What we Need

On August 17, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 105: 4


Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.

If you need strength today, it is in the Lord. You do not even have to seek strength just seek Him. All of the wisdom and knowledge you need are in Him also, so when you seek Him you gain all of the strength you need as well as every other thing you need. Really, all of life can begin to boil down to this concept because if we will seek Him he will give us all that we need in every arena of life. He is willing and able to assist you in every single area of your life. From locating your misplaced keys to the wisdom you need in making an important decision, He is there to assist you. Seek His face continually and He will fill your life with His very essence wherein all good things exist.

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Stormy Waters

On August 16, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Mark 4: 35 – 41

35 On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.”

36 Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.

37 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.

38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

40 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Don’t you just love this story? It is so out of our realm of experience. The storm they encountered out on the sea was obviously a big storm because waves were crashing over the boat and filling it with water. There were gale force winds. That is not the time most of us want to be out on the ocean. First of all, Jesus was just sleeping through it. That is amazing enough but then when his disciples awoke him, he actually rebuked them for their lack of faith. He was disappointed that they were afraid. Now how many of us would also have been afraid if we were in that kind of storm while on the sea? And yet Jesus tells us that we should not be afraid nor should his disciples have been. We are supposed to counter frightening circumstances with faith instead of fear. Isn’t that remarkable? Jesus did not even seem to think that the storm required a lot of faith to overcome. He accused his disciples of having no faith. You would think that hanging out with Jesus would cause his disciples to have great faith but they were even more afraid of him than they were the storm. They began to learn what he could do but they were not learning yet that it was his faith in the father that was the source of it all. Jesus expected the disciples to take care of that storm using the same faith that was available to him. What does that say for us? 

We must all learn to utilize that same faith that has been given to us through the son and the Holy Spirit. First by reading and meditating on this story and others like it, we can begin to become familiar with the level of faith that is available and even expected of us. We cannot begin to walk in this level of faith until we accept the idea that this kind of faith is possible to us. You cannot have what you cannot believe for and you cannot believe for that which you cannot fathom. Therefore, the first thing for us to do is to begin to wrap our minds around the concept of an enlightened faith walk. That is a harder task than it may first sound like because there are so many people who just cannot believe past the end of their noses. They won’t want you believing big either so they will attempt to discourage you. My advice is to follow Jesus example rather than theirs. I just think that you would rather walk like he did than anyone else you know. Set your eyes on him as your example and begin to tell yourself that all things are possible to those who believe.
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The Gracious Hand of the Lord

On August 15, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Nehemiah 2: 8

And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have all our  requests granted by the people we need favor with? My first thought upon reading this was, “Why was the hand of God on Nehemiah?” Then I remembered a passage from Ezra. In chapter 7, verses 9 & 10 we find that “the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord.” I believe we have found the secret.

One question we may pose is, is the gracious hand of the Lord a reward for the studious observance of God’s Word or is it that grace just follows those who abide in the Word of God. I believe the latter is the correct answer but in reality, what difference does it make? If we know that favor and success follow those who are studious to discover and diligent to do all that the Lord has taught then that is, I believe, enough.

Gracious in the Hebrew means to: bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow, to show favor and mercy. In other words, the graciousness of God causes Him to come down to our level in order to give us mercy and favor. The favor from God causes all people to see us in a pleasing light such that our petitions are granted. It seems like a very good deal that we have received. If we will devote ourselves to the study and observance of God’s teachings, then we shall have favor and good success with all people.

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Savings Plan

On August 12, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Genesis 41: 29 – 30

“Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; and after them seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will ravage the land.”

Do you have a savings plan? What is your philosophy on saving? I have always thought tithe 10% and save 10% but here is an interesting perspective from scripture.

After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams as above, he went on to advise Pharaoh. Joseph told Pharaoh to “look for a man discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance” (v. 33 – 34).

As you know, Pharaoh appointed Joseph to be this overseer and there was no one in all of Egypt with more power, position and authority than Joseph save Pharaoh himself. Joseph collected 1/5 of all that was produced during the abundant years and stored it for the coming famine years. When the famine came it was as severe as the dreams predicted. If not for Joseph’s savings plan, the years of famine would have completely swallowed up the years of abundance.

Isaac, in the time of famine, sowed and reaped a hundredfold in that same year (Genesis 26:12). This is one of the reasons I believe in tithing, even in the lean times. We know from other scripture that the tithe is 10 percent. So if you take this and combine it with the wisdom God gave Joseph you come out with: tithe ten percent and save twenty percent.  that is pretty aggressive, specially by today’s standards.  My advice with tithing and saving is, do it.  If you really can’t do these percentages now, just begin somewhere.  You know, you can pray to your Father and He may tell you to save ten percent.  That is between you two but I firmly believe He would have you on a savings plan and only an idiot would say that God does not expect you to tithe.

Our confidence must still be placed firmly in the Lord, not in our savings account. We need to follow His wisdom for our lives but He is not a God of foolishness. He is the God of the harvest. There is no harvest, however, without first the season of sowing. Further, every good farmer knows that you don’t eat all of your harvest. You must set aside part of the crop as seed for next year’s crop.

Let this example of an anointed man of God inspire you but also go to God for specific instruction for your life. Then develop your savings and giving plan according to God’s specifications. Allow Him to lead you in abundance so that you can avoid times of famine.

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Compassion

On August 11, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 54: 9 – 10

“For this is like the days of Noah to Me; when I swore that the waters of Noah should not flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor will I rebuke you. For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says the Lord who has compassion on you.

Jesus was often moved by compassion. Often we think of this as simply and emotion that Jesus experienced but in truth it was so much more. You may hear people talk of the angry God of the Old Testament. Well, here is irrefutable evidence that God is not angry with you. He loves you and is compassionate.  And this is from the Old Testament.

This is the compassion that moved Jesus to heal and bless people. He was moved by the compassion of his father. Through the prophet Isaiah God delivered a promise of compassion and lovingkindness. By the time Jesus graced the earth God’s heart of compassion was well established. God, the Father, gave us a covenant of peace, not of anger. This is why Jesus is the Prince of peace. He is an extension and expression of his father.

God certainly had every reason to be angry with His people. He would be completely justified in being angry with us as well but He chose love, compassion and peace instead. It wasn’t an angry God that sent His only son here to die for us. Love nailed Jesus to that cross.

You are encapsulated in a covenant of peace with the creator. Let this be your revelation. Peace surrounds you and even if the mountains shake still God’s lovingkindness will remain with you. His love will never forsake you.

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Do It Now

On August 10, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 5: 13

Therefore, My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; and honorable men are famished, and their multitude is parched with thirst.

Lack of knowledge leads to slavery, starvation and thirst. The people were led away in exile from the land God gave them to be slaves to others and all because of a lack of knowledge. What knowledge did they lack? Were they complete idiots or was it something specific?

We know from history that every time the Israelites turned away from God and His Word, tragedy befell them. They may have been some of the most worldly wise people ever but only the Word from God, the Word of God was able to save them from bondage, famine and unquenchable thirst. Just think of the Israelites in their exodus from Egypt. They would have starved, they could not find water but each time the Word of the Lord came to Moses and the people were spared. What if they had inquired of the Lord daily instead of only when the situation was dire? Maybe they could have walked on the water of the Red Sea instead of waiting as the Egyptians drew closer and closer. God gave them manna each morning and opened rocks, literally rocks, to bring forth water to quench their thirst.

Of course the real importance of this is verse is the question, “How similar are we to these Old Testament saints who died for lack of knowledge?” (Hosea 4: 6). I fear that we are all too similar. Sure, our prisons are different, but perhaps even more perilous than theirs because we can never leave ours behind. The chains which bind us are within us. Romans 12: 2 tells us to be transformed through the renewal of our minds. It is the Word of the Lord renewing our minds, filling us with the knowledge of His ways which sets us free. How many of us truly dedicate ourselves to God’s Word? Do we scoff at the ignorance of the people in the Old Testament but are guilty of the same mistakes? Do we truly believe that God’s Word has any power? Or are we secretly doubters? If not doubters, are we just lazy? Perhaps we are deceived by busyness. If there is not time enough in the day for God’s Word then how is there time for anything? We are so busy with the business of life that we live a parched, barren existence. True life can only be found in the Word. I honestly believe this to be true. Do you? Do you really?

Test me in this. Give me 30 days of your life and let’s find out once and for all if this stuff is true or a bunch of bunk. For 30 days, beginning today, read your Bible everyday. It is so easy these days with smart phones and tablets. You can read during your lunch hour at work right from your phone. Do this. Start in the first chapter of Mathew and begin reading. Then read one proverb each day. That’s it – one proverb and as much of the New Testament as you want or have time for. Do this with me for one month. What do you honestly think your life will look like in 30 days if you rise to my challenge and give God this time? Will you write to me today and tell me you’re in? Let’s find out if this stuff works. Be bold.

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Mite or Might

On August 9, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Mark 12: 42 – 44

And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, his poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

This is a familiar story to many of you. None the less, I am hoping we can allow this narrative, and its meaning, to sink deeper into our spirits today. This woman’s act certainly got Jesus’s attention. Why?

There was nothing to be criticized in what the other contributors did but there was something different about the donation of the widow. What was so special about what she did that it caused Jesus to stop and comment? Here is another question – why in the world did she give her last penny, what was it that caused her to give all that she had? That which she gave was all that she had to live on. Think about that for a moment. Better still, try to put yourself in her position. If you didn’t have much how would you feel about giving to anyone, even the Lord? What if all you had was your last dime? Could you, would you put your last farthing in the till? I confess that I would find that a difficult thing to do. Our natural impulse is to take care of ourselves first.

Let’s try to get into this woman’s head? What was it about this lady that caused her to toss her last centavo into the plate knowing she would have nothing later with which to buy bread? Wasn’t this almost like signing her own death warrant? Maybe she wasn’t absorbed with taking care of herself first because she knew that it was not her job to meet her needs. Could that possibly be the case? Could it possibly be that her love for the Lord was greater than her self-preservation instinct? How about this, was she, perhaps, trying to meet her need by sowing into the kingdom? Did this Jewish woman know, in her heart, something few modern day believers understand? That penny wasn’t worth much as provision but it was invaluable as seed. Jesus taught us that the entire kingdom of God is contained in the smallest of seeds (Mark 4: 30 – 32).

I do not know what inspired this woman but I do know that it was a significant enough event that Jesus called his disciples over to witness it. It certainly is a humbling passage. Although Jesus made a point of isolating the incident for his disciples and for us, he did little to explain it. Perhaps this is one of the points in our walk with Jesus which he designed as a “Selah” moment, a time to pause and reflect. Maybe the full account of this event is meant to be explained by the Lord himself in the still, quietness of our hearts. One thing is for sure, this woman and her unselfish gift live on in distinction and are a quiet testimony to each of us.

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