Be Careful of the No Seeum's!

We first met David in I Samuel as a young boy with a passion for God. He made a huge mark on history when he faced Goliath and killed him with a sling and a stone. Most of us learned this story in preschool, acted it out and even sang about it. Goliath was a Philistine...a great enemy of the Hebrew people. It would appear that they had been defeated...once and for all! However, fast forward to I Chronicles 14. David is fully appointed as king and it seemed that all the enemies were subdued. Smooth sailing from here on out, right? We read, "When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him..." I Chronicles 14:8 His old enemy was rising up again. Believer, we often have great victories in our lives but we have an enemy that will never give up! Just about the time things are going great, that old temptation comes again and attacks with a vengeance! What do we do? We do what David did, "so, David inquired of God..." verse 10 Once the enemy knows our weak spots, that is where he attacks. There might be a time of rest but he will come back and try to break you down again. It could be in an area of a sinful lifestyle you thought was defeated. It could be in forgiving...the old feeling rising up again. It could be in insecurity. Whatever you had faced and defeated often will come back to try and break you down. When that happens, immediately inquire of the Lord! Pray. Speak truth from the Word. The enemy will run, but be aware that he will wait for just the right moment to pounce again. Today, pray the words from the Model Prayer, "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil!" He will!

Sit still?

Pascal, the great French philosopher and Christian, once said; “Nearly all the ills of life spring from this simple source: that we are not able to sit still in a room.” What did he mean? In our hurry-up, busy existence we never sit to consider what is around us? We speak the first thing that comes to our minds without considering the repercussions. We do what our flesh tells us without considering where these actions will take us. We never sit still in a room. Powerful words. Let them fall on you today. To sit still in a room is to let your life come into focus…to see what is real…to allow yourself to understand that you are not in control. To sit still in a room is to allow yourself to see the wonder and power of the One who created you and breathed His own breath into your lungs. For the Believer, it is to know and understand that we are in the palm of His hand. But we must sit still. What would happen if we thought before we spoke? What would happen if we counted the cost before we acted? What would happen if we began to sit still in a room? Today, nothing is more important than sitting with Him…stay there until you sense His peace. “Be still and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10

You Don't Get to Choose!

In reading II Kings, I can't help but see our nation.  The land had been divided: Israel and Judah.  Israel decided to follow the world and never repented and God allowed them to be taken over by the Assyrians.  They lost it all because they refused to obey God.  Judah was not far behind.  

Believer, obedience to God is not an option.  We don't get to choose what is right and wrong.  We in our minds think we can decide what God meant.  He doesn't need explaining!  If there is anything I know, it is that God was clear about the way we are to live and He didn't stutter!  

Today, are you being sanctified? Are you more like Jesus today than yesterday or are you more like the world around you?  It is a slippery slope. God has given us power to live rightly.  Romans 1:16-17 "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last."  

We don't get to choose what we think is righteousness...God does!

Are You a Wise Guy?

There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom. There is no doubt that our world today has more "book learning" than ever before yet we don't seem to know what to do with it. We lack wisdom. Wisdom is also being able to see a situation from an objective view point! In the prophetic book of Daniel, I read these words, "Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand but those who are wise will understand." Daniel 12: 9-10 We are seeing played out before our eyes what Daniel said thousands of years before. The wicked will continue to be wicked! They will not understand. Believers however, will have wisdom and see things as they really are...not with fear but with an understanding of God's purpose. Today, understand the things that are going on in our world are not a surprise to God. He knew all along what was going to happen...rejoice that you are among the redeemed.

Thirsty?

One of the essentials for life to survive is water. Jesus spoke often of water and called Himself the living water. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within Him." John 7: 37-38 Sometimes we get to a dry place in life and we wonder where is that water? If you have ever been in the desert you know how dry it is. Yet even there God provides water, one just has to search for it...inside the plants. I have read stories of people who survived by cutting open a cactus and receiving its life-saving moisture. If you are in that dry place right now, it is not the end. Yes, it is dry, arid, and you are very thirsty. But if you spend time really looking around you will find places within this desert where you will find life-saving blessings. They might be disguised by thorns but within there is water. Instead of despair you will find bits of hope and you will be refreshed. Today, look for God in the hidden places...you will find the sweetest water.

Camp musings

Today is the 2nd day of Camp Nonahdeia! We are learning about the true vine and the branches. (John 15) Even though this scripture is familiar, I am reminded once again that I can do nothing good on my own! Jesus said twice in the first 4 verses: Remain in me! That word remain can also be, Abide. Stay. Attach. It is a strong word which means hold on tightly. Listen, you are going to hold on to something...let it be the True Vine! Today in your prayer, ask God to reveal to you what you are holding on to more than Him then have the courage to let it go while you attach once again to Him. It will change your life.

July 19 Diary entry

Charles Spurgeon once said that when a jeweler shows his best diamonds, he sets then against a black velvet backdrop. The contrast of the jewels against the dark velvet brings out the luster. In the same way, God does His most stunning work where things seem hopeless. Whereever there is pain, suffering and desperation, Jesus is. We must not give up. We must show Christ as our hope against a backdrop of darkness Today, view this darkness as a place where you can shine His light and when you do what better place is there for the brilliance of Christ to shine?