Honor before God

Israel was fooled into making a treaty with the Gibeonites under false pretenses. Even when the truth was out, Israel would not go back on the vow they made before God. When you honor God and keep commitments, mistakes work out for the good of all. 

Joshua 9:19-21 (NIV) 19... “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.”  21 They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept. 

2/28/2021

Ichabod

 

The ark of God was God living among the people of Israel. It was visible and interactive. With it came order, holiness and purpose. Ichabod is a very fitting name of what is left when the personal presence of God is diminished in your home or outside it. 

1 Samuel 4:21 (NIV) 21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 

2/21/2021

Judging Correctly

 

Not judging at all means you make no distinctions of bad, better or best, yet the Bible is all about these differences.  John 7:24 says to judge fairly and righteously (not superficially and arrogantly).  Right judgment brings wisdom and joy when developed with God. 

John 7:24 (AMP) 24 Do not judge by appearance [superficially and arrogantly], but judge fairly and righteously.

 

2/18/2021

The Sword of the Spirit

 

Faith in Christ brings you peace, but this earth is Satan’s kingdom and there is much that needs correcting. The sword represents the change that Christ brings: His truth pierces. Expect comfort zones and relationships to be disrupted painfully, but for the better. 

Matthew 10:34 (TLB) 34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, rather, a sword.

2/14/2021

Church Relationships

Churches can be as bad as the secular world in dysfunction and egos. Paul’s insight rings true today. Let God show you how to work happily together and enjoy the company of one another. Don’t be a know-it-all. Let God show you the value of each person in your church.

Romans 12:16 (TLB) 15 Work happily together. Don’t try to act big. Don’t try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don’t think you know it all!

2/10/2021

Water into Wine

Jesus and his mother knew what his mission was on Earth.  When the opportunity for his first miracle appeared, he thought he was not ready. His mother was more confident. She brought it to him and, though reluctant at first, he performed beautifully.

John 2:1-5 (TLB)  1Two days later Jesus’ mother was a guest at a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited too. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, and Jesus’ mother came to him with the problem. 4 “I can’t help you now,” he said. “It isn’t yet my time for miracles.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you to.”

2/7/2021

Murder in the First Degree

 

When Cain was consumed with anger and rage, God told him he could be bright with joy if he would do what he wanted him to do. God wants you to exercise dominion over your anger. Uncontrolled anger caused the first murder and has caused every murder since. 

Genesis 4:3-6 (TLB) 3 At harvest time Cain brought the Lord a gift of his farm produce, 4 and Abel brought the fatty cuts of meat from his best lambs, and presented them to the Lord. And the Lord accepted Abel’s offering, 5 but not Cain’s. This made Cain both dejected and very angry, and his face grew dark with fury.6 “Why are you angry?” the Lord asked him. “Why is your face so dark with rage? 7 It can be bright with joy if you will do what you should! But if you refuse to obey, watch out. Sin is waiting to attack you, longing to destroy you. But you can conquer it!”

1/31/2021

Place it on a Pole

 

When you are fearful, take the danger and fear and place it on a “pole” for you and God to see.  God will show you how to handle the situation if you ask. Each time the fear comes to you, look up to God and know he is working for you and the best outcome. 

Numbers 21:8-9 (MSG) 8 God said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it on a flagpole: Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live.” 9 So Moses made a snake of fiery copper and put it on top of a flagpole. Anyone bitten by a snake who then looked at the copper snake lived.

1/24/2021

Moving Forward

Trust God in your decisions when you put him in them because those decisions will always be right. Looking back doesn't work. When you make a decision, in prayer, and you look back and question it, you will be confused and your moving forward will be compromised. 

 

Luke 9:62 (NIV) 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

1/20/2021

Children and Wisdom

In the Bible, children many times represent decisions. Heroes in the Bible had good and bad children, just as they themselves were strong and weak. A bad decision produces poor outcomes and the wisdom of good decisions is proved right in the short and the long term. 

Luke 7:35 (NIV) 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.

1/17/2021

No Weapon Formed Against You

 

Having God on your side surpasses all weapons formed against you.  This is found, among other ways, in your capacity to speak negatives to positives and pursue what God has ordained for you. This is YOUR heritage, as it is everyone’s should they choose it.  

 

Isaiah 54:17 (NASB) 17 No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, declares the Lord. 

1/10/2021

Rebuild the Road

 

To “possess the land” and inherit God’s “holy mountain” means you must be maintain what you have been given. God customizes your responsibilities to fit your gifts and personality.  What worked for you in the past, who you idolized or worshipped, doesn’t work when God calls.

Isaiah 57:13-14 (TLB) 13 Let’s see if the whole collection of your idols can help you when you cry to them to save you! They are so weak that the wind can carry them off! A breath can puff them away. But he who trusts in me shall possess the land and inherit my holy mountain. 14 I will say, Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones. Prepare a glorious highway for my people’s return from captivity.

1/3/2021

I am the Lord your God

God identified himself often as I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery and this is repeated many times in the Old Testament. This phrase tells you - then and now - exactly who brings you to freedom. 

Exodus 20:1-2 (NASB) 1 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

12/27/2020

Double-Chained

 

In prison, double-chained and scheduled to die the next day, the churches prayed for Peter. An angel came to Peter, broke the chains and led him past the guards to freedom. Any bond or chain - ANY - can be broken with earnest prayer. Pray to walk into your freedom. 

Acts 12:5-8 (TLB) 5 But earnest prayer was going up to God from the church for his safety all the time he was in prison. 6 The night before he was to be executed, he was asleep, double-chained between two soldiers with others standing guard before the prison gate, 7 when suddenly there was a light in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood beside Peter! The angel slapped him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists!

12/20/2020

In Spirit and in Truth

Much time is spent on matters of church property, music, leaders, etc.  This is good - it is for worshiping God - but the Bible says worshiping God goes beyond a building. God is Spirit. Deeply desire to know the truth and emphasize worshiping God in Spirit and in truth.

John 4:23-24 (NIV) 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 

12/16/2020

The Love of Money

 

Everyone needs money for earthly necessities but Jesus said that when you trust the powers of money more than you trust God’s power, money is your point of devotion. You compromise God’s provision when you love and trust money more than you do God.

Matthew 6:24 (NIV) 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 

12/13/2020

Fruit of the Spirit

Fruits of the Spirit are evidence of the Holy Spirit working in you. Developing them is a lifework. Know your shortcomings, but the proof is in the pudding. Are these qualities in your life? They are a gift of the Holy Spirit and their own reward.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)  22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

12/9/2020

Persistence

 

Not all things come easily and some things only come with time and effort. Luke 18:2-8 shows you have to be committed to seeking the peace you want. It is inevitable that your prayers will be answered when you persist in faith as the widow did with the judge.

Luke 18:2-8 (MSG) 2-3 “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’ 4-5 “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’” 6-8 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

12/6/2020

Let not your Heart be Troubled

 

John 14:1 is quoted often at funeral services but it can be applied to any situation where you are hurt or worried, because God is the Creator of all good, Jesus is the healer, and the Holy Spirit is the comforter. You are never alone in your worry and anguish.

John 14:1 (TLB)  1 “Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me.

11/29/2020

Where the Teachings of Jesus Come From

 

The teachings of Jesus come from none other than the one who created the foundations of the earth. Jesus said that as you love and obey his teachings, he and the Father come to you and live in you. He said this promise is not from him, but from God himself. 

John 14:23-24 (NIV) 23 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

11/22/2020

Possessions and Bank Accounts

 

Possessions, bank accounts and other people are good and necessary, but they are secondary to reliance on God. Ask God what things will satisfy your soul, not your earthly standing. He will show you where to concentrate your efforts to be strong and satisfied in him first.

Isaiah 55:2 (TLB) 2 Why spend your money on food that doesn’t give you strength? Why pay for groceries that do you no good? Listen and I’ll tell you where to get good food that fattens up the soul! 

11/18/2020

Shake the Dust off your Feet

 

In Matthew 10:14 Jesus tells the disciples, If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.  Not everyone will understand or appreciate what Christ has done for you. If not, move on to where you will be productive. 

Matthew 10:14 (NIV) 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

11/15/2020

Giving to Charity

When you give money or time to charity, those receiving it may want to let others know publicly how much you helped them. This appreciation is good but be careful in these matters. Jesus said to give privately and discreetly, letting your Father honor you, not other people.  

Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV) 1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

11/8/2020