Surrender 2 Corinthians 1.9

2 Corinthians 1 9…………………………we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. ¹¹ And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

I am reading this morning in 2 Corinthians….. I must have read over this three times and I just kept coming back to this passage.  I realized I am just running on my own juice.  I try to turn everything over … at least I think I do, it is wearing me out.  My wife asked me yesterday “how do we get more balance in our lives? You work all the time; I work all the time..  What do we do?”  I had no answers.  It made me sad on the inside.    I went to church yesterday.  The message did nothing for me.  In fact I did not even want to be there.  I could not shut my mind down and I hate that.  That is how it is all of the time right now.  I cannot shut my mind down long enough to hear God.  I did hear Him yesterday though.  I heard him through Marcus Brecheen.  Marcus said   “I surrender the things that I should be responsible  for and take responsibility for the things I should surrender.” 

That line right there really resonated in my spirit

From a previous post:       Jeremiah 38:17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘If you surely surrender  to the king of Babylon’s princes, (or whatever is going on in your life right now)then your soul shall live; this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live.   Here is what I know for me.  My life is so much calmer when I surrender.

Surrender is always a tough one for me, what is the worst thing that could happen if you surrender? Here is what François Fenelon the Archbishop of Cambria said in the 17th century.  He was the spiritual advisor to Louie the 14th.  He said this in a letter to the King about surrender.  There is more in the letter but this is the main point.  Let me tell you what real surrender is.  It is simply resting in the love of the Lord, as a little baby rests in his mother arms.  A perfect surrender must even be willing to quit surrendering, if that is what the Lord wants.  We renounce ourselves, and yet, God never lets us know when it is complete.  If we knew, it would no longer BE complete, for there is nothing that bolsters the ego quiet so much as knowing that it is fully surrendered.  Surrender consist, not in doing great, heroic deeds about which self can brag, but simply in accepting whatever God sends, and not seeking to change it.  Surrender is the source of true peace.                                                                                                                   I have noticed for myself that when I have completely surrendered.  (At least when I think I have)  I feel at peace.  When I think I have surrendered something but I am restless about it and I don’t have peace,   then I am still holding on to it.  I don’t like that. 

The more you look at what you are not; the less you become who you are!

So here is my question or questions for you.  Ask Holy Spirit right now.  Stop what you are doing and get quiet.  Lord, please show me what I am trying to control or change instead of surrendering and giving it to you.  Lord what am I trying to change in their life that is not my job to change?

Be blessed today.

Acedia

So,  I am reading in this book ……. A book that is taking me over two months to read.  (Only because I am reading two to three pages a night.)  “Are you a fan or follower” very good book.  Sunday night I am reading and come across a statement that a man prayed one time.  It said, “God, I thank you that tonight I haven’t seen anything I want more than you.”  Can I say that I am not there today ….. Have not been there in a while.  That is okay, because I am getting back to that point.  The word says if you will draw near to Him He will draw near to you.  That is a promise.  Do you believe that?

I find it very “God” timing that what I read Sunday night has everything to do with what I wrote Sunday morning.  What a jolt!  We have all heard of the seven deadly sins.  This list was comprised by the early church leaders.  There is not an actual list in the bible.  One of the sins that I want to touch on is sloth.  We all think of sloth as being lazy, but I found something very interesting, something I did not know.  The term sloth was taken from the Greek word Acedia  “ἀκηδία” which means “describes a state of listlessness or torpor, of not caring or not being concerned with one's position or condition in the world. It can lead to a state of being unable to perform one's duties in life. Its spiritual overtones make it related to but distinct from depression”

A better way to describe it would be spiritual apathy.  This is where you get to the point where you know God loves you and that he sent His son to die on the cross for you but yet you just shrug your shoulders.

The Passion has gone 

Jeremiah 2:2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

“This is what the Lord says:

“‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the wilderness,
through a land not sown.

Then It came an absolute word from the Lord to me.  It said “Your Honeymoon with the Lord should never be over”  It cut me like a knife.

So what do you do?  What do I do?  Revelation 2:4-5 ⁴ “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!^{[a] 5} Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Enough said!

Kevin

Matthew 7:20   Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

My heart has not been in a great place for some time.  I have been very busy (Buried Under Satan’s Yoke) It has been all I can do to spend time in the word because I have too,   not because I want to.  So what happens is my attitude changes and my fruit becomes sour and my dog returns back to her old behavior and is afraid again.  Every day this week when I would come home she would be on her bed terrified.  I wouldn’t say a word to her.  I would then get her to go outside, while outside I would check her bed and there would be a big a pee stain just like the old days.  I really hate admitting this but I have a problem and I don’t like it.   My way is not working,  I didn’t think I was doing it my way, but every time I get like this it is because I am jealous, angry, self-centered to name a few which means I am doing it my way.  I will leave you with a question for yourself and Oswald Chambers’s devo that also rattled my cage this morning. 

How is your fruit tasting today?

Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the uttermost farthing. Matthew 5:26.

“There is no heaven with a little of hell in it.” God is determined to make you pure and holy and right; he will not allow you to escape for one moment from the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit. He urged you to come to judgment right away when He convicted you, but you did not; the inevitable process began to work and now you are in prison, and you will only get out when you have paid the uttermost farthing. ‘Is this a God of mercy, and of love?’ you say. Seen from God’s side, it is a glorious ministry of love. God is going to bring you out pure and spotless and undefiled; but He wants you to recognize the disposition you were showing—the disposition of your right to yourself. The moment you are willing that God should alter your disposition, His re-creating forces will begin to work. The moment you realize God’s purpose, which is to get you rightly related to Himself and then to your fellow men, He will tax the last limit of the universe to help you take the right road. Decide it now—‘Yes, Lord, I will write that letter to-night’; ‘I will be reconciled to that man now.’

These messages of Jesus Christ are for the will and the conscience, not for the head. If you dispute the Sermon on the Mount with your head, you will blunt the appeal to your heart.

‘I wonder why I don’t go on with God!’ Are you paying your debts from God’s standpoint? Do now what you will have to do some day. Every moral call has an ‘ought’ behind it.

---

Matthew 26:35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

As I am reading this morning,  I came to this scripture.  I just sat there and stared at it.  For the first time in a long time I had to ask myself “How many times do I deny Jesus in one day?”  Peter did it three times.  I remember watching the Passion of the Christ and thinking about how Peter denies Jesus in the movie.  I remember thinking “how can he do that to Jesus?”  Then I thought “I do it all the time!”  with my tongue,  my eyes, my actions.  It made me very sad when I really thought about it.

Don’t worry, I don’t have a stick in my hand ….. I’m not beating myself up.  It is just an eye opener

Be Blessed today!

Prepare your field

Luke 11:8-10
I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.NKJV

So I am reading this morning and I am thinking about the one thing I always pray for when I pray. I always pray for favor in everything, people, places and his work in his business. There is a little story in Facing the Giants. It came to mind this morning as I was reading. It is so true. When I think of how many doors He has opened for me in the last year, Doors that in no way could have been opened by anyone including myself. Doors that were opened in spite of myself and my actions …. Astounds me.

Prepare for Rain

The story happens when Mr. Bridges walks in to Coach Taylor's office and gives him a word out of Revelation 3:7-8.  "………………………..  This is the message from the one who is holy and true,  the one who has the key of David.  What he opens, no one can close;  and what he closes, no one can open:⁸ "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. After he leaves the Coach's office, Grant gets up and goes out into the hallway and stops Mr. Bridges and He asked him if he believed that God gave that to him.  Mr. Bridges said, "Yes I do"

Then He tells the story about the two farmers who desperately needed rain, both of them prayed for rain, but only one of them went out and prepared his field to receive it.  Which one do you think trusted God to send the rain?  Coach Taylor said, "the one who prepared his field for it".  Mr. Bridges then said, "Which one are you?  God will send the rain when he is ready; you need to prepare your field to receive it.

 

Here are the questions: Are you preparing your Field?

 

Are you still praying for that door to be opened?

 

Have you giving up? I say keep knocking!!!!!

Don’t slack off

Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.NLT

The devo below is from the other morning. It has really stuck with me over the last few days. Then this morning the above scripture really stuck with me. I am going through one of those periods where I have struggled in my prayer life and being in the word. It is like a daily grind to do just do what I need to do ….. I don't like that. It seems like there are areas in my life that I am living righteously where I didn't before and areas where I did and now I don't. I know some of you can relate to what I am saying. The word says draw near to me And I will draw near to you.

Have a blessed day!

Don't slack off

Whatever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do. John 14:13.

Am I fulfilling this ministry of the interior? There is no snare, or any danger of infatuation or pride in intercession, it is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit whereby the Father is glorified. Am I allowing my spiritual life to be frittered away, or am I bringing it all to one center—the Atonement of my Lord? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest in my life? If the one central point, the great exerting influence in my life, is the Atonement of the Lord, then every phase of My life will bear fruit for Him.

I must take time to realize what is the central point of power. Do I give one minute out of sixty to concentrate upon it? "If ye abide in Me"—continue to act and think and work from that center—"ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Am I abiding? Am I taking time to abide? What is the greatest factor of power in my life? Is it work, service, sacrifice for others, or trying to work for God? The thing that ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the Atonement of the Lord. It is not the thing we spend the most time on that molds us most; the greatest element is the thing that exerts most power. We must determine to be limited and concentrate our affinities.

"Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do." The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and his apparently free choices are God's fore-ordained decrees. Mysterious? Logically contradictory and absurd? Yes, but a glorious truth to a saint.

 

Trust

John 14.1 Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. NLT

John chapters 14-17 are so rich and full. They are my favorites. John 14.1 always comes at the right time. I have to remind myself that when my heart is troubled, I do not trust the Lord with that particular circumstance. When my heart is troubled, the majority of the time I want to control the situation and not give it to the Lord. I am afraid that if I let God make the choice it will not be the choice I would make. What do we call it when we think we can do a better job than the Lord?

It is my opinion that if you are miserable right now about something then you are not giving it to the Lord and trusting Him. Is this not what this life is about when you are a follower of Jesus? Trusting? You are not going to ask if you do not trust. If you trust then you will have Joy.

So the questions today are, do you trust Jesus in the situation that you are in? Or do you want to be in control? If you want to be in control,

How is that working for you so far?

John 16:23-24
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.NKJV

Psalm 138

Psalm 138
A psalm of David. I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words. Yes, they will sing about the Lord's ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great. Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.NLT

This was very encouraging for me this morning. I have been very busy as of late and my quite time is suffered. I really don't like that. I woke up this morning and I laid there and thought "YES" Lord whatever you want. While I was prayer walking in my driveway I heard Psalm 137 so when I came in I read it and didn't get anything from it so I read Psalm 138 and got peace from it. One of the lines really struck a chord with me. He keeps His distance from the proud. Do you ever wonder why you are not hearing Him? Does the Lord feel distant? Just a few questions to ask yourself.

I have a prayer request, please pray that I would have more balance in my life when it comes to work, family and my time with the Lord. Thanks

 

Be Blessed

Just pray and get out of the way

Just doing a little reading this morning when I came to this devo. It reminded me how easy it is to want to fix someone and get in the way of the Lord. I had a couple that I was working with a few years back. Actually I was just working with the Husband. He would call and we would meet and we would talk. Many times he would ask me what he should do. I would tell him what I felt the Lord was showing me or I would give him advice from my life experiences in marriage. I began do get very frustrated with this person because he would not do anything I would say or suggest. In fact if he would have been paying me, I would have fired him because he was just wasting his money. One day, and this day was March 31^st 2008 I read the devo below. Two things happened, I stopped helping and started praying. The second thing I realized was this …. This person did not have a teachable spirit. You cannot teach someone if they are not willing to listen. This devo below really messed me up. It showed me to get out of the Lord's way.

 

Sometimes ….. all we are supposed to do is pray …..THAT IS IT……. Just pray.

 

March 31st

Heedfulness v. hypocrisy in ourselves

If any man sees his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. 1 John 5:16.

If we are not heedful of the way the Spirit of God works in us, we shall become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other folks are failing, and we turn our discernment into the gibe of criticism instead of into intercession on their behalf. The revelation is made to us not through the acuteness of our minds, but by the direct penetration of the Spirit of God, and if we are not heedful of the source of the revelation, we shall become criticizing centres and forget that God says—". . . he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death." Take care lest you play the hypocrite by spending all your time trying to get others right before you worship God yourself.

One of the subtlest burdens God ever puts on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning other souls. He reveals things in order that we may take the burden of these souls before Him and form the mind of Christ about them, and as we intercede on His line, God says He will give us "life for them that sin not unto death." It is not that we bring God into touch with our minds, but that we rouse ourselves until God is able to convey His mind to us about the one for whom we intercede.

Is Jesus Christ seeing of the travail of His soul in us? He cannot unless we are so identified with Himself that we are roused up to get His view about the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so whole-heartedly that Jesus Christ will be abundantly satisfied with us as intercessors.

 

Blinded by the darkness

1 John 2:9-11
Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It's the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.The Message

I was actually looking for something else this morning when I came to this. It made me think about the people who are actually walking in unforgiveness and they don't think they are. There unforgiveness is effecting everyone around them. Their spouse, there kids and their friends. The interesting thing is this. The passage above speaks about stumbling in the dark, blinded by the darkness …. Don't know which end is up! The sad thing is so often we feel we are right and don't realize that the enemy disguises himself in the light and so we believe the lie spoken to us. Then everyone around us suffers. What is even worse is when we spread our poison to our spouse and get them to believe in the same thing which in a way is murmuring.

Corinthians 11:14
and no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.NKJV

Galatians 5:7
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? NKJV

So here is the question today.

Are you walking in unforgiveness today and trying to get your spouse or friends or even your children to side with you so you can justify your actions? Are you feeding them your poison?

Psalm 128

 
This morning as I was prayer walking I heard this passage of scripture Psalm 128. Which took me back to what I wrote two years ago sometimes I feel right now that I am in the same place I was two years ago. It fluctuates
Psalm 128
How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be! Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the Lord's blessing for those who fear him.! NLT

January 2010
Once again the Lord amazes me. This morning he directs me to the book The Fear of the Lord by John Bevere to page 79 (I have not read the book yet) and to Galatians 2:20. The biggest thing I got out of the story is this. Do I give everything to the Lord or do I hold back and Lie. Do I make myself look good to man (Which is fear of man)? This all goes back to how you conduct yourself when no one is around. Do you walk with integrity and honesty? Is your Fear of the Lord lacking in this area? I know for myself I lack in this area in places. These places are in my heart. After I read several pages of this chpt it made me realize once again that my Fear of the Lord is not where it should be. I mean …. If someone stood beside me and I knew they were lying to the Holy Spirit and then they were struck dead right before my eyes, would that be enough for me to change my ways? I don't think so…….. Maybe for a while. As I have seen for myself what the Lord has done in my life and in others. Why am I not in Awe? This is a place that I am seeking.
Acts 5:1-11
but a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. NKJV
As I am reading in Galatians, I does not even dawn on me that Galatians 2:20 which I have memorized fluently is in this chapter until I get to it. When I get there it leaps of the page at me. It becomes Rhema. Once again the Lord shows up, but why is that not enough for me to be in Awe? He kept my mind blank until I got to 2:20. Many times I read a chapter the first thing that goes through my mind is "Oh yeah I remember that" Here is what I know, I am a son and I have been crucified. I like what the Message version says.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.NKJV
Galatians 2:20-21
I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. The Message

 

Matthew 18.32-35

Matthew 18:32-35
Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'
And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
"So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."NKJV Had lunch with a gentleman today and we had a good talk.

It was Iron sharpening Iron today. The biggest thing that I took was the hurt I could see in him. The hurt comes from going to someone and confessing sin knowing that you have been told this is a safe place. Only to have stones thrown at you after you confess. The man I met with today is not harboring un-forgiveness, but he is hurt because he confessed and asked for forgiveness but the forgiveness was not given. So who is the one being tormented here? Not the man I met with today. No wonder people do not like to confess to other people. They're afraid they will get hurt. It is a real shame to do what the word says only to get slapped in the face.

I have a question. Has someone come to you and confessed something and then you turned it around and threw it back at them? Or did you receive the confession like Jesus with skin on? Did you pray over that person for there healing?

Lord, I am walking with you

When I am in pain.

I sit down to explain

Lord You are my light,

That is when you burn so bright.

 

I know you hear me.

Answer me when you are ready.

When You talk to me,

The answer is meant to be.

 

Our Lord will find a way

To protect me everyday.

He gives me the tools that I need.

It is all in the bible, just read.

 

The answers are there,

In the bible everywhere.

Apply the laws of the word.

Nothing will go unheard.

 

I see you work through my friends.

They always have the right things to say.

My friends support me through out the day.

They say, keep seeking and looking too him and pray.

 

Lord, I am walking with you.

Bless me in all the things that I do.

Lord, You are the best.

You give me peace and allow me to rest.

 

My life now has a purpose.

There is more than just believing.

Live God's way,

Begin to pray.

 

Your Holiness took me by surprise.

My faithfulness to You will constantly rise.

Your glory has me hypnotized.

You love me for who I am that I realize.

 

By kevin gwyn ÓCopyrighted 03/29/2002

Un-belief

Out of the mouth the Heart speaks. Ever heard that little saying? I heard a great message yesterday about the words that come out of our mouths. The scripture below was touched on.

Hebrews 3:12-13
Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. NLT

This is just a small part of what he touched on yesterday but it was so dead on. Unbelief

If unbelief is in your heart then you will speak negative and negativity is the language of the enemy.

I don't know about you but speaking the language of the enemy did not sit with me very well. I know that there is power in your words. I try to be very careful in speaking. I don't want to speak anything over myself or over anyone else. That is why I believe I never get sick, because I say "I don't get sick all the time"

Have you heard the saying….."Crap rolls downhill" When you are with someone who is negative have you every noticed that you will allow yourself to get sucked in and before you know it you are being negative as well. Do you have that friend that every time you call for help they are always negative and when you get off the phone you are actually worse than before you made the call? Negative people will suck the life right out of you. You must be careful.

If you complain all the time and gripe and speak negative then what do you expect your life to be like?

How is that attitude working for you?

Lord, Help me with my un-belief today, Help me to speak with love and to not be negative, but to bless everyone I come into contact with.

 

 

Hosea 6.1-3

Encounter Marriage Weekend (this is a link to the website) ………… That is where my Bride and I went this weekend. From 6:00 Friday evening until 12:00 AM Sunday Morning. It was good and there were awesome teachings. There were very good moments that I will never forget for the rest of my life. There were some moments that were painful or you could say wounding. There are many times that we may get a word from the Lord and it wounds us because it is truth. Hosea 6:1-3 "Come; let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring."NLT James says that if we draw near to Him He will draw near to us. So Saturday, Kelly and I drew near to Him as a couple and He revealed Himself to us and it was good. What we realized as we set in that broken down trolley was the trolley represented our marriage. We had not been seeking the Lord as a couple but as individuals. That will not work in a marriage. The trolley represented what a marriage will be become if you do not work together as a couple. It will be become broken and become a trolley sitting in a junk yard rusting away. Many times you have to get to a broken place before you can get fixed. I sat in that trolley with my bride for 3.5 hours without getting up. It was one of our longest and for me the most in depth conversation we have had in 9.5 years. Thank you Jesus. The other main point that the Lord showed us is this; since we both serve in the Ministry of Fellowship of the Sword for the last six years ……. We poured all of our spare time into the ministry and nothing into our marriage and our marriage has suffered. James 1:26-27 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren). This is the person who ministers outside of his home but does not minister to his family. External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world. AMP This is what happens when you don't. You make your spouse and children widows and orphans in your own home.

So in the same breath these two scriptures are about Honor. Honor your spouse and your children first and then what you do outside of your home will be honorable.

Thank you Jesus for bringing us to a place of brokenness so we can be restored.

 

 

All of the tools

2 Peter 1:3
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.NLT

The Lord showed me about six months ago why I continue to want to look at porn. I don't look but sometimes I want too really bad. I asked the Lord one morning, "why do I struggle so much in my mind in this area?" He said, "I have giving you all the tools to walk in freedom, you choose not to use them!"

That was an eye opener and I got more freedom from that. I had realized once again that I was still trying to do it on my own. There are many times I feel like I have turned it over, but I have not. I did not realize that what the Holy Spirit spoke to me that day was actually scripture until today.

Are you using everything that the Lord has giving you? Or are you still trying to do it yourself?

How is that working for you?

Who Is This Man?

Who is this man?

He is called the Messiah.

He came to deliver us.

The Son of Man, He is Jesus.

 

They say You are the King of The Jews.

We know You are the King of all.

That day You felt so small.

But we knew You stood tall.

 

Your time has come, it is okay to cry.

You knew You were going to die.

You knew You were going to be betrayed.

You were in the garden and You prayed.

 

You knew what You had to do.

Which was to die for everyone.

No one wanted to help.

Nothing but scars and whelps.

 

He healed so many at his expense.

He was accused and had no evidence

The truth is all He had for his defense.

Still, He had to suffer the consequence.

 

They hit You.

And called You names.

Your tears fell like the rain.

How could your people be so insane.

 

So much dissension.

The crowd had every intention.

The people needed to repent.

But Jesus, did not resent.

 

They flogged You.

They spit on You.

What could you do?

They knew Your soul was true.

 

The thorns pierced Your skin.

In addition, you knew you could not win.

You did this for me.

To the cross, You carried my sin.

 

They drove the spikes through Your wrists

You were in so much pain.

Yet, You did not resist.

This was your destiny.

 

They slashed You with a whip.

Broke open Your back.

All they did to You was attack.

As Your blood did nothing but drip.

 

His blood washes away our sin.

His blood did not go to waste.

His tears dripped from his chin

Jesus searched his soul deep with in.

 

Jesus, they could not keep You down.

God took away Your frown.

You rose in three days.

Jesus, thank You for giving Your life away

 

By kevin gwyn Ó Copyrighted

04-10-2002

Counting the costs

Luke 14:26-28
"If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
"But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? NLT

I have been very troubled this morning by this passage, so I know something is stirring in me. The book "not a fan" is really raising some questions in my heart. I am thinking if I lived in a country ….. Say the Ukraine …….. Like someone I know. Would I be a fan or a follower? I know what this person went through because off his faith in Jesus. I know that this person's family turned their back on him when he chose Jesus. I know this person IS A FOLLOWER. He counted the costs and he chose wisely. This person is someone I deeply respect. I know this person and if he was faced with denouncing Jesus or die he would die.

I have to wonder about myself though. I have to wonder if I was made to go live in China or Iran If I would still be a follower or a secret fan. I mean I wouldn't want to be beheaded because I was a follower of Jesus. This has really stirred me up this morning and is really giving me a lot to think about.

Am I a fan or a follower?

Have I really counted the costs?

I think I put more effort in my estimates when it comes to counting the costs.

You reap what you sow

Galatians 6:7-9
do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.NKJV

I have been reading and my heart is breaking for the people who walk in un forgiveness In the last couple of weeks I have run into several people who are either married or dating someone who are walking in this right now. This is where the above scripture comes in. "You reap what you sow" things happen in relationships … things happen in life that may not have been your fault. Something may have happened that hurt you deeply and you feel you may never be able to trust that person again. This is what I know. You will never be able to trust that person if you do not first forgive that person what they did. If you do not forgive ….. you WILL reap what you sow and it will not be pretty and your relationship will stay on a downward spiral or worse. You can man up (or woman up) ………. whatever you want to call it and forgive that person and start watching your relationship grow or reap the consequences. IT IS YOUR CHOICE. I really don't care if you feel the other person owes you an apology, because it is not about them it is about you forgiving them for what they did! Before you see improvement it has to start with you forgiving. Remember …. That forgiving someone does not mean that what they did was okay.

I can't help but wondered if you forgave that person if the apology would come later?

Canaan V

Lust

Now this lust is not necessarily sexual lust—that comes later when we deal with sex sins. This is the lust that is based on satisfying self at the expense of God and others. It's the preoccupation with what self wants. This is the satisfaction or gratification of the flesh.

Love is of God, and true love is always giving. God's love desires to satisfy the object of His love. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). God is love. Love gives.

But lust wants to get. It is basically selfish.

Love gives; lust gets. The entire direction of life differs between the two. The Israelites craved what they had in Egypt. Their feet were taking them to Canaan, but their hearts kept going back to Egypt.

They were lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.

Take this one step further ….. Anyone read James lately? James 3:15-16 for jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.NLT

http://www.thevisionseeker.blogspot.com/2010/05/james-316.html this is a link to what I wrote back in 2010. That day in 2010 was a huge turning point in my life as far as what I was doing in my home. T Selfishness …….. This is something I deal with often in my life. Every time I feel like everything is coming unglued I can almost always come to this. I am either being Selfish, Judgmental or lusting. Those are three words I care not to have in my vocabulary. I can also say that all five sins that kept the Israelites out of Egypt I have been guilty of them all at some time or another.

Thoughts?

The cup of suffering

John 18:11
……………………… Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?"NLT
My devotion came out of John chapter 18 this morning. Once again it stopped me right in my tracks. When I think back how many times I have gone through something bad, like a major trial ….. That I prayed for the Lord to get me out of this situation that I am in. Only to find out later that I needed to go through what I was going through to be a better man, husband, father and business owner. I had to go through the suffering to become the man I am today. Jesus made a choice that day and so can you. You can walk it out or you can run. 

What are you going to do?


Be blessed today!

D.T.R

Matthew 7:21-23
21 "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'NLT
Are you a follower of Jesus?
Reading a new book, the first chapter really made me think. Think back to when you were on your first date and the person you were dating wanted to have the D.T.R. talk with you…… you know the talk "where do you see this relationship going?" That talk would make some people run and some stay.
Define the relationship
Let's say you are in the back of a restaurant sitting by yourself eating a little snack and drinking coffee. Just imagine for a moment and picture Jesus walking in and He comes back to where you are and sits down with you. You feel awkward so you try a little small talk to break the ice and ask Jesus to turn your coffee into wine. Jesus looks at you like He used to look at Peter and before He can answer you realize you forgot to pray over your food. So you start praying and your feeling nervous but you continue to pray when you realize the prayer you just said was a quote from a movie (that is what the book said)
You stop praying and Jesus immediately skips the small talk and gets right to the point. He looks you right in the eye and says, "It is time we define this relationship" He wants to know how you feel about Him. Is your relationship with him exclusive? Is it just a casual weekend thing or has it moved past that?
How would your relationship with Him be defined? What exactly is your level of commitment? I am sure Jesus would have no problem clearly defining His relationship with you. He would not sugar coat it either.
I can tell you for me sitting in that coffee shop and listening to what he wants from me in a relationship would a little different than what I have actually been giving Him myself. I want to be on the same page as Jesus. I can honestly say I am not as committed to Jesus as I would like to think I am. So I have work to do. I will get there someday.  

If you had to write Jesus a letter defining your relationship with Him, how would it read?  I think some of you will ignore this question because you do not want to face reality.

23 pounds

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.NLT

My devotion was out of 1 Cor. 3 so I read all the way to 7. I have wanted to write about this for a while, but have not been allowed to until today. The Lord has convicted me on numerous occasions since January 2009 about my weight and eating habits. This January He really got me. I am supposed to be around 215 to 220. On Feb. 12 this year I stepped on the scales at 268 (the most I have ever weighed in my entire life). In my mind I had a shift in my thinking. It was instantaneous and I felt new strength and I knew it was on. The Lord had been showing me through many people and His word what I needed to do. Three years ago I fasted for 40 days without food for my marriage. I also found out during that time it was about my eating and discipline as well. I got down to 220 and stayed there for a while. I let the sin creep back into my life very slowly.

Discipline ……… what a strong word. I have noticed that since I have developed discipline in my eating it is carrying over into other areas of my life. Today I weigh 245 (23 pounds lost) and I am on my way down 220 at least. I am not eating special foods I am not doing HCG. I am not doing weight watchers. What I am doing is eating right and not stuffing my face. I have stopped drinking DR. Pepper and eating fast food. What has made the biggest difference I feel is where I am getting my strength. My prayer life and time with the Lord plays a huge part in my life. I do not eat over 2000 calories a day where I was eating 4500 to 5500 a day. Am I doing this for me? Yep. More importantly though I am doing it for Him.

One morning I got really convicted. I felt like I heard "Kevin how do you speak to someone about how they are living when you live in gluttony and have NO discipline in your own life? How?"

How do you answer that question?

1 Corinthians 6:19
Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,NLT

Luke 24.16

Luke 24:16
But God kept them from recognizing him. NLT

There is much precious significance in this. The Lord is often present in our lives in things that we do not dream possess any significance. We are asking God about something which needs His mighty working, and the very instrument by which He is to work is by our side, perhaps for weeks and months and years all unrecognized, until suddenly, some day it grows luminous and glorious with the very presence of the Lord, and becomes the mighty instrument of His victorious working. He loves to show His hand through the unexpected. Often he keeps us from seeing His way until just before He opens it, and then, immediately that it is unfolded, we find that He was walking by our side in the very thing, long before we even suspected its meaning.

1. B. Simpsom
   

How many times has this happened to you? You have something going on in your life that you have been praying about ….. and you wonder …….. Where is God in all of this? Then suddenly you realize that God has been right in the middle of it the whole time. YOU just didn't see Him or better yet you chose not to see Him, because you didn't like where it was going. In the end you are glad for the results; you just didn't like the road you traveled.

 

At this time last year I was on crutches recovering from a broken leg. It sucked! It was very hard to see God in that picture. When I look back, I see what He was doing. It gave me an opportunity to learn my design software, refine my paperwork, and refine my advertising. I may have been down for three months, but starting in June I did more work last year and had my best year in business ever and I did it in six months. Thank you Lord!

 

Think back…… where was the Lord when at the time you thought He had left you.

Bless you

Apologetics

This morning my devotion comes from Colossians 2. Immediately I think of apologetics. Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of information. Early Christian writers (c. 120-220) who defended their faith against critics and recommended their faith to outsiders were called apologists. Colossians 2:4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments.NLT Colossians 2:8 Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.NLT You have to pay attention to what you are listening to. You have to quit listening to what the world says. Be transformed by the daily renewal of your mind. Romans 12.2

Lee Strobel's wrote a book called The Case for Christ. Lee was an atheist who set out to prove the Jesus and the bible was just a book of stories and Jesus was not real. What he found out was Holy Spirit is very real and Jesus is real and he could not prove the bible was false. He came to know the Lord through his research. Here are some examples:

The bible has parables, prophecy, song, romance, biography, law, etc. And, depending on the translation, there are some 785,000 words comprised in 31,101 verses, which hold 8,000 predictions, 6,468 commands, 3,294 questions, and 1,260 promises. You can't prove the bible wrong! No matter how hard you try. Archeologists have found over 25000 sites that prove and validate the Old Testament.

From Bible Believers.org For example, what's the likelihood of a person predicting today the exact city in which the birth of a future leader would take place, well into the 21st century? This is indeed what the prophet Micah did 700 years before the Messiah. Further, what is the likelihood of predicting the precise manner of death that a new, unknown religious leader would experience, a thousand years from now - a manner of death presently unknown, and to remain unknown for hundreds of years? Yet, this is what David did in 1000 B.C. Again, what is the likelihood of predicting the specific date of the appearance of some great future leader, hundreds of years in advance? This is what Daniel did, 530 years before Christ. If one were to conceive 50 specific prophecies about a person in the future, whom one would never meet, just what's the likelihood that this person will fulfill all 50 of the predictions? How much less would this likelihood be if 25 of these predictions were about what other people would do to him, and were completely beyond his control? For example, how does someone "arrange" to be born in a specific family? How does one "arrange" to be born in a specified city, in which their parents don't actually live? How does one "arrange" their own death - and specifically by crucifixion, with two others, and then "arrange" to have their executioners gamble for His clothing (John 16:19; Psalms 22:18)? How does one "arrange" to be betrayed in advance? How does one "arrange" to have the executioners carry out the regular practice of breaking the legs of the two victims on either side, but not their own? Finally, how does one "arrange" to be God? How does one escape from a grave and appear to people after having been killed? http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/radio034.htm

There is so much more than just this. The point is this. You need to know apologetics so when you come up against the person who says. The bible is just a book ….. just a bunch of made up stories, you need to know this information it will help you. The flip side is if you come against someone who just doesn't want to believe, it will not matter what you say. Then you just have to shut up and let Holy Spirit do his job.

You couldn't make me believe when I wasn't ready.

 

 

 

Fruit

First of all, I would like to apologize for my writing skills. I don't always punctuate in the right places and I tend to write how I talk. Secondly I don't normally write this much, but I am hearing so I am writing. I don't write for your comments, but I would be lying if I said I didn't like them. So keep them coming! You comment may be the very thing someone else needs to hear so always reply to all. Your comment may set someone free!

This morning my devo took me to Matthew 3 and the verses speak for themselves. Matthew 3:8-10
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.NLT

Ask someone close how your fruit taste?

Bless you this day! May you have favor today!

Are you doing what you’re supposed to be doing?

So today I am reading in my devo (from my Oswald devo) one sentence just sent me over the top! "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light." Walking in the light means for many of us walking according to our standard for another person. O.C. day 16 Which basically means "This is what you need to do to get free, but I will not do that myself. How many times have you given advice, Godly counsel to someone and it was really for yourself? If you followed that counsel yourself your life would be better! So, if you are living by the very counsel that you give out then I think you would be walking in the light and therefore you would be keeping the same standard as you hold your friend. That quote led me to the next scripture that I got out of 2 Corinthians 5:9
So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.NLT So I feel if you are doing what you are supposed to be doing then you are pleasing Him and if you are not ……… well then we have this scripture below to contend with. This one always nails me. James 4:17
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. NASB95 James 4:17
In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil. The Message

The scripture covers everything the God's word does not cover; the scripture right here makes it personal. This word is about you, your heart and the Lord. It is about personal conviction. For me, female magazine covers are porn, today I will not look. You tube .. stay off. Not enabling our children, but teaching. There is more, but I think you get the point.

Guess what? If you are not doing what you are supposed to be doing … what is that called disobedience! When you walk in disobedience then doors get closed.

What is the Lord showing you that you need to do and you are not doing it?

Ask Holy Spirit right now, close your eyes and ask and then obey.

 

 

 

 

Be Alert

This morning my devotion took me to 1 Thessalonians 5 I just stopped when I got to verse 22. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Stay away from every kind of evil. Can it get any plainer than that? When I come across scripture that stops me right in my tracks I have to realize that it is a warning for me that something is coming. Right now that evil could be in any form. I have to be on the alert today. We all know that the enemy is prowling around just waiting for his moment. So today it is about guarding my heart and my eyes.

So today be watchfull!

Forgiveness

 

What is forgiveness?

It is a burden lifted off your back.

Forgiveness will allow you to put your life back on track.

Forgiveness runs hand in hand with faithfulness.

 

Forgiveness comes from the heart.

Forgiveness is needed when two grow apart.

Forgiveness is what God does for us.

That is why He sent His Son, Jesus.

 

We want to learn to forgive,

Or it will be very hard to live.

Forgiving others for what they have done,

Will allow the Father and us to be as one.

 

Forgiving will break down the wall,

Between Heaven, Earth and us.

This will allow us to have,

A loving relationship with Jesus.

 

Forgiveness is a decision,

Only we can make that choice.

Forgiveness is obeying God,

Listening to his voice.

 

If you have anger that you repress.

Let it go or you will digress.

This emotion will eat you up inside.

One day you will wake and have no pride.

 

Your life may be a mess,

Therefore, you must look to Jesus.

Through Him, you will have success.

He is there for all of us.

 

Forgiveness is getting your heart right with God.

Whatever you do, do not put on a facade.

Make the decision and turn it over to Him.

He will forgive you and your sin.

 

Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive today?

 

By kevin gwyn

Ó Copyrighted 4/20/2002

The other little dog

A little story about another little dog from a few years back. A Rat Terrier named Duchess. I had a wrought iron fence in my back yard that was bent in one spot. This is where she would get out. Every morning I would let her out and she would go to the bathroom and then come back to the door and scratch to come in. One day I heard Holy Spirit say "you better fix that fence or the coyotes are going to get her" I said, "I will" (but I didn't) Holy Spirit reminded me several times for the next three weeks. I kept saying (I will!) How many times to we tell Holy Spirit I WILL AND THEN WE DON'T DO IT! So one morning I let Duchess out and she didn't didn't come back as quick as she normally does and I could not wait, so I left. Later I called home and my wife said she had not come home yet and I got a really bad feeling in my stomach. That afternoon I was driving home and I see buzzards flying over my home …. Not a good feeling. I had a feeling she was out in the field behind my house. I put on my pants and went looking for her. I looked for about 10 minutes no luck. I prayed and asked the Lord "where is my dog?" I then felt that I need to turn left so I did …. I walked 10 feet and one buzzard flew up and there was my dog, one head and two front legs. I was heartbroken. I said, "Lord, I don't understand why this happened, but I will stay praise you." ………… So I just stood there with tears in my eyes and I hear "Son, your procrastination killed your dog" When I heard that I just broke, because I knew it was my fault. So here is the moral of the story and my devo this morning. Duchess was always safe around the family. She was always safe in the back yard. One day she was tempted to leave the back yard away from the safety of family and went off on her own. She got isolated and got picked off. She was all alone and that is what the enemy does to us. He tempts us by telling us lies to get us alone. You know what the lie is … rejection …… UN forgiveness ……..judgment …. Need I go on? I leave you with this. If you are meeting with men or women but you are lying to them when you meet. Then you are still isolating or posing or wearing a mask. Whatever you do stop it and get honest. The enemy will pick you off if you don't. 
If you are not meeting with anyone ……. then start,  You can’t do life by yourself.  Your spouse does not count.  You need other men in your life to meet with or other women.

Hebrews 10:24-25
let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.NLT
Proverbs 27.17 As iron sharpens iron; so one man sharpens another

 

I failed

I failed yesterday; I let my flesh get the best of me. It just goes to show that even though I walk with Jesus … That I spread His word. That I do my best to live a life worthy of the call. I will fall. It is not a matter of why, but only a matter of when. I am driving yesterday having a great conversation about Jesus with a friend. I look in my mirror and this person is tailgating me so close I can't even see his headlights. I am speeding 10 mph over the limit myself. So when I can finally get over, the person fly's by and gives me the finger. What do I do? Well, I did not do 1^st Timothy 2:1 I flipped him back off myself, Why, because I judged him and he pissed me off. How dare that person tailgate me! So this morning I am reading. I read all of 2 Timothy, but it was 1^st Timothy that nailed me. I actually thought about praying for that person. Lord, cause them to have a wreck so they will slow down. Character is what you do when no one is around. It weighed on me for a couple of hours. That is not who I am, I really hate it when the old man comes out of me. It is not pretty. It happens though, it happens to all of us.

I did pray for that person later on and I did pray for protection. That person I became for that couple minutes is as far from whom I want to be as I can get. Lord thank you for reminding me that I am just a man and not perfect.

The stick was laid down yesterday…. Very quickly.

1 Timothy 2:1
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them..NLT

1 Timothy 2:1
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know..The Message

Canaan part IV

Fornication

Actually, this sin includes every kind of sex sin. Sin is still sin, no matter how you spell it. Fornication is popular and sexual promiscuity is acceptable everywhere today—except in the Bible. No wonder men want to burn it, deny it, or crucify it. The Word still sets the standard of faith, gives the rule of conduct, and reveals the character of God. Reading about Samson, David, and others in Scripture is in itself a vital lesson concerning the results of sex sins. But the roll call goes on today. Man after man, who in many areas of life develops the potential of his manhood, is limited because of his sex sins. Both single and married men, young and old, are subject to the desires, appetites, passions, and temptations that take their toll and prohibit them from becoming what God intends them to be. Men's ministries are undeveloped or lost. Men's characters are underdeveloped or weak. God's promise to sit with Him on His throne is given to those who are called overcomers. Overcomers are godly achievers. Every man is given opportunity to enter his Canaan, to develop his potential of manhood to the maximum. When the men of Israel committed fornication, they died in the wilderness, never seeing Canaan. Men still die in their wildernesses, bogged down in a moral morass, missing God's best for their lives.

It wasn't God's plan then or now.

The Word says …… Jesus says ……

Matthew 5:28
but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. NASB95 This is why I lost my first marriage ………. Pornography. I might not have had slept with other women physically but I did in my heart. I gave a part of me away that was not mine to give. I have struggled in this area before since I found freedom. Today it is more like a hiccup. Like gorging my face with food, or being jealous, or being judgmental. I don't sin in those areas every day. I am free! I told my wife yesterday that I just feel joyful. She said, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" I think for the first time I actually understood what that meant.

So what is Holy Spirit telling you?

 

Lead a life worthy of your calling.

Ephesians 4:1-2
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.NLT

This morning's devotion took me to Ephesians chapter 4. I don't know if there is much to say other than when I walk in forgiveness and I am humble, my life has so much peace in it. When I am mad at my children or my spouse all the time for reasons I cannot control or my co-workers. It makes it very hard to live by Ephesians 1-2 and 32

Ephesians 4:32
instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.NLT

So I guess for me the big question would be, do you have peace in your heart? Or do you have anger and un-forgivenenss? Are you still bringing up the past or are you living in the present?

 

 

 

 

Canaan part III

Idolatry page 25 Maximized Manhood

Idolatry is a value system that we create, in which we esteem something to be more worthy of our devotion than devotion to God. Power, prestige, education, money, business, religion, popularity, ego, pornography—can all become idols. Some men worship at the shrine of their businesses; others at temples of recreation and sports. Still others may bow at the sound of the cash register. For some ministers, even their ministry can become an idol. They become so devoted to it that they cannot take time to worship God, wait in His presence, or spend time ministering to Him. For others, their television set has become an idol. All pornography is idolatrous. It's based on man's ability to create in his mind a fantasy or image that satisfies him, and to which he can devote himself. Corporate life in America today has become idolatrous in many instances. Men sacrifice their families for the sake of the company 1 Peter 4:3
For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.NASB95 1 Samuel 15:23
"For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king."NASB95 Colossians 3:5
therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.NASB95 These are three very powerful scriptures. The last one really spoke to me. It says all these things are dead in my earthly body. So to me that means when they come back it is not because the enemy is attacking me; it is because I made the choice to bring them back. For me if the temptation of porn comes up, that could very well be the enemy. What I choose to do next is not. If I click the mouse at an ad on the computer or phone, now I have made the choice. The enemy did not make the choice for me. So many times we give the enemy way to much credit when in reality it is our own choices that give in. For me over the years sexual lust has been my idol. Thank you Lord for bringing me women who is mature enough in her walk to see me as just a man and not perfect. So if or when I fall as a man she prays for me and helps me instead of falling apart and making it all about her. A Godly woman who will pray for me so that I can be healed. Thank You Lord!

Right now I can honestly say I have no idols in my life today. I am not going to live in the future nor am I going to live in the past.

If you don't change then nothing changes.

Do you have an idol? Ask Holy Spirit right now.