True Affections

Colossians 3: 2 (KJV)

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Did you realize, that more and more people are more focused on family tradition and gatherings at Christmas, than they are focused on worshipping Jesus?

Did you notice that the word…. “affection” is singular?

Our affections must be set on eternal things—not on external, worldly things.

For some folks, Jesus just isn’t convenient at Christmas.

We often schedule our parties  and festivities around what works for everyone’s schedule—not around worshipping Jesus.

But God’s Word tells us that He must be first in our life.

Then all of our other affections will fall into place.

What are your affections centered on this Christmas?

When we choose to set them on Jesus, that may offend the people hosting the party—but Jesus will be honored and revered.

What might happen to our Christmas, if we actually made Jesus first?

What if Jesus became more important, than the presents and eat and peel shrimp and punch?

My true affection, is on things above…..Jesus is the first, in all my loves…..

Earthy things, will one day fade away…..But my full surrender, is here to stay…..

Merry Christmas!

A Gentle Whisper

1 Kings 19: 11 – 12

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, came a gentle whisper…….

It’s snowing and blowing pretty good right now.

Many area businesses are already closed—and so are most of the schools.

The children must be almost delirious for not having to go to school—and the parents will be quite delirious by the end of the day!

When one watches the splendor and might of God in the driving snow—we need to remember, that He’s not in the storm.

We’re reminded of God in the storm—but He’s really only in the still small gentle whisper.

When’s the last time you heard God speak to you in the gentle whisper?

When’s the last time you were quiet long enough, to hear His still small voice?

Maybe today, instead of worrying about whether or not we have enough supply in the house to get through this storm—we should  focus on the One who is our supply?

God speaks to His children every day.

Find a place quiet enough, to listen for Him to speak—that is if your fortunate enough to stay at home today.

If not, find a quiet place anyway—there’s no telling what you might hear Him say……….

Hope does not dissappoint

Romans 5: 5

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Have you ever been disappointed?

The problem with disappointment is, it can affect how we view God.

Paul told the church at Rome, that hope does not disappoint us, because He has implanted His love into our hearts.

Some folks though, see God as an extension of people who are short on commitment.

God is not like that at all. He is faithful beyond compare.

You can be encouraged today, knowing that your destiny rests fully on the faithfulness of God.

That does not mean however, that we bear no responsibility.

It means that while we are growing in our faith, God’s faithfulness protects us.

When you begin to understand the faithfulness of God, you can rise above past events that left you disappointed.

We can take His promises seriously, and we can put our lives—our future, and our past, firmly in His hands.

The character of God, stand behind His many promises.

He fully intends to fulfill His very Word.

God gave us a vow, that He takes very seriously.

He said….. “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

Even when our faith is weak, we can take great comfort in knowing, that He alone is faithful………

The One True Expert

1 Corinthians 1: 19

For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

We seem to be living during a time, when someone always has an expert answer for everything.

You’d think we’d have a better life in this mixed up world than we do, with all the so called experts there are out there today.

The One who is the true expert, is not very often consulted anymore.

Do you realize that there is a time coming—when God is going to destroy and frustrate the wise, and the so called…. “know it all’s”?

Are you frustrated these days?

If you answered yes, well be sure of this—you’re not alone.

Vince Lombardi once said….. “It’s not whether or not you get knocked down that matters, it’s whether you get up again!”

You may be in a situation like that right now. Maybe what happened in Connecticut has you down?

When you find yourself down, let HIM, pick you up!

God is not going to frustrate, those who look to Him for all the answers.

It is how we react to the trials of our lives, that shapes who we become as individuals and believers.

How are you going to react today, to the downward trends of society?

Don’t be frustrated, but maybe instead we need to look to the One, who brings great peace…………….  

Expectations

Matthew 11: 3

"Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"

 

Do you expect God to do what He says He’s going to do?

John the Baptist had some doubts, when he was nearing the end of His life.

 

Maybe you have some doubts about God today?

Maybe there’s some things that are happening in your life, that just can’t be explained.

Just remember this; God’s Word can and will bring about the mighty wonders He promised He would do.

 

His Word is the only thing we can count in, in this day of trial and indecision and heartache.

Is that really how you feel?

 

Hebrews 11: 6 says….. “And without faith it is impossible to please God”

God expects His people to have unshakable faith, especially in shakeable times.

The enemy will always attempt to distort God’s Word, to mean something God never meant it to mean.

 

The Bible is actually two thirds prophecy.

God has made predictions, that so far have 100% come true. I don’t expect Him to ever be wrong.

 

Is that how you see God? Do you expect Him to carry out His plan to perfection?

He can be trusted today, when nothing else, or no one else, in this world can……….

Faithful Completion

Philippians 1: 6

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I hope you realize, that there is an enemy that tries to defeat us at any given time of the day.

The enemies name is…. “self doubt”, and I think everyone getting this devotion today, knows precisely what I’m talking about.

The voice inside of us says…… “You’ll never be able to do that”—“You know you’re not smart enough”

It could be an area of your life, that you’ve been at for a very long time, and then the voice repeats itself over and over…..

“ You know you just don’t have the strength to carry on”—“You know you’re never going to make it”—“You know you just don’t have what it takes”

St. Paul says on the other hand though, that when we are doing the will of God, that…..HE WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION!

I don’t know about you, but I just love those seven words J

The good thing about this verse, is that we don’t have to doubt our own abilities—we don’t even have to look to our own abilities.

The One who started the good work, is the One who is faithful to bring it to completion.

I personally think we need to give God more credit than we do. I personally think we need to listen to His voice, more than we do.

Be confident today, that the thing or things that God is trying to work out in your life, He will take it to full completion.

That’s a sure fire way, to silence that insistent voice of doubt!

“Gracious God, today I need your help like never before. The list of things I have to do today seems long and a little on the difficult side.

Would you be my strength today? Would you provide everything that I need today? Accomplish in me, Your perfect, and constant will.

Silence the voice that says I can’t—and reassure me with Your voice, that says I can! In Jesus name I pray…..Amen!”

Expect the unexpected!

Isaiah 64: 3

For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

What are your expectations these days?

Sometimes, when life deals with us a bit harshly, we think that this is the best things could ever get.

We at times, even begin to expect or anticipate the trouble that seemingly comes our way.

As for going through the seasons of life, I’m not sure I’m as prepared as I could be.

The older I get, the more I’m learning to expect the unexpected!

Just be sure of this my friends; Nothing in the world slips past our Heavenly Father.

Nothing comes as a surprise, and He leaves no stone unturned, or no need unfulfilled when it comes to His children.

When you don’t know what to expect, take great comfort in the great expectations of God.

Maybe during this season of Christmas, you need to learn again, the simple truth of God’s unending love?

One thing we know we can expect, is His limitless grace, that comes without measure.

God is always about doing things that we do not expect.

I love it when the WOW of God factor shows up—it happened for me two different times yesterday.

What are you expecting today?

Maybe something awesome, is going to happen today for you, from God?

Maybe we need to learn to expect the unexpected with our God?

Maybe today, your mountains are going to tremble—and when God makes the mountains tremble, it always a good thing……….

A call to prayer and fasting

 Isaiah 58: 6

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”

Today is a blessed day, as some of us join together, for a time of prayer & fasting.

For one day we come together, and this lesson in discipline, will certainly bring about change in the Heavenly realms.

Fasting is a conscious, intentional, deliberate decision to abstain for a short time, from the pleasures of this world.

Jesus, before He started His earthly ministry, fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.

He set the standard and raised the bar very high, and yet we should follow His extreme example.

His time of prayer and fasting set the tone for the power that came into His ministry.

Did you ever stop to wonder, what might happen to your ministry, if you got to the end of yourself?

Cornelius during the 9^th hour, of his four day fast, had a man stand before him in bright clothing. (Acts 10:30)

That’s just one of the many things that could happen, if we surrendered ourselves, to the things of God.

Ezra 8:23

So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

From the OT and all the way through the NT, we see people praying & fasting, and we also see God display His power into their lives.

That’s the kind of testimony we could have, if we just flat our surrendered.

Maybe there’s someone out there, relaying on us, to have the chains of injustice untied, and be set free from oppression?

Maybe that will happen for them—and just maybe they’ll experience, a real Mayberry Miracle.

Maybe some of that happening, depends upon how deep we want to go, with this exercise of faith?

Half Heartedness

Matthew 8: 19

Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.

True surrender to God, is such a hard and humble thing to do.

It is admitting that we, by our very nature are weak, and that God is eternally strong.

It is the physical setting aside our fleshly desires, and then running after what the Lord has in mind for us.

I often have to ask myself….. “Will I really follow Jesus, wherever He wants me to go?”

Jesus is asking us to forgo the fake, counterfeit things of this world, and then seek the genuine gems of His very character.

He never settles for half a heart. He is an intimate and jealous God, who desires our full attention.

When our attention is on Him, and on His will, the blessings from Heaven continually flow.

Maybe this morning, as you begin this new week, you just need to tell Him….. “I am so very weak, but you are so very strong—and I need you.”

It could be that the blessings are not flowing, because we’re approaching God with a half of heart.

Give it all to Him today…………….

No Compromise allowed!

Proverbs 25: 25 (NLT)

If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

Compromise always starts with a series of small steps in a downward direction.

Some of the most well to do Christians—even those whom you would never think, have fallen for the most blatant and obvious sins.

I was thinking this morning, that no one ever “suddenly” or “out of the blue”, backslides.

The steps away from the Lord, are always done in secret, and are done subtly.

Either your building up your spiritual character, or it’s being weakened/muddied.

Where would you say you are right now? There’s no reason to drink from anything, but pools of clear, living water.

Take daily steps to build up your spiritual character.

One of them is reading this devotion—and then not deleting it, but instead, allowing it to sink in, and in turn making the necessary changes.

Some of the most well intentioned believers have fallen, but we don’t have to be the next casualty.

Put up a sign in your home/office/car, if need be.….. “No COMPROMISE ALLOWED!”

What's different about you?

Daniel 6: 4

They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

Daniel truly set himself apart from all the others.

He refused to bow down and honor any other god, than the One true God.

Daniel was not a man of compromise.

Daniel did not compromise his relationship with God, just to fit in with the non-believers that surrounded him.

Daniel was grounded in the faith, from a young man on.

If our children are not grounded spiritually, they are walking on shaky ground that could crumble at any minute.

Daniel also surrounded himself with other young men, who did not give into temptation, and who never compromised their faith.

I think that’s why it’s important to be a part of a small group, attend Bible study or Sunday school.

It’s good to be with like minded people.

Daniel was forever living out the instructions of God.

His lifestyle showed that he was set apart for the great things of the Kingdom—and people took notice of his steadfastness.

When’s the last time someone came up to you and asked….. “Hey, there’s something different about you!”

You can be sure of this, that people are definitely watching……..

Cop-out or Blameless?

Psalm 119: 1 – 4

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.

Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.

They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.

The road of compromise has many distinct characteristics. It is also a wide road with many-many options.

It’s beauty and allure are inviting, and it’s mostly filled with many carefree moments.

The pace along this road way is a fast one, and the one that travels this way, takes many dangerous risks.

Those who travel this way—well, some call it backsliding, but God calls it blatant disobedience.

The middle road in this case, is filled with complacency and for the most part, pretty good intentions.

God does not and He will not honor compromise—especially as it has to do with His Word.

Middle ground is a safe place where people meet their own needs and desires—the problem is, they never meet God there.

There are other words used today for the word “compromise”—cop-out happens to be one of them.

Remember that God will always meet you where you are, but He has an expressed purpose in mind.

His purpose is to always move you away from compromise and sin, and move you into the neighborhood of holiness.

God will not live where sin resides, and by the way, He does not make deals!

Are you blessed today—in the way that God means “blessed”?

If you are, it is because you are most likely walking the way of blamelessness…………..

Perfect Way!

Psalm 18: 30 – 33

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.

As a believer, we are to make choices every day that lead us AWAY from evil.

We are directed by God, to walk the path of moral excellence.

That path should be righteous in every way.

With excellence, there should be no compromise.

Would you say that you’re striving to morally excellent?

By desiring where we want to be, it is then that we choose the path to follow.

When we walk the path directed by God, goodness is always the fruit manifested.

If we desire to walk down any other path, there will be no goodness—at least not the kind desired by God.

Which path will you take? Which path are you on?

The reason we seem to get ourselves into messes from time to time, is that we choose the wrong path to take.

Is the path you’re traveling on, marked with good or evil?

Compromise is a broken promise—and God will never break His promise to you.

How would you say you’re doing, at keeping your end of the bargain?