Battling Temptations

We have all faced temptations at some point in our walk with Christ.  Sometimes it may feel like a moment by moment battle that we wonder if we will ever escape from.

Temptations come in all shapes and sizes.  They can vary from eating that piece of chocolate cake to doing something that could destroy your credibility,  destroy your family, or do yourself bodily harm.

The devil wants to trip us up by whispering in our ears things that would cause us to stumble and fall into sin.  Sometimes, however we are led astray by our own evil desires that dwell in our own hearts.

What do we do when temptations come our way?   Jesus gives us a lesson in Matthew 4:1-11 which says,

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

The tempter came to Him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: 

Man does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point

of the temple.

"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down.  For it is written:

"He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  "All this I will give you", he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

Jesus said to him,  "Away from me, Satan!  For it is written:  "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only"

Then the devil left him and angels came and attended Him."

When the devil came to Jesus in the desert Jesus was hungry and tired.  He had fasted for forty days and He was out in the desert heat. 

Temptations usually attack us when we are feeling tired and hungry.  They assail us when we are weakened in some way. 

The devil will fire his darts at us hoping that we will take the bait and stumble.

We need to pay attention to how Jesus dealt with these temptations.

Jesus was fully tempted like we are,  but He never sinned.

Jesus used Scripture against everything Satan threw at Him.

We must prepare ourselves for battle by memorizing a Bible verse or verses that speak to our

situation or our weak points.   Our weak point is that thing that we are tempted to do, but we know it

is not pleasing to the Lord.  We seem to stumble at that one point, whatever it maybe for you, over

and over again.

A great verse to start with is I Corinthians 10:13 which says,

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful;  He will

not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted,  He will

also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

If you are struggling with something and we all do.  I would encourage you to bring it up before the

Lord.  Take to Him in prayer and read the Bible.  Ask the Lord to help you and He will.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand those weak points where you most likely will stumble into

sin and ask Him to help you to say no to the temptations.

What ever you do.  Don't give up.  The Lord has not given up on you.  Draw near to the Lord.

Let the Lord lead you and guide your steps.

Sometimes you and I will stumble and fall.  Remember that we are sinners saved by grace.

He will lift us up when we stumble.  He is always ready to forgive.

I John 1:9 says,

"If we confess our sins,  He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from

all unrighteousness."

The Lord loves us and He doesn't want to see us fall.  When we find ourselves facing temptations

may we stand our ground and be ready with a scripture verse and be empowered by the Holy Spirit

who indwells every believer in Christ.

Lord,

I am weak in my flesh, but You are strong.

Help me to resist temptations when they come.

Help me to want to say no.

Help us O Lord to live our lives for You in all areas.

Search our hearts.

Purify our minds.

Draw us to You.

Thank You for Your love and mercy and amazing grace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Through out the Bible we find several of the people who were shepherds.

David in the Old Testament was a shepherd and tended his father's sheep.

Moses was a shepherd and watched over his father-in-law's sheep.

Moses and David could be considered shepherds of the people of  Israel.

David was the King over Israel and led the people and took care of them like a shepherd takes care of the sheep.

Moses led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt where they were held as slaves for 400 years and he watched over them like a shepherd.

There are many other types of shepherds  in our world today.

The leader of a country can be a type of shepherd.  A Pastor of a Church can be a kind of shepherd.

There are many other types we could probably think of as well.

Jesus said that He was the Good Shepherd.

When I think about shepherds I can't help to think about the 23rd Psalm.  This is probably the favorite Psalm of many Christians today and perhaps the most well known.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want,

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff,

they comfort me.

Your prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

This is a Psalm written by David.  He starts out this Psalm with a focus on the Lord as His shepherd.

He saw himself as a sheep of sorts and the Lord was his shepherd.  David knew a lot about sheep since he watched over his father's flock in his younger days,

Sheep can get themselves into all kinds of trouble,  they are easily upset, and they need to be watched over and protected.

The Lord as our Good Shepherd leads us into His presence and He gives us rest.

The Lord is the one that restores our souls.

He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  We are clothed with His righteousness because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. 

Even though we walk through a dark, dangerous, valley with the shadow of death staring us down we need not be afraid because the Lord is with us each step of the way protecting us as we go.

The Lord has prepared a table, a wonderful supper for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.

This feast will be the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Those who are trusting Christ as their Savior will take part in this in the future when Jesus comes again.  What a Glorious Day that will be for those who are trusting in Jesus.

Goodness and love will follow us all the days of our lives and one day we will dwell in the house  of the Lord forever.

He is always looking out for our good and He loves us more than we can understand.

One day we will be in heaven with Him and will be with Him forever.

Those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ have that promise. 

What a great promise that is!

Jesus died for our sins on the cross.  We can't save ourselves.

We need to accept His sacrifice for our sins and receive Him as our Lord and Savior.

We are saved by His Grace and we accept it by faith.

Is the Lord your shepherd?

I hope He is and that you are trusting Him each and everyday.

The days ahead may get tough.  There may be times when fear will attack us.

There will be times that we will have to walk through the dark lonesome valley in the shadow of death.

In those moments we must remember who our Shepherd is.

The Lord is our shepherd and He laid down His life for His sheep.

We can trust Him to lead us by the still waters.

We can trust Him to protect us and care for us even when our lives seem to spin out of control.

I would encourage you to call out to the Lord in your time of need and trust Him to answer.

He loves you.  He cares for you.  He will lead you.  He will protect you.  He will provide a way for you.

Trust Him.

Lord,

Thank You for being a Good and Gentle Shepherd.

We praise Your name O Lord.

Lead us and guide us.

Protect us from the enemies attacks.

Lead us by those quiet and peaceful waters.

Give us a fresh faith in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Who Am I?

There are times in our lives that we will feel insecure about something.   Sometimes the insecure feelings are deeply rooted in our minds and hearts through some hurtful event in our past.

The feelings of insecurity can trip up and can act as a stumbling block preventing us from doing what the Lord wants us to do for Him.

I wrestle with feelings of insecurity, we all do.  I have learned even though I may not be the best speaker, the best at leading others in prayer, or great at singing.  The Lord can still use me to bring glory, honor, and praise to His name.

When I think of someone in the Bible who was a little insecure my mind goes to Moses.   I know what you are thinking.  Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt after appearing before Pharaoh announcing all of those plagues, but at first Moses was hesitant.

We can find out what happened in Exodus chapters 3.

It is where we find Moses tending his father-in-law's sheep.

Moses was busy looking after the sheep when all of a sudden he noticed this strange sight.
A bush was on fire, but it wasn't being consumed by the flames.

Moses went over to get a closer look at this strange sight and to see why the bush wasn't burning up.

Then all of a sudden a voice called out of the bush saying, "Moses! Moses!"

I don't know about you, but if that was me I would have probably forgotten about the sheep and would have started running back home as fast I could.

Moses didn't do that though, he instead said, "Here I am."

The Lord tells Moses to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground.

Then the Lord said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."

Moses ended up hiding his face because he was afraid to look at God.

The Lord told Moses how He had seen the misery His people were experiencing in Egypt and He had heard there crying out to Him in their time of deep despair.

He came down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and take them to a good spacious land, a land that was flowing with milk and honey.

Then the Lord says to Moses, "So now, go.  I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

Here we have God, the Creator of all things, coming to Moses and telling him to go and help the Israelites escape from the bondage of slavery in which they endured for over four hundred years in Egypt.

This is where Moses' insecurity kicks into high gear.

He says to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt."

The Lord tries to reassure Moses that He would be with him each step of the way, but Moses seems to keep giving excuses.  Sometimes our insecurities which we think are hidden deep within us become evident by the responses we give.

Moses expressed his reluctance to do the Lord's will five times in Exodus 3 and 4.  Each time the Lord answered Moses' concerns.

Sometimes we don't get five chances to do what God wants us to do.

Maybe the Lord has placed a calling on your life, but feelings of insecurity and self doubt are preventing you from serving Him. 

I would like to encourage you to take the first step of faith and trust the Lord to see you through.
He will.  He is faithful.

There is nothing to be afraid of because the Lord is bigger than any of our fears and our insecurities.

There is nothing wrong with being humble or even having some insecurity as long as we know that God knows what He is doing.  He doesn't make mistakes.

If He has told us to do something we can trust that He will prepare us to be able to accomplish  it through Him.

When the Lord asks us to do something for Him may we not say, "Who am I", but let us say
, "Here I am."

Are you allowing insecurities to prevent you from serving the Lord?

If you are talk to the Lord about those feelings and trust Him that He knows what He is doing.

He is a good God.  He is always good.

We can count on Him to help us in our times of need.

Lord,
Thank You for loving us in spite of our insecurities.
Thank You for being patient with us.
Lead us and guide us.
In Jesus name,
Amen.

Whom Shall I Fear?

Fear is something we people have all experienced in one way or another during our stay here on planet earth.

We don't have to be taught by parents or teachers how to be afraid.  We have all been afraid of something.

It may be that we are afraid of being alone.  We may be afraid of thunderstorms.  We may fear that someone might hurt us. 

There are certainly many things we could be afraid of in our world today.

The fear that the economy continue to go down hill can weigh on our minds.  There is the fear of terrorism that can keep us up at night.

It is so easy to fall into fear.

There are many times in my life, even as a Christian, that I have been afraid.

Fear can be an overwhelming emotion.  We may feel like there is no where to turn or to go to escape our fears.

There may be times in our lives when we will be tempted to be afraid.  We may feel like there is a dark cloud hanging over our heads.

We may feel all alone.  Just us and our fear.

Some of our fears may stem from our imaginations at times.

I know my fears are amplified by my imagination because I have a really good imagination. 

I have had times when I have been so afraid that my imagination started in with those pesky "what if" questions.

Have you ever done that?

You have become so afraid that you start asking yourself, what if I fail at life?, what if I never find a wife?, what if I am alone forever?, or what if I go crazy?

This what fear can do to us if we allow it to control us. 

Did you notice the focus on those "what if" questions I mentioned a few moments ago?

The focus was on ones self.

Fear can push us inwards so that our focus is on ourselves and our problems.

When we focus on our problems, God seems to be small to us, even though He is not.

When we focus on our God then our problems and fears shrink.

We need to refocus how we think.  This may take time in some cases.  This may be a moment by moment leaning on the Lord each step of the way type of journey.

Psalm 27 says,

"The Lord is my light and my salvation-
whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life-
of whom shall I be afraid?

When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,

when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek Him in His temple.

For in the day of trouble
He will keep me safe in His dwelling;

He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies that surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of You, "Seek His face!"
Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Do not hide Your face from me,
do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.

Teach me Your way, O Lord;
lead me in the straight path
because of my oppressors.

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.

I am still confident of this;
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

When fear tries to steal our hope and joy we must turn our focus back to the Lord.

The Lord is our hope.  We can run to Him for safety.

The Lord Jesus promises us that He will never leave us and never forsake.

We can trust Him with our fears and those things that concern us.

When fear tries to control our live we must stop and make a decision.   We must chose whether to focus on our fear or to cling to the Lord our God.

We must fill our minds and heart with the truth of His Word.

The Lord is our Rock.

He is a present help in our time of fear and need.

We can trust Him to see us through our moments of fear and troubles.

Are you focused on your fears or are you focused on the Lord Jesus Christ?

Lord,
We thank You for always being there for us during those fearful moments of life.
Thank You for being our hope when situations may seem hopeless.
We praise You O Lord, our Rock.
You are our firm foundation.
Draw us near to You, Lord.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Lukewarm

I am just going put this out there.  I like coffee.

I know I am not alone in that because I know there are many people besides me who like coffee.

I like my coffee hot.  I don't mind iced coffee, but I prefer hot.

Have you ever noticed that you never hear anyone ordering lukewarm coffee from their favorite coffee shop.  It just doesn't happen. 

Can you imagine the strange looks and reactions if you did such a thing.  People would think you were crazy.

Sometimes I go to the faucet in my kitchen with a glass and try to get a glass of cold water, but I end up pushing in the wrong direction for cold water without even realizing it.   I may be watching a television program as I am trying to get a glass of water.  Then when I try to drink it I realize it is actually warm water, but I was expecting it to be cold so  I instantly spit it out.

That is the feeling the Lord had with the Church in Laodicea.  They were lukewarm in their love for Jesus and others.

There were not spiritually hot and on fire for the Lord.  There were not middle of January in Northern Maine cold either, spiritually speaking that is.

They were lukewarm.  No one wants to be lukewarm, but sometimes it happens to the best of us.

We get busy.  We get stressed out.  We stop reading the Bible.  We stop praying.  We become an overly critical cynical jerk. 

All because we have drifted away ever so slowly from the Lord and we may not even know it.

Jesus has this to say to us when we are lukewarm spiritually in Revelation 3:19-21,

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.
So be earnest, and repent. 

Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,
just as I overcame and sat down with my Father in his throne."

We must reconnect ourselves to the Lord Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us.

Read the Bible.  Call out to God in prayer.  Trust Jesus each and everyday.

Lord,
I don't want to be lukewarm, but sometimes I am.
Awake my soul.  Breath on me and revive my spirit.
Help us to answer Your knock on the doors of our hearts and let You in.
Thank You Jesus for loving us so very much,
In Jesus name.
Amen,

Keep Watch

The world around us is changing rapidly and not in a very good way.

We are living in turbulent times.   The days will get tougher as the world tries to distance itself from the true living God and anything pure and holy.

Jesus tells us in the Bible that there will be false teachers, nation will be against nation, there will be persecution for those who are believers in Christ, and because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. (Matthew 24)

We know that one day Jesus will return in all of His Glory.

We don't know when.

It could be today.

It could be tomorrow.

It could be some time from now.

Mathew 24:36-42 says,

"No one knows about the day or hour,
not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but only the Father.

As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
For in the days before the flood,
people were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage up to
the day Noah entered the ark;

and they knew nothing about what would happen
until the flood came and took them all away.

This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be in the field;
one will be taken and the other left.

Two women will be grinding with a hand mill;
one will be taken and the other left.

Therefore keep watch, because you don't know on what day
your Lord will come."


We believers in Christ need to be alert.

We must continue to trust and serve the Lord Jesus each and everyday.

We must pray that the Lord would stir up a fresh faith in our lives.

We need to go to Him in prayer and feed on upon His Word.

Pray that others will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior before its too late.

Are we living for Jesus or are we living like the world around us?

Let us keep watch for Jesus.

Lord,
Help us to watch our lives closely that we may know we are following You and not the ways of the world around us.

Help us to have a fresh faith in You, Jesus.

Stir up the Holy Spirit in all who believe in You.

Revive us O Lord.

Place our feet on the Rock.

Thank You Lord for being an Awesome, Loving God.

In Jesus Mighty name

Amen.

The Coming of the Lord

There is a theme in many of the letters written by the Apostle Paul.  That theme is Faith, Love, and Hope.

These are the things that we believers in Jesus Christ should hold close to our hearts and be implanted in our minds.

We believe that we have sinned and have fallen short of God's high standards.  We can not save ourselves.  We need a savior.

We believe that Jesus came to earth to live a perfect sinless life and died on the cross, shedding His blood on the cross for our sins.  He rose from the dead after three days.

We place our Faith in His finished work on the cross and trust Him as our Lord and Savior.

We Love Him with all of our hearts, minds, bodies, and our entire being.  We are to love others as well.

We also have Hope that one day Jesus Christ will return to this earth as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  We have Hope that we will be with Jesus forever.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18 says,

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,
with a loud command, with the voice of
the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and are left
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.

And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage each other with these words."

One day, perhaps very soon, Jesus Christ will come back as He promised.  

This world is not our home.  We have a heavenly home waiting for us.

The Lord will come to take us to be with Him.

Are you clinging to the Faith, Love, and Hope that we have in Jesus Christ?

Lord,
We praise You.
We trust You in all things.
Come soon Lord.
May we be found faithful when You come.
In Jesus name,
Amen.

Living Sacrifices

When we think of sacrifices our minds go back to the time of Temple worship.   Where people would bring goats, sheep, or birds to sacrifice at the alter of the Lord.

The Apostle Paul urges believers to offer our bodies as living sacrifices.  We are to be holy and pleasing to God. 

Romans 12:1-2 says,

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's
mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual
act of worship.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern
of this world, buy be transformed
by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve
what God's will is-
His good; pleasing and perfect will."

We who are believers in Christ should not conform any longer to the pattern of this world.

We are to be in this world, but not of it.

We are to be different from the world by following the Lord and do what pleases Him.

The Holy Spirit will help us renew our minds and He will help us live for the Lord.

Lord,
Help us to live our lives for You.
We offer our bodies to You as a living sacrifice.
Use us for Your honor and glory.
In Jesus name
Amen,

Judging Others

Sometimes it seems easy to judge others.   We judge people by looking at them from the outside, but only the Lord knows the heart of the person.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:1-5

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others,
you will be judged, and with the measure
you use, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck
of sawdust in your brother's eye and
pay no attention to the plank in your own
eye?

How can you say to your brother,
"Let me take the speck out of your eye,"
when all the time there is a plank in your own
eye?

You hypocrite,  first take the plank out of your
own eye, and then you will see clearly
to remove the speck for your brother's
eye."

We need to examine ourselves first and make sure we are not being over critical.

I remember one time several years ago seeing a man in the grocery store where I work.  He was a big man and he had a tattoo on his neck.  I remember thinking, "Wow, this guy is creepy."

A few days later I driving to church when I drove past another church in town and there he was walking on the side walk.  It was the same man with the tattoo on his neck.  He was leading a small by into the church building.  I noticed this man was carrying a bible in his other hand.

I felt very small and foolish.  I had a plank in my eye that needed to be removed.  The Lord convicted me.   We must be careful of how we judge others.

Lord,
Help us not to judge harshly.
Help us to love others as You love us.
Forgive us for judgmental attitudes.
Help us extend the Grace You show us to others.
In Jesus name
Amen,

The Importance of Prayer

Prayer is very important to the Christian.  We can talk to the Lord at anytime of day or night.  We don't have to be in a special place or facing a certain direction.   We can pray at home or work.  

When difficultly arises in our lives we should go to the Lord immediately in prayer and not wait.
The Lord wants to hear from His children.  He is never too busy.  The problem is never too small or too big.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8,

"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be
opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives;
he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks,
the door will be opened.

We as believers in Christ should be persistent in our prayers.

Let us come boldly to the throne of Grace.

I would like to encourage you to keep calling out to the Lord in prayer and trust Him with the answer.

Lord,
Thank You for allowing us to come to You in prayer.
You are an Amazing God.
I pray for healing on those with heart problems and those with cancer.
I uplift those who are depressed and facing emotional problems.
I pray for the United States of America, heal our land as we humble ourselves and repent of our sins.
Forgive us Lord for straying and being disobedient to You.
Come soon Lord Jesus.
In Jesus Name
Amen.

Give Thanks to the Lord

Sometimes we seem to get so busy with our lives that we forget to give thanks to the Lord.

We can be very ungrateful at times.  We complain about not getting what we want.  We moan and groan if something doesn't go our way.

During these times of complaining and ungratefulness we fail to realize that the Lord has been providing for our needs each and everyday.   He gives us a chance each morning when we wake up to live the day for Him.  He does this because He loves us so much.

I like what Psalm 107:1-7 says,

"Give thanks to the Lord; for
His love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say this-
those He redeemed from the hand of the foe,

those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west,
from north and south.

Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city
where they could settle.

They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble
and He delivered them from their distress.

He led them by the straight way
to a city where they could settle.

Let them give thanks to the Lord
for His wonderful deeds for men..."

Let us be thankful to the Lord for loving us, helping us, and protecting us throughout our lives.

He is an Awesome, Mighty, and Loving God.   He is worthy of our praise and adoration.

Let's give Him Thanks.

Lord,
Thank You for all that You do for us.
Thank You for salvation and forgiveness of our sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
We thank You for always being with us each and everyday.
In Jesus name
Amen.

The Message of the Cross

We can see crosses pretty much every where we look today.  There are crosses on churches.  Some people wear them as jewelry.

I have seen crosses marking people's grave site.

The cross was used as an ancient form of execution.  It was like an electric chair. 

When I think of the cross I think of Jesus.  How He was betrayed, beaten, and forced to carry His own cross.  He was nailed to the cross, bled, and died on the cross.  He went obediently.  He gave up His life.  He died for my sins and yours.

I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I am thankful that He went to the cross in my place.  He took the punishment I so rightly deserve.

Many people in our world today don't understand the cross and what it is all about.

It reminds me of

I Corinthians 1:18

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing
,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

I am also thankful that Jesus rose from the dead and is now at the right hand of the Father.

One day Jesus will return.

Thank You Lord that the message of the cross is not foolishness to me.

Lord,
Thank You for Your love that You showed at the cross.
We praise You for all the good things that You have done.
In Jesus name
Amen.

He Must Become Greater

Sometimes in life we encounter people who like to stir up trouble.  There are probably a few names and faces that come to mind.   Sometimes, if we are really honest with ourselves,  we have done that same thing a time or two.

There was a man who came up to John the Baptist and said, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan-the one you testified about-well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."(John 3:26)

Now maybe that man just felt like informing John what was going and maybe he wasn't trying to stir up trouble I don't know.  I like how John the Baptist responded to this man.

John 3:27-30

"To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 
You yourselves can testify that I said, "I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of Him."
The bride belongs to the bridegroom.  The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegrooms voice. 

That joy is mine, and it is now complete.  He must become greater; I must become less."

John the Baptist knew that Jesus had to become greater and he himself had to become less.

There is a lesson there for we who are believers in Jesus Christ.

We must become less.  That is we must humble ourselves.  Jesus must become greater in our hearts and lives.

We must set aside our pride and self importance. 

We need to put Jesus first in our lives.

We all struggle with this, but with the Lord's help, through the power of the Holy Spirit , He will help us do just that.

Put Jesus first in everything you do.

Lord,
Help us set aside our pride.
Help us to put You first in every area of our lives.
May You receive all of the Glory and Praise.
In Jesus name
Amen.

Believing in Jesus

There are many people in our world who know about Jesus.  Notice I said know about Him.

I know about a lot of people, but that doesn't mean I know them.  I know about Pastor Jim Cymbala at the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York, but I don't know him because I have never met him.

There are many people who claim they know Jesus, but they have never come to trust Him as their Lord and Savior.   We need to know Jesus in order to be saved from our sins.  It was Jesus who died on the cross, shedding His blood, for our sins.

We come to Jesus by putting our faith in Him and in Him alone. 

John 3:16-21 says,

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one
and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall
not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but to save the world
through Him.

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe stands condemned
already because he has not believed in the name
of God's one and only Son.

This is the verdict:  Light has come into the world,
but men loved darkness instead of light because
their deeds were evil.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the light
for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light,
so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been
done through God."

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Are you trusting Him?

Lord,
We praise Your name.
We pray that You will use this blog to being someone to faith in Jesus Christ.
Thank You Lord for Your goodness and mercy.
In Jesus name
Amen.

Delighting in God's Word

The Holy Bible is God's Word to us.  There were several authors of the several books of the Bible, but they were all inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God is living and powerful.

We as believers in Jesus Christ ought to be feeding upon His Holy Word each and everyday.  I know that is challenging for all of us these days.   We are so busy with others things, but shouldn't we put God first in our lives.

He has something to say to us each and everyday in His Word if we are paying attention and listening to what He has to say.

Psalm 1 says,

"Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel
of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers,

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on His law He meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted be streams of water which yields its fruit
in season
and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish."

We need to develop the habit of meditating on God's Word.  That just means to take some scripture and think about it in our minds and allow the Holy Spirit to apply it to our hearts.

The Lord provided us with the Holy Bible for us to read, study, and to live by.

God is still speaking to us through His Word and the Holy Spirit.

Are we listening?

Lord,
We Thank You for giving us the Holy Bible.
May we make time to read more of Your Word and apply it to our lives.
In Jesus name
Amen.

Looking to the One Who Never Changes

When I look back over my life I can see many changes have happened to me over the years.  We all change over time.  When we are children we are small and as we grow our bodies change and we grow up.

We know the weather changes sometimes many times in the same day.  I live in northern Maine I know changes in the weather.   We have short summers and seemly long, cold harsh winters.

Change happens.  Some changes are welcomed and happy.  We fall in love and get married.  We have a new family.  We get a new job.  Those changes can be really good.

Some changes are not so good.  We lose our job.  A loved one dies.  We get hurt in an accident.

Change can be hard on us.  We like smooth sailing through life.  I do, but I have been around long enough to know that things change.   I remind myself that I still live in a sinful fallen world and things aren't always going to be good here on earth.  I do know that one day that too will change when Jesus comes back as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

I am also thankful that Jesus never changes.

Hebrews 13:8 says,

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Even when things seem crazy and going down hill.  We can look to the One who is always faithful, true, and never changes.

Let us lift our eyes to Jesus.

Lord,
Thank You for never changing.
Thank You for Your love and Your Grace.
Bless each one of us this night.
In Jesus name
Amen.

The Heavens Declare

The sun is setting as I write this.  There is something beautiful and even poetic about a sunset.
The colors change from orange, red, and even some purple shades appear.  It is far better than any human artist could paint on a canvas with a brush.  Our God is very creative that is for sure.

We can even see the beauty in the stars in the sky and the galaxies.  When we look at pictures taken by space telescopes we see even more artistic looking things like galaxies, nebula, planets, and other breath taking things in space.

Thinking of all these things got me to thinking of Psalm 19:1-6 which says,

"The heavens declare the glory of God,
the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where
there voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from
his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat."

We can look all around us and see God's awesome handiwork. 

What an Awesome, Mighty God He is.

Isn't He worthy of our praise and worship?

Lord,
Thank You for the beautiful universe that You created.
The heavens do indeed declare Your glory.
Draw us nearer to You Lord and help us to appreciate all that You made.
Bless us now.
In Jesus name
Amen.

Finding Hope in Jesus

Sometimes it seems easy to look down on other people because of their sin.  We don't like to look at our own sin and sometimes we even seem to pretend that we have everything under control when it comes to sin.

I remember reading in the book of Luke when someone came up to Jesus and told Him about how Pilate had killed some Galileans as they were making a sacrifice at the Temple.

We find Jesus response in Luke 13:2 where He said,

"Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?  I tell you, no!  But unless you repent, you too will perish. 

Or those eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them-do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem? 

I tell you, no!  But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

The Lord sees sin as sin.

Sin is missing the mark.

The Bible is clear we have all sinned.  Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God."

The wages of sin is death.  Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We are all sinners and are deserving of going to a literal hell.  We deserve being eternally separated from the Lord God.

God is Holy and anything sinful can not enter into His presence.

There is good news for us though.  Actually it is great news and I hope you chose to accept it.

Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

God has a great love for each one of us.  He doesn't want to see anyone go to hell.

God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on an old rugged cross for your sins.

Jesus died for each one of us.  He shed His blood for you, me, and the whole world.

He wants us to repent of our sin, that means to turn away from it, and turn to Jesus trusting in His sacrifice on the cross for us.

He paid the price.  He took the punishment that I so rightly deserve and what you too deserve.

Maybe you are hurting tonight and you feel angry.

Maybe you feel as your world is crumbling around you and it feels like there is nowhere to run from the pain you feel.

There is somewhere to run too.

The Lord Jesus is waiting for you to come to Him.

He has His arms open wide to welcome you.

There is hope in Jesus Christ.

I hope that you realize the one important thing I would like to let you know from the bottom of my heart and that is

Jesus Loves You.

Lord,
Thank You for loving us so greatly that You sent Jesus to save us.
You alone are the true and living God.  You invite us to come to You to find peace and rest.
Draw people to You, Lord.
Thank You for Your saving grace.
Bless all those who read this blog.
In Jesus name
Amen.

Crying Out to the Lord

There are times when are spirits feel drained and faint.  We need a time of spiritually refreshing.
I felt rather lukewarm spiritually this morning.  I am not sure why exactly, but all I know is I needed get alone with the Lord and spend time in His presence.  I cried out to the Lord and asked that His Spirit who refresh my faith.   I had my Bible open as I prayed and fellowshipped with the Lord.  I was lead to Psalm 142 which seemed to fit the way I was feeling.

Psalm 142

"I cry aloud to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord
for mercy.

I pour out my complaint before Him;
before Him I tell my trouble.

When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is You who know my way.
In the path where I walk
men have hidden a snare for me.

Look to my right and see;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.

I cry to You, O Lord;
I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."

Listen to my cry,
for I am desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.

Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise Your name.

Then the righteous will gather about me
because of Your goodness to me."

When we feel alone and discouraged we must remember that the Lord is our refuge and strength.  He is our God and He is always there in our time of need.

When we feel dry and lukewarm we should get alone with the Lord and just rejoice in His presence.
He will revive us and give us the strength we need.  He answered my prayer and I am thankful for all He does and is doing in my life.

Do you need to be refreshed by the Lord?

Lord,
Thank You for being our refuge.
Revive us Lord with Your Holy Spirit.
Give us a fresh faith to bring glory to Your name.
Bless us Lord
In Jesus name
Amen.

No Hiding from God

I remember when I was a child playing a game called hide and seek.   I am sure you probably played as well.  One child hides somewhere and the others close their eyes and count to ten.  Then after the counting is over they attempt to seek the hidden child.

Have you ever considered that it is impossible for you to hide from God?

That maybe a scary thought for some,  but for those of us who have received forgiveness of our sins through the shed blood of Christ,  it is a comfort.

Wherever we go on the planet, God is there.  He is omnipresent.

He knows our thoughts.

He knows our very hearts and He still loves us.

Psalm 139:1-14 says,

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
You are familiar with all of my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely,
O Lord.

You hem me in-behind and before;
You have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths,  You are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there Your hand will guide me.
Your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me",
even the darkness will not be dark to You;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to You.

For You created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mothers womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully
made;
Your works are wonderful I know that full well."

There is no hiding from the Lord.  He made us and He loves us.
He wants to have a personal relationship with us and that is available through Jesus Christ.

We can take comfort that the Lord is there with us no matter where we go in life and no matter what we go through,

Have you been trying to hide from God?

The truth is you can't.  Turn to the Lord because He loves you.  He will see you though whatever you are going through.  Trust Him to be there for you because He is.

Lord,
Thank You for loving us even when we seem so unlovable.
We praise Your name.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
In Jesus name
Amen

My Helper

Sometimes the trials we face are hard.  We may feel alone and weak.

The trials we face vary from person to person.

Some problems are big some are relatively small.   Some end quickly while others last a long time.

We must remind ourselves that the Lord promises never to leave us and never forsake us.

He will always be by our side during all the moments of our lives if we are trusting in Him.

He gives us the help we need.

I like what Psalm 121 says,

"I lift my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-
he who watches over you will
not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you-
the Lord is your shade at
your right hand;

the sun will not harm you
by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm-
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming
and going
both now and forevermore."

When troubles come let us lift up our eyes to the Lord who is with us during the darkest of times.
We can trust Him to be there for us and with us,

Are you trusting Him to help you?

Lord,
Thank You for helping us during the trials we face.
Thank you that we are never truly alone.
Help us draw near to You, Lord.
In Jesus name
Amen,

Having Compassion

The world can be a dark and scarey place.

There is sickness.  Heart ache.   Suffering.  Pain.

I look at people around me sometimes and I see there hopeless expressions on their faces.   It makes me feel sad for them.   Many don't have joy in their lives because they don't have Jesus in their lives and hearts.

Jesus knows what in everyone's  heart.   We don't know what is in their hearts.

I remember reading Mathew 14:13-21.

This is where Jesus went with His disciples to find a solitary place,   but a crowd followed them.

Jesus looked out at the crowd and had compassion on them.

Are there people around us that need our compassion and love?

Have compassion on others and tell them about how much Jesus loves them.

Lord,
Help us to have compassion on those who are hurting and suffering through various trials.
Help us to point them to You.
In Jesus name
Amen
    

Be Wise

There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge.  Some people have a lot of knowledge, but they lack the wisdom to apply it.  I know of world famous scientists who are brilliant and have more knowledge than most people on the planet and yet they deny that there is a God.

Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."..."  Anyone who denies that there is a God is a fool.  Denying that there is a God is not a wise thing to do.

There is One God and He is the Lord.  He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  He is the true living God and the One revealed to us in the Bible, the only book that reveals the absolute truth about God and His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

When Jesus was finishing up His Sermon on the Mount He finished by talking about the wise and foolish builders.    We find that in Matthew 7:24-27 which says,

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash,"

May we not be foolish, but let us instead be wise and put into practice what Jesus teaches us in the Word of God.

Lord,
Thank You for Your love and Your teachings.
Help us to be wise when applying Your Word to our lives.
In Jesus name
Amen,

God's Word

I read the Bible everyday.  I really want to read more, but sometimes I get distracted by other things.
Sometimes I start reading and the phone rings.  It is really weird though.  I have heard other people tell me when they try to read God's Word some kind of  distraction occurs.  It is just like the devil to try to prevent us from reading the Bible.

The Lord wants us to read the Bible.  We learn more about Him and He can even speak to us through His Word.  The Holy Spirit will highlight something we just read if we are paying attention,

There is so much in the Bible to learn.  We could be reading the same passage for years then all of a sudden we discover something we didn't notice before.  That is the Holy Spirit illuminating Scripture.

We should be reading the Bible everyday and praying to the Lord that He would speak to us through His Word and His Holy Spirit.

Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path,"

We must stay in the Word so we can discern between the truth and lies that the world throws at us.

Allow God's Word to light your path as you walk with Him,

Lord,
We thank You for the Holy Word, the Bible.
We thank you for speaking to us and protecting us,
Help us to be firmly established upon Your Word of Truth,
In Jesus name
Amen

Unashamed Worship

I sometimes like to run or walk around the outside of house.   It is good exercise and I don't have to worry about getting hit by a car. 

Yesterday I was walking around the house with my headphones in my ears listening to a Jason Crabb album.   The songs spoke to my heart.   These songs talk about the Lord and how He is there for us in life's most difficult times. 

I could feel my heart begin to overflow with praise for the Lord Jesus and all He has done for me.  I raised my hands skyward as I walked around the outside of the house where I live.   It felt great to be able to worship the Lord and just sense His presence and peace.  He is awesome and worthy of our worship.

There were moments when I wondered if my neighbors would think I was crazy if they saw me doing this,  but I cast that thought aside and just worshiped Jesus right there.

Why do we feel ashamed to worship Jesus and testify about His saving grace?

Isn't He worthy of our praise?

I like what Psalm 141:1-2 says.  It says, "O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to me.  Hear my voice when I call to you.
My prayer is set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice."

Let us worship the Lord unashamed.

Lord,
Thank You that we can come to You in prayer and worship.
We raise our hands and bow our hearts to You O mighty King.
We humbly adore You, Creator of all things.
You are the Lord of Lords and King of Kings
You are the Master of all things.
We praise You Lord
Lead us and guide us all of our days.
Bless us Lord
We pray for strength and encouragement
In Jesus name
Amen

Having A Powerful Testimony

When I think of a powerful testimony I think of the apostle Paul when he was known as Saul.
Saul was persecuting Christians.   He was on his way to Damascus to arrest the Christians there.

While he was on his way a bright light appeared in the sky and Jesus spoke to Saul.   Saul who would later be known as Paul came to know Jesus as His Lord and Savior.  Paul was used to spread the gospel on various Missionary journeys.  Paul also wrote a lot of the New Testament writings while being inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

That is what I call a powerful testimony, but you know what.  Your testimony and mine are just as powerful.

We were living in sin,  We were convicted of our sins and we knew we needed a savior.   We could not save our selves so we received Jesus as our Lord and savior.  Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross by shedding His blood. 

Our Testimony isn't truly about us.  It is about Jesus and what He did and what He continues to do for us.  What a Savior!

In I Thessalonians chapter 1, Paul tells about how the Thessalonian Christians had such a powerful testimony that wherever Paul went people were telling him about the Thessalonians faith.  They told how they had turned away from idols and turned to the true and living God.

What a powerful testimony!

Lord,
I thank You for giving we who believe in You a powerful testimony.
You are Holy and worthy of all praise.
In Jesus name
Amen

Don't Miss Heaven

Last night my brother and I went to a gospel concert here in Houlton, Maine.  The singer was Jason Crabb and he was really good.   He sang great songs that showed his love for the Lord Jesus.

The place was sold out and everyone had a great time.  Jason also took time to talk to the audience about his faith in Jesus and he mentioned his grandmother who was a wonderfully Spirit filled woman who loved the Lord and would pray for anyone anywhere. 

When Jason Crabb finished his last song of the night he left us with this statement, he said, "Whatever you do, don't miss heaven."

I thought that was very good statement to leave us with.  It got me to thinking.   How many people do we know will miss heaven.

There is only one way into heaven and that is the absolute truth.   Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."

That is a very bold statement that Jesus made.  He is the only way into heaven.

He is the only one to shed His blood for our sins.  He was the perfect sacrifice for our sins.   Not just yours and mine, but for the whole world.  The price has been paid in full.  The only thing a person needs to do is receive this gift of salvation.

Jesus died for you.  Jesus loves us so much that even when we were still sinners He died for us.

Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Whatever you do, don't miss heaven.  Don't miss what Jesus did for you.

Lord,
I thank You for saving a wretch like me.
I ask that You touch each one that reads this blog and encourage them to seek You and trust You.
In Jesus name
Amen

True Love

The world seems to be missing love.  Not love as the world calls it, but real love.  

I am talking about the kind of love Paul writes about in
I Corinthians 13:4-7, which says, "Love is patient, Love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

This is the kind of love we should be showing each other.

God showed us this kind of love by sending His only begotten Son,  Jesus Christ,  to die on an old rugged cross for our sins.(John 3:16)

Jesus rose from the dead and He is at the right hand of the Father.   One day He is coming back.

We should love the Lord with all of our being and love others as ourselves.


Lord,
Thank you for loving us.
Help us to love each other.
In Jesus name
Amen

Hope in the Lord

Sometimes our world seems hopeless.

Things seem bleak at times.

Morals seemed to have disappeared.

Many people feel weary and feel like their is no hope for them.

There is hope, however.

We who know the Lord have placed our hope in Him.   We may feel weak in our own strength, but Lord will give us strength.

Isaiah 40:29-30 says, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Let us continue in putting our hope in the Lord.   He gives us the strength to carry on.   He is our help.    We can trust Him at all times.

Lord,
We love You.   Thank You for being the true hope for our world.
Renew our strength and lead us in accordance to Your will.
In Jesus name.
Amen

Submitting to God

We live in a day and age in which nobody seems to want to submit to anyone.

The word submit seems offensive to some people.

We don't like the idea of falling under the authority of another person.

In short,  We don't want someone else telling us what to do.

We want to be in charge.

We want to be the boss of our lives.

Sometimes, however, we don't always get what we want.

We are not truly in control of our lives.   We can still make decisions that can have long lasting effects, but you know what?   Our lives are in God's hands.  
We need Him in every area of our lives.  

We must submit to the Lord.

James 4:7-10 says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord,  and He will lift you up."

Humbling ourselves before the Lord is a great place to start because then we will be able to submit to His authority.

Is there something in your life preventing you from submitting to God fully?

Lord,
We humble ourselves before You.  
We submit to You.
Lead us and direct our steps.
In Jesus name
Amen