Willing And Obedient

Given February 22, 2007
I remember the story of an active little boy in church who wouldn't sit still. After several "requests" from his mother, which went unheeded, he got a pinch and was made to sit down. The boy glared at his mom and whispered, "I may be sitting on the outside but, on the inside, I'm standing up!"

Aren't we like that with Father God sometime? We'll do something we know we should, we're obedient, but are we willing on the inside? The Bible says, "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Isaiah 1:19". Willing AND obedient. In that case, we do what God desires and we WANT to do it. Do you think that would please Him? I do.

As a father, I remember times when one of my boys would do a chore I'd asked, like pick beans or something, but they wouldn't be too happy about. They did it begrudgingly and without their best effort. On the other hand, there were times when they would say, "Sure Paw, I'd be glad to!" Now, which one do you think made me the happiest and more inclined to reward them?

I want to be like the latter with God my Father.

Cast Your Care

Given July 17, 2007
We live in a world with troubles, don't we? Every day, news stories chronicle trouble somewhere and even if it's not too bad, it's still something we may have concern over. But that's just the way it is. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. John 16:33", but He ended that statement by assuring us, "But take heart! I have overcome the world." He's already taken care if it. So why do we still have "care" over these things?

So, if we're in the middle of trouble, and Jesus has overcome it already, we shouldn't worry about at all. We can, (and that's important), we CAN toss the anxiety of it over to Jesus and sit back and let Him handle it. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7". We have the choice of letting Jesus take care of it or trying to do it ourselves. Here's one way of looking at it. When Satan comes knocking on your door, just say, "Jesus, will you get that please?"

I Can't Stands No More

Given July 15 , 2007
I heard something at church this morning that was a different kind of revelation. I was getting an update from a guy who has been in a great battle over his health. I posted about it here. He told me of a vision he had.

He said he felt like Popeye who was getting beaten up by Brutus, (the devil), and was in his clutches. At the last minute, Popeye says, "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!", pulls out his can of spinach, eats it, gains strength, and pulverizes Brutus. My friend said, this week, he was at the point where he "couldn't stands no more". He said Jesus was his "spinach" and he was tired of getting beat up. "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19". It was encouraging for me to hear him and his wife talk like this. Speaking the Word of God is very important no matter what the circumstances look like.

We have the power and authority to use the name of Jesus to put Brutus in his place. My friend is going to make it!

Something To Look Forward To

Given June 4, 2007
Think about a time in your life when you had something big coming up. I remember vacations as a kid. Man, the closer it'd get to the day we'd leave, the exciteder (is that a word?) I'd get. I looked forward to getting up early, getting in the car, and starting on our adventure. Even now, I find that if I have something to look forward to each week or each day, I can put up with the daily grind much better. When pressure, stress, or negative thoughts try to come on me, I just think about the good that's coming up. " By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2".

There are those who might say, "Well, it's so bad for me right now there's nothing good in my life and no hope for the future." Not so! God has a plan for each of us. "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Jeremiah 29:11 Amplified Bible". Wow, is that something to look forward to? Spend time with God and let Him show you how to get in to this plan. He'll show you how to overcome the bad and see some good out there.

We must not walk backwards into the future; longing for what's behind, but looking forward to what's ahead, even though we can't see it yet. Remember the Hebrew nation? "If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11: 15-16". Now let's see...what do I have coming up?

Optimist or Pessimist

Given June 25, 2007
I heard a story on this day about a fisherman who took a skillet with him on a fishing trip. He was planning on catching some fish. He was optimistic. Probably, he had caught fish before and believed he would again.

The kingdom of God works that way as well. When we are praying or believing for something, how do we act; what do we say? If we really believe the Word of God as displayed in the Bible, we will behave and speak in a certain way; you might say we'll be optimistic. Are you praying for a job...? thank God for it and begin doing, James 1:22, things related to your new job. Are you sick...? thank God for your healing and begin speaking those things that are not as though they were, Romans 4:17.

I won't say too much about being pessimistic but, if you listen, you'll hear Christian brothers and sisters, and even ourselves, talking this way often. Watch out and don't do this. Believe what God says, act on it, speak it and see it come to pass, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24". Don't pay any attention to the lies and temptations of the devil.

The daughter of a friend I worked with was praying for a new job. The next week at church, she gave a tithe on the salary of the new job. You know what happened, she got the job! Is that optimism, (faith), or what?

Truth or Fact?

Given January 13, 2007
We've all heard the expression, "Tell it like it is", and that's supposed to be a good thing. Tell the truth, don't sugar-coat it, be honest. Well, let's look at what is truth and what is fact.

Christians believe, or we should believe, that the Words of God are absolute truth. Right? However, in this world, there are certain facts that are evident. I'll use sickness as an example. It is a fact that there could be cancer cells in your body. The medical tests, PET scans, etc. would show this. But, the Word of God says, "and with His stripes we are healed, Isaiah 53:5", which is truth. So, what's real, the facts or the truth?

I submit to you that the Bible is the ultimate truth and our words can change the facts. "Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak, 2 Corinthians 4:13, Amplified Version". I've heard testimonies galore and have experienced it in my own body that our words, based on our faith, can change the facts. If we believe God's Word is true, we must speak it without doubt or fear and see it come to pass.

Moses told Pharaoh, "Be it according to thy word...Exodus 8:10" when Pharaoh said get rid of the frogs tomorrow. Abraham practiced this when he did as God did and, "...spoke those things that were not as though they were, Romans 4:17". We can do it too. You can have what you say, so don't keep saying what you have. Think about it.

Truth or fact? Find out what God's Word says about your situation and speak His words over it. You can change fact by speaking the truth! Tell it like God says it is and don't give up!