know that God is closer than we think. If we are abiding in Christ, there is nothing to fear because we are held in the palm of his hand. We are as close as marrow is to bone.

The unfathomable depth of God’s love for humanity began in the Garden. With the first killing of an animal, God used the skin to clothe Adam and Eve. Why did God do that? Even outside the Garden, while the fellowship had been broken, his love remained. It continued so much that he eventually sent his son to redeem all of mankind from his own sin.

Unlike worldly love that ebbs and flows at its own discretion, God’s love is an unlimited source that wells up from his true nature.

Today, Christ sits at the right hand of God after making the ultimate sacrifice. Those who’ve put their trust in Him should no longer have any fears, worries, or doubts about the Lord’s love or his plans and provisions for our lives. Whether there’s famine, peril, nakedness, or sword, there’s nothing—at all—imaginable that can come between the Lord and His redeemed.

“No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from his hand, ’til he returns and calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand” ~ In Christ Alone, by Getty and Townend.

Jun

21

Praise for our fathers

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What an awesome responsibility it is to bear the title of father. Being a dad is more than just having children. It’s a fulltime job. The position requires time, patience, discipline, and sacrifice. Above all, love.

It’s a tremendous undertaking to rear a child in the way to go. The task can be daunting, especially when a man does it in his own strength. Many times, a father will fail. We need to pray for them to seek their Father in heaven for the strength, wisdom, and courage to fulfill their earthly role.

There is no official instruction guide for fatherhood, though the instruction book for life—the Bible—has everything one needs to accomplish the job. And what better example to follow than that of our heavenly Father who, by his grace, has given us more than we deserve. That is, not to spoil us, but to show us the riches of His glory.

 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord ~ Ephesians 6:4

 Men, young and old, whether a father or surrogate dad, all have been given a generous task and privilege. With the Lord as the role model and his word as the guide, they have all that’s needed to achieve the responsibility of being a great father.

Jun

14

The fruit of his goodness

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How can we measure the goodness of the Lord?

Is it even possible? With the rich abundance of all that he supplies, it would take a lifetime and then some to count the blessings God bestows. One that stands out in particular is the bountiful harvest of fruit and produce.

God’s fruit—that is, the fruit of his spirit—is even more special. His spirit is a delightful blend of love along with joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—all in one.

We don’t have to stress or strive to grow this fruit in our lives. Its genesis is from the Holy Spirit working inside each believer as we are continually sanctified. While steeped in Christ and abiding in his word, we receive wisdom above and beyond our own capabilities because the Lord is doing the increase in our lives. God’s work, combined with our yielded hearts, produces fruit that brings Him the glory.

We may not be able to grow a fruit tree on our own, but with the Lord by our side, our lives can become a cornucopia of fruitful abundance.

Jun

09

One in Christ

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With all of the focus on diversity, it’s interesting to note that God is not concerned with such things. He doesn’t notice race, color, or gender. These statistics don’t matter as the Lord’s focus is on the heart.

We have fellowship with him as our Father, and that makes us collectively all brothers and sisters in the Lord. We comprise the body of Christ. Some may feel like they’re just the big toe, but in a body, the toe has a huge function!

As Christians, we are called to love one another. Although we all have shortcomings, we’re to make every effort to love in spite of our predilections and peculiarities. We need to preserve the unity of the spirit at all costs. Why? Because we are united as one—in Christ.

Maintaining a bond of peace is not always easy, but the power of the Holy Spirit gives us the strength. May we always remember:

There is but one Lord, one faith, and one baptism ~ Ephesians 4:5

             Also, there is one hope that we all share. Truly, everything rests in Him.

May

31

Never forget

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This Memorial Day, we celebrate our war veteran serviceman and heroes, who sacrificed so much for our country. We salute them for their valiant efforts to ensure the safe keeping of our land and its liberty.

America, the land of the free, is a concept our founding fathers brought forth on this continent that all men should be free from tyranny. They acknowledged their Creator as God, thus paving the way for America to become a blessed nation of freedom.

Among the heroic souls who braved their lives to secure our liberty, there’s another who made the ultimate and distinguished sacrifice—our savior, Jesus Christ. The price he paid was the willing offer to give up his own life in obedience to the Father in an effort to bring new life and restoration to the believer.

Thank you, Lord, that we have liberty to worship you in this great land because of the sacrificial efforts of so many… the greatest being your Son.

“…and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” ~ 2 Corinthians 3:17