Repent and Return To God

Good Morning!! Too many Christians today live in places of such compromise, that truth is hard to define. One person's truth is not necessarily someone else's. Our world is one big melting pot of tolerance and gray areas; unfortunately, the church is not excluded from this category. But as Christians we are called to worship in Spirit and in truth,...and to shed the light of God's love, in this world of darkness.

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."—Genesis 28:15 (NIV)

Even though we are saved by the blood of Christ,...our sin will still be dealt with. Just like everyone else, we are called to repent,...and return to the Lord whenever we discover that we are out of place. If we do not, the storms of life will threaten to take us out. We are in desperate need of a Savior,...everyday of our lives. Praise God, that He gave us His Son,...and that the times ahead are in His hands. Let's just make sure that we are in His hands as well.

Give Jesus your heart,...your life,...and your all, each day.

Holy Spirit, let us know when we are out of place. And after showing us where we're wrong,...help us get back into place,...where we are loved and protected. this we pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

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choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.... As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15/NIV

A Word and A Promise

Good Morning!! Today's verse is a promise that God made to Jacob. As Jacob lay asleep, the Lord stood over him and reaffirmed the promise that He had given his father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham. The Lord told him of how his descendants would be as the dust of the earth, scattered in all directions and blessed to be in God's family. God kept His promise and the rest of the Old Testament tells the story of His people, a people known as the children of Israel,...Israel being the new name given to Jacob by God.

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."—Genesis 28:15 (NIV)

The literal context of this verse is stated above,...but the spiritual context is just as applicable to us, today. Did you know that the Lord has a promise for your life, even in this verse? How does something written so long ago become relevant to our lives now? Many people miss out on the Old Testament message because they see no relevance to our modern day lives. But the Holy Spirit makes the message critically relevant, to our lives, right here, and right now. The promise that God gave Jacob is also a promise that He gives us. Hebrews 13:5 says that the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us.

Look in the Bible, and find just what you have been needing; a promise,...a confirmation,...an answer.

Holy Spirit, take the Word of God, and speak it freash and new to our hearts,...giving us a personal message, one just for us. Amen.

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choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.... As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15/NIV

Ask and Obey

Good Morning!! We already know that our God is always ready and willing to lead and guide us,...we can come to Him with questions and He will answer. Then the real question becomes; are we willing to do what He is tells us to do?...even when His answers don't match what we expect? So often we ask for the truth, but really don't want to hear it. We must make the decision right then, to obey His Word. Otherwise, we start thinking too much, and allow the enemy time to deceive our thoughts.

"As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me."—1 Kings 22:14 (NIV)

How often are we told the truth, yet refuse to act on it,...because it goes against what we want to do? Pride, selfishness, and a hard heart, are what destroy our obedience to God. The bottom line: we ask,...God answers,...we obey. If our hearts are truly set on following the Lord,...then our relationship with Him can only be one of surrender, faith and obedience.

Selective movement on truth, is not an option for the followers of Christ.

Holy Spirit, help us to remember; the Lord only has our best interests in mind, and that He knows what is best for us. Help us to be reverent in how we seek His will for our life,...and to be honest with Him about our struggles. Remove our desire to manipulate His answers, or escape His requests for obedience. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"[]____ _/ /\____
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choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.... As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15/NIV

God Has A Plan, part 2

Good Morning!! Jacob knew that despite all his efforts and hard work, Laban's heart was changing towards him. He described it as "not favorable toward him as before." Jacob had worked for Laban who had deceived him, and changed his wages unfairly 10 times. And through it all,...Laban was completely blessed because of Jacob. Now for some strange reason, God changed Laban's heart towards Jacob. With the unfair treatment and Laban's change of heart, Jacob wanted to move on. Why? Because God wanted Jacob to leave and when leaving,...God did not want Jacob to ever look back, and regret his decision.

And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been. Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you."—Genesis 31:2, 3 (NIV)

If you are feeling pushed out, or pushed around,...I encourage you to completely trust the Lord. HE knows that you might not have ever have left a place He never intended you to be,...so He changes circumstances and hearts to get you to change. For some of us, we pray for years to have our circumstances change. For many of us, we are so surprised when God intervenes and changes a heart,...but if you really examine your prayers, the change won't take you off guard. God is good like that,...you can trust Him.

God knows where you need to be,...and He will perform miracles to get you there.

Father God, we know You have plans for us prossper. we ask Your forgiveness, when we allow our own thoughts, desires, or anything else to get in the way. Today, again we pray,...Let Your Will Be Done, Amen.

"Faith without works is like a car with out gas,
...it gets us no where."

God Has A Plan, part 1

Good Morning!! One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of Joseph. God had a plan from the beginning to raise up a nation of His people, a people set apart to be holy and dedicated to Him. But early on, attempts would be made to thwart this plan. One such attempt came in the life of Joseph. Jealously and selfishness led his brothers to sell him to a foreign people where Joseph would eventually end up as a prisoner in Egypt. But God's hand was upon Joseph and through the years of his captivity he found much favor with his superiors, being entrusted ultimately with governing the land of Egypt.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.—Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

It was God's plan to use Joseph,...and, Joseph was the one who would make sure there was enough grain to sustain the land. It was God's plan to work for good the evil that Joseph had endured. For us today, God also has a plan,...and regardless of the evil that comes against us, God will work it together for our good and His Glory. If Joseph had not been in Egypt, the famine that engulfed the land would have wiped out the entire family.

No weapon formed agaist us, can prosper.
That's Word,...and that's real!

Holy Spirit of God, keep reminding us that we are loved, nurished, and protected by the Most High God, Creater and Planner of ALL. Amen.

"Faith without works is like a car with out gas,
...it gets us no where."

Shake Off The Distraction

Good Morning!! Everything around us makes some kind of noise or movement, designed to demand our attention. It's gotten to the point that regardless of whatever we're doing, we are thinking about something else. The brain activity, and the stimuli, seldom stop in our busy lives,...even when we're suppose to be at rest. And then we wonder why we're so tired, and why we're not more prosperous in our works. The answer clearly lies in God's Word.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.—Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

God promises us His blessings if we focus on Him, keep His Word close to our hearts,...and make Him the center of our thoughts. Start today by reading through the Psalms starting with chapter one and reading a Psalm a day until ending with chapter one hundred fifty (150). You will see the blessings of God as you delight in His word every day.

We will find our strength, when we make the Lord the priority of our thoughts.

Our Father in Heaven, give us all that we are ready for,...as we seek to know You better. Clear our eyes and ears, that we may better see and hear Your hand at work in our lives, each and every day. Amen.

"Faith without works is like a car with out gas,
...it gets us no where."

It's Hard To Love, Everybody, All The Time

Good Morning!! Do you have relationships in your life that are a grief of mind? Think about those people that torment your thoughts. You just can't get along with them, no matter how hard you try,...some how they bring out the worst in you, no matter how much you pray. And for some reason, you can’t escape the relationship. I've noticed that even if I remove myself from close encounters with people that are a grief of mind, the Lord places another relationship just like it into my life, again. Why does He do that? These people chook our peace, and for a time, will rob us of what little joy we may posess. Why can’t we just live life without all the drama and personality conflicts?

When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.—Genesis 26:34-35 (NIV)

I think the answer has to do with the greatest commandments. We should love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength,...and we also need to love others as ourselves. It is so much easier to love those that are loveable. But Jesus says in Luke 6:32-36 that "if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners will do that. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.

For God is good to the unthankful and evil, as well.

O' Lord, help us to overcome these personal conflicts. Allow us time to step back from the relationship and pray that we may have a discernment to change the dynamics of the relationship. Even though that person may never change, we certainly can. Lord nudge our spirit before we act out in the flesh. Amen.

"Faith without works is like a car with out gas,
...it gets us no where."