Spiritual

ANYBODY THIRSTY??? REALLY THIRSTY?????


Spiritual Blog - Thirsty

John 7:37-39 – “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ” If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'”  39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”  NASU

 

WOW!  Today is another beautiful morning, as I awaken and sit before the Lord enjoying the solitude of my quiet place.  Darkness fills the air in the natural and light fills my heart in the spiritual.  My coffee tastes especially good this morning, the Word is incredibly refreshing and the communication with the Lord enlightening.  He asked me this question from the passage in John’s Gospel, “Are You Thirsty, Really Thirsty?” 

Jesus cried out at the last day of the feast a question that would have been applicable to every person there.  “Is anyone thirsty…”  Then He gave the solution to quenching that thirst, “let him come to Me and drink…”  This is not the first time that we’ve seen water regarding the people. We saw it in Exodus 17 Israel was encamped a Rephidim, but there was no water to drink and God through Moses’ hand provided water from the rock (a type of Christ).  Now, Jesus was telling the crowd if you have a thirst there is water that will quench it permanently for once you drink of this water there will be an inner river flowing out of your being to continually satisfy.  Remember the woman in Samaria (John 4) whom Jesus asked to give Him a drink and ultimately told her that there was water that she did not know about that would quench her thirst permanently?  Water that would become a fountain of water from within that would spring up into everlasting life was what He was offering her.

That Water of Salvation is available to everyone but ONLY those who THIRST find it.  If any man thirsts let him come unto Me and drink.  He speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit within our lives who will provide that continual flow of the waters of salvation in our beings.  He is offering that continual connection to Himself and the Father to whoever will come to Him and drink.

How do we drink?  We confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead.  We confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins.  We find that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  We drink from the fountain filled with blood that flows from Emmanuel’s veins.  We come to the Cross and receive the sacrifice that Jesus offered to pay for our sins.  We receive Him into our lives as Savior and as Lord!  He is the Water of Life, a continual flow from the throne of the Father, to us who are thirsty!  But, we must become thirsty or we will never seek that flow!

Today, allow your hunger and thirst for righteousness to be satisfied by turning fully to Jesus with your heart, your soul, your mind and your spirit.  Once you taste this water you will never thirst again! As you begin your day, go forth from the fountain of life having drunk from His waters and be satisfied!  Once you have quenched your thirst at His fountain go forth and share that water with others who are searching and thirsty!

Blessings as you go through your day!  May the Lord provide all that you need to do all that your heart desires on this day!

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WHO ARE YOU?


Spiritual Blog - Who

Acts 19:11-15 – “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also, there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”   NKJV

 

As the darkness covers the backyard, stillness and quietness allow my mind to reflect on the things of my heart without interruption from external sources.  Reading passages from the Bible and listening to the Lord refreshes the soul.  This morning I sat thinking about the question above from the scripture text passage.

This account in Acts is so applicable to us today as in any day.  Some diminish the power of the forces of hell to the point that they mock and taunt those forces while others are so fearful that they live life with such timidity that they cannot accomplish anything for the Lord.  We have authority, we have weapons of warfare that are mighty through God (2 Corinthians 10) and we have a commission to go into all the world with the “Good News”. (Mark 16)

Luke 10:18-20 – “And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” NKJV

 We, having been born again, have the privilege of carrying the “Good News” to the ends of the world and to every person.  In so doing, we will be invading territory that is currently occupied by the forces of darkness.  They will not want to give up that territory without a fight, so it is imperative that we KNOW who we are and whose we are.  Our faith and confidence are not in our ability, spirituality, gifts or talents but in HIM, otherwise, we will find the evil forces saying to us what was said to the sons of Sceva in Acts 19, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know but who are you?”   May that never be!

Our rejoicing is not, that the powers of darkness are subject to us through Christ, but that our names are written in heaven.  Our rejoicing is not in our ability to cast out demons, see signs and wonders but in souls coming into the Kingdom of God.  Seeking the demonstrations of power is to focus wrongly.  Seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness is the proper focus and the other will be a by-product of that relationship, as needed and where needed.  It’s not important that anyone know our name or recall any exploits that we may have done or been used to accomplish, in Christ, but that they KNOW HIM!  The objective is reaching those who are lost, dying, hurting, bound, wounded, bruised, battered, defeated and bring them out of the darkness into His marvelous light!  There will be demonstrations of power when God moves!  The purpose of those demonstrations is not to call attention to us but to turn hearts to our Lord!  My desire is to see the captive free, not have attention called to me.  My purpose is to lead so that others can follow Him, not that I have a following.  So, for my name to be feared in hell it must be written in heaven and my heart must be completely submitted to Christ!  We are children of the Most High God and have authority over all the power of the enemy!  We do not walk in fear but in confidence in Him!

Today, as you work, war and witness for our Lord know that you are more than a conqueror through Him that loves us!  Perfect love casts out fear!  Walk in His love and allow Him to demonstrate the power of that love through us.

May the rich and bountiful Blessings of the LORD accompany you as you go through your day! 

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FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE…


Spiritual Blog - Fourth Man

Daniel 3:16-25 – “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”  19 Saved in Fiery Trial Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”  25 Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”  NKJV

  

What a beautiful beginning to a new day.  I am sitting with my morning coffee, bible and the presence of the Lord, reading, and listening.  In the stillness I heard “There is a Fourth Man in the Fire!”

The Book of Daniel is a most interesting book, to me.  I love watching the hand of God upon lives that are completely committed to Him and seeing His delivering hand.  A truth that too frequently we forget and allow ourselves to fret, fuss and fume over various situations and circumstances.  The Hebrews taken captive to Babylon had among them, four very distinctive personalities.  Daniel, whom they named Belteshazzar but we always find him called Daniel.  Hananiah the Babylonian’s renamed Shadrach; Mishael to Meshack and Azariah to Abed-Nego names we find them referred to in the book henceforth.  These four young men made some early decisions regarding their commitment to the Almighty God whom they served.

  1. The refused to eat the king’s meat or drink the king’s Oh, how we need to understand that we must “come out from among them and be separate”.  They didn’t try to make themselves noticeable to everyone around them in their difference, just maintain their commitment to God and allow the result to speak for itself.  Their commitment elevated them to prominent positions in the kingdom of Babylon, yet they maintained their integrity and commitment to God.
  1. The refused to bow before the king’s idol even though, in the natural, it meant sure death. They responded to the king by saying, king we do not need to try to justify our actions to you, we trust the God we serve and He will deliver us and if not no big deal.  We must always remember that this life here is just a sojourning; we are passing through as “strangers and pilgrims on this earth.”  This is a temporary home, not our permanent one.  Therefore, keeping the focus on the “goal, the prize of the high calling” is more important than being politically correct or fitting in with the world.
  1. They were delivered by THE FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE whom Nebuchadnezzar declared looked like “the Son of God.” Even the Babylonian king could not deny the truth of God nor His great power because of the commitment of these young men.

It doesn’t matter what we face!  It doesn’t matter what obstacles are laid in our path!  It doesn’t matter what opposition comes our way!  It doesn’t matter what danger our lives might be placed in – – THERE IS A FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE!  If we “seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness”; our eyes upon Him and our commitment firmly rooted in His Word and refuse, as the three Hebrew Children to BEND, BREAK or BOW we will walk out of the fire either in this life or in the next unscathed and into His presence!  They may be able to kill our bodies but they cannot kill our souls, therefore we need not fear them, whoever they might be!

I pray that as you begin your day today you will have a knowing deep inside that if today leads you to the fiery furnace the FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE will be awaiting you there to cover you over with His feathers and under His wings, you can trust, rest and be protected.  We will either receive deliverance or promotion and both are victories!

Blessing my friends as you go through your day!

 

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WHERE IS MY HELP?


Spiritual Blog - My Help

Psalms 121 – “I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help?  2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.  4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.  5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.  6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.  7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”  NKJV

 

It is another beautiful morning in the DFW area, cool temperatures 46 degrees, slight Southerly breeze blowing, train horns shattering the morning silence, coffee temperature perfect and my Bible providing needed nourishment.  In conversation with the Lord, these passages came up regarding HELP.

Like the Psalmist, we find ourselves facing possible or imminent attack from time to time in our lives.  The Psalmist was looking to the hills (mountains) and asked where is my help coming from?  Was he looking to the natural mountains?  Was he looking to heaven?  Was he looking to Jerusalem?  No matter, he identifies where his help is coming from – – The LORD who made heaven and earth.  He was looking to the one who will not allow our feet to slip.  The one who does not sleep or slumber.  The one sustains keeps or protects us in EVERYTHING.  He is our covering to keep us from being burned by either the sun or the trouble.  He is the one who preserves us from all evil and preserves our soul as we go out and come in.  He is our fortress, our defender, our protector, our deliverer, our guide and our counselor.

More than once in my life, I have experienced this protective care and keeping of the Lord.  He would make a way when there seemed to be no way.  He came through when there was help from no other source.  He has come through financially providing funds when an emergency had arisen that without His miracle my family and I would be devastated.  He has provided healing when I faced cancer’s sentence of death and numerous other times when the physical condition prevented me from accomplishing His purposes for that time.  He has provided wise counsel with a clear path to victory when there was confusion and searching for the way.  He has provided the loving touch of His hand when loneliness and despair had set in and lifted me from the pit of self-pity back onto the solid foundation of victory.  He has been my provider, defender, protector, guide, friend, counselor and LORD in so many instances that time will not allow me to include here.

WHERE IS MY HELP?  Where is my country’s help?  Where is my family’s help?  It is coming from the LORD!  He has promised that if we CALL unto HIM He will ANSWER us!  Lord, I’m calling confident that you are answering!  As in the Old Western movies, the U.S. Cavalry is coming in the nick of time.  The Christ of Calvary will be ON TIME, EVERY TIME!!!! 

Look up your redemption draws near!  Today is a good day for you to being the day rejoicing in the Lord and thanking Him for what He has done, is doing and is going to do on your behalf!

May the LORD bless you richly as you embark on today’s journey! 

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NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN…


Spiritual Blog - no Other Name

Acts 4:1-12 – “As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ” Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead —  by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 ” He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.  12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” NASU

 

Sometimes in the chaos of this world’s problems, political, social, economic, physical, etc. we forget the foundation.  We turn our eyes toward the problem and it causes fear, concern, apprehension, trepidation and even depression.  Yet, when we remember to remember that Jesus is the foundation and that “NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN has been given among men by whom we must be saved” we shake ourselves and rise up out of the ash heap of despair and look up to the author and finisher of our souls in victory!

Deep inside my spirit, I know that I know that I know that GOD IS IN CONTROL of my life and the lives of many others and that His Holy Spirit is touching hearts across this land for good and right.  We may continue to have political chaos and disaster of all types but the one thing we DARE NOT FORGET is that Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE – THE DOOR!  There is no other access to the Father but through and by Him.  That has to remain our foundational focus and message to those around us.

The chorus of an old song resounds and resonates in my heart today – “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”  He is the Stone that the builders rejected but has become the Chief Corner Stone!

He is trustworthy!  He is reliable!  He is Truth!  He is Life!  He is Hope!  He is change!  He is Salvation!  It is in Him that we live and move and have our being and upon whom we can rely!  So, no matter what takes place in this life our faith and confidence MUST REMAIN IN HIM!  He is our Rock and our Foundation!  Don’t let the problems overwhelm you allow His love to give you an anchor that will hold no matter what!  If they kill us all they’ve done is send us home early.  However, if He keeps us here awhile longer then there is work to do and we must be busy about the Master’s Business!

God Bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!  May the Lord Bless and Keep you and make His face to Shine upon you and give you Peace!

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EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD…….


Spiritual Blog - God's House

Psalms 127:1-2 – “Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.  2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.”  NASU

I love mornings!  It is a time before all others arise that I can sit before the Lord with my cup of coffee, bible and have some pleasant conversation with the Lord without interruption.  Today, the Lord of Hosts reminded me of these passages and spoke to my heart.

Tragically, all of us and especially those in ministry sometimes forget WHO is doing the building of the house.  It really doesn’t matter if we are talking about the ‘house’ we call the church, the ‘house’ we call our life, the ‘house’ we call our family, etc.  The fact remains that the ultimate builder is THE LORD!  We are only laborers in the work of the Kingdom, not the architect, He is.  We only follow directions, we drive the nails, carry the lumber, paint the walls, lay the carpet, shingle the roof – – HE BUILDS!

I’ve heard the statement, through the years, “I’ve got to grow my church.”  First, it’s not your church.  Second, you are not the one growing it.  One sows, one waters, but its God who gives the INCREASE!  I’ve heard preachers at meetings discuss the size of the church they were leading and some of the numbers were quite liberal.  I know because I’d been in some of them just weeks or months earlier and there were no numbers even remotely resembling the numbers suggested.  It is like I heard a preacher say once when asked how many they were running in church.  He said, “We are running 500 but only catching about 125.”  It is the Lord who places stone upon stone and uniquely fits and frames us together to make that portion of His church that we are functioning in.  He chooses our place in the framework and who we are to labor alongside.  He chooses our gifts, talents and/or function within the body and when we submit to His choosing we find our labors productive.

Sadly, there are too many times when we do not want to be where He has placed us, doing what He has chosen and working with whom He has positioned us beside.  We want RECOGNITION!  Christ Body is ONE BODY and He is the HEAD of that body.  He is the builder, He is the ultimate guard of the work and all the labor we can do outside His guidance, gifting and direction are VAIN!  God will work even while we sleep if we rest in Him and allow Him to be the Head of HIS CHURCH.

Paul described it so beautifully in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 – “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not, for this reason, any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not, for this reason, any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.”  NASU

We are His Body and He is the Master Builder of His Church of which we are a part!  Let’s set our hearts to blooming where He has planted us and allow Him to decide what position or placement in His Church we are to function in.  I only want to do Your will Oh Lord!  My prayer is, “Mold me and make me Lord.”  I sit here today with the song on my heart – “I Surrender All”.  That is the ONLY place to be, in TOTAL SURRENDER to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Blessings as you begin your week.  Rest in the Lord, building His Church is His responsibility, yours is to do what He directs you to do!  In doing that, His Church will rise to the greatness that He has desired and designed and you will fulfill your purpose in the Kingdom!

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HIS WORD – YOUR WORD – OUR WORDS…


Spiritual Blog - God Speaks

Isaiah 55:6-11 – “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.  7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.  9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”  NASU

 

We often quote passages from the Bible and have our arsenal full of them to use at various times, but the question is; do we truly fully believe and live them?  I like the way this passage begins and it is somewhat problematic if you really read it.  It says; SEEK the Lord while He may be found… isn’t he findable all the time?  CALL upon Him while He is near… isn’t He near all the time?  Let me answer that this way:  God is Omnipresent but sometimes our hearts keep Him at a distance.  There are times when, for whatever reason, God is not near and our prayers ascend to a heaven covered with brass.  We should keep our hearts attuned to Him all the time and seek first Him and His Kingdom but sadly, most of the time we do not do that all the time.  Sometimes, we are like Samson and do not realize that the Lord has departed, and we try to keep doing the same things as before and it is nothing more than a tinkling cymbal and sounding brass, form, and symbolism but no substance.

God clearly identifies that His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways. He also clearly reveals that His words will not return empty but will ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES.  His words will touch the heart and then the heart has to respond by accepting or rejecting those words.  God speaks to us through the Bible, other people, and things of nature, circumstances and in many other ways.  I’ve been watching a T.V. program before and heard the voice of God so clearly that it was almost startling.  The program had nothing to do with the spiritual but God used it, because it had my attention, to get my attention.  I’ve watched the interactions and actions of animals and heard the voice of the Spirit of God, as He would reveal something to me that had been missed in my thinking, evaluating and meditation.  I’ve had friends, neighbors, family members and strangers utter words that were straight from heaven and they never knew it, but God communicated to me so clearly that it was amazing.  He is a communicator and is constantly communicating with us but we are not always listening.

Once we have God’s words, no matter what the subject or situation, we can STAND FIRMLY on those words.  They are solid.  I don’t mean take what we wanted Him to say and stand on that, but what He actually says – His word for that moment, in that situation, and for His specific purpose.  When I’ve done that I have never seen His word fail.  When I’ve taken what I wanted Him to say and tried to stand on it, I’ve seen disappointment.  I’ve spent my entire adult life learning the difference and still am no expert at it.  Yet, this one thing I know – – If God speaks it, truly speaks it then IT WILL BE because HE IS and DOES NOT FAIL!

May the Lord bless you as you go through this beautiful day with and in Him!

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WAITING – PERSEVERANCE – VICTORY!


Spiritual Blog - Waiting on God

Isaiah 40:31- “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  NKJV

What a wonderful morning.  The sun is not yet up, the rain has ceased and today is projected to be a day of warmth and sunshine.  A refreshing cup of coffee, the satisfying word of God and the enlightening conversation with the Lord are the foundation to beginning my day.

He talked to me about, Waiting, Perseverance and Victory!

In life, if we truly learn to WAIT on the Lord we will find the secret of renewing our strength, in Him.  It is then that we can mount up with wings like eagles and soar above our problems and see the situation for a much higher plane than horizontally.  It is then that we can RUN and not grow weary, no matter how long the race or how difficult the journey and in the end, we will WALK and not faint because we will walk out the other side in VICTORY!  The KEY – – WAITING ON THE LORD!  If there is one thing that is critical that we, as Christians learn, it is HOW TO WAIT ON THE LORD!  How to truly WAIT on Him.  Wait for His guidance.  Wait for His clear direction.  Wait for His renewal to come.  Wait for His timing.  WAIT – – “But those who wait on the Lord SHALL…”  Not maybe, SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH!   This is not a race that you can run in your own strength, wisdom, power, understanding or might.  It is through Him, by Him, in Him and with Him that we will reach the goal.  If you learn nothing else in your walk, LEARN TO WAIT on the Lord!   WAIT ON and WAIT UNTIL, He speaks, renews, guides and empowers!  You live by a clock, He does not.  You have a deadline; He does not have the same deadline.  You think you know when something MUST happen; He knows when it must happen.  He will not be late, and He will not fail.  So, set your heart to WAIT ON THE LORD!

Blessings my Friends.  Blessings!

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FATHERHOOD, ANGER, CHILD TRAINING, AND DISCIPLINE – Biblical Perspective…


Spiritual Blog - Fatherhood

Ephesians 6:4 – “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” NKJV

Colossians 3:21 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” NASU

Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” NKJV

Since I was a child, much has changed regarding the accepted norm in child rearing and whose responsibility it is to train the child.  Scores of books have been written about discipline or the lack thereof, about spanking or the supposed damage that does, etc.  My dad was a disciplinarian. He could not quote a lot of Bible verses, but he did know a couple and practiced them.  He knew, Proverbs 13:24 – “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.” NKJV.  He knew, Proverbs 23:13-14 – “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” KJV

He knew, believed, and practiced those while teaching me discipline, the value of giving my word and honoring it, respect for my elders, doing what is right even when no one is looking, treating women with respect and dignity and giving a full day’s work for a day’s wage. Those are things that are so a part of my makeup that they are part of who I am. He applied the “rod” more than once to my young anatomy and to this day I am grateful that he loved me enough to discipline me and keep me heading in the right direction.

God wants fathers to both “train” and “admonish” their children.  Training has to do with actions.  It has to do with teaching them “how to” and in some cases “how not to” whereas; admonition has to do with “words”, what you say and how you say it. I’ve heard fathers constantly tell their children that they were stupid, worthless and would never amount to anything.  In fact, not to get too close to home but I witnessed a relative tell his son & daughter how worthless they were from the time they could walk.  He told his daughter she would be a “whore”, a “tramp”, a “slut” and his son that he would never amount to anything.  Both children, now grown, have major problems and both have looked to me through the years in times of trouble as a haven to which we can run, often too late.

My dad, though a disciplinarian always instilled in us that we could do anything that we set our hearts and heads to. He had very little education but knew how to do more things than most men I know, as could my grandfather. His administering of punishment or discipline was not out of anger or because he was the adult and we were the child and he could, but because he wanted to prevent us from taking the wrong course in life.  I know that every child is different and differing types of discipline works with different children but for me, he had the right course of action, I needed a firm hand.

I’ve been told that I have a “mother’s love” for my children because of the great love that I demonstrate toward them. Yet, I respond to that saying, “No, I think that you misunderstand the love that most men have for their children, I just express it a little differently than many.” A true father has no greater desire than to see his children grow up and become responsible, productive members of society.  If he is a Christian father, he can have no greater joy than to see them serve the Lord and then raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

One of my closest high school friends father drank heavily and would come in and beat his wife. My friend, by the time he was 15 could take it no longer and on numerous occasions would physically fight his drunk father to protect his mother. His father provoked him to anger and though he recognized him as his biological father he held no respect for him and later when he had turned to the Lord it was almost impossible for the son to accept the change, because of the history.  I raised my sons with a firm hand but always tried to communicate to them that what I was doing was out of my love for them and attempted to teach them not only what was going to happen but why and what the objective was for their lives.  Both, are great young men today, serving the Lord and loving their dad (me) as I love them.

God disciplines us because He loves us not because He doesn’t.  Sometimes, He just speaks, and a word is enough. Sometimes, He allows us to fall into our own pit for a time because a word was not enough. We are sometimes like the little lamb that will go running around everywhere without discipline and finally fall off the cliff onto a ledge. We cannot get off by ourselves and the wise shepherd will sometimes allow that little lamb to stay there for an extended period of time, while closely watching and carefully guarding the lamb and then will pick it up from the ledge and the shepherds have been known to break the little lamb’s leg and then carry it on his shoulders until it is healed before allowing it to run free again. This time, the lamb responds to the voice of the shepherd!  I’m not saying God is going to break our legs, but He will let is lay on the ledge for a time, so we can see the folly of our ways and then pick us up and nurture us back to health.

Fathers if you have a problem with anger, your children will too!  If you discipline in anger, they will not get the message you truly want to convey unless it is you want to hurt them. If you discipline, admonish, nurture and train them in the Love of the Lord, then when they are old they will not depart from it.  Your job is important but not more important than your family.  Your ministry is important but not more important than your family.  God has placed under your care and keeping, children (if you are a parent) and holds you accountable for their nurture, admonition, discipline, and training.

You may spank or not spank that’s between you and God, but you are responsible for helping to shape the will of that child at a very early age so that the child will grow up responsible and learn the love and discipline of the Lord from his or her father. Of course, mothers are vital to this but I’m speaking to the fathers.  Children need their fathers in the home not just on their birth certificate.  Men, be a father don’t just become someone who sires children.

Blessings as you go through your day!

 

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CAMPAIGN MODE CHRISTIANITY…….


Spiritual Blog - Commitment

Matthew 21:28-32 – “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’  29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.  30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.  31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.”  Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.  32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.”  NKJV

 

What a spectacular beginning to the day!  Gentle rain falling and a cool breeze, hot coffee, God’s Holy Word, creatures stirring and coming out of their slumber and hearing the voice of the Lord in my heart.  The thought of “Campaign Mode Christianity” or “Verbal Christianity” came to life in my heart this morning and I pondered the problems and potential of that reality. 

The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart regarding the political scene and reminded me of how the politicians say one thing on the campaign trail and often fail to keep their promises once they are elected.  They say what they believe people want to hear at the moment seeking to secure votes but are not really committed to doing that which they have promised.  It is “verbal” not “heart”.  He reminded me that what we must have is “commitment from the heart” in all that we do, politically, socially, vocationally, financially, and spiritually.  Without that, we have nothing more than “Campaign Christianity.”  Our families suffer, our relationships suffer, our jobs suffer, our finances suffer, and our souls suffer.  He has placed before us “life and death” and it’s up to us to choose “life”.

In this parable there are two sons, one makes a commitment and the other is in campaign mode or just gives verbal assent to what he believes his father wants to hear.  One repents and acts upon the desires of his father, the other drifts into his own self-centeredness and does what he wants disregarding, the wishes of the father.  Too often, we do that in this present world.  In politics, this could be equated to a politician making a commitment (true commitment), to the Constitution, the people, the rule of law and what is ethically and morally right or just being in Campaign Mode and saying what they think we want to hear then following their own greed, graft and corruption to get what benefits them and their special interest groups or party.  In Christianity, it is a contrast of making a heart commitment, forming a conviction and following the desires of the Father with a whole heart or moving God aside and installing self as the center of our universe and following “self”.  I do not want to be a “Campaign Christian” nor a “Verbal Christian”; I want to be a True Follower of Christ! 

Today we have before us two choices regarding our lives, the sum-total of our lives; we can be in a “campaign mode” or we can be in a “committed mode”.  The choice is ours!  As for me and my house, we choose the Lord!

May the Lord Bless you as you begin your day in Him!  May He give you the grace and strength to follow His voice, rely on His grace and strength and enjoy His presence in all that you do!  Have a great day!

 

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