Jesus is Lord!

Philippians 2: 12-18
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Today many believers find themselves in the same trap. They trust Christ to redeem them, but they think it is under their own power that godliness happens. They begin in the Spirit, but are hoping to be perfected by the flesh. But according to Paul in his letter to the Philippians, we are to work out our own salvation as God works in us to both want to and live for Him. What is our responsibility then to be the righteousness of Christ to the world around us? How can we show them Christ while we are in the flesh? We train ourselves to be godly the same way an athlete trains for an event. We show up for practice, go through the workouts, and apply ourselves to godliness. We know His Word, we spend time with Him, and we do what He did. If we do that, God by His grace, will transform us into the righteousness of Christ and we will be Christ like. So strengthen your spiritual muscles, pick up a Bible and talk to God. Test Him and see if His Word is true.

Have a God Day!

Philippians 2:5-11
5 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

God wants you to have the same attitude that Christ had while He was walking as a human here on earth. Do not be afraid to offer yourself and Christ within you to those around you.  God wants to use your arms to hug them. God wants to use your voice to speak words of wisdom and hope to them. God wants to use your heart to love them. We all need to create room in ourselves for that kind of boldness, wisdom and love. Jesus stretched Himself out to the hurting and those in need and had compassion on them. We should do no less. To have this kind of attitude, you need to see others as God sees them. If He values their potential, how can you judge them as worth any less? Realize there are times when you may be the only link they have to God. Be willing to get outside of your understanding and allow God to think through you and use you to meet the need of a hurting person. This will be having the attitude of Christ and will please the Father.

Have a God Day!

Jeremiah 1:4-10
4 The Lord gave me a message. He said, 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.” 6 “0 Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” 7 “Don’t say that,” the Lord replied, “for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord touched my mouth and said, “See, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. You are to uproot some and tear them down, to destroy and overthrow them. You are to build others up and plant them.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

God knew you, as He knew Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. God cares for every minute detail about your life. He tells us in Matthew 10:30 & 31, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.   Do not fear; remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that he has a purpose in mind for you.”  Jeremiah felt he was too young to be God’s spokesperson, but God promised to be with him. Often we feel inadequate to do God’s work. But our lives are a daily testament to the work He is doing in us. We should not let feelings of inadequacy keep us from obeying God.  If God gives you a job to do, He will provide you with the means to accomplish it. We all have the job of growing to become more like Him. We are to die daily to self and allow Christ to live in us. Don’t allow your feelings of inadequacy keep you from accomplishing the work God has started in you. If you knew you only had a month to live, would you live more for God and less for yourself? What makes you think you have a month?  Live each day as if it were your last. And when you stand before Him you will hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Have a God Day!

Isaiah 43:10-13, 57:15
1.0 “But you are my witnesses, 0 Israel!” says the Lord. “And you are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God; there never has been and never will be. 11 I am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. 12 First I predicted your deliverance; I declared what I would do, and then I did it-I saved you. No foreign god has ever done this before. You are witnesses that I am the only God, “says the Lord. 13 “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can oppose what I do. No one can reverse my actions.” 15 The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Many people today are looking for immortality. They want to stay alive as long they can and be remembered long after they die. It’s too bad they do not realize that we are already immortal. Our souls will live on after this body we live in dies and leaves this world. What most people do not realize is that where the soul goes is decided by us in this world. Immortality begins when we are born and goes on forever. The decision we make in this life about Who Jesus Christ is will determine our forever. Was He fully God and fully human or just some lunatic?  After we die, there will be no more deciding, forever begins. We have this guarantee from an eternal God. As we are immortal, God is eternal. He had no beginning and has no end. He is and always will be. From eternity to eternity God is God and there is no other. Our minds can not comprehend this truth. What we need to know is that this great God loves us puny humans so much, He sent a plan of escape from this world of sin by sending His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Now your forever is your decision. Will you decide to accept His gift of love by believing that he died for your sin and give your life to Him? Will you spend forever with Him or without Him?

Have A God Day!

2 Corinthians 10:1-6
1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Philippians 4:6-9
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 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. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

The source of all your spiritual battles is found in your mind. We walk and live in the flesh, but Satan is a spirit and works in the spirit world all around us. The good news is so do God’s angels and they are constantly in battle for us. But they only have power as we give them power. In other words, if we allow Satan to set up a stronghold in our mind and we do not fight him, with opposite and godly thoughts, words and actions, God’s angels have little power to help us. But when we pray and continually affirm the Word of God in our mind and with our mouth, this releases God’s ministering agents to fight Satan on his turf. That is why Paul tells us we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. But we can only fight them with the help of God’s angels. We give them power with our thoughts, words, and prayers. Strongholds are broken down and we are freed of our sins whatever they may be. There is no power on earth that is greater than the power of God working through His praying people. Don’t allow Satan a home in your mind any longer, you know what sin is and you know what God would have you do. And you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

Have a God Day!

Numbers 6:22-27
22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ‘
27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

This is the blessing God instructed the priests to give to the people of Israel so the world would know they belonged to Him.  God was looking for a people to bless.  He wanted them to be strong in faith, wealthy and contented under His care. He wants the same for us today.  The priests were instructed to speak the blessing over the people.  Their words were powerful and spoke the wisdom of God.  Our words today can speak the same blessing or curse to those around us.  So many times we do not realize the power of our words that we speak about or to others.  We can bless their life or curse it by what we say.  Be very careful about what you say about others.  If we speak evil, such as, “So and so is stupid and lazy,” we are speaking a curse over them.  This is even more true of our children, even if they do not hear what we say they will be influenced by our words about them.  We should always be careful about what we say about others and we should always try to speak good about them.  “So and so is working hard at improving.”  What ever it is, your words have power.  So speak this blessing over those you know and see what God can do in their lives. 

Have a God Day!

2 Samuel 12:13-25
13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. 14 But you have given the enemies of the Lord great opportunity to despise and blaspheme him, so your child will die.” 15 After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord made Bathsheba’s baby deathly ill. 16 David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. 17 The leaders of the nation pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused. 18 Then on the seventh day the baby died. David’s advisers were afraid to tell him. “He was so broken up about the baby being sick,” they said. “What will he do to himself when we tell him the child is dead?” 19 But when David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the baby dead?” he asked.”Yes,” they replied. 20 Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. Then he went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and ate. 21 His advisers were amazed. “We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the baby was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the baby is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.” 22 David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”24 Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child 25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet that his name should be Jedidiah–beloved of the Lord–because the Lord loved him
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

David confessed and repented of his sin, but God’s judgment was that his child would die.  The consequences of David’s sin were irreversible even though the sin had been forgiven.  When God forgives us and restores our relationship with Him, He doesn’t eliminate all the consequences of our wrong doing.  If He did, we may be tempted to say to ourselves before we enter into a sin, “If this is wrong, I can always just ask God’s forgiveness.”  We must remember that by entering into sin, we may be setting into motion events with irreversible consequences.  God wants our obedience because of His love for us not because we will be punished if we sin.  That small voice inside of you is God directing you out of a sin situation.  Do not ignore Him, He is trying to keep you safe.  It is better to live a life without regrets, than to live a life saying, “if only I hadn’t ____.”  We can all fill in the blank, but the key is learning from our mistakes and more important learning from the mistakes of others.  David repented from his sin, examine your own heart and let God reveal to you areas of your life that need to changed.

Have a God Day!

Matthew 5:3-12
3 God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. 6 God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11  God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave to us God’s way of living in this sinful world. To live for God means giving up your own rights in order to serve others. This is always contrary to the what the world teaches. But Jesus was not of this world, He is from heaven and if we belong to Him, we are not of this world. We live in the world but we are not a part of it. The Beatitudes are a code of ethics for the followers of Christ and a standard of living for us. They contrast the Kingdom values with the values of this world. They teach us the real meaning of faith and they show how the Old Testament expectations can be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes do not promise pleasure or earthly prosperity but promise a blessing from God. To be blessed by God means to experience hope, joy and peace.  This is independent of our outward circumstances. No matter what is happening to us or around us, as a follower of Christ we can know joy, hope and peace. The direction given us by Christ still applies today, study the Beatitudes, know them by heart and then ask God to work them within you to show them to the world.

Have a God Day!

Numbers 9:15-23
On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. 16 This was the regular pattern-at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. 18 In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. 19 If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. 20 Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. 22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. 23 So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.
Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill.

The Israelites traveled and camped as God commanded after leaving slavery in Egypt. They had the advantage of having physical proof that God was with them. When you follow God’s guidance, you know you are where God wants you, whether you are moving or staying in one place. Right now each of us is physically someplace. and even though we do not have a cloud or a pillar of fire to tell us God is directing us, we do have His Word to guide us. The Word of God is our physical evidence that God is with us right now, right where we are. But instead of praying, “God what do you want me to do next?” ask, “God, what do you want me to do while I’m here?” Direction from God is not just for your next big move.  He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now. Open you eyes to see the work God has for you where you are and when it is time to move, He will show you. Begin to understand God’s purpose for your life always starts from the place you are at!

Have a God Day!

Romans 3:21-31
21 But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight-not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. 22 We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. 23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. 25 For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. 26 And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus. 27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. 29 After all, God is not the God of the Jews only, is he? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

We all fall short of God’s glorious standard and we all have sinned. There is not a person living who has not sinned.  All need the grace of God to receive forgiveness. But sometimes we put levels on our sin.  We believe that some sin is worse than others. Like murder is worse than lying or adultery is worse than breaking the law by speeding.  God does not put levels on sin. Levels on sin is a man thing! Sin is sin and all sin separates from God.  No one will enter into the presence of God with any sin.  All sin needs to be covered by the Blood of Christ. Remember this the next time you are tempted to look down on another sinner because you think their sin is worse than yours.  God looks at you both the same way.  Both of you need the same forgiveness and neither will enter Heaven with any sin.  We are only made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood for us.  No matter what you have done, all sin can be covered and no sin is greater than the other.  We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. And only when God looks at us through the blood of Christ will we be made right with Him and spend eternity with Him.

Have a God Day!