Getting Wisdom

The Bible speaks very plainly to us about the importance of having wisdom. Wisdom is what puts all of the puzzle pieces of our lives together in the proper order. Those pieces labeled "knowledge" and "experience" and "situations" all fit together in the proper place and in the proper order when wisdom arranges the pieces.

But where do we get wisdom? We can't go down to our local Christian book store and buy a pound of wisdom. We can't go next door to borrow a cup of it from our neighbor. There are three ways that the Bible tells us we can acquire wisdom:

By Association — While you can't gain wisdom by osmosis, it is a fact that if you hang around with wise people, you will pick up wisdom from them. Proverbs 13:20 says, "He who walks with the wise grows wise." It doesn't happen overnight - that's why that verse says "grows wise" not "is immediately wise." As you surround yourself with people who possess and utilize godly wisdom and discernment, you will find those qualities showing up in your life and being reflected in your choices. Beware of the inverse of this principle, which would go something like this: He who walks with the idiots becomes an idiot. The last part of that verse concludes with "...but a companion of fools suffers harm." The gist of that verse is clear: You become like the folks you hang out with.

By Absorption - You can gain wisdom by the things you read, listen to and watch. It goes without saying that you will gain wisdom as you study and immerse yourself in God's word. Really, what about the other things that you allow into your life? Are they helping you learn and grow in your understanding of God, of God's principles and of God's plan? In these days of the Internet, the accumulated wisdom of great writers, thinkers and saints of the ages are but a click away. But it is on the inverse of this principle that many have shipwrecked their lives, because unholy, unwholesome, and ungodly influences are likewise only a click of the remote or the mouse away. Psalm 101:3 says, "I will set before my eyes no vile thing."

By Appropriation - The final method of acquiring wisdom is so simple that if we are not careful we will overlook it: Ask for it. The Bible tells us that we have not because we ask not. And in the book of James we are told plainly that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it and He will give it to us. The inverse of this principle is too often true... if we don't ask for it, we won't get it.

We are told to seek first the things of God and then all of these things will be added to us. This is particularly true of wisdom. When we seek wisdom by asking God for it, reading and studying about it, and surrounding ourselves with others who possess it, we will acquire a key that opens the door to a lifetime of wise choices, blessings, and prosperity in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

Receive Rest with this RSVP

You have been invited. This invitation is not to a party but to a person. Jesus has opened His heart to you, so He has said, “Come to me.” This is addressed to all who are weary and heavy laden, this is addressed to you, so RSVP to the invitation and see won’t you get the gift of rest.

Jesus knows it takes real rest-not just for your body but also for your soul. He wants you to rest form from trying to be good enough and from doing too much. He wants you to fully rest in His finished work on the cross, His provision of salvation. (let me explain) He wants to give you rest that begins now and extends into eternity.

Jesus knows that if you don’t rest in Him, we’ll sacrifice the important for the urgent, that personal for public. If you don’t rest in Him, you’ll end up empty on the inside, moving through life in a fog of meaningless religious ritual. Answer the call, and then submit yourself to Jesus. The promise of rest is yours for the decision. Amen.

So let me ask you how can you RSVP to Christ’s invitation? He said take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you.” At first this may sound like just another burden. But the yoke of Jesus is the burden that makes all other burdens bearable. This yoke is what connects you to Jesus so that He can share your load. He wants to bear the weight of your burdens with His strong shoulders. RSVP and watch Him lighten your load, it’s not like He gave you more than you can bear in the first place.

Well let’s see, when you find yourself searching for something to soothe your pain in your life, will you listen for the voice of Jesus whispering His invitation into your ear, “Come to me”? When you feel your frustration building and your strength fading, listen to Jesus say” Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens.”

When you find yourself weighed down by unrealistic expectations or unbearable emotions, Jesus say’s “My yoke is easy and my burdens are light” (Mathew 11:30)

Jesus stands with His arms outstretched saying, Come away from what is significant and empty so you can enter into what is eternal, essential, restful. Come to me. Let me love you. Who could resist such an invitation?

I am Blessed.

I am blessed in many things. To write them all down would take an entire lifetime. Of course sometimes I don’t see something as a blessing, but His ways are not our ways. Jesus tells us in Mathew Chapter 5 about “blessed are the…” and not all are ones we’d consider as a blessing, are they? Obviously Jesus was telling us here that everything you face is a blessing, even being persecuted or being lied about. If you considered every situation that went on in your life a blessing, even if you didn’t know why or how, how much happier do you think you would be?
Just think when your someone walks on the clean floor you just mopped with their muddy boots what if you considered it a blessing? A blessing in teaching you how to love above all, forgive, and hold your tongue and temper? How many things do you think you would avoided and how much would you grow spiritually?
Sometimes you have a right to feel sorry for yourself, but God knows your hurt and the rejection you feel, even from those who claim to follow His Father. He hears your silent tears. He has been at the very place, but it all served for a purpose. Do you then not think that the trials in your life don’t serve a purpose as well? They do. Consider them as such. You will learn so much with this mindset. I know I have.
You are blessed as a Child of the King. Don’t let satan steal the blessings and treasures He has for you by viewing your trials as a curse. Say as Jesus did “How blessed you are when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me!” Amen, I am blessed!

Strength

Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings, you have power over life and death. You know even things that are uncertain and obscure, and our very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from you. Cleanse me from my secret faults, and I have done wrong and you saw it. You know how weak I am, both in soul and in body. Give me strength, O Lord, in my frailty and sustain me in my sufferings. Grant me a prudent judgment, dear Lord, and let me always be mindful of your blessings. Let me retain until the end your grace that has protected me till now.

Lord, the world wants to pound us down. We are controlled by clocks,
traffic lights, endless lines, and requested participation in civic events.
Our energies are drained and our nerves become frayed. The trials and demands continue without end, and they often seem urgent, even chaotic.

Will any of it add one single minute more to my life Lord? Help me to separate trial from opportunity, replace demand with sacrifice. Help me to replace urgency with submission to Your will, understanding instead of antagonism. Jesus, slow down my life. Give me the gift of patience.
Help me to understand rather than demand. Relaxation rather than frustration.

Our world is often based on greed and ego, and it results in pain. Can it all be that important? That rush for success can result in physical, emotional and spiritual illness. Help all of us to see what is missing in our lives, Lord.
Your gift of patience is so important. We need to realize that You are the way. That peace we seek can only come from You. You can calm the waters, and tell the wind o be still. You can restore peace and love.

Jesus, help me to simply live in the world. not be controlled by it. Give me the grace to adapt my days to Your plan, Your will. Grant me the wisdom to place control in Your hands. Replace my limitations and impatience with your unlimited power and peace. I know You appreciate my efforts, but sometimes I am at the mercy of society around me. Intentions may get mistakenly misunderstood. I try to guide and direct and those efforts somehow come across as trying to control. Patience and Charity can be very difficult in the midst of frustration. Jesus , give me the wisdom to see that patience is the cure for frustration. Make it a daily part of my life, in my family relationships especially. Grant me the grace to be able to extend it to all, and particularly to those whose views do not correspond with mine. Help me to show patience with myself, in recognition
of my failures and limitations. Jesus, help me to place all in Your hands,
knowing You will do what is best for me, and in Your own time frame.
Help me to wait patiently for my Lord.

Examine Me

Then Joshua told the people: "You can't do it; you're not able to worship GOD. He is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He won't put up with your fooling around and sinning. When you leave GOD and take up the worship of foreign gods, he'll turn right around and come down on you hard. He'll put an end to you—and after all the good he has done for you!".(Joshua 24:19-20 MSG)
Do I rely on anything else or anyone but God?
Is there a smigance of relality in me, in any other way? Or any other particular set of circumstances? Do I rely, or do I rely on myself? Is it regarding this age or word that which God has placed before me? Let me examine myself by asking these relevant questions?
Is it really true? "I cannot live a holy life," but let Jesus Christ make me holy? "I cannot serve the Lord . . ."-- but I can place myself in the proper position where God's almighty power will flow through me. Is my relationship with God sufficient for me to expect Him to exhibit His wonderful life in me?
But the people told Joshua: "No! No! We worship GOD!"(Joshua 24; 21 MSG)
This is not an impulsive, but a definete commitment. I can say, "But God could never have called me to this. I'm too unworthy. Lord you can’t mean me." But It does mean me, and the more weak and feeble I am, the better a person I’ll be.
Am I that person who is still relying and trusting in anything within myself. Am I the last person to even come close to saying, "I will serve the Lord."
I have said, "Oh, if only I really could believe!" The question is, "Will I believe?" No wonder Jesus Christ placed such emphasis on the sin of unbelief. "But Jesus said, "A prophet is taken for granted in his hometown and his family." He didn't do many miracles there because of their hostile indifference. ( Matthew 13:58 MSG ).
If I really believed that God meant what He said, just imagine what I would be like! Do I really dare to let God be to me all that He says He will be?

My Patience

I've come to understand that God will always make His way clear. But I've also come to understand that His timing almost always requires more patience than what I've been given. When I gave my life to Jesus, He transformed me and gave me His Spirit to dwell within and produce fruit: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience..." (Galatians 5:22-23). I know I have been given a certain measure of patience, but I sure need more!

Over the last 18 years, it seems that I have been in a near continual search for God's direction. I believe I was called into ministry; however, I have never completely understood the extent of this call. I have continued to serve in this ministry, but the degree to which I should do things like travel, write some books, go to school, and commit to church ministry has never been real clear. I am prepared to follow, but clear direction has been lacking...and so I wait. The result has been that my eyes and thoughts are daily focused on Jesus waiting to see if the cloud will move as it did with the Israelites. And through the process I am are learning the importance of patience.

James 5:7-8
"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

A farmer plants his crop for harvest but has to wait for growth, now waiting for growth is completely out of His control. He has done the work of plowing the ground and planting the seed; now He must wait for God to produce the crop.

No matter what your circumstance is today, if you have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, you can rest assured that He is at your side directing your steps. Sometimes God's direction comes by way of outward events and changes we can see with our eyes, but often His direction comes in the form of inward changes and growth - such as more trust, more love...and more patience. Our "work" is to take each step He reveals and then wait for God to produce the crop as we love Him with all our heart.

I am deeply grateful and appreciate every ones continued encouragement and prayers. Please continue to pray for the clarity of God's direction and the boldness to follow where He leads. You all are continually in my prayers as I need you all to survive, you all are also a part of my survival. And as He brings me to your mind, please pray for a little more patience.

Do I Have Power?

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 (KJV)
This might be a secret to some but not to me, let me remind you that this power, of which Jesus speaks, has not only been given to us so that we might be witnesses of the goodness of God and of the grace of God, but that this power has been give to you and I also for the tearing down of strongholds. The power of God has not only been give to you and me so I can witness about the grace of God, but the power of God has been given to me so I can also witness about strongholds in my bloodline that may have destroyed generations above me that I can give witness and say, "It destroyed them, but by the power of God it did not destroy me."
Jesus shares with us that this power we receive when the Holy Ghost comes on us, in Acts 1:8 puts the emphasis on the power that comes on us to be witnesses first in Jerusalem and then Judea and to the uttermost parts of the earth. You shall receive power! You shall receive an anointing! You shall receive oil! You shall receive courage! When the Holy Ghost comes on you, you shall receive power to be my witnesses! Amen.
Pray with me: Father, I thank you that I am free. I thank you that because of the shed blood of your son generational curses have been destroyed. I thank you that I have the power to remain free and whatever demon that might rise up against me, I have power over. I have been made free from the curse of sin. I have power to overcome the world through your son-Jesus. Father, be glorified in my life that I may be an effective witness unto you.
Yes, I have the Power.

A Look at Heaven

In the Bible we don't get a lot of details as to what heaven will be like, but it does give us what we need to know. After all, how could we possibly fathom all that God has stored up for His saints to enjoy and experience? If we could understand heaven fully now, it wouldn't be much to look forward to. But, the God Who is able to do even above and beyond what we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), will create a new heaven and a new earth that will transcend any feeble attempt by our present earthly imaginations to be able to conceive of what heaven will be like. The best and greatest we can think of or ask for, God will do more. In fact, He will do much more. As such, we have much to look forward to, even though we don't know specifically what all is coming.
The Bible says that heaven is paradise. Christ, when speaking to the thief on the cross who repents, says that he will be with Him that very day in paradise (Luke 23:43). Paul speaks of being caught up into the third heaven into the very presence of God, and He describes it as paradise (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). As good as the Garden of Eve was, heaven will be perfect, a perfect paradise. We know that there will be no more pain, tears, grief, or sorrow because Christ will wipe away all tears (Revelation 21:4). All physical ailments, emotional pain, and sorrow will be gone for we will be in the presence of Christ Himself (Revelation 21:3). Perhaps that is the best part of all, having the eternal opportunity to be in the very presence of our Savior face to face. What more could we ask for? Yet there is more.
In heaven, we will sing praises to God (Revelation 4:11). We won't be bored or just sitting around because God has much for us to do, learn, see, and accomplish. We will have responsibility as we reign with Him and serve Him (Revelation 22:3, 5). Our souls will be filled with ecstasy as we get to work with Jesus to bring about His wonderful, glorious, and perfect plan in paradise. We will see those who have died in Christ, and we will be reunited. We won't go to church, per se, because we will worship Christ Himself Who is our temple (Revelation 21:22). There will be transparent streets of gold (Revelation 21:18, 21) and all kinds of precious stones for the foundation of the walls of the city of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19-21). Jesus will light the world (Revelation 21:23), God will be on His throne (Revelation 22:3), and the tree of life will be there (Revelation 22:2), representing our eternal existence with God. Animals will get along, people will get along, and Jesus will be our peace (Micah 5:5).
This is possible because there will no longer be any curse, which means that there will no longer be any sin (Revelation 22:3). Finally, our battle against our flesh will be over and we will be able to live in holiness perfectly. There will be no fear any longer, for Jesus will be our King.
There just isn't any reason why we shouldn't look forward to heaven. We can rest assured that worshipping God in heaven in paradise will not be boring. He will have much for us to do, see, discover, and be responsible for. Psalm 16:11 says, "In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Heaven is thus joy maxed out because we will be in the presence of Christ and we will be able to experience the eternal pleasures which He has stored up for us. We will be forever with God, which in and of itself is so wonderful it is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. Yet there will be still more joy, pleasure, responsibility, and infinitely more.
It just can't get any better than heaven, so let's just enjoy imagining as we wait for something beyond and so much better than what our imaginations can conceive. One day very soon, we will see our Savior face to face, and our joy will be beyond complete.

My Playlist

Protection

"Now get yourselves ready. I'm sending my Angel ahead of you to guard you in your travels, to lead you to the place that I've prepared. Pay close attention to him. Obey him. Don't go against him. He won't put up with your rebellions because he's acting on my authority. But if you obey him and do everything I tell you, I'll be an enemy to your enemies, I'll fight those who fight you. When my Angel goes ahead of you and leads you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, I'll clear the country of them. So don't worship or serve their gods; don't do anything they do because I'm going to wipe them right off the face of the Earth and smash their sacred phallic pillars to bits. (Exodus 23:20-24) (MSG)
Now this is protection with a promise for His people. God said He would do it through the ministry of angels. Children of Israel went into the Promised Land as recorded in the Book of Joshua, they went up against the very people they had to drive out, and it was Jericho. The city of Jericho was surrounded by a wall so wide that six chariots could race side by side on top.
God told Joshua, "I want you to march around that wall once every day for seven days. On the seventh day I want you to march around it seven times and then blow the trumpet, and the walls will fall down." (Joshua 6:3-5)
But how did the walls fall down flat? When the people obeyed God and did what He said to do, He knocked the walls down. The angel that took them into the land to drive out the Amorites, Hittites, and the other "-ites" who were there. That land didn't belong to those "-ites", and God sent an angel to fight the battle for the children of Israel.
Scriptures tells us that those who were under the Old Covenant do not have a better covenant that we do under the New Covenant. Whatever they had in the Old Covenant, we have it in the New Covenant and more (Hebrews 8:6). Angels that fought those battles for God's people in the Old Covenant and knocked down walls will fight battles and knock down walls in our covenant, too.
God said, "I'll send that angel to go in front of you. I'll send that angel to be with you. And I'll send that angel to take you into the place that's prepared for you, and he will fight for you."
Angels were involved in helping the children of Israel get back what the devil had stolen, and they will do the same for us today.

Make me Cry

Sitting in my office at home, Listening to Aretha Franklins rendition of “ Bitter Sweet Love”
I think about beauty and God comes to mind,
The Power Of God and the Beauty Of Holiness

Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you -- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? Exodus 15:11 (NIV)
One late summer's day, it took me awhile to get home because traffic was stalled along the way, on account of an air show. The "Blue Angels" were swooping around in the sky. Traffic line-ups were everywhere, of course! All eyes were looking up.
In the midst of a oohs and awes, there was a thrilling performance by the Blue Angels. I could imagine the co-ordination of the pilots at the controls of those F-16 aircraft.
As I was looking up at what man is capable of, into my car flew a beautiful tangerine-and-black butterfly. It flew around a bit, and at one point gently touched my cheek! Then away it went into the air.
This delicate, beautiful, little creature -- one of God's amazing little aircraft -- is capable of flying thousands of miles up in the sky. Requiring no fuel, butterflies are noiseless except for a tiny whisper of a wing in flight.
I looked up in wonder at the Blue Angels, and gazed in awe at the butterfly in all its beautiful complexity and simplicity.
These thoughts brought the title into view: the power of God and the beauty of holiness!
Sitting in this traffic jam could have brought frustration; rather, I was caught up in amazing acrobatics, of the aircraft and thought on the wonder of the butterfly, so gentle, so fragile, like a whisper, and, in contrast, the roaring power of those jet engines above.
So it is with God, when He reaches down to me. He beholds the beauty, the gentle touch and the power He uses in our lives. He comes in different ways, massages our minds when we need comfort, heals our heart when we endure pain, and soothes our soul with His many promises, and gives us the power to achieve victory. Jesus makes me cry. Amen.

God Responds to Your Prayer

A couple of things about prayer that will amaze you: First God listens to you when you pray. "Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake'—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it's as good as done. That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."(Mk 11:22-25 MSG). You may not have any power anywhere else, but when you pray God listens. Next We seldom pray, period. We have the greatest privilege imaginable - access to the most powerful credit card of the entire Universe -- yet we rarely use it. And our lack of prayer surprises God.
Through the prophet Ezekiel He lamented: "I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so I wouldn't have to destroy it. I couldn't find anyone. Not one. So I'll empty out my wrath on them, burn them to a crisp with my hot anger, serve them with the consequences of all they've done. Decree of God, the Master."(Eze 22:30,31 MSG). When it was evident that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed, Abraham didn't rush to warn the cities. No, he "Abraham stood in GOD's path, blocking his way.”(Gen 18:22 MSG). God said the golden calf justified a nationwide death penalty for Israel; Moses interceded for the country to God and saved them. The MSG translation of Exodus 32:11-13." Moses tried to calm his GOD down. He said, "Why, GOD, would you lose your temper with your people? Why, you brought them out of Egypt in a tremendous demonstration of power and strength. Why let the Egyptians say, 'He had it in for them—he brought them out so he could kill them in the mountains, wipe them right off the face of the Earth.' Stop your anger. Think twice about bringing evil against your people! Think of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you gave your word, telling them 'I will give you many children, as many as the stars in the sky, and I'll give this land to your children as their land forever.)An inconspicuous priest by the name of Phinehas pleaded God not to send the plague, and it was done. “stood up and pled their case
and the plague was stopped.”(Ps 106:30 MSG)
You say "Why place such a high priority on prayer?" It is simple. When we work, we work. But when we pray, God works! Powerful, not powerless, you might have missed it. Scripture attaches breathtaking power to prayer. "When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there."(Mt 18:19-20MSG). Does any other activity promise such results, or action? “I’ll be there”. Does God call us to preach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? No, but He said "pray without ceasing. It’s the relationship that saves relationships.

Are you Praying?

"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 MSG) Or what you might hear,”Pray without ceasing”. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)
Prayer should not be a one way conversation where you do all the talking or a ritual where we have to say things in the right order, or a chore like brushing our teeth before bed.
Jesus directs you to understand how to pray like this."Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace" (Math 6:6 MSG).or When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you. “When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.” (Math 6. 6-8 CEV)
Many people don’t pray for what seams to have little to do with the realities of life. They think of it like ladies and gentlemen please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance or the National Anthem at a game: done in order for an opening, done for the people but nothing to do with what happens on the field afterwards. Some people treat prayer like a lucky charm you pull it out and rub when things are tough: How about personal sayings, "A prayer a day keeps the devil away." Paul writes, "Pray without ceasing." That doesn't sound like something you do once in a while, or just during a crisis.
Try inserting the word breathe for the word pray: "breathe without ceasing" - doesn't that sound better for you? We don't breathe only when we feel like it. Or decide, "I'm not into breathing today," and stop breathing. Or get upset and say, "I’m not getting any where with this. I'm not doing it any more." No, we cling to the breath in our bodies because its life. So, just as breathing is a natural part of your life, prayer is an indispensable part of spiritual life. Without it you die spiritually. So, how's your prayer life?

Who are you?

The night before Jesus was crucified He was celebrating the Passover meal with His disciples. We traditionally call this the Last Supper. Jesus knew this would be the last time He would eat with His disciples; He knew in just one more day He would be hung on a cross to die.

Knowing He only had a few short hours remaining with this select group, Jesus used His time to leave a lasting impression of what it meant to truly follow Him.

John 13:3-5
"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him."

Without using words, Jesus gave perhaps His greatest sermon. Jesus was absolutely secure in who He was and where He was going: "He had come from God and was returning to God." But He was not proud or arrogant in His security. He didn't use His position to force others to submit or demand they satisfy His needs; instead, His secure position allowed Him to be completely humble and serve His disciples by washing their feet.

Our Heavenly Father desires for us to have this same level of security in Him. He wants us to KNOW we are His children and where we will spend eternity. Jesus came to set us free, and we are to walk in this secure freedom. But rather than using our freedom to arrogantly strut according to our own desires, a secure freedom should give us the necessary confidence to humbly serve without being offended; "do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13).

Being a follower of Jesus Christ means, first and foremost, that we love the Lord with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). But next, it means we are to love, serve, and "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:21). Knowing where we will spend eternity, and keeping our eyes set on this eternal perspective, allows us to focus more on the needs and concerns of others (Philippians 2:3-4). It allows us to use our gifts for their intended purpose; "use whatever gifts received to serve others" (1 Peter 4:10). My earthly needs become few when I have a clear picture of my eternal home.

Let's learn to live as Jesus lived: in fellowship with our Heavenly Father, with absolute assurance of who we are in Christ, with confidence of our eternal destiny, and with the complete abandoned humility of a free and secure servant.

God Problems

"A man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 'Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; ... I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him. ' And Jesus answered and said ... 'Bring him here to Me" (Matthew 17:14-17).
In life there are problems that I call "God problems." These are not problems with God, but problems only God can handle. God problems are those that cannot be fixed with your checkbook, education or influence. These problems are outside of the control of human beings and lie squarely within God's sovereign jurisdiction. They stop us in our tracks and cause us to soberly assess our associations and situation in life. They bring us face to face with our insufficiency and our need for God's sufficiency. When we face a God problem we discover what is really important in life. These problems are not designed to stop us from making progress in life, but to reveal our dependency on God. They are opportunities for us to seek and grow closer to Him. God wants to reveal something to you. He wants you to spend some time with Him, growing in your knowledge and relationship with Him, and your problem may be the vehicle He is using to do it.
Throughout the gospels people sought Jesus to do what no one else could do. In Matthew 17:14-1 7, a father had a problem that no one else had an answer for. His son was demon-possessed and no one was able to help him, including the disciples. Finally, he encountered the One who had held the key to his son's deliverance - Jesus. Jesus, looking at this seemingly impossible and long term situation, told the father to, "Bring him to Me". Jesus did in a moment what his father had been trying to do for years. Likewise, the disciples faced a seemingly impossible task of feeding a multitude with a boy's lunch. The boy only had two fish and five loaves of bread, but there were over 5000 people to feed. After taking inventory of the situation, Jesus told the disciples to, "Bring them here to me." As the fish and loaves passed through the hands of Jesus, their insufficiency was transformed into sufficiency.
You may be presently dealing with something that is outside of your control. You've done everything within your power to change the situation and have almost given up hope because nothing has changed. Before you give up, make sure that you've truly brought your problem to God and not trusted people for your solution. Like the boy's father who brought his son to the disciples - they couldn't help him. He needed God alone! Too often, God is the last stop in our search for help. You don't have to lose everything before you seek Him. God is not intimidated by what you are dealing with. Stop trying to fix it on your own. If you could fix it, it would be fixed by now. This is a "God Problem", or a "problem for God". Don't mistake your trusting people with trusting God. When God showed up, deliverance quickly followed.
The devil will do everything he can to keep you from spending time with God and discovering His sufficiency. He will put people in your way and keep you so busy and tired, that instead of things getting better, they get worse. I want to challenge you. Set aside some time in the morning, evening, (or if things are so hectic) on your lunch break or when you are lying in bed and get into God's presence undistracted. Take a deep breadth and focus on God's promises. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus promised, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, .... 'For My yoke is easy and My burden is light'." God's offer still stands! Whatever it is- "bring it to Me!"

A Friend

A friend is someone who will help you move a refrigerator. A friend is someone who will hang out with you even if you have nothing to do. A friend seeks out your company. He stays with you despite the circumstances. Friendship is a mutual bond. Love can be a one-way street, because you can love someone without your love being returned. In a friendship, however, the feeling is mutual; otherwise, the relationship isn’t one of friendship. The natures of friendship and love are different, too. Love is blind. A person deeply in love can’t see the faults of the beloved. A friend sees the faults but ignores the minor ones and brings the important issues to your attention without hurting your feelings. The Bible says, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted” (Proverbs 27:6). Trust is one of the strongest tokens of true friendship. We give friendly greetings to relatives, coworkers, acquaintances, and people we meet in passing. We may hold some of those we know in admiration and respect. Yet friends are special people. We seek them out because we want them to be in our lives. Our friendship is not because work with them, occupy a place in their family tree, or meet with them because of business or other reasons. The Bible notes the difference between companions and friends with the proverb “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (proverbs 18:24). Friends are equal. People begin friendships regardless of difference and status, education, wealth, or possessions. Those differences can be positive for the relationship. The Bible says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Friendship can’t long endure, however, if one member is always in need of help. Each member must bring something to share with the other. Friendship takes time and commitment. We can act friendly toward all people, but we can be true friends to only a few. It takes effort and work to build a friendship because friendship is not an emotion it’s an action. Friendship is not maintenance free. Consequently, making new friends takes extra effort so that new friends don’t come between existing friendships. The Bible mentions many friends: David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:42), Jesus and Lazarus (john 11:11), Paul and Luke (Colossians 4:14), and John and Gaius (3 John 1:1). Abraham was called a friend of God (James 2:23). Every friend is a gift from God. The most blessed friendships are those between Christians.

Praise Greater than your Requests

Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." But it's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God. (Romans 4 19-25MSG)
As Abraham became strong in faith, God was always with him… Notice to be strong in faith is to give God glory… being strong in faith has always something that goes with it
While Abraham is giving God glory, Abraham had to understand, look at what he’s saying, I’m a father of great blessings. I’m a father, and he’s thanking God that he is. Sarah his wife is not pregnant, and has not conceived in many years. But he’s still giving God glory. Abraham is calling those things which be not as though they were, and he’s thanking God. He gave God so much glory, that his faith assured him God would perform what He said he would. You have to understand read the word to Philip;
"You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, 'Where is the Father?' Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act. "Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do. (John 14 9-14 MSG)
The point is when you praise God so much that it exceeds or is greater than your requests; you'll have your manifestation. Praise God; don’t just acknowledge your faith. You need to praise Him because you believe the acknowledgment is so.
Include in your praise to Him by saying, "I'm getting stronger everyday. I'm stronger today than I was yesterday, and I thank you for it, Father. I'm stronger in my mind, stronger in my body, stronger in my bones, stronger in every way, than I was yesterday; and thank you for it."
When Abraham followed Gods determined method for faith, he received the promise. Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son.
Now God will finalize all paperwork and close the deal on the enemy. His word is bond. Jesus is born. Jesus walks the earth, and only says what God says. Jesus only speaks that which the Father tells Him to speak. And that is so important. We need to watch what we say; it cannot be over emphasized on the importance of speaking life or death.
A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! (James 3. 2-5 MSG)
It can be tempting to say the wrong thing when your emotions are tested. But you have to stand on say what God says and parallel that with that with praise. Give God glory by praising Him in the middle of the crisis, not just after the crises. You know God cares for you.
And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don't add words like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don't show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can't be used against you. (James 5.12MSG)
I’ll say this, you have to be strong in faith, and because it will help you control your tongue. So when you do your praises will be greater than your requests.

Grace

"So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.“(Hebrews 4:16 MSG)
Grace is like the paramedic coming to help someone with a medical emergency. They offer assistance to the victim on the spot. They have examined the situation and provide immediate grace to the most serious symptoms. Then they get them an ambulance, which is equipped with more grace - more medical functions - to deal with the problem. As the paramedics are administering more grace to the patient, the ambulance races to the hospital where even more grace is waiting to deal with the patient. Once the patient is in the emergency room, the hospital keeps dispensing grace to meet the need until the problem has been addressed and the patient can go home again. As the song goes: "'Twas Grace that brought me safe thus far, and Grace will lead me home."
One day Jesus heard our emergency call: "I am a sinner and I need a Savior." He shot to your location on earth, found us dying in sin and reached out to save us. As our High Priest, He transported us from where we were, to a place that has all the grace we will ever need as long as we live, until we are finally and fully restored at the resurrection and go home with Him. So, how can we have a Savior and High Priest like this and not draw near to Him in prayer? "But I'm tired" you say. That's ok, just draw near. "But you don't understand. I'm hurting and I feel like quitting." Call upon Him.
Others may not understand, but Jesus does. Just draw near to Him. He will meet you where you are, then take you to where He is – At the throne were there is an abundance of grace ready to be dispensed, by Jesus. Grace!

I'm Sorry.

People say sorry a lot, often leaving its meaning ambiguous. Many of the words we rely upon most are ambiguous. Love, for example, can mean what you feel for your children or your socks—kind of a wide range there.
If we really new what the word meant saying and receiving it will be two different things, but has the same outcome.
God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, "I'll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I'm sorry I made them." (Genesis 6:5)
Did God just say get rid! Destroy us all? Is that profound?
Samuel left immediately for Ramah and Saul went home to Gibeah. Samuel had nothing to do with Saul from then on, though he grieved long and deeply over him. But God was sorry he had ever made Saul king in the first place. (1 Samuel 15:34)
Oh God!
Do we know Who we are playing with. “God said in both instances that He was sorry He ever “made”. What would He do next, I don’t want to know. If God feels that way about the use of the word and it’s implication, we haven’t yet to live up to Gods will let alone the person we said it to. I’m sorry, we need to heed that warning can you imaging if God made that statement today. Have mercy Lord. If we live like Jesus, then we would live each waking moment with love, the love that should dwell in our heart should never have to be sorry. If we do need to be sorry are we to realize we made a great mistake and need to take it so serious.
We also use sorry as a predicate adjective, a special type of adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies (directly refers to) the subject of the sentence. In other words, “I’m sorry that . . . ” followed by a pronoun.
I’m sorry that I hurt you. I’m sorry that you’re upset. I’m sorry that he caused you pain. I’m sorry that it’s so difficult. I’m sorry that we are so incompatible about this. I’m sorry that they are so hard on you.
These play indexical roles, like index fingers pointing at the source of the difficulty: the source is me, you, we, or some outside (he, she, it, they) forced, together with plain “sorry,” then, there are five kinds of sorry based on the source of the problem:
1. Me
2. You
3. Us
4. Something or someone outside us
5. Don’t know or won’t venture to say
From whether something is wrong to whose fault it is.
From whose fault it is to whose burden it is to fix it.
From whose burden it is to another topic altogether.
From whose fault it is to whose burden.
From whose problem it is to another topic altogether
1. Me
2. You
3. He
4. She
5. It
6. We
7. They
8. Don’t know
9. Know but won’t say
It just gets more complicated. How do we go forth after saying I’m sorry?
Sorry can be nested in a hierarchy:
Well, I’m sorry . . . Well, I’m sorry you’re sorry . . . Well, I’m sorry you’re sorry I’m sorry . . .
That may sound like a joke but in practice the hierarchy is what often makes conversations about who is and should be sorry such cans of worms:
“Look, I’m sorry.” “For what you did?” “No, that you feel bad when I didn’t do anything wrong.” “But you did do something wrong.” “Well, I’m sorry.” “For what you did?” “No, I’m sorry that you feel I did something wrong when I didn’t.” “I don’t want you sorry that I feel you did something wrong. I want you to apologize for what you did.” “Well, I’m sorry.” “For what you did?” “No I’m sorry that you don’t want me to feel sorry that you want me to feel I did something wrong.” “I don’t want you to, oh, never mind.”
Consider what would have happened in the Garden of Eden if Adam and Eve had repented. God, of course, knew that they had eaten the forbidden fruit as soon as they had done so. But he didn’t immediately confront Adam with his sin; he gave him a chance to repent. He first said to Adam, who was hiding in the bushes, “Where are you?” God knew where he was, but he wanted to give him an opportunity to explain. But Adam did not take advantage of it. He said, “I heard your voice and I was afraid because I was naked.” What he should have said was, “Oh God, I have sinned and done that which you told me not to do. Have mercy on your unworthy servant.” However, God gave him a second chance to repent. He said, “Who told you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded you not to eat?” The correct answer would have been, “Yes, oh wretched man that I am! Have mercy on me, oh Lord, and forgive my transgression.” But Adam answered, “The woman that you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate.” That is, he blamed God for giving him a defective mate. And we recall that when given the opportunity to repent, Eve employed a similar tactic and blamed the serpent.
What would have happened if Adam and Eve had repented? St. Simeon the New Theologian says, “Had they repented, they would not have been expelled. They would not have been condemned; they would not have been sentenced to return to the earth from which they had been taken.” Instead, God said to them, “dust you are and to dust you shall return.”
Unfortunately, when confronted with our sins, our nature is to act like Adam. We try to avoid the topic, and if pushed, try to shift the blame. Repentance does not come naturally. But we must learn that when dealing with God as when dealing with a loved one, we cannot expect mercy without sincere contrition. Without repentance, as we learn from Adam, we have a great deal to lose. There is more to being sorry.

How do you handle bad news?

How do we handle bad news? The Bible has a number of things that can help us with bad news. You know this Christian walk is not going to be without challenges. When we get bad news, See or discern if it is actually bad news. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thess 5:21) Verify bad news, some news is not news at all; we could make things worse for ourselves as did Jacob. Is it this news something that we can do anything about? Says that we are not to be “slothful in business, fervent in spirit serving the Lord.” (Rom. 12:11) “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men ;”( Col 3:23) “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (Jam 4:17) Think about this when we do nothing it will only make things worse. What can we do when we checked it out and need something; first, we must turn to God in prayer. God wants us to pray to Him in difficult times as well as good times. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” (Luke 18:1) God does not want us to faint, but take courage in Him to do the right thing. We must be humble enough to turn to the Lord with problems that are out of our hands. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) Now we in order to deal with bad news we've got to stop the cycle of negative thinking. This means that we must focus on the good, instead of bad. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things ,just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Phil 4:8) When we think of the goodness of Jesus, we can Count our blessings, it goes a long way toward dealing with bad news. We need to Talk about it, after talking to God, which is therapeutic and will help to alleviate anxiety that we build within ourselves. Testify on what God is going to do, His yoke is easy and burdens are light. Talking to a friend or love one will help the process of dealing with it than all by yourself. This will also bring you into deeper a relationship with our Christian friends and family. “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” (Rom 12:15) “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” (1 Cor 12:25-26) After we have counseled it will help us accept it. Sometimes it takes a long time for us to do this depending on how bad the news is, but know God will comfort us throughout it all. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Regardless how bad a situation may seem to us, God is able to use it for good. (Rom 8:28) Now it should be time to shout. Knowing God will be there with us and we know victory is His promise. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil 4:4) We don't rejoice without reason, that would be insanity. We rejoice knowing that God is in control of all things good and bad. We rejoice knowing the blessings we have as Christians. We rejoice in the future and hope of all who are children of God. “Rejoice evermore.” (1 Thess 5:17)