God Lead Me…..

There are times in life when I want to do my own thing and have a "perfect" life. As most people I want to have a family, good job that pays well, a nice house, good marriage, a nice car, good health and so much more. But as I sit here today I have come to realized that what I want might not be a bad thing but it might not line up with what God has planned for my life.

I have experience things in my life that I thought was unfair and I didn’t “deserve” it. But looking back at the situation I can say it has helped me to be more effective in reaching out to others that are in the same situation or experiencing something similar. 

God knows what is best for my life and the hardest part is allowing him to lead me in the path he has planned for my life. Throughout the Bible we see many followers of God go through tremendous hardship but yet they still remained faithful to God. God didn’t promise us a bed of roses or the best materialist gain on this earth. A follower for Christ doesn’t have to be the wealthiest according to our standards. They don’t need to have the biggest house, or fanciest car, or anything else that we consider valuable on this earth. 

I have learned that we have to be grateful for the small things before God can bless us with bigger and better things. Few months ago I was struggling financially and I began working two jobs to make ends meet. But working two jobs caused me to miss church during the week and sometimes on Sundays. I was not happy with the hours but thought I need the money to make things work. But after four months I noticed my finances didn’t get better and I was still struggling and not attending church. At that point I decided to stop working the second job and trust God to provide. 

I didn’t see the financial increase right away but as my focus was shifted back on God. I noticed that my bills were still being paid with the little I was getting and I had money left over for savings. With the two jobs I barely had any remaining to save and God allowed things to work out that my house bills were lower and my interest rate on my credit card and student loan was reduce to save me few dollars a month. God will take care of his people if we put him first in all that we do. We should not allow any job, family, personal greed or passion come before the things of God. We shouldn’t allow anything to take away that time we spend with God. The more time we spend with God is the more we will grow spiritually. 

Proverbs 3: 6, Living Word Translation states, “In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” 

I am learning that before I make a big decision like purchasing a home, relocating, or looking for a new job to seek God for direction. Even in the small things like how to deal with people, using wisdom in counseling others---we need to seek the Lord for guidance. 

To summarize it all we need to develop a relationship with the Lord and speak to him about everything. He is there waiting and willing to help. Most of the time if we seek him first we might avoid making bad decisions that will cost us in the long run. Seek Him and allow God to lead.

Today is National Day of Encouragement!

A brief background on the holiday: 

The National Day of Encouragement in the United States was announced in 2007 and occurs each year in September 12. The Encouragement Foundation at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas launched an effort to get Americans to participate in this Day of Encouragement. The first proclamation for the Day of Encouragement was made by Mayor Belinda LaForce of Searcy, Arkansas on August 22, 2007. In September Mike Beebe, the Governor of Arkansas, signed a proclamation making September 12, 2007 the “State Day of Encouragement” for Arkansas.

Later, President George W. Bush also signed a message making September 12 the official “National Day of Encouragement”. The Encouragement Foundation is making plans to get more states involved in the National Day of Encouragement in the future.

 How it applies to our Christian walk: 

Encouragement is nothing new but it is something that has been overlooked by many people. There are so many of us that are caught up in our own achievements that we overlook encouraging others to be successful or congratulating them on their achievements. There are several scriptures in the Bible that talks about us encouraging one another.  

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 

Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” 

1 Peter 4:8-10 ESV “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 

Hebrews 10:24 ESV “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” 

Ephesians 4:29 ESV “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Galatians 6:2 ESV “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." 

Proverbs 27:17 ESV “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

Colossians 2:2 ESV “That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ," 

Hebrews 3:13 ESV “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Encourage is the best way to help someone move forward in live and give them hope. When they feel that you have their back and you are there for them it makes all the difference. Many young people who are not successful first response is that they had no one encouraging them or supporting them to become better. 

As saints of God let us be the one that encourages and be there for one another. We need each other and can’t make it on our own. A small word of encouragement goes a long way. Encourage someone today! God bless you.

 

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Encouragement (Background information)

http://www.openbible.info/topics/encouraging_each_other (Bible verses on Encouragement)

Anger

There are many people who get angry and is not sure why and how to control it. This morning I was reading an article and thought it would be great to share. It is title, Do You Need a Heart Transplant? by Rick Warren.

The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.” (Proverbs 29:25 MSG)

If you’re going to get control of anger in your life, you must base your identity on Jesus, understanding that he loves you unconditionally, that you are his, that you are valuable, and that he has a purpose and plan for your life.

If you build your identity on anything else, you’ll struggle with insecurity your whole life. You can build your identity on your job, but you can lose your job. You can build your identity on how good-looking you are, but you may lose your good looks. You can build your identity on the person you married, but he or she is going to die. You can build your identity on being popular, but you’re not always going to be popular.

If you build your identity on anything that can be taken away from you, you’re going to be insecure, and insecurity is at the root of your anger. Until you start feeling secure about yourself, people are going to be able to push your buttons. When you know who you are and whose you are, people can’t push your buttons. They can’t get to you. Anger and insecurity go together. The more insecure you feel, the angrier you feel.

The Bible says in Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that” (MSG).

When you get angry, your mouth just reveals what’s inside your heart. A harsh tongue reveals an angry heart. A negative tongue reveals a fearful heart. A boasting tongue reveals an insecure heart. An overactive tongue reveals an unsettled heart. A judgmental tongue reveals a guilty heart. A critical tongue reveals a bitter heart. A filthy tongue reveals an impure heart.

On the other hand, an encouraging tongue reveals a happy heart, a gentle tongue reveals a loving heart, and a controlled tongue reveals a peaceful heart.

You know what you need to get rid of your anger problem? You need a heart transplant. Fortunately, God specializes in them. It’s called salvation! God gives you a brand new heart and a brand new identity. You don’t have to find your identity in your job or your bank account or your good looks or your relationships, because you find your identity in what God says about you.

Jesus can heal the three things that cause anger: hurt, frustration, and fear. Jesus can heal your hurting heart with his love. Jesus can replace your frustrated heart with his peace. Jesus can replace your insecure heart with his power.

If you pick up a crying baby and hold it close so that it feels warm and secure, it stops crying. It stops being angry. When you feel secure and accepted in Jesus Christ, your anger is going to dissipate.

Pray this prayer today: “Dear God, I admit I have a problem with my anger. I let other people push my buttons, I get even, and I don’t think before speaking. I’m asking for your help. Help me to reflect before reacting. Help me to learn to release my anger appropriately. Help me to find my identity completely in you. I open myself completely to you. Come into my life. Save me. Make the changes that only you can make. In your name I pray. Amen.”

Cut Others Some Slack

This morning I was contemplating between two choices. There is a person in my life that has made a lot of mistakes and I was thinking whither or not I should give them another chance in my life. As I was thinking about what to do I came across this devotion article, Cut Others Some Slack by Rick Warren. I was surprised to see the article and thought it must have been God that allowed me to see it while I was thinking that the person might not deserve another chance. I hope that this article will speak to your heart like it did to mine.

“The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 NIV)

The Bible says wisdom is full of mercy and good deeds:“The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17 NIV).

In other words, it’s wise to show grace to people when they mess up, when they blow it, when they sin, when they fumble, when they have faults, and when they fail.

Who is the wisest person in the universe? God. Who is the most merciful person in the universe? God. So, any time I judge, I’m being foolish. Any time I’m merciful, I’m being like God. And that’s wise! It’s wise to cut people some slack, because God cuts you slack all the time.

Everything you have in life is a gift from God — even your next breath. If you got what you deserved, you wouldn’t be alive. Yet God doesn’t give you what you deserve. He gives you what you need. That’s mercy.

Wise people give people what they need, not what they deserve. That’s mercy, and that’s wisdom. Wise people don’t emphasize other’s mistakes, because they are merciful.

Proverbs 17:9 says, “Love forgets mistakes; nagging about them parts the best of friends” (LB).

Mike has been on the Saddleback staff in facilities for many, many years. I ran into him the day he and his wife, Sally, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Sally was getting ready to drive off, so I walked over to her car to congratulate her. I asked her, “What is the secret of a 50-year marriage?” She looked at me and said, “Pastor, I never tried to change him.”

After she drove off, I walked up to Mike, who was further up the way and said, “Mike, what’s the secret to 50 years of marriage?” He said, “I never tried to change her.”

Wisdom is full of mercy.

I Want More

 

This morning on the way to work I was listening to a song that caught my attention. The singer was speaking about so many times we are always asking God for more but we barely ever stop and give God more of us. We want to always take from God but barely go above and beyond for Him. Those words were very powerful and it caused me to think about my own walk with God.

Many of us might not want to admit to it but it is true. We want to do the bare minimum for God but want Him to do magnificent things for us. That sounds like we are just taking from him and using him for our own self-fish pleasures. Many serve God for his blessings and protection over their lives; some individuals server God because they are afraid of going to hell. Then there are others that serve God because they read about the “riches” of heaven and want it. But our real reason in serving God shouldn’t be based on those things. It should be based on us really desiring to be a servant for God and loving Him because of who He is.  

In serving God we should give Him our all, not just part of us but everything. We have to learn to surrender all to God. 

At times I find myself busy with many things that take away from the time I would normally spend with God. I spend almost eight hours each day working, then come home to a list of things that need to be done. By the time I am finish my day I am so tired and barely have time to read and pray. I might read a quick verse and say a short prayer and head off to bed. In the morning wake up and say a short prayer and off to the busy day. This pattern continues for days, weeks, months, and even years. But is that giving God more? It seems like He is getting the least of us and not more.  

In those short moments spend with God most of the time we are praying to ask God for more and more. If you were to have a relationship like that with your spouse it won’t be a very healthy relationship. One person would be giving their all in the marriage and the other just barely giving anything but take from you. None of us would like to remain in such relationship because at times we want to receive from the other person as well. We want them to slow down from their busy schedule and take time out for us. Then why not take more time out for God and do more for the kingdom of God. 

 

I hope that this help you to stop and think about your relationship with God. Are you the individual that is mainly asking more of God but not giving Him more of you? Or are you giving God your all? If you find yourself as the taker and not the giver, then you need to repent, make time for God, and seek Him for ways you can do more for the kingdom. God bless you! 

More by Kevin Downswell

I want more of you

Give me more of you

I want more of you

Says the Lord 

I’m not satisfied

Make me all you desire

I want more of you

Says the Lord 

I want more of you

Give me more of you

Jesus is asking me, and He’s asking you

What a privilege it is to give God more 

I want all your thoughts

I want all your heart

I want all your words

Says the Lord 

I want more of you

Give me more of you

I want more of you

Says the Lord 

I’m not satisfied

Make me all you desire

I want more of you

Says the Lord

No One Should Be Judged By The Mistakes They Have Made

 

 

This morning I came across this picture that spoke to me and caused me to think. The words were, "We sometimes let people get the best of us, destroy us, and change our opinions on what we believe is true. Only you know what is right for yourself. You have the power, you make the choices and you learn. Each experience we go through in life is a lesson to be learned. We all make mistakes. Why is that so hard for some to understand? No one should be judged by the mistakes they have made. It's past news."

Then there was an article to go with the picture. The author of the article wrote,

"Many times we do let people get the best of us. For some reason we let people in our lives who before had no significance, and allow them to eat away from our lives like a cancer. We have to believe in what is right for ourselves, and what is right in our own hearts. There will at times be many that try to tell us to think their way, but living your life consists of following what is inside of you, and what is inside of your heart.

You will know when someone is really there to help you grow, or if a person just wants you to think as they think. Just remember that you have the power to make your own decisions, and to watch out for others who try to think for you.

Learn from the experiences you live in your life, and be willing to learn from the mistakes you have made. Never worry about the judgment of another man, because just as you are no better than anyone else, you are no less than anyone else either!"

 

After reading this article and picture I realized that it was the truth. Many times we allow others around to think for us or force us to think the way they do. When we should really rely on what God wants us to do. It doesn't matter if no one else in the world thinks what you are doing makes sense as long as it lines up with what God is telling you to do --keep doing it.

 

I once  heard a lady mentioned that people with a messed up past is a lost cause in society because they will never change. That made me a little upset with the individual because she basically was knocking a person done because of their past mistakes. I have met a lot of people and majority of them don't have a good past but are working to turn things around in their lives. And there are others I know that have made a complete turnaround in their lives. There is nothing impossible for God to do. If he can create the whole earth by speaking it into existence, then how hard it is for him to touch a person's heart or help the person get on the right track? We put too many limitations on God and think he is incapable of changing someone. There is nothing too hard for God!

 

If you find yourself in a position where individuals around you are trying to make you change your thinking to ridicule or cast judgement on someone else--distance yourself from them. A wiser person to take advice from will tell you to do what is right and acceptable unto God.

 

Authentic Friendships

But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God's Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:7-8 NCV)

In Christian fellowship people should experience authenticity. Authentic fellowship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It’s genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing.

It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.

Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking and superficial politeness, but shallow conversation.

People wear masks, keep their guards up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.

It’s only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, “If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other.… If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves” (1 John 1:7–8, NCV).

The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.

Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection and being hurt again.

Why would anyone take such a risk?

Because it’s the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed” ( James 5:16a, Msg).

by Rick Warren

The Source of Real Power

I received the following devotion today and thought it was a good one to share with my friends and family. Enjoy!

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5 (NIV)

Do you want to make a difference in your life but just can't seem to get there? Do you want to see a change in a situation but it just doesn't seem to happen? Where do you find the real power to make a real difference in your life?

Jesus teaches us that real power is found in one of the strangest, most unexpected places. Real power is found in meekness.

Now when we talk about meekness, or gentleness, we tend to think of something sweet and gentle like a lamb or a baby. But, in God's dictionary, meek does not mean weak. It means "power under control."

Imagine it this way, it's like a rocket launching off a pad. If you took the same amount of energy and created an explosion, it would destroy the launch pad. But because that energy is funneled in a certain direction, it is instead able to launch the rocket into space.

That's what God wants to do in your life. He wants to take the power you have in your words, emotions and drive, and put it under control. But it's your choice. You have three ways you can choose to live your life.

1. The out-of-control life. This kind of living destroys everything around you. It's explosive with a lot of anger, issues, destructive power and undisciplined actions. It may seem like a lot is happening, but it leads to destruction in all areas.
2. The in-control life. In this type of living, you try to control every aspect of your life. This approach will leave you tired and stressed out as you realize you can't keep everything in check.
3. The under-God's-control life. In this type of living, you take the power God has given you and you give it back to him. You stop trying to control everything yourself. Under God's control, you can be used in ways you never thought were possible.

Can you guess which way of living will be the most fruitful? When we submit our life to God's control it will produce the fruit Paul talked about in Galatians 5:22-23, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (NIV).

By Tom Holladay