Of God *

But you belong to God, my dear children.

1st John 4:4a NLT

I just kept hearing that part of Scripture in my spirit. (Actually, I hear the KJV - Ye are of God, little children...) and tonight, I want to send this to you and remind you that the Spirit of God is greater than anything adverse that we will ever face. 

Adversity will come, no matter how well we plan our escape routes... But know this - in Romans 8:38-39, Paul assures us, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is 1st John 4 - Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.

Prayer:

Father,

         We want to know Your perfect love and to walk in it with our brothers and sisters in You. Help us, Father, to become ever wiser in overcoming our flesh. and anything that would raise its ugly head to try to prevent us from loving as You love. Keep us ever close to You, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

With Us Always *

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

Jesus has ALL authority and He's with us always. What excuse do we dare to offer for not fulfilling His command? This song just keeps rolling around in my spirit... It's Never Once by Matt Redman. My hope is that the Truth of it will drive deep into your heart and come alive in you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=722zPX1npcA&feature=share

Verse 1
Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we've come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Verse 2
Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You've done
Knowing every victory
Is Your power in us

Pre-Chorus
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Chorus 1
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Repeat Verse 2
Repeat Pre-Chorus

Chorus 2
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Bridge
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Ending Chorus
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Prayer:

Father,
          Every step we are breathing in Your grace! Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise! You are faithful! God, You are faithful! Change our hearts, O God, to be faithful to Your will. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
 

* Miracle In the Making

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.
1st Peter 4:12-13 The Message

There are times when life is hard. It seems like trouble comes at us from every side. Sometimes, life feels like an illustrated sermon for 2nd Corinthians 4:8-9, We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed... but it feels like we're getting mighty close to it.

Ever been there? How many times have we prayed for a miracle?

Let me explain something to you. Miracles don't happen for normal. Miracles are required for extraordinary circumstances - extreme needs - seemingly hopeless cases. Have you ever thought about that? Commonplace, ordinary, every day normal doesn't require miraculous intervention... well... for SOME of you, it might, but not normally. Pun intended.

The point is - count it ALL joy. No troubles in your life - praise God! Big troubles  - praise God - you're in the breeding ground for a miracle in the making.

Prayer:

Father,
        Help us to see You are always in our business. You orchestrate our lives and the many steps we can take if we keep our focus on You and follow where You lead. Give us clear direction, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Camping Standards

And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:  “Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard, beside the emblems of his father’s house; they shall camp some distance from the tabernacle of meeting. 

Numbers 2:1-2 NKJV

In this passage, the Lord is clear about how He wants His people lined up. Each tribe to camp by its own standard - the banner that represents their lineage - the emblems of the father's house. You could tell by a glance who was supposed to be where and with whom.

It is a code of sorts that has carried down through the ages. Family crests, clan tartans, country flags, state flags, school flags, military regiment flags. You get the picture. Many of them are recognizable without definition. Whether it's honored or hated, everyone in the world knows the American flag. As children growing up in American schools, we pledged allegiance and lined up by the flag and all that it represents. 

I used to go camping as a Girl Scout. The only two things I liked about camping were singing around the campfire and making s'mores. Each group had a flag with a certain color and shape.  Invariably, the group I was in would wind up being the last tent. The one closest to the woods, far from the meeting house and all the campground lights. Ours would be the one the night critters - skunks and raccoons - would sometimes get in. I always wanted to pledge my allegiance to a different flag... one that was closer to the meeting house and the lights and the Leader.

In Isaiah 59:19b, the prophet proclaims, When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.  Do we know the Father's standard? Will we make our camp beside it? When He lifts it up, will we know where to run? What is our standard - pun intended?

Prayer:

Father,

         We want to make our dwelling place in Your camp and our allegiance only to You. We place ourselves under the protection of Your standard, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Good All Over Again

My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

1^st Peter 5:12b&c NLT

Letter writing is fast becoming a lost art. We live in the frenetic world of e-mail, texting and instant messages. Instantaneous communication in the briefest form. Why, even verbal communication has been greatly affected. When I get home, the first thing I do is go to the mailbox to see what’s come in. First priority is ALWAYS anything addressed by hand – which doesn't happen often, but it’s always the first thing I look for. Anything else is just stuff. 

A few years back, my sister had been going through old boxes at her house. In one, she found a letter addressed to my eldest brother, Ron, while he was in boot camp (I won’t tell you how long ago) and since I was stopping back by there on my way home from Missouri, I took it to him.  It turns out it was a letter from one of my other brothers who was 15 years old at the time of the writing. Ron had been gone 3 weeks and Joe had written him multiple pages, front and back, and it was a real treat to watch Ron read it and share the news as we marveled at the length of the letter written all those years ago. It was sweet and the love was tangible.

I thought about it a lot while driving back home on that trip. I have letters that I've kept for years and it made me want to pull them all out and read them again. They would be good all over again. They mean that much to me because the writer went ‘the extra mile’ to take the time to sit and write. Every time I think about it, it makes me want to sit down and write a letter to someone.

I was reminded about all the letters in the Bible. Think about this - they TRULY went the extra mile because they didn't have the pony express or the post office, either. I know they didn't have cyberspace and airwaves to send their missives, so they had to write it out, but I’m SO glad they did! Aren't you?

Doesn't it make you want to pull out the Word and read the letters again? They'll be good all over again.

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for Your written Word. Give us a fresh anointing to understand it and to share it with those in need of a good word. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

* Who and What

"a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him." And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 1:3-4 NIV
***************
In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil.
James 4:17 The Message

I began to write this before I went to church tonight. I had jotted down some "dots" that I knew were connected, but hadn't quite been connected in my mind. They became solidified at some point during the evening, defining the path forward. 

I have confessed the complacency that I had allowed to slip into my life. I have been guilty of wanting to just lay back and take it easy. Not overt tolerance of wrong, but definitely a mindset of resignation - of not being able to change anything, so why bother? After so many times of hearing the "you can't change city hall" mentality, I started to believe the lie...

However, during the last week, I have prayed for passion, for focus, for COURAGE. For God to break the selfish pride, the lie that the absence of confrontation equals peace, the self-preservation tactics to not rock the boat. Every song in my spirit has been about Who and what this life I live is supposed to be lived for... and I'll give you a clue - I am not the who or the what.

Then today, I thought about the famous quote of Martin Niemoller. I wanted to make sure I got it right, so the following version actually comes from the text of an Address he gave to the United States Congress in 1968 and it appears in the Congressional Record, October 14, 1968, page 31,636.

"When Hitler attacked the Jews 

I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned. 

And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, 

I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. 

And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, 

I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. 

Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church -- 

and there was nobody left to be concerned."

I keep thinking about the words of Jesus, "If you've done it unto the least of these my brethren, you've done it unto Me." Good or bad - I've done it unto Him. Can I live with that? Can you?

I can no longer be bothered by who thinks what. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil.

Father,

          Passion. Focus. Courage. Clean hands and a pure heart, in Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

* Strength to Fight

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
1st Timothy 6:12-14 NLT

The following lines are excerpts from Pastor Alan Neel's sermon...

• There will always be a fight. We are not fighting flesh and blood; we are contending for our faith.
• There is no "Golden Acres Retirement Center" here on Earth. 
• THERE IS NO CONVENIENT CHRISTIANITY.
• We better learn how to fight.
• Discernment
• Discipline 
• 1st Timothy 4:7 "Train yourself..."
• If you don't establish the right habits, by default you'll continually reinforce the bad habits. 
• Quote by Dr. Gary Brothers, "Don't cause yourself more trouble than the trouble causes you."
• Determination

• We better learn how to win.

We are not moving to a place of rest here on Earth. That doesn't happen here. Here - we need to fight! 

Fight for our faith!

Fight for our children's faith!

Fight for our grandchildren's faith!

Like the Apostle Paul commanded, "Fight the good fight for the true faith."

The Finish Line is in sight! We can't slack off - we must win!

Prayer:

Father, 

          Today I pray as Scotty Smith prayed - for strength to do the next right thing, according to Your Word in Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through him who strengthens me...this verse has been underlined in my Bible, pasted on my refrigerator...But today I need it to be an active force in my life. Free me from the temptations of an “approval suck”. I don’t want to become aloof and callous, but neither do I want to be oversensitive to what people think... 

I need strength to deal with destructive choices of friends. Marriages, health, the hearts of children and Your glory are on the line. I need strength, Jesus, to get involved where frankly, I’d rather not. It would be much easier just to “pray from afar” than to run after prodigals, confront foolishness, and face anger. Strengthen me so that I will not wimp out. You pursued me, and You pursue me still. Likewise, be a persistent lover through me in these messy situations.

I need strength to seek You with fresh passion and delight; earnestness and anticipation. I never like it when I find it easier to watch TV than to meditate on the Scriptures. It’s not a good sign when exercising my body for vanity comes easier than exercising my heart for godliness. Renew my heart’s affection, adoration, and allegiance to You; for You alone are worthy of everything I am and have.

In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen

Work At It +

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Hebrews 12:12-15 NLT

On occasion, I have thought I should have become a nun in a convent where they take vows of silence and then I might have stood half a chance of living in peace with everyone. I'm reminded of the comedian who said, "I had the right to remain silent, but I didn't have the ability." 

I used to think living a holy life was the hardest thing in the world to do. Don't take that wrong - in NO way, do I mean to imply that I don't think it still is difficult - I just think that living in peace with everyone is just as hard. I don't mean "pretend peace" - where no one is fighting or having words because no one cares enough to say anything. I'm talking about peace that passes understanding. The kind where - in your flesh - you'd really like to smack 'em, but the peace of God overshadows you and you realize there's a reason behind that person being a horse's patoot and compassion floods your spirit and you are compelled to pray for them with a love that you know was born of God... You know what I'm talking about. Yes, I have had days where I experienced that kind of peace... unfortunately, today wasn't one of them.

It started with the dog not appreciating the snooze alarm. I guess he didn't think he should have to wait another 9 minutes to go outside. Later, when I went to open the door on my car, I forgot to unlock it first, and actually pulled the outside handle out of the door. I suppose I should have been thankful that going to the gym is paying off, but I have to admit that it's taken me every bit of the 16 hours since it happened for the thought to even cross my mind about giving thanks. When I got to the gym, the pool heater wasn't working right. It should have cooled me off... literally, it really should have...

Colossians 3:12-15 reads, Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

But God... No buts. He sent His Son to shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. If there was never going to be a need for forgiveness, Christ wouldn't have come. He knew it would not be easy. He encouraged us through His Word. He said, Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life...

Work at it... and always be thankful.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for today and for Your awesome presence of mercy and grace. Thank You for loving me enough to correct me. Please continue to do so, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Today

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 NLT

Do you have a favorite day of the week? Do you have a least favorite day of the week? Did you know that statistically, Monday is the least favorite day of the week? That's probably no great surprise, but it was followed closely by Sunday...which did surprise me. The most popular reason for Monday being the least favorite was work-related, obviously. Sunday's votes were almost tied between two: 1 - that Monday was the next day, and 2 - the others felt guilty for not going to church... and the reasons were ludicrous - too early Sunday morning after late-night TV on Saturday... too busy having fun on Saturday, so they had to stay home and clean (and feel guilty) on Sunday...

Typically, Mondays and Fridays are the craziest days of the week for me, and if I absolutely HAD to pick a least favorite, I would probably lean toward Monday because it is so hectic...However, it's also the day I get to see friends I haven't seen for two or three days, so it all works out. And any day that I wake up breathing can be counted as a good day here on earth. I like being on the upside of the dirt. Everything else is icing on the cake.

I can get out of the bed without assistance. I can walk, I can talk, I can think (most days). I have running water to wash with and clean water to drink in the world I live in. And I am washed by the water of the Word. I also drink from the Wellspring of Living Water and so I will never thirst again. The Creator of the Universe - the Lord of Heaven and Earth - is my Father and we talk every day. I am assured of His love and strength and protection and provision for me. He made the day and caused me to awaken. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Prayer:

Father,

         According to Your Word, Your faithful love never ends! Your mercies never cease. Great is Your faithfulness; Your mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself and to all who will hear, You are my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in You! One more day - one day closer to eternity. Help us hasten to obey Your Word so all can hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and usher in His return. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Try It

I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love.
Isaiah 63:7 NLT

I don't know of anyone who has to "work at" grumbling. We don't have to remind ourselves to do it. We don't have to make ourselves write it down so we don't forget. Do you ever wonder why it is that mumbling and grumbling are easier for our human nature than an attitude of gratitude? 

It's an age-old dilemma. Is the glass half-full or half-empty? Or is it as engineers would reason, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be... Instead of grumbling that you needed to buy all new tires, thank God you had the money to buy them. There was a time you wouldn't have been able to afford them...

Gratitude truly IS an attitude. It CAN be developed. It CAN be adjusted or changed. We just need to look at life through the filter of the Life Giver.  I've been thinking about that old song today that Bing Crosby sang, "Count Your Blessings." Technically, it's not a Christian praise song, but then if you acknowledge that everything good comes from the Father (James 1:17), then counting your blessings IS praise. When I'm worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings. When my bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all, and I fall asleep counting my blessings.

Try it...you'll like it...

Prayer:

Father,

          I will tell of Your unfailing love. I will praise You for all You have done. I will rejoice in Your great goodness to me, which You have granted according to Your mercy and love. And when given half a chance, I will tell others. Grant me the opportunity, Father. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

About Surrendering +

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
2nd Corinthians 5:15 NLT

Without exaggeration, I have sung this song at least several hundred times in my life; I Surrender All. I sang it passionately and with what I thought was my whole heart... but today, I know that is not true.

I believe God gave me a fighting spirit. My parents helped the idea along. My first name comes from the Greek language and means "strong, brave" - my middle name means "strong warrior" - and yet, I'm female. However, I feel as though the spirit of "Remember the Alamo!" emanates from my bones.

I could regale you with many tales of conflict, but I won't. Our purpose is to glorify God, not to be an embarrassment to Him by bragging on our before stories. 

Today, I cannot get away from the idea of surrendering. Today, I realized just exactly how foreign it is to my nature. And yet, that is what we are called to do - surrender to the Lordship of Christ and live our lives accordingly. 

Think about this for a moment - in a today sort of moment.  What does it mean to surrender? Well, the good people at Merriam-Webster define it as this:

a :  to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand <surrendered the fort>

b :  to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another

     a :  to give (oneself) up into the power of another especially as a prisoner

b :  to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)

None of it sounds like something I want to do in and of myself, but God IS still God. The Truth is - He is the only God and He rules by HIS rules, not mine. He didn't ask me what I thought, He invited me to follow Him. Will I? Will you?

Prayer:

Father,
         According to Your Word, give me the knowledge to wrap my head and heart around surrendering and the wisdom to know how to walk with You in it. My heart is to surrender to You, O God, and walk in YOUR ways. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

* Foundation to Stand

[Jesus speaking] Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

Matthew 7:24-27 NLT

Anyone who has ever had to have foundation work done to their house knows how difficult, how expensive and how necessary it is to have your foundation sure. In houses that are built with pier and beam, there is much more opportunity to feel the lean. When the weather extremes happen - be they flood or drought - the ground is affected, which in turn affects the foundation. If there is a solid foundation - such as a poured concrete foundation - the house will usually stand. It definitely is not bounced around. We all know that.

We also all know that Jesus Christ - as the Cornerstone of our foundation in life  - renders us immovable, unshakable  steadfast, and sure. We know because it is written in the Word. Why is that important? Read our text again, and notice. The rain and floodwaters and wind hit BOTH houses. BOTH houses suffer the onslaught against them. Only one stands...

Which will you be?

Prayer:

Father,

         For all that You've done, for all that you're doing, for all that You will do, we give You praise and offer our hearts of thanksgiving to You. Lord, we want to be the ones who listen and follow your teaching. Make us wise, so that at the end of the day - at the end of the Age, we're still standing on You, our Solid Rock. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen