I Promise...

 So often I confidently make plans or statements regarding my plans without first consulting God.  How can I be so selfish?  My life does not belong to me, but to God.  As Christians, we should be asking God for his daily guidance in every situation of our lives.  Be careful not to promise things out of our own power.  In Acts 17:21 Paul says “I will come back if it is God’s will.”  Are you living according to YOUR will, or God’s?  Praise God for accepting us, even is our imperfections

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

     Ever have one of those days when everything is going wrong?  The more you struggle for control, the less you have.  I remember, as a young believer, having a few misconceptions about Christianity.  First, Christians are perfect…boy, was I wrong on that one.  Second, nothing bad ever happens or goes wrong if you are Christian…wrong again.  I long for the faith I had in God when I was only eight years old.  Now that I am older, I have come to learn that we are all human, capable of right and wrong.  I also have learned that sometimes, bad things happen to good people.  It may not make sense to us, but it makes sense to God.
All things work together to accomplish His purpose.  Peter writes on this.  “You may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”  This is only a test of your faith, which is a process that serves to glorify God.  So, if you are going through some rough times, just remember that God is using you in those struggles to mold you, or someone else, and change the world.  How awesome it is to feel included.  Do not forget to say thank you for the good times and the bad times, and for making you a part in His master plan.

Related Scripture:
1 Peter 1:6-7;  “6 for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Does Work Have You Worked Up?

     Let’s face it, even the most rewarding job has its downsides.  Everyone suffers from the occasional bad day, but where can we turn for a quick “pick me up?”  The bible mentions work over two-hundred times, all starting with God in Genesis.  What an awesome example to follow.  Some may disagree, saying: “God didn’t have to work as many hours as I do” or, “He didn’t have a boss man breathing down his neck”. While these things may be true, there are still a few things we can learn from the creation found in Genesis.
     Genesis 1:3 writes “And God said, let there be light and there was light.  God saw that the light was good.”  Even God himself knew how to appreciate a job well done.  Sometimes, we are so focused on all of the negative aspects of our own job situation that we fail to give ourselves some inward praise for a good job.<l
     We also learn that God, the creator of the universe, “had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day, he rested from all his work,” (Genesis 2:2).  If God, as powerful as He is, took time to recharge, then how important is it for us to do the same?
     The bible encourages us to “be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded,” (2 Chronicles 15:7).  Proverbs instructs us to “commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed,” (Prov. 16:3).  As long as we can carry God with us throughout our day, we will be blessed.  Do you make time for God in the office?  I encourage you to take a short, fifteen minute break to read some scripture, or maybe go on a walk outside where you can appreciate the weather and start a conversation with the Father.  No matter what the circumstances, remember that you are never alone.

How to chill when losing your cool

     This morning, while using some software that I frequently use, nothing was functioning properly.  The first step in the troubleshooting process is to reboot the computer.  After this failed to fix the situation, I went through an extensive checklist to finish the troubleshooting process. This checklist brought added frustration with each failed step.  I could feel my blood begin to boil, so I decided to take a walk to a room in the back of the building to say a quick prayer.
​Sometimes our pride can get in the way, which often gives Satan an open door to step in and cause havoc in our lives.  He will use this access to trick us into thinking that we can do everything with our own power.  Resist him, and do not hesitate to tell him to back off.  My family has an exercise we use when Satan gets the best of us.  We simply shout, “Satan, get away from me!”  If we still feel frustrated, we repeat the phrase until a smile is on our face.  This makes way for us to ask God for help in our current situation.  Philippians 4:13 tells us “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  After my God time, I returned to my computer and was able to fix the situation within ten minutes (without losing my cool). 
​We have all been in a situation where things do not go as planned.  Getting upset only seems to make things worse.  "Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper-it only leads to harm,” (Psalms 37:8).  Instead, ask for help from the almighty one and learn how to “chill out.”

Hello... God, is that you calling?

    Pastor Rick Warren writes: “If you’re going to follow God’s calling on your life, you’ve got to believe it’s never, never too late”.  This is such a nice encouragement to those individuals who God has called, but it’s not intended for everyone… right?  Wrong!  God has a specific calling and purpose for every person ever conceived.  Whether revealed through a struggle, a great sacrifice, or a sickness that shows and demonstrates God’s love and will, He does have plans for us all.
      It is our responsibility to seek God’s navigation.  Most likely, we will not be comfortable with the direction he points us, but remember that He does not make mistakes.  “It is unthinkable that God would do wrong” (Job 34:12).  Too often I doubt myself, thinking I am not worthy enough to carry out His purpose. I am encouraged with remembering the calling of the first disciples (Matt. 4:18-22), teaching us that God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. Don’t be afraid to ask him to reveal your purpose to you.  He will be with you every step of the way to guide and direct you.

God bless.

Spam Mail

     Delete..., scroll..., delete some more...., what is this garbage?  Sound familiar?  I was recently going through my spam folder the other day, when I had the realization that God is like a spam filter.  You may find emails ranging from reverse mortgages to get rich quick scams.  I even had one last week with the headline "Married men, date married women so your wife won't find out!"  Really?  

     

     Back to God as a spam filter.  Just as our spam filter blocks out unwanted garbage, God will often shield us from the things that we do not need, or are not in allignment with His will.  However, every now and then, we may get an email that may be exaclty what we want..., at least that is how it appears at first.  Just like clicking on a spam message and comprimising your network or computer, we can put ourselves in situations that can cause damage to our systems.  We may get down in a slump, or make some really bad decisions that may seem impossible to recover from.  The good news is that God can perform a full system recovery in our lives.  That is, if we let Him.  

    

     I am so thankful that I do not have to pay for this service.  Just think about this.  When is the last time that you saw a virus scan software company with the following slogan, "Use our program, we will fix your computer for free.  Just tell your friends about me."  This is absurd as a business plan and would most likely result in a bankrupt company.  However, this is the deal that God makes with us through Jesus Christ.  Jesus is simply saying accept me and let me scan every area of your life.  I will remove the junk and restore the areas with problems.  And best of all, it is completely free of charge.  What an incredible, unlimited resource.  If things are not going so well in your life, talk to the ultimate healer of all.  He already knows the problems, He is just waiting for you to call on Him.  Call before it is too late!

"God, please forgive me for the garbage that I have let in my life.  Holy Spirit please help me to discern what is from you, and what is not.  Thank you for your saving grace and constant help.

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                     In the name of Jesus,

                                                                                                                                             amen

Finish Hard Until The End

     Joyce Meyers says "Enjoy where you are on the way to where you are going."  Sometimes it is hard to keep a positive attitude while you await further instructions.  We get so bogged down with the busyness of life that our priorities can easy become changed, putting God on the back-burner until we finish our "to-do list."   I can assure you, if you are trying to take the challenges of our world on your own, there will be many adversities and struggles.  However, in Christ Jesus, we have be given an abundance of resources to carry us through any circumstance.  "He is working everything out for good" (Romans 8:28).  So, every season of our lives is ultimately from God.  We have the ability to make the best or worst of any situation by the free will given us by God the creator.  "Cast all your cares on him" (1 Peter 5:7).  Don't worry, he can handle it.  Trusting your life with God does not eliminate problems in your life, just how you respond to these circumstances.  Make God a priority in your life, instead of an afterthought.  You will not regret it.

Sharing is Caring

     In Day 6 of a fast that I recently committed to, I was instructed to pray for those who could not, and those held captive.  Whether in captivity due to religious persecution, or physically, we are all called to intercede through prayer on their behalf.  Sometimes, I feel that the "cultural christians" is more at risk of falling.

     The bitter reality of our own county is the fact that we have allowed  many "Christians" to be conformed by the culture that surrounds us.  Instead of changing our present circumstances to fit God's standards, many foolishly try to change God to fit the ways of the world.  Party it up throughout the week, then repent on Sunday for a few hours.  Many have deemed this behavior acceptable, yet feel an emptiness inside.  They long for a personal relationship with God while sitting in a pew in church, but put Him on a shelf during the the week, only to be used in case of emergency.

      Think of our relationship with God as how we treat a vehicle.  As a car owner, we routinely check fluids, tire pressure, have it serviced, etc.... This is know as preventative maintenance. This process greatly reduces the chance of a breakdown with a hefty repair fee.  our relationship with God, like the vehicle, requires daily maintenance, prayer, to reduce the risk of a major breakdown.  God carries us everywhere, whether we realize it or not.  However, turning to him only when the check engine light is on, can result in a hefty bill of hurt, shame, and resent.

     As we pray, God reveals.  Things requiring repentance always surface.  I have found that as I give my shame and regret to the Lord, there is and immediate sense of release. I almost always feel led to share my struggle.  God desires for us to share his work in our lives.  "...go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you..."Luke 8:38 (NLT)

     This part of the process is where so many get discouraged.  It is so easy to say how great God is, as long as we don't have to tell others what He has released us from.  We fear judgement, rejection, and isolation.  This is always a possibility.  However, we never know who else is struggling with the same issues.  Our words may be just what is needed to free themselves.  We should never be ashamed of our past, for it is part of our journey with Christ.  "...This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." John 9:3

     What have you been holding onto from your past? Repent and praise God.  When you give your trouble to God, the burden is no longer yours to bear.  Don't worry, God can handle it.  Then, share what He has done and how you are no longer the same.  This is a necessary step to freeing those captives of culture.  We are all imperfect people living in a broken world, but we serve an omnipotent God whose plan is perfect.  So, take preventative measures through prayer and testifying, and enjoy where He carries you.