Jesus is Lord!

Proverbs2:2-11
2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight and understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity. 8 He guards the paths of justice and protects those who are faithful to him. 9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. 11 Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Wisdom comes in two ways: It is a God-given gift and also the result of an sincere search. Wisdom’s starting point is God and His Word revealed, the source of all knowledge and understanding. In that sense it is a gift from God. We have His Word, we have His revealed will in the Bible. It is a gift to all who will read and obey. But He also gives wisdom to those who seek it through His Word. But it takes effort to find and use it. It is when we take the information about living in this world and apply it to our lives that wisdom is revealed. True wisdom and knowledge are God’s but He will reveal them to those who are seeking for His glory. It is in the understanding of His Word, and in the obedience of that Word that wisdom comes. What are you doing to attain His wisdom through the given Word? Are you seeking to know Him and apply His Word through obedience? This should be your focus, if you claim to be His. Search your heart and start today to make His wisdom your purpose. God tells us His mercies are new every morning, so move forward today and forget your failures from yesterday. True wisdom can be yours if you seek the treasure of good sense that comes from God.

Have a God Day!

Habakkuk 2:9-14
9 “How terrible it will be for you who get rich by unjust means! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your families beyond the reach of danger. 10 But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives. 11 The very stones in the walls of your houses cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint. 12 “How terrible it will be for you who build cities with money gained by murder and corruption! 13 Has not the Lord Almighty promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain! 14 For the time will come when all the earth will be filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Today many live in fear of war, financial disaster and disease. Terrorist attacks are on everyone’s mind. This world has nothing to offer but pain and destruction. And yet many continue to trust in the things that their hands have made. Idolatry may seem like a sin that modern people do not commit. But it is not just bowing down to idols, it is trusting in what you have made. If we trust in what we have made, we are trusting in our own power as creator and sustainer. If we say we worship God but put our trust in bank accounts, homes, businesses and governments, than we are idolaters. We must live above the circumstances of this world and everything it has to offer. It is all corruptible and will someday be gone. The only thing that will last is the love that flows through us from God the Father. Habakkuk 2:4 states, “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith.” Do not put your trust in the gifts God has given you. Recognize the Giver and put your trust in Him and Him alone. Do not let your feelings be controlled by the events happening in the world today but by faith in God’s ability to direct all things according to His purpose and His ability to give you strength.

Have a God Day!

Proverbs 1:1-7
These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. 2 The purpose of these proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline, and to help them understand wise sayings. 3 Through these proverbs, people will receive instruction in discipline, good conduct, and doing what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will make the simpleminded clever. They will give knowledge and purpose to young people. 5 Let those who are wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. And let those who understand receive guidance 6 by exploring the depth of meaning in these proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles. 7 Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

In this age of information, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot. It is a basic attitude that affects every aspect of your life. The foundation of knowledge is to fear the Lord, to honor and respect God, to live in awe of His power, and to obey His Word. The will of the Lord should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and your actions. Because our actions speak louder than our words, we should be mindful of every thing that we do. Measuring what we do to the attitudes and actions of Christ. People around us will see Christ in us more by what we do than what we say. Most people know more than they live, and Christians are no better. Start applying the things you know are true and you will be truly wise. Pick one truth from the Word of God and apply it to your actions and see what a difference it will make in your witness of Christ in you.

Have a God Day!

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 an integral 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!

1 Peter 2:9-12
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God. Once you received none of God’s mercy; now you have received his mercy.” 11 Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls. 12 Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Even though it has been over 2000 years, one thing we know is that Jesus Christ will return. We do not know the time, but we do know He will come again. Many did not believe He was coming the first time and more people today do not know He is coming again. But those who know Him, know He will keep His Word. Are you telling others that He is coming? Are you letting the world know that you believe He is going to return? If not that may one thing that is hindering your growth in Christ. There are two seas in the area around Israel. One is the Sea of Galilee and the other is the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee has water coming into it and the Jordan river flows out of it. So this sea is alive with plants and fish. It is a sea which people can make a living. But the Dead Sea is just that dead. The Jordan river flows into it, but there is nothing flowing out. There are no plants or fish. It provides no life around it. Are you like the Dead Sea with everything coming in and nothing going out? If you live for Christ and learn more about Him, but don’t share what you know, then you are only receiving and not giving. You need to receive and then give to remain alive. Psalm 96:2 tells us, “…Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.” Start by just letting people know what God has done in your life. Tell them the blessing He has given you and how your life has changed. Let the love of God flow out of you and well as in and it will make a difference in your life.

Have a God Day!

Deuteronomy 8:1-5
“Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would really obey his commands. 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people need more than bread for their life; real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord. 4 For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. 5 So you should realize that just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you to help you.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

We are more than just a body, we also have a spirit and a soul. Our spirit is the part of us that is in unity with God when we become His child through salvation. Our spirit is immediately connected to God forever. Our soul is the part of us that we must work out our salvation as stated in Philippians 2:12, “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Our soul is our mind, our will and our emotions. But our body is the part of us that will not wait for anything. When we are hungry, we must eat, when we thirst, we must drink, and when we are tired we must sleep. Our bodies do not see anything out side of the needs. Without food, water or rest we would die. So we all meet the needs of the body. It is a fact of life and can not be ignored. But God is telling us not to forget the other parts of us. “Real life comes by feeding on every Word of God.” God is speaking to the other parts of us our soul and our spirit often go unfed. Our spirit needs to be feed by learning the Word of God and spending time in worship to Him. Feeding our soul takes a little more work and requires that we apply what we have leaned in the Word. In other words we live the Word. Whenever we learn a truth and then apply it or make it a part of what we do, we are feeding our spirit and our soul. Most Christians can tell you a lot about what is in the Word, but do not apply it to their lives. They know more than they live. Our mind, our will and our emotions, must each be worked on individually and feed with truth and that truth must be applied into each areas of our soul. The Word is full of instructions from God on how to think, feel and surrendering our will to Him and others. When we eat food, it is taken in, but it is also digested and becomes a part of us. God is telling us to do the same for the spirit and the soul. Start this year by taking in or eating the Word of God and then digest it or make it a part of what you do and who you are.

Have a God Day!

2 Corinthians 13:3-6
3 I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak in his dealings with you; he is a mighty power among you. 4 Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God. We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God’s power-the power we use in dealing with you. 5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test. 6 I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Do you regularly consider your walk in Christ? Are there areas that you need to improve to show those around you that Christ does live in you? As you start 2006 out, examination of your Christian life should be on your list of resolutions. Lamentations 3:40 states, “Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn again in repentance to the Lord.” Regular examination of how you are doing representing Christ is one way to stay focused on His will. An unexamined life can kill spiritual passion in your walk with Him. Go before Him and simply ask, “Lord are there areas in my life that do not represent You?” Take the time on a regular basis to ask Him this question. He will show you areas that you need to grow. There is no way anyone of us will ever get it completely right. All of us will need to ask this question and turn from our will to His. No one living for Christ in this world will never have to ask this question. We all fall short of living completely in His will. Paul tells us that to pass the test others should be able to see that Christ is with you. That means living His way, doing His will and seeking His direction. Always! Since we will never accomplish this feat in this life, it will always be something we work on. You will never reach a point where you know all there is to know about Him and live in His will always. So as you move forward in 2006 make this you number one resolution, to be more like Him. Then go to His Word and find out what that means.

Have a God Day