What land is in front of you?

Deuteronomy 1:21 Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!’   22 “But you all came to me and said, ‘First, let’s send out scouts to explore the land for us. They will advise us on the best route to take and which towns we should enter.’  23 “This seemed like a good idea to me, so I chose twelve scouts, one from each of your tribes. 24 They headed for the hill country and came to the valley of Eshcol and explored it. 25 They picked some of its fruit and brought it back to us. And they reported, ‘The land the Lord our God has given us is indeed a good land.’ 26 “But you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God and refused to go in. 27 you complained in your tents and said, ‘The Lord must hate us. That’s why he has brought us here from Egypt—to hand us over to the Amorites to be slaughtered. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers have demoralized us with their report. They tell us, “The people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, and their towns are large, with walls rising high into the sky! We even saw giants there—the descendants of Anak!” ’ 29 “But I said to you, ‘Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! 30 The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.  31 And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place.’   32 “But even after all he did, you refused to trust the Lord your God, 33 who goes before you looking for the best places to camp, guiding you with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day.

Verse 21 and 22 -                                                                                                                          God has place something before you, you know it is God, you heard God and he says don’t be afraid or discouraged.  So what do you do?  You decide you need to pray about it.  Really?????   God spoke you obey, why do you need to pray about what the Lord has already spoken or shown you? It is just like going on Quest, why do you need to pray about spending 5 ½ days with the Lord?  This goes for serving on quest as well.  Do you have to pray about serving the Lord?  If the door is opened to you then walk through it and don’t throw out excuses.  It is like this; if you are being called to go to serve in the mission field, then GO!  The Lord will direct your path and he will protect you while you are away!                                                                                                                                                       Exodus 34.23 Three times each year every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the Lord, and the God of Israel. 24 I will drive out the other nations ahead of you and expand your territory, so no one will covet and conquer your land while you appear before the Lord your God three times each year.  This passage is about getting away and the Lord not letting your enemies get the upper hand while you are a way.  It is also referring to taking a sabbatical three times a year I feel.  That is for another day of writing

23 – 25 so what did Moses do, he listened to man.  God had already spoken, but he listened to man and sent out the scouts.  The scouts reported good things, but it wasn’t good enough and so they made up more excuses for why they didn’t want to do what the Lord said.  THEY REBELLED! 

Jeremiah 17.5 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, (or one man) who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.   6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,   with no hope for the future.  They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.  7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.  They wanted to do it there way and in their timing and even though the Lord had brought them through the wilderness and out bondage they walked back into bondage because they would not trust the Lord.                                                                                    Deuteronomy 1:32 “But even after all he did, you refused to trust the Lord your God, 33 who goes before you looking for the best places to camp, guiding you with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day

I will finish with this, trust the Lord and do not operate out of fear.  If or when you hear the Lord then do what He says.  If He opens a door then walk through it. 

Trust Him!  This was as much for me as it is for you!

Encouragement

 “Father, give me wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus.” For to know Jesus is to have grace and peace multiplied to me. To know Jesus is to receive all things pertaining to life and godliness!

Psalm 91-22  That I would  dwell in the shelter of the Most High

   That I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

    my God, in whom I trust.”

Eph. 17 so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith—that I, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that I may be filled with all the fullness of God.  20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within me,

Amen

Abide in me

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

 …………………………………………………….Think of the things that take you out of the position of abiding in Christ. You say, “Yes, Lord, just a minute— I still have this to do. Yes, I will abide as soon as this is finished, or as soon as this week is over. It will be all right, Lord. I will abide then.” Get moving— begin to abide now. In the initial stages it will be a continual effort to abide, but as you continue, it will become so much a part of your life that you will abide in Him without any conscious effort. Make the determination to abide in Jesus wherever you are now or wherever you may be placed in the future. O.C.

Can you relate?  I have been hear so many times.  I remember almost thinking those exact same thoughts.  It is a very dangerous place to be in I think.  One way of looking at this could be pride.  I got this Lord my way will be better than yours.  Besides I don’t agree with you.   I will listen next week.  (what if there is not a next week?)

If you are not abiding in Him,   then just how well do you think your fruit will taste?  Will anyone want any of your fruit?  I want abiding in Him to be as much of my life as sleeping, eating or speaking.

Getting up in the morning and saying “YES LORD”  I am yours.

Be Blessed today

Ephesians 5:31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

So I have a question.  If you believe in you heart that you are hearing the lord about a situation in your life.  A situation that directly affects your spouse.  Do you immediately go to your spouse and say “This is what I am hearing from the Lord about what we are supposed to do, what you think?”  or maybe it goes like this,  you hear from the lord about something and you don’t  say anything and you wait to see if the Lord puts it on your spouse’s heart and then they come to you.  What if you wait and your spouse never says anything?   Do you still proceed?  Here is my point; if you feel like you are supposed to do something then you should be in agreement with your spouse.  Don’t be a Lone Ranger. Being a Lone Ranger will get you shot.  You must have Tonto.

Here is another question, If you feel like you are hearing from the Lord about a job and your wife says “I don’t feel good about that job I don’t trust them.”  Do you still take the job?  If your spouse says, I feel like the Lord is telling us to move, what do you do?  I think the first thing you do is pray about it.  Pray together and separately but pray.  So what happens if you are hearing stay and your wife is hearing move.  Who is hearing the Lord?  Maybe you both are.

One more scenario:  If you feel like you are hearing the Lord and you speak with your spouse about it and she does not agree with you and you go ahead and do it anyway ........... what is that?   If the decision you made without your spouses approval is going south  .........   why do you suppose that is?

Here is what I know for me.  My wife and I must be in agreement.  I talk to her all the time about my clients.  If she gets a bad feeling about an estimate that I am doing then we talk about it and if I need to  then we cut them loose.  We always collaborate on everything.  We do our best to be in agreement or to live as one flesh.

So hear is another view  (I have written about this before)  Widows and orphans.  If you don’t listen to your spouse,   could you be making him or her a widow in your home?  It is my opinion that if you are in agreement with your spouse then you are ministering to her.

 How many times as men, especially those of us who are married are so quick to minister outside of our home before we minister inside our home.  Holy Spirit showed me through a man that I was making my wife and my children widows and orphans in my own home.  I said that is ridiculous I am alive!    He said “I understand that”  “here is what I mean; you are always doing outside of your home …. Church, men’s group, Serving on Quest, Helping other people, but when it comes to your family, they get the crumbs or they do not get anything from you.  Well that did not sit well with me …… again.  As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another.  A couple of nights went by and I was sitting at the table and my wife was helping me with memorizing this passage.  I told her what I just shared with you and said “are you a widow in this home?”  She looked at me and said without blinking an eye.  Yes I am pretty much a widow.  Then she said, “I never get the minister voice that I hear you speak to other men on the phone,   I want you to talk to me that way and you never do.  It was a sad day for me but a good day.  Now I look for opportunities to minister to my wife.  

So basically to me what verse 26 means is if you don’t minister in side of your home then what you do outside of your home is worthless  ( doesn’t taste good)

Verse 27 means minister to your family then you will be pure and unblemished in the sight of God and there will be not a widow or any orphans in your home (taste really good)

James 1:26 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).

27 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.

Are you a Thief?

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 

So I am having a conversation with a friend of mine yesterday and I hear something that I just have to share.  He was telling me a story of a conversation he had with a friend of his about being robbed.  Not in the way that you are probably thinking.  We all do it …….. We steal from our brother or sister.  You think …. What does that look like?  Simple,   the scenario goes like this.   You sin and you keep it to yourself.  (You’re only as sick as your secrets)  You meet with your brother and he says, how are you doing is something wrong?  You say, nothing is wrong we are all good (poser) what you have done is several things.  You have robbed your brother of the opportunity to bless you with his ear or bless you with comfort or bless you with wisdom.  Most of all you have robbed him of the opportunity to pray for you so you may be healed.    Get the picture?  By keeping your stuff to yourself you have In essence stole from your friend and gave to the enemy.  You have given the enemy something that he can hold over your head.  Wouldn’t you rather steal from the enemy and give to your brother?

So confess!  Pray! Be healed!  Allow your friend to bless you,   don’t steal from him.

James 5:16-18 Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

 

Hebrews 11:29

Hebrews 11:29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

I read three chapters this morning before I got to this and It made me pause.  It made me think of what my Red Sea is ….. what is coming.  As I ponder this passage over and over I see my enemies drowning as I walk through my Red Sea….. whatever that may be.   I have a bunch of work coming a lot of work ……. this will be my busiest summer ever.  It will take lots of careful planning.    Maybe this is my Red Sea?  It is uncharted territory.  You don’t know what is under the water until after it has been parted.

So it is about faith …. Do you / me have the faith that you need to walk into the Red Sea when the Lord parts the waters?  When the waters do part are you going to stand there and pray and ask God shall I walk through the parted waters? 

The sea parts …….. the door has been opened for you to walk through and your enemies are coming …. Don’t hesitate …….walk.

Be Blessed

He did evil

He did evil

2 Chronicles 12:14 He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.

I had to pause when I got to this scripture.  All kinds of things ran through my mind.  It is a choice.  I would like to think that I set my heart on seeking the Lord.  There are days when I make bad choices.  The majority of the days are good choices.  Yesterday was a good choice.

Galatians 6:7 do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Yesterday afternoon I was in a battle and I had to make a choice.  My choice was to seek the heart of the Lord.  And that heart was in a phone call and a text message for prayer.  Within one minute I had received 6 text messages and one phone call and got instant peace.

I made the right choice.  I did not do evil because I had set my heart on seeking the Lord.

I say “YES” today

Pray without ceasing

God will hold to our account the souls that have gone uncured, unhealed, and untouched by Jesus Christ because we have refused to keep our souls open to him.  He will reprove us for the times we were not ready to present the Lord Jesus Christ to them by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Yet, we deal with some people at great length without seeing any results; and we are tempted to quit trying.                          Let us never despair of any soul under heaven.  If you have a chronic case (by “chronic case,” I mean someone who is always coming to the same place spiritually and never getting anywhere—always coming forward at the alter call but getting nowhere),  thank God for that one.                                                                                  .              I have found out that God uses those chronic seekers to educate me.  If they will keep chronic long enough, the Lord will be able to manifest His patience with me as He never could otherwise.  And, all of a sudden, these souls come into the light.  Praise God!  Oswald.

1^st Thessalonians 5:16 rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

I came across this yesterday as I was moving some books around.  It just nailed me.  What caught me was what I had written at the top of the page. “OMG this is strong …. Never give up!”  So I read and it made me think of certain people that I have given up on because they are stuck.  They are not moving fast enough in the direction I want them to go.  (Closer to Jesus)  Then I have to remember all those who did not give up on me when I was stuck.  Thank you Lord.  Do you have someone like this in your life?  Maybe it is your spouse or child? 

So today I am also reading in today’s devotion which coincides with what I read yesterday.

Our thinking about prayer, whether right or wrong is based on our own mental conception of it. The correct concept is to think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts. Our blood flows and our breathing continues “without ceasing”; we are not even conscious of it, but it never stops. And we are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect oneness with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise; it is the life of the saint. Beware of anything that stops the offering up of prayer. “Pray without ceasing . . .”— maintain the childlike habit of offering up prayer in your heart to God all the time.

Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer. He had the unlimited certainty of knowing that prayer is always answered. Do we have through the Spirit of God that inexpressible certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when it seemed that God did not answer our prayer? Jesus said, “. . . everyone who asks receives . . .” (Matthew 7:8). Yet we say, “But . . . , but . . . .” God answers prayer in the best way— not just sometimes, but every time. However, the evidence of the answer in the area we want it may not always immediately follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer?                                       .              The danger we have is that we want to water down what Jesus said to make it mean something that aligns with our common sense. But if it were only common sense, what He said would not even be worthwhile. The things Jesus taught about prayer are supernatural truths He reveals to us.. Oswald

So for myself I am thinking that I don’t pray enough.  Have an Awesome day today and have peace in your heart!

John 17

. . that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us . . . —John 17:21

If you are going through a time of isolation, seemingly all alone, read John 17 . It will explain exactly why you are where you are— because Jesus has prayed that you “may be one” with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life? Since you became a disciple, you cannot be as independent as you used to be.

God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. Yet there is one prayer which God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22). Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?

God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?” No, He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way. The things that happen either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on our relationship with God and its level of intimacy. If we will pray, regarding our own lives, “Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best. When we understand God’s purpose, we will not become small-minded and cynical. Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself, just as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far from this oneness; yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him— because Jesus prayed, “. . . that they all may be one . . . .”

I keep hearing in my Spirit where Jesus says “I tell you the truth,  anyone who obeys my teaching will never die”.   Pray the way Jesus prayed in John 17.

Oswald poses a question in the beginning of the devo.  He says, “Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life? 

This question has really caused me to think.

Prayer is not about getting things it is about refining your relationship with Jesus so you can become one with Him.

I found comfort in this Psalm this morning and I just wanted to share.

As I read over again I see choices.

Psalm 91

¹ Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
³ For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
⁵ Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
⁶ Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
⁷ Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
⁸ Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.

⁹ If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
¹⁰ no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
¹¹ For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
¹² They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
¹³ You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

¹⁴ The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
¹⁵ When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
¹⁶ I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

Roots by the stream

Jeremiah 17:8  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. In essence, Jesus was saying, “Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me.” In other words, pay attention to the Source, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” OC

 Psalm 1:3  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-- whatever they do prospers.

I am reading this and wondering just how deep are my roots?  As I read the devo this morning it made me wonder do I focus more on Jesus or more on the things I feel will help  me get closer to Jesus.  I woke this morning thinking “yes”  I will do what you say.  Let people see Jesus with skin on.  I have noticed lately that I have been having anger issues.  It is hard to be Jesus with skin on and have anger issues at the same time.  I know my roots are deep but I think they need to be deeper.

Be blessed today and walk in your freedom!

Love Today

………………………………………“The Lord . . . is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish . . .” (2 Peter 3:9). I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way. I may get irritated because I have to live with an unusually difficult person. But just think how disagreeable I have been with God! Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through me? Neither natural love nor God’s divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline.  Oswald Chambers

John 15:12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Romans 2:4 – “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

I have been silent for a while, but not because I have been in a bad place.   I have been given stuff just for me.  This morning I woke to hear “YES” Lord!  I was excited to get out of bed.  Sometimes I just have to be reminded.  The other thing was this mornings devotion.  It really struck me.  The last couple of weeks at night I have been prayer walking out in my driveway.  Every night one of the things I do is repent.  Sometimes I repent for sin I have committed that I don’t even remember,  I just want to have a clean slate when I go to bed.  I have been sleeping very well.

The last thing I want to say Is “I want to love people the same way He loves me and I find that difficult many times”  I am working on that.

Peace today for you.

  I  wanted to reflect on yesterday on what I wrote.  I want to clarify something,  I am NOT a sinner saved by grace but I am a righteous man of God who has been called and commissioned, Anointed and appointed, blessed and Highly favored. 

2 Cor. 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

I am a son of the Most High God.

 I feel  like what I was trying to say yesterday was more along the lines of …….  The importance of being in the word.

As I listened to this song this morning. I had an overwhelming presence of His love like I have never felt before. Very Awesome.

Seems like all I can see was the struggle

Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past

Bound up in shackles of all my failures

Wondering how long is this gonna last

Then you look at this prisoner and say to me

son “stop fighting a fight that's already been won"

 

I am redeemed, you set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain

Now I'm not who I used to be

I am redeemed... I'm redeemed

 

All my life I have been called unworthy

Named by the voice of my shame and regret

But when I hear you whisper "child lift up your head"

I remember oh God you're not done with me yet

 

I am redeemed, you set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain

Now I'm not who I used to be

 

Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me

'cause his day is long dead and gone because

I've got a new name, a new life I'm not the same

and a hope that will carry me home

 

I am redeemed, you set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains and

Wipe away every stain

Now I'm not who I used to be

 

I am redeemed you set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains and

And wipe away every stain

Now I'm not who I used to be

Oh God I'm not who I used to be

Jesus I'm not who I used to be

 

'Cause I am redeemed

Thank God redeemed

 

 

Psalm 81

Psalm 119:20 my soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.

Psalm 81.10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt.  Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

I read this passage and it makes me wonder just how open my mouth is?   I think sometimes it is just closed completely and that is not who I am.  I have to remind myself who God is …. Someone who loves me in spite of all the crap that I have.  That I am a sinner and I miss God’s ways constantly.  I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and will make more if I am not in constant communion with Him.  The word of God is here for a reason  …. To help me to be a better son.   To give me an avenue to hear Him.   I must stay in contact with the Lord, Jesus and the Holy Spirit all the time.

What is the best way to do that?  Scripture is very clear …….  Joshua 1.8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

Lord, I ask for a thirst and hunger that would surpass anything I have felt before.  My mouth is open wide to receive all that you have for me.  I am redeemed and you set me free.  I am not who I used to be.  In Jesus name

 

Be blessed today and walk as Son’s and Daughters of the King

Washing Feet

John 13:14 and since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.

Washing someone’s feet is such a simple thing, yet so powerful.  I think many times we hear “wash his feet and we choose not to for some reason or another.”  It is not about washing feet though is it?  It is about serving,  it is about Loving one another.

I was reading this morning and came across a quote that just froze me.  The quote said this, “It’s the simple things, like carrying my child to bed---- his sweaty little mane of hair resting on my shoulder.  His entire life leans on mine.  I am moved by that truth like no other.” 

When was the last time I relied on Jesus in that way?  It is really not that hard we just make it that hard

Bless you today!

1 Cor. 10:13

I thought this morning’s devotion was really good and it made me think so I wanted to share it.

Kevin

Who Said It … Perry Noble

What he Said … A Misguided and Damaging Belief

Having served in ministry for more than two decades, I've seen a common idea that simply isn't true dominate the landscape of the church. And in my opinion, it's one of the most damaging beliefs a Christian can hold.  Here's the false idea: "God will never give you more than you can handle.  "I suspect we've all had this concept pitched to us at some point as one of the key principles of the faith. We've heard it from the lips of other Christians; we've read books about it; we've seen the phrase on bumper stickers. But I'm telling you, it simply doesn't ring true—from the standpoint of human experience or from God's Word. When we buy into this false idea, it only leaves us confused, frustrated, and angry.  The truth is, God often allows us to face more than we can handle. But it's not because he's cruel or heartless. It's so we'll stop trying to live life on our own strength and learn to depend on his.

I have heard this spoken to me and it makes perfect since.  If He doesn’t give us more than we can handle then we won’t rely on Him.  I think this thought comes from the passage 1 Cor. 10:13 the first scripture I ever memorized

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

So remember when you are going through the trial to count it all joy and rely on Him and not yourself.

So when you are tempted do you rely on Him or yourself?

When you are going through the trial are you relying on Him or yourself? 

Are you in control or have you relinquished control?

Bless you today

The condition of your heart

Luke 6:43 "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
So if your friends and family had nothing to eat but the fruit that you produced. Would they be full, hungry or starving? What about your enemies?
I hate the thought that comes after I say something, (did I just say that?) You know what I mean …. When you read someone the right act on the phone that can't or will never see you.
The flip side to the above statement is this, I love it when I say something and someone smiles and says thank you.
I have heard that the words from your mouth reflect the condition of your heart. So today be aware of your words. Are they full of life or death?
How is your heart today?

Character

When Paul received his sight, he also received spiritual insight into the Person of Jesus Christ. His entire life and preaching from that point on were totally consumed with nothing but Jesus Christ— "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul never again allowed anything to attract and hold the attention of his mind and soul except the face of Jesus Christ. We must learn to maintain a strong degree of character in our lives, even to the level that has been revealed in our vision of Jesus Christ. ……………………………………………………………………… Oswald.

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

What is Vision? 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.

What is character? There are two kinds of character I feel. There is what you have when you are around people and then there is the character that you have when no one is around. They need to both be the same, are they?

Are you consumed with nothing but Jesus? I can tell you for me and I am not always consumed, I want to be! I want to be passionate about Jesus not just know him.

I have work to do.

Have an AWESOME day today

Know the Sacrifice

 

Behind the tattered robe,

Is the greatest story ever told.

What He did for man,

Some people will never understand.

 

Those that do,

Know the Sacrifice.

Your blood dripped from the Cross.

It will never be lost.

 

It is captured forever.

Through the end of time.

It will wash the sin away.

No longer will we be held at bay.

 

"Lord why have you forsaken me?"

"My Son, it is meant to be.

We must cleanse the Earth of sin."

"My Son, sacrifice your self, it is time to check in."

 

His cries were heard through out the Land.

His death allows us to make a stand.

Glory to the man who saves us.

Glory to our Lord Jesus.

 

Never could I imagine the suffering.

The Pain that You felt

The blood running into your eyes,

It crushes my heart . . . . . . . makes me cry.

 

Looking to the Heavens

You were so helpless.

Knowing you were going to die.

Yet, you did not fight back.

 

You were on the cross

Your spirit not broken.

Your Father has spoken.

"You are not lost."

 

"My Son, come be with me.

That is the prophecy.

That is what is meant to be,

You will be my legacy."

 

By Kevin Gwyn @ prayer vigil 3/26/2002 ÓCopyrighted 03/29/2002

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.

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

Pure in Heart

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God —Matthew 5:8

………………………………………..God makes us pure by an act of His sovereign grace, but we still have something that we must carefully watch. It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. Not only must our "inner sanctuary" be kept right with God, but also the "outer courts" must be brought into perfect harmony with the purity God gives us through His grace. Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our "outer court" is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us.

A practical help in keeping your personal purity unblemished in your relations with other people is to begin to see them as God does. Say to yourself, "That man or that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend or that relative is perfect in Christ Jesus!" O. Chambers

That the last part may be difficult at times for me. To see God as He sees them can often be a daunting task. Lord give me strength and vision to see all people the way your Son saw them when He was on the cross. Amen

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6.33

Content?

He must increase, but I must decrease —John 3:30 NKJ

I get up this morning feeling I am supposed to write. So I began to read and read. I read some thing's over and over. The first thing I read this morning was Oswald. The first thing I see is John 3:30 can't tell you how many times I have read that. So that wasn't it. So I read all of John 3 then I go to Philippians 4 (that is what I heard) The I go back to the devotion and John 3:30 leaps of the page and then it comes together. I hear Holy Spirit say "that is your problem" to be content I have to increase in your life!

Philippians 4:11 Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. 12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. AMP

Sometimes it is so simple and we make it difficult. I can tell you for me when I am wrestling with the darkness, I am not content and I don't have peace. Today I have peace. Amen!

The last few days I have been chewing on this quote. We are only what we are in the dark; all the rest is reputation. What God looks at is what we are in the dark—the imaginations of our minds; the thoughts of our heart; the habits of our bodies; these are the things that mark us in God's sight. Oswald Chambers

 

The Mountain top

This is part of Oswald Chamber's Devotion this morning. ……………………………….The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles' wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:31). It is not even a question of the holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road. It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith—a faith, tested and true, built on the true God. "Abraham believed God. . ."

3 For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." 7 "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. 8 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin." . When I read this I can't help but think of all of the men and women that have gone through Quest and Heart Quest. All of the men and women who continue to walk in there healing. Sometimes you just have to go to a place where you can receive and NOT have to give. You have to go to a place where a table has been set and all you have to do is pull up a chair and eat. A place where you can have an encounter with the Living God! These last 70 days have been a whirlwind for me. I have been in 70 days of prep work and serving on back to back Quest. What I got to be a part of is something I will never forget. Thank You Jesus for giving me the privilege of walking with all of these men

Now you understand what I meant when I would say

"Radical obedience ALWAYS precedes the miraculous."    

Thank you for receiving all that the Lord has for you.

Kevin

You a stumbling block?

2 Corinthians 6

³ We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. ⁴ In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.

You never know who is watching besides the Lord. Just praying over your lunch at a restaurant could be all that someone needs.

Road rage with a Jesus sticker on your vehicle maybe the straw that breaks the camel's back for someone else.

Just some thoughts for the day while you are driving.

 

Remember

Hebrews 10:32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

 

I don't know that there is anything I can add to this. I think sometimes we forget and just need to be reminded.

Have a great week and may you find favor in then Lord

The little dog part 4

The Little dog part 4.

I digressed; I went downhill in 2012 with my dog. Without me realizing I resorted back to some old behaviors and before I knew it she was acting all weird again. I was done; I wanted to get rid of her. I could not see that it was me again! (WHEN DOES A DECIEVED PERSON KNOW HE IS DECIEVED?) What I mean is I called one of my customers who rescues pets and told her I give! I am getting rid of her. That was back in late October. She made a suggestion that I call her trainer so I did. The trainer made two suggestions to me. So right then I had a choice to make. How bad do I want this relationship restored? For me I was very skeptical of the suggestions. I thought I knew better (Pride WHAT COULD THIS PERSON TELL ME THAT I DON'T ALREADY KNOW? I HAVE TRAINED DOGS BEFORE!!! ) within three days of doing what the trainer said to do I made major progress with Pin Pin. Now she sits when I tell her to sit. She stays when I tell her to stay. Eats when I tell her to eat. I can put food on her nose and she will not eat it until I say eat! It is really very amazing. My dog loves me! "Pin Pin" that is what I call her now is my dog. She follows me everywhere. She obeys me when I give her commands. I think for me it is all about having a teachable spirit.

The truth is I could have gone to many people about this problem and I have before, but this time I spoke to someone who knew what they were talking about, but I still had reservations. I thought "what is the worst thing that could happen? I almost felt like Holy Spirit was giving me direction and I listened.

So in this story the dog trainer was the Holy Spirit and I listened to her instruction instead of getting advice from every Tom, Dick and Harry or Sally. So many times we as men or women seek what we think as Godly counsel when In fact we are looking for someone to agree with our pain so we can justify it. I you speak to enough people you will get 50/50 answers. What we need to do is seek Holy Spirit and listen and when he tells us something we don't want to hear, something that may actually wound us, then know it is for our own good. The worst thing to do is go around and tell a bunch of people this is what the Lord told me. So some can say ….. "I am not so sure that was the Lord" that creates doubt.

Listen to Holy Spirit. You know His voice and then trust what you are hearing. I am not saying don't check what you are hearing. I am saying don't check with 15 people just check with 1 or 2

This is what the Lord says: Jeremiah 17:5 "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, (OR THEMSELVES I added this part because that is what the Lord showed me one day) who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. 6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.