IF we endure...

The Bible describes what is required for God's servants who are set apart and useful for God's noble and honorable service. To these are promised the honor of reigning with Him forever. (Revelation 22:1-5 ). It would be smart for us to apply these values and requirements to our own life. Let's look at these conditions given in 2 Timothy 2:1-26. Starting in verse 1, Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to be strong and to work with men who are faithful, competent, reliable, and able to teach the gospel. In vs 4 he encourages Tim not to be half-hearted but to be like a soldier enlisted to serve the commander. In vs 5 Paul encourages him to be like an athlete who plays fair and yet competes to win. Finally in vs 6 Tim is told to be like a farmer who works hard to receive the fruitful reward of his labor. Paul shares that his suffering in prison with chains was because of his sharing the gospel and his imprisonment would not chain the gospel! He knew that it would provide salvation and eternal glory for himself and others. As our example, Paul was prepared to persevere and stand his ground (vs10). He instructed Tim to tell people to (1) vs 15-study the Word and be eager to present themself to God avoiding shame and error.2)vs16 avoid empty talk 3)vs21-Cleanse themself from corrupting influences. (4)vs22- Shun youthful lusts and pursue all that is good, virtuous, right living and conformity to the will of God.(5)vs22- aim at and pursue faith, love, peace in fellowship with all Christians who call upon the name of the Lord from a pure heart.(6)vs23Have nothing to do with unedifying controversial questions that foster strife and breed quarrels.(7)vs24-25-Finally, don't be argumentative, but be kind, mild tempered, a skilled teacher, willing to suffer wrongfully so that others may come to their senses out of the devil's grip into God's will for their life. This is our plumbline. Help me Lord to measure up and glorify You!!

Pour your heart out like water before the Lord

I have found that receiving something from the Lord sometimes takes a "crying out" to Him. Just about anything I have really wanted or needed from the Lord required persistence, perseverance, and a good old fashioned, "Lord! I am expecting you to do something!! Lord, I'm desperate!!". I read a scripture today that touched my heart in Lamentations 2:19, "Arise (from your bed), cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord...". How can we pour out our heart like water? If I pour a pitcher of water onto the ground, it's just all out there, running everywhere. It's spent. I feel that sometimes in my prayer for God's intervention in a situation, I am spent. I am completely focusing on the prayer need, desparate for a response from Him. Every time, God has been faithful to answer me. He is always there for me as He will be for you when you are desparate for Him. My dad calls it, "getting down to business with God". It reminds me of two stories out of the New Testament. One, (Matt. 9:20-22) a woman pushed through the masses to get to Jesus for healing. She was healed. Another story (Mark 2:1-5) some friends put their paralytic friend through a hole in the ceiling of a house that they made where Jesus was speaking. They lowered the man down to Jesus and he received his healing. There are many other instances of persistent faith being met with the love and power God. Jesus said in Luke 11:5-10) that he who asks, seeks, knocks and keeps on asking, seeking, and knocking will receive. Luke 18:1-8 Jesus tells a story of persistent faith. The story is about an unjust judge that a woman pursues incessently to defend her until he gave in and decided to because of her persistence. Jesus asked in that passage if when He returns will He find this kind of faith on the earth? He said in essence that this kind of faith gets God's attention and that He will answer it, and He loves it! Press in to God, pour out your heart to Him and don't give up! He's faithful!! He will hear you! He will be there for you!

...but none of these things move me

When I read this passage in Acts 20:18-38, I find myself encouraged and challenged thinking upon the life and example of the Apostle Paul. His statement in vs 24, ..."but none of these things move me", speaks volumes! In other words, He was completely resolute to following the Lord whatever the cost! He faced difficult circumstances in preaching the gospel such as imprisonment and suffering beyond what most Christians today experience. This statement truly is profound considering the circumstances he faced for the cause. What seems like a high price to pay to follow Christ as an American Christian today, in not being readily accepted as "one of the crowd" or facing the typical challenges in life and trying to trust and obey God, is but a pitiful excuse for carrying the name of Christ. He was suffering persecution, hardship, and difficulty beyond our comprehension, in the center of God's will. AND YET: #1.He was steadfast, God honoring, and committed to fulfilling the plan of God for his life. (vs 23-24) #2. He was the epitomy of loyalty to the Lord and the brotherhood. (vs36-38) #3. He was a giver. He lived what Jesus declared,"...it is more blessed to give than to receive", by being mindful and merciful to the weak. (vs 35) I'm reminded of someone I know, a missionary to Viet Nam, Charles Johnson. He is bent over a walker, a man in his 70's, with MS and by the grace of God ministers to the street orphans and impoverished people of Viet Nam. For example, a few years ago in the street, he held in his arms and prayed for a man the moment he died with aids. Mr. Johnson is one of my heroes! God bless him for his resolve. Lord, help us to be grateful and honored to serve You in whatever capacity You choose. I'll love you for now and for always!!

It's A Wonderful Life

There are some basic things that are hidden from the ordinary person that insure a good life. For years it evaded me! Thank You Jesus, I can now live the kind of life He wants for me, a wonderful life! Revealed in 1 Peter 3:10-11 are 5 keys that I believe cover alot of ground for understanding what it takes to enjoy life. #1. Keep your tongue from evil. #2. and your lips from speaking deceit. #3. shun or avoid evil. (What is evil? The answer is in the Bible. Ignorance is not an excuse, but an obstacle.) #4. Do what is right. #5. And search for peace (harmony, undisturbed from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts), do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, your fellow man, and yourself, but pursue and go after them. To have a wonderful life, we need to make a concerted effort to accomplish these exhortations. Doing life God's way brings the life Jesus said that He came to give us. Jesus said in John 10:10, "...I came that they (Christians) may have and enjoy life...". If I don't have joy, I need to seek the Lord and check with the above conditions. I then get myself straightened out and inevitably the joy returns! We all need contentment that comes from obedience and a bright hope for tomorrow. The Holy Spirit helps us and each new day can be a wonderful day!

Meekness, a great accomplishment

Years ago I heard a preacher tell of how Moses was considered to be the meekest man on the face of the whole earth. As a matter of fact his brother Aaron and sister Miriam spoke against him and they were judged severely by God. (Num. 12). The Lord was very angry with them because Moses was close to God. He was humble and allowed God to use him mightily. God heard the complaints and took vengeance on them for Moses' sake. I believe God is on our side when we're meek and He takes vengeance for us when we do not attempt to take it for ourselves. (Rom. 5:19). Galatians 5:22 reveals the distinctive evidence of the Holy Spirit in someone's life> "But the fruit of the Holy Spirit (the work which His presence accomplishes) is love, joy, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (MEEKNESS), and self-contol. The tone of all these qualities is one of meekness. A flavor different than most people have these days! This outlook on life today is prevailing and contagious! I call it self-preservation with an attitude!The Gainesville Sun (9-16-09) printed an article on the front page with this caption, "What's happened to civility?" The article goes on to say, "If the fall tv line-up included a reality show called "America Behaving Badly", the events of recent days would provide enough footage to fill several installments". I know that it is easy to behave badly. It's harder not to! Only by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit can we not be conformed to the world's way of doing things. Help us Lord to be challenged to humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to live in and through us. Pray for me as I pray for you! I want to be on God's side and I want Him on my side! (note: this has nothing to do with social justice or law and order. I am talking about dealing with our personal issues like road rage, personality clashes, rudeness, dishonor, outbursts of anger, responding to persecution for Christ's sake, and the like.).

The Essence of Life should be...

The basic nature or essence of my life will be all encompassing. It should be something good and cause good in my life. This morning the Lord gave me something wonderful out of the treasure box of His word. This beautiful gift is a new realization of the fact that the basic ingredient I need in my life everyday is the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord. The verse is in Psalms 15:16 "Better is little with the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord than great and rich treasure and trouble with it." Even when we have little, we can be free of trouble in life when we fear the Lord. We have to understand godly fear. It means to have exceeding respect and honor. I need to honor God and respect Him enough to put Him first above all. (Hebrews 12:28-29;Jer. 5:19-31), "...our God is a consuming fire." In other words...He's amazing and an awesome God! He is also very loving and good! (Romans 11:22). And if I honor Him, then: #1.He will reveal His secrets to me. (Ps. 25:14) #2.I will dwell at ease and my children will be posperous. (Ps 25:12-13). #3.He will prolong my days and I can drink from the fouuntain of life. (Prov 10:27, 14:27). #4.He has great goodness laid up for me. (Ps 31:19). #5.He'll take pleasure in me. (Ps 147:11). And that's just a drop in the bucket! Dig out more for yourself!

In the Know

I am the type of person that has a hard time accepting things the way they are if I don't understand why or how they are that way. My weakness in this is becoming anxious and frustrated, taking matters into my own hands. This approach alienates me from God. I realize that there are some things in this life that I will not understand right now, but I'll have to trust God and wait until I get to Heaven to "be in the know". Nevertheless, God wants me to seek Him for answers. Revealing the answer is up to Him. God makes it clear in the Proverbs that seeking Him for understanding is considered valuable and virtuous. Hidden within God's word is the answer to ALL of our questions. The reason I say "hidden" is because the answers must be found as we read, study, and meditate (think about and pray) on the sciptures pertaining to our situation. When the answer is found and acted upon, the result is phenomenal! God's instructions are right on every time! This is God's way of revealing His truths and wisdom to us personally. In this pursuit of understanding, we discover that God loves us and we experience His faithfulness first hand. Now I can live in peace and joy. I'll get close to God. I'll come to know that He is there for me. I'll find that I can trust Him to lead me and take care of me! Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amp) "Trust (lean on and be confident) in the Lord with all of your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths."