Knowing God

Good Morning!! The first thing that many schools throw out of any discussion or pursuit of knowledge, is God. Yet here we see that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,...we cannot hope to attain any real understanding of our world,...its purpose,...or our place in it, without first turning to learning about,... and from God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.—Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)

Do you look at the world through the lens of God's Word, and with a fearsome understanding that it was created for the glory of God? If so, then intellectual pursuits, family relationships, job opportunities, and every other area of life will fit into place. On the other hand, if you don't begin with the fear of the Lord, then life will seem like a crossword puzzle with the wrong answer already scrawled across its middle; nothing will seem to fit.

You know what we need in school, more than guns?...God!

Holy Spirit of God, pave our paths to Higher learning, and a better God pleasing life. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

"The Lord calls for us to stand,...but not always to understand." 

Patience and Hope

Good Morning!! Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I don't doubt that your trials are real, that your burdens are heavy, or that your discouragement is deep. But put your eyes upon this promise, wrap your mind around this Word: when we wait courageously on the Lord, He will strengthen our hearts. God is never late and He's never insufficient. We're still on our own timetable, and we are still running madly ahead of God and hoping He will catch up to our plans,...but that is not how God works.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.—Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

We wonder; What will the future bring? Wait on the Lord. When will this sorrow end? Wait on the Lord. How can I survive this ordeal? Wait on the Lord. How should I handle this decision? Wait on the Lord. The answer echoes through the tunnel of time and from the soundboard of millions of satisfied saints. Wait, I say, on the Lord. Our trials may not go away overnight,...but neither will the strength that God has promises us. Our pain may not diminish much this year,...but neither will His grace.

Most of the time, the reason that we do not see or feel the Lord, in our daily actions, is because we're not waiting on the Lord.

Holy Spirit of God, help us to trust and lean on the promises of the Word, Amen.

"The Lord calls for us to stand,...but not always to understand." 

L.I.G., And Open Up

Good Morning, My Friend!! Too often we are ready at the smallest provocation to give up, or to verbally beat up, on another member of the church. But that is not the way followers of Christ,...who when He was slapped, beaten, scourged, and killed, never struck back. This is how we are to behave ourselves. Through the strength of the Spirit of Christ,...which is in each of His children, and which empowers the church as a whole,...we know that we can overcome any obstacle, forgive any offense, release any grudge, and love any sinner. It is this Spirit-led, Spirit-induced unity, not the false unity of spiritual compromise or false pretenses, that we are to labor for with supernatural determination and exertion.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.—Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)

Embedded in the phase is the idea of struggle, taking pains to reach a specific goal. For the church of Jesus Christ to succeed, and be a witness in the world for good, it is necessary that we strive, to the point of exhaustion, for peace and unity within the body,...and all other relationships, as we are to be examples of God's Love for people. We are never to give up this noble goal.

We take offense, and so we give offense,...but that's not God's way.

Holy Spirit of God, help us to reach out and forgive, just as we have been forgiven. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"God does not want us to live lives that are paralyzed by fear,
...He wants us to trust Him." 

Help Yourself, By Serving Others

Good Morning, My Friend!! Our first reaction to someone else's troubles might be: "Don't nobody want to hear about your drama,...people got drama of their own! ". The surest way to deepen your dark times, is to crawl into, and think more about yourself. Joseph is perhaps the best example in the Old Testament of a selfless, servant-spirited saint,...and it's no coincidence that, in every situation in which he found himself, he continually rose above his trial,...and glorified God.

And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad.—Genesis 40:6 (NKJV)

It's so unlikely that Joseph would have notice the sadness of his cellmates,...after all, he had plenty of problems himself, without taking on anyone else's. His brothers had sold him into slavery and then his boss had fired and imprisoned him, on false charges. Yet, Joseph noticed and cared about others. Somehow, he understood that the surest way out of a personal pit of discouragement, was to think of, and serve others.

There is never a shortage of opportunities to be of help,...and each and every one of them, is potentially a way out of your own darkness.

Father God, even in our pit of darkness, let us see our way to help others, and glorify You. Amen.

"God does not want us to live lives that are paralyzed by fear,
...He wants us to trust Him."  

 
 

Decision, God's Way

Good Morning!! Knowing that every choice we make,...even a seemingly small one, can have a lasting impact on the course and tenor of our lives, today's scripture shares with us the key ingredient to the decision-making process. If we truly desire a soul-satisfying life, we can be thankful, that the key requirement is not education, IQ, or market research. And the one ingredient that every soul-satisfying life has in common is this: the fear of the Lord.

Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. They will spend their days in prosperity,—Psalm 25:12,13a (NIV)

In other words, an awesome and imminent view of God will lead to a joyful and fulfilling kind of life. Our first question, before making any decision, must be "what would be most pleasing and glorifying to God?" Shouldn't all our decisions reflect or at least be based on this wonderful and generous and joyful revelation from God?...and shouldn't our choices, then, be made in the reverent fear of God? 

Whatever is most pleasing and glorifying to God will also bring the most satisfaction and joy to us!

Father God, we thank You for Your gifts and instruction, that move us to a better life, through seeking to please You. Amen.

"God does not want us to live lives that are paralyzed by fear,
...He wants us to trust Him." 

Love Over Fear

Good Morning!! As we move through the final days of yet another year,...shake off those chains that have held you down, for far too long. It's so easy to become intimidated and fearful, when we are confronted with situations and people that remind us of past hurts. Out of that fear and intimidation, we can find ourselves giving in to, or acting on our emotions and allowing them to take control. While we have the right to feel angry, sad, and hurt,...it doesn't mean that we have the right to act on those negative feelings.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.—2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Jesus has commanded us to love our enemies, those who purposely use us, and are set on destroying us. Although at times, it may seem impossible,...if we'd just surrender our emotions to the Holy Spirit of God, He will empower us to do what Jesus has asked of us. The love of God that dwells within us is more than able to overcome any situation we may find ourselves confronted by. If we'll learn to react, based on the perfect and pure love of God,...then that's who others will see. 

Our fear is nothing more than a lack of focus,

...direct your eyes back to God and the things of God.

 

Our Father, which art in Heaven, we choose today to love, regardless of whoever and whatever we might have to face. Give us what we need, to put our emotions in check and allow our reactions to be birthed from Your perfect love, that dwells within us. We choose to forgive the offenses, and place all of our emotions and feelings in Your capable hands, knowing that You will bring the victory. In Your presence, our hearts remain calm and all fear and anxiety will cease. Thank You Father God! Amen.

 

"God does not want us to live lives that are paralyzed by fear,...He wants us to trust Him."

 

 

 

 
 

Peace To The World

Good Morning,...It's The Last Friday Of The Year!! And what we seek is endless peace. Whether we're thinking of our need to recover from the craziness of the Christmas season, or pondering the conflict-ridden state of the world,...we all long for peace. And if that peace could be endless,...all the better,....and how full of thanks we would be. 

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.—Isaiah 9:7 (NIV)

The Messiah was supposed to bring endless peace. Isaiah promised that he would uphold justice and righteousness from the time of his coming and ever after. And he has. Even though we can't always,...or don't often,...see it, we believe that God's justice and righteousness have been established and made known through Jesus Christ,...and we experience and know them now, only in part.

For now, we live with hope and gratitude, for the day to come when righteousness, justice and peace will reign throughout the earth.

Father in Heaven, we thank You for all that You have given us through Your SON,...and all that will be.

"Worship showers our souls with the presence of God."