Can you hear Him?

So now that I have had confession with my wife and I am off the crutches, my walk with the Lord seems to be on the rise again. I am not sure I like that … I mean I hate the thought that my walk with the Lord depends on my attitude instead of spending time with Him to help me with my attitude. So…. I am reading this morning in Mark and before I read I always pray and ask for something I can write about. As you can see I don't write every day. My devotion this morning was out of Oswald and I thought it was the 7^th so that is what I read … this is a quote "Say nothing until the Son of man is risen in you—until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you understand what the historic Christ taught. When you get to the right state on the inside, the word which Jesus has spoken is so plain that you are amazed you did not see it before. You could not understand it before; you were not in the place in disposition where it could be borne. This explains a lot of things, have you ever noticed when you make yourself read the word a lot of times you don't get anything? It is a common thing. So the big question or one of the questions this morning is this; Are you being dominated by the Risen Lord or is something else dominating you? So here is the second part verse 49 out of Mark says
…………………………………….."Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you."NASB95. Are you in the frame of mind to hear Him when He is calling you?

 

Who do you obey?

^26 But ^gthe ⁷Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will ^hsend in My name, ⁱHe will teach you all things, and bring to your ^jremembrance all things that I said to you. John 14-17 are 4 chapters of the Gospels that are my favorites. So it was no surprise this morning when I woke to here John 14. So I read and it really spoke to me. You hear the Holy Spirit … I hear the Holy Spirit. So you can do like I did and hear Him and disobey for two months or hear Him and obey. After my confession I have had a huge burden lifted off my shoulders. I wish I had obeyed sooner. So what is Holy Spirit telling you or better yet, what has He told you to do? and you deliberately disobeyed Him? What I mean is … You heard Him and you know you heard Him and you just turned your back on Him. That is what I did and it did not work well for me.

 

I can remember growing up and my father telling me. (17yrs old) "Son, when you go down to Dallas for that concert, do not do anything to get thrown in jail," "Okay dad no problem." The consequences of the sin are bigger than the sin itself. I got thrown in jail.
When I got home I was disciplined. My vehicle was taken away and I was grounded for six weeks. I didn't have a cell phone or they would have taken that as well. My point is if you choose to walk in disobedience then you better be ready for the discipline. He disciplines those He loves and He loves you.

Confession

Confession is good for the Soul. Anyone read James lately? I have not but I know what He says about confessing and being healed. James 5:16
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.The Message. Over the last two to three months, )not sure how long actually )I have felt that I needed to confess some particular things to my wife. Things that only the men I walk with know about. Evil things! I listened to a message the other day by Robert Morris on Pride and Purity. Lets just say that those messages hit my about as hard as I hit the concrete 8 weeks ago today. So Sunday night I confessed to my wife and I am on my way back up the mountain. My attitude has changed, My outlook has changed and the way I see my wife has changed. Sometimes it is the smallest things in life that have the biggest results. So my question is this…….. do you have anything you need to confess and who do you need to confess it too besides the Lord?

3.00 in the morning

I fought it this morning. I woke up at three this morning knowing it was the Lord ….. I lay in bed. 3.30 I lost that battle and got up and went and set at my computer and still fought it. I DID NOT WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU THIS MORNING!!!. I uploaded more pictures to my website still fighting that pull I was feeling in my gut. I hear John 17 so I read, but it was John 18 that nailed me where Jesus says Shall I not drink from this cup of suffering the Father has given me? Now I know the Lord did not break my leg, but I also know that He could have immediately healed me right then and there if He had wanted too. So I just have to wonder what exactly was or is going on. So I chewed on that for a minute or two and then this one came to me. Hebrew 12:3-5
When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. The Message. Can I tell you …. I don't really believe in the last 7 ½ weeks that I have gone over the story of Jesus in my mind once. Many people have asked me this question to the point where I am sick of hearing it. What do you think the Lord is trying to show you? My response has been "Hell I don't know" and I probably won't know for a couple of months or maybe even years, but I am sure I will see it sometime. It has been really hard the last couple of weeks to understand just exactly what is happening? I have lost a bathroom remodel and a kitchen remodel because my leg was broken. The kitchen remodel was my job, but they decided without talking to me that I could not do the job and I am a general contractor. So they hired someone else. They approached me first and didn't even give me a chance. That hurt deeply. I have also been working on a $41000, 00 addition estimate I got it all done and when I am ready to present the numbers (and it is looking really good that I am going to get this job) She has a stroke and they find out she has leukemia and now they are giving her less than a year to live. So that job is dead at least for now. So …. What is God trying to show me? Hmmm

So I ask, Lord I just bleed all over the place how can I end this? Immediately these passages come to me. Proverbs 3:5-7
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.AMP

 

A Great Reply

A great reply to my post

Great questions to ask. I would guess that many of us are like you - I know I am. Here is what Daddy is telling me. #1 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial... you know the verse. #2 and I'm not sure I like this but He said it so I know it is true. How deep do my roots go? When the winds blow hard, am I uprooted or will I bend but not be uprooted? How will I know if I see Him as a Sugar Daddy if I don't ever experience tough times? Ouch, that hurts for me because I have two times of the year for contracts and I am in the middle of one of them. Yesterday, I find out a contract I have had since 2002 was beat by 40%. That stinks - who is my provider? Is Daddy good in my mind as long as all my contracts come back or as long I am healthy? Daddy, I confess that I have not trusted in you but have trusted in myself. I repent of my sin and ask you to forgive me. I thank you that you are a good Daddy and that you don't always give me what I want , but you always give me what I need ( even if it is a little kick in the pants ) . Kee, thanks for being open and honest - you inspire me. Thank you for being my friend! Iron sharpens Iron. Blessings, Chuck

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Philippians 4

Hello everyone, it has been five weeks and a couple of days since I broke my leg. I have at least two more full weeks on crutches or more. It all depends on what the doctor says and how it heals. I have been fairly busy the last two weeks with a couple of big remodel estimates I am putting together. I am writing because I have noticed something. My relationship with the Lord the day before I broke my leg was about a nine. I was spending time in the word and praying and doing what I felt the Lord was having me do. I was Excited about getting up in the morning to see what he has for me. I have noticed … especially the last couple of weeks that I have no fire …. No desire. I get up in the morning and have to make myself get in the word or pray. You would think with all this time I have had that I would be getting closer or hearing better, that has not been the case in fact it has been the opposite So the question I have for myself is this. Does my walk and how close I am to the Lord in direct relation to my circumstances in my life. That is how it appears right at this moment. I really hate to think that my walk with the Lord has anything to do with my circumstances. AS I have typed this He brought this passage to me.

11 Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be l 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. 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]

Philippians 4

Roman’s and Ephesians

Romans 6:23 (NIV) ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life In Christ Jesus our Lord. I am driving down the road yesterday with a good friend of mine and we are having good conversation. Out of the blue I dropped an f bomb …… just one. I was floored and embarrassed. I don't talk that way. I have heard the phrase "out of the mouth the heart speaks" Yeah……. That tasted real good. I have found myself lately dropping a few S!&* bombs in casual conversation with other believers …. Men I respect. Of course I would never curse in front of someone who didn't know me. (I wouldn't want to damage my witness would I?) Even in my men's group we will have some curse words fly around casually. Really makes me wonder about the other sin in my life. I would never say the Lord's name in vain, but in a way isn't that what we are doing when we curse? Are we thinking ……. Oh that curse word was just a little sin. What does the word say? ^8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 john 1.8 NKJ How many times did you sin yesterday? Better yet ….. how many times have you sinned today before you read this devo? Did you curse yesterday? Did you think bad things about the person who cut you off or the person who wouldn't let you in? Were you prideful? Were you judgmental? This is just a small list of what I did yesterday that I didn't confess and get prayed over to be healed. I am sure if I asked the Holy Spirit I would have more revealed to me. Here is the good news. Ephesians 2 4-6 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, NASB

Forgiveness

Who have you not forgiven today? Stop right now and ask Holy Spirit, is there anyone who I hold unforgiveness towards? What name comes to mind right now? That is the name that causes great pain, hurt, anger, resentment, hatred or all of the above in your heart. You may even say "Lord I forgave that person a long time ago" Maybe you cannot even say this person's name. I would venture to say that if the Lord brought that name up that you have not forgiven that person yet, because if you had then the Lord would not have brought that name up ……. Right? So praise God that He did bring a name up and Praise God that He didn't bring a name up.

25 "And whenever you stand praying, qif you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 4But rif you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:25-26 NJKV Matthew 18:34-35 (NKJV)34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother 7his trespasses."

Here is the part that really gets me. If you do not forgive …… You will be turned over to the tormentors. So how does that taste?

Mark 11:25 (NLT)25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.*" 21 Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone* who sins against me? Seven times?" 22 "No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!* 18:21-22 NLT That is 490 times if you did that in one day, you would forgive that person every 2.9 minutes over twenty four hours. In one year you would have to forgive that person 1.3 times per day. So forgiveness is a process. Some can forgive immediately and some it takes a while, but you must do it.

Eyes open to the spirit

Decided to read Oswald today, it seems to me that there is a re-accruing theme, and I need to take notice. As I think back over the last three and a half weeks, I have tried to focus on the Lord, but my focus has been elsewhere. I have said it before … going through the motions …. Punching my ticket. You know what I mean. I prayed for 10 minutes and I read for 10 minutes and then I can say I did my quiet time. Have you been there? That always seems to happen when you don't have any vision and no enthusiasm. This is something I have definitely been lacking in. I wake up in the morning and sometimes wonder when I say "yes" do I really mean it? My prayer…. "Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the Risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to damp you." 2 Corinthians 6:3-4 (NLT)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.

It takes Almighty grace to take the next step when there is no vision and no spectator - the next step in devotion, the next step in your study, in your reading, in your kitchen; the next step in your duty, when there is no vision from God, no enthusiasm and no spectator. It takes far more of the grace of God, far more conscious drawing upon God to take that step, than it does to preach the Gospel.

Every Christian has to partake of what was the essence of the Incarnation; he must bring the thing down into flesh and blood actualities and work it out through the finger tips. We flag when there is no vision, no uplift, but just the common round, the trivial task. The thing that tells in the long run for God and for men is the steady persevering work in the unseen, and the only way to keep the life uncrushed is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the Risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to damp you. Continually get away from pettiness and paltriness of mind and thought out into the thirteenth chapter of St. John's Gospel. Oswald Chambers

Count it all joy

So with the Spirit's work: if it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we should not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we should not know how firm and secure it was. The master works of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, steadfast, unmovable, -- Spurgeon it has been an interesting ride …. A sort of test you might say, James says to count it all joy…. He does not say count part of it all joy!

He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts are many. If then, yours be a much tried path, rejoice in it, because you will the better show forth the all sufficient grace of God. As for his failing you, never dream of it--hate the thought. The God, who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end. Spurgeon This is what spoke to me Friday. This the first time I had read in this devo in over a year just nailed me.

"Lovest thou Me?" Then - "Feed My sheep." There is no choice of service, only absolute loyalty to Our Lord's commission; loyalty to what you discern when you are in closest contact with God. Oswald Chambers This is what spoke to me Saturday. As I think about this statement it has dawned on me that He has been speaking ….. I have chosen not to listen or told myself that it was me. I know better than that. I know the Lord's voice …… His whisper. You have to stop for a moment and just listen. I would be lying if I said, I haven't had a "whoa as me attitude. " It is getting better though. Could it be a good thing that I broke my leg? That is a tough one. Could it be a good thing that you lost your job? Or can't find work? Only time will tell. Time to make a choice

James 1:2-4 (NKJV)² My brethren, ^bcount it all joy ^cwhen you fall into various trials, ^3
dknowing that the testing of your faith produces ¹patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be ²perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Psalm 5

It has been three weeks since I broke my leg. My life, my daily routine has been completely shaken up and I don't like it. Yesterday, I was complaining to the lord about all of this mess and I hear "what if you had lost your leg completely then how would you be?" The first thing that came to mind was I would be pissed and then thinking about all of the things I wouldn't get to do. That really put things in perspective. I really have it pretty good compared to a lot of people who are suffering through whatever circumstance they are in. I have to say that right now I feel somewhat disconnected from the Lord. Every day I pray, but I feel my heart is not in it. I spend time in the word but feel disconnected from Him. I know that He says "draw near to me and I will draw near to you." This is absolutely true; I think I am just going through the motions. (I really hate that phrase) Below is a quote that really resonated in my spirit this morning along with the passage from Psalm 5:2-3 (NLT)

²      Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,

for I pray to no one but you.

³      Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.

Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

God wants us to stop understanding in the way we have understood and get into the place He wants us to get into, i.e., He wants us to know how to rely on Him. Oswald Chambers

So as I was writing this, I hear this passage in my mind "you were running the race so well, who stopped you? Here is what it says in Galatians 5:7-8 (AMP)
7 You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth? 8 This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called you [Who invited you to freedom in Christ]. Now that I am processing everything that I have written, have realized that when I journal it slows me down long enough to hear what He is showing me. Thank You Jesus!

Have you slowed down long enough to listen to what He is saying to you? Are you journaling?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust

How many times do we forget what the Lord has spoken to us? I mean …… do you have an anxiety about what is going on in your life right now…… in the present, because you have forgotten the word He spoke to you in the past. He spoke to you in the past and you received peace and then life went on. Now … days or even months have gone by and the heat has been turned up and the Lord feels distant, almost like your prayers are not being answered, but they are … just not the way you want them to be answered. So here is what I say to that. I want you to be sure that the Lord will speak to you again at the right time and at the right place and you will hear Him clearly exactly what you need to hear and you will have peace again. Walk in what you know and in who you are ….. A Son of the most high God

Love is Patient

Well, this has been a long week and I have not been a good patient. Scripture says, 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. I have failed in the underlined areas …. Mainly with my wife. I want to be easy to live with not hard. Having surgery is one thing, at least I could walk. With a broken leg …….. That is a whole new ball game ……… everything has changed. My office is my couch, thank goodness I have a laptop. For the most part, my lifestyle has changed my character has been tested and it has not been pretty. I have to scratch my leg with a coat hanger. This morning was the first time I woke and said yes! My devo took me to Isaiah 60 20 Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. So it ends today and I make the best for what I have. Great friends and most important a Loving wife …. My Kelly. I thought today was the 19th only to figure out after my devo and writing that it was the 18th, but the Holy Spirit spoke to me anyway, Oswald Chambers day 19. Below just laid my wide open I did the emphasis

"Arise, shine." Isaiah 60:1

We have to take the first step as though there were no God. It is no use to wait for God to help us, He will not; but immediately we arise we find He is there. Whenever God inspires, the initiative is a moral one. We must do the thing and not lie like a log. If we will arise and shine, drudgery becomes divinely transfigured.

Drudgery is one of the finest touchstones of character there is. Drudgery is work that is very far removed from anything to do with the ideal - the utterly mean grubby things; and when we come in contact with them we know instantly whether or not we are spiritually real. Read John 13. We see there the Incarnate God doing the most desperate piece of drudgery, washing fishermen's feet, and He says - "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet." It requires the inspiration of God to go through drudgery with the light of God upon it. Some people do a certain thing and the way in which they do it hallows that thing for ever afterwards. It may be the most commonplace thing, but after we have seen them do it, it becomes different. When the Lord does a thing through us, He always transfigures it. Our Lord took on Him our human flesh and transfigured it, and it has become for every saint the temple of the Holy Ghost.

Exodus 14

I want to thank everyone for their calls and prayers over my ankle. It has been good as of late to have been in the word and in prayer on a fairly regular basis. Since I had the accident the other day I can still come to Him and not feel like I come to Him only when things are bad. So before I started my devo this morning I confessed to the Lord that I had fear that my ankle was broken. But I was going to stand on your promise that you are the great Healer and stand in agreement with every one that had been praying for me. This is the scripture that started off my devo this morning.

Exodus 14:13-14 But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. "The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent."NASB95

It is very interesting that I have ten jobs working, what I mean is I have ten jobs that I will be doing. I can't help but wonder if this forces me into more of a general contracting mode than being a worker man. General contacting is what I want to do. So here is my question for you? How is your relationship with the Lord? Do you come to Him on a regular basis or only when things are bad?

Who do you Love

I am reading a new book by the same Author Dr. James B Richards. He wrote "How to Stop the Pain" that I read back during the summer. This book is just as good. "We Still Kiss" is the name. I have been stuck on chapter five for three days now. It is titled "You can't give away what you don't have. I really don't know where to start …. So I will just say this. When you wake up in the morning do you make it a point to show love to everyone you come in contact with? Even that person at work that you cannot stand. You know the one. He got the promotion that you didn't think he deserved; you know what I am talking about. I could go on but you get the picture. Personally I have never actually thought about purposing in my heart to love someone that I didn't like. Quote from book: If you are inwardly experiencing something that makes you critical and faultfinding, it is not God and it is not love. If you are experiencing God, you will experience emotions of being love and accepted. When you are experiencing love, it is easy to give it to others. You are sharing with them from the overflow of your personal experience. The way you relate to the people around you is simply a reflection of what you are currently experiencing in your own heart.

1 John 4.12 when we love each other God lives in us, and his love with in us grows ever stronger. LB

You have to make a decision to know God's love, once you do that then you can give away what you have. Here is the truth …. You can't give away what you don't have. You don't have the luxury when you are a follower of Jesus to pick and choose who you are going to love, that includes yourself.

Blessing Your Spirit

This is the first devotion out of the book Blessing your Spirit by Arthur Blank and Sylvia Gunther.
I read it three years ago but felt it was time to read it again. Every devo is in the format below. The devo is 40 days

Psalm 139:16 ……………..Every day of my life was recorded in your book. …………NLT. This is what really struck me this morning as I read 139, this half a verse "my life was, it does not say my life is" It is talking past tense here. So read the devo this morning, put in your name and pray it out loud over your self

[Fill in your name],
I call your spirit to attention in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Listen with your spirit to God's Word for you. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be". - Psalm 139:13-16

Your Father made you special. You are a very special person, created and crafted and designed by God your Father. Before the foundation of the world, your Father planned for you. You are no accident. You did not have to exist, but your Father willed you into existence.

He chose the day and the time you would start your life. He chose your parents and wove you together in your mother´s womb. He planned your birth order and put you in your family. He chose every one of your 23 pair of chromosomes. He chose every one of your 10,00 plus genes. He chose every part of your spiritual heritage. Some parts are not so beautiful, and some parts are absolutely gorgeous. Yet your Father wove it all together an gave you everything you need in the package of your life to be an overcomer, a victor, to take the negative parts of you heritage and triumph over them, to walk in the beauty of all that God has placed within you. Your Father made you beautiful and beloved.

I bless you, because you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God invested an incredible amount of effort and concentration in designing you. You are unique, one of a kind. There in nobody else like you. God has thought extensively about you. Every detail of your body, every organ, and every cell is the result of God´s thoughts. Every facet of your personality is the result of His kind intention. You are beautiful, and you are beloved. God has blessed you with His love. God smiled on the day He created you. He had been waiting for millennia for the particular point in time when you were conceived. He had great joy in His heart when His plans actually came together. H nurtures your spirit; He watches over you. Your world needs you. You bring something to your family that no other person has. They need the gifts you bring. Your family would not be complete without you. Others in your circle need the deposit that God has placed in your life.

Your Father wrote your days in His book. He has already read the final chapter, although we have not had that privilege. Your life is not a random thing. He is looking forward to the chapters of the story He has already written. He designed your spiritual heritage. Your generational blessing go back a thousand generations. There is a spiritual treasure chest of generational blessings with your name on it. Those are being released to you incrementally over the course of your life at the appointed, appropriate time. All this is God´s master plan. God has foreseen your pain. He promises that because of His love, His power, and His blessing upon you, He causes pain and negative things to be transformed into good things before the end of the story of your life. We don´t know everything about who you are loved, you are a blessing to your family, and you are a life-giver in the world. You are special, and we celebrate God´s miraculous design of who you are. I bless you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

*****

This is an excerpt from the book Blessing Your Spirit

by Sylvia Gunter and Arthur Burk.

Clear Creek Home Improvements

Clear Creek Home Improvements

Phil 2.13

My devotion took me to Philippians 2 this morning and several things stuck out this morning, Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. NLT
This may sound weird, but last week the Lord showed me that I need to love my self, be okay with who I am and how he made me. Part of that is I have always not liked pictures of myself all the way back to my childhood. Yesterday I started a business Facebook page, I felt I needed to post a picture of myself (which I never had done before) on my profile. That was a big step in seeing me the way other people see me. Seeing myself the way God sees me and being okay with that.

So here are my questions for you, are you allowing God to work in you so you can do what pleases Him? Or are you doing it your way and feeling frustrated, are you okay with who you are? Did you say YES! This morning. I leave you with this prayer to pray over yourself from the book Blessing Your Spirit

You were designed by your Father to face problems and solve them, not just to escape them. The problems God has designed for you to solve will bring the greatest treasures in your life. I will be remembered for the problems I solved not the problems I created. I bless you with wisdom and pure joy when you face different kinds of problems. Whatever problem you face, I bless you with rejoicing in the situation, instead of complaining and turning back. I bless you with the faith to look at the problems through your Fathers eyes and realize that every problem that comes your way, brings you an opportunity to experience His faithfulness. I bless you with the joy of discovering the wisdom of God and the mind of Christ to solve your problems. I bless you in the name of Jesus.

The Quote

I heard a quote one day.

I woke up this morning with it on my mind.

 

The more you focus on who you are not;

The less you become who you are.

 

I think for me the more I focus on the one issue(I have other issues) that I have (lust and what comes with it) the bigger the issue it becomes.

What is it for You? I wrote this last week.

So here is the question … are you down in the pit or are you drawing near? Are you Passionate about Jesus or are you passionate about your misery?

 

 

Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.NASB95

Say Yes

Today I say "YES" Do you say yes? During my time this morning I was directed to Isaiah 42 and I asked "what do You have for me this morning" More confirmation is what I received...) The Lord likes to think big)... Isaiah 42:6 "I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, NASB95 A light to the nations? That is big …. My thought was a light to my friends and new friends and then I hear "why not the nations? Get out of the box!)
Isaiah 42:7
To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison.NASB95
This is what I do, to help men and women get free.
Isaiah 42:8
"I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.NASB95 There is the gold and silver … the images, brought up last week again. Isaiah 42:9 "Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."NASB95 New things … I like it and I believe it! Pray this passage over yourself today and say YES! Replace the you with your name.

Isaiah 42:6-9
"I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison. "I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. "Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."NASB95

Be Blessed today and be Free

Kevin

 

 

 

364 days ago

I was going through my blogs this morning when I read what I had posted 364 days ago. It was an eye opener. The Lord gave me a word this day and I did not follow through. The word fell on rock and the wind blew it away. Interesting what I wrote this morning and then I read this.

 

1/31/2010 I broke my fast last night, the Lord never gave me a set time to fast, but I got peace last night when I realized what was going on … a redirection. Here is what I know; the fast has reset my direction and my priorities. No diet …. Just eat right and exercise. No fast food that is the killer. Walk or ride a bike every day and lose 50 pounds. The lord has shown me that as the leader of my home that my wife will not follow suit until I get disciplined myself. My body is a temple and I am not doing a very good job at taking care of it. If I was a car I have not changed the oil in a year and have been filling up my tank with regular instead of premium.

Now to my time with the Lord this morning. I read in Oswald who took me to Romans 1, nothing jumped out at me so I continued to read on into chpt 2 Romans 2:5 but because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, NASB95

What is stubbornness? I would think that it is rebellion. 1 Samuel 15:23
for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king."NKJV Personally I do not want to walk in this. This was a major thumping for me as far as my eating goes, my lack of exercise, and my judgment of people. The whole morning was a major eye opener. The biggest thing by far is how I lead my wife spiritually and physically. Praying with her when the Lord says, instead of not doing it. Ministering to her the way I minister to men. Giving her the voice that I give men who are in need of ministry. That was what the Lord showed me two years ago when I when on Bushido. My life scripture was and still is 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). 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

To sum this up in the words of Richard Henderson and I quote "If you minister to men and women and not your family then what you are doing is making your wife and children the widow and orphan's in your own home" when I asked my wife is that was me she looked at me and said "Yep, that is pretty much you most of the time" I will never forget that. I still struggle in that area but not near as much. I am trying to find a balance. Now to the rest of the story. The passage below nailed me as well and to sum it up. I need to practice what I preach and now that I am a co – leader of a men's group at church this is more important than ever.

Romans 2:17-24
You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God's law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God's law gives you complete knowledge and truth. Well then, if you teach others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, "The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you." NLT

James 3:1
NOT MANY [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].AMP

 

Thanks for reading

Kevin

1 Samuel 3.10

1 Samuel 3:10 And the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.AMP A couple of things to note here, the Lord had been calling Samuel but Samuel did not know it was the Lord. He thought it was Eli. So it makes me wonder how many times does the Lord call us and we think it is someone else or maybe our own inner voice? I think deep down (now this is my opinion) we know it is the Lord speaking to us. How simple is it when you are fixing to do something and you hear a gentle whisper in your mind and it says "don't do that" So then what do you do? You have a choice you can click the mouse or not click, eat when you're not hungry or not, lie or not lie, you get the point, or better yet the Lord tells you to do something and you don't. I am writing this because this is right where I am right now. Ever since I wrote that prayer last Monday I have been hearing the Lord through scripture and through my morning devo's and today is not any different. Today's devo is about Eli and Samuel and it was just more confirmation. What I mean is …. What I am hearing, I know it is Him and so in this last week there has been no Eli in my life. Below is the devotion from Oswald Chambers

The dilemma of obedience

And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. 1 Samuel 3:15.

God seldom speaks to us in startling ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand, and we say, 'I wonder if that is God's voice?' Isaiah said that the Lord spake to him "with a strong hand," that is, by the pressure of circumstances. Nothing touches our lives but it is God Himself speaking. Do we discern His hand or only mere occurrence?

Get into the habit of saying, "Speak, Lord," and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press, say, "Speak, Lord"; make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline, it is meant to get me to the place of saying, "Speak, Lord." Recall the time when God did speak to you. Have you forgotten what He said? Was it Luke 11:13, or was it 1 Thess. 5:23? As we listen, our ear gets acute, and, like Jesus, we shall hear God all the time.

Shall I tell my 'Eli' what God has shown to me? That is where the dilemma of obedience comes in. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences—I must shield 'Eli', the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli; he had to decide that for himself. God's call to you may hurt your 'Eli'; but if you try to prevent the suffering in another life, it will prove an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own peril that you prevent the cutting off of the right hand or the plucking out of the eye.

Never ask the advice of another about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will nearly always side with Satan: "Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."

Favor

Woke up last night around 12.30 with those images of silver and gold floating around in my mind. It was not good. So I got up and prayed and took those thoughts …. Images captive. In my drug using days I would have said I had a using dream. Those were not good either. So I got out some journaling I did four years ago and I read. It was an eye opener and it is so simple, but we/I make it so hard sometimes

Obedience triggers the Fear of the Lord Obedience triggers Favor

I just had to sit there and pause. In fact after I was through pausing, I continued to read, but I could not get that out of my mind! I must have gone back to it seven or eight times. It was my handwriting but it was the Lord speaking. You want favor? You know what to do. Romans 6:17-18 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. NASB95

Psalm 119:58-59 I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be gracious to me according to Your word. I considered my ways And turned my feet to Your testimonies. NASB95

Psalm 51 10

When I woke this morning I immediately heard Psalm 51 and I thought to myself "I know that passage." So I got up and went through my routine and then set down to read. Have it already marked up so that was a distraction right from the start. It is just like hearing Gods voice over all the other sounds in your head. He will make a way and He did. So this passage jumped off the page at me. Psalm 51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. NKJV this whole week has been about climbing out of the pit that I fell into (because I was not watching Jesus) I cried out and He heard. I feel strong in His Spirit and protected. I feel verse 10 Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. This is how I feel today. So how did all this happen? Holy Spirit says in James. If you will draw near to me, I will draw near to you. It is that simple. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. The Message: So hear is the question … are you down in the pit or are you drawing near? Are you Passionate about Jesus or are you passionate about your misery?

Galatians 5

Galatians 5:13

For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another. AMP

Strong's: 1 a place from which a movement or attack is made, a base of operations.

Galatians 5:13

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. The Message

I can't help but wonder how many times I have destroyed my freedom by not listening to the whisper of the Lord. It is one thing to serve, but it is completely different if you are serving out of Love and not obligation. There have been many times I have used my freedom as an excuse for sinning because I know I am forgiven. If I understand what it is saying about opportunity … when I do this then I have opened up base camp in my heart for the attacks to come …. Or better yet my selfishness, judgment or whatever trips my / your trigger My Flesh!

It is a good day today and I am free

Isaiah 30

Isaiah 30:19-23

O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. And you will defile your graven images overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, "Be gone!" Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous; on that day your livestock will graze in a roomy pasture.NASB95
This just really rattled my cage this morning in a good way. The other morning I wrote in my journal that is in my drawer and one of the things that I wrote was "Lord I feel like I have already dealt with all my wounds" While I was typing that He interrupts this phrase with "No you haven't" I have to tell you that really pissed me off, but at the same time I am grateful that He corrected me. I have to say though that I angrily said "Yeah? Then what are they?" no answer to that one. So today I am reading and come to the above passage which speaks volumes to me in many ways. He hears my cry so He is going to answer. He will no longer hide Himself from me. My ears will hear the whisper of His voice. Today is the day to walk in victory.

So I think the big question is this ….. If you hear the whisper will you obey? In your life what are the images of silver and gold?

2 Timothy 2:20-21

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. NKJV

Luke 18.1

Luke 18:1
ALSO [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).AMP I can't help but wonder if every time I pray and I feel I don't get an answer means that I am closer to getting an answer? That is, if I continue to pray. Luke 18:7 and will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf?AMP I have to tell you as I battle lust and what comes with it, the bad eating habits and the judgment that I have. I don't pray like I should in fact there is part of me that wants to believe the lie that this is how it is going to be and I know that is Bull#$%. I can tell for me when I have skipped a day of praying and being in the word it shows. My wife and friends can tell when it has been more than a couple of days. Attitude starts to creep in and anger. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.KJV when you pray that is your armor. Doing this on my own does not work.

 

 

Nehemiah

I woke up this morning and I hurt, I hurt for myself. I lay in bed and I said Lord your word says that if I draw near to You, You will draw near to me. It is so easy to tell that to other people and believe it for them but not yourself. I got up walked in to my office and purposed myself not to turn on my computer and I prayed instead on my knees. Then I walked through my house and anointed my doors with oil and prayed more and then I sang to Him. I then sat down and read my devotion that took me to Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 9:19
"But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. NLT I have to wonder what I have been following lately? Sometimes there are places I go that I in a quiet way ask the Lord to stay outside. As I read on I come to Nehemiah 9:28
But as soon as they had it easy again they were right back at it—more evil. So you turned away and left them again to their fate, to the enemies who came right back. They cried out to you again; in your great compassion you heard and helped them again. This went on over and over and over. The Message
Once again he shows mercy, because that is who He is. I read further Nehemiah 9:31
Still, because of your great compassion, you didn't make a total end to them. You didn't walk out and leave them for good; yes, you are a God of grace and compassion. The Message

He shows mercy again. This is something I know, but the reason I wrote about this is because of what I wrote yesterday. (Luke 18.7 …………His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night ……..) This is what I received, You have to cry out to Him and pray until something happens and I pray, but sometimes I quit early or give up. It is a mindset and I have to reset my mind … a daily renewal. What I wrote today is just confermation of what I heard yesterday. Thank You Jesus

 

KG

Isaiah 30.21

Isaiah 30:21
your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.NASB95

I am reading in my devotion this morning and it is talking about God's whisper. The example the author is talking about is when he asked God one day "God, if there is something you would like me to do then please say so, it doesn't matter what it is I will do it." So I read this devotion and as soon as I am done I notice I am really hungry. So I got up to go to the kitchen and no sooner had I stood up did I hear the whisper. Really it wasn't a whisper it was loud in my mind. I hear "sit down and finish your time with Me" Can I say that I almost ignored what I heard and went to the kitchen to feed my face, but I didn't, I sat back down and this is what I got. I continued to read further and this is what I saw and heard. Isaiah 30:23 Then He will give you rain for the seed(God will give us words)
which you will sow in the ground……………………….., I find it very cool that the other day He has me write about Proverbs 18 about listening then He gives this to me today about God's whisper. If we don't slow down and let the other person speak and finish and listen. The one thing we could miss is our voice drowning out what Holy Spirit is trying to say. So here is the big question. How many times do I or we hear the whisper of God and choose to walk the other way, maybe even dismissing it thinking that "Oh … that wasn't God or whatever you tell yourself"

 

 

Proverbs 18.13

Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.NKJV

Proverbs 18:13
Answering before listening is both stupid and rude. The Message When I read this , I had to set and just wonder how many times (I don't do this all of the time) I have answered someone or told them what I thought … basically interrupting them…. Before they were through. It saddens me to think that I believe that my voice is more important than theirs. When I cut someone off in the middle of the conversation I feel I have already passed judgment on them because what I have to say is based on what I perceived that they are saying, but if I don't let them finish how will I know? I know there is a level of discernment but you still need to let them finish. If I have passed judgment then how can I love this person?

 

I want to become a model for people to follow not an expert who thinks he can fix people. That is not my job ………. To fix people. I have enough of Kevin to get fixed to last me a long time. Trying to fix someone else takes away time and energy that I could spend on hearing Holy Spirit for myself.

2 Chronicles 14

2 Chronicles 14:11
Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You."NASB95

Today put God between you and the enemy and get out of His way. Whatever difficulties that you are facing, you need to ask yourself. Am I in the way? Or am I out of the way? Reality is you might think you are out of the way when really you are right in the thick of it. 2 Chronicles 15:4 "But in their distress they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him.NASB95
So get out of the way and He will find you, draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.

Luke 2.11

Christ has come and this is a day to rejoice! Luke 2:11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.NASB95

Could you just for a moment imagine opening up your bible to find the last book in it was Malachi. No hope, no comfort and no salvation. Thank you Jesus that you are there in the world's most famous journal. As I reflect on the last few days. It has been tough post surgery. I have tried to stay focused on the prize and I would like to say the pain was too much. Then I have to think about what Jesus went through on the cross. My pain is nothing compared to what he went through. Here is what the message says... Hebrews 12:3-5 When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. The Message
I am very grateful, but it would be easy to feel sorry for myself. When I think about the five inch gash and the three in gash in my gut it pales in comparison to Jesus on the whipping post. To think, I have pain meds, Jesus did not.

I am supposed to go to Waco today, but I don't want to, because I hurt. So I have a choice, I can hurt at home or hurt there. Either way I am going to hurt. So I am going to Waco. I want to thank everyone for calling and checking up on me it has been overwhelming. I wish everyone A Merry and Joyful Christmas and a prosperous 2011.

Smile today they are contagious

Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."NASB95

 

 

Use me God

Ever heard the phrase "Use me God, Use me!"

I want to ask you a question. Would you ever "use your sons or daughters to get something done for yourself?"  That almost sounds selfish and that is not who God is. He is not self seeking, agreed? Do you think they would ever say Daddy use me?  I am going to use my child to get what I want. If you are led to go into the mission field is it so you can be used by God or to walk in what you have learned from your Father, to serve not to be used. I think because your Daddy loves you and that you love him that you are going to do the things that make your Daddy proud because of who you are in Him!  He is not going to use you,   He is going to stand back and watch because you have listened and learned to walk in His ways, to learn his statutes, His commandments, His ordinances and His testimonies.  This is my Son for whom I am well pleased!  You are not going to get in the way because you have learned to speak when He tells you to speak and you do what He tells you to do. Just something to think about.

1 Kings 2:2-4
"I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. "Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'NASB95

"I'm about to go the way of all the earth, but you—be strong; show what you're made of! Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you'll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go. Then God will confirm what he promised me when he said, 'If your sons watch their step, staying true to me heart and soul, you'll always have a successor on Israel's throne.'

 

Always be ready

Always be ready! Are you? Are you ready for that one person who comes up to you and says "can you tell me exactly what it means to be a Christian and how I can become one?"
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, NIV
Personally, I have never had anyone ask me that specific question before, but you know he is out there. I would hate for someone to ask me that question and then I do my best job at explaining what I know and then they said they had to go and then they looked at me and said "Oh well, thanks for trying" that would be a sickening feeling. So my question is Are you ready for that question? Are you prepared? That person is coming.

1 Peter 3:15 through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.The Message
I think there are a few things we can do to prepare for this time. First, know your story and be able to share it in 3 to 5 minutes. Speak the truth in love and show compassion. I think it would be good for your relationship with the Lord to be in a good place, People can tell if you are approachable. Speaking on your relationship with the One. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best. Where are you today? I can say for myself that I am a 7 today. I have been better and I have been worse. Have a great day!

2 Timothy 2.3

As I read my devotion this morning it took me to 2 Timothy. The first thing I see is the title to Chapter 2, it says "Be strong in Grace" My first thought was "I am going to be tested today" my next thought is "oh great, what is coming now" so now I begin to read Chpt 2 in the nasb and as I am reading I come to a scripture that I have memorized in another version. This version 2 Timothy 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. NASB95
This made it a little more personal. I just have to remember that whatever circumstance comes my way today I have the opportunity to allow it to mold me into a reflection of our Lord or not. Grace, Grace and Grace. I assure you, I will not be the only one that will be tested today, look forward to your test. You might not even know it until it is over. Know who you are today!

Amen

Guard your heart

I heard someone say once that worry is fear with teeth, that has always stuck in my mind. Do you ever wonder if you worry hard enough that you might actually change the outcome of some circumstance in your life? A circumstance that most likely you have absolutely no control over. Maybe you are going to have surgery …… like me on the 23^rd. Don't think for a minute that I have not worried about the outcome of this routine surgery. As I get closer to the date I find nervousness and I hear the thoughts. What if something goes wrong? What if I die? Things happen you know. Guess what I WILL BE A SLEEP! Can't do a thing. I can get prayed up. I can take that the thought captive; I know I am not in control. Philippians 4:6-7
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. The Msg.
So here is what I know, I have a choice …. I can take that thought as a warning shot across the bow of my ship and take aim and shoot back with a folly of prayer or I can worry about something I have no control over. Give it to Him because He has giving us a promise
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.NKJV

When man makes you a promise and he breaks that promise or tries to break his promise, this is what you hear "but you promised!" We hold Man accountable and man will fail. Our Lord does not fail and his promises hold true, after all, He is wise, He is willing, and He is able.
Matthew 6:33-34 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.The Message

Amen

 

Worry or self-discipline

Is worry a sin? Hmmm…………. I think so. What does the bible say? Philippians 4.6 says don't be anxious about anything ………………. Romans 14.23 says ………………..Everything that does not come from faith is sin…… Do you ever say "I am concerned about something" "I have some issues I am working through" "I have lot on my mind right now" These phrases make you sound smart, like you're an important person with big things going on. What they don't do is make you sound like a worry wart. You are just sugar coating the fact that you are worrying. Call it what you want but the truth is this, worry is SIN! Isn't this fun! So here is where I am at, I am over weight …. About 50 lbs. Now granted I am 6'2" 255 but that extra weight is in the wrong places. I have been thinking about this for the last year
(another one of the phrases that makes me sound smart, but really it is worry) as I watched myself slowly gain the weight and not exercise. So here is where the worry sets in. I am not 30 anymore, I am 49 so I have to do something, exercise and eat better before circumstances in my life dictate that I do, and I don't want that. So what is worry? Worry is the sin of distrusting the promises and power of God. It is choosing to dwell on, to think about, the worst case scenario. It is faith in the bad things rather than faith in God (quote from the book Christian Atheist)
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.NLT
So dose self discipline and worry go hand in hand? I think so…. At least for me they do. If I had self –discipline with my eating and Dr. Peppers then I would not be overweight. So may lack of self-discipline has led to my overweight and my silent worry. My lack of self-discipline has led to numerous issues in my life that I worry about. (or really issues that I don't trust God about)
Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?NKJV
"life" is translated from the Greek word psuche (sue-kay) which also translates to the word soul. That passage takes on a whole new meaning. It actually means every aspect of your life, it means Bushido (The way of the warrior) this warrior trains every part of his body. The mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. It means yesterday, today and future life (soul). Jesus says ……. Don't worry! So, I leave you with this. He who knows what to do and does not do it, that is sin to him. I have work to do …. Do you?

Nothing like having to look at yourself to see who you are.

TGIF

TGIF Today God Is First by Os Hillman

 

As I was going through some documents that are saved on my computer, I came across this one and it really resonated in my spirit. It is interesting because when I feel like everything is going wrong or I feel like the Lord has pulled away from me, It is more my fault than anything. Just something to think about. I have to be carefull and not give the enemy to much credit for the problems that I actually cause myself, The article below does have a lot of truth

 
"One day the evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?'" - Acts 19:15
Are you a threat to the kingdom of darkness? If satan and his demons had a board meeting and your name came before the board, what would they say? Would they say that you are one of their most feared enemies and they needed to keep many demons harassing and opposing you? Or would they say, "Gentlemen, this person poses no threat to our activities. Leave him alone. He needs no help from us." There are millions of church-going believers sitting in pews Sunday after Sunday who pose little threat to the kingdom of darkness.
If we truly believe that we war against rulers and principalities that cannot be seen, then we must realize that their mandate is to hinder any believer who is seeking to walk in the fullness of God. However, "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 Jn. 4:4b KJV).
If you are seeking to fully follow the Lord, you can expect harassment from the enemy. God permits temptation because it drives us deeper into the soil of God. These times reveal God's power to keep us and walk us through the temptations. Our message becomes fruitful when it is born out of obedience and suffering for His name. Do not consider it strange if you find yourself fighting major battles the more obedient you become to the Master. God desires each of us to become a feared enemy of hell in order to affect satan's domain. When you begin to feel harassed, chances are you are beginning to affect the kingdom of darkness, and satan doesn't like this.

So, how many demons do you think are assigned to you? Better yet how many demons has the enemy pulled away from you since you are not doing what you are suppose to be doing? Hmmmmm?

    

Psalm 115

Psalm 115:11
All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield. NLT

Psalm 115:11
You who [reverently] fear the Lord, trust in and lean on the Lord! He is their Help and their Shield. AMP
As I am reading this morning I go to Psalm 115 because I am going on Quest 115. This was something I felt last night in our staff meeting. I knew I was going there this morning and I was not disappointed. When I got to this passage it made me wonder just how much I trust the Lord. Is my trust in the Lord a direct correlation to how much I fear Him and if I fear Him, then does that mean that I have trust in Him? But then comes the next promise for those who fear Him, He will bless you. It gets better, His mercy is great for those who fear Him! So I guess the big questions are …….. Do you trust Him with everything or are their parts of your life that you keep for yourself, because you feel you can do a better job?

Psalm 115:13
He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly. NLT

Psalm 115:13
He will bless those who reverently and worshipfully fear the Lord, both small and great.AMP

 

Psalm 103:11-12
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. KJV

 

Matthew 26.40

Just a little something the LORD showed me back in 2009. I came across it this morning as I was reading, so I thought I would share it with you.
Matthew 26.40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!"[1]
Here is what I got from the above passage.  Jesus says (Kevin's paraphrase) You are one of the disciples in the Garden  (Think about this for a moment.  The God of the universe is in the Garden Praying….. he is sweating blood …. it is so intense … picture it in your mind the scene from the passion of the Christ)  (remember he has already told them once too watch and pray)  He walks over to the disciples and says what are you doing?  I told you to watch and pray so you would not fall into temptation.  Why are you sleeping?   The disciples are in the Garden with the God of the universe.  He is telling them to watch and pray.  He is saying …. "Keep your eyes on me and Pray   He is saying   "WATCH ME"  " Focus on Me!!!!!   nothing else.  I AM   ….. I AM   …….. The God of the universe.  I am going to die for YOU and you are sleeping?   You are putting something else before me?   So what is the temptation here?   the temptation was sleep. (some might call it Idolatry)   Something other than the God of the universe became more important and it was sleep.  the God of the universe goes back to pray more and they fall asleep again.  Were they even tired?  they were tempted to fall asleep when they should have been watching Jesus and praying and instead they fell.

So… Are you focused on Jesus Today?  Or are you focused on something else other than The GOD of the Universe

Well … this is my take.  Add or take away.

Proverbs 14.29

Chapter 25 (How to stop the Pain) in relationships we surrender some of our rights as individuals. What I mean is, when you care for one another you must accept the fact that our actions affect others. Quote: As such, we cannot ask people in our lives and then refuse them the right to give input into our lives. "You can be in my life, but keep your opinions to yourself" is not the stuff of real relationships. If you want to grow in any relationship then you must consider how your behavior affects the other person. So think about this for a moment, in your relationship with your spouse or who ever, was it your behavior that caused the friction? Where something that was so simple just blew up? Sometimes we just don't listen to what is being communicated to us, especially when it comes to our spouse. Proverbs 14:29 Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity. The Message Nothing like feeling stupid when someone is trying to tell you something and you don't want to hear it. "It is not being judgmental when someone points out that our behavior is unscriptural. It is called meaningful input." So you have a choice, you can listen and receive or get mad and go pout or do whatever you do when someone is trying to speak into you. Some of you may feel that you need new friends because you don't like the way your current friends are speaking into you. That is not the answer. So I would say this ……. When someone is speaking into you and what they are saying is making you upset, then I would seek Holy Spirit and ask this question. If what they are saying is true then why is it making me so upset, why am I fighting it, what are you trying to show me Lord? Amen

Jeremiah 17:5
Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man (or himself) And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.NKJV

Jeremiah 17:7-8
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.NKJV

 

Which one are you? This is as much for me as anyone.

Confession

We had men's group tonight at my house. We meet every Wednesday night and it is always good. We have about five to six that meet. We get in each other's stuff. No posing allowed. Good shot in the arm tonight. Sometimes you just need to confess so you can be healed. James 5:16
Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].AMP It is amazing that when you do what the Word of God tells you to do then his promises come. I confessed rebellion, got prayed over by righteous men and got healed. It is not that I don't know what to do …. It is that I don't do it. I don't have a knowledge problem I had a rebellion problem. He who knows what to do and does not do it, that is sin to him. (Not my favorite scripture) We finished up the night with this scripture out of the Amplified Bible. Philippians 4:11-13
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. 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. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].AMP So I have two questions for you. Are you content? Have you confessed and got prayed over and healed?

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

We talked about attitude tonight. I have to confess that my attitude has not been good lately.

Philippians 4

Something I have not thought about in a long time. Praying for the Holy Spirit to rest on me when I am at a coffee shop or restaurant or a family gathering. You know …. Praying in a way so the Holy Spirit would fill that place and radiate from me. Don't talk about God. Don't pray out loud for people to hear you, but just be Jesus with skin on and be Joyful.

Romans 8:26-27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.NLT
I will have to admit that lately I have not been doing this …… praying. You have to understand that praying is communicating with the Lord and reading scripture is listening. Have not been doing that very well either. You know …. You skip a day, then you skip two then all of a sudden a week goes by and you wonder why you are in a funk. Imagine that! So that is where I have been …. Just kinda doing my own thing and it is just not working. When you stop reading and you stop praying then you reap what you sow. One more thing I just realized, my gratitude tank has been on empty. Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.NLT So there you have it, that is where I have been.