It is Finished!

Jesus the Messiah suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, where God made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God, where the Father canceled the record of debt that stood against us with legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross” (1 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21; Col 2:14)~~ Jesus perfectly lived the life He had to live and perfectly died the death He had to die. It is finished! And there’s something else that we now understand. When He died, we died with Him, and we too have been raised in newness of life, considering ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (Rom. 6:6-12). We sinned, He died. We were guilty, He was punished. We deserved death, He gave his life. We rejected Him, He accepted us. We drove the nails in His hands, those nails saved our souls! Our sins have been dealt with once and for all at the cross, and we need never look for another sacrifice or offering for our guilt. When we fall short, we look back to the cross, and the same blood that saved us cleanses us afresh, and we go forward, free from condemnation and guilt, living lives that please the Lord. Yes, it is finished! The divine mission has been accomplished! Jesus has done it! Every sin has been paid for, every evil deed judged, and the full and total price of our redemption purchased at the cross. That my friend is the power of the blood of Jesus. That is the glory of the Son of God. That is the depth of the Father’s love—and it was all for you and for me so that forever we could be with Him and share in His nature. And now, in Him, we have everything we need. And now, through Him, we can do the Father’s bidding. And now, with Him, we can go and change the world! 

YOLO! Yeah, You Only Live Once…

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat (Prov 13:4); He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich (Prov 10:4); The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor (Prov 12:24)~ At some point, everyone has looked at their superior or a person that is further up the “success” ladder and either has had admiration and inspiration to achieve to that level for themselves or they have ridiculed that person’s position and even painted a picture of dishonesty as the means to which that person has achieved that success. We see people that do well in life and one of two things happens, we set a goal to ourselves achieve, knowing that the road is paved by people like them, or in all reality, we come up with a reason to hate them. It’s easier for us to question one’s right to be in a place than it is for us to own up to our own diligence to maximize our own potential, especially when we feel like they are living too ‘highly’ while we struggle. But rather than waste time diminishing someone else’s climb, why not focus on the goals we have set. Those of us that set nothing as our goal in life, achieve just that- nothing. We try to find the get rich quick scheme and escape heavy and lengthy learning and labor and we then seem surprised at why our success is minimal and short lived. We spend our time discussing our disgust of task before us and rather than complete it steps 1-10, we look for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10! Our goal then becomes how can we do as little as possible to gain as much as possible. Our work ethic is more about work avoidance. Now the “man” has oppressed and suppressed us; the system doesn’t favor us; and the world doesn’t understand us! Let’s be real: Stop hating on those that are in better positions than you…your potential and opportunity to be great is just as great as theirs, but you have to WORK HARD, BE diligent, …DO your best at what you do…GET UP and GO. Stop looking for excuses to explain why you deserve better but haven’t gotten it; stop slacking and being lazy; stop being a complainer, stop just trying to get over, and hating what you do. Yes, You Only Live Once (YOLO- as they like to say)…so you have one opportunity to get it right! So rather than take the easy, quick and just getting by approach; Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest (Ecc 9:10). YOLO! So Live it to the fullest!! Ain’t no half steppin!

Are you too proud to ask?

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil 4:13)~~ A little boy was trying to pick up a large rock, but couldn’t budge it. His father, watching the struggle, decided this was a good time for a lesson. “Go ahead, son,” he urged. “Pick up that rock.” “I can’t, Dad. It’s too heavy.” “Sure you can, son. Pick up the rock.” The boy grabbed the rock again, puffing and straining, but he couldn’t move it. “It’s too heavy, Dad.” “Son, the reason you can’t pick up the rock is because you’re not using all your strength.”This really puzzled the boy, so he grunted and groaned some more. Finally he said in frustration, “But Daddy, I am using all my strength!” “No, you’re not,” came the reply. “You haven’t asked me to help you.” And with that, the father leaned over and picked up the rock. I think I know that rock, because I’ve tried to pick it up a few times myself! How about you? Are you huffing and puffing, grunting and groaning in frustration, trying to move a boulder in your life when Jesus is standing there saying, “You haven’t asked Me to help yet”. We struggle so much when God is waiting to show His power in our lives-power and help far, far beyond anything we can ask or imagine. In our pride we try to hold on to our independence and we want to attach our own ‘person’ to the accomplishments and successes of life and when a trial comes we struggle with the concept of not being able to do it ourselves to the point that we feel diminished if we have to ask aside of ourselves. Pride makes us worry about how we look to others. Forget that.. I ain’t too proud to beg when it comes to asking…because I know where my help comes from! The Lord is absolutely ready willing and able to move not only boulders but even mountains out of our way…we we would just ask and trust in Him (by now I think we’re intelligent enough to know what rocks, boulders and mountains represent right?). Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean NOT UNTO THINE OWN understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct thy paths (Prov 3:5-6). 

You Can Pick Up The Rock

A little boy was trying to pick up a large rock, but couldn’t budge it. His father, watching the struggle, decided this was a good time for a lesson. “Go ahead, son,” he urged. “Pick up that rock.” “I can’t, Dad. It’s too heavy.” “Sure you can, son. Pick up the rock.” The boy grabbed the rock again, puffing and straining, but he couldn’t move it. “It’s too heavy, Dad.” “Son, the reason you can’t pick up the rock is because you’re not using all your strength.”This really puzzled the boy, so he grunted and groaned some more. Finally he said in frustration, “But Daddy, I am using all my strength!” “No, you’re not,” came the reply. “You haven’t asked me to help you.” And with that, the father leaned over and picked up the rock.

I think I know where that same rock is, because I’ve tried to pick it up a few times myself! How about you? Are you huffing and puffing, grunting and groaning in frustration, trying to move a boulder in your life when Jesus is standing there saying, “You haven’t asked Me to help yet”? Why do we struggle so much when God is waiting to show His power in our lives-power and help far, far beyond anything we can ask or imagine. – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

 

Be Faithful and Watch Faith Work!

Don’t Be An Ingrate…

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name (Ps 100:4)~ Have you ever secretly coveted “The Joneses” who seem to be living the good life when all you have is a mountain of overdue bills? Do you feel overwhelmed about your troubles and find little time to be grateful for what you do have? Do you have a critical spirit; a heart of discontent and un-thankfulness; a griping, complaining disposition; never feeling like you’re satisfied? Don’t be an ingrate. When you feel these things, you naturally lash out in frustration and go off on a tangent asking why God allows you to be where you are….all the while not realizing the BLESSING of God allowing you to be where you are!!  As that reality hits you, stop and give God thanks for what IS in your life! And it’s a promise…Yours will change! In every thing give thanks:for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Ths 5:18-23). 

Just… Pray…

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. (Psa 27:7-10)~ There comes a situation in everyone’s life where our “Godly Wisdom” speaks out the same answer, regardless of any other convictions…even those that are closest to us, and love us the most; even our parents have that point of saying.. “Pray” because even they can’t be there for us. God’s best time to help those that trust in Him, is, when all other help fails. He is a surer and better Friend than even our parents are, or could be. He knew before He even created us (Jer 1:5) that specific point in time where our “moment in life” would come where He would be the only answer for us, so God planted a “homing” signal within us…”Seek my face!”. We all have within each of us a presence just waiting to be called on but we instead rely on those things or people… which can’t help us and in many cases, those that will purposely hurt us. Some people love you enough but can’t do anything for you. Other people will hurt you, humiliate you and judge you. But God will heal you, magnify you and justify you. He knows the sound of our prayer and He sustains us through come what may. There is no problem, situation nor circumstance that exceeds His ability and desire to meet your need. When Jesus was here, He not only gave us prayer to use but He demonstrated its use and its effectiveness. Friend, whatever it is, you can pray about it. Use the “homing signal” because all else won’t sustain you but in prayer you will find God’s hand to cover you, protect you and guide you!  PRAY!

Thirsty for God

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (Ps 42:2)~~ We are living in the last days and the Bible calls it evil days. Satan has a variety of things to offer us. There are all kinds of evil things out there. We see the people hungering after and giving in to evil addictions and lifestyles that are destroying their lives. Remember the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. Our desires for those things of evil play right into the will of the devil. Every single person has in himself a longing for God, his creator. That is why we see people searching for the truth everywhere. But the influence and confusion of evil creates the problem whereby we are searching for the truths of life in the wrong places. This is why we need to seek God for Him to fill us with the hunger and thirst for the living God. When you have a longing for Jesus, no one needs to tell you to do the things of God. You cannot help but be in the things of God. When you hunger and thirst for God, all you will want to be is in His presence all the time. You will be in prayer and fellowship with Him. When you have a relationship with God, your heart’s deepest craving and your soul’s greatest longing will be to know more about Jesus and His word. You will want to fellowship with Jesus more and more and spend time with His word. God fills the people who Hunger for Him. 

Are you Hungry?

We live in a world that is hungry for so many things. We see people that are hungry for fame, position, power and riches. But God is always looking for people who are hungry for God. Jesus said “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35). This is our invitation to come to him. Jesus said that the one who comes to Him would He by no means cast away. In fact, Jesus also said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6). You never get to a point in God when you will be so full that you will not need Him anymore. Like how your natural appetite works, you have to eat when you get hungry but that doesn’t mean that you will not get hungry again. When you are hungry you eventually eat to satisfy hunger. While God is always satisfying us, He is also continually increasing our hunger and thirst for more of Him. More you hunger and thirst for Him, the more will He reveal Himself to you and the more you will yearn for Him. But we will never ever be frustrated when we hunger and thirst for The Lord Jesus. As we hunger for Him more, He will fill us more. He will reveal Himself to us more and more as we long for Him. There is simply nothing more satisfying as the knowledge of who God is. Do you have Hunger and thirst for the Lord? As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Ps 42:1-2)

Keep the Peace & Be Kept in Peace

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Rom 12:18)~ It’s easy to be at peace with people you don’t know. It can be as simple as acknowledging their presence with a ‘nod’ or smile or casual greeting. But with people we know, things get very different. Peace in relationships is an important thing, whether it’s with family, friends or co-workers. When we don’t have this peace, the mere thought of a person can drive us into a new category of instability; drive our blood pressure through the roof and literally throw our whole day off. Our minds will ramble with thoughts that consume and disturb our every rational thought. Everyone has different personalities and emotions. Sometimes we feel happy, and other times we feel angry. How a person is feeling however should not change our peaceful state. Now YOU can’t control what the other person does or how they act and it’s easy to get out of sorts when they act in a way that disturbs your peace. But you can control YOUR reaction and you have the power within you to maintain your peace. If they are antagonizing things, God will take care of the negativity that person is creating; for the vengeance is His (Rom 12:19). But as fair warning, keep in mind that your reacting with a good cussing out or even worse only serves to give God a reason to deal with you. I don’t know about you but I cringe at the thought of God taking ANY type of vengeance on me! Getting along with those in your circle may seem like a lot of work some days. But a peaceful space is a true treasure, something worth working for! Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21) – DO THE WORK it takes to keep the peace, not trying to fix anyone nor straighten them out, but managing your own actions! And when it starts to get the best of you…take five and get into God’s presence! Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6-7) – May God bless you and keep you … in PEACE!