Seek charges dropped

"Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge." 2 Timothy 4:14-16

Our fleshly knee jerk reaction is to retaliate. Even in Christ, we may pray for them but often I've asked that the Lord's dealings are just. 

"See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."1 Thessalonians 5:15

What better example of Christ Love & grace than to pray for our enemies? 

Jesus said, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:44-45

Who has grown & matured enough IN CHRIST to seek the Father asking all charges against them are dropped? 

Problem with "me-ism" Part 1

Me me me meeeee... 

Did you know you we were born with a terrible case of "me-ism"? Yes, it's true. Despite our best efforts, we were born with SELF on the heart's throne; yet with a deeper need self cannot meet. 

Look at this list society thrives upon:

SELF esteem

SELF confidence 

SELF assurance 

SELF love

SELF determination

SELF sufficient 

SELF entitlement 

SELF reliance

SELF respect 

SELF gain

Is it really any wonder why society is crumbling, why there's lack of natural affection or why men's hearts are waxed gross? Much of humanity walks around looking out for #1 SELF! How deceitful & wicked our hearts are to worship & adore ourselves in such a gross way! 

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:9-10

Is this really our life's purpose? God forbid, NO! He created us for Himself! "...all things were created by Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16 We were fashioned in His own image to KNOW Him, walk with Him & talk with Him. 

Now, it's important to remember Jehovah IS a jealous God. He knows the heart, He tries the heart and He will make countless attempts to get your attention, gain your focus and claim your heart's throne! 

Guess what though, in His GREAT Love, He will NOT choose for us. He's made a way through His only begotten Son to restore a right relationship between us & Him. 

Main requirement in walking with Christ... DENY SELF & carry your cross. You cannot serve 2 masters. How long will you teeter?

"Choose ye this day whom ye will serve"

Always on my mind

There's an old song by Willie Nelson that says, "...You were always on my mind. You were always on my mind." 

Though his song is a reflection of past failures with a love lost. It's always nice to know we are being thought of. 

Truth is, people will fail us, but there is One Who will not. Jehovah God has a love without end. He speaks to us throughout the day in the little things. No doubt we ARE always on His mind! 

He says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

Not a past tense "were" but rather constant and ever present. Have you placed your confidence in man? There's healing for the heartache in His everlasting loving arms. 

While we are on His mind ceaseless, will you take the time to show those you love in the little things too. Do they know, they're always on your mind?

My Jesus

Who is Jesus to you?

Jesus to me is: my...

Lord

Savior

Master

Redeemer

Deliverer 

Everlasting life

Friend

Lover of my soul 

Provider

Comforter

Teacher 

Justifier

Defender

King of kings 

The Son of God

Was God in the flesh 

Bread of Life & Living Water

Best of all He is Love, He is Righteous & Sovereign 

Conqueror

He IS my Beloved and I am His. 

He is perfect. 

He is Holy & just. 

He's always been & He always will be! 

More than a prophet, more than our comprehension can fully attain. With all that said, He is my all in all. He is who completes me and where my confidence remain. He is my hope, my joy, my peace and my prosperity. He is my treasure stored up in Heaven where no moth or rust can destroy; neither can any thief steal. None can compare to Him or ever replace Him. He is personal, attainable and always within reach. That my friend, is my Jesus. 😊 

Do you know Him?

Conviction & confession

A humbled conviction & lowly confession ... 

This evening my kids & I went to the laundry mat. Though tired, it was necessary. 

After we started some laundry I received a phone call from someone trying to set up an appointment. I've had several calls from this company. So, I tried filling in this lady as nicely as I could to save us both time without yet another "sales pitch". 

The more I spoke with her, mutual agitation grew. After a couple more attempts trying to help her understand the situation she decided to block out my voice and talk over me. I actually took a derogatory tone and let the woman go. 

As I continued with the laundry The Lord spoke to my heart. He said, "You don't know the life she lives, or what she's going through." I felt terrible for the way I responded to her! 

I noticed an onlooker there too. He gave me this look like, "wouldn't wanna mess with you." This only added to what The Lord continued speaking to me.  He said, "There is always someone watching. Him too, you don't know the life he lives." 

I stewed on these things our remaining time there. My kids were very helpful and pleasant. I was able to show them love unconditional, even in the short testing moments but 2 strangers were impacted by my reaction to a simple phone call. 

Before we left I humbly walked up to the man still there. I apologized to him for my tone on the phone. He smiled and said, "oh no, no no, it's ok." I replied, No, it's not ok. I shouldn't have spoken that way and you shouldn't have had to hear it, whether you were listening or not. He was surprised and seemed a little shocked that I would even approach him. 

Though I blew it with the woman on the phone, I hope The Lord used His gentle convicting of my heart to speak to the man present. 

Truth is, we don't know what others are going through or how they live. I don't know the purpose God had for the man who accepted my apologies, but let God's Will be done. In a sense it damaged my testimony unto Him, yet in another He reminded me of a great lesson. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Please pray for us and PLEASE Carefully consider your realm of influence, it's far greater than just those you know. 

Resurrection Acquisition

Did you know before Jesus willingly laid down His life upon the Cross of Calvary, only the holiest of priests could enter into the presence of the Almighty!? 

He is so HOLY that any who dared enter into the temple would immediately fall dead! His presence IS that serious and that powerful! 

Today's Jr. Church lesson was probably not that of a "typical" Resurrection Sunday... Yes, Christ IS risen and because of this, we "common folk"- saved & redeemed by His blood now have ACCESS to the Father in Heaven! \o/ 

"And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom." Mark 15:38

His sacrifice opened the door permanently for ALL bought by His life transforming blood. He forever transformed our communion & conversation with Jehovah God! 

I pray this often overlooked aspect of Jesus life, death & resurrection impact you as it did me and the innocent eyes & ears of the children in my class today, enough to not use it sparingly nor as a spare wheel; rather that it cause your relationship with Him to grow beyond measure! 

Do you cherish and take advantage of such a beautiful & amazing gift? This precious transferred acquisition called PRAYER...

Everybody's Everything

A lady told me the other day, "I cannot be everybody's everything." How true these words are! Do you realize how burdening is is to try to be a "people pleaser"? I tried it for many years... What's worse is when you try to throw God in the loop; like He needs to take turns or something! 

Seriously, if you live you life pleasing before The Lord there IS freedom! Yes, people will walk away, but WHO is of more importance? Christ or the world? 

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

Therefore, I too cannot be everybody's everything. I desire to live in a way that's pleasing before my God; that I may be counted worthy to BE a servant of my Lord and master. 

How long you juggle is up to you. There's FREEDOM in Christ! 

Do we serve the SAME Christ?

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matthew 16:24

1st He says, "if any man will come after Me." It's a CHOICE... Life or death? Christ or the world? Have you counted the cost?

2nd He says, "let him deny himself". Are you allowing Him to transform you? Are you beginning to take on His likeness or does it look like you REPRESENT the world (anyone without Him). 

3rd He says, "take up his cross". It is representative both figurative & literal of DEATH. He willingly sacrificed His life so we might KNOW Him, have access to the Father in a Heaven and have everlasting LIFE. We too are required to make a sacrifice. All He endured: mockery, lashings, beatings, persecution (comes in many forms these days), to some degree, we will too. It COST Him His life, are we so arrogant to think we don't have to go through what He did; to assume the "Christian life" is about pleasures of this life (not that of the next) & worldly gain? That's WRONG! 

4th He says, "come after Me"... Are you FOLLOWING Him? His ways? His commandments? 

Finally, are you teachable? Remember the disciples are His students. Continually learning, absorbing & APPLYING. Do you do these things DAILY (Luke 9:26) 

See, following Christ is about laying down ourselves and humbly walking with Him; serving others in His Love. Self sacrifice at a high cost. If you follow a "Jesus" with no requirements and no life changes, can you honestly say you FOLLOW Christ if the Bible? 

Some may say this is harsh. No my friend, hell is harsh and anyone not walking with the True Messiah will forever be cut off from Him, from His Love & His forgiveness. With that said, Do we follow the same Jesus? 

Reach!

One, then two steps down and reach... These simple things is all my 3 year old nephew had to do to grab his toy airplane that fell down. He wanted it back so bad but not quite bad enough to do it himself. He wanted me to grab it. Lol! 

I told him twice how to get it but he shook his little head in disbelief. He grabbed my hand and stretched it as far as it would go, to no avail. I wasn't close enough either. 

Truth is, he was scared. He's in new territory and this simple task was uneasy. So I held out my hand and said, "let's do it together!" With BIG wide eyes he smiles and laughs. Then he attempts to make me grab it again. I said, "No, let's do it together!" He shrieks back and begins to pout. So step by step I told him, "Put your toes by my toes", uncertain he did it! One step, then the next step his toes followed mine. 

Then I said, "take my hand. We will get it together." He tried AGAIN to make my hand get it. "No, let's do it together", I said with a reassuring smile. So, I held his tiny hand and we both stretched forth and grabbed it! 

Moral of the story: Trust conquerors fear! How many times does The Lord God instruct us STEP by STEP, yet we do the same thing. We have our own ideas in how it should go and so we struggle in our fears. 

Truth is, He never asks us to do these things alone! His hand is always outstretched and grants us guidance step by step. The duration of our squandering & squawking is up to us. The sooner we learn to TRUST His gentle hand, the better & more enjoyable our walk will be! 

Will you take His hand and trust His leading?