Recently, while dining out with my husband at a local Chinese restaurant, a ruckus from the kitchen spilled into the order area. Three screaming Chinese guys brawled for fifteen minutes or so. One with angry fists and his cap turned backwards was louder than the others. An ordering customer walked out. The manager ran after him. The angry fists guy finally stormed out of the building. I couldn’t understand what they said, but I knew they weren’t happy.
There’s a lot of unhappiness in this world. Some Christians are unhappy. The pressures of life tend to entangle them, and they can’t get the knots out. They need to give them to Jesus.
I’ve noticed the unhappy knots in my life untangle as I praise the name of Jesus and reflect on the hope that lies within me.
When you can’t untie the knots, God wants to help you. Ask Him and He will because He loves you.
Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
To the unbeliever, only Jesus can satisfy your soul.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Friday, July 10, 2015
The Ultimate Expression Of Worship
John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
It honors the Lord when His people express their love in extravagant worship. We should consider no gift too excessive or no sacrifice too great. We should praise God for every opportunity to give our all to Him in worship and humble service.
Does your worship and love for Jesus permeate your life with the sweet fragrance of Heaven? Or is there room for more sacrifice; more love and more worship?
Jesus wants us to bring all we have and all we are, and lay it at His feet. That’s the ultimate expression of your love and worship?
It honors the Lord when His people express their love in extravagant worship. We should consider no gift too excessive or no sacrifice too great. We should praise God for every opportunity to give our all to Him in worship and humble service.
Does your worship and love for Jesus permeate your life with the sweet fragrance of Heaven? Or is there room for more sacrifice; more love and more worship?
Jesus wants us to bring all we have and all we are, and lay it at His feet. That’s the ultimate expression of your love and worship?
Thursday, July 9, 2015
The Indwelling Spirit Of Christ
A sinner who believes in his heart that Jesus is the Son of God and accepts Him as Lord and Savior immediately receives eternal life, and the Spirit of God dwells within. The Bible calls that getting saved or being “born again” as Jesus told Necademus. True believers desire those things that pertain to God, His Word, His work and His worship.
Romans 8:8,9 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
How do you know if the Spirit of Christ is dwelling in you? Sometimes His presence is perfectly clear. At other times it’s subtle like an inner desire for prayer or to read the Word of God or to speak to a lost person about Jesus. The Spirit will give you assurance of your salvation.
Do you have that assurance? Has there been a definite, clear moment in your life when you trusted Jesus Christ to save your soul? If not, believe on Jesus. Confess your sins and ask Him to save you.
Romans 8:8,9 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
How do you know if the Spirit of Christ is dwelling in you? Sometimes His presence is perfectly clear. At other times it’s subtle like an inner desire for prayer or to read the Word of God or to speak to a lost person about Jesus. The Spirit will give you assurance of your salvation.
Do you have that assurance? Has there been a definite, clear moment in your life when you trusted Jesus Christ to save your soul? If not, believe on Jesus. Confess your sins and ask Him to save you.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Overcoming Obstacles
Believers sometimes pretend that all is well with God yet areas in their lives hinder them from excelling for His glory?
Examine your spiritual life. Is something stunting your spiritual growth? Are you submitting all you are and hope to be to the will of God?
If you are, you're enjoying His blessings. If not, maybe it’s your family or your temper. It might be unconfessed sin or a thousand other things. Whatever it is, you either know it or need to identify it by asking the Lord to show you. Jesus will help you to overcome obstacles.
When David faced the obstacles of his life, he overcame every one of them by the power of God. He killed a lion and a bear. He defeated Goliath the giant, saw the defeat of King Saul, and overcame the problems of his family---not in his own strength, but in the strength and power of God.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Examine your spiritual life. Is something stunting your spiritual growth? Are you submitting all you are and hope to be to the will of God?
If you are, you're enjoying His blessings. If not, maybe it’s your family or your temper. It might be unconfessed sin or a thousand other things. Whatever it is, you either know it or need to identify it by asking the Lord to show you. Jesus will help you to overcome obstacles.
When David faced the obstacles of his life, he overcame every one of them by the power of God. He killed a lion and a bear. He defeated Goliath the giant, saw the defeat of King Saul, and overcame the problems of his family---not in his own strength, but in the strength and power of God.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Even The Winds And Sea Obey Him
Matthew 8:26,27 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
During the raging storm Jesus was asleep in the boat. The desciples became frightened and accused Him of not caring.
In my frailty I try hard to believe that Jesus will fix my stormy need. I know He will. He said He would. But . . . uh . . . is He asleep? I don’t feel victory yet. . . . . Feel? Feel? Does faith require feelings? No, No, No. Faith is waiting and believing.
Why do I make this hard? Don’t I know the One who rebuked the winds and the sea is the One Who will bring great calm to my storm? He's done it again and again. Oh me of little faith. What was I thinking?
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
During the raging storm Jesus was asleep in the boat. The desciples became frightened and accused Him of not caring.
In my frailty I try hard to believe that Jesus will fix my stormy need. I know He will. He said He would. But . . . uh . . . is He asleep? I don’t feel victory yet. . . . . Feel? Feel? Does faith require feelings? No, No, No. Faith is waiting and believing.
Why do I make this hard? Don’t I know the One who rebuked the winds and the sea is the One Who will bring great calm to my storm? He's done it again and again. Oh me of little faith. What was I thinking?
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Hallelujah! Praise The Lord!
I just can’t hold back this praise. The Spirit of God showered our church camp last week when twenty-seven children and young people were saved. Two said they were called to preach and many rededicated their lives to the Lord.
‘I’ve never been to such a spiritual, wonderful camp’ is the theme that streamed Facebook posts. Someone posted: “I’ve heard of old fashioned ‘Spirit-filled’ revivals like this but had never experienced one until now.”
While the rest of the world is in total chaos, we can know that God is still on His throne, the Bible is still true, the gospel still changes lives, and God still answers prayers.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
‘I’ve never been to such a spiritual, wonderful camp’ is the theme that streamed Facebook posts. Someone posted: “I’ve heard of old fashioned ‘Spirit-filled’ revivals like this but had never experienced one until now.”
While the rest of the world is in total chaos, we can know that God is still on His throne, the Bible is still true, the gospel still changes lives, and God still answers prayers.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
The Fear Of The Lord
We have children killing children, adults killing unborn children and our homes flooded with images of violence and irreverence. Why?
Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Fearing God doesn’t mean to cringe and tremble at the mention of His name nor does it mean He’s the hang-out- buddy we slap on the back. It means in His presence we react with awe and reverence.
God wants believers to live a life He can use and bless. He wants us to walk in awe of Him. He wants our hearts to be so filled with respect and reverence that we would rather die than dishonor Him and His name! That’s the essence of fearing the Lord!
When we walk in the fear of the Lord and obey his commandments, we won’t fear the opinions of others, and we can expect special blessings.
Proverbs 19:23, The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Fearing God doesn’t mean to cringe and tremble at the mention of His name nor does it mean He’s the hang-out- buddy we slap on the back. It means in His presence we react with awe and reverence.
God wants believers to live a life He can use and bless. He wants us to walk in awe of Him. He wants our hearts to be so filled with respect and reverence that we would rather die than dishonor Him and His name! That’s the essence of fearing the Lord!
When we walk in the fear of the Lord and obey his commandments, we won’t fear the opinions of others, and we can expect special blessings.
Proverbs 19:23, The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
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