What'd He Say

Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.
Luke 4:31-32 NLT

I used to try to attend at least one conference or seminar per year to aid in my personal or professional growth. There isn't one that I can say changed my life forever, but I did learn a lot of little things along the way. I don't even remember the name of one presenter or the title of one conference. However, there was one I attended that stayed in my mind for a different reason.

I was so excited because a friend was going to attend with me - someone I held in high esteem because of her intelligence and wisdom. And it was one of the better seminars with regard to first-class style and presentation. When the speaker was introduced, his stage presence was palpable and understanding the rudiments of public speaking, within minutes he had connected to his audience with a few personal laugh-inducing anecdotes to break the ice. However, for me, it was downhill from there.

Once he got into his subject, he was a walking anthem of He Said, She Said. He could have been the catalog for Wheel of Fortune, full of famous (and not so famous) quotes and phrases. All.Morning.Long.

He regaled us with a complete inventory of facts he had memorized from books, volumes 1 through 50. She says this and he says that and this one says the other, and the other agrees with that one. There was not one illustration of a personal application for any of it. I was not impressed.

For years, I have used two questions to define events of daily life. What was the best thing about it? What was the worst? My friend knew this and during the lunch break asked what was the best thing so far. My answer was, "The bacon at breakfast..." It was clearly not the answer she expected.

When I expressed my opinion of the speaker and his method, she patiently explained that it was how one learned, by reading the works of others who had gone before, rather like reading the Bible. She found the speaker to be quite knowledgeable. She said it lent credence to his job as a motivational speaker that he knew so many facts and quotes from other speakers on the subject. She was sure he had been laying the foundation of knowledge during the morning session and that after lunch, he would begin the practical application. At that point, I felt truly ignorant. So with renewed resolve to learn, I followed my friend back to the seminar.

The afternoon was worse. His sources by that time could have been his second cousin twice removed from his mother's brother's wife for all I know, but not one practical application. He did not speak with authority of what he knew. Being southern, we could not walk out in the middle of his litany, but by the mid-afternoon break, even my friend was ready to leave, so we did.

I have nothing against famous quotes or people who have written extensively about certain subjects. Quite the contrary! I love learning, and I collect quotes, but what good is it; what purpose does it serve unless there is some practical application?

Christ spoke with authority. It was obvious that He knew what He was talking about. When He said He spoke only what His Father spoke, He had lived it. He was the Word. He IS the Word.

When we speak of Christ or speak His Word, do we know that we know it, or is it just something someone else said? You may not remember one famous name or quote, but that which you KNOW - that which has changed your life - can't be taken from you. No matter who says or does what...

Prayer:

Father,
              According to Your Word in Psalm 119:37, Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your Word. Keep me from vain sayings and useless knowledge. Let my life not be a trivial pursuit. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Finding Peace

[Jesus speaking] I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27 NLT

We live in stressful times. I'm relatively certain that every generation since the beginning of time has uttered or written those words... Psalm 34:19 reads, The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. In 2nd Timothy 3:11-12 NLT, Paul writes, You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Hmmmm...Doesn't exactly give you warm fuzzies, does it?

We think we could have peace if we could just get away or "veg" for a while - not have to think about anything - or at least think about a lesser number of things. Zone out on mindless pursuits of amusement, but the Truth is that's not real peace. And when we're done trying to do it our own way, we find that peace is fleeting. It won't carry us through the storms of life and yet we keep looking for it in those things.

If I'm going to hunt seashells, I'm not going to look for them by the side of a road (unless I live in Louisiana or Biloxi, Mississippi). If I'm looking for a reliable car, I'm not going to a flea market to get one. If I'm in the market for a house, I'm not going to find it in an aisle at Wal-Mart. So why would we try to find peace where God is not? The Good News is God gave us a way to deal with the stresses of life. Christ went to the Cross to deliver us out of all our struggles. Isaiah 53:5 in the Amplified Bible reads, But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.

When I feel most overwhelmed - totally stressed out by the things life throws at me - is when I'm trying to do it on my own. In my own strength - in what I believe to be my own ability...when I forget that any ability I have has been given to me by God. I cannot produce peace on my own. I cannot give out peace that I don't have... so why do I think I can find peace that passes understanding anywhere apart from the presence of the Lord?

And to get in His presence, I look for Him. I come before His presence with singing and I hunt His Word. John 16:33 NKJV, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in 1st Peter 5, we will humble ourselves under Your mighty power, and at the right time, You will lift us up. Father, we give You all our worries and cares, because You care for us. We will stay alert and watch out for the enemy. We will not be devoured by him. Help us to see past the roar to Your peace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A New Name

And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Exodus 17:7 NIV

For so many different reasons, I really like reading the book of Exodus. Every time I read through it, I catch something else I didn't actually see before. I love how God's Word is alive and always so relevant.

In our text for today, it's the part of the story regarding the provision of manna and water from the rock. One would think in a desert, the Israelites would have been thrilled to have provision, but they'd already been complaining about literally everything since they began their exodus from Egypt. (However, if you remember, they complained about everything while they were in Egypt, too.)

It was the custom to name a place or landmark by the major events that occurred there. As in today's text, Massah means testing and Meribah means quarreling. They demanded of Moses, "Is the Lord among us or not?" because they weren't seeing results they thought they should be seeing. Ouch...

Don't we do the very same thing? We petition the Lord and then expect it to be accomplished the way we think it should be done. Well, perhaps I shouldn't answer for you, but I know I do exactly that. And when it's not done on my preconceived schedule or in the way I would do it, I even have the nerve to ask God where He is... Oh, Father, forgive me.

What will be the name of the places where we have met with God? Think about that for a moment. If you don't like what you think it might be called, ask God to change it. With our proper response to HIS calling, God has no problem giving us a new Name.

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive us for testing You and quarreling and complaining when things don't go as we have planned. In our hearts, Lord, we want to follow Your plan. Help us, O God, to learn Your ways and to trust them. Give us wisdom and understanding, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Regarding False Prophets

Instead you should say, “Our tomorrows are in the Lord’s hands and if he is willing we will live life to its fullest and do this or that.”

James 4:15 TPT

Americans are waiting with bated breath for the final results of the presidential election. And all over the social media platforms, there are people claiming to be prophets who say God told them who will ultimately emerge victorious. The sad thing is they don't all agree. So, some will prove to be false prophets. 

It doesn't matter if they're partly right. satan is the author of confusion and he will speak just enough of God's Word to twist it like he did with Jesus in the wilderness. Know this - God is NOT EVER partly right. God does NOT operate in maybe. If a word is from God, it will be Truth and it WILL come to pass.

Make note of the ones who prove to be false, and have nothing more to do with them. Seriously! God tells us in Ezekiel 13:8-9b ERV, So now, the Lord God really will speak. He says, “You told lies. You saw visions that were not true. So now I am against you!” This is what the Lord God said. “I will punish those prophets whose visions are false and who lie about the future. I will remove them from my people."

Guard your heart. Be careful whose truth you embrace. And remember, regardless of who wins the US presidential election, Our tomorrows are in the Lord’s hands and if he is willing we will live life to its fullest and do this or that.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your peace that passes all understanding brought about by knowing we are in Your hands. Thank You for Your promise to never leave us or forsake us. We pray Your will be done here on Earth, as it is in Heaven. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Call It Like It is

We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.
1st Corinthians 10:13 TPT

Oftentimes, we use euphemisms when referring to something harsh or offensive or particularly unpleasant. One of the most common we use - 'passed' or 'passed away' in place of 'died', as if that makes it easier. Or 'let go' instead of 'fired'. My oldest brother and I had a conversation last week that included a couple euphemisms for someone who lies; one was 'stretching the truth', the other was 'enhanced communication'.

We do it in our Christian walk, too. We talk about our struggles quite a bit. Some may be legitimate, but some are definitely not. If we are honest, some of our struggles are just an innocuous phrasing for rebellion. We get tempted and we give in, knowing it's wrong, and then confess our 'struggle'. The truth (as I see it) is that it was a choice. I chose my will over God's will for my life. That's not a struggle. That's sin. The Word says in James 4:17 NLT, Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. 

God IS merciful. He is forgiving. He is faithful. He understands our weaknesses and loves us so much that He has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously. 

Prayer:

Father,  

          Open our eyes to see the Truth of our actions. Open our hearts to receive Your Word that we might live victorious lives through Christ our Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Get Up

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 NIV

I've mentioned before how I like to read quotes and one of my favorites is from American inventor, Thomas Alva Edison. In response to someone's statement that he (Thomas) had failed so many times in trying to invent the light bulb, Edison replied, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

I love his attitude, but it's one of the reasons I could never be a scientist or inventor. They have to keep record of how many unsuccessful attempts they've made so that they don't make the same mistake twice. I'll just tell you - if it had been left up to me to invent the lightbulb, we'd all still be using candles. I wouldn't want to know that I'd been unsuccessful 10,000 times about anything, let alone keep a record for the world to know...

How many times have you tried to do something and not been successful? For me, it's too many times to count. That can be very discouraging. Often we interpret 'unsuccessful' as a nicer way of phrasing 'failure;' however, being unsuccessful is not the same as having failed. Have you ever been so tired of trying that you just quit? The truth is we only fail when we actually give up or quit trying.

Worse than that would be to not even attempt or try to do something because you don't know if you will succeed. That's fear of failure. It can be crippling. You know what I'm talking about. 

How many times have you heard someone say, "I can't be a Christian. I've tried. It's too hard." How many times have you heard the words, "I've tried. I can't. There's no hope for that..." Whatever 'that' is, you can be sure it is a stumbling block put there by the enemy of your soul to discourage you. To make you quit.

Let me give you some hope today. It does NOT matter what the facts are. The TRUTH is found in the Word of God. And God's Truth overwrites the facts.

...for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again... Proverbs 24:16a NIV 

So, get up...

Prayer:

Father,
           Open our hearts to see and know the Truth - and Triumph - of Your Word over every situation in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

On Purpose

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13 NIV

A little of this, some of this, a LOT of that, and a little more of the other - throw in a breath and voilà! There you are. God made you. He designed who you would look like. He laid the groundwork for your personality. He formed you - gave you all the parts you would need - lined up your days and set it all in motion.

Psalm 139, verse 16 reads, All my days were ordained before one of them even came to be. There are days that thought is a cause for tremendous celebration. There are other days when it's not exactly a warm fuzzy. Keeping in mind that God's ways are NOT our ways and His thoughts are NOT our thoughts, let's shed a little light on some things.

Let's try a new way of thinking to provide an opportunity to give God praise in everything... even if you have your father's wide feet and Aunt Bertha's hinder part.

Have you ever noticed how we seem to have no problem finding and then focusing on the negative in ourselves, in another person, or in a situation? Look for the good in how God has made you. Does that make sense? Look for the strength and ability instead of what could be conceived as the downside to your attributes. For instance: That child is so strong-willed! It can be very trying for the one trying to raise such a child. However, if a strong will is properly trained, that child can become a great leader!

How about this one? You have the audacity to speak to me like that? Properly trained, raised in Christ - it is the ability to speak before kings and leaders.

Or Why are you crying over that...? A tender heart, full of compassion.

You are SO bull-headed!! Properly guided - it's the ability to focus on a goal and get it done!

Ephesians 4:15-16 - Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

It is beyond our finite minds to intelligently question an infinite God. 

You did this on purpose? Oh, yes! I see You did! Thank You!

Prayer:

Father,
           Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Help us to see it and to give You praise because You did this on purpose. Cause us to fulfill Your purpose - what You've equipped us to be able to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen