The Disciples Journal

Reality of Sin

2012-02-08T16:42:00.000-05:00

We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6 (HCSB)

We would like to see ourselves differently than we are. We like to describe ourselves with words like nice, kind or good. Reality is that we are sinful, straying, disobedient and wayward. There is a reality that we need to understand about ourselves. We are sinful! We have gone astray. We have missed the mark. We make mistakes. We are not perfect. We want to go our way instead of God's way. Why is this important?

Well it comes as no surprise to us if we are followers of Christ. In order for us to sign on to following Him we had to wrestle with this truth at least once before. It is the acknowledgement of our sin that drove us to Him. If He is our savior we had to discover our need to be saved. We came to Jesus because we recognized the truth of Scripture. All have sinned and Jesus is God's only provision for forgiveness and cleansing. But we forget. We begin to once again think we are pretty good, nice guys who really aren't all that bad. Reality check: We are like sheep who have gone astray.

So today, remember who you are outside of the grace of God. Recognize the reality. Recommit to Him being your master. That is what being a Christ follower is all about.

Choose to Stand

2012-01-04T17:35:00.000-05:00

"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Matt 10:32-33 (NASB95)

Life is full of choices. Sometimes we foolishly feel those choices will be easy. Peter did that. He declared he would never forsake Jesus but when the difficult time came he did the very thing. We must choose before the crisis what we will do and who we will be. James MacDonald wrote, "I will not walk away from the Lord when things get hard. I choose to stand for Him." Let us make the choice that regardless of the circumstances we will be Christ followers who will not walk away.

Ready!

2011-08-10T11:15:00.000-04:00

“Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You must be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open [the door] for him at once. 37 Those slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. 39 But know this: if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

Luke 12:35-40 (HCSB)

Are you ready for Jesus' return. The Bible is clear that He will return. This parable instructs us to be ready. The HCSB states it "ready for service." I like that rendering because it get at the truth the Scripture implies. We are not getting ready and watching for him as if we were on a "Star watch". We are not waiting for a famous person or waiting for an unusual event to occur. This passage implies that we have a job to do, a service for the King in preparation for His coming.

In other words, Christ followers are to be ready and serving until He arrives. The job will not be done until we hear that trumpet call. Stay alert! Stay ready! Stay busy!

Abundance?

2011-08-09T10:11:00.000-04:00

A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.

John 10:10 (HCSB)

Jesus made a clear statement concerning His purpose of coming. He came that we might have life that is abundant. If that is the case why do so many Christ followers seem like they are not experiencing abundant life? Is Jesus weak or unable to fulfill His purpose? I would say no. Therefore, the problem must lie with us as Christ followers. Since the Scripture tells us that we have victory of the thief (Satan) through Jesus Christ, could it be that we have allowed Satan to steal our joy and bring destruction to our lives?

How do we overcome? In a nutshell, we overcome by surrender. We surrender to Jesus and abide in His love and life. Our lack of abundance is not due to Jesus. It is due to our disobedience and unwillingness to surrender to Him.

Today may be a good day for us as Christ followers to evaluate our abundance and question our obedience and surrender to the master.

Keeping Your Head Above Water

2011-08-08T10:51:00.000-04:00

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Prov 3:5-7 (NASB95)

There are days in my life that I feel like I am drowning. Troubles overcome us and we feel like we are going under. Proverbs 3.5-7 gives some good truth to help us keep our heads above the water. The writer encourages us to trust the Lord. Trust means that we know that He is in control and I don't have to be. We also acknowledge Him. In other words we recognize that He is the authority. He is in charge and not us. We usually try to follow our agenda but He has an agenda that will keep our paths straight if we will only follow Him. Walk in wisdom by fearing the Lord and turning away from evil. Its all about choices. Will we follow our wisdom or will we fear Him, with awe and reverence and follow His wisdom.

When you are struggling don't try to go it alone. Turn to the master. You can trust Him with your life!

Happy Man -Right Perspective on Work

2011-08-05T00:00:00.003-04:00

You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy, and it will go well for you.

Psalms 128:2 (HCSB)

Many of us grumble when the alarm clock goes off Monday morning and we can't wait for the end of the work week on Friday. But work is really something God intends to give us happiness. We won't get into the whole make sure you're in the right job discussion. But generally speaking work is one of those things God has given to make us happy. We just need the right perspective.

The psalmist gives us a picture of a content and happy worker. Why is He content and happy? He knows that what he does at work is a gift from God for his and his families provision. Here is the catch. We have to be content. Be happy with what we have and what God has provided. Having the right attitude makes all the difference. I love that the psalmist says it will go well for you. Here is a simple fact: when we work with the right attitude we will be a better worker and we will have the best experience (generally speaking) with our job, our boss and coworkers. We will find contentment and happiness with the right perspective on work.

Happy Man -Right Perspective on God

2011-08-04T00:00:00.002-04:00

How happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!

Psalms 128:1 (HCSB)

Joy and happiness are not the same thing. Joy is a state of mind based upon the character and trust of God. Happiness is an emotion. God does not promise that we will be happy but that we can have joy. That being said the Scripture still gives us a picture of what can help us to live a truly happy life.

True happiness can be achieve if we have the right perspective on God. It begins with fear. I know, it seems strange that we will find happiness in fear. That word fear in the Scripture has many nuances. It means reverence. It means awe. It also means fear. When we realize who God is it will bring about a fear (see Isaiah 6) that draws us to awe and reverence the one who loves us. We fear God when we realize who and what He is. With that proper perspective we walk in His ways. Guess what that does for us? You go it. We have the best shot at really living a good life that makes us happy.

Since God is God (which causes the fear) He knows what is best for us and what will really make our lives good. So fear Him. Listen to Him. Obey Him. And enjoy!

Staying pure by the Word

2011-08-03T15:13:00.000-04:00

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word.

Psalms 119:9 (HCSB)

In some segments of society there isn't even a desire for purity anymore. For the Christ follower there should be. Purity is important and how do we stay pure. By "keeping" the Word. What exactly does that mean. We could use the word obey or follow or even live by. God gives us direction of how we should live our lives in purity if we will only keep His Word.

Serve with Gladness

2011-08-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

1 Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. 3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are His — His people, the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the Lord is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.

Psalms 100:1-5 (HCSB)

Thankfulness and gladness should characterize the Christ followers life. For some service is a drudgery. We serve out of a sense of obligation. But for the Christ follower we should serve out of thankfulness and gladness because He is so good. He is good. His love has no limits. He is faithful. What a great God we serve!

Be Encouraged

2011-08-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him; I will exalt him because he knows My name. 15 When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor. 16 I will satisfy him with a long life and show him My salvation.

Psalms 91:14-16 (HCSB)

These verses from Psalm 91 are truly encouraging. I am so glad that I belong to Him. It gives great comfort to know that God takes my struggles, trials and need of help seriously. Be encouraged Christ follower, you are not alone!

He alone!

2011-08-01T09:52:00.000-04:00

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge.

Psalms 62:5-8 (HCSB)

There is a truth that every person must remember. At some point others are going to let us down. Every pastor, spouse, teacher, friend, coworker or child will let you down. That is everyone but God. God never lets us down. Therefore, the psalmist can write "rest in God alone". "He alone is my rock." My salvation and glory depend on God." Trust in Him at all times."

While others let you down God deserves your trust. He is a refuge that never fails. As you go through this week trust Him, rely on Him and rest in Him. You will not be disappointed!

Where He has placed you!

2011-07-19T11:45:00.000-04:00

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—

1 Tim 1:12 (HCSB)

Where has God placed you? Some of us may respond well no where! "I am in this dead end job!" Or maybe you may say, "I really don't have any important role in the church or ministry." We may excuse ourselves by saying, "I really don't have any gifts, skills," even, "God can't use me." No, God has placed you where you are for His purpose. You have a ministry, whether you recognize it or not.

Notice three important things about Paul's statement to Timothy. First, He is thankful. Don't belittle where God has placed you but revel in it. God has placed you where you are to do what only you can do. Thank Him for using you there!

Second, notice that He says God has considered him faithful. Was Paul more faithful than us? Perhaps in some ways but over all no not really. He was human just like us. Sinful, some times stupid and not always doing what he should be and yet God considered him faithful. Understand what God understands about you. You are a work in progress. If you are waiting to be perfect, ready or prepared you probably will never be used. God considers us faithful not because of who we are but because of who we will be.

Third, just a reminder, God places us where He wants us. Ministry is not a choice it is our calling. We don't choose where and when we serve. God places us in His place and in His time.

Just serve where He has placed you!

Destiny

2011-07-14T14:10:00.000-04:00

If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”

Esth 4:14 (HCSB)

Destiny is not necessarily a Biblical word but it is a Biblical concept. It means, according to Webster's dictionary, "Something a person or thing is designated, assigned or dedicated to in advance." It is a biblical concept isn't it. Lets not forget that God has a plan and that plan includes you. He has a purpose for your life. But in God's way of doing things there is another biblical concept, Man's free will.

God gives us a choice. We have the choice to obey or disobey. We can work with Him or against Him. We can choose to fulfill our destiny, His plan, or in sinful arrogance do our thing, fulfill our desires.

Be faithful and fulfill your destiny, God's plan. You are not where you are by accident. You are there on purpose and God has a plan to use you. Just consider, you may be where you are, "for such a time as this."

Implications of Reconciliation: A new Purpose

2011-06-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

2 Cor 5:18-19 (HCSB)

When we come to Christ he gives us a new purpose. Before Christ our purpose was all about us. It was a selfish purpose. But not any longer. If we in fact are a new creature with a new relationship with God, we should absolutely be thrilled with a new purpose.

Our new purpose is no longer about us but it is about introducing the one we love to those who need His love. We can share the joy, the hope and the peace of being reconciled to this awesome God we love.

Embrace your new purpose today. Be a messenger of His reconciliation to those who need it.

Implication of Reconciliation: A New Relationship

2011-06-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

who reconciled us to Himself through Christ 2 Cor 5:18 (HCSB)

When we come to Christ, He reconciles us to Himself. We were enemies, at odds with Him and He forgave us. It is His grace that we are saved. It is His grace that our relationship is restored with Him. It is what He did through Christ. We didn't do anything.

Understand it is not that we were two friends who had a misunderstanding and needed to compromise to restore the friendship. We were the offending party. We were sinful and through Jesus, God graciously restores us. What a great God we serve.

Enjoy your relationship with almighty God today!

Implication of Reconciliation: New Creature

2011-06-15T11:41:00.000-04:00

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

2 Cor 5:17 (HCSB)

When we come to Christ we are reconciled to God. That in and of itself is a great truth and blessing. But what is the implication of being reconciled?

Well the first implication is that we become new creatures. What does that mean? It means we are new. Paul writes, that the old passes away and that new things come.

We are new! Do you feel new? Are you allowing the old things to pass away (die) and the new things to grow in you? Give God the freedom to work in you and work things out of you. That is the awesome gift of reconciliation!

Be new today!

The Withered Hand

2011-05-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Stretch out your hand.

Luke 6:10

My wife and I in our devotional reading this morning read this from the author of our devotional, Chris Tiegreen: "Even though we have so little to offer Him, He still requires something of us -a withered hand. We must take this sin -racked limb -the epitome of our fallen nature -and stretch it out to Him."

There was much Tiegreen was teaching in his devotional but God spoke to me about us as Christ followers. All of us have a "withered hand". There is something in us that is damaged and racked by sin. We have hang ups, habits and addictions. We have areas of sin that are continually there to be reckoned with. What do we do we these things?

I fear that we have taken this approach. We are hiding the offending limb. We are using it as an excuse why we can't be used, or serve whole heartedly our master and Lord. I have heard often in the body of Christ, people say, "I would serve but I can't. I'm not ready," or even worse, "I'm unfit to serve because of this sin issue in my life."

What does Jesus want? He wants us to stretch forth our hand and let Him deal with the brokenness in us. The truth is we don't want that. We are comfortable with our sinfulness. Perhaps we even appreciate the excuse to not do what we know we are called to do but really don't want to do. God help us!

Christ follower, today stretch out your hand. Let God deal with your sin riddled limb and then serve Him with every fiber of your being!

What we Need: To be willing

2011-04-30T11:30:00.001-04:00

give me a willing spirit.

Psalms 51:12 (HCSB)

Are you willing? Willing to serve that is? Here is an honest confession. I'm not always willing to serve. Sometimes I become selfish and want to be served instead of serving. When we encounter that we need a spiritual renewal. Remember as a Christ follower/disciple we have been called to serve. David asks for a willing spirit. We should too. We need a desire to be a servant to others. It is our call.

So when you find your self lacking in motivation to serve. Follow David's lead and ask God for a willing spirit. He will give it to you. He wants you to serve as well.

What we need: Joy of Salvation

2011-04-29T00:00:00.001-04:00

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation

Psalms 51:12 (NASB95)

Do you have His joy today? Now, I am not asking if you are happy. You may or may not be happy but you can still have joy. Joy is not happiness. Happiness is an emotion. Joy is something more. It is a state of mind. It is a sense of peace even contentment in your spiritual state of being. Joy of salvation is just that. It is a peace or contentment in your salvation. Happiness comes and goes but Joy holds on no matter what the circumstances.

Be joyful today in your salvation. Honestly nothing else really matters.

What we Need: To be in His presence

2011-04-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalms 51:11 (HCSB)

As we live day to day as a Christ follower, we need to feel His presence in our lives. As Christ followers we can never lose our salvation and the Holy Spirit comes as a deposit in our lives and does not leave. However, sin does severs and damages our relationship with the Lord. King David pleads that God would not banish him because of his sin.

David really understands the severity and offense of our sin to God. We sometimes do not. But we also need to recognize the grace and mercy of God and realize that He has created us for fellowship with Him.

Seek his presence in your life today and enjoy the sweet fellowship with our master!

What we Need: To be made consistant

2011-04-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalms 51:10 (HCSB)

Do you need consistency in your spiritual walk? If you are like me you may answer that question with a sarcastic, "No! I am consistently do the wrong thing." David asks for God to give him a steadfast spirit. He wants to be steady or consistent. But to be consistent in godliness not spiritual failure.

God can make us steady. He can keep us consistent in our walk. He is willing, if we are. Pray today that God will make you consistent in your walk. It may make all the difference as you follow the Master.

What we need: To be made Pure

2011-04-26T11:09:00.000-04:00

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

Psalms 51:10 (NASB95)

What do you need? Spiritually, what do you need? We often think of revival as something we do maybe once a year or so. But revival is really a spiritual renewal that needs to be happening regularly. For King David it did. Particularly here in Psalm 51. He has just come off of the whole Bathsheba incident. He has committed adultery, murder and cover up. He has been confronted by the prophet and He needs spiritual renewal.

God is so good that He does not abandon us after we have abandoned Him. David asks, "God create in me a clean heart." He asks for purity.

Here is a challenge for us today. Perhaps we need to go to God confess our sins and ask Him for purity. Ask Him to clean our heart.

Grace

2011-04-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

Grace is good. Consider its implication in our day to day living.

Rely on Scripture

2011-04-08T09:03:00.000-04:00

Facing temptation is always difficult. Temptations come in many shapes, sizes and varieties. Be encouraged and challenged by Mandisa's message.

Hard Hearts

2011-01-25T15:10:00.000-05:00

for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6:50-52 (HCSB)

There is a warning for the Christ follower within this passage. It is a mistake to think that we are doing fine because we have a relationship with Christ or even that we are practicing regular "Christian activities". The disciples were with Jesus and yet they are described as having hard hearts.

How did they get hard hearts? And if we have a hard heart what do we do about it? They had hard hearts because they did not take full advantage of being with Jesus. They didn't understand what Jesus was doing. They didn't recognize His sovereignty and His plan and purpose. We also struggle with those same things. Are hearts become hard because we forget that Jesus is sovereign and we forget what His purpose is for our lives. What is the cure of hard heartedness? It is to recognize Jesus is with us in the struggle and to recommit ourselves to trusting Him in the midst of our crisis. When we do He speaks into our hearts what He spoke to the disciples, "have courage. It is I! Don't be afraid."

Lets be honest we all have times of hard heartedness. Trust Him and follow Him. He will see you through.

Being Useless

2010-12-07T11:36:00.000-05:00

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (HCSB)

I don't know about you but the desire of my heart is to be useful and fruitful for my King and Master. Peter has a good word for us here. He challenges us to grow in these character traits and then promises if we do they will keep us from being useless and unfruitful.
We often forget that character does count and it makes all the difference in our spiritual lives. If we want to be faithful Christ followers we need to be useful. Faithfulness is always demonstrated by fruitfulness. Grow to be useful to the Master!

Difficult days

2010-11-30T11:19:00.000-05:00

God is faithful; by Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Cor 1:9 (HCSB)

Do you ever have difficult days? It seems lately for me there are more than I care to think about. But I find Paul's words particularly encouraging. It is a very simple remembrance. He reminds us of 2 fabulous truths. God is faithful!
God has called us into fellowship with Jesus!

That is an encouraging reminder to me and I hope it is encouraging to you today!

Light

2010-11-23T13:48:00.000-05:00

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matt 5:14-16 (HCSB)

You are the light. Light shines. It gives light to those who are in darkness. Jesus reminds us that light was not meant to be hidden. In fact when we try to hide the light it dims the light but it is still there. Our lives are a testimony of what God can do with sinful humans. When we hide our light we are taking away our opportunity to glorify God in our lives. Don't hide the light but shine for all to see.

Love and Obedience

2010-11-16T10:46:00.000-05:00

The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.

John 14:21 (HCSB)

Jesus has a very clear and to the point message. The clearest indication of our love for Him is that we obey what He has commanded. When Christ gives us His command He expects that we will keep them. If we are not doing what He has said then it demonstrates the level of our love.

Some claim to love Him and yet if we are not obeying we really can not make that claim. The question for us today is, are we demonstrating our love of Him through obedience to Him?

Fear God

2010-11-11T11:27:00.000-05:00

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul?

Deut 10:12 (HCSB)

When we fear God it means that we stand in awe and reverence of Him. Biblically there is a sense of fear as in being afraid, when we realize whose presence we are in. But the word also refers to awe and reverence. So what does the fear of God look like? Moses describes it in Deut. 10.12.

It means we walk in all of his ways. In other words we obey Him as He has directed in His Word. If we are not obeying then we are not walking in His ways. Be careful that we don't deceive ourselves. God is not impressed with 70 or 80 or even 90% obedience. He wants all.

To fear Him also means that we love Him. The word actually denotes a covenant relationship. God has chosen to love us and to express His love to us in so many ways. What awe we should have when we realize almighty God loves us. We should love Him back.

We also worship Him because we fear Him. A correct view of ourselves and Him will cause us to worship Him. When Isaiah (Isa. 6) saw and understood who God was, he could not help but to worship Him. We will do the same.

Obey, love and worship should be every Christ followers response to an awesome God.

Dealing with Sin: Confession

2010-10-21T00:00:00.001-04:00

Against You—You alone—I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge. 5 Indeed, I was guilty [when I] was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 6 Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within.

Psalms 51:4-6 (HCSB)

How do we deal with sin? We must learn to confess our sin. Confession is simply saying the same thing God says about it. David teaches us some important things about confession.

Sin is ultimately against God. We may have done some things too others or against others, but really the transgression mostly is against God.
We are inherently evil. It is not that we as Human beings are born good and turn bad, but rather are born sinful and need to become a new creature to be Holy like God.
God desires us to be righteous/Holy. We are challenged as Christ followers to become what we are not, holy and righteous. That happens through the process of sanctification as we submit ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

One of the interesting and truly encouraging truths is that David, a man after God's own heart, knows about confession out of experience. He too was sinful and needed to confess. Don't give up Christ follower. You are not alone!

Dealing with Sin: Acknowledgement

2010-10-20T10:44:00.000-04:00

For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.

Psalms 51:3 (HCSB)

How do we deal with sin? For most of us, at least when we are living out of our flesh rather than the Spirit, will try to ignore or excuse sin. We learn from King David in Psalm 51 that what we need to do is acknowledge our sin. David called sin what it is sin. He said I know of "my rebellion." That's where its at isn't it? We must recognize that no matter what word we use to describe it, it is a rebellion against the Lord.

Not for faint of heart

2010-09-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Tim 4:6-8 (NASB95)

Being a Christ follower is not for the faint of heart. Paul doesn't beat around the bush with Timothy. He reminds him that serving the King is going to require some difficult choices, circumstances and consequences. Paul reminds us that serving means we must sacrifice ourselves willingly. That goes against the grain for us. We often seek comfort rather than sacrifice.

There is also required the need to get into the struggle for the Kingdom. Kingdom living is equated to a fight or wrestling match. Paul also describes it as running a marathon that requires endurance to finish the race no matter how much it hurts.

Yes being a Christ follower requires a commitment in which we give all but also remember the rewards. Eternity with Him, a Crown of Righteousness and of course a, "well done, good and faithful servant." Keep striving today in your commitment to following King Jesus!

A Good Declaration!

2010-09-09T00:00:00.001-04:00

I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”

Psalms 16:2 (HCSB)

Isn't that a great statement? David's declaration is a complete devotion to God alone. That is the kind of dedication and commitment we should have to our Master. But do we really?

David was a man after God's own heart so certainly he never turned away his complete devotion from the Lord to other things. David never sinned and broke fellowship with God, did he? Yes we know he did and yet God still saw him as a man after God's own heart.

Well what about us? We too find ourselves forsaking our commitment to Christ. Rather than completely devoted and following Christ we sometimes find ourselves chasing after other things. We find ourselves deep in sin. But God is good, gracious and merciful. What a great God we serve. What a great God to give our complete devotion too.

Holy to the Lord

2010-09-08T00:00:00.001-04:00

“Every tenth of the land’s produce, grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Lev 27:30 (HCSB)

The tithe is a subject that can cause a lot of discussion and difficulty. I am not going to write about the tithe today. We'll not directly. For this post at least we will settle with this agreement, that the Scripture clearly teaches the importance for the Christ follower to give. We won't get into the debate about legalism, Old Testament, Free will etc . . . Let's just agree for now God wants us to give.

But here is what I want you to focus on with me. The last phrase says, "it is holy to the Lord." Remember holy means that it is sacred. It has a special importance to God. It also means that it has been set apart. When we give to the Lord (and it should be regularly) it has a special importance to Him and it has been set apart for His use in Kingdom work. We are not paying, or paying off God but we are giving Him something that is uniquely special and set apart for His use. What a privilege it is for us to be a part of something so important to God and His Kingdom.

I encourage you to dig into the Scripture and find out exactly what God has to say about your giving as a Christ follower. Don't miss this Kingdom opportunity.

Kingdom First

2010-09-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

But seek first the kingdom of God

Matt 6:33 (HCSB)

This passage reminds us that the Christ follower has a priority given from God. Our lives are to be focused on the Kingdom before anything else. We can be distracted by so many things. Jesus reminds us that it should always be Kingdom first.

Today we may just need a small reminder to not be distracted by all the other "stuff" of life and to keep our focus on His Kingdom.

What do you see?

2010-08-25T15:44:00.000-04:00

The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey— than honey dripping from the comb. 11 In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them.

Psalms 19:7-11 (HCSB)

When you look at the Bible what do you see? Do you see in the Bible a bunch of rules? Maybe it is folklore to you. Perhaps you find it an ancient book with not much relevance to a modern person. Well, there are many who may view the Bible in such a way. To me, I see it as King David saw it here in Psalm 19. Check out his description:

Perfect

Reviving

Trustworthy

makes wise

Right

makes one glad

radiant

illuminates

pure

Enduring

Reliable

Righteous

Valuable

Sweeter than honey

Warning

Rewarding

Take a look again at the Word!

Renewing the mind

2010-08-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 (HCSB)

In today's culture there are a lot of people "preaching" the need to be careful what we put in our bodies. We are urged to be healthy and guard what we place in our bodies through our mouths. But what about our minds? Are we guarding what goes into our minds. The Apostle Paul challenges that we must renew our minds. Check ourselves on how we think. To guard against what we put into our minds. Christ followers must remember to consider their spiritual diet of the mind.

I'm with Him!

2010-08-18T13:07:00.000-04:00

For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God.

Deut 7:6 (HCSB)

As a Christ follower we are a holy people. Holiness means that we are set apart for a particular reason and purpose. We belong to Him. God has set us apart for His purpose. We belong to Him. That really does make us holy. Live today for Him as a servant set apart who belongs to the Master.

Gladness

2010-08-17T10:23:00.000-04:00

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Psalms 100:2 (HCSB)

How do you serve the Lord? Did you wake up today intent and excited about serving Him. Or has your service become a drudgery. We sometimes begin to feel serving the Lord is a duty and it loses its excitement and appeal. Here is a simple challenge. Remember how good He is and serve Him with gladness!

Marks of Love

2010-08-10T11:32:00.000-04:00

The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

John 14:21 (HCSB)

Our love for God is demonstrated in our obedience. Henry Blackaby writes, "(some claim) I love God, but I'm having difficulty obeying Him in some areas of my life. That is a spiritual impossibility." If we love God we will obey Him. Genuine love will produce obedience.

The question for every Christ follower is do I really love God? Is it demonstrated in my actions.

The God We Serve!

2010-08-06T00:00:00.001-04:00

The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the Lord was devoted to your fathers and loved them. He chose their descendants after them—[He chose] you out of all the peoples, as it is today. 16 Therefore, circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer. Deut 10:14-16 (HCSB)

These verse here in Deuteronomy tell us about this wonderful God we serve. It tells us three very important truths. God is God of all. The world and everything in it belongs to Him. He is master and ruler. Whether He is acknowledged or not He is over all. It also tells us He loves us and chose us as His people. Here in the Old Testament He is speaking of the Isrealites, His chosen people. The principle also applies to us as the people of His new covenant. He loves us and chose us all the while He gave us our free will to chose. These verses also tell us that He expects and wants our obedience. He wants our hearts to be right with Him and responsive to His leading and convicting.

Don't take for granted this wonderful, awesome God we serve.

Watching or Alert?

2010-08-05T11:25:00.000-04:00

32 “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father. 33 Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is [coming] . 34 It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36 Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

Mark 13:32-37 (HCSB)

Are you watching or Alert? You may be asking isn't it the same thing? No in this case it really isn't. There are many Christians who are watching for Jesus to return. They are sitting back, and waiting. They want to get all the information (prophecy) to know when that final hour will be like, what will happen before that day, they are anxiously waiting Jesus return.

But the Christ follow is to be Alert. Very different! Being alert is not passively sitting by watching the skies. Alertness is to be busy, it is activity it is working, it is fulfilling His purpose for us because we know our King is coming. The Christ follower is busy doing the assigned task until He returns. What is the assigned task. It is bringing as many into the Kingdom as we can. Sharing the message of our King and His Kingdom until He breaks open the eastern sky.

Are you watching or Alert?

Great Lengths

2010-07-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

When He entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that He was at home. 2 So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them. 3 Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying.

Mark 2:1-4 (HCSB)

A simple thought today. What are you willing to do to get someone to Jesus? Are you willing to work harder? Are you willing to embarrass yourself? Are you willing to inconvenience yourself? The men in this passage knew this man needed Jesus and they would not be deterred from getting him there. What will you do today to get someone to Jesus?

The Call: A Holy Moment

2010-07-16T00:00:00.001-04:00

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”“Here I am,” he answered. 5 “Do not come closer,” He said. “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Ex 3:4-5 (HCSB)

You will probably not see a burning bush that is not consumed. You will probably not hear an audible voice call your name. But if you are a Christ follower, seeking Him you will receive a call. It may come at the strangest time, in your estimation. It may not sound like or look like what you think it will. But God has a plan, purpose and call for each of us. Here's what you need to remember. Wherever, whatever and whenever you receive that call, remember it is a holy moment. Don't view it as, "not a big deal." It is a big deal! No matter what it is that God calls you too, you have been called upon by an awesome God. He plans to do extraordinary things through ordinary you and possibly ordinary circumstances. But it is always a holy moment. Be ready for it!

The Call to do what you already Know

2010-07-15T00:00:00.001-04:00

Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them as they deliver. If the child is a son, kill him, but if it’s a daughter, she may live.” 17 The Hebrew midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.

Ex 1:15-17 (HCSB)

Usually when we talk about God calling us we are looking for the big things. We are looking for it to be written across the sky in an amazing show of God's direction. The Hebrew midwives teach us a valuable lesson about God's call. Most of the time God's call is simply to do what we already know He wants us to do. They knew what God wanted and because the feared Him they obeyed.

Today seek to do the call of the things you already know He wants for you to do and recognize His divine calling in your life today.

Choices; for His Use

2010-07-14T00:00:00.001-04:00

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and earthenware, some for special use, some for ordinary. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from these things, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. 2 Tim 2:20-23 (HCSB)

God wants to use you but your choices make the difference of how or if you can be used for His service. This movie scene is a fun way to illustrate the importance of choices:

What choice will you make? Will you avoid youthful passions and pursue righteous living? Will you chose to be a useful vessel today?

Knowing and Obeying

2010-07-13T10:33:00.000-04:00

In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.

James 2:17-18 (HCSB)

James tells us that our faith is really demonstrated not in knowing (faith) but in obeying (works). To many who claim to be Christ followers talk about know Christ but don't demonstrate their faith by the actions. We are to be people of action. We can not continue to claim that we know Christ and have faith and then refuse to obey Him. Evaluate yourself are you merely knowing or are you obeying. There really is a difference.

Right and Wrong

2010-06-30T00:00:00.004-04:00

Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

2 Tim 2:14 (HCSB)

OK, I know we all like to be right. It is hard sometimes to hear people spouting off and not knowing what they are talking about. Over the years I have met many people who thought their number one goal in life was to prove these dumb Christ followers wrong. What is even more distasteful is to discover another Christian who is so sure that their view of a certain issue or topic that they want to beat you and everyone else down with their interpretation of the Bible.

The Apostle Paul has something to say to us about that. He says, "don't do it!" Don't fight about words. It is unproductive and will only damage those who hear it. Often the damage is to innocent bystanders who are all ears when we begin to argue. Yes there are times we must defend the truth but that can be done in a patient and constructive way. But lets be honest. Most of the things we fight about really aren't that important in the big picture of Kingdom life.

So next time think about this verse from 2 Timothy, Count to ten, bite your lip or stick your sock in your mouth before you start that argument. No one will really win!

Not out but protected

2010-06-29T14:11:00.000-04:00

I am not prayingthat You take them out of the worldbut that You protect them from the evil one.

John 17:15 (HCSB)

In John 17 Jesus is praying for His disciples then and those in the future (us). He is very clear. He says, "I am not praying that you take them out of the world." And yet the Christian community over the years has tried to find ways to get out of the world. We have tried to legislate. We publish advertising so that we know which businesses are "Christian." We have established "Christian Schools." All of this seems to contradict what Jesus said He was praying for, that we would not be out of the world.

Instead Jesus said He was praying, "that You protect them from the evil one." Jesus plan is not to take us out but to protect us while we are in. In order for us to be effective as light and salt we must be in regular contact with the world. If we isolate ourselves from the world we will never be able to do our job as Christ followers and bring others into the Kingdom.

Jesus does not want you compromised or destroyed by the evil one in the world but He does want you to be a visible light and a purifying salt in the world. Stay in and know you are protected.

Praise God in all things

2010-06-28T08:23:00.000-04:00

As a Christ follower we know the importance of praising God. It is easier to praise God when things go as we wish they would but it is much harder in tough times. Watch this video and be encouraged by this Christ followers commitment to praise God in the hard times. Since this video was made He has gone on to be with the Lord.

Revealed

2010-06-15T12:11:00.000-04:00

The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.2 Day after day they pour out speech;night after night they communicate knowledge.

Psalms 19:1-2 (HCSB)

Psalm 19 tells us an important truth. God reveals Himself to us. He reveals Himself through nature. Nature declares His glory, power and majesty. God is not hidden. He is visible to all who want to see. When we know that we might look at a sunset, the mountains or the ocean a little differently. When we see the power and precision of nature it is revealing to us the splendor of an awesome God.

Enjoy Him today!

Happy!

2010-06-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

How happy is the manwho has put his trust in the Lord

Psalms 40:4 (HCSB)

It is important that the Bible does not promise us to be happy. Happiness is an emotion that can change. God does promise abundant life, joy, peace, calls us to rejoice but not necessarily that we will be happy. It is also important to realize that happiness is not a bad thing and shouldn't be something we hope for and look for in our lives.

Here is a great verse that reminds us that generally speaking we can find happiness simply by trusting in the Lord. When we have the right mindset and focus, when we are putting our faith in Him alone we can be happy even in the midst of difficult things.

Trust God and enjoy today!

Breaking away from Guilt

2010-05-29T00:00:00.004-04:00

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah . 5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD";
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.

Psalms 32:1-9 (NASB95)

Guilt is not necessarily a bad thing. Like pain is serves us a warning system that something is wrong. But if we hold on to it, Satan can use it to hinder us and render us useless in Kingdom work. Psalm 32 gives us some help in breaking away from guilt.

First, we must understand and accept forgiveness. (Vs. 1-2) God forgives. That is really great news! So don't roll around in your guilt but enjoy and appreciate God's forgiveness.

Second, we must understand and accept conviction. (Vs. 3-6) Conviction can be painful and none of us really like it. But accept it because it is evidence of God's great love for us. He loves us so much He will not leave us in our sin but brings conviction to draw us back to Him.

Finally understand and accept your security. (Vs. 7-9) God is our refuge. He loves us so much. We beat ourselves up about our sin. We should take our sin seriously. There is an appropriate time for grieving over our sin. But there is also a time to acknowledge the sin and move on, knowing that God still loves you and is with you and wants to use you. It is good to rest secure in the love of our savior.

Don't camp in the valley of guilt. Go through it and come out into the pasture of His love, mercy and grace.

Integrity

2010-05-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me;
Test my mind and my heart.

Psalms 26:1-2 (NASB95)

David proclaims that he has walked in integrity. That is an important claim. We should walk in integrity. That should be a desire of ours to live that kind of life. However David doesn't just make the claim. He takes another step.

He asks God to examine and try him, to look at his mind and his heart. It is one thing to claim we have integrity it is another to ask God to test us, to examine us to validate our integrity to be real. As Christ followers we need to to frequently do just that. Ask God to examine, try and test us and help us to see where we are lacking.

We will have and maintain true integrity when we take time to be examined by our Lord and to repent when we see what is lacking in our life.

A Word for a trying Day

2010-05-27T10:19:00.001-04:00

As I prepare to write this blog I have faced several weeks of extremely difficult and trying circumstances. I took a long look at Psalm 13 to share some thoughts for the Christ Followers on The Disciples Journal.It was good to review it again. I really wish I had read it before today.

Meditate on the words of the Psalm and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart as He did mine.

Psalm 13

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4 And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalms 13:1-6 (NASB95)

Confidence

2010-05-26T10:18:00.000-04:00

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven;

Psalms 11:4 (NASB95)

Confidence is needed in life. Our confidence however, is not in ourselves but instead is in God. The psalmist reminds us that the Lord is on the job. He is in His temple. He is in control. He is on the throne. When you face the challenges of the day remember that you are not alone. We serve an awesome God who is all-powerful and righteous.

Live in confidence today!

Consequences of Rebellion

2010-05-05T00:00:00.001-04:00

7 The Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways. 8 Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house. Then I will be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought [the harvest] to your house, I ruined it. Why?” [This is] the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. “Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.10 So on your account, the skies have withheld the dewand the land its crops. 11 I have summoned a droughton the fields and the hills,on the grain, new wine, olive oil,and whatever the ground yields,on the people and animals,and on all that your hands produce.”

Hag 1:7-11 (HCSB)

I have noticed that we have this problem, we expect God to bless us even when we rebel agains Him in our lives. Haggai reminds us what happens when we rebel. God removes His blessings from us (vs. 9) It also disrupts our fellowship and relationship with God (vs. 9) But God also witholds His blessings from us (vs. 10-11)

There's a lesson to be learned here. God loves us, He forgives us, He shows mercy, but He does not have to bless us even when we rebel. There are consequences to sin and rebellion. We must keep that in mind as we make decisions in our lives.

Disaster of Disobedience

2010-05-04T10:14:00.001-04:00

Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!”

Num 14:9 (HCSB)

Disobedience will always bring disaster into our lives. The Israelites should have learned that. They had a long history of disobedience that brought disastrous results. But then again, so do we. In this passage the people of God are challenged not to make the mistake of disobedience again. They are given three warnings.

Don't rebel against God. How simple is that and yet it was so hard for them to acknowledge. It is for us as well. Rejoice if you have someone willing to speak into your life these words, "do not rebel against the Lord."

Second, is do not fear. Fear is a great distractor from obedience. For the Isrealites it was fear of the people in the land. For us we have different life challenges. But the challenge is still the same, "do not fear." There is also a reminder that God will be with us.

Last, is the challenge not to reject the plans of the Lord. God had a plan. He had already promised deliverance and victory. What was required to walk forward and take the Land in obedience. Will we follow His plan or try to find our own?

How do you present yourself?

2010-04-28T00:00:00.001-04:00

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1 (HCSB)

Today's thought is very simple. If we are to present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice. How will you present yourself today? The verse goes on to say holy, pleasing to God. Are you living a Holy life? Are you pleasing to God? If not we are not presenting ourselves to God as we should. It is a simple challenge of obedience.

Prepared

2010-04-27T11:06:00.000-04:00

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 To please the recruiter, no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of everyday life. 5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hardworking farmer who ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.

2 Tim 2:3-6 (HCSB)

I was never a boy scout, but I understand that the boy scout's motto is "be prepared." This should be the motto of the Christ follower as well. As Paul writes to Timothy his suggestions of preparation are slightly different. Perhaps we could even say Paul is telling Timothy to expect certain things as a Christ follower.

The first is to expect suffering. As a Christ follower, or soldier of Jesus we should be prepared to suffer. Expect it. It goes agains the grain of what our expectations are. We think that if we are serving Jesus we should be happy and everything will be good. The problem is that never in the Bible is that suggested to us. Rather, we are told to be prepared for suffering.

Second is to be prepared to play by the rules. In other words we need to know how to play the game. The Christ follower is really not playing a game but we must understand clearly what the "rules" are. I think God's word is clear about life and God's expectations for us. We live with a different World view and we must always keep that in mind.

Last we should prepare to reap a harvest. There is a reward. We like that expectation! We harvest lives changed. But we also harvest a reward that is beyond this world. It is very possible, perhaps even likely that you will never see the reward in this life, but Heaven holds a cornucopia of rewards.

Be prepared for all that you should expect as a Christ follower.

Tithe

2010-04-08T10:49:00.000-04:00

I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. 11 So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts. 12 All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses.

Neh 13:10-12 (NASB95)

Why is the tithe so import for Christ followers to practice? You may be asking that question yourself. It is a practice not done as regularly as it should. Understand that God does not require a portion he requires it all. That is stewardship. God owns it all and we give as He asks of us. He may ask for 10, 20 or 50 percent. That is another lesson for another blog. Again why is the tithe so important? There are two important aspects to the tithe.

First, is personal for an individual Christ follower. When we tithe or choose not too it speaks to our obedience and to our priorities. It tells us whether we have placed something in a position of importance greater than God. If we understand God expects us to give and yet we refuse to do so we have made it clear that God is not first in our lives. He is at best second or third, or fifth, you get the idea. It also speaks to our priorities. If serving God in obedience or financing Kingdom work is not important enough to do it shows us that our priorities are not where they ought to be. A Christ follower will place obedience to God and priority of Kingdom work above personal aspirations and desires.

Second lesson for us is corporate or has to do with body of Christ. We tithe so that God's Kingdom work can be done. God has made a decision that through our tithe, our giving, He will finance the work of the Kingdom. Here Nehemiah is distraught because Kingdom work is not able to be done because the tithe has been forsaken. If every Christ follower were to give a minimum of 10% of their income can you imagine the work that could be done, the missionaries that could be sent and the ministries supported. There would never be a lack for finances in Kingdom work.

So Christ follower that is why we tithe: obedience, priorities and Kingdom work. Are you being faithful with the money God has entrusted you with?

The Cross for the Condemned

2010-04-02T00:00:00.001-04:00

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:17-18 (NASB95)

Jesus went to the cross not to condemn us but because we are already condemned. We are condemned not because God sent Jesus to the cross but because we are sinners. Our Human propensity to sin is what causes are judgment and condemnation. Jesus came to the cross so that we could be freed from that condemnation. It is a mistake to say that if God is a loving God He won't send anyone to Hell. God is a loving God and that is why Jesus went to the cross. God wants to save us from our condemnation. It is not God who sends us to Hell, we send ourselves with our sinfulness.

Today, Good Friday is a good day to be reminded or to hear for the first time that, yes, we are condemned but God has made a way for us to be freed from that condemnation. It truly is a Good Friday!

The Cross an Expression of Love

2010-04-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NASB95)

Jesus went to the cross because God wanted you to know how much He loved you. What an awesome expression of His love. That He would send His only begotten Son so that we could have eternal life. I have to be honest, that is a love I do not understand. I accept it. I believe it. I am grateful for it. But it is just a wonderful expression of love for us more than my mind can comprehend.

The Cross for Our Belief

2010-03-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

John 3:14-15 (NASB95)

Why did Jesus have to go the cross? That is such an ugly way to die, so inhuman, so vicious. I am sure to the Israelites in the wilderness the "Serpent on the Stick" that Moses lifted up wasn't a pretty picture either. But if we are going to turn to Jesus lifted up on a cross, we are going to come believing. After all if we had our choice we would turn to something beautiful, sweet, something that gives us warm fuzzies. There is nothing warm or fuzzy about the cross.

The cross challenges us to true belief. Every Christ follower must understand that there is a difference between true belief and mental consent. Many mentally consent to the idea of Christ on the cross. But true belief is more than just acknowledging that something has occurred. True belief shakes us and challenges us to the core and causes us to do something because of what we know or believe.

That is the difference isn't it. True belief calls upon us to live a different way because of our belief. Jesus on the cross call us to true belief not just acknowledging an event in history.

The Cross to Discover Our Need

2010-03-30T00:00:00.004-04:00

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;

John 3:14 (NASB95)

Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to go to the cross? It is a good question. It can also be a mind blowing question. One reason Jesus went to the cross is found in this verse for today. The reason Jesus went to the cross is so that we will discover our need.

Jesus uses an Old Testament illustration from the Exodus. Do you remember the story. The Isrealites had sinned again and the consequences of that sin was snakes. Serpents came from everywhere and when they would bite the people they would die. Moses cries out to God for help. God tells Moses to make a serpent and place it on a pole. When anyone was biten by a snake if they would look to the serpent on the pole they would be healed.

Why did God give this consequence? Because He wanted the Isrealites to realize the severity of thier sin, the cost of disobedience and that salvation or healing comes only from Him.

When Jesus went to the cross there was a similiar lesson to be learned. When we think of Jesus on the cross it should help us to realize that sin has severe consequences. It seperates us from God and if left to our own resources and answers we will die in our sin and spend eternity seperated from God in Hell. When we think of Jesus on the cross it reminds us that the cost of our sin is pain, suffering and death. When think of Jesus on the cross it reminds us that only Jesus has the ability to pay our debt and save us from our sin. Salvation can come only through Him.

I hope that this week as every Christ follower looks toward Easter (Resurrection Sunday) we will be reminded of our great need and that Jesus has stepped in to save us when we could not save ourselves.

Fear of Kingdom work

2010-03-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’26 “But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest.

Matt 25:25-27 (HCSB)

This is an interesting parable (Matthew 25.14-30). The most striking thought came to me from the verses above. Here is a slave, a supposed servant who was afraid. However, the master did not acknowledge the problem as fear but rather a problem of evil and laziness. I really thought about that. For many Christ followers as we hear the call to Kingdom work shrink back and say I just can't! I'm afraid! But I wonder if Jesus doesn't see laziness rather than fear.

I'm not sure that we can really claim fear as a Christ follower. I'm not suggesting we don't face scary circumstances in serving Christ. But if we believe His promises and His Word, is there really anything to fear? Is there ever a legitimate fear to hinder us from serving Christ? There may be fear but knowing what we know, and serving whom we serve does that fear excuse us or are we just unwilling?

Be careful that we do not excuse ourselves from true service expecting the master to buy our excuse!

The Cost

2010-03-26T00:00:00.001-04:00

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:27 (HCSB)

Milifred Minatrea writes, "Authentic discipleship is costly -it accepts responsibilities." Jesus said our responsibilities were to bear our own cross, come after Him. That is a heavy responsibility. Jesus has a cross, or perhaps we would state differently, a plan for each of our lives. If we are truly to bear that cross we must do two things: Understand what the cross is. Accept the difficulty it may bring.

Jesus never said it would be easy. But we should remember the second part of what Jesus said, follow Me. But Jesus went to the cross. He was willing and prepared to lay it all down on the cross. We too better be ready if we are claiming to be His disciple to follow Him by willingly laying ourselves on the line for His Kingdom.

It is a heavy cost. But we are Christ followers!

Ready

2010-03-25T11:34:00.000-04:00

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them. 4 But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’7 “Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’9 “The sensible ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.11 “Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’12 “But he replied, ‘ I assure you: I do not know you!’13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

Matt 25:1-13 (HCSB)

Are you ready for Christ's return? Many Christ followers are anticipating Christ's return. I was visiting one of the members of our congregation in the hospital the other day. His room mate made it a point to tell me he too was a believer and that he thought Jesus was coming back any time. Many Christ followers are taking the "I'm just waiting for Jesus!" approach.

While we are to be watching we are also to be ready. This parable tells of 10 Virgins (young ladies) who were waiting for the grooms return. Here's what we need to understand. They were waiting but they had a purpose, a job, for when the groom returns. The virgins were friends of the bride. They were to watch for the groom and light the path for him and his party as he returns to begin the feast. 5 of these virgins were ready to light the path and 5 were not adequately prepared to light the path.

I firmly believe Jesus is returning. The Bible is clear. Every Christ follower should be waiting. But while we wait we have a job to do. We are to be telling others about the groom, Jesus. Are you doing your job? Are you ready?

What we Should learn in Grief

2010-03-16T11:23:00.000-04:00

Then Job answered the LORD and said, 2 "I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
3 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?'
"Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."
4 'Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.' 5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You; 6 Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes."

Job 42:1-6 (NASB95)

Have you ever truely been grief stricken? When it seems that everything has gone against you, have you ever cried out to God? Maybe accused Him? Maybe asked, "Why Lord?" When we are in the midst of grief, and at some point all of us will be, what should we learn?

Job points out several lessons we should learn.

God can do all things and there is nothing we can do to stop His plans and purposes. In situations of grief it is obvious that these are things happening to us that we really didn't ask for and probably don't want. But trust Him, He does have a plan.
We may never understand His plans and purposes. But because He is God we recognize that His ways are higher and greater and we can only trust Him.
We should just be quiet and let God teach us what we need to learn. I don't know about you but sometimes I just can't be quiet and let God speak. Grief has a way of getting our attention.
It is in grief that we really get to know God intimately. We may know of Him but in grief as He comes to comfort and care for us we know Him at a deeper level than ever before.
We should humble ourselves and repent of our attitudes and actions.

If you are experiencing grief, allow God's Spirit to minister to you and teach you. Yes it is a difficult time but as Pastor Rick Warren is known to say, "God doesn't waste any of our experiences."

Revive Us

2010-03-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2 Tim 1:6 (NASB95)

Our church just had a weekend of revival services. Why do we do this? It is one of those church things we do that sometime are done without thinking of the why. Revival doesn't just happen because we have a set time of services. It happens because we say to God, "Lord, I need to be renewed in my walk with you. Revive me!" It may happen during "revival services" or it may happen as you commit to some time with Him. Either way we need that time.

That is exactly what the Apostle Paul was saying to Timothy. Timothy revive the gift of God in your life. Renew your heart, mind, body and spirit to the masters call. "Kindle afresh", sounds like revival to me.

Do you need to be renewed in your commitment and walk? Do you need to be refreshed and rekindled in your passion for Him. It starts in your heart. You don't have to have a set schedule of worship services to do. Just spend some quality time with Him. He will renew you if you come before Him expecting and open to the work of His Holy Spirit.

Roots

2010-03-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

2 Tim 1:5 (NASB95)

Not all of us have them but those of us who do should be grateful. What am I talking about? Roots! Some of us have not grown up in Christian home. Some of us do not have the legacy passed on of serving the King by our family. But for those of us who do we should rejoice.

Paul reminds Timothy, a young Christ follower, who was serving as a pastor, of his roots. He had been raised by a godly grandmother and mother. They gave to him a foundation to build his life upon.

Today rejoice and say thanks for the godly roots that you have. If you came from a background without those roots make a commitment to yourself and to the master to lay that foundation for your family. You be the beginning root in your family tree.

The trap of "rewards"

2010-03-09T09:59:00.000-05:00

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 "When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.3 "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to those he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' And so they went. 5 "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said* to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'7 "They said* to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said* to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'
8 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said* to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.' 9 "When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius . 10 "When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 "When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' 13 "But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 'Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous ?' 16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last."

Matt 20:1-16 (NASB95)

We all like rewards. It feels good to be rewarded for hard work or a good job. Yet in Kingdom living the Christ follower needs to evaluate and be careful that we are working for the master for the right reason. In Kingdom living and Kingdom work it should not be about the reward but about serving the master.

Jesus told this parable to remind his followers that He decides who serves where, for how long and what the rewards will be. There are really no big servants and rewards or little servants or rewards. The idea that the Kingdom is comprised of Super Christians and normal Christians is just not accurate. The real test is are we obedient and faithful.

Rewards are nice and they are promised. But the Christ follower must beware of the trap of looking for the reward rather than loving and serving the master.

Qualified

2010-02-18T11:24:00.000-05:00

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13 (HCSB)

Are you qualified to do great things for God? I have talked with many Christians who struggle as a Christ follower because they don't think they are qualified. They think they don't know enough. The feel inadequate to effectively be used by God. When we have those thoughts we just need to go back to the Scripture. Story after story in the Old Testament as well as the new we show us the error of our thoughts.

This verse from the Acts is a prime example. Peter and John were doing great things. They were bold and those opposing them were surprised and impressed. Why were they impressed? Because they realized that they were uneducated and untrained men. Now note that it was the opposition that discovered the "why." It was that they had been with Jesus!

So back to our initial question, are you qualified to do great things for God? Have you been with Jesus? Are you spending time growing in your relationship with Him? Are you spending time in His Word so that He can teach you? If so, get ready because you can do great things! If not, there is a very simple solutions. START!

A Bad Attitude

2010-02-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron;

Num 14:2 (NASB95)

Is a bad attitude a sin? When we become negative we find ourselves falling into a trap that will lead us to nothing good or godly. A bad attitude and grumbling is just the first step that will lead us to fall into sin. Usually accompanying grumbling will be other negative actions that lead to sin.

When we grumble we also find ourselves in despair. We cry, belly ache and complain. With despair we struggle to see anything positive. But in reality for the child of God, there are many, many blessings that we should remember.

We also find ourselves longing for the good old days. There is an important reality to remember. It is that rarely are the good old days as good as we remember them. The Israelites wanted to return to Egypt, yes Egypt. It seems they forgot the whips, cruelty, the bricks and all that went with their slavery there.

The Israelites also found themselves blaming God. Can you imagine that. Blaming God for what? Hasn't God rescued them from their captivities? Hasn't God provided for them food miraculously? Hasn't God brougth them through the Red Seas and saved them miraculously from the Egyptian military breathing down their necks? Yes that God who did great things for them they blame for their troubling situation.

Finally after grumbling, despair, longing for the good old days and blaming God we find ourselves rebelling against God. We must be careful of our bad attitudes and the sin it will draw us into. Christ followers must guard against negativity and grumbling. Don't grumble but thank God for the opportunity to serve Him today!

God's Will

2010-01-30T14:05:00.000-05:00

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2 (HCSB)

My Money

2010-01-29T10:42:00.000-05:00

But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

1 Tim 6:9-10 (HCSB)

That is something for every Christ Follower to think about!

Quiet Time

2010-01-20T00:00:00.001-05:00

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Mark 1:35 (NASB95)

How quiet is your quiet time? If we are not careful our time with the Lord will become part of the routine or a hurried obligation. We need quiet. Even Jesus needed a quiet time. We do too. We can learn from Jesus example about quiet time.

Jesus went when He knew He could get away. For Him it was early morning. He had a place that was out of His ordinary routine. He went to a place that was secluded. He practiced the spiritual disciplines of Solitude and prayer.

The most important aspect of a quality quiet time is being able to get away and be quiet. God says to us, "Be still and know that I am God." Try it today it will make a huge impact in your life.

From Him

2010-01-19T10:39:00.001-05:00

"Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.

1 Chron 29:12 (NASB95)

Everything we have, in fact everything we are or achieve is all from Him. It all belongs to Him. It is not ours but His. When we understand this fact as King David did it will change how we handle are stuff and ourselves. If it is God's we are merely borrowing it. Our money, our gifts and talents and all of our stuff is not our own but His.

Are you handling your things as something borrowed? That is what stewardship as a Christ follower is all about.

Glory and Honor

2009-12-25T00:00:00.002-05:00

"And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;

Dan 7:14 (NASB95)

We serve a God who is due glory and honor. Daniel reminds us that Jesus has been given dominion and glory. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He has dominion over His kingdom. As Christ followers we are subjects of His Kingdom.

What kind of subjects are we? Do we give Him the glory and the honor that He deserves? Are we serving Him as our honored King. May this Christmas be a time of honoring our King, King Jesus!

God Can!

2009-12-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."

Matt 1:23 (NASB95)

Why are we surprised and why do we debate? Have you ever heard anyone say, "That can't be real because that's an impossibility." Is God a person like us? No! He is God. God is supposed to do things that for us are impossibilities, that's what makes Him God. So why are we surprised when the Bible says that Jesus was born of a virgin? And why do we debate the reality of the Son of God being born of a virgin. I would expect any God worth His salt who was to break into our time and space would do it in a miraculous way.

As we consider Christmas perhaps we can learn some important lessons about how God works.

God likes to do the uncommon things that are not normal to us.
God likes to work in the "impossible" possibilities.
God likes to "show up" in our time and space. After all isn't Jesus also called Emmanuel (God with us).

As we consider these things at Christmas perhaps we should just take a few minutes to thank God for what he has done. And if you encounter a skeptic, with compassion, kindness and patience just tell them, "Yeah but God Can!"

Just One

2009-12-17T11:41:00.000-05:00

"What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? 13 "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Matt 18:12-14 (NASB95)

Have you ever heard anyone say, "if you were the only one Jesus still would have come to die on the cross for you?" Isn't that an awesome statement? And it is so true. The parable that Jesus teaches here in Matthew 18 tells us it is. Aren't you glad we follow that kind of God.

I'm glad my God is a God who values one. I am important to Him. All by myself He is willing to give all. Just for me And even more He searches for those who need to be found. God is not trying to get us or trick us He wants us to experience Him. He and all of heaven rejoice when a lost one is found and comes home.

What a great loving God we serve!

Godly Confidence

2009-12-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

And at the last He will take His stand on the earth . 26 "Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27 Whom I myself shall behold,
And whom my eyes will see and not another.
My heart faints within me!

Job 19:25-27 (NASB95)

Confidence is an important character trait. But confidence in the wrong place will bring disappointment and even calamity. Job was confident not in himself, or his friends but in God. Where should our confidence reside? Not in ourselves or in others because in our humanity we will always disappoint. God is never disappointing. Our confidence is in him because we know He lives. We know that eternal life is our promise no matter what may happen to us here. That is something to be confident in.

Contnement

2009-12-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Phil 4:11-13 (NASB95)

Most of us are familiar with verse 13. In fact many of us have quoted it, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." But have we ever stopped to look at its context. Its really not a verse of the overcomer but of the overcomed. Paul says I can live in humble means, in every circumstance, I can go without, I can be hungy and suffer need. . . WHOA! Paul what are talking about? He is talking about contentment. We expect God to in the end come through with all the good stuff. But he doesn't always do that. Sometimes we suffer, sometimes his follower go hungry, we experience trying things.

Can we be content in every situation? That's where verse 13 comes in. We can, if we are willing to submit to His will even if it means difficulty and pain. We can be content. We can do all things because He will strengthen us to do it.

Remember it is a growing process. Learn to be content!

Spiritual Mentors

2009-12-09T00:00:00.001-05:00

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Phil 4:9 (NASB95)

Just two thoughts for you today. 1. Who is your spiritual mentor? 2. Who are you spiritually mentoring?

If you do not have a spiritual mentor you are missing a blessing. There are no Lone Ranger Christ followers. We cannot. We should not try to get through this life on our own. Paul encourages the Philippians to remember the things he had taught them and that they had seen him demonstrate in his own life. There are so many blessings to having a person to turn too and grow from. Understand that your mentor will not be perfect. He or she is not Christ and they are growing as well. But we can learn from others as we watch their lives. A good mentor will not only teach us and show us the right way to follow Christ. They will also let us in on their mistakes and blunders of following Christ.

Now the second question. Who are you mentoring? We should all be looking for that person(s) that we can pour our lives into. Remember the need to remain humble. It's not that we are "all that". But God is growing us and we have lessons we can help others learn. You didn't get to this point alone. Don't make other, younger followers wonder the trail by themselves. You can make a difference in their lives. You do have something to offer!

Happy mentoring!

Thoughts

2009-12-08T11:45:00.000-05:00

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely , whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Phil 4:8 (NASB95)

I have another blog that I post to from time to time. It is entitled "Just a thought" (http://justathoughtfromjim.blogspot.com/). I thought it was a clever titled when I created it way back when. In the letter to the Philippians the Apostle Paul had more than a clever thought. In fact he had a thought about our thoughts. He encourages us to consider what it is that we dwell on. What do we give time to think about. Paul suggests that they should be true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good reputation, excellence and what is worthy of praise. Many spiritual battles begin and end with our thought life.

Every Christ follower would be wise to stop and evaluate where we go with our thoughts. Are we thinking the right thoughts? Are we sabotaging our spiritual victories before the battle even begins?

A Burdened Heart

2009-11-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Neh 1:4 (HCSB)

Has God burdened your heart for something or someone? Too many Christ follower are internally or me focused. We are wanting to know God and that is good. We want to grow in Christ and that is good. But God has a call for us to impact our world. That is what Jesus did and it is what He calls us to do.

When Nehemiah was faced with the words about his country and his countrymen he was overwhelmed and overcome with the burden. When was the last time you wept and mourned over the needs that God showed you in others lives. We are here for more than just us.

Every Christ follower must live with their spiritual eyes wide open. God will show you something or someone and your heart will be burdened. Then join Him and impact your world, because that is what Christ followers do.

A glorious Savior

2009-11-09T10:33:00.000-05:00

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

John 3:16 (MSG)

Godliness in Pain

2009-11-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21 saying:Naked I came from my mother’s womb,and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.Praise the name of the Lord. 22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.

Job 1:20-22 (HCSB)

If you havn't yet realized it, being a Christ follower does not illiminate painful situations from our lives. But as Christ followers we should respond differently than others to our painful situations. Job demonstrates how we should respond.

In a painful situation Job responded in grief and humility. He tore his robe and shaved his head. These our symbolic expressions of inner grief and humility. It is not sinful for a Christ follower to grieve. But we should grieve differently than those who do not know Christ personally. There is no sin in grief but there is in blaming God for our pain.

Second, Job responded with worship and reverence. When we experience painful situations our worship may not be joyful, or exuberant but we should respond with humble, reverent worship. Job recognized who he was and who God was and gave God the glory and honor due His name.

The challenge for the Christ follower is to respond to our painful situations in a way that demonstrate that we belong to Christ and our relationship with Him has changed us.

God's ultimate authority

2009-11-03T09:39:00.000-05:00

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.”9 Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are spread out in the land. 11 But stretch out Your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”12 “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, you must not lay a hand on Job [himself] .” So Satan went out from the Lord’s presence.

Job 1:8-12 (HCSB)

This passage of Scripture enlightens us of a very important truth. God is the ultimate authority over all things. When we speak of Satan and his power it is important to realize he is not equal with God. It is not a cosmic battle of equal powers good (God) and evil (Satan). Satan can do nothing without the permission of God.

We serve an awesome God of unequaled power. We must trust Him and know He loves us. When Satan is at work it is under the scrutiny of God. If God has allowed it, He has a purpose for it.

Let me encourage you that next time you feel that Satan is fighting against you, ask yourself, "what is God trying to teach me or how is God planning for His own glory through my difficulties?"

Shunning Evil

2009-10-27T12:00:00.001-04:00

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

Job 1:1 (NASB95)

Job was a man of character. One of the character traits that made him useful to God was that he shunned evil. The NASB uses the word turning away from evil. That is a great descriptive phrase. We, like Job, as Christ followers, must turn away from evil. It is easy to make for ourselves exceptions and excuses. But what honors the Lord is when we turn away from the evil opportunities before us.

Evil is all around us and temptations lie in wait. We must plan ahead and decide what we will do when temptation comes knocking.

Will we turn away or give in to evil? The choice will be yours today.

Demonstration of Grace

2009-10-20T11:28:00.000-04:00

But I received mercy because of this, so that in me, the worst [of them] , Christ Jesus might demonstrate the utmost patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

1 Tim 1:16 (HCSB)

The Apostle Paul understood his usefulness in the Kingdom of God. He new that even in salvation it wasn't about him but about Jesus. Our salvation is an opportunity for God to demonstrate His grace and what He can do with a sinful being. While our salvation certainly is a gift and benefit to us. It is also a part of God's bigger picture of His glory. You were not saved just for you to escape hell but to proclaim His goodness and greatness.
If we as Christ followers fail to proclaim our testimony of salvation, if we do not tell others of His grace, love and forgiveness, we are not fulfilling our purpose for living. Be challenged by Paul to not think about what you have been given but how what you have been given can impact the lives of others as a demonstration of His grace.

Integrity

2009-10-13T10:36:00.000-04:00

There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of perfect integrity, Job 1:1 (HCSB)
Character does count no matter how many politicians tell you it doesn't. Job was a man of character. Because he had character God could use him, be glorified by him and could challenge him to grow.
One attribute of Job's godly character was integrity. Job had integrity. Integrity is a morale code of sound values. It means that Job was honest, fair and trustworthy.
Because of Job's integrity he would be used by God to glorify God. How about you? Do you have integrity? Will God be glorified through your life because you are a person of character? Integrity is an important character trait for every Christ follower.

He is with You!

2009-10-07T11:39:00.000-04:00

He will not leave you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them by oath, because the Lord your God is a compassionate God.

Deut 4:31 (HCSB)

A Vessel for His use

2009-09-29T10:55:00.001-04:00

"perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”

Esth 4:14 (HCSB)

Queen Esther was more than just a pretty face. She was a vessel for God's use! There is no way we can know why God has placed us where we are until we hear His call to action. You are not where you are by accident. God does not place us in our positions of life just because He wants to bless us. We have this notion that we are in a favorable place because we have earned it or because God just really loves us. He does loves us but you are where you are because God want to use you. There will come a time when God will clearly speak to you and call you to action. Will you be ready? Will you be obedient?

Be ready to respond to Him, in His time and for His purpose!

Treasure

2009-09-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt 6:19-21 (HCSB)

Brokeness

2009-09-10T11:24:00.002-04:00

On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, [wearing] sackcloth, [and had put] dust on their heads.

Neh 9:1 (HCSB)

We reject broken things. But brokenness can be a good quality of a Christ follower. We need times of brokenness. God uses brokenness to grow us to be like His Son. In fact we learn best the spiritual truths needed when we are broken. Israel demonstrated their brokenness with fasting, sackcloth and dust on their heads. For us fasting may be a good idea while we really do not practice wearing sackcloth or putting dust on our heads. The principle however is a good one. We need to demonstrate our brokenness to God. It is not for others we display our brokenness but as a submission to God.

We reject broken things but God rejoices in broken things. When God brings challenges to your life be broken and let God work in you.

Handling Opposition

2009-09-08T11:25:00.002-04:00

When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.

Neh 4:7-9 (HCSB)

As a Christ follower you should expect opposition. I know that isn't very optimistic but it is true. When we follow Christ we are sure to encounter opposition. If you haven't yet, give it some time. Anytime we are hard at work in Kingdom work Satan will also work to challenge what God is doing. So we should know how to handle opposition.

When Nehemiah and the people found out that there were those not so excited about their mission to accomplish God's plan for their city, they had to figure out h0w to handle the opposition. They took two steps we should learn from.

They prayed to God.
They posted a guard.

When facing opposition we too must pray and then do what we are able to do to face the opposition.
Opposition is never easy to deal with but when we take wise steps and pray seeking God's help we know that we can be victorious.

Gripe or Grapple?

2009-09-04T00:00:00.001-04:00

So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18 I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me.They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and they were encouraged to [do] this good work.

Neh 2:17-18 (HCSB)

When you are faced with a challenge do you gripe or do you grapple? Nehemiah could have griped, complained or belly ached. But he didn't! He stated the fact, "we are in trouble here" and then decided to follow God in doing something about it.

When facing difficult situations we always have a choice. We can gripe or we can grapple with the problem and solve it. Now we are not talking about finding our own solution, but seeking God's plan and going to work.

Christ follower, are you griping or grappling?

Passion

2009-09-03T14:44:00.002-04:00

During the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, when I was in the fortress city of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had returned from exile. 3 They said to me, “The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.”

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said,

Neh 1:1-5 (HCSB)

What are you passionate about? As a Christ follower God has a purpose and plan for your life. We should be passionate about His purpose and plan for us! How do we get passion for His purpose and plan? The same way Nehemiah did. It begins with a broken heart.

I know that seems awfully, well painful. But that's how it begins. We see a need. We hear His call. We understand a problem that pricks our hearts. Nehemiah sat down, wept and mourned with fasting and prayer.

We will never truly have passion for something or someone till we weep over them and pray for their plight. When we do we will come through a painful mourning experience with a passion to join God in what He wants to do in their lives.