Jesus is Lord!

Psalms 150 1
Praise God in his heavenly dwelling; praise him in his mighty heaven! 2  Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! 3  Praise him with a blast of the trumpet; praise him with the lyre and harp! 4  Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5  Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. 6  Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord! Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Although the Bible invites us to praise God. we often aren’t sure how to go about it. Here, several ways are suggested: by singing, dancing, or playing musical instruments.  Music and song were a very important part of Old Testament worship.  David introduced music into the Tabernacle and Temple services. The music was loud and joyous as evidenced by the list of instruments in this scripture.  Are you praising God with joy and singing? It should be a part of what you do everyday.  God enjoys His people and He enjoys our praise.  Not because He needs it, but because we do.  When we praise Him, we focus on Him and not on ourselves or our problems.  Praising God brings us into right focus with who He is and what our purpose is.  We are His people and we are to praise Him.  It is an act of obedience and brings us great peace.  Make it a part of what you do daily to show your love for Him.

Have a God Day!

Matthew 12:33-36 33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned.” Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

These are very powerful words spoken by our Lord.  Often we do not realize the power of the spoken word in our lives.  Every word we say is being recorded and one day we will have to give an account of all that we have said.  Our minds can not comprehend this time, but God has said it will happen.  So what do we do now to not regret what we say.  Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our heart.  And what is in our heart is what is in our mind and what is put into our mind.  But we can only change what is our heart if God has done a circumcision of our heart.  We need to allow God to cut away that which is not needed from our minds and those desires that will only harm us.  It starts at our acceptance of His work on the cross and letting Him save us from our sins.  Then we fill our mind with His truth from His Word.  Then we think and meditate on His Word.  As He fills our mind and thoughts, God will change our attitudes and intentions to conform to His.  As He fills us and we focus on Him, what we say and what we do will reflect God in our lives.  To change what we say, we need to change what we think and believe.  Only God can change us and only God can deliver us from ourselves and our words. Let God perform a cutting away of all that is not of Him in your heart today.  Go before Him and seek to know what God would remove from you today and then fill the void with His truth found only in His Word.

Have a God Day!

2 Corinthians 5:14
14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! 17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. 20 We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, “Be reconciled to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

The day we accept that God came to earth as a Man to offer Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins, is the day of our righteousness.  The righteousness of God is imparted to those who accept His gift of grace.  It is very important for us to recognize that God is the One who provides this righteousness. It’s not something that you and I can work out, but rather it is something that God provides for us when we sacrifice our “old self” and give our lives to Christ. We function as His ambassador because of and under the power of His love. We are new people, no longer control by our “old nature.”  The newness felt at the beginning of your life in Christ is to be retained throughout your walk with Him. Always remember how it felt to know your sins were forgiven and that you were made right with God.  The joy of that moment is to be  kept fresh in your mind forever. Throughout eternity, we will praise and thank Jesus Christ for our righteousness that He died to give us. This is our joy, this is our peace.  The greatest love of all time is ours.

Have a God Day!

Acts 2:1-4
On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. 
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

First evidence of the Church is at Pentecost.  The Church, born at Pentecost, is called the Body of Christ (Colossians 1:18). Jews and Gentiles are united.  Events in the ministry of Jesus were essential to the establishment of the Church.  Certain things had to take place.  They are the resurrection and ascension of Jesus to become head of the Church (Ephesians 1:20-23 and 4:7-11).  The Church, with the believers as the body and Christ as the head, did not exist until after Christ ascended to become its head.  And it could not become a functioning entity until the Holy Spirit provided the necessary spiritual gifts and power. The Church is distinct from Israel in that it is a unique relationship between Jews and Gentiles called one new man in Ephesians 2:15.   During this current age, God is saving a remnant of the two previous entities (Israel and Gentiles) and combining them into a third new entity-the Church.  This unity of Jews and Gentiles covers only the Church age, from Pentecost to the Rapture.  There has never been an easier time to come to know God than during the current time we live.  If you not part of the Body of Christ, there is still time, but this Age is coming to end very rapidly. Accept the resurrected Christ as your Lord and Savior and become a part of His body.

Have a God Day!

Malachi 3:8-13
8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the LORD Almighty, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not shrivel before they are ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the LORD Almighty. 13 “You have said terrible things about me,” says the LORD.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Today, many Christians rationalize not tithing by stating that this command by God is from the Old Testament and is under the Law which no longer applies.  They say we are no longer under the Law but under the grace of Christ.  It is true that we are under grace for salvation and not the Law.  But does that mean that nothing in the Old Testament applies to us today?  If that statement were true then we would not have to obey the Ten Commandments!  The truth is we are no longer under the Law to save us, but once saved by grace; we are now to live in obedience to Jesus Christ.  When the disciples questioned Christ about paying taxes, Christ said to them in Matthew 22:21, “Give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.”  They already had an understanding of tithing and He did not need to state it.  So many Christians today say that we no longer need to tithe because it was not a direct command by Christ.  They are missing out on many blessing promised by God if we obey.  What ever your position on tithing is, read the Bible again and ask the Holy Spirit to direct you as to what you should do.  After all, we will all have to stand before Him and give an account of what we did with the money He gave us.  Wouldn’t you rather hear that you gave too much instead of too little? I want to make sure I have done all that He asked.

Have a God Day!

Psalm 141:3-4
3 Take control of what I say, O Lord, and keep my lips sealed.
4 Don’t let me lust for evil things; don’t let me participate in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do evil.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

James wrote that “the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do” (James 3:5). On the average, a person opens his or her mouth approximately 700 times a day to speak. With so many opportunities to speak evil, we would all do well to memorize Psalm 141:3 and make it our New Year’s resolution. David wisely asked God to keep him from speaking evil. Knowing the power of the tongue, ask God to guard what you say so that your words will bring honor to His name. 

Evil acts begin with evil thoughts  It is not enough to ask God to keep you from temptation, make you stronger or change your circumstances.  You must ask Him to change you on the inside.  You need a change of heart and a change in what you think.  Keeping His Word in your thoughts will keep you from evil thoughts and evil deeds.  Your behavior will follow your thoughts and the words you speak will speak of the intend of your heart.  Keeping Christ as your center will keep you from evil.

Have a God Day!

1 Peter 4: 1-3
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning. 2 And you won’t spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy-their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Most people live their life doing anything they can to avoid pain.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work.  We all suffer pain in this life.  No one is exempt from it.  But that does not keep many for running from it or living their life for the next good time.  As followers of Christ our focus should be different.  We should be willing and prepared to do God’s will and to suffer for it if necessary.  When we can come to this point in our walk with Christ, sin loses its power to defeat us.  If we focus on Christ and what He wants us to do, even if that means suffering for Him. sin has lost its power over us.  When we are in pain or our life is in jeopardy, our real values clearly show, and sinful pleasures have no meaning.  You will never hear a dying person say, “I wish I had spent more time drinking, or gambling or cheating my neighbor.”  No, what you will hear is “I wish I had told you sooner how much you meant to me.” Or, “I wish I had spent more time with my family.”  These are the things that are really important and the momentary pleasures of sin lose their appeal.  So whatever it is that Christ is asking you to do today, or whatever pain it may cause you, do it!  You momentary discomfort will be worth the eternal joy of pleasing your Savior!

Have a God Day!

Jeremiah 32:36-42
36 “Now I want to say something more about this city. You have been saying, ‘It will fall to the king of Babylon through war, famine, and disease.’ But this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 37 I will surely bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury. I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and mind to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants.40 “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, promising not to stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. 41 I will rejoice in doing good to them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land. 42 Just as I have sent all these calamities upon them, so I will do all the good I have promised them. I, the Lord, have spoken!
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

God uses His power to accomplish His purposes through His people.  God doesn’t give you power to be all you want to be, but He gives you power to be all that He wants you to be.  The people of Israel had to learn that trusting God meant radically realigning their purposes and desires with His.  Serving Christ today means the same thing for anyone who is a part of Him.  Christians must realign our purposes and our desires with those of His.  God will give us “one heart” toward Him.  We must develop a singleness of heart and action to love Christ above anything else in our life.  He is to be our purpose and our desire and then we will be within His love.  We will live His love to those around us and we will be in unity with His body.  The Church today needs to be of “one heart” toward our Head, Christ.  Make Christ your purpose and His love will be your intend in all that you do.

Have a God Day!

Jeremiah 32:36-42
36 “Now I want to say something more about this city. You have been saying, ‘It will fall to the king of Babylon through war, famine, and disease.’ But this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 37 I will surely bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury. I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and mind to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. 40 “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, promising not to stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. 41 I will rejoice in doing good to them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land. 42 Just as I have sent all these calamities upon them, so I will do all the good I have promised them. I, the Lord, have spoken!
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

God uses His power to accomplish His purposes through His people.  God doesn’t give you power to be all you want to be, but He gives you power to be all that He wants you to be.  The people of Israel had to learn that trusting God meant radically realigning their purposes and desires with His.  Serving Christ today means the same thing for anyone who is a part of Him.  Christians must realign our purposes and our desires with those of His.  God will give us “one heart” toward Him.  We must develop a singleness of heart and action to love Christ above anything else in our life.  He is to be our purpose and our desire and then we will be within His love.  We will live His love to those around us and we will be in unity with His body.  The Church today needs to be of “one heart” toward our Head, Christ.  Make Christ your purpose and His love will be your intend in all that you do.

Have a God Day!

Psalm 85:10-12
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory.
No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right.
O Lord Almighty, happy are those who trust in you.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

God’s loving presence is our greatest joy.  Outside of God there is no joy.  What the world has to offer is only fleeting.  The world can only offer what it has and the joy that comes is only for a moment.  But the joy of the Lord is forever! Outside of Him there can be no peace, there can be no happiness.  And those who dwell in the house of the Lord will be contented for eternity.  As Nehemiah 8:10 states, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Whatever has you down today do not let it rob you of the joy of knowing the love of your God.  He can sustain you as you walk through the valley of weeping.  Growing strong in God’s presence is often preceded by a journey through barren places in our lives.  And those who know of God’s love will experience it as they walk through a valley of pain.  Trust in Him to give you what you need in your time of trail.  Remember it is better to be a gatekeeper in the house of the Lord than to live the good life in the house of the wicked.  God’s love can sustain through anything this world can bring.  Remember, God’s loving presence is your greatest joy.

Have a God Day!