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Great Joy

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. – James 1:2‭-‬6 NLT

The Lord is my shepherd; 

I have all that I need. 

He lets me rest in green meadows; 

he leads me beside peaceful streams. 

He renews my strength. 

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. 

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. 

You honor me by anointing my head with oil. 

My cup overflows with blessings. 

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalms 23:1‭-‬6 NLT

Are we fully trusting in the Lord to be faithful and true? Are we fully trusting that even this trial is meant for our good and for His glory? Yes, these questions,  this examining our hearts to see if faith and belief really lives there — it either brings us to the garden to rest humbly and trusting in His arms — or is has us far from Him and grumbling about not getting our own way right now. 
Surrender, and return to the garden, and be still and know that He is God. He is mighty.  Trust in Him. Follow Him. He went through hardships. He was wrongly accused and hated by those he pleaded for on their behalf. He faced opposition repeatedly from the enemy that wanted to hinder his work going forth and seeing many bright into freedom and belief and life abundant no longer bound by sin and death. Don’t think that you should escape the trials, but realize that the trials are the refining fires that purify your heart and that service as your living testimony that He lives in you.

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Sow the Good Seed

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Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6:7‭-‬10 ESV


Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. – James 4:7‭-‬8 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 

nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;  

but his delight is in the law of the Lord , 

and on his law he meditates day and night.  

He is like a tree planted by streams of water 

that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. 

In all that he does, he prospers.  

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.  

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;  

for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalms 1:1‭-‬6 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. – James 1:22 ESV


LORD, empower us by your Holy Spirit to receive your Truth and see it grow up –from a Hope that it might “some day come” — to an active and abiding Faith that is seeing sin overcome in our lives to meditate upon, believe, and obey your commandments — an obedience that is not just to the letter of the law, but that teaches for that higher bar of the very Love and presence of Christ abiding in our lives as LORD over our thoughts, words, and actions. Do not let our own opinions, feelings, desires or pride rule our day, but let us die to self and walk as new creations, as more than conquerors, as ambassadors of the Way, as light set upon a hill, as a holy people set apart for your purpose and calling. Make clear to us, reveal to us that your way is, and was, and always will be and that your voice and truth has not changed. Confirm to us that your whole Word is valuable and precious and that we do not pick and choose what suits our self, but we are to submit ourselves to and believe and understand the sweet, precious, and powerful nature of this Word of God that is sharper than any sword, and that cuts to the heart of the matter so we might find repentance and life abundant in Christ. And may it all be for your glory and honor, today and forevermore. Amen. 

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Steadfast

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Psalm 112:7

He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

Steadfast. Unwavering. Disciplined. Devoted. Loyal.
LORD, thank you for YOUR steadfast love. Thank you that YOU are served, loyal, and unwavering in YOUR love for us. We are shamed, even humiliated by the strength of your example beside the weakness of our own — if we are courageous enough to examine ourselves closely, truthfully, and honestly. We fall short and we are not the perfect ones yet that you have promised you are reconciling us to be. But we are following you, LORD. So we are no longer little unsturdy babes who cannot walk upright at all. Teach us your way, LORD. Come live in us so that we can say with confidence, “It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Show your steadfast love, your holiness, the very fruit of your nature in the life song that we live today and forevermore, as a testimony of your glory and honor and favor and mercy towards your children. Amen.

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 See No Evil

“​I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.  A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.” – Psalms 101:3‭-‬4 ESV

We live in a world where dishonesty, perversion, cursing, vulgarity and all kinds of godlessness is not just tolerated but is celebrated. 

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:15‭-‬17 ESV

Yes, as we learn more of the ways of God, it seems like the world and sin has been allowed to take so much of a hold on the things around us. We can find ourselves consuming TV and radio programs that glorify violence, where immoral people demonstrate life examples of indecency and drunkenness and selfishness, where swearing and using the Lord’s name in vain is considered common place, where adultery and deceit and sexual immorality is glorified. And when this is what we choose to consume, it will impact our minds and our lives. 

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. – 1 Corinthians 15:33‭-‬34 ESV

“Do not be deceived.” 

“Do not go on sinning.”

“For some have no knowledge of God.”

“I say this to your shame.”

Do we live in a time where even those who call themselves “Christians” fear guilt and shame and separation from the ways of the world they love — more than they have any fear or love for God?

Are we careful about what we let our eyes see on television and Internet and books and the company that we keep? 

Some will hear this message and refuse to let it fall upon their hearts. They will say that I am lifting up heavy burdens because they see godliness as a thing to be despised – they see it as a heavy burden because they have no love for God and His ways. Their only strength is in self and their slavery is to the heavy chains of sin that bind them. 

I am telling you that the sin is the burden – it is the poison that is leaving you weak and dying and with a cold and hardened heart. But we can repent,  we can confess or sin and be forgiven,  we can believe in His promises and walk free, empowered by the Holy Spirit given to those who believe, to those who are reborn as a new creation in Christ.

What needs to be laid down today? 

What influences do you need to begin refusing in our lives today? 

How can we fill our lives with more of His guidance and instruction and direction and presence?

Pray – heartfelt, humble, contrite prayer surrendering, dying to self and dedicating ourselves to discipleship, sanctification, holiness, godliness, obedience, forgiving others, being a living example of godly love. Turn off the distractions of the world and talk to God, listening for His still, quiet voice. 

Read – get into the Word of God, and when conviction comes, decide that you will choose to not just hear the instruction but to obey. Decide to follow, to put your hand to the plow and to not turn back. Turn off the worldly TV programs and Internet and consume the Bread of Life,  the Word of God.

Listen – listen to some praise music or hymns or sermons that are about glorifying God. Switch the dial on the radio away from those other influences to one that reminds you of who you are in Christ.

Praise – thank Him for your mammy blessings, sing a song to Him,  let your heart be filled with gratitude for His love and for the price paid at Calvary.  Switch your mind off from anxiety and worry too trust that He has the best in store for those who love Him

Worship – I’m not talking about a Sunday gathering – I’m talking about a life lived in love, providing for the needy, bringing hope to the imprisoned, isolated and afflicted, sharing the testimony of your life lived out day by day, moment by moment as a testimony and add our reasonable service

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. – Colossians 3:2 NKJV

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Who do you serve?

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord , in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.
For there  is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against You.
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O Lord , will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
Psalms 5:4‭-‬12 NKJV

Yes, the Psalmist equates “put your trust in the Lord” with “loving the Lord” and with being led in a righteous life. And this path is contrasted harshly against the path of the wicked who do not trust in the Lord or love Him.

And this message is consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ, because He taught that if we will turn from our evil ways to instead trust the Lord and love Him that He would come and live with us and abide with us and lead us along the narrow path of righteousness.

There are vessels for holy use, and there are vessels of wrath. Both are very different in their nature, their desires, and their thoughts – which are all hidden from us. But some are very good at hiding these in their words and actions of they are concerned about what people think of them. A vessel of wrath may dress up the outside to look good,  but still be a white washed tomb with only death inside,  void of any Holy Spirit fire, void of any fruit of the Spirit.

A born again Christian life does not just produce emotional praise on Sunday and a life of lawlessness the rest of the week when away from the eyes of others.

It also does not produce a religious life full of measuring and judging that leaves no room for the very mercy and forgiveness that imperfect people claim to have received for themselves through Jesus Christ but are happy to keep away from the “undeserving”.

But the Psalmist boldly proclaims:

Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against You.

Yes, this is our attitude towards sin,  towards the wicked, while still preaching and offering the Good News of Christ to those who have ears to hear. Because He tells us that those who says:

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.  But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are one.”
John 10:25‭-‬30 NKJV

Isn’t it clear that the wicked do not believe? That they do not trust in the Lord? That they do not love the Lord? That they do not seek His Kingdom and righteousness,  but they seek only for themselves and their own bellies? That they do not listen and hear and obey His voice? That they are headed to destruction?

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.  The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
John 10:7‭-‬18 NKJV

Have you entered by the gate,  friend?  Or are you trying to climb over the wall a different way?

Do you hear His voice?
Does He know you?
Do you follow Him?

These are the things that He says of His sheep.

He lay down His life for the sheep, because He lives and cats for the sheep.

Do you love and care for the sheep?

Will you feed his sheep?

Will you encourage and equip, honor and rebuke accordingly,  standing bold and firm on the foundation of Christ our Lord and Savior because you are a vessel of the Holy Spirit set apart for His Holy use?

Will you share this Good News with the nations so his sheep might hear His voice in your words, might feel His love in your service, might know His love in your mercy and forgiveness?

Who do you serve?

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Money, Sex, and God

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.  Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
Hebrews 13:1‭-‬6

God of my heart and Lord of my desire: money and sex are powerfully good gifts from you, yet both can become dangerous idols. Order my heart and discipline my desires so that money and sex have their pepper place. May the affections of my heart never run contrary to any of your commandments, but may your love be my greatest treasure. In Christ’s name, amen. (HC 113)

Do we desire the things that God can give us,  or do we desire His Spirit ever more alive and present in our daily lives as we grow glory by glory closer to our Heavenly Father? If we have this perspective backwards, if we cry out for prosperity in this world instead of crying out for God alive in us,  those same “things” can quickly become a curse instead of a blessing.

Money and wealth placed in the hands of a selfish man can lead him into all kinds of dangerous traps where he becomes an oppressor and a hindrance to his brothers and sisters.  But when it is placed into the hands of the faithful,  it can be a blessing for him,  his family,  his friends, and even to the strangers that he entertains and serves lovingly.

Sex brought to the awareness of an immoral man can lead him into all kinds of traps and soul ties with immoral women, to children not provided for physically or spiritually, to diseases and depression and all kinds of wrong thinking about the value of people and marriage. But sex in the hands of a godly and righteous man who loves the Lord will produce an abundant family of children who are brought up to be nourished both physically and spiritually, who will be a benefit and not a drain on those around them and their community.

And it comes down to the type of prosperity that is being sought after – do we seek things for ourselves, or do we seek God to offer ourselves?

Many, Lord , are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord , make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:6‭-‬8 NIV

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Not a Sprint, but a Marathon

I have spent much of my life chasing after one thing or another – interested in one hobby then another, or one lustful interest then another. And while I was interested, it got my full attention – focused and intense. I was blown by the wind of my desires in reckless abandon that carried me through all kinds of intense pleasures and hurtful consequences. 

But chasing my ever shifting desires left me many times drained – emotionally, financially, and physically. It was not a stable, sturdy, and content life, because I always wanted more. Nothing was ever “good enough”. Whether it was cars, or mountain bikes, or women, or sex, or pornography, or drugs, or alcohol – it always left me thirsty for more. I always wanted to be better or have better. Some thought that I was very ambitious – I’d argue now that I didn’t know where to find any lasting joy and I was searching, searching, searching.

Lord , my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty.
I don’t concern myself with matters too great
or too awesome for me to grasp.
Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord — now and always.
Psalms 131:1‭-‬3 NLT

Contentment.

Calming and quieting our desires.

Freeing ourselves from hungering and thirsting for worldliness, from always wanting more, from not being joyful about the now because we are more focused on what might be tomorrow.

How often do we let our dreams of “some day” get in the way of this “one day” we have in our hands right now?

And it is foolish to either waste our day in worry or in too much worrisome planning for “making tomorrow better” – when we have today to engorged and be thankful for. When there will be so many opportunities today to say, “Thank you, Lord, for your many blessings over my life.”

You are where you are today for a reason. There will be opportunities to either be thankful and content while continuing to move steadily forward – or to be dissatisfied whether you are ruining full tilt or sliding backwards. Set your eyes on the finish line and pace yourself, friends. It isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.

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We have escaped, the victory is His!

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say—
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
The stream would have gone over our soul;
Then the swollen waters
Would have gone over our soul.”
Blessed be the Lord ,
Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
Our soul has escaped as a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
The snare is broken,
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord , Who made heaven and earth.
Psalms 124:1‭-‬8 NKJV

[There are people in this world who appear strong and powerful and influential,  but who are spiritually weak and powerless and impotent. And there are people in this world who appear weak and poor and needy, but who are spiritually powerful and rich in His mercies and grace.

Many of the “rich and powerful” of this world are pawns of the enemy, seeking to oppress and control others for their own benefit and profit. There is a new kind of slavery being sold to the ignorant as they are promised worldly wealth and possessions and debauchery while they are maintained and controlled under the pitchfork of addiction, debt, greed, and pride. Yes, these are prison walls not made by the hands of men, but by the choices of our lives – and they come with heavy burden and consequences.

But we can live as proof that the snare is broken, that what the enemy intended to harm us is now what has humbled us and demonstrated to us our great need for hope, for salvation, for repentance, for deliverance from our old ways to walk in His way. Yes, it is His victory,  because all we did is surrender our lives to Him. He gives us the strength and His is the victory.

He is glorious.
He is victorious.
Forever and ever,  Amen.]

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I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever

The Lord  is  my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Psalms 23:1‭-‬6 NKJV

Today is my birthday, and I have been blessed with 42 years of life. But these last few years have been abundantly blessed – with a new direction, with a new purpose.

You see, I met a man that I had heard about,  but that I never really knew. I fell into a close relationship with someone that I knew about from afar, but who I hadn’t loved up close and personal. I met a man who touched me and healed me and set my life on fire, and His name is Jesus Christ.

He changed my desires and my direction. He has me looking outward at how I can love and serve others and be a good steward of this life that I’ve surrendered to Him – instead of only inward serving myself. Many people will look at me and only see “another religious person” – and I understand, there are many of those around,  and I was once too blind to know the difference myself.

But I’m no longer rebellious or religious – I’m just in love with my Lord and Savior. I just want my life to be a blessing, to bring honor and glory to His name – not so that it will earn me anything, not so that people might think that I’m a good person – but so that they might realize that He is real.

You see, He isn’t that far away God that I would remember only in times of trouble. He is that loving Spirit that has come and made my house His home. He is changing my life. He is sending me out with His Good News that He loves you.

You don’t have to buy salvation with your silver pieces, but if you cling to them as your own, you will lose what is truly most valuable, and you will receive what you desire most instead.

You don’t have to work for your salvation with charitable gifts and religious practices, but if you remain idle and fruitless in what you call faith, can expect anything but to be cut away and burned with the other dead branches?

You don’t have to be a slave to the law, but if you are a slave to sin, how can you say that you have a permanent place in the Lord’s house and that His Holy Spirit lives in you and is Lord of your life?

The Good News is that He tells us, repent of your sins, believe in your heart,  and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of your life, follow Him and do not turn back,  run this race to the end, because He has gone to prepare a place for you good and faithful servants.

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Mercy

Oh, give thanks to the Lord , for He  is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalms 118:1 NKJV

הֹודוּ לַיהוָה כִּי־טֹוב כִּי לְעֹולָם חַסְדֹּֽו׃

Strong’s H2617 – checed
From חָסַד (H2616)

The KJV translates Strongs H2617 in the following manner: mercy (149x), kindness (40x), lovingkindness (30x), goodness (12x), kindly (5x), merciful (4x), favour (3x), good (1x), goodliness (1x), pity (1x), reproach (1x), wicked thing (1x).

חֶסֶד cheçed, kheh’-sed; from H2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subjectively) beauty:—favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.

image

[Godly mercy is not passive – it is active. It is not simply an exchange of forgiveness for sacrifice,  that is religion. It is an exchange of His active participation in our lives for our belief and surrender,  that is Christ. God’s ways are quite different than the ways of men.

His mercy endures forever towards us – we cannot escape it no matter what we do – because His mercy is poured out the same to all, but is received quite differently depending on our hearts.

He is merciful enough to chasten us when we are in rebellion, He is merciful enough to forgive us when we are repentant,  and He is merciful enough to surrender the reprobate to their true desires.

This is why the very same truth of the Word of God can produce revelation in one, conviction in another, and rejection in yet another. His mercy, His Truth, His way does not change, it endures forever, it abides, it is eternal and victorious.]

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13:13 NKJV