There is Power!

Numbers 13: 31

But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are."

The Hebrew spies saw the land that God had promised, but enemy was seemingly bigger than they were.

Is it just me, or does the enemy always seem bigger than they really are?

Only two of the spies thought they should really trust God.

All the others thought that God had brought them to this place in time, to see their destruction.

God never works that way.

Are you living in a place of unbelief?

Are you overwhelmed by the struggles you’re going through right now?

Maybe you’ve forgotten that God’s plan is to work through you, an impossible plan.

Jesus stands ready to work out the improbable.

What issues seem too big for even God to work out?

Maybe today, you need to leave it all in His hands.

Confess to God right now, that you lack power to deal with the enemy.

Ask Him for a greater measure of trust.

And don’t forget to ask Him, for the power to make the change He desires…

Right Judgement!

John 7: 24

“Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."

Do you ever think this, as a new person comes into your church or into your life?

“They sure don’t look very spiritual.”

“I wonder what they’re really like?”

“I‘m curious to know what their agenda is.”

Maybe sometimes we forget that God has a perfect plan for every person that comes into our lives.

Maybe there are things this person does quite well at fitting in—and are just looking to be invited into the family.

Believe it or not, God can change your heart, as it has to do with other people.

God can adjust your thought from something negative, into something positive.

Name a person in your church or in your work place that you need to accept.

Ask God to give you creative ways, to help build that person up.

Also ask Him to adjust your skeptical views about a person, into the views He has for that person.

He can make our thoughts more positive, if we just ask Him to do so.

“Father, we live in a very cynical world. Help us to see every person we meet, just the way You see them.

Help our focus to change, and help us to see the true heart in all people we meet along life’s way. Amen.”

True tranquility!

Ecclesiastes 4: 6

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

Today is the day after Memorial Day.

In most people’s minds, summer will officially kick off real soon.

Folks are planning vacations and time away from the drudge of everyday life.

We’ll try to get in every moment possible, before the kids have to go back to school, and we have to put the late season Scott’s turf builder on the lawn.

Summer should be a planned time of rest, but it almost never happens that way.

Families actually shift things into overdrive, so they can make everything happen, that’s supposed to happen.

When I was a kid, and school let out, we rarely left the comforts of our north side Oshkosh neighborhood.

Once in a while, we journeyed up to our Northern Wisconsin cabin retreat, for a rare get away.

What I remember most about summer, is that for the most part, we had simple times together as a family.

I would travel to the local middle school with my brothers, for the summer school playground routine.

And because I was a bit slower in school, than most overactive boys my age, summer school was also part of my summer program.

Maybe instead of going crazy with planning our summer schedule, we should all decide on how much of our time God is going to get.

Maybe we should schedule in some actual rest, from the hectic pace of life.

I never remember the grandiose plans my folks made for the summer, but I sure do remember the simple ones.

Every time I have the chance to indulge in a cold frosted mug of A & W root beer, there’s a simple wonderful memory, in every sip I take…

OBEY!

Ecclesiastes 12: 13

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.

A.W. Tozier once said… “The word of God was not given to us to make us intelligent sinners, but obedient and authentic saints.”

We’ve recently covered the area of fearing God and remembering all that God has done for us.

But now it’s time to put both into practice, and that translates into obedience.

Each of our lives are made up of many choices.

Good choices, and the not so good choice variety.

So when you feel like walking the path of sin today—OBEY!

So when you feel like not being faithful to your spouse—OBEY!

When you feel like giving your employer a little less than your best effort—OBEY!

When you feel like just being lazy in your prayer life—OBEY!

When you don’t feel like reading your daily devotional—OBEY!

When you’d rather just crawl into a hole and do nothing—OBEY!

I think you get the picture.

It isn’t enough just to know what’s right—but it’s very important that we actually do what’s right.

Maybe you need to be honest today, and come clean about the area or areas you’re not fearing or obeying God.

At the end of the day, I don’t want to be called just His child—but I want to identified as one of His obedient children… 

Silent Guest!

Matthew 18: 20

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Did you know that the secret to true spiritual intimacy, is prayer?

I wonder what might happen, if a married man and woman came together in prayer?

The answers is, is that God would be with them.

I have to wonder that if God was more a part of our lives—maybe we’d have less marital/church trouble than we do.

Did you know that less than 1 out of 10 married Christian couples, actually pray together each day?

They are forgoing the one thing that could actually draw them closer together.

Maybe we need to become more creative than we are.

How many of you have a picture of your spouse tucked away in your Bible?

It might be just the thing to remind you to pray for that special person.

We just shouldn’t ask God to be the center our universe—maybe we should ask Him to become the center of our lives.

Maybe if our kids actually saw us praying together, they’d become more in tune with the God that loves them.

I’ve always prescribed, that what we love the most, is the thing or things we spend the most time with.

Maybe that boat could sit in the drive way for another week—or planning that hunting trip could take the back seat.

When’s the last time you invited God Himself, to be that silent, powerful guest in your life?

Why not take your family by the hand today, and ask God to join you… 

Take Hold!

Ecclesiastes 7: 18 (NRS)

It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both.

I remember a time when my eyes were truly opened to the Gospel, that it seemed like the preacher was preaching just to me.

That was kind of a frightening experience. It was the first time that I had captured a healthy fear of God.

I learned that the God of the universe, held my tiny destiny in the very palm of His mighty hand.

This once thought big shot, didn’t feel so big after all.

We rarely hear sermons any more about the fear of God.

Very few people now days, enter into God’s house with a reverent sense of fear.

We have actually exchanged the fear of God, for the love of God.

Let’s face it—we’d much prefer love, than trembling.

Christian followers of past ages, always kept the thought that God was always watching them.

They never forgot that reverential fear of the Most High.

Living a life pleasing to God, is not taking it easy and strolling through life unmoved.

The Bible tells us that we should actually remove ourselves from all defilement, and pursue holiness.

I think it’s time we see God for who He is.

What would you do differently the past few days, just because you knew God was watching over your every move…

Firmly Embedded!

Ecclesiastes 12: 11

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd.

Wisdom is something that comes, as we each live life day by day.

The writer of Ecclesiastes refers to wisdom as… “firmly embedded nails”.

I spoke the other day to an elderly man in a care facility, and we just talked about life in general in America.

He has seen over time, the changing winds that blow in this country.

I asked him why he thought our culture was in the fix it seems to be in, and he said… “Men have completely forgotten God”.

His words confirmed to me, that when we fail to recognize His presence, all things under the sun, become the order of the day.

So often people forget the times when God was faithful and oh so true.

We begin to forget God, and forget to trust in His provision.

Would you prayerfully consider these three embedded nails, as you go about your day?

·         Remember what it’s like to fully worship God in all you do…

·         Get to know Him again, by opening up your Bible…

·         Make a list of things you remember God doing in your life, over the span of time…

When we begin to meditate on the things God has done, we begin to remember His kindness, and we’ll also begin to trust in Him again.

Don’t forget to start this week by giving God thanks, for the awesome things He has done.

Actually, why not start your week by thanking Him for the free gift of Salvation