No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:24 NLT
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
1st Timothy 6:10
The American currency is inscribed with "In God We Trust" - is it true? Or is our trust in the currency itself?
If - as a Christian in covenant with God through our tithe and offering - we lost everything we owned today, how would we respond or react?
Heart check. Do we truly trust in God or are we trusting in our paycheck, our savings account, our retirement fund?
To find the answer is really quite simple: What do we fear losing the most?
Prayer:
Father,
You are our Jehovah-Jireh. Everything we have is because You have provided it for us. Even in the darkest of times, Father, You never abandon Your own. And we give You all praise and glory and honor in Jesus' Name. Amen
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
* Praise as One
- indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:
“For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever,”
that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
“For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever,”
that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
2nd Chronicles 5:13-14 NKJV
Oh, that our hearts would become one in purpose to praise and thank our God, glorifying His Name till His presence filled the house! Oh, Saints, that we would acknowledge everything we have is only by His mercy and grace - everything we've accomplished is only what He's allowed and empowered us to do. Everyone we love - ours to hold only because He gave them to us. Let us lift our hearts and voices as one to thank and praise our Lord - for He IS good, and His mercy endures forever!
Prayer:
Father,
We pray as David prayed, Blessed are you, God of Israel, our father from of old and forever. To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might, the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor; Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth; the kingdom all yours! You've raised yourself high over all. Riches and glory come from you, you’re ruler over all; You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand to build up and strengthen all. And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to you, praising your splendid Name. Amen
Thursday, February 5, 2015
* FULLY Occupy
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
1st Peter 4:12-13 NLT
Verse 12 in The Message Bible reads, Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job.
Why is it that's the first thing we do? God doesn't care. He's not watching out for me. He could stop this if He's really God. If I may be so bold… I am reminded of Joseph’s life story. None of it seemed fair. None of it seemed right. Surrounded and afflicted by drama and deceit. Had God forsaken him? Left him in prison to rot? No. But he WAS in prison for years!
As hard as it is for us to see and understand with our finite mind, God DOES have a plan. And He promises that it is for our good. We just don’t always understand. When you have prayed – begged God - and God has not released you from where you are, then you must trust Him and FULLY occupy the place where God has you until He says, ‘Go!’
FULLY occupy is the operative phrase. Re-engage your heart and the passion God gave you to help others. Don’t just show up for work every day. Check your heart. Make sure you have not allowed it to harden in those areas that have experienced hurt and betrayal.
Forgive. Forgive. Forgive.
In doing so, you (and those who have sinned against you) can be healed and set free and then God can FULLY occupy your heart.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Forgive us for our false indictments. Open our eyes and our hearts to see Your Truth in the middle of the trials. Work in us the Christ-like character You desire to see in us. We want to know You in Your fullness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
1st Peter 4:12-13 NLT
Verse 12 in The Message Bible reads, Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job.
Why is it that's the first thing we do? God doesn't care. He's not watching out for me. He could stop this if He's really God. If I may be so bold… I am reminded of Joseph’s life story. None of it seemed fair. None of it seemed right. Surrounded and afflicted by drama and deceit. Had God forsaken him? Left him in prison to rot? No. But he WAS in prison for years!
As hard as it is for us to see and understand with our finite mind, God DOES have a plan. And He promises that it is for our good. We just don’t always understand. When you have prayed – begged God - and God has not released you from where you are, then you must trust Him and FULLY occupy the place where God has you until He says, ‘Go!’
FULLY occupy is the operative phrase. Re-engage your heart and the passion God gave you to help others. Don’t just show up for work every day. Check your heart. Make sure you have not allowed it to harden in those areas that have experienced hurt and betrayal.
Forgive. Forgive. Forgive.
In doing so, you (and those who have sinned against you) can be healed and set free and then God can FULLY occupy your heart.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Forgive us for our false indictments. Open our eyes and our hearts to see Your Truth in the middle of the trials. Work in us the Christ-like character You desire to see in us. We want to know You in Your fullness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
* Get It On
Come before His presence with singing!
Psalm 100:2b KJV
As a follower of Christ, where would you most want to be at any time, but especially when life is hard? In His presence, right? Wrapped up in His arms, yes? Held close to His chest?
Our Promise for Today tells us to come before His presence with singing. And in a previous Psalm, it assures us that God inhabits the praises of His people. So there's never a reason not to praise our God.
When we're happy and doing well, we, His people, naturally want to thank and praise Him. It's in the tough times that we struggle with it...and yet that is the very time we need Him the most. Isaiah 61:3 tells us Christ comes to give us a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. And don't worry, God knows your size. So, let's get it on!
From "The Desert Song" by Hillsong
"All of my life - In every season, You are still God! I have a reason to sing! I have a reason to worship."
Prayer:
Father,
We come to You washed in the Blood of the Lamb and singing Your praises. We want and need more of You, Lord! More of Your resident presence in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
As a follower of Christ, where would you most want to be at any time, but especially when life is hard? In His presence, right? Wrapped up in His arms, yes? Held close to His chest?
Our Promise for Today tells us to come before His presence with singing. And in a previous Psalm, it assures us that God inhabits the praises of His people. So there's never a reason not to praise our God.
When we're happy and doing well, we, His people, naturally want to thank and praise Him. It's in the tough times that we struggle with it...and yet that is the very time we need Him the most. Isaiah 61:3 tells us Christ comes to give us a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. And don't worry, God knows your size. So, let's get it on!
From "The Desert Song" by Hillsong
"All of my life - In every season, You are still God! I have a reason to sing! I have a reason to worship."
Prayer:
Father,
We come to You washed in the Blood of the Lamb and singing Your praises. We want and need more of You, Lord! More of Your resident presence in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
* Reduce or Reproduce
Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Mark 4:18-19 NKJV
During winter, when the weather warms up even for just a day or two, I want to be outside. Recently, I got out and cut the dead wood and parasitic weeds and stalks from the fence and surrounding areas. I didn't do it last year, so this year was twice as much work.
Our Christian walk can be just like that. We've got the dead wood and old roots from the winters of our lives, and instead of plucking them out and preparing the soil of our hearts, we leave them... and nothing new grows, except weeds that choke out whatever good seed might have produced.
And I can't find one Scripture that tells me that God wants us to be unfruitful. It's not in His plan. Everything was created to produce and reproduce after its own kind. We are to reproduce in others, what God has produced in us - be it peace, love, joy, deliverance from anger, longsuffering, compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness...
Do not let the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word. The Truth is unless we find the time - MAKE the time - to tend to the seed, we will be reduced to being unfruitful. Our choice...reduce or reproduce?
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for not being good stewards of what You have produced in us. Teach us, Lord, to plant better seed in order to bring You a better harvest. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Mark 4:18-19 NKJV
During winter, when the weather warms up even for just a day or two, I want to be outside. Recently, I got out and cut the dead wood and parasitic weeds and stalks from the fence and surrounding areas. I didn't do it last year, so this year was twice as much work.
Our Christian walk can be just like that. We've got the dead wood and old roots from the winters of our lives, and instead of plucking them out and preparing the soil of our hearts, we leave them... and nothing new grows, except weeds that choke out whatever good seed might have produced.
And I can't find one Scripture that tells me that God wants us to be unfruitful. It's not in His plan. Everything was created to produce and reproduce after its own kind. We are to reproduce in others, what God has produced in us - be it peace, love, joy, deliverance from anger, longsuffering, compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness...
Do not let the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word. The Truth is unless we find the time - MAKE the time - to tend to the seed, we will be reduced to being unfruitful. Our choice...reduce or reproduce?
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for not being good stewards of what You have produced in us. Teach us, Lord, to plant better seed in order to bring You a better harvest. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Monday, February 2, 2015
* + Weeping with Those
Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief].
Romans 12:15 The Amplified Bible
The line was long. It seemed like it wasn't moving forward at all and yet it never seemed to stop moving while we stood there in place. And when two left, three came to take their place. Too many people to count because the line wove in and out of rooms and spaces. And at times, wrapped itself around itself in the form of hugs and holding on to each other. A young man's life over too soon. Weeping with those who weep. Sharing each other's grief.
We are to bear one another's burdens and God said that because this burden is too heavy to carry alone. Love bears all things. In that room was young love and old love and even forgotten love, but all of it came flooding to the top to comfort a loved one, to comfort a friend, to provide strength for each other, even to those friends of a friend or cousin.
Only God can work that miracle. Sad beyond our own endurance, but held together by His peace that passes understanding and His love and mercy poured out for all. It was very simply amazing.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for pouring out Your peace this evening. Thank You for Your strength flowing through and Your amazing love. I pray, Father, that You will be with the Raymundo family tonight and all their extended family and friends. Help us continue to have Your Heart of understanding and compassion and to reach out at Your gentle urging. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Romans 12:15 The Amplified Bible
The line was long. It seemed like it wasn't moving forward at all and yet it never seemed to stop moving while we stood there in place. And when two left, three came to take their place. Too many people to count because the line wove in and out of rooms and spaces. And at times, wrapped itself around itself in the form of hugs and holding on to each other. A young man's life over too soon. Weeping with those who weep. Sharing each other's grief.
We are to bear one another's burdens and God said that because this burden is too heavy to carry alone. Love bears all things. In that room was young love and old love and even forgotten love, but all of it came flooding to the top to comfort a loved one, to comfort a friend, to provide strength for each other, even to those friends of a friend or cousin.
Only God can work that miracle. Sad beyond our own endurance, but held together by His peace that passes understanding and His love and mercy poured out for all. It was very simply amazing.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for pouring out Your peace this evening. Thank You for Your strength flowing through and Your amazing love. I pray, Father, that You will be with the Raymundo family tonight and all their extended family and friends. Help us continue to have Your Heart of understanding and compassion and to reach out at Your gentle urging. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Sunday, February 1, 2015
* Getting Into Shape
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.
Romans 8:29 The Message Bible
Can you believe it's February already? January is over and so are most of the commitments to the resolutions we might have made at the beginning of the year. You know - eating healthfully, getting into shape. I tell people I am in shape. It's true - round is a shape...
In all honesty, I am making better choices when it comes to what I put in my body, but more important to me (and to God) is what I put in my heart. What do I need to do to shape my life along the same lines as the life of Christ? Just as in physical exercise, when we become disciplined in it, we will see results. How genuinely and consistently do I exercise the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Am I seeing results? Are those around me benefiting from the results?
Is God being glorified by the results?
If we're not getting the results we want or need, we have to go back to the plan - God's plan. He has given us His Son as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the original and intended shape of our lives. We need to daily commit to getting into shape.
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to reach past the desires of our flesh to the prize that is set before us in You. We want to attain the shape You have fashioned for us in Christ. Give us the courage to correct our choices by the conviction of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Romans 8:29 The Message Bible
Can you believe it's February already? January is over and so are most of the commitments to the resolutions we might have made at the beginning of the year. You know - eating healthfully, getting into shape. I tell people I am in shape. It's true - round is a shape...
In all honesty, I am making better choices when it comes to what I put in my body, but more important to me (and to God) is what I put in my heart. What do I need to do to shape my life along the same lines as the life of Christ? Just as in physical exercise, when we become disciplined in it, we will see results. How genuinely and consistently do I exercise the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Am I seeing results? Are those around me benefiting from the results?
Is God being glorified by the results?
If we're not getting the results we want or need, we have to go back to the plan - God's plan. He has given us His Son as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the original and intended shape of our lives. We need to daily commit to getting into shape.
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to reach past the desires of our flesh to the prize that is set before us in You. We want to attain the shape You have fashioned for us in Christ. Give us the courage to correct our choices by the conviction of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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