Taking Offense?

And they took offense at him.
~ Matthew 13:57

Because the people of his hometown thought they knew him, they took offense to what Jesus was teaching.

Are we today any different? Don't we often believe that we know God so well that we know how He will or will not work? Don't we put our great Almighty Creator in a box of our own making and then get offended because He chooses to work in our lives outside of those constraints we've tried to place on Him?

Lord,
Please show me the areas of my life where I've put you in a box, so that when you do act on my behalf, I'm not offended if you don't do so the way I've imagined. Help me to focus on you so that I hear your voice. I want to ensure I don't fall for the lies of the Enemy, but I also want to make sure I don't pass up something of You because I've made assumptions about how you are working in my life and/or in the world. Reveal to me those "boxes" and help me to put them aside and embrace You and Your ways fully.
~Amen

Psalm 9:12 - Blood Avenger

For He who avenges blood remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicated.
~ Psalm 9:12

As I read these words the other day, all that kept coming to mind was the cries of and the blood of the unborn.

Lord,

I ask that You hear these cries, the voices of those who have no voices. Open the eyes of our country so we will see this is not about a choice, it is about a Life! A beautiful, unique and sacred life which You created. Please speak to the hearts of these poor deceived women, lift the scales from their eyes, reveal the lies they have been told and have been believing. Fill them with your Truth and sustain them with your Strength.

I praise your Holy & Righteous Name - Amen!

Rewards for Enduring

As a church we are reading through the book of Revelation right now. We are all reading it ourselves and taking notes, discussing it together and watching a video series about it as well. The individual leading the video series had mentioned how important it is to understand the purpose of a book in order to fully understand it. I agree with him 100%.

He had noted that the purpose of the book of Revelation is summed up in Revelation 14:12. I tend to agree with him.

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful.
~Revelation 14:12

The more I read this book and study it the more I realize we may never be able to interpret accurately every part of it until it actually happens. I also realize that God gave us this book to encourage us when these things start to happen. It may get worse for a bit, but in the end we know who will triumph. God is calling us to endure and remain faithful.

The beginning of the book consists of letters written by Jesus to the seven churches in Asia. As I read them over I noted that Jesus speaks of rewards in each one for those who endure, are faithful and overcome. This is significant if you believe as I do that the purpose of the book is to encourage those who are called to endure and remain faithful.

Rewards promised to the churches if they are faithful, endure and overcome:

• the right to eat from the Tree of Life
• given the Crown of Life
• not to be hurt by the second death
• given some of the hidden manna
• given a white stone with a new name
• given authority over the nations
• given the morning star
• given the right to sit with Jesus on his throne
• will be dressed in white
• will never have their name blotted (or scratched) from the Book of Life and will have his/her name acknowledged before the Father and his angels
• will be made a pillar in God's temple
• will have the name of God, Jerusalem and their new name written on them

Now I don't understand exactly what each of these are, but Jesus seems to imply these are pretty good things and I tend to believe him. I find this list of rewards for those who endure to the very encouraging in my own life when I go through trials and disappointments. I pray others will as well.

Trust

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Lord,

I know these verses, but please help them to travel from my mind to my heart and from there translate into a lifestyle for me. I want to truly trust you and look to You in all things, in all ways. I desire to walk down the paths you have for me rather than where my flesh and sin nature lead me.

Transform my mind, my heart and my life.

In Jesus' Name,
AMEN

Relationships & Foundations

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you, Away from me, you evildoers!'
~ Matthew 7:21-23

I read this tonight and wondered, if that day was to come today, what would Jesus say to me? I know it is truly all about a relationship, so how is my relationship with the Lord? If I was to meet Him face to face would He claim to know me or would he respond with "Away from me!"

The next verses in Matthew are the story Jesus told of two men building homes. One built on a rock and the other built their house on the sand. When the storms came the house built on the rock is the one that remained standing. The emphasis of course is the foundation on which we build our lives. Do we build it on the shifting sands of this world or on the Rock of Jesus. I started to ponder this in my life as well.

As I pondered this and wrote the above in my journal, I received a notification of new email. It was a daily devotional to which I've subscribed. The opening words of the email were "How is your spiritual walk? Do you spend enough time with God that you are happy with your relationship with Him?" It goes on to encourage us to make time with God and nurturing that relationship a priority in our lives.

At another point in the devotional it says "Our relationship with God is foundational to the rest of our lives. His working in our lives makes or breaks the quality of our lives and our ability to love and serve others."

This past week I've been part of a group who has been fasting, looking for direction from the Lord regarding the new year and what the Lord has in store for us and our families. What direction He wants us to take in the upcoming year. This is clearly part of the answer for me. Maybe this is the entire answer for me.

I've often told others that the whole "God thing" is not about religion or rules. It is about a relationship. If we can get that figured out the rest will all fall into place. I guess it is time for me to live this out more fully myself. Obviously the Lord wants me to work on my relationship with Him, to ensure the foundation of my life is the Rock of Jesus. Everything else in my life and that of my family will fall into place if I make my relationship with the Lord my top priority.

Colossians 3:23-24

Today I came across the following verse. This is great timing for me. One of the things I tend to struggle with is being a people-pleaser. I often ask myself, who do you really fear the most, God or man. I would say God, but to be honest I don't know that someone on the outside looking in would see that based on my actions.

I'm training a new hire to take over my responsibilities at work right now and will be transitioning into my new role beginning the week after next. I think this is a verse I will be posting at my new desk.

Colossians 3:23 -24

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Genesis 5 - Just me?

I was reading through Genesis the other day and I just have to ask this question. Is it just me or does Genesis 5 make anyone else want to pull out a piece of paper and a pen (or Excel in my case) and plot out the ages of everyone from Adam to Noah? I want to see how many of his "greats" he was able to add in front of grandfather while he was still alive!

Okay, so once again it just may be the nerdy accountant inside of me, but I really want to just map it out and see in a visual format (I'm a visual nerdy accountant!) who was born in each case before each person died!

Created in His Image - Beginning a New Year

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. . ."
~ Genesis 1:26

"the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
~ Genesis 2:7

Today I read the creation story in Genesis. These verses stood out to me. I also read the following excerpt from a book I just started. I thought it was very fitting for the first day of a new year.

* * * * * * * * *

From the Prologue of Escape to Freedom,
Book 3 of the Secret of the Rose series by Michael Phillips

In man did the Creator, the Almighty I AM, raise the holy creative act to its very pinnacle, calling into life a being apart from himself that yet reflected his divine nature. Here was a being says his Word, created in the image of God himself, who yet was also given that ascendant capacity, distinct from all the rest of creation, called free will - the power to choose whether to walk in that image so intrinsic to his making.

Ah, God our Father, does such intimacy truly exist between us and thee, that we may lay claim to such hallowed origins? Have we truly - incredible thought! - been created in thy very image! Expand our minds, open our hearts to absorb the lofty and life-changing truth, that in thee we can discover all that a perfectly loving Fatherhood was meant to be!

* * * * * * * * *

The above passage got me to thinking - We each were endowed with free will, we each make our own choices. Blame can be cast nowhere else but in our own laps. What is my choice in the new year?

I choose to follow the Father, to walk in the image He created me in. To pursue that relationship with the Father for which I was created.

A Dead Church - Cecil A. Thompson

Below I have reposted today's devotional from "Blessings from the Heart". It spoke to me, especially going into this new year.

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DAILY-E-VOTIONAL
BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
December 31, 2008

“A DEAD CHURCH!”
Revelation 3:1-3

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you."

In this passage God is speaking. He is speaking not merely to a first-century church, but also to the churches of our day. Keep in mind that the “church” is not the structure made with wood, brick, stone, or other building materials. A church is composed of the people of God who come together as a body, for worship, fellowship, service and edification.

I want to walk very carefully here, as I express the words that God is laying on my heart at this very moment. We often think of a dead church as being stuffy, stilted, formal, and boring. That is all too often the case, but it goes much deeper than that. A dead church may also be filled with noise, activity, and even spiritual sounding terminology. It is even possible for people to seek emotional feelings in place of tenderly seeking God and God alone.

So what determines if a church is alive or dead? Let's focus in a little closer. What determines if “you” are spiritually alive or dead? One of our typical responses is to focus on, "them." “They are dead! He or she is dead!” I, on the other hand, am practically perfect in every way!" Such an idea, filled with self-sufficient pride, should be a dead giveaway of our spiritual morbidity (death).

We are spiritually dead, or near death, when we no longer have a spiritual appetite. If there is not a hunger in our hearts for God's pure Word—we must check our pulse immediately! Unfortunately there are church members, or should I say, church attendees, who are more interested in the hymn selections, how long the service lasts, color of the carpet, etc., than they are about meeting with God. They fail to cherish a time to shut out the world and listen to His Word read and proclaimed, lift their hearts in prayer, and join with others of His family weekly, for a spiritual family reunion.

We individually are in need of spiritual “911” care if we do not have it daily—YES! I SAID DAILY—times of intimate prayer with God. Not just praying a shopping list of our requests, but sharing our deep feelings of praise and petition. A sign of spiritual life is being silent before Him in order to hear His soft, still voice speaking words of comfort and purpose to us. We need to take the time to lovingly read His Word and then spend time meditating about the words and visualizing what is being said. It is life giving to use scripture as a part of our prayer.

I hope you are beginning to see that death in our midst is not easily covered up with the stench of human programs, practice or pretense. God sees the real us and desires more than "Let's pretend." It is time for a complete spiritual examination. As the Lord dictated this letter to the church in Sardis, and said they were dead, what would He say about us? Do we need to be resuscitated? If so, He stands ready to raise us from our dead condition, and breathe His new life into us.

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

- - - Pastor Cecil

Check out our website at: www.daily-e-votional.com

Am I prepared?

I'm reading a fiction series of books right now set in Germany. The first book is set between 1937 - 1944, during WWII. As I read about these fictional characters, including Christians who risked their lives and those of their families to save Jewish families, God's chosen, I can't help but imagine what it must have been like for those running/hiding for their lives and those assisting them during that time. While these characters are fictional, I realize they represent real people and real events. Families that were torn apart and killed just because of their heritage. People and families who risked their lives to stand against the evil of that day to try to help those who were being hunted down like they were nothing more than animals.

I ask myself the question - what if it was me and my family? How would I feel? How would I react? Would my faith crumble or grow stronger? Would I choose to follow Jesus, obey Him and possibly give up my life in this world doing so? Which life would be most precious to me, which life would be the bigger reality for me? This physical life or my eternal life? When it came down to it, when push came to shove, would I say yes and follow my Lord or would I turn my back and deny Him?

As I ponder these things I realize there could be a possibility of myself or my children having to one day make decisions such as this. Am I preparing my heart, nurturing my relationship with the Father in such as way that if and when that time comes my reality, hope and desire will be eternal regardless of the cost in this brief physical life? What am I doing to prepare my children? I realize the first step is to nurture my relationship with the Lord. No matter what I try to teach these precious little ones that that Lord has given me, nothing will speak louder than my own life and how I've chosen to live it.

Dear Lord,
I fear that when I look into my heart what I see is not the faith and character that would be required of me in similar circumstances. I realize the only way to ever obtain this though is to walk with you, to be your true disciple. Shine your light on those dark places in my heart that would not conform right now to You and Your Ways. Fan the flame in my heart so that it consumes me. Where my motives are not pure, please transform me. I want to be a true disciple of You, but know that I can't do this in my own power. Please nurture within me the heart and spirit that you desire for me to have.
~Amen