November 19, 2017

Trust in the Lord

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”  Pvbs. 3:5

Upon becoming a Christian I thought my life would be trouble free.  It didn’t take long to find out differently!  After a few years of walking with the Lord, I was faced with a crisis that threw me off course and challenged my faith.  My weaknesses quickly rose to the surface.  I was leaning left and leaning right; I was leaning on my own understanding and struggling to lean on God’s.

I went off track because of life’s events and because I focused on the problem rather than my Savior.  I forgot to trust in Him with all my heart.  I had a choice to make:  get back on track with what I focused on; or stay in the downward spiral.  I decided to get back on track by following Jesus and trusting in Him – even thought things looked bleak.

Wrapped in the loving arms of a forgiving Savior, I found that safe place once again.  It was Jesus who picked me up, dusted me off, and led me back to that path of His righteousness.  He carried me when I couldn’t walk and when I wouldn’t walk.  He cleared a path for me when I saw was a forest.  He didn’t leave me.  He loved me.

Thank You Jesus, for Your grace beyond measure and Your glory beyond description.

November 18, 2017

Children of Promise

“Now you brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.”  Gal. 4:28

For we are the children of promise

We are the clay in His hand.

Our sins have long been forgiven

Sealed and anointed we stand.

For we are the children of promise

Our debt canceled on the cross.

We live under the blood of the Lamb

He is our Life and our Source.

We claim victory in Jesus

We claim healing in His Name.

We claim victory in Jesus

Through Him is all we have gained.

For we are the children of promise

We are the branches of His Vine.

Lord shape us and use us

Our lives are Yours to refine.

We claim victory in Jesus

We power in His Name.

We claim victory in Jesus

We stand rejoicing at His Name.

November 17, 2017

Wash and Be Clean

“And his servants came to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it?  How much more then, when he says to you, “Wash and be clean?  2 Kings 5:13”

We may recognize this as the story of Naaman, mighty military commander of the Syrian army, who also happened to be a leper.  Naaman had an encounter with the prophet Elisha, which Naaman did not receive well initially.  He was furious at the instruction he was given by Elisha (through a messenger) – go and wash seven times in the Jordan, his flesh would be restored and he would be clean.  It was only after Naaman’s servants talked to him that he actually obeyed the word of the man of God and THEN was healed.   Beloved, how often have we had to take the first step of obedience to something the Lord wanted us to do (which we did not understand AT ALL!) and yet, only AFTER we obeyed, did the “healing” come to us? 

Naaman’s story is our story.  The washing he received in the Jordan symbolizes the washing we receive in “living waters” when we are baptized.  Especially as it relates to cleansing of sin (which was thought to be the reason for leprosy in the time of Naaman), the Hebrew word “rachats” (washing) takes on new meaning when we consider the implications of washing, purification, and immersion into water through the act of baptism.  It is also very important to be aware that spiritual washing occurs before natural washing, or baptism, as different Greek words are used to indicate the different actions. Baptizo is the word for baptize, which was and remains a declaration of a Christian’s testimony for Christ. For the early church, salvation and baptism were often simultaneous, reflecting both a spiritual and natural washing.

Thanks be to God for His Son Jesus, whose blood washes us clean!

November 16, 2017

Praising at Midnight

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s bands were loosed.”  Acts 16:25-27

In this passage we find Paul and Silas arrested, beaten and jailed.  Verses 25 -27 states: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s bands were loosed.”  The prison guard panicked, but Paul reassured him by having all the inmates remain in the cells.  The guard and his family gave their lives to Jesus right then and there! 

As the judge set Paul and Silas free the next day, Paul refused to leave.  He demanded that the same men who threw him and Silas into jail would come and remove them from jail.  And thus it was done.  We have an image of the resulting power of prayer and praise shaking the foundation and freeing the imprisoned.  Praise is an effective spiritual weapon!

As we dig a little deeper into this remarkable testimony, a few things may jump out at us.  In Acts 16:25 we find Paul and Silas are in prison at midnight.  As they pray and “sing hymns” (humneo, in Greek) to God, there is an earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, opened all the prison doors, and loosened the chains off every offender.  Observe the following facts in this scenario:

• It is midnight – the middle of the night; for some of us it is our darkest hour.
• Paul and Silas choose to praise at midnight – drawing the attention of others.
• Their “sacrifice of praise” prompted God’s response!
• Prison doors opened
• Prison chains fell off
• The warden and his whole family gave his life to Christ
• The warden served Paul and Silas

That is what the sacrifice of praise can do.  It can unlock, unchain and unleash!  Our praise invokes God’s presence and His power.  Ps. 22:3 states that “God inhabits the praises of His people.” We see that this is often the way the Lord works, in our lives, and in all of creation.  He is turning things upside down, choosing the least likely to work through, and yes, using the imprisoned to set their captors free, in the mighty name of Jesus!

November 15, 2017

Time for Love

“Later when I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of My garment over you and covered your nakedness,  I gave you My solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became Mine.”  Ezk. 16:8

It had been a long time, years in fact.  She had sat in that place for so long that she had forgotten what the outside “free world” looked like.  She hadn’t wanted to come to the program that day.  Her cellmate convinced her it would be a good thing.  If nothing else, she would be out of the cell for an hour or so.

So she came and sat with her arms crossed and her body half slumped against the back of the chapel pew.  She looked completely disinterested, at times yawning to emphasize the point.  Through the choir singing, she sat motionless.  The announcements and upcoming events generated no response.  Finally, it was time for the message.  The speaker began to share the word of God.  The woman’s reaction was unchanged.

Heaven’s vantage point was dramatically different.  They must have seen a woman who was ready for love – God’s love.  Heaven could see what was going on inside the woman’s heart.  Her outward appearance to everyone else was anything but attentive.  Yet heaven saw something in her.

The next moment an invitation to accept Christ was given and the woman – this woman who hadn’t wanted to come – she raised her hand and stood up.  Tears began to flow.  She and a few others came forward.  They prayed and the Lord’s garment covered them.  The woman’s nakedness had been lovingly, kindly covered.  There was an oath and covenant given by God through Jesus to this woman.  She was His, and she was loved.

November 14, 2017

Redeeming Time and Opportunity

“Be very careful then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”  Eph. 5:15-16

Such amazing Christian graces are given to us.  As I studied this verse, ”opportunity" in the original Greek means "kairos" or opportune time , set time, appointed, time, due time, definitive time, seasonable time, proper time for action.   We are encouraged to redeem the time, exercise good stewardship and make the most of the opportunities given to us.  The indication here is to buy back every precious wasted minute. 

This makes us understand that God has made us to be good stewards over "time".   The choice to use time wisely, constructively, and in the worship and service of our Lord will bring glory to God.  

We can particularly see this verse reach out at us, knowing we are able right now to redeem time, wasted time, and start over and know that God wants our time to be spent in the "vineyard".  It is meant for such a time as this.  For whatever endeavor that is good and fruitful that the Lord has placed on your heart for now.  There are countless worthy endeavors in the "vineyard" where fruits grow. In the spiritual sense fruits of the Spirit grow.  Knowing each day you can redeem any time wasted and turn it around and serve where we can spread the Gospel message , help feed the homeless, visit a sick neighbor, speak a kind and encouraging Word to someone at the workplace, at the market, encouraging our spouses, enlightening our children with the Word, or whatever worthy endeavor.   Wherever God may bring you and invite you to redeem time.   

Think about your workplace.  For example, I work at a special education school.   The teens have many issues of mental strongholds.  Silently, in the Spirit I am able to pray all day long for each and every one of the students and lay my hands on their desks and pray that the Lord will free them and deliver them from any strongholds that threaten to undo them.  I am using the spiritual weapons of HIS WORD to conquer all forces of evil in their lives.  I give God all Honor and Glory and Praise for such an opportunity.  Such amazing Christian graces are given to us.  THANK YOU JESUS!!!

November 13, 2017

It Was Good

“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.  And there was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.”    Gen 1:31

God spoke and God created and it was established and it was good.  In my life have things been spoken and created and established and declared good.

God said, “I will heal her,” and it was so and it was good.

God said, “Your family will know the Lord,” and it was so and it is good.

God said, “You will do for Me what I have been preparing you for all this time,” and it was so and it is good.

God said, “Your heart will be healed,” and it was so and it is good.

God said, “I will grant you the desires of your heart,” and it was so and it is good.

Our Father speaks and creates.  He establishes and declares.  In the space between speaking and establishing, He prepares His people.  May we be willing to receive all that He has for us.