"Feasting With The Lord" -2

"He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee." (Psalms 81:16) The last segment of the Men's Camp was focused on John 21:21 and was about how much 'comparison' destroys our ministries, families, careers, friendships and marriages. It really spoke to my heart about those times when I am feeling really down, and how much I am focused on the past or what I don't have, instead of being focused on where I am at, and what I have been given. So, if you are wondering if this post has anything to do with the present, then you need not wonder any longer. This is all about the present; every single day we have left upon this earth is about "Feasting With The Lord" right now, right here! Sure, there will be a glorious feast awaiting us in heaven, but right now, in whatever situation we are in, we are to be feasting in the goodness that we have bee given; even if that which we have does not appear all that great, it's right where God has us, and we need to experience the moment. It might not sound like much, but being content with whatever and wherever the Lord has you is the beginning of trusting and obedience. Do you think Paul and Silas sang in prison to get happy? No, they rejoiced in the moment, because no matter what, they knew that they were right where God would have them to be; and look what happened as a result of their obedience and trust, the keeper of the prison and all his house was saved. Now that's what you call a feast! We have been given something very special, something beyond the everyday existence that takes place on this little ball they call earth. As Peter would say, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people," because that's what we are! We should not want anything else but more of God and all that He has to give us; but sadly, we start comparing our lives to others, saying, "I want what they got." It's never going to be a feast if we don't enjoy what the Lord has given us...
""Is anyone thirst? Come and drink -even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk -it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest foods. Come to me with ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David."" (Isaiah 55:1-3) NLT

"Feasting With The Lord"

"He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee." (Psalms 81:16) Whether you are new in the Lord, or you are a well seasoned Saint, we all have one primary goal, to follow Jesus! I have come to realize the more I focus on the Lord, the more I think about heaven, and the less I think about this world; that's how it is meant to be, after all, that is what we have in common with Jesus, as well as with each other. If you really stop and think about it, heaven is just around the corner, so why not celebrate starting now? Somehow there must be a way to get our focus in the right place, and keep it there; because this verse pretty much sounds just like it was written for me. The Lord wants nothing more than the very best for us, yet we always settle for something less. I don't think we always mean to, at least not at first; but it's more of a slow gradual turning back; a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, and pretty soon you are pretty much living just as the unsaved people live, with one exception, you're constantly convicted! There is no real joy in that kind of living; there is no satisfaction for our souls, because we are always wanting to have peace. I like how Matthew Henry wraps this up, saying, "Therefore God would have us to do our duty to him, that we may be qualified to receive favour from him. He delights in our serving him, not because he is the better for it, but because we shall be." At the end of this last verse, I have written "Isaiah 55" in bold letters in my Bible. The greatest thing about our relationship with God, is that there are always second chances, no matter how bad you have messed things up. As a matter of fact, I believe the worst mess-ups can become the most glorious redemptions; that is how God gets the glory... "Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously." (Isaiah 55:6-7) NLT

"Misery Without The Lord"

"The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever." (Psalms 81:15) Getting back to the title above this Psalm that is, "A Song for a Feast," there needs to be something said for all those things we miss out on by not submitting to the Lord. All the ministry opportunities, is only one little factor, because the greatest mission field that we have is at home, with our families. I tend to spiritualize the Text, so you need to forgive my way of trying to bring life into something, whether it is there or not. Imagine for a moment that you see yourself seated at a table with your family, and you are all partaking in a glorious feast, the biggest feast you could ever imagine. Don't you think that all those seated at the table would look forward to having that kind of a feast? That is the picture I see for our families wanting to submit themselves to the Lord. It could be the same for a neighborhood, a city, or even a nation; people coming together to be fed and filled by the Lord. The message is really quite simple, we can either love the Lord, or we will fear Him; and if we don't fear Him now, we will surely fear Him later. The word "haters" is one that pretty much means what it says, those that hate God. We can pretend that we love Him, while all the while, we could be hating Him; it all depends upon how well we submit to Him. Another meaning for the word is 'foe,' as in, are you a friend or foe? Which reminds me of Jesus' question to Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" The love Jesus spoke of in His third question was 'Phileo,' which pretty much means 'To befriend.' Oddly enough, it also means "To love with the meaning of having common interests with another." The point I am trying to make has to do with how we usually act towards those we have a common interest with, that we usually try and get to know them...
""I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."" (John 15:9-14) NLT

"Victory In The LORD"

"I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries." (Psalms 81:14) I think it's pretty obvious that God means business when it comes to defeating sin. Now that we have seen just how serious He really is, it's time for us to get serious also. Excuse me if I am not with it this morning, I woke up yesterday thinking I had a back ache and it turns out I have a UTI. My wife gets a UTI just about every year. My goodness, I will never look at her situation the same again; this hurts! A quick way to see the power that God has to subdue our enemies is to simply read the proof that is provided for us in the Bible. The problem we have in doing that, is making those truths our proof, because we tend to relate them to those people of the Bible and not to us. That's a sad state of affairs, because God's word never changes; times might change, people might change, but His word never will. When I first became a Christian, that truth was as clear to me as ever. I had no doubt that God's power was for today, because my life was changed in a moment; I went from having no hope, to knowing what real hope is; I went from being dead, to having eternal life within me; and I went from not knowing God, to knowing the Living God. So, if your not quite sure about what you read, and whether that applies to you, then simply look back to that day you first believed...
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" -and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:12-17) NLT

"The Path to Victory"

"O that my people had harkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!" (Psalms 81:13) I can't begin to tell you all the times I should have and could have been victorious over sins in my life; yet, it really takes the desire for us to be victorious, in order for the victory to be realized. Between the last verse and this verse in my Bible I have written Luke 15:11, which is the story of the 'Lost Son.' Some may want to refer to that story as the 'Prodigal Son,' which is okay, but in this context I prefer 'Lost' over 'Prodigal' because there is a pathway involved. When you get right down to it, waking in God's ways are more important than anyone might realize, that is unless they are actually walking in His ways, then it's perfectly clear. The reason the 'Lost Son' is important to this passage, is because of the Father's concern for His son; the son may not realize that he is lost, but the Father knows that he is. God always knows when we are lost, and He always knows what is the best path for our lives. Our biggest problem is that we think we know better what's best for us; that is until we find ourselves being lost, then we realize how much we need God's guidance in our lives. Between this verse and the next, I have written in my Bible, "Obey = Victory." It really does not take much convincing to get us to realize our need for God when we are being beaten up by the world, but when we are living large, we tend to think it's okay to make our own choices. So in that regard, we could use the term 'Prodigal' to explain the motivation behind the son making the wrong choices; which simply comes down to loving this world more than the Father...
""O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, 'Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!'"
(Matthew 23:37-39) NLT

"Our Portion, Refuse"

"So I gave them up into their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels." (Psalms 81:12) I know it might sound strange, but why do we prefer to be wasted, over being blessed? It's like we have a built-in part of us that wants to fail, because we think failing is the easy way out, or that it's what we are, a failure. God wants so much more for our lives then we could ever imagine, if we would just give Him a chance to make us into something beautiful. Instead, we prefer to make ourselves into something else; not knowing that it's not going to end well, if we don't do things God's way. So, what is the truth? Are we eternally secure? I tend to go with the idea that people who walk in their own counsel can still somehow end up in heaven, but they might not like what they become; whether that has something to do with an outer court, or ground up for mortar, I really don't know. But one thing I do know, is that we are secure in Christ, not in our own performance. I heard a message from Pastor Jon; it's been many years ago, but it has still stuck with me through all these many years. He was sharing about the difference between those that serve others and those that serve themselves. Both types of people have a place in heaven, but there place pretty much matches the life that they chose here on earth. Those that served others here, our the ones that get to serve God; those that served themselves here, serve others in heaven. Whether that's true or not, we will soon find out; but why would we take a chance? God's way is always the best way...
"This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel says: "Take your burnt offerings and your sacrifices and eat them yourselves! When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them: 'Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything I say, and all will be well!' "But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward."" (Jeremiah 7:21-24) NLT 

"His Portion Refused"

"But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me." (Psalms 81:11) You might think there are things that don't apply to your life, which is pretty common; but it's all here for a reason. Every single word, in one way or another, applies to each and every one of us; for we are all in the same boat, we all, like sheep, have gone astray! Actually, I think the worst place we can be, in a relationship with God, is to think we are somehow different, and to think we are somehow good; as if some of these verses don't really apply to us, but are meant for those that are sinners. Excuse me, but what is sin? You can be just as bad for not doing what's right as you can for doing what is wrong. If sin is missing the mark, then I think we all fall short of God's holiness. If you think you don't, well, let's just say that you are not alone; there was someone else that once said, "I will be like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:13-15) That said, there is another part of this picture that can't be missed, a part that is over looked and avoided, more than any other. "And Israel would none of me," is such a heartbreak for God, because it is God wanting to make us more than just His special people, it is His people not wanting Him to be their special God! In the New Living Translation, this reads, "Israel did not want me around." Sadly, this is the free will portion of what we are. God gave us free will so that we would choose to love Him; so that we would make it our choice to love Him, because He is what we need to be complete. That might not sound like it's a very good reason to make us choose to love God, but it is the reason! If you think it's not, then you have missed the whole point of the Gospel message! We are lost without His love in us; we are hopeless without having a loving relationship with Him; and we are not complete without His Spirit living within us...
"Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worst the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to us. For we know the one who said, "I will take revenge. I will pay them back." He also said, "The LORD will judge his own people." It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:26-31) NLT

"A Double Portion"

"I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." (Psalms 81:10) God doesn't just want to save us, He wants to have a strong relationship with us; the kind of relationship that satisfies and overwhelms our souls. He brought them out of Egypt, but He also wants to deliver them from Egypt! That's what I meant by "Go big or stay at home." He doesn't want just part of our lives, He wants all of it, every little piece of it. More than that, He wants us to want Him to have it! You know that saying, "You can't out-give God," well, you can't! For every portion of our life that we give to God, He doubles the return back to us, literally! I was reminded again this morning of my very first post, and what it was that God first put on my heart when I started this; it was about His love. The question was about what best motivates us to obey God, is it fear or love? Maybe the better question should be, What makes us want to obey God, is it fear or love? Fear might get our attention, but love will draw us into a deeper relationship; and the deeper the relationship, the more we obey Him. Our obedience is not developed by fear, but love; the more we love Him, the more we obey Him. There is a Scripture that I am thinking about, but I just can't remember where it is. It's where a king was told by a prophet to strike the ground, and then he just struck it a couple of times, when he should have stuck to again and again, with intensity. How much do you want to defeat your enemy? How much do you want God to bless your life? That's the point of this message; because if you are failing, it's not God's fault...
"When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. "My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!" he cried. Elisha told him, "Get a bow and some arrows." And the king did as he was told. Elisha told him, "Put your hand on the bow," and Elisha laid his own hands on the king's hands. Then he commanded, "Open that eastern window," and he opened it. Then he said, "Shoot!" So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, "This is the LORD'S arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek." Then he said, "Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground." So the king picked them up and stuck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. "You should have stuck the ground five or six times!" he exclaimed. Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times."" (2 Kings 13:14-19) NLT

"Give It All To God" -x2

"There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god." (Psalms 81:9) It might take some explaining, but these two words "strange" are two totally different words. It might seem strange, but stranger yet, is what we become; that's pretty much how I see these two words spelled out plainly. It's really quite simple, and pretty much goes back to that old 'gigo' theory, you are what you eat. In other words, 'Garbage In, Garbage Out!' Or in the case of worshipping the True and Living God, 'No Power In, No Power out!' How else can we truly experience power in our lives, unless we truly believe that God has the power to change us? It is a little bit like that man who laid next to the pool of Bethesda wanting to be healed, but not enough to truly put forth the effort. Jesus asked him plainly, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The NLT has it a little more plainly spoken, saying, "Would you like to get well?" Thirty-eight years is a long time to suffer with something you don't think you can get rid of; but it kind of matters who you are looking to that is going to heal you! Okay, so maybe I can't do it; maybe I can't do what it takes to get well, but Jesus can! The question really then becomes, Would I like to get well? So, the 'strange god' in us, is that which makes us not want to be completely holy, which is what God is, HOLY! Sure, we show up to the pool, continually; but do we really want to be completely made whole? Take my life Jesus, but don't take those things that I like, those things that give me pleasure and satisfy my fleshly desires. Maybe it's not that we don't think that God has the power to change us, but it's more about the desire to be changed. Or maybe, just maybe, it's desire that we truly lack: Go big or stay at home...
""But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the LORD. "You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God -there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, and the LORD, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are my witnesses that I am the only God," says the LORD. "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done."" (Isaiah 43:10-13) NLT  

"Give It All To God"

"There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god." (Psalms 81:9) If you think you know it all, you had better check yourself very carefully, because your fooling yourself and you don't even know it. I can't begin to tell you all the crazy messed up things I have heard from people who say that they are believers. Not that I am not guilty of saying crazy things, because I'm sure that I am, I just don't know it; and if I did, I probably would not admit it, not even to myself. To be perfectly honest, most of my crazy talk comes from reading between the lines; the problem with doing that, is that you make too many assumptions and don't stick to the facts. I try to listen to "To Every Man An Answer" as much as I can, mostly because I believe Pastor Mike tries very hard to stick to the Text and not assume God is saying something that He isn't saying. Every once in a while he might stray, but if he does, it's only because it's an issue that he is passionate about. He is only a man like we are, so what do you expect. However, we need to be careful about the things that we are passionate about, because if our passion is in anything else but Christ, we could be taken off course. Much like Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:2, "For I am determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." It's called 'Getting back to the basics,' which pretty much is the same as saying, "Get back to Square One!" There is something interesting about what Jesus said to Nicodemus about those that love darkness rather than light, and it has to do with revealing sin. I tend to think that we can make a habit of not revealing sins; which is actually a pretty stupid thing to do, because there is nothing that is hidden from God. Neither is there really anything hidden from ourselves. We know when we sin; and if we pretend that we don't, we are basically just fooling our own conscience, which really can't be fooled. And besides that, what about the Holy Spirit? Oh, you must not ever forget about Him...
"Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Holy Spirit lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness." And again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless."" (1 Corinthians 3:16-20) NLT  

"Give Ear To God" -2

"Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;" (Psalms 81:8) I couldn't help but say something else, because that version of Isaiah 1:18 had me thinking. I can't help but wonder, but when God says, "Come now, and let us reason together," is that His way of saying, "Snap out of it, already!" I mean, come on! The second part of this verse packs a powerful punch, but this thing about, "Come now, let's settle this," has my head spinning! It reminds me of Joshua's statement, "choose you this day whom ye will serve." (Joshua 24:15) I mean, it's pretty obvious that God truly does want to bless His people, but do they want to be blessed? Maybe that question requires something else to consider, as in, do they want to obey God and be blessed? Surely everyone wants to be blessed; it is just that they want to be blessed on their own terms. But God will not allow that to happen; He can't allow that to happen, because He is just! But then you look at those people of the world who have riches and live in luxury, and you wonder, why are they blessed? Who's to say that they are blessed? Do you think God considers them blessed? From God's vantage point, they are under the curse, they are the walking dead, damned to eternal hell and separation from Him. Sure, they might have a moment of fun in the sun, but that will all soon be over, and then they will need to answer for their rejection of Him. Really, that is the reality of what God is saying! What are your choices? Do you want life or do you want death? Blessing or damnation? There is only one choice to be made, really! We were damned from the get-go...
""For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."" (John 3:16-21) NLT

"Give Ear To God"

"Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou will hearken unto me;" (Psalms 81:8) This might sound a little strange, but listening to what God says is more than just listening. I have spent many years pretending to listen, but it does not count for nothing if I do not hearken to what God says! Actually, it starts before God even speaks, this rebellious heart, that although it might say, 'Speak and I will listen,' it actually means, 'Speak, and I will consider what you say.' Maybe I should spend more time considering what will happen if I don't listen, then I do thinking about what happens when I do? I mean really, what's to consider? I can choose life, or I can choose death; hum, let me think, which one will give me the most pleasure? That pleasure thing is an interesting term, because pleasure is not always pleasing, and it surely does not satisfy. What does always satisfy is being pleasing to God! How do we please God? By listening to every single word that He says! It's actually more than just that; it's more about being prepared to listen by giving ear to God. In other words, we must desire to hear Him speak, to direct our lives, and we must be prepared to obey. That's the biggest problem, at least it is with me, that whole, 'I will take that under advisement' kind of attitude, that says, 'Okay, I hear what you're saying, but let me weigh my options; better yet, let me see how I can work that into the things I desire for myself.' Oh, you don't do that? Okay, it must just be me. And here I thought we all had something in common? Don't be ridiculous! We all do it in some form or fashion; some more than others; some, do it all the way! It's the very first thing that pops into our heads, 'What's in this for me, and how can I make this work into my life?' God would say, 'I did not say to take it under advisement; I said to listen and obey!' We don't know what God has planned for our lives until we walk by faith; and faith requires that we listen and obey...
"Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of the orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!"" (Isaiah 1:16-20) NLT

"A Mercy Feast"

"Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah." (Psalms 81:7) Take this number, which is just the other side of the number six, and consider the contrast between the two. God loves to show mercy to His people; all that they need to do is ask, to receive His mercy is just that far away, simply by asking! When you compare the goodness of God against the badness of man, the contrast between the two is overwhelming. Yet, He wants us to feast upon His mercy! We need to realize how much we need to be forgiven, and then bask in His mercy that He loves to offer. There are plenty of places where these different things could have taken place; the edge of the Red Sea as the armies of Egypt were cornering the people of Israel, the base of the mountain where God gave Moses the law, on any number of battlefields; but the "waters of Meribah" is one place in particular. It is interesting that God uses the words "I proved thee," because He proved Himself holy and merciful in this situation, yet He also proved how faithless and rebellious His people could be. We find this played out in Numbers 20:1-13, which is the place where Moses smote the rock, when God asked him to only speak to the rock. The children of Israel had complained to Moses and Aaron, and when Moses and Aaron went before the LORD for answers, God did not cast judgment, but provided mercy on His people. Moses misrepresented God before the people by hitting the rock; not only did he hit the rock with his rod, but he hit it twice. God clearly told Moses to lift up the rod and speak to the rock; yet his action and his words represented judgment and anger, when God was only interested in providing mercy...
"Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God's mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone." (Romans 11:28-32) NLT

"Unbound by Mercy" -To

"I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots." (Psalms 81:6) If you like the numbers game, then this being verse six might delight you a little; especially seeing that the writer is taking the liberty to speak for God. It is so unfortunate for so many believers that they don't give up sooner; our God only wants the very best for our lives, but we seem to have this notion that He only wants take our pleasures away. Isn't that the lie that Eve was fed in the garden? I saw a post in the Drudge Report yesterday that people are just accepting the fact that retirement is at 70. I am beginning to think that there will be no retirement for a whole lot of people; besides, where in the Bible does it speak of retirement? As I draw closer to the end of this life, I can't help but think of all the opportunities I have wasted to serve God. Not that I haven't served Him in one way or another, because I have; but I am talking about real ministry living, where serving God is what I do, period! Instead, I am a Bug Guy! That's what I do, I kill bugs for a living. Now don't get me wrong, I love what I do; I am good at what I do, so why wouldn't I love it. And as far as I know, this might be right where God would have me. But I can't really see myself crawling under houses at the age of 70, so I am most likely going to change what I do within the next ten years, that's for sure. One thing is for sure, there is no retirement in my future, not unless you count heaven; which just so happens to be the place I want to retire to! I have no savings; no retirement package waiting for me; nothing except the Social Security that the Government has already squandered. This country has more dealt than any other country before; to get out of this dealt is going to take huge sacrifices from everyone, for years to come. Sound kind of familiar? It should. It's pretty much the same way many of us live in service to the Lord. We dismiss the sacrifice that should be made now, putting it off for somewhere down the road. Each year turns into another five, and then another ten; until you finally realize that it's all been squandered, spent doing all that you want to do, and not on the Lord. And you know what the worst thing is, it's that it cost so much to do all that you want to do, you can't keep up with the cost...
"During the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king in Judah, the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah: "Get a scroll, and write down all my messages against Israel, Judah, and the other nations. Begin with the first message back in the days of Josiah, and write down every message, right up to the present time. Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings."" (Jeremiah 36:1-3) NLT

"Unbound by Mercy"

"I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots." (Psalms 81:6) If you woke up today, by whatever it is that you call it, be grateful and happy for another chance to prove your love for God. I once called my alarm clock an opportunity clock; something I picked up years ago from Zig Ziglar. Recently I caught myself calling it an alarm clock, and I had to pause and wonder when I reverted back to that. It is set for 4:00 every morning, with three simple words that display on the screen, "Time to Pray." Don't ask me why, but most mornings I actually wake up at 3:45; only to look at the clock and make myself go back to sleep. I have my wife's bed against mine, so I can hold her hand in the morning and start off praying for her. But then it's off into the living room, to the place where the Lord waits for me every morning. I know, He is not literally sitting there waiting; that's just something I picked up from a little book, "My heart, Christ's home." If you have not had a chance to read that little book, it's well worth the time it takes to read it. I use to have a stack of them that I passed out to fellow believers; I'm not quite sure nonbelievers would get much from it, except to have another excuse to avoid meeting Jesus. It's not that it causes us to realize the different ways that Christ needs to be Lord over our lives, it's more about all the different ways that we prevent Him from being Lord of all of it. It's kind of crazy, the way we sometimes avoid having mercy granted into certain parts of our lives; if we don't give those areas over to the Lord, then we are not going to experience the mercy He has to offer us for those particular things in our life. What a huge waste of an opportunity! It's sure is a good thing that you woke up today...
"At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you from hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! "My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."" (Matthew 11:25-30) NLT

"Bound by Duty"

"This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not." (Psalms 81:5) Be that as it may, Peter's point needs to be thought of in the present tense, it's not just what we will be, but it is what we have become; we are currently "Living Stones" for Christ, and as such, we must shine the light of Jesus. As I was catching the end of Pastor Matt's message yesterday, I heard him speaking about Joseph being able to forgive his brothers for selling him into slavery. It was an interesting point that he was making, about what it takes to be able to do what Joseph did, and how it is something that we must all seriously consider. What must I do in order to forgive someone that has wronged me? Oddly enough, I think the second part of this verse might lend us some direction in that regard, because it requires us being able to do something that we otherwise would not do. Not only would we not do it, but we really don't know how not to hold a grudge against someone that has harmed us; at least not in our flesh we don't. You see, Joseph, being a type of Christ that he was, was able to step outside of himself and consider the bigger picture; much the same as Christ had to do in order to go willingly to that cross. As a matter of fact, Jesus was more than just willing to go to the cross, He was able to count it joy; and He was able to do so because He knew what the outcome was going to be. Joseph was able to forgive his brothers because it brought him joy knowing the outcome of what his brothers had done; although it might have been painful for a season, it was for the best, for not only himself, being second in command of Egypt, but also for the entire tribe of Israel, to keep them from being destroyed by the famine. It is really not hard to understand the concept of forgiveness, especially when it comes to being on the receiving end of it; but to actually forgive, that's an entirely different language altogether...
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice -the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way that you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as your bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we belong to each other." (Romans 12:1-5) NLT

"Duty-Bound"

"For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob." (Psalms 81:4) There are some things that we just don't have a choice in, and praising God is one of them. It's not that we actually can put it to a vote, or that we can make it an option; we are called and created to worship, it is part of what we have become and who we are as part of the body of Christ Jesus. In other words, it is a sin for us not to worship; as strong of a word that sin is, it's missing the mark, and when we fail to worship and praise our Creator, we not only miss the mark, we fall flat on our faces. To put it another way, we could use breath again as an illustration of worship; say, breathing in the air of this world is not going to keep us alive, not on it's own; we need to breath in the air of God, and the air of God is given in worship. In other words, if we don't worship, we don't actually breath in healthy air; and if we don't breath in healthy air from time to time, we end up breaking down and becoming weak and sick, spiritually sick. I actually think failing to worship can cause us to become physically ill also. When I am praising God, not just in church, but in my normal day, I feel healthier and more alive. It's almost as if I had taken my vitamins that morning, and I have more energy, more stride in my step. You can call it what you want to, but I will just call it the power of praise. Talk about a 'feast,' it's more like having your favorite sushi and never getting full; yum! On that note, failing to worship is like eating something totally wrong; something that leaves a really bad taste in your mouth, that you can't get out. You might think I am kidding, but it could actually explain why so many Christians walk around looking like they just ate a bug or just smelt a fart. They failed to worship...
"Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be condemned. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Which in time past were not a people, but now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:5-10) KJV

"Pitch Perfect"

"Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day." (Psalms 81:3) As you might have gathered by Paul remarks, our praise might just require us to set our feelings aside, because it's not about what I feel like, it's about being thankful and praising God. As the last verse was about preparation, meaning that we have the right equipment, here we just praise; not based upon our time or reason, but "in the time appointed." What does that even mean? What time is appointed for me to worship? I know that something inside of me tells me it's time, because I can feel the push, even when I might not feel like worshipping, there is something inside of me that says to do it anyway. I believe that is the Holy Spirit encouraging me, sometimes, He even enables me; but I believe that it's Him who causes me to worship when I am not feeling up to it on my own. To deny Him the chance to assist me in doing what is right, is pretty much the quenching of the Holy Spirit; which pretty much means that we do not allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us, or direct our lives, or follow His leading; whether that be in prophetic utterances or in what time it is to worship God. Our worship of God is not really determined by a place. Jesus made that quit plan as He spoke to the woman at the well, saying, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." (John 4:23) It is more about spontaneity than it is about anything else. We worship God because He deserves to be worshipped, not because of the way that we feel. Believe it or not, but that is exactly how love works also. We do not get to choose when we will love and not love based upon how we might feel; love is not based upon our feelings, but is based upon our commitment to honor God, because He loves us. I know it might not sound like much, but believe me, it is comforting beyond anything you could ever imagine! Just deny yourself, and worship your Father! So what if you don't feel like doing it, then ask the Holy Spirit to assist you, and don't deny Him leading you in worship...
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4) NLT  

"Elevator Music"

"Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery." (Psalms 81:2) So it comes down to this, being prepared to praise God. I know that might sound like it's really not hard to do, because we praise Him in church all the time; but it's not about timing, it's about a mood and a choice. Given all that I have been through this last year, I feel I pulled through pretty well. But did I miss out on something along the way? I think I might have. I don't seem to remember praising God; and if I did, it was something of a question, like saying, I am praising you, but I'm not quite sure what I am praising you for. When I am talking about being prepared to praise God, it is more about having things figured out in advance; not that we have a clue what is going on around us, but we must be settled in our hearts in trusting God. No matter what the battle that we might be currently in, there is always an outcome and things that still remain unanswered. But there is also always one thing that always remains the same, God's love! Whether good, bad, or indifferent, this life has nothing that compares to the love of God and the way that He loves us. So, yes, I might have had some questions about life; I might have even questioned my own purpose for being here; but I don't think I ever questioned God's love, even in the midst of the storm, even though it seemed we had lost. That might be part of what abundant life looks like. It is life that becomes unshaken by the storm, unmoved by disappointment, and unchallenged by failure...
"Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in us all. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (Colossians 3:10-17) NLT

"The God of Jacob" -2

"Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob." (Psalms 81:1)
If you did not catch it, that's alright, because it's pretty much the same mistake we make in our everyday living: not realizing how much we have been forgiven, and assuming that God is always mad at us. I can't help using this new thing I learned within the last few months, but I can't believe after all these years it was something I either did not listen to, or could not see. Jacob was always Jacob, even after he became Israel, God would still call him Jacob, if he acted or trusted as if he was not God's chosen man. How hard is it to understand? If you are chosen by God, and if God is who He says that He is, and if He knows all that He knows, then you are not a mistake. Now, as to that question; you know, the one from yesterday; it's hardly even something that we could even consider, yet it is one we often try to pin on ourselves. Is the Lord really abiding in my heart? Have I offended the Lord so much that He has chosen to leave me? You can't!!! When I was a kid, every time I did something really dumb, my mom would refer to me as Knucklehead Smith. Usually it would be as a reference, saying, "Quit acting like you're a Knucklehead Smith." But once in a while, it was just point blank, "Knucklehead Smith, knock it off!" I guess we really can't tell anything by our own true nature, because if we try and base our relationship with God upon the way that we act, or by the things that we do, then we are always going to remain condemned. Isn't that the Good News that we have been given? It's not about us, it's all about Jesus! If we abide in Christ, then He abides in us; that's all there is to it! If you have been born again, then you have been born again! You can't undo your new birth, just as you could not crawl back up into your mother's womb and pretend your life never happened. Be that as it may, it is still our move... "Let the godly sing for joy to the LORD; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing for joy. For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does." (Psalms 33:1-4) NLT 

"The God of Jacob"

"Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob." (Psalms 81:1) Forgive me if I have a blunder now and again; I am no perfect, and if I make mistakes, it's only because I am not. But I know someone who is! I guess you could say, I am not guilty by association! Usually it's the other way around, but in this case, if you are not associated with Jesus Christ, then you are guilty as charged. As a matter of fact, there really does not even need to be a trial, because you are not only guilty, but you are already condemned. That's a pretty harsh reality for someone to face; maybe that's why so many people refuse to even consider looking in that general direction. Yes, but if they only knew; if they only knew what it means to be pulled from the fire; to be snatched up out of the fire, cooled off, dusted off, and dressed in white linen! That my friends is something to sing about, because it's all about God doing what He does best, He delivers us! I get that I'm not perfect; no one needs to convince me of that. I also understand that God knows everything there is to know about me; including those dreams I have at night. That alone is enough to condemn me, because there are some that I feel very certain were not just something I made up in my own mind; but that does not mean I refused to be entertained by them. Regardless of what you might act out, or what things you might do or not do, our heart is where God looks for perfection. What's in your heart today? Better yet, Who is in your heart today? Can a person be in Christ without Christ being in them? That might sound like a strange question, but it's one that can surely give some answers for the question of eternal security. I am not trying to make any point about anything; not that it hasn't already been made, because it has. The only point that I am trying to make, is that once we become the property of Jesus, which He purchased with His blood, we have been bought and paid for completely, once and for all. Now the biggest point that comes into question, is, What next? I mean, it's your move, so what do you do, and continually do, day after day? We have been given life, life eternal; Jesus can make that life abundant, right now and for today...
"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty; with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13) NLT

"A Song for a Feast"

PSALMS 81 [To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.]
As well as providing the way, God has made there to be an abundance of what ever we want, as long as we want what He wants. I know you know that Jesus was clear what God would give us, because He was very clear when He said, "give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." Here in this opening of this Psalm we have that word "Gittith" again. It's been quite a while since it first appeared, like back in Psalms 8; I don't even want to mention how long ago it was, but the Title above that Psalm in my Bible was, "God's Glory and Man's Honour." As you might have guess, the Title above this Psalm is the title of today's post. It's your move, is the basic premise being put forth; God has provided everything we could ever need or ask for, now it's up to use, not only to put those things to use, but to put them to use victoriously.  Matthew Henry starts it out like this, saying, "The worshippers of God are excited to their work, and are taught, by singing this Psalm, to stir up both themselves and one another to it." We should be excited for not only what God has done, but we should be excited for what God is doing, giving Him the glory and expecting Him to work in every perfect way. 'Gittith' is a word that basically means 'a wine press.' To make this point without mentioning that wine does in many ways represent the Holy Spirit, would not only be foolish, but it would totally neglect the way God provides influence and guidance upon our lives. It's like wine produces certain things in peoples lives, sometimes out of control things, if they abuse the use of it; so too, the Holy Spirit will produce certain things in each of our lives, and sometimes, if we let Him use us, there is no controlling what might take place in and around us. That's what is meant by a feast, or in this case, "A Song for a Feast." Not only is it a song of celebration, but motivation, to get us moving in the right direction. As you might recall, three times within the last Psalm there was the term, "Turn us again." Sometimes that is our first move in getting motivated to go in the strength of the Lord...
"Jesus replied, "Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and don't know the power of God. For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven. But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead -haven't you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead."" (Matthew 22:29-32) NLT

"Earnestly Seeking Him"

"Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved." (Psalms 80:19) It's not a question of if, but a question of when. We can keep looking for change, and we can keep hoping for answers, but all along, God has already done His part, now it's up to us. What are we going to do with the restoration we have been given? This is the third time we see this verse, each time it's a little more intense; each time, it becomes a little more expectant, a little more dependent upon God's goodness and grace; especially in light of the previous verse: "Quicken us." I can't help but go back to that question Jesus asked of John and Andrew in John 1:38, "What seek ye?" What is it we are looking for? What are we asking God to do, that He has not done already? If it's that we can just draw closer to Him, He has provided the way; actually, He has assured us a way, the way of the cross! I think about all those men of God who lost their lives standing up for this truth, men like John Hus, burned at the stake for believing and preaching restoration to God, directly through Jesus Christ. We have no need to seek assistance from someone else, or to pay tribute, give confession to a priest, or any other man made way of reaching the Throne of God; we can simply enter in by the blood of Jesus Christ! This is personal; although the church might be corporate, our relationship is to be a personal relationship with God, not through any church or organization. Yet, at the same time, we are not in this alone, we have each other, each and every one of us are of the same body, the body of Christ Jesus, our Risen LORD! Maybe it's just me, but it seems I am my own worst enemy when it comes to living out the promises of God. In Luke's version of Jesus showing the disciples how to pray, there is a certain point Jesus makes to us seeking after God, persistence...
"Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this -though he won't do it for friendship sake, if you keep  knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You fathers -if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."" (Luke 11:5-13) NLT  

"Quicken Us!"

"So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name." (Psalms 80:18) That is powerful stuff, yet so easily overlooked. Imagine for just a moment that you could not breath. When you got a chance to take in some air, would it be a shallow breath, or would it be more like a gasp? It would be a gasp! We really need to understand how much we depend upon the Lord; not just for the salvation that we have been given, it's really so much more than that. We must depend upon Him for every single part of our lives; right down to the time we go to sleep at night, to the time when we rise up each morning. Do I continue this daily blog naturally? There are some mornings I would like to just stay in bed, but I dare not. There are some mornings when I don't feel like posting anything, but I cannot refuse to try; not because I don't feel like it, but I need to hear something from God. It's really quite simple, when you get right down to it: understand who you are, and know who God is! That's really what restoration is all about; now breath it in, in big huge breaths. Less of me, and more of Jesus, that is what I need all day long! And yet, it's not just about that, it's about having more life within us, the kind of life that causes us to rejoice in every situation, and in every circumstance. We can do so because the life we have within us is eternal, and it is not moved by anything here on this earth. Does that mean we never have trials that move us? No, we would be silly to think anything of the sort. Jesus was moved by the trial before Him, so why would we think ourselves any better? But Jesus was strengthened and moved forward; which is exactly what we need to do also, seek to be strengthened. That is pretty much what the word "quicken" means; besides just breathing in, the breath is to strengthen us, to revive us, and to fill us with life, His life...
"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all the glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21) NLT

"The Man of God's Right Hand" -2

"Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself." (Psalms 80:17) You see, this world just does not get it, Jesus was not just a man, He was Thee Man! He existed way before the earth was ever formed, and by Him all things ever made, were made; so isn't it fitting for Him to inherit everything, including judgment? Jesus was not a prophet, He was the fulfillment of prophesy! He was not a teacher, He is the one who taught the stars how to shine! He was not a healer, He is the Creator of life and light! This is why so many of those that in power were envious of Jesus, because they could see that He had power. Quite frankly, it pissed them off! If you stop and think about it, they should have embraced Him and looked up to Him; but they were of the opinion that He should have looked up to them, and He did not. As a matter of fact, they were not generally on His nice list, mainly because they thought they were good and they had no need for anything Jesus had to offer. Does that sound familiar? I can remember a time when I was out to sea in the Navy, and I had a friend come and ask me if I would like to join him for a Bible study. I was offended. Don't ask me why, but to this very day, that moment stands out as one the most sharpest rejections of an invitation to meet Jesus in my prior life. I remember afterwards, that I happened to stumble into the area where they were gathered. It was only about four men, all sitting in a circle, and just sharing God's word together. It would have been two years or so, and I had another chance, a chance to meet Jesus. Thank God, I did not reject Him again! Believe me when I say this, but people have no idea who Jesus is until He is in their heart. It is really not their fault, they just cannot see; they are spiritually blind and do not have a clue what you are trying to tell them. If not for the Holy Spirit opening their eyes and softening their heart, they will not and can not believe...
""You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don't have God's love within you. For I have come to you in my Father's name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can't believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don't care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God. Yet it isn't I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because Moses wrote about me. But since you don't believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?"" (John 5:39-47) NLT

"The Man of God's Right Hand"

"Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself." (Psalms 80:17) If you don't get it by now, then maybe it's time to revisit the cross; because there is no way we are making it into heaven without Jesus! What is wrong with everyone; have they lost their minds? I am talking about some of our spiritual leaders, those that are the ones who are the voice of truth; or at least they are be taken as such. I really don't now what to think anymore, except that we must keep our eyes on Jesus, and never put our trust in man. Who were the ones responsible for having Jesus nailed to the cross? Wasn't it the religious leaders, those that were in charge of the Temple of God? I guess you could say that they were doing their part. But what kind of heart would do such a thing against someone who did nothing wrong? I tell you this, envy has a way of turning people into monsters. Am I saying they were all motivated by envy? Not all, I'm sure that some were just misguided by the devil; but most of them, especially those with the most power, were very much envious of Jesus. I truly believe that we are very close to the Lord's return, and I really don't want to be left behind; I don't want to even be shamefully taken. When the Lord comes back for His church, I want to be ready and found doing exactly what the Lord wants me to be doing. Not a believer yet? I don't mean a believer in Jesus, I mean a believer that His return is very soon. We might not know the day or the hour, but we can be sure of the season! Isn't it strange that seasons repeat themselves? I mean everyday is different from any other day, but you know when it's winter or summer or fall. I guess what I am trying to say, is that we need to be very careful who we are listening to, especially people in power. Power seems to have a way of making people feel powerful. Go figure...
""I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it's here now, when the dead will hear my voice -the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will."" (John 5:24-30) NLT 

"God's Countenance"

"It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance." (Psalms 80:16) It's really very unfortunate that we don't get this sooner, but God does what is needed to get us in line. He really is a very good Father! That's what restoration with God feels like! We feel loved; no matter the circumstance or the situation, no mater the trial or tribulation, we know with every last breath that we have inside of us that God loves us; and that is all that matters! Does God frown at us from time to time? I am pretty sure that He does; at least I know He does frown at me from time to time, because I can pretty much sense it. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that He sometimes chuckles at my stupid behavior, especially when I am doing something really naughty. Yea, I know, real men of God don't do naughty things, so there must be something seriously wrong with me. I blame it on boredom, and I'll just leave it at that. When it comes to serving God, I really don't want to just get by, or just be alright with God, I want to know that He is smiling upon me. Isn't that really what we need more than anything else? I need to know that He is pleased with my service; that at the end of it all, I will hear these words: "Well done, good and faithful servant." The good the bad and the ugly, all bunched together into one, and somehow it all turns out good in the end. Don't ask me how; don't even ask me why I think that it does. But this much I know, God will is always perfect! We cannot be perfect, but God is; we cannot be holy, but God is; we cannot be righteous, but God is. Can you see where I am going with this? Do you want to make God smile? Then cry out, "Abba, Father!" That is really what it's all about...
"How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prison.. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and other were killed by the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so they would not reach perfection without us." (Hebrews 11:32-40) NLT

"Recognition" -2

"Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself." (Psalms 80:14-15) Yesterday I heard a quote from Charles Spurgeon that pretty much hit the nail on the head, it was something like this: "It's a good thing that God chose me before I was born, because he surely would not have afterwards." That's pretty much what grace is all about. We don't deserve God's grace; and we surely could never earn it! It's not really true, the point about "it is a good thing," Spurgeon was just making a point. God knew us before we were born, everything about us; including that sin from yesterday, and that sin from tomorrow. I think that we could do so much more for the Lord, if we could just settle that point in our hearts. Instead, we let our weaknesses get in the way of God's greatness. Does that mean it's okay for us to sin? No! Sin equals death, in one way or another, there will be death as a result of sin! I know we can't see that, because there are so many different elements and dimensions to life, beyond just physical. When we step outside of God's perfect will, it's hard to say what might have happened otherwise, or what could result from just a single misstep or failure. We don't have a clue! One missed opportunity, or one casual sin, that's all it could take to set off a chain reaction of events in more lives that we could ever imagine. Can't see it? Well guess what, God does! Tell me that does not blow your mind! Getting back to a point I made earlier, in that we have no rights; we really don't have any right to complain, and we surely don't have any right to expect anything; all rights belong to Jesus! He is Creator and Redeemer, which means that He created us and He also redeemed us, so what right do we have, except to trust in Him...
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the LORD'S discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."" (Hebrews 12:1-6) NLT  

"Recognition"

"Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself." (Psalms 80:14-15) It really does not matter who is doing the insinuating, whether it's the devil, ourselves or the world, all that really matters is God and what He thinks. I think that is the part that gets me, more than any other element of God's grace, it's that particular point that just overwhelms me, time and time again. That is the whole point of Romans 8:1, whether you can except it for that or not, it's really not up to either you or I, it's up to God; and if God says that I am justified in Christ Jesus, then guess what, it's true! We can't just take how we feel about something and build a understanding based upon that; our feelings don't count, neither do our understandings! It just keeps blowing my mind. Why would God choose me? I know that I mess up, and I know there are still many things that God would want removed from my life; but I also know that He loves me, and that's the part that still keeps on getting to me. I can't earn His love, or gain His love; His love is already there; it's always been there! We can worry all night and day what the world might think of us, but none of that really matters; really, none of it matters. What really matters is what God thinks of us; and if God is for us, then you know what that means! Obviously there is more to it than just that, right? I'm not so sure. The more I try to figure more into it, the more confused I become. Look, all that I know is that God's grace does not have strings attached, it came nailed to a cross...
"LORD, look down from heaven; look down from your holy, glorious home, and see us. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now? Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, LORD, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past. LORD, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants, the tribes that are your special possession." (Isaiah 63:15-17) NLT

"Insinuations"

"The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it." (Psalms 80:13) In all of our situations and circumstances, there are very few that really make any sense while they are taking place; heck, there are very few that make sense when they are over; but there is one thing I truly believe deep down in my heart, that God only allows His will to take place in our lives. Is it His perfect will? Not all the time, that I know for sure. But nonetheless, it's His will; and His will is always perfect, regardless! This is what happens when you give children a choice, they make bad choices; it's just a fact. But our God, the God that loves us even more than we could ever love ourselves, His ways are always going to turn out for the best. Unfortunately, it might not be our best personally or physically; at least that is what might appear on the surface; but you can bet God will take something that appears tragic and unexplainable, and He will turn it into something good. Will we always see it happen? No. As far as this life goes, this life does not count; not when it come to our eternal security. What happens to us in this life has no affect on the prize that waits on the other side of this life; whether we are killed or left alone, none of that really matters. What does matter is our love for God! Do I love God? If I am perfectly honest, I can say that I do, most of the time; but when I wilfully sin; well, let's just say that I am not really caring so much about our relationship when that happens. That does not sound very loving: I know, it's not. But isn't that what happens? When He says, "Don't do it," and then we go ahead and do it anyway, what are we saying? We are saying, "Right now, I really don't care what you say, I'm going to satisfy my fleshly desires." It continues to amaze me, continually! God already knows! Yet He still loved me then, and He still loves me now...
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance -an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all it see." (1 Peter 1:3-5) NLT