After playing a game of golf with some godly men I wrote this thought last year:
"We made a pact that there would be no complaining. A good hit was not to be looked down on even if it wasn't the desired result. And a bad hit wasn't to be complained about even if we were disappointed. Oh that we could carry that attitude into our entire life."
I know that there are times when I say things because it is the thing to do. If someone is playing golf and hits the ground with their swing I say "You hit the big ball first." If my kids say "Daddy it hurts when I do this" I say "Don't do that." These may be funny things to say but if I am honest I am only saying them because I heard my parents or friends say these things. They are an automatic response.
The danger here is that complaining may be an automatic response from our flesh. God doesn't like complaining either. So if we are saying things from an automatic response that God doesn't like we are quenching the Spirit and don't even know it.
We guide our lives with our tongues like a ships rudder (check out James chapter 3). I don't want to steer myself into complaining or complacency. How much greater a life that speaks the best and steers us into the good things of God?
Do find it easy to complain? How can we speak better things over our lives?
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Day 45 - Downward Spiral
"Continued thoughts from David's life: David went to the land of the Philistines. He sought refuge for his life from the enemy rather than from God who had delivered him. How many more stories of David sparing Saul's life would there be had David stayed in the land? Eventually at the height of David's trek down into the enemies camp we find him ready to ride into battle against his own people. Praise God he saves us from greater shame than we can bear. God is faithful and provides a way of escape, sometimes contrary to our will and fallen nature's desires. David is rejected from battle by the lords of the Philistines lest he deflect. Maybe he would have in the midst of battle seeing the slaughter of his people. We can only speculate. After leaving the battle formation we find David returning to his camp where the Amelekites have raided. What he has sown he has now reaped. Again, thank God for mercy and grace. David now seeks The Lord and finds strength to pursue the enemy. He overcomes them and is delivered from the hand of his men who would have killed him for their loss."
One decision in the wrong direction can cause a domino of decisions in that same direction. Thankfully God protects us through our times in the land of the enemy. Examples in the Word abound. Whether it is Abraham in Egypt, Isaac and Abimelech, or David in the land of the Philistines.
Thankfully God is gracious and long suffering with us. Even in our wanderings He watches over us for our good. Eventually God calls His sons out of Egypt. He will not leave us out of the promised land. Victories await those whose hearts are loyal to God. David strengthened himself in the Lord. David also recovered all. So will we when we seek the Lord and find our strength in Him.
How can we make the right decisions so we don't end up in the enemy's land? How can we strengthen ourselves in the Lord?
One decision in the wrong direction can cause a domino of decisions in that same direction. Thankfully God protects us through our times in the land of the enemy. Examples in the Word abound. Whether it is Abraham in Egypt, Isaac and Abimelech, or David in the land of the Philistines.
Thankfully God is gracious and long suffering with us. Even in our wanderings He watches over us for our good. Eventually God calls His sons out of Egypt. He will not leave us out of the promised land. Victories await those whose hearts are loyal to God. David strengthened himself in the Lord. David also recovered all. So will we when we seek the Lord and find our strength in Him.
How can we make the right decisions so we don't end up in the enemy's land? How can we strengthen ourselves in the Lord?
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Day 44 - Pride
"I could sense that I was witnessing the real intense emotion of the inner turmoil of pride and the fruit of it which is the desire to be right, to be heard and to be respected. The part that amazes me is that he was right, heard and respected but pride wanted more. I guess that is why it is the snare of the devil. Like a fire that eats but is never satisfied."
I fight pride. Every day I pray from James and 1 Peter the scripture that "God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble therefore I humble myself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift me up". Pride wants an exalted position. God wants to give it to us but He wants it to happen His way. The way up is down. As we humble ourselves, or if I could say, come under the mission, and will and way of God, then He will exalt us.
The last thing I need is God working against me. He opposes the proud. Who can stand against God?
On the other hand God gives grace to the humble. Grace is His power and ability for life. When I can't do it God does it in and through me by grace. That only happens when I totally depend on Him and submit myself to His will, His way.
How do you fight pride? How can we stay humble?
I fight pride. Every day I pray from James and 1 Peter the scripture that "God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble therefore I humble myself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift me up". Pride wants an exalted position. God wants to give it to us but He wants it to happen His way. The way up is down. As we humble ourselves, or if I could say, come under the mission, and will and way of God, then He will exalt us.
The last thing I need is God working against me. He opposes the proud. Who can stand against God?
On the other hand God gives grace to the humble. Grace is His power and ability for life. When I can't do it God does it in and through me by grace. That only happens when I totally depend on Him and submit myself to His will, His way.
How do you fight pride? How can we stay humble?
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Day 43 - Practicing what you preach
"It always amazes me that when we preach on a subject the it pops up in our life. We have often joked about getting sick when we are preaching about healing. I remember I preached a message on spiritual warfare and my son was admitted to the hospital with croup while I was preaching. Tonight was one of those times that this was evident. Pastor's message was about the protection of God and while he was telling a story before the message a guy comes walking right up to the front of the chairs and is stopped by our security before he can continue. He had missed his aisle and then when he was told that he couldn't go around the front he got angry and left. Then, right as we were ready to sit down one of our ushers had a heart attack. May we be loyal in our hearts and rest under his wings!"
Jesus beautifully illustrated this concept in the parable of the sower. He pointed out four types of soil and four ways that the Word is received. Three out of the four don't make it. I believe that even though Jesus spoke in terms of four types of soil all four can apply to our own hearts.
When we say we believe something the devil immediately comes to test the Word we believe. "Did God say...?" will be his deceptive lie to get us off the Word as he deceived Eve in the Garden. Only by professing the truth can we fend off his advances.
Then comes the persecution for the sake of the Word. It comes daily like the rising of the sun. If we are deeply rooted in God's Word then the same sun that scorches will be the sun that nourishes.
Finally the weeds will try to grow and choke the Word. We have to focus our hearts on the Word. Otherwise the cares of this life, deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things will distract us to a place of unfruitfulness.
If we have passed through all these tests then we can know for sure that we will be fruitful. That night that I referred to ended up being a night where 25 people came forward for the altar call. Also, our usher who had the heart attack was just fine. He still serves faithfully to this day.
Have you experienced these types of trials when you got a hold of the Word? What scriptures helped you through?
Jesus beautifully illustrated this concept in the parable of the sower. He pointed out four types of soil and four ways that the Word is received. Three out of the four don't make it. I believe that even though Jesus spoke in terms of four types of soil all four can apply to our own hearts.
When we say we believe something the devil immediately comes to test the Word we believe. "Did God say...?" will be his deceptive lie to get us off the Word as he deceived Eve in the Garden. Only by professing the truth can we fend off his advances.
Then comes the persecution for the sake of the Word. It comes daily like the rising of the sun. If we are deeply rooted in God's Word then the same sun that scorches will be the sun that nourishes.
Finally the weeds will try to grow and choke the Word. We have to focus our hearts on the Word. Otherwise the cares of this life, deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things will distract us to a place of unfruitfulness.
If we have passed through all these tests then we can know for sure that we will be fruitful. That night that I referred to ended up being a night where 25 people came forward for the altar call. Also, our usher who had the heart attack was just fine. He still serves faithfully to this day.
Have you experienced these types of trials when you got a hold of the Word? What scriptures helped you through?
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Day 42 - Not so bad
"I don't think the actual event was as devastating as when the initial news was first announced. I think most of life is that way. We are more hurt by the news than the event because we fear, process, and then for the Christian we pray and get strengthened in faith."
I can remember times when news hurt. Once I even felt sick to my stomach when bad news came. Other times it felt like a slap in the face. No matter how bad the news though it seems that the anticipation of the events associated with the news is worse than the actual events.
How many times have you been called to the office for a 'bad' meeting where the outcome was good? How many bad financial reports have come where you didn't know how you were going to make it and then another pay period rolled around and you were still standing? What about that devastating doctors report that you laugh at now because you are totally healed?
Even if the event is as bad or worse than the news it still shouldn't bring you down. God is greater than our fears, our bills, the diagnosis and the events of life. Light will always overcome darkness. The smallest light in the blackest darkness still shines.
Have you had news that took your breath away? How did God bring you through the events that followed?
I can remember times when news hurt. Once I even felt sick to my stomach when bad news came. Other times it felt like a slap in the face. No matter how bad the news though it seems that the anticipation of the events associated with the news is worse than the actual events.
How many times have you been called to the office for a 'bad' meeting where the outcome was good? How many bad financial reports have come where you didn't know how you were going to make it and then another pay period rolled around and you were still standing? What about that devastating doctors report that you laugh at now because you are totally healed?
Even if the event is as bad or worse than the news it still shouldn't bring you down. God is greater than our fears, our bills, the diagnosis and the events of life. Light will always overcome darkness. The smallest light in the blackest darkness still shines.
Have you had news that took your breath away? How did God bring you through the events that followed?
Monday, February 9, 2015
Day 41 - What's Better
"A thought from the Word. When David was amongst the Philistines he became someone who he would not have been proud of. He acted like a mad man, he lied constantly and raided towns murdering everyone to cover for his lies. Better to suffer persecution for righteousness than to have comfort in a compromised life."
The last line of this thought I wrote last year I believe was Holy Spirit inspired. How often do we have the opportunity to compromise for the comfort of not suffering? The flesh will happily dive in. The devil will lie and tell you it is okay and Jesus died so you wouldn't have to suffer. No, Jesus died to save me from my sins. Suffering is a part of Christian living. Why else would Jesus tell us to take up our cross and follow Him? The road to glory is marked with pain, sorrow and suffering. That shouldn't back me off of following though. God gives grace and the Spirit to carry us through every trial.
David's compromises ended up getting him and his companions in trouble. While they were away their town was raided and their families and goods were taken away. David's men actually talked of killing him. Thankfully the Lord is gracious. David strengthened himself in the Lord and they pursued the enemy and recovered all.
If you're sitting in compromise it is time to repent and pray the Lord strengthens you for the pursuit to regain what the enemy has stolen. Like David you will recover all.
Have you been persecuted or suffered for not compromising? How do you stick to your guns when the temptation comes?
The last line of this thought I wrote last year I believe was Holy Spirit inspired. How often do we have the opportunity to compromise for the comfort of not suffering? The flesh will happily dive in. The devil will lie and tell you it is okay and Jesus died so you wouldn't have to suffer. No, Jesus died to save me from my sins. Suffering is a part of Christian living. Why else would Jesus tell us to take up our cross and follow Him? The road to glory is marked with pain, sorrow and suffering. That shouldn't back me off of following though. God gives grace and the Spirit to carry us through every trial.
David's compromises ended up getting him and his companions in trouble. While they were away their town was raided and their families and goods were taken away. David's men actually talked of killing him. Thankfully the Lord is gracious. David strengthened himself in the Lord and they pursued the enemy and recovered all.
If you're sitting in compromise it is time to repent and pray the Lord strengthens you for the pursuit to regain what the enemy has stolen. Like David you will recover all.
Have you been persecuted or suffered for not compromising? How do you stick to your guns when the temptation comes?
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Day 40 - Our Testimony
"There is a lot that could be said of today. The Word of God was rich. Souls were saved. I met new people to the church and was impacted by who we reach. One lady got out of jail recently and was getting her life right with God. I was impressed meeting her because we showed a testimony about how a lady in our church had been in prison 8 years and was blessed to get two jobs in two weeks. Her son who was a self professed atheist was saved and now raises his hands to The Lord in church. God is good."
There is often shame associated with our past. The devil would love to remind us of who we were and lie to us that we aren't changed and that we aren't forgiven. If you have been born again then where you have been just tells of how great God really is. If God can take the outcast, the murderer, the pimps and the prostitutes and make them preachers, witnesses and power packed Christians then He truly is great!
I love our church. We often say that we are the church of the ex-es. We are all ex-somethings. Ex-drug addicts, ex-perverts, ex-cons, ex-you fill in the blank. Oh sure we have doctors and lawyers and business professionals and even politicians in our church. But even they were once something that now they have been redeemed from.
When we tell our testimony it does something. Is releases the power of God and breaks the power of the enemy. In Revelation it says that the saints overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony not loving their lives even unto death. We need to tell of the great and mighty deeds of the Lord. We need to shout Hiss goodness to a lost and dying world!
What is your story? What has God been up to lately in your life?
There is often shame associated with our past. The devil would love to remind us of who we were and lie to us that we aren't changed and that we aren't forgiven. If you have been born again then where you have been just tells of how great God really is. If God can take the outcast, the murderer, the pimps and the prostitutes and make them preachers, witnesses and power packed Christians then He truly is great!
I love our church. We often say that we are the church of the ex-es. We are all ex-somethings. Ex-drug addicts, ex-perverts, ex-cons, ex-you fill in the blank. Oh sure we have doctors and lawyers and business professionals and even politicians in our church. But even they were once something that now they have been redeemed from.
When we tell our testimony it does something. Is releases the power of God and breaks the power of the enemy. In Revelation it says that the saints overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony not loving their lives even unto death. We need to tell of the great and mighty deeds of the Lord. We need to shout Hiss goodness to a lost and dying world!
What is your story? What has God been up to lately in your life?
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