Psalms 37:4 says:
Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart!
This verse is very exciting. But too much of the time we focus only on the second half of this verse. God told me recently to put my focus on delighting myself in Him. He told me not to focus on getting the desires of my heart so much as just finding joy in Him.
The Bible talks about stirring ourselves up in the things of God. We find so many things to be excited about but just knowing the Lord and walking with Him is so much more exciting than anything of this world.
Just hearing the name of Jesus brings me so much joy!
When we delight ourselves in the Lord we can feel like it is Christmas all year long in our hearts!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Word Does Not Return Void
Isaiah 55:10,11
As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me void but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it!
This verse is amazing to me! So often we feel that in order to minister to someone we have to labor and struggle to get them to understand. But this verse says that we can let God's Word do the work! For whenever the Word of God is preached (or heard or read) it will not return void but it will accomplish it's purpose!
As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me void but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it!
This verse is amazing to me! So often we feel that in order to minister to someone we have to labor and struggle to get them to understand. But this verse says that we can let God's Word do the work! For whenever the Word of God is preached (or heard or read) it will not return void but it will accomplish it's purpose!
Isaiah 55: 1,2
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fair. Isaiah 55:1,2
This verse makes me think of all the "things" we struggle and strive for. It makes me think of all the material things that we think we cannot be happy without. This is such a good reminder to me, that it is such a waste to spend my money and energy on things that will not really satisfy. Some material things will bring us joy for a time, but usually it is short lived and then replaced with a desire to get the next thing!
What really satisfies? God! God really satisfies! God fills that emptiness and brings true and lasting joy and contentment.
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! The things we need the most are free to us! Wine is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, I believe milk is symbolic of the true food we need, the Word of God!
Come friends let us feast on the Holy Spirit and the Word! Let us place our priorities on things that truly satisfy!
This verse makes me think of all the "things" we struggle and strive for. It makes me think of all the material things that we think we cannot be happy without. This is such a good reminder to me, that it is such a waste to spend my money and energy on things that will not really satisfy. Some material things will bring us joy for a time, but usually it is short lived and then replaced with a desire to get the next thing!
What really satisfies? God! God really satisfies! God fills that emptiness and brings true and lasting joy and contentment.
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! The things we need the most are free to us! Wine is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, I believe milk is symbolic of the true food we need, the Word of God!
Come friends let us feast on the Holy Spirit and the Word! Let us place our priorities on things that truly satisfy!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Endure
The Bible says that for the JOY set before Him Jesus endured the cross! I was thinking about that scripture this morning and just heard in my heart, "Can you endure the cross that is set before you in order to obtain the joy that is also set before you?"
We all have different crosses to bear, but we all have one in common, "the flesh". We all have to crucify our flesh daily because it is an enemy of our spirit and of the Holy Spirit! Our flesh will always complain and try to stop us from pursuing the things of God.
Can you endure the cross that is set before you in order to obtain the joy? The joy of reward in not only the life to come, but in this life as well? Jesus promises reward here on earth and also our eternal reward.
If it was just the eternal reward alone it would be worth it!!!!!
I want to say that if anyone reading this wants a scripture reference and I haven't given one just ask. You can leave a comment in the comment section or contact me some other way!
Thought for the day - Keep your eyes on the Joy set before you!
We all have different crosses to bear, but we all have one in common, "the flesh". We all have to crucify our flesh daily because it is an enemy of our spirit and of the Holy Spirit! Our flesh will always complain and try to stop us from pursuing the things of God.
Can you endure the cross that is set before you in order to obtain the joy? The joy of reward in not only the life to come, but in this life as well? Jesus promises reward here on earth and also our eternal reward.
If it was just the eternal reward alone it would be worth it!!!!!
I want to say that if anyone reading this wants a scripture reference and I haven't given one just ask. You can leave a comment in the comment section or contact me some other way!
Thought for the day - Keep your eyes on the Joy set before you!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Revelation!!!
The last couple weeks have been AMAZING for me! Why, you ask? Well, I got a revelation! Now, I want all of YOU to get a revelation too!
What was my revelation, you ask?
I AM the righteousness of Christ! I am worthy! Worthy means, full of worth! I am valuable to Jesus. I can always approach the throne of God with no hesitation because "There is therefore, NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!!!!"
Well, you might say, haven't you known that for years now? I mean you've been a Christian for years. It's kind of hard to explain but I'll try. Yes, I have known this for years. But it's almost as if I haven't been able to truly receive. I mean, it's been preached to me and preached to me. But for some reason, I have always, deep inside, felt unworthy. Sometimes I would feel that I couldn't worship because I would be worrying about my failures. Sometimes I would feel that I couldn't pray because I haven't been perfect the last 24 hours. I've sinned, I've made some pretty big mistakes. Somewhere deep inside, where I didn't know it, I felt shame, I always felt "less". Does that make sense? I didn't do it consciously but it was always there.
Listen to me friends, THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!!! He will always try to make us feel ashamed and make us feel unworthy.
OK so, how did I get this revelation? Well, to start out with, I prayed and prayed and prayed for it. Then God showed me something. Even though this has been preached to me for years, I needed to get into the Word of God and get this revelation for myself. To me, it means so much more to be reading the Bible and get understanding for yourself because this is something that no one can ever take away from you. You cannot be shaken if your foundation is built on the revelation of the Word of God! Especially those revelations that you have gotten yourself! You will be like a tree planted by the waters, unable to be moved!
I really really love the Amplified Bible. In my opinion it brings out the truest meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew text. It does take longer to read but it is worth it!
So I started reading Romans in the Amplified Bible and low and behold I discovered that God has given me his righteousness as a gift. If I have accepted Him as my Saviour and asked for forgiveness of sin then I am righteous. God just loves me so much that He wants to be with me 24 hours a day, so He made me clean and righteous for His good pleasure! So He can be with me now, all day every day and so He can be with me for all of eternity! Praise God!
Here is an example of a portion of text from the Amplified Bible:
Romans 3:23-25
Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives: All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,
Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith.
This chapter is so good I encourage you to read it all. Read the whole book of Romans in the Amplified if you can. It is so good to read it again and again and just let the revelation soak in.
So the good news is, if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are acceptable to Him. You are not acceptable one minute and then unacceptable the next. You are always acceptable, always welcome in His courts. You are so full of worth. If you don't think so, then take a look at the picture of Jesus on the cross. If you would have been the only person alive on earth, Jesus still would have died for you! Do you know how Jesus endured the cross? By keeping His eyes on the joy set before Him. What is the joy set before Him? Eternity with YOU!
Give God some praise!!!
What was my revelation, you ask?
I AM the righteousness of Christ! I am worthy! Worthy means, full of worth! I am valuable to Jesus. I can always approach the throne of God with no hesitation because "There is therefore, NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!!!!"
Well, you might say, haven't you known that for years now? I mean you've been a Christian for years. It's kind of hard to explain but I'll try. Yes, I have known this for years. But it's almost as if I haven't been able to truly receive. I mean, it's been preached to me and preached to me. But for some reason, I have always, deep inside, felt unworthy. Sometimes I would feel that I couldn't worship because I would be worrying about my failures. Sometimes I would feel that I couldn't pray because I haven't been perfect the last 24 hours. I've sinned, I've made some pretty big mistakes. Somewhere deep inside, where I didn't know it, I felt shame, I always felt "less". Does that make sense? I didn't do it consciously but it was always there.
Listen to me friends, THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!!! He will always try to make us feel ashamed and make us feel unworthy.
OK so, how did I get this revelation? Well, to start out with, I prayed and prayed and prayed for it. Then God showed me something. Even though this has been preached to me for years, I needed to get into the Word of God and get this revelation for myself. To me, it means so much more to be reading the Bible and get understanding for yourself because this is something that no one can ever take away from you. You cannot be shaken if your foundation is built on the revelation of the Word of God! Especially those revelations that you have gotten yourself! You will be like a tree planted by the waters, unable to be moved!
I really really love the Amplified Bible. In my opinion it brings out the truest meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew text. It does take longer to read but it is worth it!
So I started reading Romans in the Amplified Bible and low and behold I discovered that God has given me his righteousness as a gift. If I have accepted Him as my Saviour and asked for forgiveness of sin then I am righteous. God just loves me so much that He wants to be with me 24 hours a day, so He made me clean and righteous for His good pleasure! So He can be with me now, all day every day and so He can be with me for all of eternity! Praise God!
Here is an example of a portion of text from the Amplified Bible:
Romans 3:23-25
Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives: All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,
Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith.
This chapter is so good I encourage you to read it all. Read the whole book of Romans in the Amplified if you can. It is so good to read it again and again and just let the revelation soak in.
So the good news is, if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are acceptable to Him. You are not acceptable one minute and then unacceptable the next. You are always acceptable, always welcome in His courts. You are so full of worth. If you don't think so, then take a look at the picture of Jesus on the cross. If you would have been the only person alive on earth, Jesus still would have died for you! Do you know how Jesus endured the cross? By keeping His eyes on the joy set before Him. What is the joy set before Him? Eternity with YOU!
Give God some praise!!!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Unconditional Love
God gave me this commission two weeks ago and He wanted me to share it with you, (that is anyone who is willing to read this).
You see, God loves each of us unconditionally. While we were still SINNERS, Christ died for us. It can be hard to love unlovable people. People who are mean, rude, uncaring, don't attract our affections. But God loved us, while we were this way, enough that He was willing to die for us so that He could be with us for all of eternity.
God, told me that Sunday a couple of weeks ago, that He wants me to begin to practice this kind of love toward all the people in my life. First my spouse and children. Then my extended family, friends, and acquaintances. And last strangers that I will run across. Unconditional love. What does that mean exactly? To me, the purest definition is love with no strings attached. It means I choose to love you no matter how you act toward me. You may disappoint me, irritate me, or completely fail me and I will still love you. It means actively loving by serving you, praying for you, being compassionate and kind toward you, and by always giving you the benefit of the doubt.
So with the Grace of God and to the best of my ability in Him, I pledge to love those in my life unconditionally. I hope you will too.
Lastly I want to share an excerpt from the devotional book I like called God Calling.
This is God directly talking to us.
"Never judge. The heart of man is so delicate, so complex, only its Maker can know it. Each heart is so different, actuated by different motives, controlled by different circumstances, influenced by different sufferings.
How can one judge of another? Leave it to Me the unravelling of the puzzles of life. Leave to Me the teaching of understanding. Bring each heart to Me, its Maker, and leave it with Me. Secure in the certainty that all that is wrong I can set right."
Isn't that profound? I love it! I choose to love unconditionally! Will I ever mess up? Yes! And I hope you will still love me unconditionally...
You see, God loves each of us unconditionally. While we were still SINNERS, Christ died for us. It can be hard to love unlovable people. People who are mean, rude, uncaring, don't attract our affections. But God loved us, while we were this way, enough that He was willing to die for us so that He could be with us for all of eternity.
God, told me that Sunday a couple of weeks ago, that He wants me to begin to practice this kind of love toward all the people in my life. First my spouse and children. Then my extended family, friends, and acquaintances. And last strangers that I will run across. Unconditional love. What does that mean exactly? To me, the purest definition is love with no strings attached. It means I choose to love you no matter how you act toward me. You may disappoint me, irritate me, or completely fail me and I will still love you. It means actively loving by serving you, praying for you, being compassionate and kind toward you, and by always giving you the benefit of the doubt.
So with the Grace of God and to the best of my ability in Him, I pledge to love those in my life unconditionally. I hope you will too.
Lastly I want to share an excerpt from the devotional book I like called God Calling.
This is God directly talking to us.
"Never judge. The heart of man is so delicate, so complex, only its Maker can know it. Each heart is so different, actuated by different motives, controlled by different circumstances, influenced by different sufferings.
How can one judge of another? Leave it to Me the unravelling of the puzzles of life. Leave to Me the teaching of understanding. Bring each heart to Me, its Maker, and leave it with Me. Secure in the certainty that all that is wrong I can set right."
Isn't that profound? I love it! I choose to love unconditionally! Will I ever mess up? Yes! And I hope you will still love me unconditionally...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Stellan
Today, I am thinking of baby Stellan and his family. Stellan is a 5 month old baby who is going into a very risky heart surgery right now, even as I type. His is an amazing story of God's grace. If you want to check out his story here is the website http://mycharmingkids.blogspot.com/
Wow, I just can only imagine how is parents are feeling right now. His parents were told that he would die in the womb! But he was born seemingly very healthy. Lately his heart problems have come back and his case has been practically untreatable. So the doctors decided to do a heart ablation. It is something they normally don't do on babies. But it has come to the last resort.
So a few minutes ago a young mother had to say goodbye to her beautiful son, knowing full well the risks of the operation. She had to say goodbye totally trusting God and putting Stellan's life in God's hands. What a great place to put it though.
She says she is totally at peace. God's supernatural peace is surrounding her at this moment.
All we have to do is ask and the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank you God! Thank you that you are always there when we call. Thank you that you are a simple acknowledgement away, always forgiving when we ask, always loving unconditionally. Be with this family today God and show yourself strong on their behalf.
Wow, I just can only imagine how is parents are feeling right now. His parents were told that he would die in the womb! But he was born seemingly very healthy. Lately his heart problems have come back and his case has been practically untreatable. So the doctors decided to do a heart ablation. It is something they normally don't do on babies. But it has come to the last resort.
So a few minutes ago a young mother had to say goodbye to her beautiful son, knowing full well the risks of the operation. She had to say goodbye totally trusting God and putting Stellan's life in God's hands. What a great place to put it though.
She says she is totally at peace. God's supernatural peace is surrounding her at this moment.
All we have to do is ask and the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank you God! Thank you that you are always there when we call. Thank you that you are a simple acknowledgement away, always forgiving when we ask, always loving unconditionally. Be with this family today God and show yourself strong on their behalf.
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