"Resting In Peace"

Everyone of us needs down time..We were created to work hard and then rest (regroup if you will..in body, mind and spirit). It is sometimes so hard for us to realize when we are at our wits end until it's too late. Then we crash. Just as our bodies need rest every night, our spirits need rest too. And by spending time with God in His Word, prayer and meditation (being quiet to listen to God) we get just that, rest.  God longs to talk to us, even more than we want to talk to Him. In another words, He is always there ready and waiting to speak to His children (you and me). We are the ones, and I am definitely including myself, who run such a fast pace in life.We don't stop to think what will happen when we have nothing else left to give. Well, what happens is we drop, and find that it is much harder to get back up because we didn't maintain ourselves (spiritually and physically). If we start each day in prayer with our Father in Heaven, things may not get easier, but they sure are easier to handle with God backing us. You see, there is a peace that only God can give during even our darkest days. This is a peace we cannot fathom. It can't be explained no matter how hard we try. It is one that nothing tangible (money, cars, things) can bring. The peace comes from the inside out (God), not from the outside in (things of this world). Only God can heal an emotionally torn heart. Nothing outside of that can do so. Again, this healing starts from the inside out, not the outside in.

Look at it this way, it is easier to see what is in a cup when it's full. But, when it's empty we have no clue. If we start every morning with a fresh start (spending time with God) then we get spiritually filled up, then it overflows out of us to where others will see. But, if we don't maintain our relationship with God, it also shows, and others will see it in many ways (attitude, the way we treat others, and etc.) Just as if we don't maintain our bodies by feeding them, we will starve ourselves, and again, others will see it.

So, I challenge each of you to find time every day to spend feeding your spirit, mind, and body.
(Psalm 55:22-"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken")

"Weighed Down To Be Lifted Up"

"I might step on some toes, including mine, so here goes. I'm not sure why some people must act ugly. My personal experience is from other Christians. It seems so easy and natural for them to point out your flaws and judge you for your mistakes. While, all along they have their own issues. It's rare for me to voice my opinion regarding this. But, it is all too real for me. Now, let me say, I have been guilty of this a time or two, and really felt convicted by the Holy Spirit. Which is why, I feel compelled to bring it up. A good rule of thumb is, Satan condemns, and God convicts. God, teaches us, while the devil tears down. As Christians, we are of the same family; the Family of God Almighty. You can't be "grandfathered in" into a relationship with Jesus. It's a personal relationship, we must receive it intimately and personally between Jesus and ourselves. No one can do this for us. Jesus wants our hearts to be willingly relinquished by each of us independently. We each have the choice to make a decision to follow Jesus or not. That is our choice. No one can make it for us. We certainly are not called to judge one another. We are all "works in progress". I think we forget this vital point. We are all at different stages of our walk with the Lord. None of us are at the same place. And it's really not fair or just that we judge according to our personal prospective, that's God's job. We all have things in our lives we are working through with the Lord. I want to share that I am simply a man who seeks a better way. I've made some mistakes and will make some more. But one day, I'm going to hear my Lord and Savior Jesus say "Well done my good and faithful servant." We are called by God to love one another, that includes forgiving each other for wrongs done to us. (Matthew 18:21-22-"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? (22) Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.) Another words Jesus is saying we are to forgive with no limits. It is hard, but by forgiving someone, it gives you the freedom, not the person you are forgiving.

So, I challenge each of us to search our own hearts and take it to Jesus. The good news is Jesus has already redeemed all of us from any mistakes we have made in the past, or will ever make." Be encouraged!

"God's Reformation"

"Life is a journey we must take alone,

If we aren't careful it can turn our hearts into stone,

Our hardened hearts can invite in bitterness and strife,

If not dealt with, it will eat at us the rest of our lives,

But, it doesn't have to stay that way,
I know someone that can turn that stone into clay,
He will mold it and make it new to receive,
And you will look into the mirror and say "It's a new me",
So, don't give up hope too soon,
Or you will miss out on God's biggest clue, Jesus!"

"Baby Steps-Learning to Walk"

Psalm 37:23-24 -"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." The person in whom God delights is one who follows God, trust Him, and tries to do His will. God watches over and makes firm every step that person takes. If you would like to have God direct your way, then seek His advice before you step out.

One of my favorite Scriptures is Proverbs 3:5-6 ("Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."). It tells us that leaning has a sense of putting our whole weight on something, resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can't trust anyone-not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want that even we are! We must trust Him completely in every choice we make (I am working on it!). We should not leave out careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We must not have the mind set that we can do this on our own. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God's Word and wise counselors. So, I encourage us today to bring our decisions to God in prayer; use the Bible as our guide; an then follow God's leading. He will make our paths straight by both guiding and protecting us.

"Stop Beating Yourself Up!"

Don't torture yourself over the past. Use it as a teacher. Whatever happened to you in the past has only prepared you for now. We all need to learn and not burn from our past. Satan wants us to focus on what we have done wrong, when God is saying let's move on to what is right. God keeps us moving forward to continually grow. Whereas, if we are thinking about our past, we are sitting still and sometimes going backward. That's Satan's plan, stop growing, stop knowing (who you are in Christ)!  (Ephesians 4:31-32-"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.") The Good News is God has forgiven you, so you must forgive yourself!

We seem to always lean on God more when we are in a valley. I think that is where most lessons are learned for the simple fact, because we feel like the situation is out of our hands. We find ourselves crying out to God in desperation to fix our lives. When truthfully, we may have to go through some pain to learn the lesson. Our Father in Heaven wants what is best for us, and if we are His, and we step off the beaten path of God's Will, He is kind enough to get us back on track. So, instead of fighting God during times of learning, we should grasp a hold of His Hand and meditate on His Word. That is the only way we will find true peace. (Jeremiah 29:12-"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.")

"Whom Shall You Fear?"

Proverbs 29:25-"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." (Fear of people can hamper everything you try to do. In extreme forms, it can make you afraid to leave your home. By contrast, fear of God-respect, reverence, and trust-is liberating. Why fear people who can do no eternal harm? Instead, fear God who can turn the harm intended by others into good for those who trust Him.)

Satan would love to have us believe that every circumstance (or trial) we face will be the one to take us to the end of our rope in this life as we know it. But, that's not true! We have a God that teaches us perseverance through these trials which builds us into the character He wants us to be. He wants us to live in freedom, peace and joy. And Jesus is the ONLY true person that can give us all three ultimately. I know this life offers us temporary joy, but Jesus offers us Eternal joy. Joy that is unspeakable (Psalm 30:5 "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning".). The devil would love nothing more than to keep our mouths shut and silenced (fear comes in) to reading or speaking the Word over our situations. I know this, because I've been going through it recently...But, God is a God of Love. I really believe some of us have forgotten that. God is Love, and we are called to walk in that same love. Now, I know we are human and we make mistakes, but that's not an excuse to not keep trying. There is a hurting world out there, and they do need a Savior. And that person is Jesus, the Son of God! The Living One, the One who forgave us of all the sin we have committed or will ever commit. Do not let Satan rent space in your head. Because if you let him, we will stay as long as you allow him to stay (he will over stay his welcome). So, the next time you are going through a trial, and the devil knocks on your door for a room to rent, tell him their is NO vacancies, and to get lost in Jesus' Name!

"A Loving Father"

At times, God must discipline us to help us. This is similar to a loving parent's disciplining his child. The discipline is not very enjoyable to the child, but it is essential to teach him right from wrong. The Bible says that, "no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11). When you feel God's hand of correction, accept it as proof of His love. Realize that God is urging you to follow His paths instead of stubbornly going on your own way. (Psalm 94:12,13-"Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.) So, I leave you with one thought. Our Father in Heaven loves and cherishes you so much that He would correct us from destruction from ourselves.