Becoming Secure in Christ! \O/

The Lord creates us with a great capacity to know Him and enjoy His Presence... Many of times when people do not feel that the Lord is close or with Him, it often is because their focus has not been in the Lord.  However the more we focus on His Presence with us, the more we can fully can enjoy life.  When we choose to glorify Jesus through our taking pleasure in Him...we proclaim His Presence to a lost and watching world.

When I was first starting out as a 17 year old in the Lord and even later in college, I often spoke of how God delivered me from the void or sense of emptiness I had in my early teens…. Although I was popular in high school and involved in many different clubs and events, I never felt complete. I sought the approval of man over the knowledge and approval of God. I lived for an audience of many, versus an audience of 1 (God). 

When we all look close enough, we all have, what I call a "God vacuum". Meaning ...we each are divinely crafted to "experience, know and enjoy (God's) Presence." However, when we do not get to know Him intimately as He is to be known, we mis-direct that attention and our feeling of need to people - having unrealistic expectations of people that was never designed to fill that void or need of completing us.

Allowing His Presence to fill my thought-life means... I am inviting Jesus into every thought and I am intentionally using my mind to glorify Him; to enjoy Him, to focus on Him... no matter what!

I want to challenge you to let your security be found in Christ today. As Isaiah 26:3 states, “You will keep him in perfect peace ...whose mind is stayed on You( God): because he trusts in You(God).

Worry not....Steward Well!

"Do not worry about tomorrow! This is not a suggestion, but a command... When you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy frame... Throw off this oppressive burden with one quick thrust of trust. Anxious thoughts meander about and crisscross in your brain... (instead) affirm your faith... enjoy My presence... trusting Me at all times." Jesus Calling

Worry is a strong habitual thought pattern that many people develop, but do not enjoy or benefit from. Worry robs us of so many things...like peace, health, confidence, relationships, and joy!

Learning to "throw off" worry with "one quick thrust of trust" equips us to move forward with God-confidence. I believe God honors our efforts to "throw off" and to develop some trust-thrusting ability. Like building spiritual muscle that will glorify God!

I have been told I am a chronic list maker. My list for the day as a matter of fact was often longer than I could accomplish. But if I don’t have a list I don’t get nearly as much done—or I forget something important. I have been accused of “worrying”. So, what is the difference between worrying and planning? As I thought about it, I once proceeded to study the difference. When looking up the meaning, a plan is a “detailed method for the accomplishment of a goal”.

Worrying is “to feel uneasy or troubled”. Habbakuk 2:2-4, states, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. 3"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. As long as I am trusting God I don’t feel uneasy or troubled.

It is one thing to worry it is another thing to prioritize and hold yourself accountable to things God places in your heart to accomplish.

There is a difference. I love the saying, “Live as though Jesus us coming back tomorrow, plan as though He will not.” There should be an urgency for us to live for the Lord today, while at the same time there should also be an urgency for us to steward those things and live responsibly with what God has placed in our hands, our home, our family, our children, our spouse and the list goes on. Worry not!

Nevertheless, STEWARD well!

Letting Freedom Ring - Happy 4th of July!

In the US, so many families are all about celebrating independence and national freedoms! Though we have gained a lifetime of independence celebrated via our national flags, parades, patriotic songs and fireworks that fill the night skies- it is equally important that we remember our need to acknowledge our DE-pendence on an ALMIGHTY GOD!

As Christians, we are not only called to be citizens within our community, but representatives as citizens of Heaven -responding to an almighty God through our worship, our celebration and through being a Witness of His Work that has given us a new found spiritual freedom. John 4:24 states, “God is spirit, and those that worship Him must worship in the Spirit and in truth." When we worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, we join with the almighty host of heaven who are continually before throne of our Lord ... worshiping Him!

 John 4: also goes on to state, "Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him….

On today, I am reminded of the great spiritual work the Lord has done in my life – breakthrough in me, my family, and those people who are attached to my life. 2 Corinthians 3:17 also states, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (another translation reads... "there is Liberty!")

We have great reason to celebrate and something eternal to sing about! Think of it!

I implore you today and everyday, in addition to celebrating our national freedom, don’t forget if you have given your life to the the King of Kings and Lord and Lords, celebrate the spiritual freedoms awarded us through the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is more than worthy of all the honor, glory, and praise due His name!

His Finished Work on the Cross was the greatest Work that we can witness! (On any day, not just the 4th!)

By God's Design!

Live well. Live purposefully. Live strong….not in yourself but in this- knowing that living is both a discipline and an art... of staying close to the Father, the divine Artist... You see Jesus seeks us out, and then He works His way into our lives as we allow Him to.

How the Lord crafted the universe, is beyond our scope of full understanding. How He could create the vast galaxy, endless sky, every star, every planet, every animal, every human – ALL of creation took great power, yet great meticulous detail and care down to the least of His creation.  Likewise, our lives are to be examples of God's Craft-ability at work. Daily He fashions us into extensions of His own Image.

I marvel at His handiwork in nature and in the hearts and lives of those He's placed around me. It is both purposeful and powerful, the way He crafts His Image, His Heart, His Desires into our hearts as we are naturally by nature sinner and then through His Word engrafts His Mind into our minds.  Even Jesus is the epitome of that mind and heart of the Father transformation:

Philippians 2:5-13 states, “5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is 

God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

 

All my insecurity, inadequacy, insufficiency, and vast inability can be miraculously God-crafted. Then through the blood of Jesus- Jesus healed, Jesus supplied, Jesus rectified... and divinely... His workmanship sealed through the blood of Jesus! God doesn’t call the qualified! He qualifies the called!  We may not feel qualified in all that God is calling us to do, but it is up to Him to qualify us whether we think we have all the qualifications needed to what He has called us to do or not. God is the author and finisher of our faith!  It's God's Divine' Ability at work in each of our lives! It is amazing and it is miraculous at the same time.  How He takes mere men made out of mere clay and uses us as mighty vessels fit for the kingdom to make an impact, first in our lives, our own families, our communities, and ultimately the World! Our God is an awesome God. Would you join me in praising Him for all that He has done, all that He does and all that He will still yet do in our lives TODAY! He is WORTHY! \O/

Loving Our Maker Loving Our Mate...

Making a love relationship work WELL can be quite challenging. How rewarding it is when we have a rich relationship with God! Just as a love relationship is between us and the Lord is rewarding, so it is for a married couple when they take the time to invest in a rich relationship with each other. I have witnessed too many marital relationships that have become too stale, strained and fractured from the stresses of everyday life when obsolete of God’s divine guidance and Lordship, no longer loving, no longer caring. Continually trying to withdraw from an overdrawn account of love without ever taking the time to put back or sow into it.  The marriage can truly become a balancing act to navigate through the emotional landmines!

Yet paralleling the two relationships offers us a continual life lesson that we must often be reminded of. The two most critical relationships of my life; must be centered in the Lord. My life and my relationship with my life love must be centered in His Word and grounded in prayer every day in every way!

I especially like how the Amplified Bible puts it... "The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing. (Zeph. 3:17)

Also in Colossians 3:1-5 it speaks of the new life we have in Christ when we make Him THE priority, "If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God^.  And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.  For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

When we look at our eternal creator through the scope of a greater picture...We become open to receive from the Lord precious truths and guidance that save us from the turmoil, divisiveness, and senseless arguments of the world....  In other words, when we delight in the Lord, God will take delight in us and even cause us to reap of His presence, in turn guidance, and joy as He rejoice over our lives with singing.

I certainly want my spouse to view me from that same type of spiritual scope as it speaks of in Zephaniah! I want to encourage you to begin each day with a morning of acknowledging God, and His Presence. Maintain a thankful, open heart that accommodates for a rich relationship with a Great Savior and in return accommodates for a great relationship with your Spouse!