Separation

Isaiah 59: 2             NKJV

2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Last night was the final, “Selah” night at church for 2016.

We decided early on in the year, that we would take a moment to pause before God on the 5^th Sunday of the month that had 5 Sundays.

The teaching was on prayer, and I learned some valuable tidbits that I plan to use to expand the power of my prayer life.

35 of us made it a priority to be in the presence of God, and the fellowship was indeed sweet.

Did you know that our sin erects a barrier between us and God?

Did you ever wonder why some of your personal prayers keep bouncing off the ceiling and hitting you in the forehead?

Because God is Holy, He cannot ignore, excuse or tolerate sin as it didn’t matter.

That’s just it...it does matter!!

I’ve asked people this question; “Do you think it’s important to be in church every Sunday?”

And I love this answer, but it seems to be a pretty popular one; “Well I pray!?!”

Talk about an oxymoron. (See Hebrews 10: 24-25)

Did you know that people who purposely sin, also have the chance of being eternally separated from their God?

Human sin separates us from having our prayers heard by God.

I wonder if we as a people have lost sight of what’s truly right or wrong?

Maybe that’s the reason our prayer life lacks power...

Forgiveness!

2 Peter 1: 2 - 3        NKJV

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness...

To become a forgiving person isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination.

Actually, I don’t think forgiveness is even possible, without the power of God.

There are times when I struggle to forgive a person who has done me wrong.

Am I the only one dealing with that issue? Ahhhhh...I didn’t think so.

I sometimes forget that forgiveness must begin with a conscious choice.

I also realize that the feelings of true love, might not come for a while after.

Forgiveness is the most beautiful thing we’ll ever see.

I got to see a glimpse of it last night, with a couple who is walking through the process of forgiveness.

When I choose to obey God and forgive, I know I can do that regardless of the emotions I’m feeling at the time.

He always seems to supply me with the grace I need to forgive someone else. I also realize that at some point, I’ll be able to love and care for those folks too.

Are you having a hard time forgiving someone who has hurt you?

Allow God to help you channel His love into your heart, instead of hanging on to resentment.

God can still work remarkable miracles in the souls of His people.

As you allow God to shape you into a forgiving person, you’ll then begin to radiate His penetrating light again...

"Idol" Time!

Romans 12: 2          NKJV

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...

The above verse of scripture dominated a good share of our Adult Bible study discussion yesterday (Tuesday) morning.

The words “warfare” and “battle” seem to be fairly consistent metaphors in our walk of faith.

What does spiritual warfare look like in your life?

How does it take root, and how is it manifested?

For me, it seems to be what I do or don’t in my idle time, or should I say, “idol” time.

Maybe this is the reason that so many followers of Jesus, struggle in their walk of faith.

So what do you fill your idle/idol time with?

I mean let’s face it, we all deserve to be entertained in one way or another...right?

Maybe we’ve allowed our minds to be conformed to the values of this world?

Can you identify with a time waster? Is there something that get’s in the way of your personal Bible study or prayer time?

Facebook...Twitter...Internet...Snap Chat...E-mail...I-Phone...Text Messaging...Politics...Election...Fantasy Football...Hunting...Crafts...School Activities...Bowling League...

Let’s face it...the list above almost seems endless.

I wonder if the church should take a stronger stance in teaching it’s people about the potential dangers of “idol” time?

On second thought...Why in the world would we want to offend anyone?!?

Does your “idol” time help conform you into the image of Christ, or into the image of this world?

Admittedly...that’s a pretty tough question... 

A Pattern!

Philippians 3: 17    NKJV

¹⁷ Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

I was reflecting recently, on my 24 years as an intentional follower of Jesus Christ.

What triggered some warm emotion, was considering all the people that God put in my life, to show me how to do church.

There are many names I probably won’t remember, but these are some folks who immediately came to mind.

Names like...Ed & Cynthia...Dick & Donna...Clyde & Karen, and Sharon, just to name a few.

What these people showed me, was the importance of being an example.

Because of these folks, my two boys also learned to serve in the church.

After all these years, these two men of God still have their hearts in the right place, because someone took the time show them how.

They make serving God a priority, and I have no doubt that one day they’ll teach their kids to do likewise.

I’m not saying these “older” people always had everything spiritually figured out, but no one can argue that they were the best examples they could be.

They let the young people get involved, and they also allowed us to make a few mistakes, too.

Who are you currently being an example for? Who are you showing today, how to do church?

Have you stopped to consider, the many young people who are watching you?

I am grateful for the people who God put in my life to show me how to love and serve my Savior.

I will be eternally grateful for those whom God entrusted, to allow this young eaglet fly... 

Inside Access!

John 15: 14  NKJV

¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Last night was the culmination of the Presidential debates.

Now the choice is up to the American people, about who will serve this country for the next four years.

Jesus used some important criteria when He made a choice regarding friends.

He didn’t go about it in a haphazard sort of way. He was intentional.

Jesus first prayed about who would be His friends, and He chose folks who were willing to obey.

Jesus also chose people who were willing to fulfill a Heavenly purpose.

He chose folks He could trust with some very important information.

His selection was very much influenced by those who desired to receive, as He shared His deep and intimate heart.

Christ took a proactive approach in choosing friends. He was not reactive like so many of us are.

And one of the more important things that influenced His choice of friends, was picking those who could receive His often times, hard teaching.

Finally, one of the more important rules for making this serious choice, was picking people who would stand by Him when things got out of hand.

Sometimes those who claimed to be His friend, turned out to be only informal acquaintances.

Not everyone who wanted to be a friend of Jesus, had inside access.

Do have inside access? Are you willing to receive the hard teaching of Jesus? Are you a friend of Jesus, or only an acquaintance?

Our friendship with Jesus is determined, if we’re willing to do whatever He commands us to do...and that’s a serious choice...

Inside Access!

John 15: 14  NKJV

¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Last night was the culmination of the Presidential debates.

Now the choice is up to the American people, about who will serve this country for the next four years.

Jesus used some important criteria when He made a choice regarding friends.

He didn’t go about it in a haphazard sort of way. He was intentional.

Jesus first prayed about who would be His friends, and He chose folks who were willing to obey.

Jesus also chose people who were willing to fulfill a Heavenly purpose.

He chose folks He could trust with some very important information.

His selection was very much influenced by those who desired to receive, as He shared His deep and intimate heart.

Christ took a proactive approach in choosing friends. He was not reactive like so many of us are.

And one of the more important things that influenced His choice of friends, was picking those who could receive His often times, hard teaching.

Finally, one of the more important rules for making this serious choice, was picking people who would stand by Him when things got out of hand.

Sometimes those who claimed to be His friend, turned out to be only informal acquaintances.

Not everyone who wanted to be a friend of Jesus, had inside access.

Do have inside access? Are you willing to receive the hard teaching of Jesus? Are you a friend of Jesus, or only an acquaintance?

Our friendship with Jesus is determined, if we’re willing to do whatever He commands us to do...and that’s a serious choice...

Servanthood

John 4: 34

³⁴ Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

When I hear people of the faith talk about following Jesus, many of them have set their own conditions on doing so.

Just so we understand one another, Jesus sets the conditions, not us.

Servant-hood is ultimately the outcome of one who, having first surrendered himself to God, is able to give himself sacrificially for God and others.

Jesus came to do the will of the One who sent Him in the first place.

Christ’s single-minded devotion or commitment to the will of the Father, was the result of the surrender of His life.

Somehow, some in the church seem to have gotten that mixed up over the years.

The qualities of Jesus are always complete surrender and sacrifice.

This isn’t a part time quality, it’s an everyday, every moment quality.

And yet some folks seem to have gotten that mixed up.

To surrender means to totally relinquish possessions or control.

Have you figured that out as of yet?

What’s it going to take for you to get a good grasp on that concept?

A friend in ministry once told me... “If we make this life about God...it works...if we make it about us, then it doesn’t work...”

Are you willing to deny yourself or pay the price so that you are free to follow the Lord?

If not, it may keep you from becoming the person God has saved you and called you to be...