Monday, April 25, 2011

No Lies



The longterm pain of being untrusted is so much greater than the temporary pain of being honest about an uncomfortable confession.

"Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits." Colossians 3:9

"The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth."  Proverbs 12:22

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Easter Story



Twelve men left all and followed Him
Miracles they had seen
They watched Him heal all who were sick
Those with unclean spirits were made clean

But one follower named Judas Iscariot
Betrayed Him with a kiss
Handed Him over to the chief priests
To be scourged and put to death

He was mocked by those that held Him
Asking Him, “So, are You the Christ?”
“You wouldn’t believe Me if I told you,” He said
For they accused Him of speaking lies

“Are you the Son of God?” they stammered
He responded, “Yes, I am He”
Accusations of blasphemy filled the land
An act deserving the death penalty

They all condemned Him to be put to death
As they struck Him and spit in His face
Even one of His disciples whom He loved very much
Denied ever seeing His face

Carrying Him away; they delivered Him to Pilate
“Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate sneered
“You say rightly that I am a King,” Jesus said
“But My kingdom is not from here.”

Jesus, the Christ, and Barabbas, a murderer
Stood before the multitude
By custom one prisoner could be released
The one whom the people choose

“Away with this Man; release to us Barabbas,”
Insistently the people cried
“Then what shall I do with Jesus, the Christ?”
They shouted, “Let Him be crucified.”

A purple robe they placed on His body
A crown of thorns twisted on His head
“Hail, King of the Jews,” they mocked
As blood streamed from His head

His back took brutal beatings
His head they struck with a rod
Spitting into His face they scorned
“Save Yourself if You’re the Son of God!”

He didn’t fight back to prove who He was
For He knew His hour had arrived
To fulfill the very purpose for why He had come
For a lost people He would have to die

As they drove the cold nails in His hands and feet
His body exposed for all to view
Jesus cried, “Father, forgive them”
“For they know not what they do.”

Blasphemous words echoed throughout
Gross darkness encamped the land
And with His last breath He shouted aloud
“Father, I commit My spirit into Your hands.”

On the third day since His burial
An angel descended from Heaven
The earth quaked; the stone rolled away
The tomb was empty, for Jesus had risen

Two women mourned nearby the tomb
For they thought His body had been stole
The angel approached them and declared
“Rejoice, for He has arose!”

Quickly they fled to tell the disciples
Their hearts filled with great joy and fear
Some of them rejoiced while others doubted
And then in their midst Jesus appeared

They fell at His feet and worshipped
As He blessed them with His hands
“Go into all the world and tell them of Me,
I won’t be back ‘til it’s reached every land.”

“Remember you're not of this world
If you've received Me as your Lord
Be not like the world; keep from all evil
So that you may receive the final reward.”

“It’s time for Me to leave now,
You must carry out My ministry
I give you the authority to be My hands and feet
With My name you’ll set many free.”

“For it won’t be long before I return
For those who live for Me
They are who I will take as My bride
To Heaven for eternity.”

“Keep watch for the hour is so near
Be prepared to meet Me again
For in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye
As I am now, I will appear again.”

"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8

Saturday, April 16, 2011

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 afterall 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

Monday, April 11, 2011

Character




Our character, if not developed and matured, will eventually catch up with us and knock us down from the platform in which our gifting and talents have taken us.

We all have seen it.  Highly gifted performers who have the world's attention but lack of character shows through in their actions and their credibility is marred.   Ministers, oftentimes those with a worldwide voice, but EVENTUALLY their character flaws shine through and it's the very thing that dethrones them from their position. 

"The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them." Proverbs 11:3

Our greatest weaknesses, if left undealt with, will surface to the top.  You can only wear a mask for so long. The rubber band eventually snaps and what used to hide you has now left you revealed.  The self constructed platform that once elevated your ego comes crashing down from the weight of the junk that was left unchecked. 

Bandaids are not a substitute for surgery.  Developing our character is a deep work that requires facing our heart issues not covering them up.  Building godly character takes place in quiet, "at the feet of Jesus" times: diligently exposing ourselves to the Word of God and letting it shine a light on those areas that do not line up. 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Psalm 139:23-24

Slow down and take a look at who you are. Not who you lead others or yourself to believe.  Not what your reputation says about you. Who are you when no one else is looking?  What heart attitudes reign behind your smile?  What would God say about your character?

Lord, we all have "stuff" that we cover up so beautifully. On the outside everything looks good and yet inside their is decay that needs a touch from You.  Whatever it is in our lives that is keeping us from fully serving and pleasing You, please shine a light on it.  Shine Your light on the ugly parts so that we can, with Your help, become all You have called us to be.  We want to be a living example of Christ in the earth not a false representation that gives Him a bad name when we come crashing down because of our undealt with "stuff."   We love You, Lord, and we desire to become more and more like You.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

... But They Are All Hypocrites



How often have you heard people say, "There's no way I'm going to church. They're full of hypocrites?" Have you ever stopped to think that WE ALL ARE in some area or another? We've all said one thing and done another. It's the sinfulness of human nature.  Did not Paul even say, "I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway?" (Romans 7:19)

We need to keep one thing in mind: We don't go to church to find a perfect people. We go to worship and learn about a perfect Savior! :) 

Father, help us to lay aside all prejudices we have against "church" life.  Help us to realize that You have called us to gather together with the saints to strengthen and encourage one another in the faith.  Help us to not get a false perception of who You are by the actions of others.  Help us to see others through Your eyes and to faithfully pray for one another...

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25

Friday, April 8, 2011

Judge Yourself



How is it our sin looks so much worse when committed by someone else? If we feel the need to judge, let's turn to the mirror on OUR own wall for practice...

"You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things." Romans 2:1

As a sidenote: The Word DOES say we will know whether people are living for God by their "fruit."  It is important to take notice of one's lifestyle in order to make wise choices in who we allow into our inner circle. However, we are NEVER called to condemn: to mark as worthless, having no hope, deserving of punishment.  We are to be ministers of reconciliation. If we see a brother or sister who is caught up in a lifestyle of sin, we are called to lift them up IN LOVE.

When we are so focused on the wrongs of others, we overlook the very things in our own lives that need adjusting.  Let's make a conscious decision TODAY to not allow words of condemnation to pour from our lips. 

(Matthew 7:20, 2 Cor. 5:19, 1 John 5:16 Proverbs 16:24, Proverbs 21:23, Eph. 4:25,29)

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Icon of Faith



An icon of faith is not one who has seemingly lived a perfect life. It's those who have fallen, skinned their knees a few times (even several times), but they get back up and know from Whom their help comes from...

"I look up to the mountains -does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!" Psalm 121:1-2

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

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 in the storms of life... True character is shown and true character can be grown during tough times...  Let's use it to become better! :)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

No Condemnation




"They listened to Him, and then they began going out, conscience-stricken, one by one, from the oldest down to the last one of them, till Jesus was left alone, with the woman standing there before Him in the center of the court. When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?  She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more." (John 8:9-11)

The accusers' consciences were convicted when put face to face with Jesus. Stones of condemnation dropped when the Man of Grace came on the scene.  If we truly are living a life conscious of God's abiding presence, operating in condemnation is no longer possible.

Are you a stone thrower or a stone builder? John 8:7 ~ 1 Peter 2:5... Think about it :)

Monday, April 4, 2011

Beautiful Ugly



Don't allow condemnation or people keep you down for bad choices you have made. God loves to make beautiful out of our "ugly."

"So I went down to the Potter’s house, and I saw Him working at the wheel. But the pot He was shaping from the clay was marred in His hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to Him." Jeremiah 18:3-4 

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Intimacy



Israel knew God's deeds, but Moses knew His ways. We need to grow past merely being informed ABOUT God and get to the point where we are transformed and KNOW Him, His heart, His ways. We have learned of His goodness from what others say and from what He has done in our own lives, but because we don't move past the "dating" stage with God, we aren't experiencing intimacy with Him.  True intimacy is born out of commitment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74VBbjq3GD4

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Come Out of Hiding


The hand of the LORD was upon Elijah (1 Kings 18:46). Yet only one chapter over we find Elijah hiding from Jezebel's threats, wishing his life were over. Too often we allow the enemy's voice to override Gods. Satan takes pleasure in paralyzing us by circumstances. He knows in believing the lie, we will go into hiding and abort our call. Time to get out of our caves and REMEMBER what God has said!  :)

Father, forgive us for allowing doubt and fear to enter our hearts.  We let the voice of fear, the voice of others, the voice of the enemy to muffle Your voice.  Your voice that was once so clear to us becomes a forgotten sound. We cast away all doubt and we choose to believe Your promises.  We incline our ears to You once again.  Speak to us, Lord...

Friday, April 1, 2011

Sin



The craving overwhelms you
Accustomed to the taste of sin
You think that just one sip won’t hurt
But the slippery slope begins
The pleasure is only for a season
It has a price to be paid
The penalty will by far outweigh
The kiss with sin you have made

You are faced with two choices
Which one will you choose?
With one you have everything to gain
The other – you have all to lose

Lord, we know that a life of serving You is not to be a robotic "no, no, no" legalistic way of living but rather a real, living relationship with a Holy God. Nothing unrighteous sways You!  You are set apart from all sin and You have equipped us with the ability to say YES to doing things Your way.  Lord, may our being in right standing with You be more important than any passing earthly "pleasure." May our hearts break by what breaks Yours....