Sunday, January 26, 2014
Running~
January 24, 2014 You are running. To where, you do not even know. You are running from all you have ever known; running from the Truth. You belong to the King of King’s, “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1). You will not be able to run forever. Please open your eyes and see that He loves you and desires you back in His care. You are on a destructive path, harming your body, mind, and spirit. It is only a matter of time before you crash into a brick wall and see the truth that is all around you. He won’t let you go. He loves you. You are His Princess. Trust Him, repent, and follow His ways. There is a way that seems right to a man and in the end it brings him death. I want you to keep running, but on the path towards the goal of the upward call in Christ Jesus. That is a race that will produce great rewards. No matter where you are, no matter what you have done, Christ loves you, and desires relationship with you. “The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3). January 26, 2014~ While you are running from God, remember this… We are not guaranteed tomorrow. “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (James 4: 13-14). Turn today and follow Him once again! “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2: 4-5). Accidents happen every day. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Turn around today.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
A Good Name~
January 8, 2014
A good name… what does that mean? Good means: “morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious.” So how can one have a good name? It is written through the pages of the Bible how important a good name is. "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1) "A good name is better than precious ointment..." (Ecclesiastes 7:1a) "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). I believe that in keeping with what you are taught, and hold most valuable you are making a name for yourself. A good name holds more value and respect than material things.
Everyone is given a name at birth. Your name is associated with your family, and everywhere you go, you represent your family. I am sure you have heard as I have a parent say to their child: “Make me proud”, “remember who you are” or “know where you came from”, that is a parent telling you that you represent the family name, and do so with dignity. As my boys get older, I find myself thinking about this more and more. They represent me and all I have invested into them. I pray they make me proud, but truly, that they honor me, and the morals and values I have invested by teaching and example. There are times that they fail, and disappoint me, and prompts me to think about my own representation. How is my name? Am I representing in a way that honors? “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). I fail.
As a Christian, everywhere I go, I represent the One who calls me by name. I am a chosen child of God. He loves me, and has invested His entire life (literally) into me. As I think about my children representing me and not wanting them to shame me, I have to think about how I am representing my Father. I have to be intentional about every moment of every day. I have to follow what He instructs me in His word, and dwell on good things. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4: 8-9). That is the only way I can truly obtain a good name. While the name is given to me, I have to work to keep it good. The rewards are eternal! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1: 3-9).
How’s your name?
A good name… what does that mean? Good means: “morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious.” So how can one have a good name? It is written through the pages of the Bible how important a good name is. "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1) "A good name is better than precious ointment..." (Ecclesiastes 7:1a) "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). I believe that in keeping with what you are taught, and hold most valuable you are making a name for yourself. A good name holds more value and respect than material things.
Everyone is given a name at birth. Your name is associated with your family, and everywhere you go, you represent your family. I am sure you have heard as I have a parent say to their child: “Make me proud”, “remember who you are” or “know where you came from”, that is a parent telling you that you represent the family name, and do so with dignity. As my boys get older, I find myself thinking about this more and more. They represent me and all I have invested into them. I pray they make me proud, but truly, that they honor me, and the morals and values I have invested by teaching and example. There are times that they fail, and disappoint me, and prompts me to think about my own representation. How is my name? Am I representing in a way that honors? “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). I fail.
As a Christian, everywhere I go, I represent the One who calls me by name. I am a chosen child of God. He loves me, and has invested His entire life (literally) into me. As I think about my children representing me and not wanting them to shame me, I have to think about how I am representing my Father. I have to be intentional about every moment of every day. I have to follow what He instructs me in His word, and dwell on good things. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4: 8-9). That is the only way I can truly obtain a good name. While the name is given to me, I have to work to keep it good. The rewards are eternal! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1: 3-9).
How’s your name?
Monday, January 6, 2014
Commitment~
January 6, 2014
If you are married, go tell your spouse you love them! Things may be difficult right now, but it is a moment. Take a moment to remember why you are married in the first place. Remember those butterflies in your stomach at the very thought of them; those feelings that you couldn't possibly spend enough time together. You made a commitment, keep it. This world is full of things that will try to destroy your union. Don’t give in to the temptations tossed out there by the devil himself. Whatever is going on right now is temporary… good or bad. Embrace the difficulties, for in them there are opportunities for growth and strength to the marriage. If things are good, continue to pour into each other, for certain there will come challenges.
Do not ever think it is ok to get chummy with a member of the opposite sex at work or anywhere else. It may begin innocently, but can be a great tool for the STUPID devil. You may think: They are so easy to talk to… They understand my struggles… They “get me”… If you are single, and they are single, GO FOR IT! If you have committed yourself in marriage: FORGET ABOUT IT!! Believe it or not your spouse “Get’s you”~ You simply have to keep investing! If you have a bank account and don’t put any money into it, you are going to have NOTHING there to withdrawal. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
Enjoy the now- Don’t worry about the future. Something will always be there to challenge the relationship, but if you dwell on that, it steals your joy today. Don’t let anything rob you of the beauty that can be enjoyed today by worrying about tomorrow. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34).
God has placed a beautiful blessing in my life recently. I pray that I can keep my feet on the ground and my eyes focused on Christ, all while enjoying every moment I am afforded to.
I write all this with worry in myself- I so just want to enjoy what the Lord is doing!
You will show me the path of life;In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
If you are married, go tell your spouse you love them! Things may be difficult right now, but it is a moment. Take a moment to remember why you are married in the first place. Remember those butterflies in your stomach at the very thought of them; those feelings that you couldn't possibly spend enough time together. You made a commitment, keep it. This world is full of things that will try to destroy your union. Don’t give in to the temptations tossed out there by the devil himself. Whatever is going on right now is temporary… good or bad. Embrace the difficulties, for in them there are opportunities for growth and strength to the marriage. If things are good, continue to pour into each other, for certain there will come challenges.
Do not ever think it is ok to get chummy with a member of the opposite sex at work or anywhere else. It may begin innocently, but can be a great tool for the STUPID devil. You may think: They are so easy to talk to… They understand my struggles… They “get me”… If you are single, and they are single, GO FOR IT! If you have committed yourself in marriage: FORGET ABOUT IT!! Believe it or not your spouse “Get’s you”~ You simply have to keep investing! If you have a bank account and don’t put any money into it, you are going to have NOTHING there to withdrawal. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
Enjoy the now- Don’t worry about the future. Something will always be there to challenge the relationship, but if you dwell on that, it steals your joy today. Don’t let anything rob you of the beauty that can be enjoyed today by worrying about tomorrow. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34).
God has placed a beautiful blessing in my life recently. I pray that I can keep my feet on the ground and my eyes focused on Christ, all while enjoying every moment I am afforded to.
I write all this with worry in myself- I so just want to enjoy what the Lord is doing!
You will show me the path of life;In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Friday, January 3, 2014
Enjoying the Journey~
December 27, 2013
"Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm 27: 14). "As we consider waiting on the Lord: The duty is ours, and we must mind it and make conscience of it, keep God's way and never turn out of it nor loiter in it, keep close, keep going but events are God's and we must refer ourselves to him for the disposal of them we must wait on the Lord, attend the motions of his providence, carefully observe them, and conscientiously accommodate ourselves to them. If we make conscience of keeping God's way, we may with cheerfulness wait on him and commit to him our way and we shall find him a good Master both to his working servants and to his waiting servants" (M. Henry). "Sometimes it’s OK to wait a little longer for something. Why rush if you don’t have to? Why not enjoy the journey?"(Thank you Papa Roy for your faithful devos)
I love it! So many times in our lives, God brings good things and we like it so much that we want to rush. Been there, done that, don't want to do that anymore. I am enjoying the journey!
Respond, don't React~
As I struggle with the decisions others make that affect me, I have to remind myself not to react. I am so thankful for the Word of God that guides me on the right path. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). and one of my daily prayers "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). I am also very thankful for friends that can talk sense into my head and tell me to "lay it down, give it to God, and get back to work". People in our lives influence us, and those around us. It is difficult when you once had a deep, meaningful relationship with an individual and they make choices now that hurt, and cut you to the core. It is so important not to react to the hurt and rise above.
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