Encouragement by Marc Owings

 

As leaders we can sometimes lose sight of a truth that produces peace. Many times it seems as if the truth of trust can easily become stuck in the mire of confusion and frustration. We are inundated with a daily dose of suggestions and market concepts of how to lead a better life. Even in the Christian culture we have produced seminars, written self help books and preached ourselves into a state of confusion. Many times the answer we are desperately looking for is right in front of us. A man named John Kavanaugh once came to Mother Teresa, searching the answer on how he was to spend his life. When Mother Teresa met John she politely asked him how she could pray for him. John answered, "Pray that I have clarity." Kind Mother Teresa replied a stern, "no I will not pray that prayer." John responded, "But you seem to have the clarity that I am looking for." Laughing, Mother Teresa looked at John and responded, "We cling to clarity, but clarity is the thing we must let go of. I have never had clarity; I have always had trust. So I will pray that you trust God." Whether you are a business owner, project manager, house wife or secretary, God is inviting you to trust His goodness and faithfulness. Clarity is not the goal, Trust is. Trust is a currency that spends in God's economy. It purchases and creates an atmosphere in which we can live a life full of His peace and His hope. You may not see it with clarity, but you will know it's there. Do you trust God or have you been chasing clarity?

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search

for you. Psalm 9:10

Just a little note to everyone.

I have been very busy the last couple of weeks (YEAH)!!!!!

I have been spending time in the word and praying. I just have not had the time to write on my blog. I am fantastic! And God is good and faithful. I am in the middle of 30 days of prep for the Michigan Quest so you know what to pray for.

He Has Risen!

Amen

This morning I was lead to Proverbs 23. The Lord gave it to me good this morning

Proverbs 23:12 (NASB95)
12 Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge.

Make up your mind or your unmade mind will unmake you

Proverbs 23:17 (NASB95)
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always.

Always be content with what I own and have. Fear of the LORD!

Proverbs 23:19 (NASB95)
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way.

Walk in radical obeisance

Proverbs 23:22 (NASB95)
22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.

Let my mother go

Proverbs 23:26 (NASB95)
26 Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.

Focus on Him and keep every thought captive to the word of the LORD!

 

Amen

Walk it out and be blessed

Kevin

Matthew 12

Sometimes I just have to be reminded who I am. Last night when I reached for my bible, it says on the cover "My name is Kevin and the Spirit of the Lord is on me" I just stared at it for a minute.

This morning when I was reading the foot note in Matthew 16, it took me to Matthew 12 where I immediately saw this.

18 "Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. Matthew 12:18 (NASB95)

I just have to be reminded of who I am and how the Lord sees me.

Be Blessed and walk it out

Kevin

Your Words

Your Words

As I read in Men of Integrity this morning there were several scripture references used. Matthew 12 is where I landed. My last post spoke of the tongue. Here is what the Lord touched on today.

Matthew 12:36-37 (NASB95)
36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the Day of Judgment.
37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

I think this passage speaks for itself.

Be Blessed today and walk it out

Kevin

Conviction and rebellion

Psalm 39:1 (NASB95)
1 ………………………………………………………."I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence."

While reading this morning about the tongue I felt of conviction about the words that come out of my mouth. Like saying the word Sh#$ is cool or something. The scripture above talks about guarding my mouth around the wicked, but what about around the Godly? Where we may occasionally might drop the S bomb or maybe even the F bomb. Lately I have heard men who I deeply respect curse like it is no big deal and I don't get it. Almost like it is okay. We have to walk in a higher standard. Especially around each other.

Last night I was tired my wife was gone and nobody was home and I had an especially hard day. I made mistakes that cost me almost $500.00 on my remodel job. It was the perfect recipe for looking and acting out. I chose not to call any one and I chose VICTORY!

It was about choice. The truth is ………. If you choose to sin and you know exactly what you are doing. I believe that is called Rebellion. I don't think I like that.

1 Samuel 15:23 (NKJV)
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."

 

Be blessed and walk it out

Kevin

Luke 18

Luke 18

As I was reading this morning in Andrew Murray's Humility, there was verse out of Luke 18 that he referred to. I felt I was to read Luke 18. While I was praying I was praying for direction on the issue I have with lust and the rejection with my mom. I am asking Him "what is it?" What causes it? I am thinking about what society says "men are visual" I am tired of that label! I don't care! What I care about is what is going on with me and my crap. Anyway … when I asked about these two issues as of late I don't get an answer. I did this morning and it came in His word, it makes since but it was not what I wanted to here but it is what I needed to hear. I just cried when I read it. I am amazed at the word of the Lord

Luke 18:1 (NASB95)
1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, …………………………………….

Be Blessed and Walk it out

A Prayer for Humility

Something by Andrew Murray ……. Something that would be very difficult to do, but very rewarding.

It is this: retire from the world and all conversation, only for one month. Neither write, nor read, nor debate anything with yourself. Stop all of the former workings of your mind. And, with all the strength of your heart, stand for one month, as continually as you can, in the following form of prayer to the Lord. Offer it frequently on your knees. But whether sitting, walking, or standing, be always inwardly longing and earnestly this one prayer to the Lord.

 

"Lord I pray that of Your great goodness You would make known to me, and take from my heart, every kind of and form and degree of pride, whether it be from evil spirits, or corrupt nature; and that You would awaken in me the deepest depth and truth of the humility that can make me capable of Your light and Holy Spirit."

 

Reject every thought, except that of waiting and praying in this matter from the bottom of your heart, with the kind of truth and earnestness that is used by people in torment who wish to pray and be delivered from it. If you can and will give yourself up in truth and sincerity to this spirit of prayer, I will venture to affirm that, if you had twice as many evil spirits in you as Mary Magdalene had, they will be all cast out of you, and you will forced with her to weep tears of love at the feet of Jesus.

Be Blessed and walk it out

Kevin

I think this would be harder than a forty day fast from food!

Psalm 103

Have been doing a lot of reading this morning. 1 Corinthian 10, Psalm 100, 101, 102 and 103. Sometimes it takes a while before the Lord will give me something. Sometimes maybe he did and I did not receive it. Anyway, I got it this morning.

Psalm 103 (NASB95)
3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Powerful promises here

If there are two things in my life that I struggle with it is having the Fear of the Lord and lust. When I get it (the Fear of the Lord) the lust will be tamed, at least that is what I think.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving-kindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

17 But the loving-kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him and His righteousness to children's children,

20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.

It is all about walking in Obedience to His word

Be Blessed and walk it out

Genesis 18.19

 

I find very interesting every time I spend time in the word. His quiet whisper always comes at His perfect time and when I least expect it. I am reading O. Chambers this morning I am on March 20^th (go figure) Very good devotion. It comes from

Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? Genesis 18:17.

So I went to Genesis to look at that passage, but it was verse 19 that got me this morning

18:19 "For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him." (NASB95)

So as soon as I read this I hear "Kevin I have chosen you to lead your household you have to make a choice to keep my ways or live by your ways. Live by my ways and I will bless you. Walk in righteousness. Can it get any planner … yet I choose to make it difficult at times. Today's devotion is below.

Oswald Chambers March 20th

 

Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? Genesis 18:17.

It's Delights. This chapter brings out the delight of real friendship with God as compared with occasional feelings of His presence in prayer. To be so much in contact with God that you never need to ask Him to show you His will, is to be nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you are rightly related to God, it is a life of freedom and liberty and delight, you are God's will, and all your commonsense decisions are His will for you unless He checks. You decide things in perfect delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will always check; when He checks, stop at once.

It's Difficulties. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He was not intimate enough yet to go boldly on until God granted his desire; there was something yet to be desired in his relationship to God. Whenever we stop short in prayer and say—'Well, I don't know; perhaps it is not God's will,'—there is still another stage to go. We are not so intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as He wants us to be—"That they may be one even as we are one." Think of the last thing you prayed about—were you devoted to your desire or to God? Determined to get some gift of the Spirit or to get at God? "Your Heavenly Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him." The point of asking is that you may get to know God better. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart." Keep praying in order to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.

 

I wonder what that looks like … getting a perfect understanding of God Himself. Will you ever know …. Will I every know?

Be Blessed and walk it out

Kevin

Luke 14:25-34

Luke 14:25-34 (NASB95)
26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.

Hate is a strong word here, it is more like follow me and don't let anything get in the way. It would appear like hatred but actually it is devotion to Jesus. I myself tend to let things get in the way at times. Like my work or Wife or ….. Whatever it is that gets between me and Jesus
27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
What is my cross?

28 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
It seems every day I have to count the costs of my actions. I know that walking with Jesus is not easy. There are decisions that have to be made every day. It is something I enjoy, but it is hard. Can you relate?
33 "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

Man oh Man this last passage is the one that speaks the most. Have I given up everything? EVERYTHING? Do I have any secret sins that I am holding on to? Am I controlling my money? What is the one thing that I am not willing to let go of. Am I afraid or are you afraid if you let that one thing go, that life will never be the same? It might not be, but when you and I chose to follow Jesus. We made a decision then, understanding ……………… that I our life would never be the same.

Be blessed today and walk it out

Kevin

2 Corinthian 7:1

2 Corinthian 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.NASB95

Oswald Chambers Devo this morning directed me to 2 Corinthians 7. It really got me thinking about the Fear of the Lord. It says to cleanse ourselves which is James 5.16. So I have to ask me self is there anything that I have not confessed that is holding me back from having what I would call a "Healthy Fear of the Lord"? I will have to chew on that one for a while.

Be blessed today and walk in unity, be transformed by walking in obedience

Kevin

1 Corinthians 9:1-2

1 Corinthians 9:1-2
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.NASB95

Woke up at 4:30 just on fire for what the Lord has for me this morning and I was not disappointed. I read a couple of devotions, but it was Oswald Chambers that grabbed me today and sent me to 1 Corinthians 9.

Am I not free?
Yes I am

Am I not an apostle? Yes I am (1 a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders. )

Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?
Yes I have in many ways in different people and through some of my dearest friends.

Are you not my work in the Lord?
Always … constantly and forever.

If to others I am not an apostle, (that is okay because I don't need approval of man) at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Oswald Chambers writes "My worth to God in public is what I am in private .................. It is not the act of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but our lack of laboring to keep the ideal right

1 Corinthians 9:27
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.NLT

The last thing I want to be is disqualified.

As I move forward in this walk and certain men have told me this …. I am a teacher. I carry a bigger responsibility and I will be held more accountable. As of late more and more men are calling me and looking to me for prayer and advice. It is a good place to be in. The enemy wants to tell me ….. If they really knew you they wouldn't call you. So now more than ever I need to be in prayer. If I have the responsibility of speaking into one man's life and Holy Spirit changes him. That is as powerful as speaking to 1000 men

James 3:1
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.NLT

It has been a good morning

Kevin

 

1 Samuel 17.47

1 Samuel 17:47
Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands."NKJV

There is nothing new under the sun …. Such a catchy phrase …… but it is scripture. Was reading about David and Goliath this morning? It got me thinking about this lust issue I have. I know it is a heart issue. I feel this morning that the reason I fail in this area is because of the choices I make but also because I choose NOT to rely on the Lord. I make the battle my own and I don't even realize I am doing it. I think I am giving it to the Lord but I don't.

Full surrender is full peace. If we are restless and concerned about things formerly renounced, we have not generally surrendered. Surrender is the source of true peace. If we are not at peace. It is because our surrender is not complete. This quote came out of a book I have read in for eight years and it resonates in my heart all of the time.

Hebrews 12:4
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.NIV

When does it become that you are shedding your own blood?

Kevin

1 Corinthians 1.9

Yesterday was a hard day. I felt beat up all day and it was all my own doing. As Marc Owings would say, "the boomerang came back around and hit me" Sometimes I feel like I have absolutely no control over my actions and yet I know that is a lie. As I sat on the couch yesterday watching Robin Hood it just hit me like a ton of bricks and I just sobbed for about three minutes. It was very cleansing. Then I though, I have been here before.

I have been reading in a book called "Never Quit" by Edwin Louis Cole I just opened it up to chpt 9 a week ago. It says "We must be able to accept responsibility for failure before we are able to accept responsibility for success" So I have to ask myself, Have I accepted responsibility for my failures? Passing the test will purify us from previous failures. Hmmm I have read the above quote many times over the last week and thought about it. I am just not convinced.

This morning as I am eating my breakfast I hear 1 Corinthians 1.9. I actually thought I had conjured up that thought….. That I was grasping ….. Wanting to hear Him.

1 Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. NASB95

 

I read I realized it was Him.

Romans 8:30
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.NASB95

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

4.30 am

2 Corinthians 3:4

2 Corinthians 3:4
Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.NASB95

This is a good word for this morning. To be confident in your ministry towards others. This confidence allows me or you to stay the course. To keep your eyes on the prize of Jesus. To run the race.

Yesterday as I sat in the parking lot before my job interview. I asked the Lord to guide my words to be able to speak from the heart, because I did not know what to say. I was told, that was walking in humility. I did not know that, but it was good to hear …. I needed to hear that. That is a sign of maturity which is something I feel I am lacking in sometimes. So it was good to hear that..

Walk in Humility today and Love your brother whoever that may be. Humility is a seed that gets planted and you have to decide how long you are going to water it.

 

Amen

Psalm 139.23

Psalm 139:23
Look deep into my heart, God and find out everything I am thinking. CEV

Worst night of sleep I have had in a very long time. I must have woke up 10 or 12 times. I would lay there and think about golf, work, my Wife. I get up this morning and open my devotion and there it was speaking loud and clear. I didn't have to even open my bible because the Lord spoke to me in this manner. I need Him to look deep in my heart, because frankly I don't think I know how.

I walk in victory yesterday now I am off to war!

 

Be Blessed today

2 Chronicles 19 and 20

So ……… today or should I say last night, I got up at 2:30 in the morning to seek his face about my Golf situation. Went back to bed at 3:30 and got up at 6:30. Just not really sure where I am going. Richard replied to my email and said.

"I hear "go"
I hear "walk in unity with K"
I hear "I will be with you"
I hear "I am NOT confused nor will I confuse you"
I hear " I will show you and K My face"

Still chewing on this one.

As I am reading in my men of integrity devo this morning I felt led to read in 2 Chronicles chpt 20 thinking I was going to hear one thing and heard another. What happened was I started reading in chapter 19 thinking it was chapter 20. Another warning for me

2 Chronicles 19:7
"Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe."NASB95

I don't believe this scripture has anything to do with the job interview I have tomorrow but it has everything to do with the time my wife will be away on Heart Quest. Now two days in a row I have been warned. Hmmmm. As I read further I get to the scripture that the devo was referring too.

2 Chronicles 20:21-22
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever." 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.NKJV

What I found after reading these two scriptures was this.

• I don't worship the Lord enough
  
• I f I would worship Him more my enemies would be defeated
  
• That's good news AMEN?
  

 

 

 

Romans 13

My wife leaves to serve on Heart Quest tomorrow. It can be a tough time for me or it can be a blessed time. These are the times when I have to rely on the Lord. Sometimes I just don't know if that is what I am doing. My devotion this morning was Romans 13. As I was praying for strength and reading I came to verse 14. It almost comes across as a warning. When I went back and read it again it is a warning.

Romans 13:14
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.NASB95

Romans 13:11-13
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.NASB95

So, I would ask you to pray this week for me. Be blessed and walk it out