Unsealed

 

Unseal my lips that I may praise You. Psalm 51:15

When you look back at the history of when Psalm 51 was written, David was going through a very tough time. He had an affair, murdered his mistresses' husband, and was dealing with all of the earthly and spiritual effects that his poor choices had brought about in his life.  Nathan, a prophet, comes to him and lovingly, but sharply rebukes him for his sin. David is convicted and repents...

What is silencing your praise? What is it that hinders you from telling God how wonderful He is? What mutes you from speaking of His goodness to others? 

Maybe like David there are areas in your life that need to be made "right" with God. Because of shame you avoid Him. Because of the guilt of your choices, you refrain from sharing Christ with others in fear they will mark you as hypocritical.  Maybe you think you've just done too much bad to ever be accepted by God. 

Remember this - Jesus would have died for you if you committed one sin or if you committed 1,000! There is no limit to the power of His sin cleansing blood and there is NOTHING that stops His unending love for YOU! (Romans 8:35-39)

Lord, I lift up every person reading this.. I pray You reveal to them that which is silencing them and keeping them from You.  Unseal their lips that they may praise You. And in the midst of their praise, may their hearts be unlocked to feel the warmth of Your unconditional love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPj5rDyNpR0&feature=related

Be Still

Burdened by life's challenges.  Overwhelmed by surrounding pressures.  Moments of anxiety convincing you that "down" is the only direction your life will spiral...  

"Be still and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10

This Scripture, so simple and yet so difficult.  It's hard for us to wrap our minds around surrendering what appears insurmountable to someone else.  Our worry gives us a twisted sense of control and we can't fathom victory in our lives apart from our own efforts. I mean after all this is BIG stuff we're faced with, but all of the stress and loss of sleep isn't quite working for us, is it?

Be still.  Part of the literal translation is "to let drop, let go, release."  We need to drop our hands from fruitless, fleshly efforts, let go of the worry that torments our minds, and release it to Him.  KNOWING that He is God takes the pressure off of our shoulders to be in control and allows Him to take over supernaturally.   

Yes, the giants in our life are big, but God is bigger!  

Be still...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKb54tu4gG0&feature=related

Grateful in the Storm

 

We need to consciously make the decision to be grateful IN our negative circumstances. Grateful that in these times God can do His greatest work in us if we allow Him. God's love amazes me that even in self induced messes, He still wants to work in our lives for the ultimate goal of bringing us closer to Himself. Knowing this, we need to change our outlook during the storms of life... True character is shown and true character can be grown during tough times... Let's use it to become better! :)

Love Like Jesus

Prejudice ~ a form of hate deeply rooted in one's heart. Many don't even know why it is there. It could have been engrained in childhood; may be due to a wrong done by a particular group; could have developed due to a built up intolerance for a select group of people's lifestyle that angers us, or it could be from the infiltration of society and media.

We have struggled with its effects on both the giving and receiving end. Inflicted with the pain of being unaccepted and stirring hurt and anger in those we've outcast. It comes natural to show favoritism and segregate when we are walking in the flesh. But what does God expect from His children who are told to be walking in the Spirit?

"My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law." James 2:1, 9

"There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

Prejudice can be anything from race, gender, age, education, religion, social/financial status, outward appearance, to what side of the street one lives on. Despite these strong feelings we may have toward a select people, the Word is clear that if we have hate in our hearts, we do not know God. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202:3-11;%203:10-15&version=NKJV)

If our preconceived ideas of others reign stronger in our lives than the burning passion to see people free through Christ, we must ask ourselves if we truly know the love of Christ. Do our attitudes and actions represent Him correctly to a lost world?

Think for a moment about what type of people you find detestable. The ones who you would be fine going a lifetime never crossing paths with. Or the ones that would surely reject you, mistreat you, abuse you. What if God told you to go among them and love and serve them? Jesus did just that. He left His throne from Heaven to be among heathens who would reject Him and His message. Even the ones who claimed they knew God (the religious people) mocked Him and wanted Him killed. But He served anyway. He loved anyway - all the way to a cruel cross.

We are called to love like Him. In order to love like Him, we must set aside all of our preconceived ideas of people. We have to stop categorizing people. When it comes to races, why is it that we focus on the nine that have left a bad taste in our mouth rather than the one that is trying to make a better life? When it comes to other denominations, why is it we focus on an area of Scripture they may not be well equipped in teaching and rather listen and apply the truth of the Word that they are proclaiming?

When it comes to false religions and those caught in the fall of society through different sexual orientations, greed, pride, etc., why do we focus on using it as a form of entertainment, gossip, crude humor, or a way of making ourselves feel more spiritual rather than feeling the cry of God's heart for a lost world?

God's love is amazing. If we had just a taste of it, we could never look down in judgment on another person... His love is for all. Yes, even for those who have not yet come to repentance. He died while we were yet sinners. He put His love into action in the midst of our wickedness.

Loving everyone isn't okaying evil. It isn't accepting sin. We must still stand up for righteousness. The difference is we do it through the eyes of love - not the eyes of hate and disgust. We do it  not to mark one hopeless, but out of a passion to bring them the Hope.

The Father's love ~ a love that is unconditional and loves all the same with no partiality (Romans 2:11). His love for us is not based on our own worthiness, our wisdom or our knowledge... It has everything to do with the fact He gave up His Son to endure death so all of mankind would have opportunity to be reconciled to Him. His love makes us and every other person on this planet worthy to Him. Period.

He is the God of reconciliation and we are called to do the same ~ to lay our life down for others like Christ did.  Have you ever missed someone? Terribly missed somebody? God feels that pain and longing daily. What an honored privilege and yet what a humbling responsibility to be called to demonstrate such a love so that Daddy can have His babies back.

I believe, we as Christians, need to daily pray, "Lord, let me see all people through Your eyes. Allow me to love them like You do. Let me feel Your heart's cry so that my desire would be Your desire - to reach everyone with the saving message of Jesus Christ."

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. JUST AS I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” John 13:34-35

Children: Our Inheritance

When you hear the word “kids” – what thoughts come to mind? Another mouth to feed? The end to life as you’ve known it? A disruption to your peace and quiet? The cause of your gray hair? Unfortunately, this is a tragic attitude of many.

The Bible tells us that children are an inheritance from the Lord; a reward from HIM! They are a gift to be handled far more delicately than silver or gold. An inheritance that will not perish; a living, breathing soul to be nurtured and directed back to the One who entrusted them to our care. Children are to be accounted as blessings, not burdens. (Psalm 127:3, James 1:17)

“Jesus Loves the Little Children,” we have all heard sung at some point in our life. It’s not just a cutesy song to fill a time slot in Sunday school class. Jesus DOES love the children. He once rebuked the disciples when they forbade the children to “take up His time.” The Bible actually states that Jesus was greatly DISPLEASED! And in another text He strictly warns those who cause a little one to stumble. (Mark 10:13-14, Mark 9:42)

There are many ways to cause these precious ones to stumble. I won’t touch on the more obvious things, but how about when we withhold kindness from them “to show them who's boss?” What about when we rudely say things like, “Get out. I’m tired of hearing you?” Or when they get hurt “Just shake it off and get over it?” As a mature adult, we would never speak like that to our spouses, close friends, or a complete stranger for that matter. Why do we think children deserve any less?

The Bible says that true love does not behave rudely (1 Cor. 13). Children need unconditional love and nurturing in order to become healthy adults. Without it, they will struggle in their relationships and it will be much harder for them to understand and accept the perfect love of God for themselves. If they can’t trust the ones who are supposed to protect them, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually, accepting that an “unseen” God truly loves them is much harder to grasp. May we never cause such a stumbling.

What an honor and yet, what a responsibility to take very seriously. The Maker of Heaven and Earth depends on us to raise our children in such a way that they will serve Him and one day be reunited with Him for eternity. For anyone who has lost a child to death, to substance abuse, to a communication breakdown ~ you know how devastating that loss feels. The pain of that broken union. God loves our children on a much deeper level than we ever could. What a tragedy to not raise them to return to Him.

"And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deut 6:5-9)

Prayer:

Father, help us to be ever mindful of the way we treat our children. We make the decision now to not be controlled by our fleshly desires to lash out in moments of frustration. May we never carry the responsibility for scarring them emotionally through silent treatment, rudeness, inattentiveness, or belittling. Help us to love them like You do: keeping 1 Corinthians 13 before our eyes as the model of how love is to behave. We want our children to experience Your love through us.

Thank You for the gift of our children. We commit to seeing them as an investment to the world, a seed for Your Kingdom. We accept the responsibility to create an environment for them in which they can blossom into who You created them to be. We ask for Your forgiveness where we have stunted their growth through our selfish or lazy actions. From this day forward, Father, use us to properly tend these beautiful seeds You've given to us.

Amen.

Stones

 

Mistake is made

Which way to turn

Judged and battered

Bruised and torn

 

What got her here?

Can anybody tell?

Or will you just join

And throw stones as well?

 

Does anyone here

Know her heart?

Why she was weak?

Why she fell apart?

You’d rather assume

Make a judgment call

Any of you standing

Beware lest you fall

 

You expose others

Yet hidden you remain

How quick you forget

I see all sin the same…

Remember the Scriptures about the teachers of the law who threw a woman caught in the act of adultery at Jesus’ feet saying, “The Law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” Jesus then stooped to the ground, writes in the sand, and tells them, “He without sin, cast the first stone.” The men walk away one by one. Jesus says to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one condemn you? Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (John 8:1-12)

Many of us have read that passage and marvel at God’s mercy. We imagine ourselves in this broken woman’s shoes and the relief she must have felt having her life miraculously spared. We look at the “accusers” and are disgusted at how heartless they were, how devastating a public display of sin must have felt like, and feel a sense of thankfulness that “nowadays” is not like that anymore.

As I read these passages again, I found myself zooming in on the “accusers” once again, but in a totally different light. Could it be that we could fall into the same religious trap as these men? Sharing on public venues, text gossip, and calling to give “prayer requests” for one of our brothers or sisters in Christ who has fallen head face into sin? Merciless just like the Pharisees; parading around with a sole desire to make other’s wrongs known.

So is it really any different than it was that day in the temple yard? With the technology today, news travels fast. Within a day’s time a global gossip network has been formed, fully armed with stones in hand. Just like that… overnight – you become a leader of “sowing discord among the brethren” – leading others, many in whom you do not even know, into abomination.

“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, the seventh is an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

Jesus is saying the same thing to us, “Is any among you without sin? If not, then drop the stones. Stop mimicking the enemy of your soul, the accuser of the brethren. If you love Me, walk as I walked.” (Rev. 12:10, 1 John 2:6)

As Christ followers, we are called to be like Him. The Christian life is about being transformed daily into His image, His likeness, His way of doing things. With that said, let’s look again at the opening passage of Scripture. “He without sin, cast the first stone.” Notice – Jesus, 100% sin free, yet you never see Him pick up a stone. He didn’t come to demolish what was already broken, but to restore it. (John 3:17) 

“If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.” (Galatians 6:1)

 

Prayer:

Lord, may our hearts break for the hurting, for their reconciliation to You. May we never use another’s brokenness as a sick form of entertainment that fuels our self-righteousness. You are not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance. We want that heart. We want a heart that is broken for the lost and for our fellow brethren who have entangled themselves in the affairs of another path.

We know that bad company corrupts good habits, so Lord, help us remove ourselves from those who choose to gossip and slander, from those who pull us away from doing Your will, from those who keep us flesh conscious rather than spirit conscious. We want to be promoters of unity not sowers of discord. 

 

Forgive us for the damage we have caused others when we have not used our tongue to bring life.

(Rom. 1:29, 2 Peter 3:9, 2 Cor. 5:20, Prov. 20:19, 2 Thess. 3:11, 1 Cor. 15:33, Psalm 133:1, Prov. 6:14, Psalm 34:13, Prov. 18:21)

Fear

 

 

We are all well acquainted with the emotion that bears a choke hold. It's ruthlessness. It's torment. It's an enemy to faith, a thief that robs you of life - imprisons you to a false reality.

Anxiety, depression, doubt, worry, hurt, anger, sadness, low self esteem, unworthiness. It comes disguised underneath many different emotions, but it all comes down to one thing:

FEAR.

The paralysis for some is the dread of what could happen years down the road, anxiety associated with an unpredictable economy, and for many it is the torment of what today, the next hour, the next minute will bring.

"...fear has torment." 1 John 4:18a

Fear is not only an emotion, but a spiritual force. It is very similar to faith in that both have an unshakable belief in an unseen future. Fear trusts circumstances, natural predictions, the enemy's lies, and self. Faith trusts God and what His Word says. Fear is negative faith.

Fear is an enemy of God. It in essence rips Him of His lordship in our lives. We become self focused and not God focused. We put our trust in the wisdom of man rather than in the power of God (1 Cor. 2:5). We no longer see Him for Who He is and who He desires to be in our lives... He solely becomes a gateway to Heaven, but in our day to day living He is diminished to a dusty figure placed on a shelf. 

God is love, and the Bible says that Perfect Love casts out fear. God is THAT perfect love.

"There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but perfect love turns fears out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment. He who is afraid has not fully experienced His perfect love." 1 John 4:18

Father, we want to know Your love... Your love is our freedom. Your love removes shackles. Your love delivers us from all fear. You are not what our circumstances look like. You are not what the latest trends define You as. We commit to growing in the knowledge of who You truly are as defined in Your Word, and through that knowledge - growing in intimacy with You... We know that in experiencing that intimate love - fear has no more room in our lives. Thank You for Your love and the hope and peace it brings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uztHkNujb5o

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4

Peace

 

 

The battle that rages... the roller coaster that never comes to a halt.  No outward bruises and scars to speak of, but the inward “soul scarring” is a pain that doesn’t just go away with a Band-Aid and time.

Only the One who made us can restore us back to wholeness and lead us to our place of safety. In the midst of your raging storm, I pray you look to Him ~ where your release and your peace is found.

 

Peace

Crashing waves

Bruise my shore

Howling winds

Blow in once more

Torrential rains

Pelt my skin

Lightning bolts

Come again

Turbulent waters

Staggered stance

Cycle repeated

In this dying dance

 

Trembling knees

Strike the ground

Eyes glance up

To where help is found

 

An instant hush

The storm to cease

All at once

A soul at peace…

Freedom in our Praise

Most of the Psalms were written during wilderness times; the Epistles,  in prison. We can take comfort in knowing that when we are in the fire, God is about to use us in a mighty way. 

"About Midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God..." In their darkest hour, they didn't forget God nor grow angry with Him.   They knew from Whom their help came from and they knew their freedom was in their praise. 

The rest of that Scripture states, "And the other prisoners were listening to them." Others are watching us as we endure life's storms.

"Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the foundations of the jail.  All the doors  immediately flew open, and everyone's chains came off. "

May we be like Paul and Silas, confident that God will never  forsake us even in the toughest of times.  Our continual worship of Him will invoke His presence into our lives. Not only will it bring our freedom, but an open door to share the Gospel message to those who have watched our calm endurance. 

(Acts 16:25-26, Philippians 4:4-7, 1 Peter 2:9, Hebrews 13:15)