A time for change

"Then we turned and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me, and circled Mount Seir for many days. And the LORD spoke to me, saying, 'You have circled this mountain long enough.” Deuteronomy 2:1-3

Have you circled around a problem that you know that the Lord wants you to change?[1] The best of your effort has left you weary and tired of trying.[2] Then you are in the place that God wants you![3] At the realization of your frailty, when you know that you need help and that you alone cannot do it, you need a Savior.[4] This is the lesson that God wants us to learn. That we are dependent upon Him and Him alone!

You can, if you must, continue around the mountain and enjoy the misery of knowing that by your own works that you are doing something – but are you doing what God wants you to do, really? Or, do you believe a lie? Ask that question of your own heart, God’s Spirit will show you the truth – just listen.[5]

What mountains do your circle?

Are you tired yet, ready for the Savior help?

Who are you dependent on?

Does your religion cause you to miss God?

Do you listen to God’s Spirit?

Father, teach us to rely on you. May your Spirit lead us away from the mountains that we walk around and into pathways of your delight. Help us Lord to listen to the gentle moving of your Spirit as it whispers across our hearts and directs them to your precious Word!

[1] Jeremiah 10:24 Correct me, O LORD, but with justice; Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.
[2] Psalm 32:3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long; Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
[3] Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit; Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
[4] Mark 2:17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
[5] John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Looking on the Appearance

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

“In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth”[1] and in that beginning Adam and Eve strolled with God in the garden[2] and so it has been that God has sought to walk with His people.[3]

The people of Samuel’s day did not seek the Lord, they did whatever was right in their own eyes,[4] they wanted a King to be like the nations around them, and they did not love the Lord.[5] So God raised up a boy.[6] A boy named David who would be their King but more importantly, a man who’s heart was after God. David sought after, longed after, hungered after God—through his example and influence over the people…

Whose heart do you seek after?

Who do you influence? Will that influence draw them closer to God?

Do you judge people by their outward appearance or by their heart?

Heavenly Father, you’ve taught us that your eyes are ever on our hearts, may our hearts come to you just like David’s and may we look at the heart of others and help fill those needs. To you be praise and glory and honor forevermore!
[1] Genesis 1:1.
[2] Genesis 3:8.
[3] Leviticus 26:12.
[4] Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25.
[5] 1 Samuel 8:5; 1 Samuel 8:6; 1 Samuel 8:10.
[6] Ruth 4:22; 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Samuel 16:19.

Hear the Father

The truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ resided in the mind of Almighty God eons prior to our creation[1]. God, with His infinite wisdom decided to take bare elements of a created world and formed man[2]--from a place near man’s heart got took flesh and created woman[3].

It was here in a garden setting that the focus of the universe and eternity would rest. The calmness and purity of then eternity was broken by sin[4]. The sweet fellowship between God and humankind in the garden, walking together sided by side, ended[5].

God spoke clearly and often through the generations to follow. The people clearly heard His voice—clearly--they knew His reality[6].

This morning do you hear the Spirit of God whispering in your heart?[7]

Does His Holy Spirit gently caution you, teach you, scold you, and guide you?[8]

Do you have a sense that God is near, so near?[9]

The Spirit of God is given to those who are known of Him to lead us and speak to us--we must listen.[10]

Find a quiet place, a garden-place of your soul and mind and listen to God as He walks through the garden calling your name... God loves you so very much![11]

Father, thank you for speaking to our hearts and minds and showing us your great love. May we walk in the coolness of the garden with you each and every day.





[1] John 17:5 "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
[2] Genesis 1:27 “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
[3] Genesis 2:22 “The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man”; Genesis 2:23 The man said," This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
[4] Genesis 3:8 “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”
[5] 1 John 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth”
[6] Genesis 22:18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
[7] 1 Samuel 3:9 “Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”
[8] John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
[9] Psalm 73:28 “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”
[10]John 14:17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”; John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
[11] John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Unfailing Love

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

From the ages of eternity
God sent his only Son
To proclaim
His undying love for you...

He is closer than a heartbeat
For he knows your heart so well
He sits upon eternity
And considers you...

His heart’s been broken
A million times
But His heart will ever long
To commune with you...

That’s why He took the chance
To save life from death’s grasp
To win the hearts
To save the hearts of few
His sacrifice on Calvary
For He loves you...

He rises before the morning
To ensure the sun will rise
He sees you
While you’re sleeping
He knows the fears
You try to hide.
He walks along
The daybreak shadows
His thoughts reflecting on you
The sunlight breaks dusks-rest
His love overshadows you

As you yawn and wipe
Sleep from your eyes
His Spirit delights inside
Awaiting your first words of praise
You the blessed of His bride…

And as you dress His love whispers
‘I love you’ so many times
But do you hear
Do you pray
Or are you out-of-time?

You alone are my heart's desire

Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD, "You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?" Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. Judges 15:-18-19

You ever feel like that… feel as if you’ve done the best that you can do and that God is now letting you down because you face a new hardship. You’ve given God the honor of the victory; you’ll trying your best to die to self…

Ever just get frustrated with yourself, your job, your life, your circumstance and just blurt out “why, why are you doing this to me, God”?

Today please remember… that even if you make a mistake, or you cry out to God and ask Him “why”; even if you are struggling with the frustration of pain… that won’t go away, or you don’t know what step to take next, or you just feel tired… weak after a fight with the elements of the world… with the sin within each of us…

Remember… that God is faithful. When you cry out, He will answer you. He will make a way when there seems no way, and often it is when we are at the end of the rope or in a crisis like Samson…


AS THE DEER

As the deer panteth for the water,
So my soul longeth after Thee.
You alone are my heart's desire,
And I long to worship Thee.

You alone are my strength, my shield,
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart's desire,
And I long to worship Thee.

I want You more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy giver,
And the apple of my eye.

You're my friend and You are my brother,
Even though You are a king.
I love You more than any other,
So much more than anything.

CCLI #1360011
Martin J. Nystrom, © 1984 Maranatha Praise, Inc.

Father, thank you for your faithfulness to help us in our times of need!

The Battle of Good -vs- Evil

A Poem for the Heart

there are times when the heart is so hard
the frail-human spirit so numb
the soul so weighted down
with the tortures of sin
that simply praying is difficult
if not impossible.
~
thoughts of despair and discouragement
plague the mind - plague the soul
these thoughts are determined
to drive away any and all kindness or goodness
it seems that the Comforter is on vacation
~
the soul is weighted down in despair
the heart trudges on in hope
the day is ugly - overcast and gloomy

The Wind Shifts…

A truly amazing event occurs… Like lightening flashing across the sky… A Biblical principle sparks across-the-mind… Begins to stir the heart and mind…

yet

before the heart can recognize
gather strength
a darkened thought of doubt follows

Stronger now… bolder… A scripture again rises to the occasion… Stronger still… urging the heart…

only to be swallowed up
by the darkness of discouragement
~
like knights with clashing swords
the battle continues
the heart is watching and hoping
the soul’s burden only heavier
the battle is on!…
~
a raging turmoil erupts
pitting good verses evil
love against hate
Christ in me fighting evil
the victory is in the balance
the conqueror undecided
the struggle continues
~
i fall to my knees…
this searching desire for Christ’s love
Overcomes me… Overwhelms me… Love that wraps around me… Gains the victory… Mercy flows into the heart… Stirring the soul and a single tear-drop forms and falls. With trembling lips I look upward and utter these simple words “Thank-you”! The darkness of my vile thoughts fades into their shadows… The union is made. My soul releases the weighty burden of doubts - the fear…
I repent. I cry out. “Jesus, forgive me, forgive the thoughts of my mind, the doubts of my heart, this lonely walk alone, I’m so alone without you, Lord” I fall to my knees in anguish, my sinful thoughts flow from me like a flood. Ugly guilt and hardness flow from me to the nails on the cross where the blood of my Savior washes my sin away. I recognize that I can no longer feel the sting of guilt, as it hastens out of my sight – my soul. My soul is pure and dances in praise and reverence. Softness comes to my heart. Peace fills me. My lips form a laugh.
~
I finish my prayer standing up, standing tall, light on my feet. I realize that the sun is risen, the clouds are gone from view, the beauty of a new day fills me, warms me. I take a step, prepared to walk to glorify and magnify Christ - wherever my Savior leads.

God's Word

God’s so good! Last month I was blessed with the opportunity to visit with my lovely sister and her history-husband and first off they lead me to a Museum exhibit that detailed the formation of our Bible of today. We viewed the small cuneiform tablets of the Mesopotamians, some Egyptian pictographs, and then fragments of ancient Hebrew, Greek script and then the Dead-Sea scrolls fragments.

Next came a history of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate Bible, amazingly translated and publishing by hand in 404 A.D. A number of pages out of the Latin Mazarin Bible, the first book and Bible printed on the Gutenberg printing press. Then the first English Bible transcribed by John Wycliffe along with the suffering he endured during the process, after his death his bones were dug up and burned.

One hundred years after the death of Wycliffe, God brought William Tyndale who had to flee England and scholarly translated from the original Greek and Hebrew a Bible in Germany. William Tyndale later was burned by his beloved English countryman. It is estimated that 80 – 90% of the King James Bible originated from Tyndale’s work. God is good and he used good men to provide for us His Word – such is His love! Then they displayed one of the complete copies of the King James Bible, the large Church of England edition – they are a sight!

What this gave to me was a deep appreciation for the sacrifice of those who have labored before me and a much a deeper appreciation for God’s Word. God is good, through the ages He’s been faithful and seen fit to hand down to us His Word. God knows we need instruction and He knows we need encouragement. This is what His Word is to us and we love Him so because He is so good!

Sing a Song

A little before 700 A.D. a peasant called Caedmon from Northumbria (northern-England) had certain monks recite to him passages of scripture out of Latin. These, Caedmon would compose into Anglo-Saxon songs-being one of the first to bring the scriptures to the common-English people. The pre-English commoners fell in love with the stories and a desire for scripture was inspired. Caedmon spent his days and nights in prose and song to his Lord…

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 5:19-20) KJV

It’s really hard to be depressed and sing. King David knew this. Either King Saul was after him or his son. In bleak and sun-bleached wildernesses he often made many a trek and slept the night away in some drafty cave. David’s heart would stir and he would sing a praise to God, and then another, and after awhile his fear was not so bad and the cave not so cold.

Have you tried singing to the Lord? In today’s maddening pace-of-a-world I know it sounds out of place but maybe that’s because it is… it make’s your heart take a step or two closer to God as you praise Him, look to Him and like blessed Caedmon sing your day away… to Him.

"Father, sometimes we simply don't know what to say and so we sing your praise!"

The One That We Love

Very soon, very soon…

The Son will rise

And we will look into His eyes

And see a love beyond compare

And we will know our Savior’s care…

~

Today, today the wind may blow

Storm clouds may gather

Bringing rain, bringing snow

But though the elements beat us so

We will proclaim and let the world know

That Christ is alive – he’s living still

His mercy is forever, his love without end

~

Come to Him, Come to Him

He’s all that you seek

He’s the Rock of your salvation

He’s mild and meek

He’s a fortress, a stronghold

A soft-spoken dove

He’s the King of all Heaven

The one that we love!

Lord Jesus, we love you... come quickly!

A Lonely Bird on a Housetop

“I lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.” Psalm 102:7

Have you ever felt that way… alone? Ever felt like a “lonely bird on a housetop”? I know to some Christians to even write of such emotions is almost blasphemous… but such emotions are real… they are apart of life. And if we are going to be honest with ourselves and with others then shouldn’t we also write or talk about all emotional states?

In this Christian walk we will find our selves feeling lonely. Modern thought is to fill ones-life with television or books or something to make this feeling go away but none of these seem Biblical.

It seems in the Bible that people suffered deep loneliness and that there was no earthly cure at times. That suffering… whatever emotional state is apart of everyday life and to hide from that fact is to live in an allusion.

That suffering within its self brings us to such a place were our hearts call on God. God hears and answers. Never once in all these years has Christ ever left me totally desolate, totally alone. It is He who brings comfort and care and consolation to my heart during lonely times, during times of great darkness.

Maybe I don’t view loneliness correctly but I don’t view it anymore as a bad thing. Neither do I view depression or heartache or distress or anguish. They all hurt… they all cut to the heart something terribly… but each one drives my heart to prayer and in prayer I’m not lonely, I’m not depressed, and I’m not afraid.

I pray the same for you today, my friend!

Jesus, you were often alone, often forsaken, and often a bird alone on a housetop. You understand the ups and downs that we travel through in this life. May we during those times look to you for comfort, for peace, and for friendship that drives lonely feelings away…

Encouraging Words

“Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.” Proverbs 12:25

We live in a world of worry and fear. That world is often unseen-concealed within the heart. May our hearts ever seek to encourage the hearts of others and not discourage. There’s plenty of discouragement around-just turn on the television…

The world, our flesh, and the devil wants to break us and crush us and defeat us. That’s why we get down on ourselves sometimes. We see our lives in comparison to the light of God’s Word; we see our weakness and fragility.

Sometimes we just need an encouraging word or two; an arm around a shoulder; a cool glass of water… a heart that is seeking to help us instead of take from us…

Certainly, not everyone has a gift of encouragement but everyone can encourage to a degree. Anyone can understand, can care, can comfort the breaking hearts or shattered lives of others; to help someone past a bump in life.

That’s what scripture teaches. It doesn’t win us points or recognition or awards or praise but it shouldn’t-for most of the time this is done in private and in private it should be trusted and prayed over.

Father, help us to encourage the hearts and lives of others. Bless us with words that guide the lives of others towards you so that you can heal, so that you can calm, and so that you can encourage them to take another step towards you.

End of Long Day

At the end of a long day
I look back on this day
And wonder...

Have I calmed
The trembling shoulders
Of a troubled soul...
Brought laughter
To a saddened heart...
Shown compassion
To the guilty-ridden...

Listened...
To the unimaginable
Suffering human heart

Have I shared tears
With those in grief Stricken with loss...

On this day
Have I cared enough...

Thought enough...

Loved enough...

To unselfishly consider...

The hearts
The lives
Around me...

I look back
On this day
And wonder...

Heavenly Father, help me, help us to never forget those who are suffering around us. Caring for them is more important than doing...

A Servant's Heart

“But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” Matthew 23:11

In most of the business world the person with the power is the ‘boss’. They tell other people what to do. They may have little to do but simply be the ‘boss’, or they may be a very busy ‘boss’.

After 19 years in the military I’ve witnessed first hand those with power and who let everyone know with uncertainty that they are the ‘boss’. These ‘bosses’ got things done and they got promoted and were often replaced.

Every now and again a different kind of boss would come along. One who thought of others first. One who didn’t really act or sound like a ‘boss’ and they were often misunderstood. At times they did the same work that the rest of us performed, without complaint, without embarrassment, and without fanfare. They talked with us, shared with us… they wanted to build character within our lives…

Other bosses from other departments always looked down on them as being weak and as being a poor leader. Our leader was not invited to their parties and they seemed to not want to go anyway...

These type of bosses were leaders… and not ‘bosses’ to us at all. They became our leader and we followed the servant heart that flowed from them. We wanted to follow our leader’s orders or commands because of their character and influence. Their influence changed our lives and continues to do so.

No our leader did not often get the promotion; they were often over-looked… and forgotten…but certainly not be us…

Father, help me to be like you. To influence the lives around me today while at work and to demonstrate to an un-believing world your servant's heart.

Assumptions & Trouble

“The men of Israel looked them over and accepted the evidence. But they didn't ask GOD about it.” Joshua 9:14

The people of Gibeon knew of the destruction of Jericho and the city of Ai and they were afraid. So they devised a plan to send men who were dressed very raggedly in the hope that they could win a covenant with Joshua and with the nation of Israel and thereby be spared. It worked, because the people believed an assumption that the men of Gibeon were from a far country and more importantly because they did not gain counsel from God.

Has this ever happened to you, have you ever believed an assumption? Unfortunately, I have to admit that I’ve fallen for assumptions just as easily and also… that I did not rightly go to God and ask His advice when unsure.

That’s one reason why prayer is so important. It’s for our good, it’s a safety-net… a means to approach God and ask His good advice instead of leaning on our own.

Today, watch out for those assumptions… they are everywhere… but prayer to God will certainly show us a better way!

Father, each day assumptions and half-truths come our way that can easily trip us up. Remind us to pray and seek your face and then guide us in the way that we should go for your glory.

Thank you!

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." Colossians 3:15

Have you ever wanted to encourage someone and you really did not know how to go about it? If you are like me there’s a whole world of words going on in my heart but they get all muddled and twisted somewhere between the brain and the tongue. Yet, there is something that we all can do and say that generally encourages anyone that we meet and that is telling them thanks.

Each day your ministers are going about doing what they do and most of the time no one tells them thank you. There are people who make things for us and who gladly give them away but do we stop and thank them? How about those wonderful people who pray, ever thought about telling them, thank you?

Telling someone ‘thank you’; especially if those two words come from the heart mean so much. They up-lift and encourage those who are laboring and working for good to continue on, to press on, for at times its not always easy… is it?

For this reason I want to stop and tell each of you thank you. Many of you send me little notes of e-mail that encourage these little devotionals or you ask how I’m doing, or that you’re praying… and I try to respond is like manner.

For giving ‘thank-yous’ really means – hey, I appreciate you, I’m thinking of you, and I’m praying for you! Thank you is not about self… it’s about giving… to benefit someone else!

Father, thank you for the opportunity you’ve afforded me to write these simple devotionals. Thank you for each person who reads them. I pray that with the reading that your Spirit will encourage their hearts and minds to live for you and that their hearts will always sing… thank you!

Ask, Seek, & Knock

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

The other night I was invited to dinner with a group of people and we enjoyed each other’s company and good food. While some were finishing their meal I needed to step out and make a phone call. When I arrived back at the table most of the dishes were already cleared and I asked someone sitting next to me, ‘so what’s going on.’ He answered that ‘we are waiting on the bill so that we can leave.’ I asked him for how long, and he said ‘for a long while’. So I got up and once finding a waitress I requested the final bills to be delivered at our table, a few minutes later they arrived.

The same applies in our prayer life. If we need something we ask God. If we have a question or a concern or a need for wisdom we ask him and He will provide. For God will honor initiative. If and when we move towards him He will answer by moving closer to us in prayer and in our daily lives.

Too often, I think, ‘well, I’m not going to pray about this situation because it’s not all that important, it’s too small for God’. Yet, that kind of thinking is not the truth-it’s an error. For everything is important to God, from the smallest detail to the largest-for they are the same to him… what he’s really looking at anyway is our hearts… our attitudes… our motivation.

May we all take the smallest to the largest details of our lives to Christ each day, we’ll be amazed at how the day will change!

Heavenly Father, no detail, no matter how small is too small or great for you. May our hearts be filled with constant prayer and constant praise towards and for you each and every day. Teach us and help us to pray!

Prayer is Easy

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. Matthew 6:6

Prayer is easy. When we shut down for a few moments-for a time-the whirling thoughts of the busy day. When we relax in the comfort and presence of our Heavenly Father; a Father who is gentle, kind, and merciful. A loving Father who listens to our prayer and who considers them and the heart behind the words.

For prayer is not a show of long words. It is not an exhaustive display but a quiet discussion with a loving Father.

This can be difficult if you’ve never had a loving Father in this life. It can be difficult to overcome the link between an earthly Father and your Heavenly Father. The reality is there is no link. For your Father in Heaven will never do you harm. Forgive your earthly Father.

Listen to your heart today, everyday, and pray to your Heavenly Father in your heart, or in a letter or in a conversation just as you would speak to a friend. For God truly is your friend! Your Father in Heaven will hear you, His Spirit will guide you, for He loves you, because prayer to Him is not hard but very, very easy.

Father, teach us to pray. Guide our hearts on how easy and simple it is to come to you and to talk to you. When we sin, when we make a mistake, then help us to come to you and ask for your forgiveness, for you’ve taught us that you will. When we are sad or depressed or hurt or upset may we all turn our hearts and prayer and our thoughts to you for you understand and you care. Thank you for making prayer easy; easy because of your love.

Blessed are the Poor

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

Have you ever felt empty inside? Felt this longing in your heart for the need for fulfillment? If you have you are not alone. For I suspect that every human that's ever lived on this earth has felt this way at some time in their lives...

In the book of Matthew, Christ said that those people who recognize that they have a great spiritual need in their lives, that they are lacking; that these are truly blessed. For the hungry soul will search. The hungry soul has learned that the riches of this world, the prestige of fame, and the desires of the flesh and mind do not bring lasting fulfillment in their hearts. At some point they decide to give God a try.

Such was the case for many of us. Upon reflection of our lives we determined to give God a try and we found a 'peace that passes understanding' and a fulfillment within our heart that is unmeasurable.

Yet even in this joy of salvation, if we are honest with our hearts, we still recognize that we are spiritually poor, for we see the need for a deep personal and daily relationship with Jesus Christ. That Christ is more than a name written down in a very old book-but that Christ has come into our hearts and now resides there teaching and guiding us into His truth.

It is for this reason, that we talk about him, that we sing about him, and that we are not ashamed of him, because we recognize that we are poor and so needful and that abiding in Him we are rich, we are content, and we are fulfilled.

Heavenly Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we thank you for the way that that you created us. For you made us with a longing that is only found in you. So Savior we long to be near you because you fill our hearts and our lives with you. Jesus having you in our lives is all that we need.

'Man Shall Not Live on Bread Alone'

“But He answered and said, "It is written, ' MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" Matthew 4:4; Deut 8:3.

The most important thing in the morning and throughout our day is to take in God’s Word; it’s more important even than breakfast… then lunch, or dinner – for God’s message to us truly is our bread and our life.

What Jesus told the Devil was that God’s Word was primary and that His life revolved around it. That He considered hearing from God more important than the burning-grumblings of his stomach.

How different is Christ view than mine…

To Consider: ~

Does your life revolve around God’s Word?

If not, then what is more important?

Prepare the Lord's Way

“Prepare the way for the Lord." Matthew 3:2 Is 40:3

John the Baptist preached this in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.” For he prepared the people’s heart prior to the Lord Jesus Christ’s arrival, the people’s heart needed to be prepared.

The same is true today. Our hearts and the people around; all of our hearts need to be ready for Christ’s return. For he is coming. Christ will return. Prepare therefore our hearts for your return Dear Lord! “Make our paths straight”; Father clean up our lives, straighten the crooked areas of our hearts so that we are your people and so that you are our God.

The world around us is in a whirl-wind, with every news account we hear of more death, more destruction, and more fighting. The world is ever slowly falling apart around us. In seeing the world’s condition how so much more should we be ready, be prepared, by anxious for Christ’s return!

Heavenly Father, prepare our hearts and lives for your return. Help to be bold and preach and teach and witness your Word to a dying world, and evil world. Guide our hearts along this pathway that you’ve set our hearts on and as always our praise and glory will be to you!

"We're on pilgrimage to worship him"

“We're on pilgrimage to worship him." Matthew 2:2 (The Message)

Just as those men from the East were on a journey, a journey to “worship Him”; so are we.

This journey takes us through mountains high and valley’s deep. In our pursuit we encounter times of the greatest joy, of the highest glory, and of the peaceful beauty found in Him-on a mountain top.

Other times, we face trials and tests; times of loneliness, rejection, grief, and tear-filled sorrow. We cross desert places where the sun is hot and the air is dry, and our thirst is not quenched though we drink readily from His Word; when our hearts are broken, and our cries are often, when peace and comfort leaves us…

At other times we cross meadows green, with shimmering streams, and the abundance of life; our hearts are content, our hearts are towards others, and songs of joy roll from our lips.

On mountain top or valley low we journey but we are not alone. For God is on the mountain with us and God is with us in the valley. We worship God in either place in our life for He’s worthy. For regardless of the situation in our lives we walk through it in search of worshipping him, for he’s worth the pilgrimage!

"God Saves"

“She [Mary] will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus--"God saves'--because he will save his people from their sins. This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this--a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; they will name him Emmanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us"). Matthew 1:21 - Matthew 1:23; Is 7:14; Is 9:6, 7; Is 8:10

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:16. Reflect on that for a moment…

God, in his infinite love for lost mankind decided that a Savior, His Son, would come to this earth through a virgin. Not with great triumph or recognition but in obscurity. For loves and God saves!

Through faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and through repentance (2 Peter 3:9) of our sins (Romans 2:4), we become right with God (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is the foundation of our faith and the everlasting encouragement and praise on our lips!

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“Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name. Hebrews 13:15.

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Lord Jesus… thank you for coming as a child, to a virgin, to save me from my sins. Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner saved by faith. I believe that you are Lord and Savior full of goodness and the greatest mercy. Thank you for this ‘great salvation’; for cleansing me from my sins and teaching me daily how to fall more in love with you. I love you, I praise you, and I glorify your Holy name!

The Precious-Treasure of the Lord

Its not that I'm stingy or anything but when I go out to buy a loaf of bread I want to get the best product for the lowest price. Are you the same way?

How different God is!?

He gave his best... his only son (John 3:16) to receive what.....? The best product? No, just a bunch of people who were broken-hearted, losers, hell-bent out-casts that this world used, abused and then cast away... (Isaiah 61:1).

From this side of glory I look around and think sometimes that God really got a bad purchase... (Revelation 5:9)

But you know God disagrees with me... man does he love his people, and that means
that he loves you.

God calls you 'the apple of his eye'… (Zechariah 2:8)
His precious (Proverbs 3:15)
His chosen (1 Peter 2:9)
His delight (Psalm 16:3)
His greatest treasure... (Psalm 135:4)

His son, his daughter, his friend!

Remember to talk to your friend today....

You are a Promise and Precious to God!

"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth".

Deuteronomy 7:6

I think I was 18 or 19 when I heard a song played that deeply touched my heart. That song, "I am a promise," lives with me even to day. Part of the lyrics goes, "I am a promise, I am a possibility, I am a promise, with a capitol P, I am a great big bundle of potentialitiy... I am promised to be anything God wants me to be..."

That little tune touches my heart because it reminds me of my value and yours. Recall that in Genesis that all the animals were spoken into existance... But not man, God dug into the earth, got some mud, formed it with his fingers and by his hands created man. God's finger prints, his image was give placed on man, God's precious treasure and creation.

The world values good looks, success, beauty, and riches. If a person is old and not young, over-weight and not slender, poor and not rich then to the world their value is diminished-to them a person is not worth very much.

God considers every person, regardless -- precious! This includes the poor, the needy, the ugly, the old and young, the simple and brillant, and even those who do not love him - everyone! We are of the highest value in the sight of God.

God knows all the hair on your head, every wrinkle, every single detail about your life. His loves and considers you more valuable than his comfort, his reputation, his honor, and even his majestic glory. We have potential to do great and wonderful things in God, surely you are of great, so very great value!

Jesus, thank you for the value that you've placed on our hearts and lives. Help us each day to encourage one another of the importance of each other, the preciousness of one another, the treasure to one another and to you that we are. We have confidence because of your love on our lives!

Father answers prayer

Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. Psalm 28:6

The Lord is your strength, your shield, and your comfort in time of need. Go to him, run to him with your problems, with your heart-ache, for he will help. God will always help you in your time of need, just call on him with your heart.

And when God helps you, for He will, then remember to sing to Him, to praise Him, to glorify Him in your heart, with your mouth, and in your life. Return a measure of love for love, faithfulness for His faithfulness, and honor for the way that He honors your prayers. Your heart will melt with joy, with peace, and with love for a God who loves you, cares for you, and who answers prayer!

Father, we are over-joyed as the prospect of praying to you. For your ears are open and you hear and in your time you answer. Father, thank you for hearing and answering our prayers, those spoken on bended knees, those while driving a car, those while at work, those with tears, in fear, in torment, in shame, in the greatest of joy. In everyway, at every turn your are faithful and we love you for who you are!