"Know Your Calling" (Part #1)

20, June 2017

"Know Your Calling" (Part #1)

‘What is that in your hand?’ Exodus 4:2 NIV

When God called Moses, one of the first questions He asked him was: ‘What is that in your hand’?  Moses was holding his shepherd’s staff—the one he used each day to lead and protect his sheep.  But God had a different plan for it—a greater one!  He used it to part the Red Sea and lead Israel into the Promised Land. When God asks you, ‘What is that in your hand’?  He wants you to think about your talents, experiences, relationships, education, resources, your mind and your temperament.

‘Signature strengths’ fall into six categories:

(1) Wisdom and knowledge. These include things like curiosity, love of learning, sound judgment and social intelligence.

(2) Courage. This includes perseverance and integrity.

(3) Humanity. The capacity for kindness, and the ability to express mercy.

(4) Justice. The ability to bring about fairness and leadership.

(5) Temperance. Qualities like self-control, prudence and humility.

(6) Transcendence. An appreciation for beauty, the expression of gratitude, the ability to hope and the capacity for joy. We all have the capacity for each of these strengths, but the ones that resonate most deeply within you are your ‘signature strengths’.

Once you identify these you begin to understand your calling. But be careful; the enemy wants to convince you that God can’t use you because of your weaknesses, when in fact the opposite is true. Who can speak to those who are grieving better than those who’ve suffered loss?  Chuck Colson was the chief White House lawyer until Watergate.  But only when he became a convict was he equipped to begin his ministry, Prison Fellowship.  So, know your calling.

"God Is Your Unfailing Source"

17, May 2017

"God Is Your Unfailing Source"

‘The brook dried up.’ 1 Kings 17:7 NIV

The psalmist wrote, ‘Joyful are those …whose hope is in the Lord their God.’ (Psalm 146:5 NLT)

One author writes: ‘Sometimes when there’s not enough money to make ends meet, people tell us to budget and we chuckle. We look at the situation and say, “No way.” That’s the time to trust God. Your possibilities aren’t limited by past or present circumstances. If there’s not enough money to pay legitimate expenses, 'do deligent' to pay what you can and then let go and let God. Trust God to supply your need, then look beyond your wallet. Look to your source. Claim a divine, unlimited supply.  Do your part in managing your money. Strive for financial responsibility in thoughts and actions. Ask for wisdom, and listen to God’s leadings. Then let go of your fears and your need to control. We all know money is a necessary part of living—and so does God.’

FB Meyer said: ‘The education of our faith is incomplete till we learn that God’s providence works through loss … There’s a ministry provided to us through the failure and fading of things. The dwindling brook where Elijah sat is a picture of our lives! “Some time later the brook dried up” (1 Kings 17:7 NIV) is the history of our yesterdays and the prophecy of our tomorrows. We must learn the difference between trusting in the gift and trusting in the giver. The gift may last for a season, but the giver is eternal. If the Lord had led Elijah directly to the widow at Zarephath, he’d have missed something that helped make him a better man—living by faith. Whenever our earthly resources dry up, it’s so we may learn that our hope and health are in God'.

"Today Share Your Faith With Someone"

15, May 2017

"Today Share Your Faith With Someone"

‘A woman of Samaria came to draw water.’ John 4:7 NKJV

One day Jesus met a woman who would come to draw water from a well.  After five marriages, her trust in men was zero—and her self-esteem was into the negative!  But after her encounter with Christ, she left the well radically changed.

When it comes to sharing our faith, we learn three important lessons from her story:

(1) Jesus sees the best in everybody.  ‘The Pharisees … complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners”’ (Luke 15:2 NKJV).  And when it came to the woman at the well, they were right. She’d been through five marriages and was the talk of the town because she was living with another man. Yet she was the first person to whom Jesus introduced Himself as the Messiah. Why didn’t He do that when He called His disciples?  Or performed His first miracle? Or interviewed Nicodemus? Because Jesus doesn’t measure you by your past or your pedigree—but by your potential.

(2) Jesus changes you, then He uses you to change others. This woman was the first person to share the gospel in Samaria, and ‘many … Samaritans … believed in Him because of the word of the woman’ (John 4:39 NKJV). Out of your brokenness, God can use you to make others whole.

(3) Jesus doesn’t need you to explain Him, just to introduce Him.  He speaks for Himself. The Bible says: ‘Many more believed because of His own word …They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ”’ (John 4:41–42 NKJV). Today share your faith with someone.

"You Owe It To Your Child" (Part #3)

06, May 2017

"You Owe It To Your Child" (Part #3)

‘Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.’ Proverbs 29:17 NKJV

The third thing you owe your child is: correction.

Many parents make the mistake of always telling their children when they are wrong, rather than also taking the time to tell them how to get right, and stay right.  Biblical correction involves both.  The number one extra-biblical Beatitude for all parents is: ‘Blessed are the balanced'.  When you police a child but never play with them, you’re out of balance.

Note carefully what Solomon wrote: ‘Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul’.  The word ‘correct’ means to chastise, to reprove, or to force back to the right way.  Always remember that discipline is like a two-edged sword; it’s not only to correct children when they’re wrong, but to direct them to a way that’s right.  And you’ll get better results from positive reinforcement than you will from negative reinforcement.

Understand this:  it’s not your job to make your child happy; it’s your job to nurture them into maturity.  When you do that, their happiness is guaranteed!  So you may as well quit trying to win a popularity contest with your children.  They may always love you, but there are times when they definitely won’t like you!  Don’t be discouraged.  ‘This too shall pass'.  Just keep administering the right mixture of nurture and discipline, and eventually they’ll grow to like you again. More importantly, when they grow up, get married, and have children, they’ll have a role model and a plan for success.

"Don’t Let Complaining Creep In" (Part #1)

04, April 2017

"Don’t Let Complaining Creep In" (Part #1)

‘These people are grumblers and complainers.’ Jude 1:16 NLT

Jon Gordon says: ‘My wife’s friend Rachel wouldn’t stop complaining about her job … the company, the economy, her lack of sales … I finally stopped her and said, “It’s simple.  You have a choice. You can accept your company’s new policies, come to work with a positive attitude and be your best every day, or you can find a new job.  But whatever you do, stop complaining because it’s not doing any good.  Change your job or change your attitude …”.  The conversation was over, and so was our friendship, I thought.  Rachel wouldn’t speak to me for a few months. Then I saw her at a party and she told me she decided to take my advice.  She stayed in her job, stopped complaining and started selling more. Three months after changing her attitude her sales were up 30 per cent, a year later they were up 70 per cent … The other day, three years after our initial conversation, I caught up with Rachel again and asked her how she was doing.  She told me during the last two years her sales continued to grow. She’s been promoted twice and is now in her dream job.  It’s the job she always wanted and she’s more excited and passionate than ever. Is complaining sabotaging you and/or your team? … I was in a similar situation ten years ago.  But I learned when you stop whining and take positive action, you start winning ... I learned to apply this concept to all facets of my life.

The Bible places whiners and complainers in the same class as ‘sinners [who] have spoken against [God ]… grumblers and complainers … living only to satisfy their desires … to get what they want’ (Jude 1:15–16 NLT).  Instead, you should be full of faith—thanking God for His blessings and trusting Him for the future.

"Peace Comes By Trusting In Christ"

02, April 2017

"Peace Comes By Trusting In Christ"

‘Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’  Romans 5:1 KJV

Charles Stanley tells of asking his waitress, ‘If you could ask God for anything, what would that be’?  Instantly she answered, ‘I want to feel at peace’.  Through tears she spoke of painful losses that turned her life into intense emotional turmoil.  Many people, like this young woman, want inner peace without a relationship with Jesus, the Prince of Peace. They seek it in ways that don’t work—physical fitness, improving their appearance, financial security, fame, social status, or human relationships. Some seek it in alcohol and drugs. But none of these things can provide peace of heart and mind; only a relationship with Jesus can do that.

Before we meet Jesus we are slaves to sin, living in opposition to God (Romans 6:16). And our sins separate us from God so we live with guilt, stress, and shame ... But He has provided a remedy.  ‘God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8 NIV), removing our sin, guilt, and shame, and ending our separation from God.  When we trust in Christ as our Savior He promises, ‘Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' (Romans 5:1 NIV).

If you have placed your trust in Christ, read this:  ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand' (Philippians 4:6–7 TLB).

"Beware of Pride"

15, March 2017

"Beware of Pride"!

‘Pride goes before destruction.’ Proverbs 16:18 NKJV

Think about the things we become proud over: the home we live in, the car we drive, the diploma hanging on our wall, the people we mingle with, and the position we hold. When you’ve worked hard to get to where you are, look out for pride!  Paul asks, ‘Who makes you differ from another?  And what do you have that you did not receive?  Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?’ (1 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV)

So what should you do?

(1) Examine your belief system about who you are, what you have, and what you can do. Jesus said, ‘Without Me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5 NKJV).  Remind yourself: ‘I’m just the glove; God’s the hand that fills it’.  That’ll help you to keep your perspective right!

(2) Focus more on others than on yourself. The saying—‘When a person is all wrapped up in themselves, they make a pretty small package’—is true.  ‘Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others’ (Philippians 2:4 NKJV).

(3) Respect and value everyone you meet regardless of their social status, race, gender, or other distinguishing factors. When you walk in humility, people respect you and receive your input, and they don’t suspect you of having selfish motives. The Bible says: ‘These … things the Lord hates … a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren’ (Proverbs 6:16–19 NKJV). Today, beware of pride.

"Go To The Mountain Of Prayer"!

25, February 2017

"Go To The Mountain Of Prayer"!

‘He departed to the mountain to pray.’ Mark 6:46 NKJV

Before Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee, He climbed a mountain to be alone with His Father in prayer. He left the demands of the crowd at sunset, prayed until dawn, then came down the mountain in the power of God’s Spirit and stilled a raging storm. (Wouldn’t you love to know how He prayed that night)?

Prayer is a mountain; you have to climb it. ‘Peter and John went up together … at the hour of prayer’ (Acts 3:1 NKJV).  If you wait until you feel like it, you won’t pray consistently.  It’s a discipline.  And the more you pray the more you want to pray, and the more rewarding it becomes.  But first you must turn your back on the ‘crowd’.

Because Christ knew how to walk away from life’s demands and distractions, He was able to still the storm that threatened His disciples. So before you get caught up in the daily rat race, go to the mountain of prayer.  It’s a place of stability in an uncertain world; a place where the view is unobstructed and the frantic pace of life is left behind. There you gain perspective. There Christ reminds you that there’s nothing you’ll face today that He hasn’t already handled, and He’ll give you grace to do the same.

It’s easy to recognize people who’ve been to the mountain of prayer. Their struggles are no different from yours—some are even more challenging.  But they have an inner peace that transcends family problems, health concerns, budgetary shortfalls, leadership decisions ... etc. You can endure hard times with grace when you know that the summit is just a prayer away!

"Don’t Let Fear Stop You" (Part #2)

14, February 2017

"Don’t Let Fear Stop You" (Part #2)

‘I was afraid, and … hid your talent.’ Matthew 25:25 NKJV

The master of an estate gave each of his servants a sum of money to invest for him. One man got five talents, the second two talents, and the third man one talent.  The servants with two and five talents turned a respectable profit, while the man with one talent told his master, ‘I was afraid, and … hid your talent in the ground.’

What’s the lesson here?  Simply this: fear makes you unproductive!

A seasoned pastor writes: ‘Fear will stop you from singing in the choir … witnessing … giving cheerfully … volunteering ... accomplishing a goal ... walking in love with your spouse …' The underlying issue is fear that God won’t do what He says.  But as believers we should be so full of the Word that fear can’t get a foothold … Jesus said, “Take no thought for your life” (Matthew 6:25 KJV).   Paraphrased: Why would you even think fearful thoughts when I’ve told you I’ll never leave you … I’ll protect you … and give you everything you need to do the job?

Bottom line: God is with you even when you can’t feel or see Him, and when others imply He’s abandoned you'.   Fear disguises itself behind many different faces.  We want to do things our way, or we say we’re not interested, or it’s not the right time.  What we’re coming up against isn’t a closed door—it’s repressed fear.  If you’re wondering why you’re not progressing in certain areas, see if hidden fear is holding you back.  And if it is, ask God to help you release your fears and start trusting what He says.

"Don’t Let Fear Stop You" (Part #1)

13, February 2017

"Don’t Let Fear Stop You" (Part #1)

‘Whom shall I fear?’ Psalm 27:1 NAS

Life is filled with fear-inducing situations: fear of sickness, unemployment, rejection, failure, other people’s opinions.  Left unchecked, fear will steal your inner peace.  But as Chuck Swindoll reminds us: ‘David met fear head-on at his front door with two questions. “Whom shall I dread?  Whom shall I fear? ” And he slammed the door in fear’s face by declaring, “My heart will not fear … I shall be confident” (Psalm 27:3). Then he walked back into his house, reminding himself how to counteract fear’s attacks.

Prayer: “I have asked from the Lord”  (Psalm 27:4).

Vision: “I behold the beauty of the Lord”  (Psalm 27:4).

God’s Word: “I meditate in His temple”  (Psalm 27:4).

God’s Protection: “In the day of trouble He will conceal me” (Psalm 27:5).

Worship: “I will sing” (Psalm 27:6).

Rest: “Wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:13–14).

Determination: “Let your heart take courage” (Psalm 27:14)

Courage isn’t limited to the battlefield … Its real tests are broader … deeper … like remaining faithful when nobody’s looking … enduring pain when the room is empty … standing alone when you’re misunderstood … It can be as simple as saying “No” .... as uneventful as facing a mountain of laundry … God’s medal-of-honor winners are made in secret … away from public acclaim'.  When fear nips at your heels, God says, ‘Be strong and courageous!’ (Joshua 1:9 NAS)

Dick Mills writes: ‘Every commandment …comes with the assurance that we can perform it.  God doesn’t issue orders we’re not capable of fulfilling … It’s incongruous to say, “I’ve lots of courage but no strength,” or, “I’m a powerhouse of energy but I’m afraid”. Courage and strength were given to you by God.  'Courage motivates our will, and strength accompanies our effort’.

"What She Needs—What He Needs"

12, February 2017

"What She Needs—What He Needs"

‘Each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.’ Ephesians 5:33 NLT

The Bible says, ‘Male and female He created them’ (Genesis 1:27 NIV).  God created women to be more than a slightly altered version of men.  Adam was all male; Eve was all female—as different from each other as day is from night. They thought, felt, talked, and acted differently. Their priorities differed. They needed different things from each other. And just as getting along under the same roof was essential for them then—it is for us now. And it calls for things like understanding, patience, unselfishness, mutual effort, and showing grace.

Following Paul’s philosophy is fundamental to a happy marriage—the husband must understand that his wife needs his love, and the wife must understand that her husband needs her respect. Dr Emerson Eggerichs reminds us that men and women speak different relationship languages, based on their differing needs. Yes, both need love and respect, but husbands feel loved when they are given their wife’s unconditional respect, and wives feel respected when they are given their husband’s unconditional love.

Notice that Paul’s words are not simply wise words of counsel, but divine orders to be observed and obeyed. The husband 'must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband'.  God doesn’t require him to earn her respect, or her to deserve his love.

Jesus, our role model, respected and loved us unconditionally at the cost of His life.  And He calls us to do the same for each other.  As the author of marriage, God knows what really works; so follow His guidance.  

"Giving at a higher level"

11, February 2017

"Giving at a higher level"

‘She … has given everything she had.’ Mark 12:44 NLT

God doesn’t want your generosity to be restricted by fear. Either you’ll trust Him financially and experience the joy of participating in His purposes on earth, or trust your own earning ability and live with anxiety.

The danger of not moving to a higher level of giving is that you can miss out on something great that God wants to do for you—and through you. Count on it; at some point He’ll challenge you to give more than you’ve ever given before.  And at that moment your faith will cause you to say yes, or your fear will cause you to dismiss it as impractical. That’s a pivotal point in your life, because your response to God’s challenge will determine your future.

Some levels of giving are effortless, while others make us uneasy. Sooner or later we all hit a wall called fear, and unless you recognize it you’ll never be able to break through it. As a result you’ll live with less than God intends you to enjoy.

What’s the solution? Change your concept of ownership!

Adolphe Monod said, ‘There’s no portion of money that is our money and the rest God’s … It’s all His; He made it all, gives it all, and has entrusted it to us for His service'.  If you believe that, there’s no reason not to give. However, getting God involved in your finances means surrendering control of your money to Him ... And that can be scary. Jesus’ model for generosity was a widow who gave her last cent, without having anything to fall back on except God’s promise to meet her needs. When you reach that point, you’re on the threshold of the miraculous.

"The secret of having joy" (Part #3)

10, February 2017

"The secret of having joy" (Part #3)

‘In Your presence is fullness of joy.’ Psalm 16:11 NAS

The word happiness comes from the old English word happ, which means ‘chance'.  It corresponds to the Latin word fortuna, which means ‘luck’.  Both words suggest that when things happen the way we want them to we’re happy, and when they don’t we’re unhappy.

But such happiness is temporary and fickle; true joy is permanent and settled. Some Christians are so serious and solemn they’d lead you to believe God cringes at laughter and hates anything that smacks of joy and delight. The psalmist wrote, ‘In Your presence is fullness of joy.’

C.S Lewis observed, ‘Joy is the serious business of heaven'.  The truth is, the Bible is one of the most joy-filled books ever written. The words joy and joyful  are found there over 200 times. The word rejoice shows up around 150 times, and we’re instructed to be joyful and rejoice nearly 400 times!  That means joy isn’t an emotion, it’s an attitude.  An emotion can’t be commanded; no one can tell you to feel happy if you’re not.  But you can choose to be joyful regardless of your circumstances. And neither is joy a commodity that can be bought.  Many people find out too late that money can’t buy happiness, much less joy.

It’s been said that the poor are better off than the rich because, while the poor keep thinking money will buy happiness, the rich know better. Trying to find happiness and joy in materialism is like drinking salt water: the more you drink, the thirstier you get. The secret to lasting joy is in realizing that you’re unconditionally loved, valued, and accepted by God.

"The secret of having joy" (Part #2)

09, February 2017

"The secret of having joy" (Part #2)

‘A merry heart does good, like medicine.’ Proverbs 17:22 NKJV

The Bible says, ‘A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones'. Do you know that laughter is such good medicine that it can help to relieve stress, cure headaches, fight infections and alleviate hypertension?  Some doctors tell us laughing produces physical benefits similar to the benefits we get from vigorous physical exercise.  When you throw your head back and laugh out loud, the muscles in the abdomen, chest, shoulders, and elsewhere in your body contract, while your heart rate and blood pressure increase.  Just one burst of laughter can cause your pulse rate to double from 60 to 120, while your systolic blood pressure can shoot from a normal 120 to 200. Then once you stop laughing your heartbeat and blood pressure dip below normal—signalling reduced stress.

God created laughter because He knows it’s good for your health.  Don’t, however, confuse happiness with merriment. Merriment comes from joy, not happiness, and understanding this is crucial to your emotional well-being.

There are times when we can’t and shouldn’t be happy—when people are hurting, going through tragedy, or losing jobs and loved ones. In the face of injustice, happiness is inappropriate, if not impossible.

Yet the joy that comes from knowing that you are unconditionally loved and accepted by God enables you to remain joyful. That’s because: (1) Happiness is external; joy is internal. (2) Happiness depends on outward circumstances; joy depends on inward character. (3) Happiness depends on what happens to us; joy depends on who lives within us. (4) Happiness is based on chance; joy is based on choice.  So today—choose joy!

"Self-Control"

06, February 2017

"Self-Control"

‘Make every effort to add to your faith … self-control.’ 2 Peter 1:5–6 NIV

If you’ve the faith to believe, the moment you pray for salvation you receive it.  It doesn’t work that way with self-control. Yes, you should pray for it, but Peter writes, ‘Make every effort to add to your faith … self-control.’ It only becomes a reality when you ‘make every effort’ to practice it daily.  And here are three areas in life that will test you:

(1) Your temper. Your circumstances are no excuse for a short fuse and an explosive temper. The Bible says, ‘Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city' (Proverbs 16:32 NIV).  When you lose your temper, you lose respect and credibility with others.

(2) Your time. Time is the stuff life is made of, and wasted time really is wasted life. It takes time to build relationships, learn skills, execute meaningful actions, achieve goals, and fulfil plans. A mismanaged life is often the result of mismanaged time.

(3) Your tongue. The Bible says, ‘Let your speech be always with grace’ (Colossians 4:6 KJV).   Every day brings new opportunities to control your tongue; if you’re wise you’ll take them!  And if you must speak, let this Scriptural principle govern what you say: ‘Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone’  (Colossians 4:6 NIV).

Benjamin Franklin put it this way: ‘Would you live with ease, do what you ought and not what you please’  The word for you today is ‘make every effort’ to control your temper, your time and your tongue.

"Don’t Be a Critic, Be a Cheerleader" (Part #2)

03, February 2017

"Don’t Be a Critic, Be a Cheerleader" (Part #2)

‘Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.’ Proverbs 12:25 NKJV

Why do we find it easier to be a critic than a cheerleader?

(1) Our self-importance.  Once we’ve achieved a certain level of success, we think that ‘we know best’ ... But sometimes what we are ready to teach, people are not ready to learn. ... And at that point we have a choice—back off and let God deal with them, or try to ram it down their throats.  In such times we’d do well to remember the old adage: ‘A man, convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.’ Perhaps there was a time when you yourself were not very teachable ... so pray for them and allow God to work according to His time scale.

(2) Our gifting.  We don’t stop to consider that our talents and experiences are unique to us—given by the grace of God (see Romans 12:6). So we expect everyone else to come up to our level, and we put them down when they don’t. ‘Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it' (Psalm 127:1 NKJV). Back off and let God work on them!

(3) Our earliest experiences.  We are moulded by the attitudes of our caregivers. They nurture in us the coping mechanisms, positive and negative, that we work with.  Indeed, some of our parents actually believed that praise would hurt us and criticism would help us.  So we must change our way of thinking and begin to line up what we say with what’s in the Word of God.  ‘Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.’

"Love must be based on trust"

05, February 2017

"Love must be based on trust"

‘May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another.’ 1 Thessalonians 3:12 NKJV

The real test of trust in a relationship is to be able to share your secrets and struggles, your inner fears and failures—intimacy based on honesty. It takes courage to be honest with God, and even more to be honest with one another.

The relationship between Adam and Eve is described in these words: ‘They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed’ (Genesis 2:25 NKJV). They were open and transparent with one another because there was nothing to hide or be ashamed of.

Perhaps you’ve been so hurt by a relationship that you’ve said, ‘I will never trust anyone again’.  That’s because you’re not healed yet. To never trust again is like living in a tower. You’re safe from life’s threatening grasp, but you’re so detached from life that you lose consciousness of people, places, dates and events. You talk only about the past because you stopped living years ago. Good news! ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3 NIV).

God’s healing process can set you free to taste life again, trust again, and live without fear.  Don’t isolate, celebrate. Regardless of whether you’ve lost a marriage, a partnership, or a personal friend, you’re still alive!  Are you ready to live, or are you going to continue rehearsing what no one, including you, can change—the past?

Some of us are graced to live alone and feel complete and fulfilled. If you are one of them, go for it!  But if you’re not, trust God to bring the right person into your life at the right time.

"Don’t Be a Critic, Be a Cheerleader" (Part #1)

02, February 2017

"Don’t Be a Critic, Be a Cheerleader" (Part #1)

‘Judge not, that you be not judged.’ Matthew 7:1 NKJV

Parent, you can break your child’s spirit by emphasizing what they do wrong rather than what they do right.  Church member, you can discourage your pastor through criticism or encourage him until he enters the fullness of all that God’s called him to be.

Why do we choose to be critics rather than cheerleaders?  Because it’s easier to point out the faults of others than deal with our own! By dwelling on their shortcomings, we feel better about ourselves.  But Jesus doesn’t let us off the hook: ‘How can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck in your eye”; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!’ (Matthew 7:4–5 NKJV)

Think of the person, group or organization you’re most critical of, and whom you criticize them to.  Are you trying to increase your stature in the eyes of others?  Are you carrying within you unhealed wounds and unresolved issues, so you vent your anger at anybody who gets in your way?  Jesus said: ‘For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.  But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned’  (Matthew 12:34–37 NKJV).

What’s the answer?  Pray: ‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord’ (Psalm 19:14 NKJV).

‘We shall be like Him’

01, February 2017

‘We shall be like Him’

‘We shall be like Him.’ 1 John 3:2 NIV

Let every parent write these words on their child’s bedroom wall.  Let those who are struggling, physically or mentally, fall asleep with the promise: ‘We shall be like Him'.   Let us all take this promise to heart: ‘We shall be like Him'.  We shall graduate from this version of life into His likeness. You’ll have a spiritual body.

In your current state your unregenerate flesh battles your regenerated spirit.  Your eyes look where they shouldn’t.  Your taste buds desire the wrong drinks. Your heart knows you shouldn’t be anxious, but your mind still worries.  Can’t you relate to Paul’s confession? ‘In my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me’ (Romans 7:22–23 NIV).  In Heaven your ‘parts’ will no longer rebel. Your new body will be a spiritual body, with every part cooperating towards one end.

Joni Eareckson Tada, who’s been confined to a wheelchair since age seventeen, says: ‘I can’t wait to be clothed in righteousness, without a trace of sin.  True, it’ll be wonderful to stand, stretch, and reach to the sky, but it’ll be more wonderful to offer praise that’s pure. I won’t be crippled by distractions, disabled by insincerity.  I won’t be handicapped by half-heartedness. My heart will join with others and bubble over with effervescent adoration. We’ll finally be able to fellowship fully with the Father and the Son. For me, this will be the best part of Heaven'.  The word for you today is: ‘We shall be like Him'.

"Have you prayed about it"?

31, January 2017

"Have you prayed about it"?

‘Pray and ask God for everything you need.’ Philippians 4:6 NCV

Can you imagine walking into a restaurant and asking if your order is ready?  ‘When did you call it in?’  the server asks.  ‘Oh, I didn’t,’ you reply. ‘I just thought perhaps you might have something with my name on it'.  That’s as ridiculous as expecting God to answer prayer requests you haven’t made—or haven’t made in faith.  The Bible says, ‘The reason you don’t have what you want is … you don’t ask God.’ (James 4:2  TLB)

Will God give you everything you ask for?  No. ‘Even when you do ask you don’t get it because … you want only what will give you pleasure' (James 4:3  TLB).  Your request must be in harmony with God’s will.  ‘If we ask anything … according to His will … He … hears' (1 John 5:14 AMP).  Jeremiah said, ‘The Lord is good to those who wait … expectantly for Him’ (Lamentations 3:25 AMP).  Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God’s goodness.  So instead of fretting, or talking about it to everybody but God, or taking matters into your own hands, say, ‘Lord, I’m going to trust You with this regardless of the outcome,’ and He will honor your faith.

Paul writes, ‘Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks’.  Do you need a job?  Help overcoming a problem?  The salvation of a loved one?  A deeper spiritual walk?  Physical or emotional healing? Guidance in becoming a better leader or person?  Jesus said, ‘It gives your Father great happiness to give you the [benefits of His] Kingdom’ (Luke 12:32 NLT).   God wants to be good to you, so tell Him the ‘desires of your heart’ (Psalm 37:4 NKJV).  Then thank Him and believe the answer will come—in His time!