Been Busy Lately

The holidays have been busy so it has been difficult to stay on top of the daily blog. I have work, family, and many other things that don't give me much time to sit down and blog. I hope that all celebrating yesterday came away from the day well fed and very thankful. Don't be so busy that you don't have to thank the Lord for what He has done for you.

Misunderstood

There are times that I read things that do not make sense, and then people misunderstand how I reply back to them. How can you post something that does not make biblical sense? Especially someone that studied the Bible while they were at college. The Bible is a book that is a continual study, and a book that will give you something new every time you read it. All I have to ask of people is be careful when you read the Bible, that you do not read things into it. Another thing that I wish that people would not do is accuse me of doing something that I am not. I am trying to represent my Savior in the best possible way I know how, and that is by using the words that He has given me in His Word. How do you represent your Savior? Or are you too busy representing yourself?

There are some things that should not be debated. I have seen a lot of this lately, people questioning the doctrines of our salvation. There are important doctrines that we base our faith, that Jesus explains in detail in throughout the Gospels. He even uses the apostles to explain the absolute truths of our faith.

I don't want my Savior to be misunderstood, because I am debating what He has said in His Word.

Thinking on Thankfulness

Are we thankful when everything seems a disaster? We should be because God chose to keep us alive and sustained even in the middle of disaster. We have His protection. There are many times that we have been close to harm and God has prevented us from leaving this earth prematurely. The thing is God knows when it is our time. Why should we only be thankful only one time a year? Thankfulness should be perpetual. Thank God for the little things. Why is it so difficult to be thankful? I would probably say it is because we don't realize what we have been given. The most important thing that we have to be thankful is our salvation. Other things that I am thankful for are my family, my church, my home, and my friends. I have seen so many sad family situations that I am thankful for a stable family situation. I am also thankful for my home, because some people I know have decided to be selfish and therefore have sacrificed their family on the altar of vain things.

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah."(Psalms 68:19)

"Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:"(Psalms 66:1)

"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot."(Psalms 16:5)

Thank You for what You did on the cross,
For carrying our load of sin,
So that our souls would not suffer eternal loss,
Thank You for making us clean within.


Thank You for Your blessings so abundant,
I am not worthy of all You bestow,
I will proclaim it aloud and be redundant,
I want Your glory to show.


Thank You for the trials that You send me through,
I will not be the man You want me to be,
I cannot see the final product of what You have me do,
I know that You will be there for me.

Lift Up Your Voice

How can I begin to describe the indescribable,
The One Who I honor and adore,
He has power great and unimaginable,
The One Who has power to restore.


Proclaiming at the top of my voice,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Jehovah-Jireh,
Because I have made You my choice,
It is only You that I desire.


The blessings that I cannot repay,
When I seek You day by day.
I seek not blessing but Thy presence, Lord,
Which by my own merits I cannot afford.


Lift up your voice to the One Who paid the price,
Through His blood-drenched sacrifice.
He gave all that He had to give,
So that through Him we might live.

Confused, Confounded

We remember the tower of Babel. It was man's attempt to reach God through his own power. How many times have we failed in our power to get to God by some other means than the cross? God made a way through Jesus for us to come to Him. In Genesis 11 it talks about the attempt of man to build a tower to heaven. 

"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech."(11:1)

"And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there."(11:2)

"And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar."(11:3)

"And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."(11:4)

"And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded."(11:5)

"And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to 
do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."(11:6)

"Go to, let us down and their confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."(11:7)

"So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city."(11:8)

"Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth."(11:9)

The Lord had a purpose in this encounter with mankind. Not that God did not want man to find Him, but He knew that this was not the way that man would come to God. I find that man is always trying to find other ways to God. We can only come to God through His Son's blood. There is no need to be confused or confounded, because the message of salvation is simple.

For Less Than Perfect People

I am one of those less than perfect people. I am not a Type A person, and I never will be. Perfect people do not enjoy life, because they are so busy making sure that every detail of their life is absolutely perfect. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"(Romans 3:23) "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:8) So the people that try to perfect themselves can never attain it. Paul recognized that we have all sinned, but he did not have to look far. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"(Romans 5:12)  We don't have to look far either, because we are all in the same boat by birth. To all those attempting to be a perfect person, stop and take a look at yourself.

Never let 'em see you when you're breaking
Never let 'em see you when you fall
That's how we live and that's how we try
Tell the world you've got it all together
Never let them see what's underneath
Cover it up with a crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while

There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scared
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God

Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted
When you hear the words that you are loved
He knows where you are and where you've been
And you never have to go there again

Who lived and died to give new life
To heal our imperfections
So look up and see out let grace be enough

By a perfect God 
Be changed by a perfect God
Be changed
(Perfect People- Natalie Grant)


This is the anthem of so many people. I hope this helps those of us that are struggling with various circumstances in our lives; to know that we have a perfect God. I am thankful that God has chosen to use me a less than perfect person.

Change is Good

I have had a change in recruiters, but I think that it is a step in the right direction. I think that things will move a little faster now. I am down to the last little bit of paperwork. When you are making a life-altering decision; it always requires a pile of paperwork. I am ready to make that change, because it will be beneficial to me and my family. Our family has been preparing for this change, and they welcome the change.

My only priority is taking care of my family. And the way things are going at work; it is not getting any better. I am glad that have some people looking out for me at work, so that I am not struggling to pay my bills. I am just thankful that God that He has provided for our family thus far.

Lord, continue to change me and my life. You have a purpose in our lives and I know my purpose, so continue to guide me on the path that You have put me on. Thank you for all you have done. What I have is yours and I will do my best to use what I have for you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Open Heart and Open Ears

Sunday is more than just a day that we set aside for worship, it is a day that we hear from God. I am not saying that He does not speak during the week, but with the preaching of His Word it focuses on certain areas of our lives. He knows what we need to hear, and when we need to hear it. In order to actually attune our hearts and ears to the Word of God; we have to set our hearts to worship. Closed hearts and ears do not help us to grow in the Lord; it only hardens our hearts toward God. God is the only one that can plow our hearts, so that seeds of His Word can penetrate into our souls.

Lord, prepare our hearts for the sowing of Your seed. Lord, give the pastor the words from Your Word to speak, so that we might rejoice in what great things You have done. Lord, work in our hearts, so that we would better serve You. Thank you for Your Word and how speaks to us, Your people. Let it not be man's word that is uttered, but may Your Word speak loudly and may You be honored and glorified in Your house today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Still Waiting on the Lord

Circumstances are getting difficult, but not to the point of anything that I cannot handle. God will not let us be cumbered over with a load of care. He said that He would be there to carry the burden. I will not be prideful when it is something that I can handle, because with my own strength it is a burden that is a little heavy. Everyone at one time or another has had to struggle with burden of taking care of your family when there is not enough money to do so. I am thankful for what the Lord has provided during this time of need. I do not covet the life of someone who has no cares, because what do they have to put their trust in, material possessions? All I want to see is God glorified in this time.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."(Isaiah 40:31)

I am renew my strength during this time, so that when it is time I will be able to "mount up with wings as eagles." It is a spiritual strength that cannot be gained by exercise and lifting weights. It is gained by staying in the Word of God and prayer.

Lord, my prayer is that you might renew my strength for the days ahead. I will count my blessings daily and wonder in amazement of all that You are able to do through me. I also pray that You would use Your refining fire, so that through these trials I shall come forth as gold. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Wednesday: My Deliverer- Part Two

He uses the things of this earth to show His power. He even uses us to show His power. I have witnessed what what God can do in a family that has had a child with some health issues, and he was completely healed. God uses the small things of this world to confound the wise.

"He made darkness His secret place; His pavilion round about Him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies."(18:11) "At the brightness that was before Him His thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire."(18:12) "The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave His voice; hail stones and coals of fire."(18:13) "Yea, He sent out His arrows, and scattered them; and He shot out lightnings, and discomfited them."(18:14) "Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Thy nostrils."(18:15) The Lord has done great and mighty things, and yet He took time from all that He did during Creation to spend time with us.

"He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters."(18:16) He pulled us out of the deep. He will go as far as He need to to bring us out of our sin.

"He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me."(18:17) When we think that all is lost in the battle against the enemy; the Lord gives us deliverance.

"They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay."(18:18) The Lord helps us to stand against our enemies, even when they are pressing upon us hard.

"He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me."(18:19) He takes us to places where He can show His power and do it on a grand scale.

"The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me."(18:20) We are only righteous because of Christ's imputed righteousness, and we are only clean because of the washing in the blood of Christ.

Tuesday: My Deliverer- Part One

The Lord has delivered us time and time again. He will continue to deliver. His time of deliverance may not be when we want it, but He knows when we need to be delivered. He has delivered me many times, and I know that He will continue. 

"I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength."(18:1) In my own strength, I am not able to do anything. "I can do all things through Christ strengtheneth me."(Philippians 4:13)

"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."(18:2) This verse is loaded with what our God is to us, and what He will do to take care of us.

"I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."(18:3) He is more than worthy, He is awesome. God will save us from the enemies that we face, and He will help us to fight the battles that we encounter in our lives on a daily basis.

"The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid."(18:4) Death may take loved ones from us, and we fear what evil man may do to us. These are all parts of life, but with God these things are not so hard to deal with.

"The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me."(18:5) Satan continues to hurl fiery darts at us, but with the armor of God we are able to defend ourselves against these attacks.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears."(18:6) God is not far away from us. We should call upon Him in every situation; not just when we are in distress.

"Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because He was wroth."(18:7) When our God is wroth; He is not to be reckoned with, because He is able to make all things possible. God makes the things of this earth to proclaim His glory.

"There went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it."(18:8) His wrath is a like a fire that is kindled and will not be easily quenched. Those that sinned against God were dealt with very harshly, because they turned their hearts away from Him. Sodom and Gomorrah was one of the occasions that Abraham pleaded with God to save them, if he could find a few of God's people present there. We should plead with God to save even the most vile people, because they need God also.

"He bowed the heavens also and came down: and darkness was under His feet."(18:9) He showed His presence in the firmament. He is able to show His power in any situation. Even the smallest thing can be great in the life of a Christian.

"And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, He did fly upon the wings of the wind."(18:10) Our God makes Himself to fly, because He can. He is able to do anything that He wills, but He chooses work in our lives.

Monday: Relying on God

This is something that we all have a problem doing, relying on God. He is omnipresent and omniscient, and if that is not enough, He is omnipotent. All of His attributes are a way of knowing more about Him. Once you know Him, He becomes your all in all.

"Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips."(17:1) I am crying out to You, Lord, and my words will not go unheeded. I am waiting on You, Lord, and I want feel your presence in this place, and wherever I am there You are always.
 
"Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal."(17:2) God you know me and You know what I can do and be. Thank you, for allowing me to be a part of Your family. 


"Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress."(17:3) Lord, thank you, for knowing me and calling me Your son. I am not perfect, but You don't use perfect people. You use the ones that have been broken and brought low. He has brought us up out of the pit of despair. Thank you for reaching out to me when all seems lost.

"Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer."(17:4) It is Your Word that keeps me from the paths of destruction. I pray that You continue speaking to me in every area of my life. I know that I am stubborn at times, but You continue to be faithful.


"Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not."(17:5) I can see David making sure that his sheep are safe. Jesus has done that countless time throughout God's Word. What I mean to say is that Jesus makes sure that His people are safe.

"I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech."(17:6) David cannot remind us enough to call out to our God. He is ready and willing to listen.


"Show thy marvelous loving kindness, O thou that savest by Thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them."(17:7) David saw this when he fought against Goliath. God used David to take down the offense of Goliath. He may not save us from something that we have been struggling with right this minute, but He will not let it overcome us.

"Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,"(17:8) The "apple of the eye" is a term of affection. His wings are a great comfort, it symbolizes the protection that a mother bird gives to her chicks.

"From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about."(17:9) God knows the oppression of the wicked, and He endured it on His way to the cross. He knows where we are at.

"They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly."(17:10) The enemy may boast, but they are boasting in their own pride. I boast in the Lord, because He is far greater than my enemies.

"They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;"(17:11) They seek to hurt us, but He will not let any hurt come to us. Their intentions are always evil.

"Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places."(17:12) They hide in the dark places and they devise deeds of wickedness in their hearts.

"Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:"(17:13) The wicked will be cut down as the chaff and they will be blown away with the breath of God.

"From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes."(17:14) The enemy many have all his desires, but what does that leave him when that is all gone? We have Jesus and He is our portion in this life and the next.

"As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness."(17:15)  I am satisfied with Thy face and Thy likeness. May I show Thy face and Thy likeness to the lost.

Sunday: A Joyous Life

We can have a joyous life in Christ and God has shown us the way in Psalm 16. So many look to other things for joy. Money comes to mind, but all the money in the world cannot bring you joy. Possessions are also another thing that comes to mind as a temporary joy. We seek eternal joy and we will not find it on the earth, except it be in Christ.

"Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust."(16:1) We seek to preserve our eternal state, but we cannot do it alone. Our trust in the Lord will be our preservation.

"O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;"(16:2) My goodness is nothing compared to the goodness of the Lord. "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee."(Psalms 73:25)

"But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight."(16:3) David is telling his brethren about His God, and we should do the same because He is our delight.

"Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips."(16:4) Many sorrows are upon those that seek after other gods. Their offerings create a stench that God abhors.

"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot."(16:5) I would have to say that the Lord is all my inheritance. Jehovah Jireh, the Lord is my provider.

"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."(16:6) My heritage is a goodly heritage. The Lord has given me many things and my family is one that I am most thankful for.

"I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons."(16:7) The counsel of the Lord is sure and it will direct you in the right direction. 

"I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."(16:8) The heavenly focus keeps us steadfast and unmovable. If we loose our way, He will redirect us.

"Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope."(16:9) This is both a spiritual and physical rejoicing. Many times one or the other is not glad, but when the spirit is glad then the flesh is able to rejoice.

"For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."(16:10) He has saved us out of Hell. I am thankful for His great salvation.

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."(16:11) Are you lost on the road of life? I know the One who can give you joy.
 
Lord, you are the joy of my salvation. I will thank you everyday for your direction in my life. You have been Jehovah Jireh to me. I want to be used of You and bring You honor and glory. Help to me rejoice in all situations. In Jesus Name, Amen.