Stunned by your situation

Have you ever been in a situation where you just don't know what to do?  Has fear ever overwhelmed you to the point of just being frozen?  It seems that no matter what you do it just goes nowhere. 

The president, B.J. Church, of one of the Bible schools I attended used to say, "When you don't know what to do, don't do anything".  This was good advice in making decisions.  However, we should not let fear stop us in our tracks.  We must realize that God is in control. 

Hab 3:17 — Hab 3:19
Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!
The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! For the Chief Musician; with my stringed instruments.

No matter what you are facing God is in control and there is something you can always do and that is worship God.  

You may be struggling financially, pay your tithes as worship to God.  

You may have illness that has overtaken you, worship God.  

Your family may have turned against you, worship God.  

Realize that perfect love casts out all fear and there is no more perfect love than what our heavenly father pours out on us.  

Don't let the things around us stop us from worshipping God.  This is what the enemy of our souls would love to do to us.  He wants us to get our focus on our situations and get our minds off of how great God has been to us or destroy our faith in His ability to bring us through our situation.  

So, the next time you are facing a difficult situation, don't just stand there, but begin to walk towards Jesus.  Worship like He has already given the victory. 

Lord, thank you for your blessings and your power.  Help me today to begin to walk towards you and see you salvation.  You are all powerful and all mighty.  There is nothing too big that I am facing that you cannot handle.  I will trust you with everything.  

Scars don't hurt

When I was a teen, some friends and I decided to go camping. 

We had heard something while we were lying around the fire.  So we got up and got our guns thinking it may be a bear or a coyote.  Needless to say it was nothing. 

We laid back down and apparently when we did I got a little too close to the fire.  One of my friends said a little while later something said to him to look over to where I was sleeping.  When he did he screamed out my name.  My blanket had caught on fire. 

Being the young naive kid that I was, I tried to put out the fire by slapping the blanket with my hand.  It was a synthetic blanket.  When I did, it rolled up and melted to the top of my hand.

We had no vehicle so we started out making the long trek into town to the hospital. 

I said all that to say this, I still have the scars from the burns on my hand, but those scars do not hurt, they just bring back memories of my past.

I would have thought when Jesus died that cruel death of having nails put into His hands and feet and a sword put into His sword.  When He arose from the dead that His new body wouldn't have the scars anymore.  The scars were still there.

He took our sins upon Himself.  Our sins leave scars that don't seem to ever leave us.  They are there as a reminder of what God saved us from. 

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
John 20:27 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.20.27.KJV

Lord, thank you for salvation.  Thank you for dying on a cruel rugged tree, being buried and rising again on the third day for me.  Let my scars of sin be a reminder of what you have done for me.  I love you Jesus.

Getting rid of what trips you up

Don't you hate it when you bite your lip and everytime you take a bite you bite that same spot over and over again. 

There are some things in our lives that we just keep coming back to without wanting to.  They weigh us down and we just can't seem to be victorious over them. 

The writer of Hebrews explains it this way.

Heb 12:1 — Heb 12:2

Hebrews 12
​ THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

In the previous chapter the writer provides a list of people in the past who had struggles and dealt with sin in their lives.  They overcame to be known as the heros of faith. 

They overcame:

1. Weights

Weights are things that aren't sin but draw us away from God.  These would be things like entertainment, sports, or money.

These are not sin, they just weigh us down with concerns. 

2. Sin

These are things that God says He does not like or that we shouldn't do.  Things such as sexually immorality, muder or stealing.

So, the next time you are struggling with something or have fallen into sin, remember you are not alone.  Some of the greatest people of faith also had these issues.

These men and women were able to overcome by looking to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. 

The next time you are struggling set your eyes toward Jesus.  He knows what you are going through and the struggle you are facing.  He can help you through what you are facing. 

Lord, help me today to put my sight toward you when I am facing something that seems to bring me down.    Only you can lift me up and set me on a firm foundation that is you.  You are my victory.

Not afraid to face the giant PT 2

Yesterday we talked about trying to help people around us realize that there is a giant that needs to be dealt with and that we are able to deal with the giant with the help of God.

Today, let's talk about actually facing the giant.  There are just a couple of points to be made here.

1Sa 17:41 — 1Sa 17:50
The Philistine came on and drew near to David, the man who bore the shield going before him.
And when the Philistine looked around and saw David, he scorned and despised him, for he was but an adolescent, with a healthy reddish color and a fair face.
And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you should come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.
Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, Whom you have defied.
This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will smite you and cut off your head. And I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.
When the Philistine came forward to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
David put his hand into his bag and took out a stone and slung it, and it struck the Philistine, sinking into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck down the Philistine and slew him. But no sword was in David’s hand.

1.  Some Giants will use others to protect them.

Some Giants we face are from people who treat us unkindly.  The enemy will try to use those people to get us angry or upset us.  We need to just let them be,  realizing what their position is and that is of just a sheild barer.

2.  The enemy will try to make you feel like you are nothing.  

Just remember you are a child of God and no matter what the enemy thinks of you, God thinks of you as His child and He loves you. Don't let your self esteem be determined by others.  Let it be determined by God. 

3.  Understand the weapons of the enemy.

Eph 6:12 — Eph 6:16
For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with thefirm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readinessproduced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
Lift up over all the [covering] shield ofsaving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

4.  Be confident that God will give the victory.

2 Corinthians 10:4

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

5.  Declare the victory to the giant.

6.  Run to the giant with your weapons ready.

Don't go looking for Giants, but if you are facing one run to it knowing that God is there to take care of this giant and use what God has given you to fight with.

Prayer

Fasting

Bible study

Worship

Are you facing a giant today that you can't seem to see around?  Don't cower somewhere and feel like you are all alone.  God is there with you and will take care of the giant if you will give it to Him.  God is bigger than any giant you may face today.

Thank you Lord for the victory over the things that we may face.  Thank you that you have already promised the victory before we even see the giant.  Help me today Lord to face the giant head on with your help and strength.  You are so great.  

Not afraid to face the giant

Over the years I have noticed that there are some people that God just seems to use so greatly and I have often wondered why.  We all have things in our lives that we battle, but these people just seem to have it all together.

If you were to sit down and ask them they would tell you that their battle is great and they had to figure out how to overcome those Giants that came against them.

The difference is that instead of cowering away from their giant, they faced it head on.  We see this principles in I Samuel

1Sa 16:4 — 1Sa 16:13

And Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming and said, Have you come peaceably?

And he said, Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice.

When they had come, he looked on Eliab [the eldest son] and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.

But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. But Samuel said, Neither has the Lord chosen this one.

Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. Samuel said, Nor has the Lord chosen him.

Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, The Lord has not chosen any of these.

Then [he] said to Jesse, Are all your sons here? [Jesse] said, There is yet the youngest; he is tending the sheep. Samuel said to Jesse, Send for him; for we will not sit down to eat until he is here.

Jesse sent and brought him. David had a healthy reddish complexion and beautiful eyes, and was fine-looking. The Lord said [to Samuel], Arise, anoint him; this is he.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Why is it that God chose David over all his brothers?  We find the answer in one of the best known stories in the Bible.

1Sa 17:8 — 1Sa 17:14
Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.
And the Philistine said, I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah named Jesse, who had eight sons. [Jesse] in the days of Saul was old, advanced in years.
[His] three eldest sons had followed Saul into battle. Their names were Eliab the firstborn; next, Abinadab; and third, Shammah.
David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul,

As you can see the three older brothers were cowering as Goliath told them and Saul that their God couldn't do anything for them.  

Instead of being afraid of the giant you are facing telling you God can't help you, do what David did, face the giant "head" on.

1Sa 17:26 — 1Sa 17:37
And David said to the men standing by him, What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?
And the [men] told him, Thus shall it be done for the man who kills him.
Now Eliab his eldest brother heard what he said to the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David and he said, Why did you come here? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and evilness of heart; for you came down that you might see the battle.
And David said, What have I done now? Was it not a harmless question?
And David turned away from Eliab to another and he asked the same question, and again the men gave him the same answer.
When David’s words were heard, they were repeated to Saul, and he sent for him.
David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of this Philistine; your servant will go out and fight with him.
And Saul said to David, You are not able to go to fight against this Philistine. You are only an adolescent, and he has been a warrior from his youth.
And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father’s sheep. And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock,
I went out after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it.
Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God!
David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you!

1.  Don't  let other's fears discourage you.

2.  You have to declare the victory before you fight.

3.  You have to gain strength from previous victories.

1Sa 17:38 — 1Sa 17:40
Then Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail.
And David girded his sword over his armor. Then he tried to go, but could not, for he was not used to it. And David said to Saul, I cannot go with these, for I am not used to them. And David took them off.
Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in his shepherd’s [lunch] bag [a whole kid’s skin slung from his shoulder], in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand, and he drew near the Philistine.

4.  Don't use other people's methods to try to fight your own giant.

5.  Do only what you know to do and go in Jesus name.

Thank you Lord for your power and strength over Giants that we must face.  We know that you are greater than whatever the enemy brings against us.  Help me today to face the giant head on and overcome it by your power and might.

The invisible God

There seems to be times in living for God where He seems to be no where to be found. 

Job understood this:

I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed.
Job 23:8‭-‬9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/job.23.8-9.NLT

As I listened to Insight for Living this morning Chuck Swindoll made a point about the book of Esther I have never thought of before.  He said that God is never mentioned in the book of Esther.  However, you can see God's hand and plan working to protect and take care of His people.

God is always right there with you no matter what we are facing:


God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;  Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Acts 17:24‭-‬28 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/act.17.24-28.KJV

So, if you are facing something that seems impossible, God is right there with you though you may not see Him.

Lord, thank you for being ever present even though I don't see or feel you.  I know you and know that I am your child and you live me.  I love you Jesus.

Trust for success

Everyone wants to be successful.  Everyone wants to have enough to pay their bills and have a little left over at the end of the month.  People are constantly thinking about how to get to a place of financial freedom.

Dave Ramsey has done well in helping people get out of debt and get on the road to financial success.  However, the Bible gives us the true answer as to how to be successful.

Pro 3:5 — Pro 3:10
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.
It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.
Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income;
So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.

1.  Depend on the Lord

When we try to figure it all out on our own, we will always come short.  We need to put our trust and confidence in Jesus.

2.  Acknowledge God in everything

Before we purchase something, we should ask ourselves if what we are about to purchase will bring glory and honor to God or if by going into debt to make the purchase will bring God dishonor.

3. We are not as smart as we think we are.  

We need to not think we know everything but understand that God is all knowing and has all wisdom and knows what is best for us.

By following these three principles, our bodies will be blessed as well as our finances as long as we use our finances for His glory.  

Lord, thank you for what you have given me.  I am truly blessed and I thank you for those blessings.  Help me to take what you have given me to give you glory.  

Where is your love focus?

How many times have we struggeled with something that we just can't seem to break the habit of.  Drug addicts will say that they want to stop but it just has attached itself to them.

The answer is that we let our minds go to the things that please us.  We do not realize that there is greater pleasure in the presence of the Lord then there is in those things that are temporary.

To overcome we have to do what Paul suggests:

Col 3:1 — Col 3:3

Colossians 3
​ IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

Isn't it great when we get into the presence of the Lord and feel His love and joy that only He can give. We step away from that and after a few days we have this world around us bombarding us with troubles and trials and we begin to forget how great it was to be in God's presence. 

So, it becomes an everyday battle to get back to setting our affections on heavenly things instead of all the things around us.  

Lord, thank you for every blessing you have given to me and every promise of a blessing that is to come.  Help me today to set my love on you and what you have in store for me and get my mind off the things around me so I am not tempted to go back to what you have delivered me from.  

God's Expectations

From the very beginning of time we humans have been trying to get around doing what God has expected of us.  I have heard over the years that serving God is too hard and there are too many rules and regulations to abide by.

Really there is only three rules to abide by when serving God.

1.  Love God with all your heart, soul and mind
2. Love others
3. Love yourself

The thing is when you are in love with someone, you want to spend your time with them and make them happy.

God has always had some desires for humans to obey.  It is in our best interests to obey his commands and laws.  For instance, don't drink too much wine is a command.  When we do we become unable to rationally and we can hurt ourselves and others.  He said don't be immoral sexually.  We now see that there are diseases if we have mutltiple partners besides the fact that it is emotionally hurtful.

So, you see when God gives us laws and commands to follow, they are not for our disadvantage, but rather for our advantage.

Gen 2:15 — Gen 2:17
And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

Other gods that people serve do not have these advantages.  One god in particular was the god molech.  God said it was an obimanation to serve molech because of what was expected of them to worship molech.  

According to David Stewart (Stewart, 2011) one of the ways of worship to molech was to sacrifice your children.  The counterpart to molech was ashtoreth, the goddess of fertility.  

We are living in a world of molech and ashtoreth.  People are sacrificing their future generations on the altar of primiscuity.  Abortion is rampant.  

We need to get back to following God's way because He does not expect us to sacrifice our children.  He is real and we can come before Him ourselves.  He wants us to bring our children to Him to teach them to love Him.  

Lord, help me to love you with all of my heart, soul and mind.  Help me to teach my children to love you.  God you are so good to us and I want to give you all the praise and glory for all that you desire for us because it is good for me. 

                                                                   Reference:

Stewart, D. J. (2011, August). Bohemian Grove and Moloch Worship. Retrieved           September 22, 2018, from jesus-is-savior.com/false religions/wicca & witchcraft/bohemian_moloch.htm

Be Nice

We should all be nice to each other and Paul explains that to us in the following verse.

So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers].
Galatians 6:10 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/gal.6.10.AMPC

We need to be kind to those outside the church.  We need to love others whether they believe exactly the way we do or not.  We need to be a blessing to them both in how we act on a daily basis or spiritually.

Judgmentalism is not the appropriate reaction to those who walk contrary to the Word of God.  It is not our place to tell people what they are doing wrong.  However, when asked, it is important to be able to give an answer as to what the Word of God says, not our opinion.

We often want to quote the last few verses of Romans chapter one to explain how people are going to split hell wide open, but we miss chapter 2 verse 1.

THEREFORE YOU have no excuse or defense or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges and condemns another. For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things [that you censure and denounce].
Romans 2:1 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/rom.2.1.AMPC

But now let's look at the second part and that is how we treat each other in the church.  We should love each other and treat each other with respect. 

Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord thy God.  Then He went on to say that the next commandment was like onto it and that is to love others as ourselves. The key is to love ourselves but also love others.  We can truly love others when we love ourselves. 

Lord, help me today to love others no matter what.  Help me to treat others in an appropriate way that gives you glory.  Lord, you have been so good to me, so help me to be good to others. 

A word to us husbands

When I was in Bible School a friend of mine called herself a female chauvinist.  So, being the good Christian that I was I would torment her by quoting to her that wives were to be submissive to their husbands.  Of course that would just send her on a tirade.

We always want to focus on that section of what Paul was saying and we miss the rest of the message.

Eph 5:22 — Eph 5:25
Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord.
For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body.
As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

Yes, wives do need to give place to their husbands, which I know does not fit well with our society and the women's rights movement, but it is still the Word of God.  This does not mean that women should be door mats either.  

Husbands, we are to love our wives as Christ love the church and gave up everything for us.  So, if we expect our wives to respect us for the position we have, then we have a responsibility to give up everything for them.  

There are times when I need some me time, but I also realize that my wife would like my attention as well.  I have to sometimes put down my book or stop playing my games so that I can give my attention to her.  I have to say, I am not always good at this.  

The last point I want to make is remember what Jesus gave up for us.  What He had to go through.  It was not what He wanted or what He desired.  He had to say no to his desires because He loved us so much.  

Do you love your wife enough to put your desires and enjoyment to the side for her?  

Lord, thank you for dying on the cross for me, being buried and rising again on the third day.  Help me to die out to my desires and my wants so that I can love my wife like you loved us.  

Stay in the battle, someone needs a victory.

Have you ever just gotten through a victory and the Lord is blessing you and providing for you?  You think, wow I can just settle in and rest in these blessings. 

I have been in services where the Holy Ghost is moving and is blessing people and I have gotten blessed.  I then turn around and I see this one person sitting there with their head down and just not really responding.  I can't just stop my worship because I have been blessed, I have to keep on until that person is blessed.

This is what the tribes of Rueben, Gad and half tribe of Manessah said.

Num 32:16 — Num 32:18
But they came near to him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks and walled settlements for our little ones.
But we will be armed and ready to go before the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Our little ones shall dwell in the fortified settlements because of the people of the land.
We will not return to our homes until the Israelites have inherited every man his inheritance.

I remember hearing about two couples who were taking a trip.  One of the people in the car began just quietly worshipping the Lord.  Soon the person next to them began to feel the presence of God and began to worship the Lord.  Then the people in the front seat said they could feel the presence of God and began to worship.  Soon they had to pull over and just spend some time in praise and worship together.

When we begin to worship, God begins to enter close to us.  So, whoever is near to us begins to feel the presence of God. This is why when we have enjoyed the presesnce of God, we need to stay there for the person next to us so they can be blessed. 

Lord, help me not to be selfish with you and to make sure that my brother and sisters in the Lord also can feel your presence.  Don't let me stop entertaining your presence because I have received your blessings, but help me to entertain your presence so other can receive their blessings as well. 

What are you doing with who you are

We all have different types of personalities.  Over the years I have taken many different personality tests.

When in Bible school we took this one test to determine what our personalities were.  Whenever the test was administered and people found out what their personalities were, you would hear in the hallways of the school that someone was Phlegmatic, or Sanguine, Choloric or Melancholy.  The truth of the matter is that we all are a little bit of all of them, just some have more of one of the four than others.

We are all different, that is how God created us.  However these tests never helped me determine what my real gifts were.

I still question what my gifts are.  Some people know exactly what their gifts are.  I wish I was one of them.  However, I do realize one thing:

Psa 139:14
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:marvellous are thy works;and that my soul knoweth right well.

I know what God's gifts are.  I know what He is able to do and that is really all that matters.  I can depend completely on Him for any of the abilities I may have or have not.

Psa 103:1 — Psa 103:10

Psalm 103
[A Psalm] of David.
​ BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits—
Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;
Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!
The Lord executes righteousness and justice [not for me only, but] for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness.
He will not always chide or be contending, neither will He keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.
He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

So, who ever I am and whatever I can do, I will praise God for it.  We have to realize that we are who we are and our abilities only come from Him.  

Lord, thank you for making me who I am and giving me the abilities that I have.  I will praise you for these abilities today.  I will use these abilities to give you glory and honor for you alone are worthy.  You have been so good to me.  

Growing in Faith

Faith is not a one time thing.  Faith is understanding what someone or something can do and realizing that there is more and greater things that can be done.  It is a constant learning of that person or item.

I am extremely afraid of heights on a ladder.  I can get to about he third rung and then I can't go any further.  However, I can go up numerous flights of stairs without any problems at all.  The reason is that the cement and the stairs have been tested and tried.

This is how it is with serving Jesus.  I have tested and tried Him and have realized He is more than dependable. He is stedfast and sure.  Then He asks me to do something I have never done before and I have to take a step of faith that I have never used before.  Knowing that He will never let me down, I take that step and my faith in Him grows greater and stronger.  Paul realized this in Romans.

Rom 1:17
For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.

Lord, help me today to take the step of faith you want me to take knowing that you are right there with me and will never leave me or forsake me.

What are you drinking?

A co-worker once told me that she drinks to forget her problems.  I then asked her if he problems were still there when she began to sober.  She sadly admitted they were.  I aked her what she did once she sobered and she said started drinking again. 

How said that this is a common thing in our world today.  People are trying to escape their problems by using drugs, alcohol and sex to forget real life.  But when that is all over, real life is still there. 

Jesus had a conversation about this with a woman at a well in Samaria who came at a time of day when no one else was around.  It was not the time of day when people came to the well to draw water. 

She just didn't want to have to deal with people looking down their noses at her or making her feel bad about herself because of the choices she had made.  She was trying to escape reality.

Jesus steps on the scene and brings reality to her, but also helps her deal with that reality.  Then He gives her an answer on how to deal with reality.

Jn 4:10 — Jn 4:14
Jesus answered her, If you had only known and had recognized God’s gift and Who this is that is saying to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him [instead] and He would have given you living water.
She said to Him, Sir, You have nothing to draw with [no drawing bucket] and the well is deep; how then can You provide living water? [Where do You get Your living water?]
Are You greater than and superior to our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well and who used to drink from it himself, and his sons and his cattle also?
Jesus answered her, All who drink of this water will be thirsty again.
But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.

When we are dealing with something difficult in life, we need to drink of God's goodness to us and ask Him to help us through it instead of hiding from it.  It is never truly hidden. 

Lord, I give you everything today and ask you to give me that living water that only you can supply, knowing that it will help me and fulfill my every desire.  Help me to face the realities of life.

What sound are you making

Exo 32:17 — Exo 32:18
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.
But Moses said, It is not the sound of shouting for victory, neither is it the sound of the cry of the defeated, but the sound of singing that I hear.

There are certain events that you can tell what is going on by the sounds that are made.  For instance, you can tell the sound of a ball game by the sound that is made when the bat hits the ball and the cheers that are made from the audience.  You can tell the sound of a battle by the gunshots and groans of people.  You can tell the sound of a party by the music and commotion.

You can also tell the sound of what is going on within a person by the words that come out of their mouths.  Some people speak words of dispair and discouragement because within them there is a battle that is warring and they keep being defeated.  

These are those who are stuggling with things that keep coming back over and over again.  Paul understood this in Romans 7. 

Rom 7:15 — Rom 7:23
For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns].
Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge and agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) and that I take sides with it.
However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me and has possession of me.
For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]
For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.
Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no longer I doing it [it is not myself that acts], but the sin [principle] which dwells within me [fixed and operating in my soul].
So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands.
For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self [with my new nature].
But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh].

For those who are saved, there is a constant war going on inside of us.  We fight to no do certain things and to do the things God wants us to do.  It is a non stop battle.  

Then Paul goes on to say in Chapter 8.

Rom 8:1 — Rom 8:2

Romans 8

​ THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

The battle is between the flesh and the Spirit of God.  And when we allow the Spirit to rise up in us and destroy the flesh, there is freedom and we can begin to speak things that are positive and lovely and full of freedom.  

Lord, help me today to walk in your Spirit and to do the things that you want me to do and not the things I want to do make me feel good for a short time.  The only freedom I have is walking in your Spirit. 

I'm Tired of it.

2Pe 2:6 — 2Pe 2:8
And He condemned to ruin and extinction the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to ashes [and thus] set them forth as an example to those who would be ungodly;
And He rescued righteous Lot, greatly worn out and distressed by the wanton ways of the ungodly and lawless—
For that just man, living [there] among them, tortured his righteous soul every day with what he saw and heard of [their] unlawful and wicked deeds—

I almost hate listening or watching the news these days.  It is a constant bombardment of murder and rape and theft.  People are just doing whatever they feel to do.

People go out and have sex with multiple partners and then wonder why they get pregnant.  They go and have that innocent child in their womb viciously murdered.  Or they wonder why they have some disease that they pass on to someone else.  They never think about how their actions will affect others.  Selfishness is rampant.  

This was the same scene in Sodom and Ghomorah.  In the midst of all this was Lot who became grieved concerning all these actions.  Perhaps that was the cry God heard.

Has the church not become grieved by the actions of the world yet?  Have we become lulled asleep to the sinfulness of our world?  Have we let too much of the world into our lives that we don't become greived by these sins?  What  is it going to take for the church to awaken out of slumber and to begin to pray come quickly Lord Jesus, we can't take it anymore?

Unfortunately, it is going to take the church coming under persecution, which is beginning to happen all over the world.  The tolerance for God and His laws is becoming less and less everyday.  

So, it is time for the church to get sick and tired of the things of this world and begin to walk in the Spirit so we do not get pulled into these unrighteous ways.

Lord, help me today to be like you in this darkened world.  Help me to shine your light.  As the days become darker I ask you to please come quickly.  I pray even today please come.  

Perspective of God

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you had all the answers and you told God exactly how He needed to fix the situation?  I know I have. 

We as humans think we have all the answers and know exactly how things should be done and the way God should do it and the steps He needs to take in order to get it done. 

Job was kind of this way in that he saw his situation and thought that God should do things exactly how he thought it should be done to the point of even saying that he should have died at birth. 

After Job's friends have their word and try to persuade Job that he was a dirty rotten sinner and that was why he was going through all this, God speaks in Job 38-41.

He asks Job some very pertinent questions, but as I read this I realized what God was saying.  He was asking, do you not realize I have everything under control because I created it all.  I made things exactly the way I wanted it. 

Job repents of his Outlook on his situation.  Sometimes we need to ask God to forgive us for trying to take our problems and situations into our own hands and not giving it to Him.  He is bigger than our situations.

He then prays for those who tried to determine why he was in the situation he was in.  We need to pray for those who are trying to give us answers that are not of God.

God blesses Job more because he humbled himself before God and changed his perspective of God.

Lord, help me today to see you for who you are and how great you are and give you everything and everyone that comes into my life.  You are bigger than anything that comes my way.

Slave Mentality

When we were not saved yet, we lived in slavery to our sins.  We did the things that made us feel good for a short time and when that wore off, we would do it all over again.  It was a constant thing.

Some who smoke, drink or do drugs just can't get enough.  They are addicted or slave to that thing.  It is a constant desire that just won't go away.

When we give our lives completely over to Jesus, we become free men and no longer bound to those things that have us enslaved.

Paul tells us in Romans 6 that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

See with sin we are bound only as slaves which leads to death.  In Christ we are servants and there are wages that are given to us.

So, when we begin to serve God and do the things He wants us to do, there are blessings.

Deu 24:18 — Deu 24:22
But you shall [earnestly] remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.
When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
When you beat your olive tree, do not go over the boughs again; the leavings shall be for the stranger and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.
When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.
You shall [earnestly] remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.

Don't forget where God brought you from, but remember that where He is taking you is filled with milk and honey.

Keep your mind on the milk and honey not the leeks and barley that you had in Egypt.

Thank you Jesus for bringing me out of slavery.  I want to serve you today because you have blessings for me today.  Help me not to forget the man I once was, but also help me to see what you want me to become and what pain and suffering that old man had to endure and the peace and joy I have today.

Stop trying to fight battles that aren't yours

Have you ever come up against somethings that no matter how hard you try you just can't seem to conquer?

Paul the Apostle understood this when he kept praying for the Lord to take away the thorn in his flesh.  God's response to him was "My Grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in your weaknesses."

Sometimes we just have to realize our weaknesses and tell God we need His strength.

Jehosaphat learned this very vital lesson when enemies from the area came up against him.

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. He said, Hearken, all Judah, you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow go down to them. Behold, they will come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the ravine before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you. And they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established; believe and remain steadfast to His prophets and you shall prosper. When he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy [priestly] garments as they went out before the army, saying, Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were [self-] slaughtered;
2 Chronicles 20:14‭-‬17‭, ‬20‭-‬22 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/2ch.20.14-22.AMPC

1.  Don't let fear over  take you when you are faced with circumstances you can't see an end to

Sometimes fear can be our greatest battle.  However the next point helps with overcoming fear.

2.  No matter how big the problem looks, the problem is not ours.

3.  Get up and face the problem.

Don't do anything about the problem, just face it.

4. Let God handle the problem.

Sometimes we just have to let go and let God be  God.

5.  Sing and praise God when the enemy comes against you.


I remember when my dad became very sick and was about to die that he was in a lot of pain.  My mom told him that when the pain was too much to bear to begin to worship and prayer the Lord.  The last time I talked to him he was praising and worshiping God and this is how he went into Glory.

Lord, help me today to trust you with my battles, knowing that you are greater and bigger than any problem that may come my way.  I believe and trust in you and will sing your praises and give you all the glory that you deserve.

Time for some rest

It is interesting how there are some people who can burn the candle at both ends and never seem to wear down.  Then there are others who need rest often, me included. 

God had instructed the Israelites to let the land rest every seven years.  But since the days of Josiah this had not happened.  In fact the children of Israel had completely turned away from following anything the Lord had commanded. 

Since they wouldn't follow God's laws he forced them to rest.

2Ch 36:20 — 2Ch 36:23
Those who had escaped from the sword he took away to Babylon, where they were servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia was established there,
To fulfill the Lord’s word by Jeremiah, till the land had enjoyed its sabbaths; for as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath to fulfill seventy years.
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord, the God of heaven, has given me, and He has charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up [to Jerusalem].

For seventy years they lived in the land of Babylon and allowed the land of Judah to rest.  

When things happen that seems to close every door in our lives and we are forced to sit and do nothing, just enjoy it.  It could be that God is allowing some time of rest so that we and those around us can be refreshed.

Don't get too comfortable either because Gods promises never fails.  At some point He will open the door to go back to the land He promised you and when He does, you will go back full with everything you need to rebuild and go forward.

Lord, help me to follow you today and rest when you tell me to rest.  Don't force the rest upon me, but if you do, help me to accept it and to enjoy the rest and prepare for the journey to start over.

Growth Pains

Job 33:19

[God’s voice may be heard by man when] he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,

No one enjoys pain.  No one says, I think I am going to take a hammer and smash my big toe with this hammer.  

Most people try to avoid pain because it is uncomfortable and is not enjoyable. However, we have to change our perspective to pain.

Think of a leper who does not feel pain.  They lose limbs and digits because there is no pain to say something is happening to the body that can be of danger.  

God takes our pain and uses it to help us to depend on Him and to grow and mature in Him.  Pain is not always a bad thing if it draws us closer to Him.  Too many look at pain as a bad thing and that God doesn't love them or that perhaps they have done something that God is judging them for. 

This perspective is erroneous because God loves us so much that He hates to see us in pain, but will use the pain to draw us closer to Him.

Pain is also a way of telling us we need rest and relaxation.  However, sometimes we have to get to a high level of pain that we can't take it anymore so we cry out to God for rest.

The children of Israel was in Egypt and couldn't take the whips of the taskmasters anymore so they cried out to God to deliver them.  God was faithful and came to their rescue.  They were delivered to a land of rest in Canaan. 

So the next time life brings you pain, don't raise your fist to God and blame Him for it, but rather raise your hands to God in surrender to Him and draw closer to Him.

Lord, help me today to accept the pain in my life and give it over to you knowing that you will help me through the pain and deliver me.  God you are so good to me. 

The Church needs a Revival

I was awaken a few times last night singing a song from one of my favorite singers, Lauren Daigle, "Come Alive".  I got to thinking about Revival.  We often times get revival mixed up with regeneration.  Regeneration are for those who have not given their lives to Christ yet.  Revival is for us who have served God for any amount of time.

In my thinking, it seemed that the church today needs a revival.  According to David Hunt (n.d.) there was a warning given at the Azusa Street revival 110 years ago:

1.  An overemphasis on power rather than righteousness.

We are always today trying to become powerful in our walk with God.  We saw this throughout the times of the Kings of Judah in the book of 2 Chronicles.  I would encourage you to read this book.

There were Kings who just wanted the power but turned from following God.  The sad part is that they missed the true power because God has all power.

If we want real power, we should follow Christ and do what he says we should do because He is all powerful.

2. An overemphasis on praise to a God they no longer pray to.

We in the church need a revival of prayer.  Not just get down on our knees and say a few words into the air just to check it of our list.   We need to get back to a relationship with Christ where we want to spend time with Him and in His presence.

Psa 16:11
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

There is something about falling in love with Jesus.  His love is so pure and peaceful.  We need to fall in love with Jesus again and the praise we give Him will mean so much more.

3.  An overemphasis on the gifts of the Spirit rather than the Lordship of Christ.

We need a revival of humility understanding that the only person who can do healing and miracles is Jesus. 

We get a little like Hezekiah sometimes when God answers our prayers and does the miraculous.  We get puffed up and proud that God hears our prayers instead of understanding we had nothing to do with it.  God only can do the miraculous.  We are just a conduit that He uses.

Lord, help me today to draw closer to you and know who you are remember that you only can do miraculous works.  Help me to give you all glory and honor when you do great things.  Most importantly, Lord, draw me closer to you.  I want to fall in love with you all over again and in a great way.

Hunt, D. (n.d.). Azusa Street Prophecy. Retrieved September 08, 2018, from https://sermons.faithlife.com/sermons/34101-azusa-street-prophecy

Don't shoot the messenger

It is hard to accept bad news or for someone to tell you "no".  We always want to hear positive things and hope that life is always going to be good to us.  However, reality is that there are some things that happen that are bad or there somethings we are told are not good for us to do.

I can remember as a 16 year old my dad thought it would be a good idea for me to not drive by myself for a few months after getting my license. Being the know it all kid that I was, I adamently disagreed with him.  About two days later I found my dad's truck that I so happened to be driving at the time perched over a brook with three flat tires.  I had been driving way to fast when I hit those train tracks.

I have learned since those days that my dad had a lot of wisdom that if I had listened to him life would have been a whole lot better. 

In this passage is a king who is told by a prophet that what he did was wrong and instead of turning around and doing right, the king puts him in prison.

2Ch 16:7 — 2Ch 16:10
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, Because you relied on the king of Syria and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you.
Were not the Ethiopians and Libyans a huge host with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied then on the Lord, He gave them into your hand.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars.
Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison [in the stocks], for he was enraged with him because of this. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

Asa from that day never turned to God and died with a disease in his feet and never sought God for his healing.  I wonder, if he had depended on God for healing instead of the physicians, would God have healed him?  I would suggest that most likely He would have.

We need to listen to those who hear from God and those in spiritual authority over us.  If someone says they don't think it is a good idea for us to do something, perhpaps it is a good idea to listen and strongly consider what they are saying.  

Lord, help me today to be open to what you have to say to me through others.  Don't let me be angry with the answer, but help me to accept your reproof no matter how much I don't like it.  Help me to understand that your ways are always best.  

How's that working out for you

2 Chronicles 12:8
Nevertheless, they shall be his servants, that they may know [the difference between] My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

Do we ever get a little stubborn sometimes and want to do things our way instead of doing things God's way?

When we do, God says fine have it your way.  The problem is that our way always has a way of sticking around and is always much harder.  

Many think it is difficult serving God and we miss out on so much.  However, that is the fleshly way of looking at it.  Serving God is easy when you consider that His ways always bring peace, joy, love, patience, is good, kind, temperant and faithful.  

When we do things our way, it seems to attatch itself to us and we have a hard time getting  loose of it.  We finally realized that God's way is much better and with more blessings.

Lord, help me today to do the things you want me to do knowing there are blessings to be had because you know what is best for me. 

No Seasonal Pleasure

We are living in a world where people are men pleasers rather than God pleasers.  What I mean by that is that people are looking for the next way to make them feel pleasure or happy.

A person I know keeps talking about going out drinking because their life is so horrible.  I asked this person one day, what happens when the alcohol wears off, are your troubles gone as well.  This person said no, they are still there so I will just drink again. 

What a horrible way to live.  Just doing something over and over hoping that it will help to alleviate the hurt and pain.

The truth is there is a better way.  Can I tell you that the pain and hurt isn't there anymore?  No, absolutely not.  But I can tell you that it is a lot easier to deal with when you turn it over to Jesus and depend on Him for your strength to get through it. 

The Psalmist understood this:

Psa 16:11 Amplified
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

You see, when you let God leads your paths, then you can have joy in His presence and pleasures for eternity. 

Moses understood this when he left the palace of Egypt to become like his people who were slaves.  He realized where true happiness came from although it took him 80 years to figure it out.  He knew there was more than what Egypt could give him.  There was a promised Land that flowed with milk and honey.  Even though he only got to see it from afar, he obtained a better Land.  He walked from this life into eternal life with God, his best friend.

So before turning to temporary pleasures today, try Jesus, He never fails with a good time.  However, His good times are eternal. 

Thank you Lord for giving me more than just a few minutes or seconds of joy and pleasure.  Thank you Lord for giving me an eternal and everlasting joy.  Help me today to laugh a lot. 

What are you leaving your children?

1Ch 22:11 — 1Ch 22:19
Now, my son, the Lord be with and prosper you in building the house of the Lord your God, as He has spoken concerning you.
Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding as you are put in charge of Israel, that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.
Then you will prosper if you are careful to keep and fulfill the statutes and ordinances with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Dread not and fear not; be not dismayed.
In my affliction and trouble I have provided for the house of the Lord 100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron without weighing. I have also provided timber and stone; you must add to them.
You have workmen in abundance: hewers, workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skillful in doing every kind of work
With gold, silver, bronze, and iron. So arise and be doing, and the Lord be with you!
David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
Is not the Lord your God with you? And has He not given you peace on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and His people.
Now set your mind and heart to seek (inquire of and require as your vital necessity) the Lord your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into the house built to the Name and renown of the Lord.

So many parents desire to leave their children and inheritance of some sort that is worth something.  Some will open savings accounts or save up money to give to them.  Some will buy items and set them away to give to the children either when they become adults or when the parents pass away.

Yes, it is important to have something for the children when they get older, but the truth is that nothing down here on Earth is going to last.  It will all pass away anyway.

So, what is the best thing we as parents can leave our children?  We can leave them a plan for them to set up their own relationship with God.  This is what David did.  He did not just plan the temple for Solomon and tell him about it, but he set things aside for the building of the temple.

1.  Tell your children about how to set up a temple in their lives to God.

They will never know unless you tell them.  As parents we need to be teachers.

2.  Set aside the things they need to build that temple.  Children need to be taught how to study the Bible, how to pray and how to fast.

We need to teach our children not to set our affections on things on Earth but on things above.

Lord, help me today to teach my children to walk after your ways and to have a relationship with you.

Daily Devotional September 3, 2018

This morning as I sat here with my thoughts on what to do on this beautiful Labor day, a verse popped into my mind:

Psalms 118:24

This is the day which the Lord hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

I remember a song we used to sing in my church:

This is the day
This is the day that the Lord hath made
I will rejoice
I will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day
This is the day that the Lord has made

A couple of thoughts came to me about this verse

1.  We are only promised this day.

Yesterday has come and gone.  Tomorrow we are never promised so all we have is today.

For those who want to live in your past, it is unfortunate because all we can do with our past is learn from it and use it to be better today.

Live today like it is the only day you have.

2.  No matter what happens today, it is still the day you have been given and you might as well rejoice and be glad in it.

You have a choice to be discouraged and sad or to be joyful and happy. 

One of the fruit of the spirit is joy.  The thing is that in life troubles happen to all of us, but when we walk in the Spirit, Helps us to have a peace and joy that we don't understand.

Paul the Apostle instructs us:

1Th 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

So, no matter what today may bring either blessings or trials, thank God.  It is easy to thank God for the blessings, it is a harder thing to thank God for your trials.  However, beyond every trial there is a blessing.

Thank you God for this day you have given to me.  No matter what comes my way today, I will thank you and use it for your glory and your honor.