Time Out

I think every so often we ought to take time out and  remind ourselves of what the Lord our God says about us. Let's take time out from our daily hustle and bustle to reflect on  God's wonderful plan of reconciliation, in which our Father reconciled us back to himself through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

2Corinthians 5:18"Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation." 

How about our taking time out and meditating on his wonderful goodness? 

 Psalm 34:8 "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; 

Blessed is the man who trust in Him." and because of his unwavering goodness, mercy and love towards us, we can fully trust him.  

If we will take time out to meditate on his word day and night. The only real truth, which is good for all people, at all times.  We would experience true abundance of life. 

His word leads us on paths to abundant life. 

For he has said in

John 14:6 ""...I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."".

Take time out from the ways of this world, and begin to experience kingdom living.

No Need for Despair

As I have walked about various neighborhoods. I read many faces and body language of those whom I passed, and without a spoken word, I heard the many feelings of hopelessness. It saddened my heart as I looked on hundreds and thousands of people who were saying the same thing. I found myself becoming overwhelmed by their despair.
My heart cried and my eye wells filled with tears. Had these individuals not dreamt, hoped or searched for something? If so, when and where did those dreams, hopes and searching end?  Could it be that those hopes and dreams seemed too long in coming and they became weary? Had they hoped in something which ended in disappointment?
  Now in their despair, have they become so comfortable they no longer see it as despair, but the mundane that has become comfortable, like a well worn pair of shoes? Has simply surviving and keeping ones head above water, just making it, day to day become enough?
Oh my Lord, I pray that this not be so.
Now shifting my focus from what is being said around me without words. I ponder the words in my heart of John 10:10 "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  Do they not know that Christ our Lord came that they may live, and not simply survive, but have a life of abundance? I continued to ponder the words in my heart, such as Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Do they not know that God wants the very best for them, and his given his very best to them. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Do they no know that Christ is our hope? Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  I guess they don't know, for the word also says in Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."  It is my heart felt prayer, that we not allow the greatest gift to mankind, be in vain, the life of Jesus Christ our Lord.  John 17:20-21 "I do not pray for those alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word; 21)that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." We are alive in Christ, and he lives in and through us. No need for despair, for He has overcome the world, and so have we.

Same Old Tricks

Reflecting on the entrance of sin into the human race, I realize the enemy continues to use the same old tricks today.

It was first the simple twist of words, consisting of partial truths, and partial truths are complete lies.

It was this twisted truth questioning, that engaged Eve in conversation with the serpent.

Genesis 3:1"...Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Eve evidently felt the need to respond with her correction, Genesis 3:2-3 ""We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ""You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.""

Now that he has her attention and engaged in convesation, he goes a bit further.

Genesis 3:4-5""...You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it  your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.""

As the saying goes, "give em an inch they'll take a mile."

Here again the serpent presents the twist, a mixing of partial truths, "you will be like God." The truth of the matter was, they were already like God.  Genesis 1:26 " Then God said, "" Let Us make man in our image, according to our likeness..."" also adding that in being like God they would know good and evil, for up until this time they had only known good. After all they were not God, but they were like him, and this was God's plan, that man know and do what is good.

The second thing the serpent did was, get Eve's focus off of God and set it on something she'd find more desirable.

This was the fruit of the tree of good and evil.  Genesis 3:6 "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."

It was this shifting of focus which led to mans down fall.

These same tricks are yet used by the enemy today.

His clever presentation of deception, through twisted partial truths in thoughts and ideas. His well disguised distractions to turn our focus from God, and his subtle dangling of temptation before our eyes, causing one to desire such delicacies in our imagination.

He also does his very best to bring us to a place of condemnation, guilt and shame, of our past failures and mistakes, hoping that we forget, Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

 Yes, he keeps using the same old tricks, just in different times.

His Goodness Leads Us to Repentance

We all have our differences; in looks, styles, personalities, ways of communicating,  interacting with one another, and how we carry on our daily life. It is our differences that make life all the more interesting. It is also these same differences that have caused great pain, anxiety, separation, anger, fear and other emotions. Often times it is fear of the unknown, or unfamiliar that produces anxiety, and discomfort, leading us to react in a variety of ways; from timidity to harshness. The bible says in 2Timothy 1:7"For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." If we remember this truth, it will help us in our response to the unfamiliar, or different. In our intolerance and refusal to accept differences and what is unfamiliar or uncomfortable for us, which cause much separation and hatred in our society. This focus on self, and one's own comfort is far from a display of Christ like character. It is our taking focus off of self and our own comfort, that allows us more effectively to minister to others. Christ gave the perfect example of selflessness in the midst of discomfort at the cross. This was, is and shall always be by far the most selfless act of love ever displayed by any man. Romans 2:4"Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance." When followers of Christ encounter ungodly people. It is not for us to ridicule, condemn and shame; as this is not how the Lord has dealt with us in bringing us into righteousness, but in his display of love towards us, which lead us to repentance. When correcting one another, it is also to be done in a spirit of love.