For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

 Fall is my favorite time of the year, as it brings in cooler temperatures, beautiful colors on the trees, a refreshing breeze, and unwelcomed pollen. Well, we haven’t had much of the Fall ingredients, but the pollen has definitely arrived and my sinuses are suffering. As we get ready for our Judgment Journey production at church, I still have a lot to do and my body wants to lay low and do very little. Don’t have time for that, so I’ve been praying frequently for God to restore me back to good health so I can finish the work which began over a year ago.

 When doing the Lord’s work, you’ve got to know Satan will do all he can to disrupt progress. He threw a hurricane at us this past week and through much prayer, God protected our community, and the various scenes of our production from damage and flooding. I see in the news another potential storm will be brewing and again has our community in its sights. Prayers for God’s protection must continue for the show to go on!

 Life is like that, you know. We set out to achieve some special tasks, and it’s met with resistance. When that happens, doubt and discouragement can easily creep in and reduce your confidence to the point you want to simply give up. Today’s verse encourages us to walk by faith, and not let the visible troubles discourage you. God is on your side and He knows what it takes to accomplish the task. Why not trust Him with it through prayer and faith in His ability to see it through, not matter what the external circumstances looks like? I can promise you, if its His will, He will do everything in His power to help you accomplish the work you began.

 Maybe you are facing a big project at work and you can already feel the resistance from others, it’s a troubled relationship and your partner doesn’t seem to care about what happens, or maybe it’s a poor health report and the news doesn’t appear to have a positive outcome. Take it to God in prayer and have faith that He will provide you His very best! He will do it because He loves you. You are His creation, Your Heavenly Father, and He loves to embrace your troubles with you. If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can tell this mountain to move and it shall be moved. Matthew 17:20

 

 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

Have you ever wondered how God thinks; what He likes, dislikes, and the wisdom He is willing to share? You go to church and hear a sermon about a certain topic, then at some point, you talk with someone else who has an opposing opinion about the same subject, leaving you to wonder what is the truth.

 Thankfully, God never meant to leave His creation in the dark. He inspired everyday people to write down His thoughts, wisdom, and life’s guidelines for living a life pleasing to Him. It’s called the Bible, and today’s verse is proof of the true authorship. Think about it, the God of this universe has provided us the instruction book of life.  

 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2

 If you search for a bible, you’ll find there are countless versions of God’s word. Man has taken God’s word and simplified its words over the years to make it easier to understand. In the process, they have added or taken away critical words, even scripture. The NIV bible is one of the easiest to read, but many scriptures have been removed or the intent of a verse has been changed. I’ve found the best bible is the King James, or New King James version. Do your research, but know that certain versions have been modified from the original intent.

 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap upon themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

 Unfortunately, there are preachers that water down God’s word or completely remove scripture from their sermons to suit their audience. God help these preachers who will stand before God one day to give an account for their deceptive teaching.

 Navigating life is difficult, but God’s word provides the best instruction to get you through each day under the guidance of your maker. You won’t know what God thinks unless you read your bible. Listen to your preacher and check out his instruction to make sure He is giving you biblical truths. If not, change where you worship. Blessings.

 

 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22

 Do you ever struggle with certain sins? They seem to draw you away like a kid in a candy store and you find resistance short of impossible. Once the sin is committed, guilt follows and you begin to question God’s forgiveness.

 In today’s verses, Peter asks Jesus how often he should forgive someone who sinned against him, Jesus’ reply was 70 times 7. If you do the math, that seems like a lot of forgiveness, but that is exactly how God feels towards you, His creation. From the moment man was created, and throughout the generations until now, He knew no one was capable of living a sinless life. He had to make a way to bridge that gap, that’s when Jesus Christ came to earth to bare the sins of mankind.

 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. Romans 7:15

 Even Paul, one of God’s greatest apostles, who spread the gospel to the Gentiles, struggled with repeated sin. Satan will be quick to make you think you are the only one who struggles with certain sins, with the hopes of alienating you from God’s forgiveness. I can assure you; you are not alone in your struggles with sin, and yet the blood of Jesus Christ is available for all of His followers who accept and receive His free gift of forgiveness. Mind you, His willingness to forgive doesn’t give you permission to continually live in purposeful sin. He provides a way out of sin if you are willing to utilize the help of His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 10:13).

 The next time you struggle to understand how Jesus could forgive you again and again, let Matthew 18:21-22 remind you of His unlimited ability to forgive.  

 

 James 2:16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does  it profit? 

When someone shares their struggles, the common response is, “I'll be praying for you”. Prayer is great and accomplishes much, but sometimes God expects you to go the extra mile and give them more than lip service. 

Matthew 5:41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  

Jesus' life was the perfect example of serving others, that was His life's ministry, and if you are a genuine Christian you should follow in His footsteps. Yes, life is busy and we often make excuses for the added responsibilities, but you've got to consider, what's my priority? Serving others or serving self. 

As I write this blog, the feeling of guilt confirms I need to do more by reprioritizing my daily tasks. And the wonderful benefit of serving others is it provides a window for them to see Christ through you, and God will surely bless you, either here or in Heaven one day. 

Matthew 25:34-35 NKJV

[34] Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  [35] for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  

 Deuteronomy 16:8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall  be a sacred assembly to the Lord your God. You shall do no work on  it. 

Before Jesus was born, God commanded His people to take off a day from work to worship Him. God knew the pursuit of money, through work, and business of life could totally consume them, putting them at risk for not focusing on God. The Jewish people took this to heart, literally preparing themselves so they didn't have to focus on anything but God on that one day of rest. 

Somewhere along the way we’ve lost that sacred tradition, as many businesses remain open 7 days a week and people fill their time off from laboring with pleasures that promote anything but God. No wonder we are living in stressful times. 

Making money to support your family is important, but when it or other endeavors are put before God, you lose out on His blessings and that free time seems to be used up at a quicker rate. 

As we near the weekend, I encourage you to make time to rest and worship God. He has done so much for our country that we should be thankful for His blessings poured out over this great nation. Without our worship, God's hand of protection will be removed, opening us up for physical attacks, like 9/11, to draw us back for dependence upon Him. 

 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10

 A few weeks ago, I received a warning notice in the mail that I was caught speeding in a school zone. Newly installed radars and cameras have been placed at most of the school zones throughout our city and county in an effort to combat speeding through these areas. I questioned the legitimacy of the notice as I usually drive the speed limit and always cautious, especially around school zones. This one was out in the county, on the open highway, and I was running late for a dentist appointment. I pay closer attention to my speed due to this warning, and thankfully it was just a warning.

 As Christians, we try our best to do the right things, but every now and then we mess up and find ourselves overwhelmed with guilt and shame. Ever experience guilt? That feeling is most likely the Holy Spirit notifying you that something went wrong in your desire to live in obedience and change needs to occur so you don’t do it again. Seeking forgiveness erases that violation of God’s law, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But if the guilt continues, you can probably pinpoint the repeated reminders on Satan, who enjoys ridiculing God’s children. By doing so, he keeps you feeling unworthy of God’s love, grace, and mercy, and sadly, some Christians never break free from their guilt.

 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

 No matter how hard you try, you’ll mess up sometimes, and God will always be ready and faithful to forgive you when you acknowledge your trespasses and work to change your ways. We are all guilty, but thankfully we have been found not-guilty by the blood of Jesus Christ and His great love for you and me!

 I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 

Every morning I put out corn for the deer that reside in the woods next to my house. A momma and her two babies routinely come up to feed every morning. It's fun to watch them, and they've become relaxed when approaching their feed. But, they are always postured, ready to run at the first sign of danger. 

Today's verse reminds us that the devil is always on the prowl, waiting for us to get comfortable in our setting, so he can slip in some temptation, one opportune moment, or corral emotions to steer us towards something spiritually dangerous. You see and hear about it all the time, perfectly normal people who turn from good to bad without much thought, and end up living a lifetime of regret, sometimes taking their own life. 

As children of God, we should never get “comfortable” in our worldly setting. Compromising our beliefs and values open the door for Satan to slip in something damaging to us. Looking back, I can see times in my life where I was comfortable, maybe even confident, in my faith that I walked easily into one of his traps. No one is immune from his plans, especially when you are serving God on the battlefield. 

Staying prayed up and setting limits on what you do, think, read, ingest, and take pleasure in, will help you remain alert to the wiles of the devil. 

 John 11:40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”  

Today's scripture comes from the story of Jesus raising Lazarus back to life. Lazarus' sister questioned Jesus when He said to remove the stone covering the cave. The key word is “believe”. 

So often we pray for things and question how God will work out a hopeless situation. But that's exactly what God does, He takes our faith, and our belief in His ability to do anything He desires, which shows us the glory and power of God. 

If Jesus can raise a dead body of 4 days back to life, just think what He can do for your situation with faith and belief in Him. Trust Jesus with every request and you too will see the glory of God at work. God bless. 

 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to them, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:36-37

 Have you ever thought about how much love you have for God. In earthly terms, we can measure love by the amount of respect we have for one another, by the things we do for the other person, time spent with them, and putting their needs before self. Jesus was asked what was the greatest command of all time, and His reply was to love God with every ounce of your being. How can you measure your love for God?

 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. “John 14:21

 True love, true loyalty to Jesus Christ is to keep His commandments. Not just a few, but all of them. That can be a tall order for some who place a line in the sand to their obedience to God’s commandments. You see, God wants us to completely surrender our will for His. It really is not that complicated, but we make it difficult by our selfish desires and earthly pursuits, that hinder true loyalty and love to the King of Kings.

 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” John 14:24

 No one is perfect and trying to keep your life perfectly aligned on God’s narrow path of obedience can be a struggle with all the worldly influences meant to distract. But the sins that you purposefully indulge in, not by chance but by choice, is a good indicator that you haven’t truly surrendered everything to Him.

 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

 You know the truth; loving God requires complete obedience and surrender. Anything less than that makes you an enemy of God (James 4:4). I know those are strong words, but Jesus was very clear while He preached on earth that few will find their way into Heaven, only those who completely surrender to His perfect will. His will is that you love Him with every ounce of your being, with true loyalty. Start today in prayer and ask God for His help to keep you on that narrow path of righteousness. God will bless and reward you for your love and loyalty to Him.

 

 

 Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 

Over the past week I've worked at our church, constructing doors and stairs to buildings in preparation for Judgment Journey. To be transparent, it has taken a toll on this old man's body, so today I'm resting. Although there is still much work to be done, I'll be of no use to additional work if I'm run down. It's good to rest and enjoy some much needed quiet time with God. 

Today's passage finds Jesus and His disciples on the move, hungry, and it was the Sabbath day, a day which required God's children not to work. Yet, Jesus and His disciples plucked grains to eat, and the Pharisees were right there to call them out. In the following verses Jesus gave the justification for His actions.

Matthew 12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” 

Doing the Lord's work can be taxing on His children, physically and mentally, but it doesn't go without His blessings. Maybe you are busy at work for the Lord….that's awesome. But take time to rest and regroup with Him. Without strength and a continual connection with the Lord of the work, it will all be done in vain and without the heart He seeks in His followers. God bless.

 Isaiah 58:11 The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

In the early Spring I purchased a hanging basket with beautiful flowers to attract Hummingbirds to the feeder that was next to it. Rain consistently fell and kept it blooming. As summer came, the rains dried up and my plant started to wither. So, I got out the watering can and have kept it going through the hot and dry summer. 

Today's verse reflects the same care God has for His creation. He is always monitoring our progress with plans that will promote growth to make us align with His image (characteristics). His ultimate goal is for us to release our grip on life and put our complete faith, trust, and dependence on Him. When we do this, we get a daily dose of His love, wisdom, and grace to sustain us for whatever happens throughout the day. 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

God gives each of us “free will” to choose where we will get our strength to navigate the daily challenges. The Bible is clear, we cannot adequately sustain these challenges by relying on our own resources. Denying self shows God you are willing to trust in His faithfulness to receive what He knows is best for optimal growth and to thrive. Sometimes that involves pruning, cutting out things and people who give a false sense of security. It's all part of His plan to keep you watered and nourished through the good and bad times of life. 

Let God be your watering can and you'll soon discover a life full of beauty and growth, even in periods of drought. God bless. 

 Isaiah 43:18 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.”

I was talking to a friend last night and jokingly mentioned one of the stupid things I did in my youth. He responded by saying it's easy to recall the wrong things we've done. He's not wrong, we as humans often allow memories of the worst moments of life to resurface in our mind, reliving the shame and regret those actions yielded. Lord knows I have many moments I wish I could redo, but I can't. 

Satan does his best to remind us of our past sins, in an attempt to make us feel unworthy of God's love and His gracious mercy He shows His followers. Today's passage tells us to forget the past, because there is nothing you can do to change it, only make better choices today. 

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

The beautiful thing about a relationship with God is He takes our poor choices and uses them to redirect our decisions that reflect more of His character and fulfill His will for each one of us. Looking back, I can see how my life has evolved into a better child of God. Not that I'm perfect by any means, but my decisions are biblically based and fall in line with His plan for me. 

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

God can't bless or use us unless we are washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. When we repent of sin and ask His forgiveness, He removes the past mistakes and failures from the book, so He can do great things in a life in submission to His will. 

Don't let your past haunt you; if you've acknowledged your wrong, it's forgotten. Today is a new day, a fresh start, for God to do great things in your life. God bless. 

 Ever feel overwhelmed with life? I know it's a silly question, but we all have been over our heads in turbulent waters at various times. Life is difficult and without faith in the One who controls the waves of adversity it can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Psalm 89:8 says “Your faithfulness surrounds You”. It's one of God's characteristics you can rely on to keep you afloat when the pressures of life seem to drown you of all hope. 

Maybe you've been struggling to keep it all together and you are short of giving up. Put your faith in God, who can bring inner peace and stability in moments when your fabric is unraveling quicker than you can fix it. He is your life boat in the storm. Call out to Him today and see how His faithfulness can help you keep your head above water. God bless.