100% Transparent - The Maturation of KB BY: KB 2.28.15

Man oh man, what can I say....it was a very interesting week and I thank God for the days and the lessons. When I say lessons...I mean lessons...I've had some hard ones this week.

I made a conscious decision to no longer live like "a cat in a litter box" working hard at scratching to cover up my "business." During my Spiritual  awakening process, I made a vow to be total transparent, totally honest and to confess on a regular basis and today is no different. I've had  a situation early in the week that had me swearing like a drunken NY Longshoreman; I prefer to think of it as my Apostle Peter temperament but I was swearing none the less. The hardest lesson I had this week was a result of my own doings.  I'm not assigning blame to anyone or anything because there was no malice intended the situation just created a really funky dynamic.

You ever get into something and although there was no malice or no wrongdoing it just vexes the spirit? I'm asking myself "what just happened?"

Y'all know what happens when I get something stirring around in my head. I go to God and I write about it. I found this little itty bitty book that I bought years ago; it's by Max Lucado. I'm going to take a little poetic license to help it illustrate my lesson:

I have something against the seductive voice and actions that the world uses. You've heard the voice and you have had a visceral and physiological response to the actions. The voice tells you to trade in your integrity for a new sale. The voice wants you to negotiate your boundaries for something quick, easy and sleazy. The voice tells you that it's OK to exchange your time in devotion to some time in the streets or sheets.

The voice whispers non stop. The voice knows how to seduce you  by exploiting your vulnerability. It taunts and tantalizes, flirts and flatters. A virtual flood of moral dopamine; a constant green light.

The world uses a battering ram at your door; Jesus taps at the door. There are voices and causes that scream for your allegiance; Jesus asks softly and tenderly. The world promises you anything and everything that you ever hoped and dreamed, flashy and fleeting pleasures. Jesus' promises are quiet and personal....

Which voice do you hear?

I can tell you that this past week I heard my own voice and I need to be more mindful of what is "said"

Ephesians 4:21- 24     21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Father,

remind me that I am an heir to a divine inheritance as a result of my faithfulness and obedience to you. Help me to continue to keep the faithfulness a priority as I go throughout my day.

A NEW MESSAGE!!! Starting March 1, 2015

 Tomorrow - I will begin running a series of blogs related to relationships and relationship issues. How we place value in people over value in God and His word. How we take on excess baggage based on our limited understanding and perception of who God says we are and what we know about love....

Please believe that I have  struggled with and had my share of personal experience....with and without the knowledge of God's word and will.  I have run on self will and openly defied God in this area albeit to apocalyptic results; so I ask you who better to speak on the subject  than a counselor, minister and writer with practical "hard knocks life" experience?

I'm just going to highlight a few scriptures and pose some words and lessons for self examination

Nowhere to run to -never too far from God's grace - BY: KB © 2.28.14

 

Are you attempting to run from God?  Do you think you're effectively hiding something from God? I find humor in the fact that many people believe they can run and hide, but you can't run from an omnipresent God. What makes people run from God; what drives people to attempt the impossible? John 3:20 gives us the answer in simplest of terms... "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." Sin (self-will) is the culprit. The reason why most people run from God is because of their passion for hedonism, selfish pursuits and self-will.  Another reason why people run from God is because they harbor bitterness towards God because of a tragic event in their life, such as the death of a loved one, bad experiences, et cetera; when in actuality it is life and our "sin nature" to blame.

It's tragic that so many people are running from  or turning their backs on a loving God  and a caring father that only wants the best for us (1st Peter 5:7     Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.). The problem with most people is that they judge God based on their  present circumstances, failing to realize that we were placed upon this earth to be tested by life and all its circumstances. God could have just created a bunch of clones to worship Him, but He chose to create mankind, and give him a free will. If we get saved, it is ONLY because we choose to get saved, of our own free will. This act of faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). 

I wish that every believer would take 1st Peter 1:7  into consideration and recite it until it sinks in... " These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." It's a hard Scripture to embrace. God tells me that all my problems in life, burdens, struggles, heartaches and bodily pains, are more valuable than the purest 24 k gold?  That is exactly what the Word of God teaches!

This Biblical teaching is in direct contradiction to everything that we embrace in this greedy and covetous world! So many people are running from God because of the very trials and difficulties which God states are worth more than gold. Please notice the Bible says that the gold shall "perish," but ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1st Corinthians 15:58     Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.). There is no reason to run from God.

One of the Bible’s greatest truths is that God is always willing to forgive us, no matter how far we've strayed or how much we've rebelled against Him. All we need to do is sincerely repent of our sins and turn in faith to Christ for the forgiveness we need. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

I am pressed to think of a story Jesus once told about a man and his two sons (usually called ‘the parable of the prodigal son’ — Luke 15:11-32). One son rebelled against his father and left home, ignoring everything he’d been taught and living instead a wild and immoral life. In time his money gave out, however, and so did his so-called friends. He was reduced to eating the same food the pigs were given.

Finally. he came to his senses and decided to return home. He knew his father might disown him, or at most would treat him as a slave. But instead his father welcomed him and forgave him and restored him as his son. He declared, “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:24).

God loves you; He loves you far more than that father loved his son. Don’t reject Him any longer, but by faith confess your sins and receive His forgiveness — and begin a new life with Christ today.

My Hope Is Built… February 28, 2015

     

 

Romans 12:12 ESV      Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 15:13 ESV      May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV      Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 39:7 ESV      “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

 

In biblical terms, hope is most often conjoined with faith.

The book of Hebrews tells us that, faith is "the assurance of things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1).  Therefore, we are to deduce that hope is the object upon which we direct our focus and energies.

To the believer, hope is living in and with the knowledge that we are being changed for the better as we trust in God's promises (Romans 8:28). HOPE is the conviction that no matter the circumstances and how our limited senses receives the situation that God's plans for our lives are "for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11b NLT).

Pleasing God BY: KB 2.27.15

1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV      But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

Proverbs 29:25 ESV      The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

John 12:43 ESV      For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Jeremiah 17:5 ESV      Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.

I recently had a W.W.J.D moment (what would Jesus Do?)...I felt myself going to the familiar place of anger and resentment. The enemy was whispering in my ear at a fast and furious pace and I had to strain to hear the voice of God. I praise Him that I was able to lock in and hear it because I know what a destructive force that anger can be and can have in my life.  God was questioning me by asking, “Are you doing this for them or for Me?”  The Bible says in I Corinthians 10:31, “So whether your eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of the Lord.” If we are doing things for the glory and praise of others, we will be left feeling drained and unappreciated every single time.  God wants us to do everything for Him.  You see, when our loved ones fail to see or even care what we do, God sees.  God sees the effort we put into things.  God sees when we do something with a caring and pure heart.  When no one else sees or cares, God sees and cares.

REAL TALK it's always easier to find a scapegoat and point a finger because examining ourselves is too painful we'd rather project;  but, I've learned that it all begins and ends with me....it's not about me but it is about why my emotions have been triggered and why I am responding to the trigger.  It's about asking the hard questions like: why did I feel so under appreciate today?   Because I was being selfish and wanted my people to notice and to validate me; I wanted people to notice all I did and say thanks. When you are wounded to the point where you begin to seek constant validation you're in dire need of prayer, help and self-reflection because no thank you or ego stroke is ever going to be enough; trust me I know this situation because at times I'm that little kid needing someone to notice all I've done. I have learned that I should have been doing these things as I was doing them for God and it wouldn't have mattered what anyone else said or did.  Now don’t get me wrong, it is not wrong to want a thank you once in a while.  And we, of course, should always appreciate and thank others.  But if we are only doing things for others approval, we will never be fully satisfied.

Everything you do, do it for God.  Do it with a joyful heart. As much as we love our family’s approval and appreciation, we should desire God’s more.

Intentions: SEARCH ME LORD BY: KB 2.27.15

Ephesians 1:9     He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him

Hebrews 4:12     For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Joshua 24:15     "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

I recently had an experience where I had to do a “SELF CHECK” and had to ask myself some tough questions. I know I am not 100% obedient to the will and unction of God; yet, I also can sleep at night because I do approach situations where I can stand tall and bare before God because I've asked Him to search me and my heart prior to entering into whatever

We can't sin to accomplish good intentions; Herod harassed the church. In doing so, he killed the apostle James. Since Herod saw this pleased the Jews, he imprisoned Peter with the intent of putting him to death to gain favor with the Jews (Acts 12:1-4).

The intent to please the Jews was not necessarily wrong. In fact, one may argue that it was politically necessary from Herod's view. But the problem arises in the manner Herod sought to please the Jews --- namely murder.

As a sinful man, Herod was willing to murder a person to accomplish his good intentions. But as children of God, we must seek to accomplish good intentions through righteous means rather than sinful acts.

Good intentions do Not Justify Sin; Paul, speaking before the Sanhedrin, professed to have lived with a "perfectly good conscience before God up to this day" (Acts 23:1). While doing so, he locked up saints in prison, cast his vote to put them to death, punished them in the synagogues, tried to force them to blaspheme, and pursued them to foreign cities (Acts 26:11-12).

Before becoming a Christian, Paul had good intentions while persecuting Christians. Yet he was lost in sin. He had to be baptized, washing away his sin, and calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16).

From Paul we learn that good intentions do not justify sin!

The road to hell is paved with good intentions!; One day I was listening to G. Gordon Liddy as he discussed the Great Depression with an economist. They were united in their view that congress worsened the depression by government involvement, rather than allowing our free market economy to make the correction. When making this point, the economist said he wasn't questioning congress' intentions, but their good intentions didn't change the devastating result of their actions.

Mr. Liddy agreed, commenting that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

I began to think about Mr. Liddy's profound and thought-provoking statement. It's true, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. A person may have good intentions, but the method of achieving the intention may result in disaster.

God honors obedience not intentions; "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'" (Matt. 7:21-23).

Some people who have good intentions, able to perform magnificent works upon the earth, will be surprised at the judgment. They won't enter heaven because they didn't obeyed God. They will be surprised to learn that obedience counts, not intentions.

Just like a young person who intends to do her homework after school, but falls asleep; she goes to school the next day and gets an F. It doesn't matter whether we intend to obey God or not, all that matters is whether we obey.

Penalty Flag !!!!! Unintentional Blocking - Oswald Chambers 2.27.15

I wake up every morning and blast off my blog - Then I get into my daily devotional readings with a bit of prayer to start my day; I follow the same routine every day and I love my time with the Lord.

I had an amazing day yesterday...everything because this has been my practice for a few months. I had an amazing day in spite of the enemy trying to permeate and steal the joy from the situation because I was prayed up. I know my heart, I know my intentions and I know whose I am. I can call out my character defects and I recognize how the whispers of the enemy speaks to my defects because God is first in my life. I don't have to lean to my own understanding and have my usual knee-jerk, over the top emotional response.

Saying all that to say...one of the devotionals that I read daily is Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest; this is my third or fourth time reading it but each time I do I discover something new because I am in a different place in my life each time I do. Today's reading resonated in my spirit.
Read the section I've placed in bold text and ask yourself..... Do I allow the word to enter my heart or do I compromise it based on my experience? How do my experiences and fears limit my vision and purpose of God in my life? 

Where then do You get that living water? —John 4:11

“The well is deep” — and even a great deal deeper than the Samaritan woman knew! (John 4:11). Think of the depths of human nature and human life; think of the depth of the “wells” in you. Have you been limiting, or impoverishing, the ministry of Jesus to the point that He is unable to work in your life? Suppose that you have a deep “well” of hurt and trouble inside your heart, and Jesus comes and says to you, “Let not your heart be troubled…” (John 14:1). Would your response be to shrug your shoulders and say, “But, Lord, the well is too deep, and even You can’t draw up quietness and comfort out of it.” Actually, that is correct. Jesus doesn't bring anything up from the wells of human nature— He brings them down from above. We limit the Holy One of Israel by remembering only what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past, and also by saying, “Of course, I cannot expect God to do this particular thing.” The thing that approaches the very limits of His power is the very thing we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do. We impoverish and weaken His ministry in us the moment we forget He is almighty. The impoverishment is in us, not in Him. We will come to Jesus for Him to be our comforter or our sympathizer, but we refrain from approaching Him as our Almighty God.

The reason some of us are such poor examples of Christianity is that we have failed to recognize that Christ is almighty. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment or surrender to Jesus Christ. When we get into difficult circumstances, we impoverish His ministry by saying, “Of course, He can’t do anything about this.” We struggle to reach the bottom of our own well, trying to get water for ourselves. Beware of sitting back, and saying, “It can’t be done.” You will know it can be done if you will look to Jesus. The well of your incompleteness runs deep, but make the effort to look away from yourself and to look toward Him.

Weeping has Value – February 27, 2015

             

NOTE: Starting March 1 - I will be running a series of blogs related to relationships and relationship issues. How we place value in people over value in God and His word. How we take on excess baggage based on our limited understanding and perception of who God says we are and what we know about love....

Please believe that I have  struggled with and had my share of personal experience....with and without the knowledge of God's word and will.  I have run on self will and openly defied God in this area albeit to apocalyptic results; so I ask you who better to speak on the subject  than a counselor and minister with practical "hard knocks life" experience?

I'm just going to highlight a few scriptures and pose some words and lessons for self examination

Ecclesiastes 7: 3     Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

2 Corinthians 7:10     For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Psalm 119:50       “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

Romans 8:18      “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

We have a tendency to run the other way when the “giant” of grief shows its shadow. We avoid our feelings at all costs…we lose ourselves in busy work, comfort others and get involved in any and everything that keeps us from dealing with the loss….I speak from personal experience on this subject!

What I have since learned is the core essence of Ecclesiastes 7: 3    “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us”  the tears  we shed wash away the debris that prevents us from accessing the power of the throne. The tears we shed heal the hurts. The tears we shed are a sweet communion

When is the last time you've experienced the cleansing flood of your own tears?!

In the still – February 26, 2015

Psalm 46:10     He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Habakkuk 2:20      But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Zechariah 2:13      Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

Zephaniah 1:7     Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

We live in a society that requires all of our attention to be focused on little screens….we’ve gotten to be proficient and multi-tasking. Training yourself to be still is not considered to be a viable life skill…I want to take you to task on this way of thinking….to be still is the ONLY life skill!

 It may appear difficult to learn how to wait in quiet with a patient heart, the flesh is a noisy beast and very difficult to bring under subjection but if you learn to do so, your efforts will be rewarded. We then learn that we become at peace and then we look forward to the communion with God in silence.

Worth your Salt - February 25, 2015

Matthew 5: 13 - 14     13"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;…

Luke 14:34-35     34"Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35"It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Mark 9:49-50     …49"For everyone will be salted with fire.50"Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary :      Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If they are not such as they should be, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If a man can take up the profession of Christ, and yet remain graceless, no other doctrine, no other means, can make him profitable. Our light must shine, by doing such good works as men may see. What is between God and our souls, must be kept to ourselves; but that which is of itself open to the sight of men, we must study to make suitable to our profession, and praiseworthy. We must aim at the glory of God.

Mark      9:41-50 It is repeatedly said of the wicked, Their worm dieth not, as well as, The fire is never quenched. Doubtless, remorse of conscience and keen self-reflection are this never-dying worm. Surely it is beyond compare better to undergo all possible pain, hardship, and self-denial here, and to be happy for ever hereafter, than to enjoy all kinds of worldly pleasure for a season, and to be miserable for ever. Like the sacrifices, we must be salted with salt; our corrupt affections must be subdued and mortified by the Holy Spirit. Those that have the salt of grace, must show they have a living principle of grace in their hearts, which works out corrupt dispositions in the soul that would offend God, or our own consciences.

Rock of Ages - February 24, 2015

Psalm 61:2    From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Exodus 33:21     Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.

Psalm 18:2     The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary      61:1-4 David begins with prayers and tears, but ends with praise. Thus the soul, being lifted up to God, returns to the enjoyment of itself. Wherever we are, we have liberty to draw near to God, and may find a way open to the throne of grace. And that which separates us from other comforts, should drive us nearer to God, the fountain of all comfort. Though the heart is overwhelmed, yet it may be lifted up to God in prayer. Nay, I will cry unto thee, for by that means it will be supported and relieved. Weeping must quicken praying, and not deaden it. God's power and promise are a rock that is higher than we are. This rock is Christ. On the Divine mercy, as on a rock, David desired to rest his soul; but he was like a ship-wrecked sailor, exposed to the billows at the bottom of a rock too high for him to climb without help. David found that he could not be fixed on the Rock of salvation, unless the Lord placed him upon it. As there is safety in Him, and none in ourselves, let us pray to be led to and fixed upon Christ our Rock. The service of God shall be his constant work and business: all must make it so who expect to find God their shelter and strong tower. The grace of God shall be his constant comfort.

Angels - February 23, 2015

 

Luke 22:43     Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

Hebrews 1:14     Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Psalms 34:7     The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.

Angels have many assigned jobs that God has given them specifically to do.  Even though they have free will, they bid to do God’s will alone.   Some angels are assigned to worship God (Rev 4:1-11; Heb 1:6) while others are assigned to minister to believers as written in Hebrews 1:14 that angels are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” whom have sometimes protected the saints (Psalm 91:11-12; Dan 6:22).  Some even feel that every believer has their own angel assigned to them, so-called “guardian angels,” although we cannot be 100% certain of this fact (Matt 18:10; Acts 12:15).  There is no doubt that angels have miraculously intervened on the behalf of Christians (Acts 5:19-20) and may help protect them in other ways (Matt 18:10) because Satan and his demons would love nothing more than to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8).  Maybe that is why it’s said that angels are said to encamp around us (Psalm 34:7; 103:21) and there are plenty to go around for every believer.  There are more than enough to help those who are saved because the number of angels is said to be uncountable, which may mean that they’re at least in the millions, if not more (Heb 12:22; Dan 7:10)

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-study-on-angels-biblical-names-purposes-nature-and-more/#ixzz3RkOgNJfq

Compassion - February 22, 2015

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy,  brotherly love,  a tender heart, and  a humble mind.

Ephesians 4:32  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,  forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew Chapter 9:36-38     36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the laborers [are] few;  38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

The Hebrew and Greek words translated “compassion” in the Bible mean “to have mercy, to feel sympathy and to have pity.” We know that, according to the Bible, God is “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15). Like all of God’s attributes, His compassion is infinite and eternal. His compassions never fail; they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Walking with Christ - February 21, 2015

Romans 13:13     Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

2 Corinthians 5:17     Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Job 22:21     Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

Psalms 1:1     How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

What happens when we walk with someone? Imagine that you and a close friend are enjoying a walk down a country lane. You are in close proximity. You talk, laugh, listen, and share your hearts. Your attention is focused on this person to the exclusion of almost everything else. You notice the beauty around you or an occasional distraction, but only to point it out to your companion. You share it together. You are in harmony, and you both enjoy the peaceful camaraderie.

Walking with God is like that. When we enter into an intimate heart relationship with God through faith in His Son (Hebrews 10:22), He becomes our heart's greatest desire. Knowing Him, hearing His voice, sharing our hearts with Him, and seeking to please Him become our all-consuming focus. He becomes everything to us. Meeting with Him is not an activity reserved for Sunday morning. We live to fellowship with Him. A. W. Tozer states that the goal of every Christian should be to "live in a state of unbroken worship." This is only possible when we walk with God.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/walk-with-God.html#ixzz3RjW2IYxp

Living In Denial – February 20, 2015

Luke 16:15     He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sight.

Romans 8:7-8 ESV       For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God

Jeremiah 29:11-14 ESV      For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

1 John 1:8-9 ESV       If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There are only three kinds of conditions that can cut off fellowship. John has listed them for us:

First, there is the man who ignores light, i.e., the one who never stops to look at what the light reveals. The light of God, expressed in God's Word, is always shining on us. But far too frequently we never stop to look at what it reveals, we never examine ourselves.

Now, we saw also that there is a group of people who persistently deny the need for light, who believe that the possibility of sin has been removed, that they have advanced so far in the Christian experience that they can no longer sin, therefore they do not need light. This is, as you will recognize, an extreme form of self-righteousness, which John immediately labels self-delusion. Such are kidding themselves. We do not reach the place of perfect sinlessness in this life, and if we think we have, then we are simply walking in darkness, and therefore, walking in weakness.

Now, today, we come to the third of these conditions, the case of the man who rationalizes the sin which the light reveals. It is described for us in Chapter 1, Verse 10, and, ignoring the chapter break, the first two verses of Chapter 2:

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 1:10-2:2 RSV)

(Series: Maintaining Fellowship  Author: Ray C. Stedman)

The Battle Is Not Yours – February 19, 2015

2 Corinthians 10:5      Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Ephesians 6:12       For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

Isaiah 26:3      Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.

There are two kinds of spiritual warfare, offensive and defensive.

In defensive spiritual warfare, demonic spirits (under Satan's command) are launched what is known as fiery darts, as Ephesians 6:16 tells us:

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

These fiery darts come in one of three forms; temptations, deceptions and accusations.

Offensive spiritual warfare, which usually consists of tearing down strongholds that have been formed in our minds when we have taken the bait and accepted the deceptions and lies of the devil. Since strongholds are incorrect thinking patterns based on error, the correct weapon we are supposed to use to tear down such strongholds is through meditating on and applying the truth, which is found in the Word of God.

Failure & Mistakes – February 18, 2015

 

Psalm 37:24 ESV      Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.

Psalm 32:1-5 ESV     A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Proverbs 28:13 ESV    Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

I wish I had something really profound and deep to share with you on this subject but unfortunately I don’t. I’m just going to leave you with this kernel of wisdom a KB-ism if you will…

The people who rarely fail are the people who rarely try!

How do you avoid failure or mistakes? You don’t…you keep trying, you practice the perfecting comes in the training. 

Thirsty – February 17, 2015

Psalm 42:1       1 For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?3My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"…

Psalms 63:1      O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Isaiah 49:10    They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

Hunger and thirst are basic human functions. We ALL need food and water to live. One clear indication of illness is when we lose our appetite. It works the same way spiritually. We were designed to have communion and fellowship with God; so, to hunger and thirst for God is part of the very core of our being; it’s actually part of the Divine Design. When there is an absence of the hunger for the presence of God, you should know that there is something wrong spiritually. The hunger is so much a part of our basic instincts that if it is not satiated it then seeks to find fulfillment in other areas other than God. Just like eating a junk food diet can detour an otherwise healthy appetite, seeking fulfillment in the things that are not of God can dull our spiritual appetite.

Unconditional Love - February 16,2015

Matthew 5:46   If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

1 John 4:18 ESV      There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV      Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Being loved is an amazing thing, but sometimes the world forgets what it's like and what it feels like to love and be loved. Even worse, you can be a part of the group that neglects the importance of what it means to love or you could be expecting that feeling to be enhanced by your spouse, your helpmate... Whether that love is void or lacking, it doesn't give you a pass to stop loving them. Marriage is about loving unconditionally. Don't ever make you love for someone dependent upon theirs for you....if you do it isn't love at all. 

Restoration - February 15, 2015

Joel 2: 25-26      25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Job 42:10   And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

John 14:1   Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Whatever you have willing given to the  enemy or whatever he has taken away from you, God wants to give it back with His blessings upon it. God wants to show His power and might by restoring it on a larger scale. That’s the kind  God we serve; we never have to settle for a substitute or "good enough."  We have choices put before us daily; we can be tempted to give in to hurt,  be wounded, or depressed. We can  dismiss the power of God by complaining and remain in the same situations. Or we can praise God and be raised up.

The enemy will try to  attack  us and attempt to steal our joy. He operates best when we are sad, sorrowful, and oppressed. Remember the feeling of elation when you first were saved? There was joy that could not be measured. God doesn't want us to lose that spark of enlightenment! Nehemiah 8:10 tells us, “The JOY of the Lord is your strength.” It is important for Christians to understand that the joy in their life!  If you don’t have joy, you don’t have strength.

You don’t have to stay in despair and depression. Don’t buy into the opinions of others to control you.  When you know and walk with God you begin to make choices that drives your own destiny. You may not be everyone's cup of tea and not everyone  is going to be thrilled about your walk. But God is. You are who God created you to be. And God likes you just fine. He’s thrilled about you!