Flesh vs Spirit

"an excellent prayer" Psalm 86:11 "Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart" One of my 'ongoing' battles, is a divided heart...Here David is praying, "God, just unite my heart towards Thee." Part of us is towards God, and part of it is towards our flesh. David is saying, "Lord, I don't want a divided heart. Unite my heart towards Thee." I think that's an excellent prayer.

It's All About Me...isn't it?

"rest for my soul" Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus" The Holy Spirit's ever, ongoing work is to get our eyes from 'self' to Jesus...but for satan its just the opposite, he loves to keep us looking at our selves...he loves to tells us "Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you dont repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus" All these are thoughts about self, and we will never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: He tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all." Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus." Keep thine eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to Him; when thou liest down at night look to Him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail thee.

Remember, its not your hold of Christ that saves you—it is Christ..."keep your eyes on Jesus"

Just a Closer Walk with Thee?

"spiritual blindness?...a walk down death row?" Mark 8:36 "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Daily, okay minutely, we are reminded...it's a battle ya know? I mean where's the attraction in dying in an electric chair?...But it's possible, no probable, by avoiding the walk down death row with Jesus means that we may gain the whole world, and end up losing everything.
Every now and again, we're reminded of what it truly takes to "be like Jesus", and Pastor Rob did just that yesterday morning...and quite frankly, there's no attraction in it...in fact, I must confess, too often I choose the other path, the path more often travelled. Concerning this scripture of Jesus challenging us that if we are going to go His way, we need to die to ourselves, and become 'others centered'...a commentary I read said this: "Amazingly, the people who live this way before Jesus are the ones who are really, genuinely happy. Giving our lives to Jesus all the way, and living as an others-centered person does not take away from our lives, it adds to it"   "hmmmmm Lord, I really need Your help in this area, get my eyes off myself, help me in my spiritual blindness, Your spirit has to reign in me, so that I can take that walk down death row, and bring You the honor You deserve!"

Home is where....it's Best

"where's it Best for me to be?" Psalm 73:28 "But it's good for me to draw near to God." it's easy with the "stuff-of-life" to lose our bearings, get too far from our home base...God offers us a great 'home base'....its a real good 'place to stay close to'...God wants to be with me, holding me by the right hand, guiding me with His counsel. And when I get to the end of the road, He is going to receive me into glory...Often I forget who offers the best home base, thankfully God never stops trying to remind me, and its in His Word, and its made possible thru the work on the cross by Jesus Christ! Thank You Jesus!

Sometimes, I just need to take a moment

"a pause to reflect upon" Psalm 67:1 "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah" Truly, is there anything more affirming...more comforting...then to have God shine His face upon us? To know that as God looks upon you, He is well pleased - not because of who you are, or what you have done, but because you are in Jesus Christ; Once again, its not about me, its all about Jesus...Thanks Lord, for this reminder, this opportuntiy to pause and think of who its truly all about, your son Jesus Christ! Selah, ahh that's a pause to meditate on

Forest For The Trees

"God can change my attitude?" Ps 62:2,6 "He only is my rock, I shall not be greatly moved: He only is my rock; I shall not be moved." David went from not enough faith in verse 2, to an increased faith in the Lord, in verse 6. You've heard the old saying..."can't see the forest for the trees?" Well thats me...the stuff of life gets in my way...and David of the Bible was no different...so many times, he would come to God with a heavy, heavy heart...really discouraged, and not able to see any relief, or chance of victory...but after a little "prayer-time" with God...and 'poof'! That's our God...and it's glorious when we finally bring things to God in prayer and see how God can just bring a change in our own attitude concerning the situation. "hmmm?"

What is God Drawn too?

"what about my works?" Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." God really isn't asking or requiring sacrifice...what God really desires is only your being broken over your sin. "God, You don't want my sacrifice, else I would give it. But what You really want is just a broken spirit."  I think God is drawn to me, when I am broken, humbled before Him...totally reliant upon Him....not myself...

Regardless

Regardless of my circumstances, I need to strive to remember..."a self-evident fact" Psalm 47:2 "For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth." The Psalmist considers it 'obvious'. You see the pagan gods of the ancient world (Baal, Molech, Ashtoreth, and so forth) not only were they were imagined, but their authority was limited to a nation or a region...not Our God...as much as water is wet and fire is hot, ..."God You are Awesome!"

Always Thinking of Myself

"If I were honest with myself....If I could get my eyes off of myself, off of my circumstances...if I could simply focus on God, on His son Jesus...I would confess, I am Blessed, beyond imagination...far too blessed, too many to count" Psalm 40:5 "Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts towards us: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." The Psalmist makes it very clear...You can't even number the thoughts that God has concerning you...and yet I complain;..."O forgive me Lord"

Short, and I Mean My Short-term Memory Needs Help

"why can't I remember?" Psalm 37:3,4 "Trust in the LORD and do good. Take delight in the LORD." It seems I too quickly forget...that God knows my situation. God knows my limitations. Don't sit there and worry and fret over the situations of your life. Don't fret because it seems like everything is going down the tubes. Just trust in the Lord. God loves you. God will take care of you. Repeat as often as needed!

Happy Fathers Day

My kiddos Happy Fathers Day surprised me..."big-time", mom was in on it too...sneaky-sneaky-sneaky, Beejie had me convinced we had to go to Rochester for this 'Home Secuirty Demo' and I fell for it hook-line-and-sinker....WOW! They all 'pooled-together', got a hotel room, pizza, a dip in the pool, and breakfast this morning! What a clan, I am truly blessed..."Thank You All...Thank You Lord!"

There's Only Two 'Sure Things' in Life

Growing up, my uncle always used to say "there's only 2 'sure' things in life...death and taxes" Psalm 27:13 says "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." ...How many times I would have just given up in life if I did not believe the promises of God. If I didn't believe to see the Lord. Life does have this way of draining you dry, I mean literally...its kind of an oxy-moron you know? Life itself, sucks the very life right out of you! You and I are flesh, carnal....we live by sight, and what we see often causes us to believe, the goodness of the Lord is a hard pill to swallow.....but the psalmist knows, and points it out to us in Psalm 27:13 and says "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Note to self....only God can be trusted, He alone is true, so take confidence and as Vs. 14 says:  "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD"

Help, Lord

"Help, Lord!" Isaiah 41:10 "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God." How often do you pray this prayer..."Help me Lord"...often? The prayer itself is remarkable, short, and to the point! Psalm 12:1 "Help, Lord..." The Psalmist runs straight-forward to his God, he knows what he is seeking, and where to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed manner.

I Want Stability

"want faithful and unchanging?" Isaiah 54:10 "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Is it possible? Regardless of the hectic-ness of life, the anxiousness of an always changing jacked up society, do you long for consistency? stability? faithfulness? Only God can!

Is laughing at God, doubting Him?

"oh, yes you did" Genesis 21:6 "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." Too often, I laugh at God and say, "yeah right, no way!" Sarah, standing in the doorway eavesdropping over the angel of the Lord and Abraham...abnd she laughed as well..."Why'd you laugh"? She said, "Oh, I didn't laugh". "Oh yes, you did". How fitting, the child be named Laughter when he was born.

"Be a Light"

Give Him the Glory!" Col 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." As we strive and labor in this life, may the word of Christ dwell in you richly...maybe others will see "it", be curious about "it"...and desire some of "it" themselves..."do it all to the Glory of God"........"be a light!"

Press On

"It's Monday Lord. I could really use some encouraging..."Phil 3:14 "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." In any kind of training, they say "go til it hurts...and then go some more..." You run until you ache and you think you can't go anymore, but you keep going. You think you are going to drop, but you keep going. What about just life as we know it?  In our 'walks' too, we must press on, the word in the Greek is agonizo..."help me Lord, as I agonize in this life"

At the end, what will I be found?

"what's my true measure?" Daniel 5:27 says: "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting." I remember this from a movie...so it drew me. It is good for us to measure ourselves against something, God's Word is preferred. When I read of David in the Psalms, can I relate to him, have I felt as David felt? Has my heart ever been broken on account of sin, as his was...?
"When my short life is over, what will I be found?....wanting? I pray not, may I lean on the everlastign arms of my Jesus!"

I'm Just to Pray?

"sovereignty: supreme and unrestricted power" Psalm 71:5 "For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence..." "I've got to do this...I've got to make this happen...if I don't, it won't" God demonstrated His Soverignty, His Power when He raised His son Jesus from the grave...I've heard it said; "If He's sovereign over some of it, He's truly sovereign over it All"...even my little stuff, Lord?"  So then, I'm just to pray....is prayer enough Lord?

What about, "God helps them who help themselves?"
The Bible teaches something entirely different than the above saying, because God makes special provision to help the helpless.
Romans 5:6, 8
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly....But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Proverbs 28:26
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Jeremiah 17:5
Thus says the LORD,
"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the LORD.

Its not about me?

"to be high, one must be low?" Matthew 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children..." It isn’t in our nature to take the low place and to humble ourselves...its pretty much all about me, none of this humbling myself and being a servant stuff...yet Jesus life is marked by just such a thing...."hmm, and I wanna be like Jesus?"

Quietness Before the Lord, means?

"want strength?" Isaiah 30:15 "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength" "Trusting God's promise, means..." Returning...Resting...Quietness..Confidence... It's just like God to offer us strength and confidence, in things like quietness? Seems contradictory to the way this world operates doesn't it? Try it today, be quiet before Him and see...I read this morning.....There is no person walking this earth more powerful than a child of God boldly and properly trusting the promise of the living God!
"Help me O Lord, in these times when the voices in  my head try to convince me to panic, to worry...instead of leaning on my own understanding, help me to trust only in YOU!"

Another Egg Festival

"Thank You Lord"...we survived another Mentone Egg Festival, and not only that, but You blessed us (Pete & Freddy's Pages Aplenty Bookstore) immensely! We are indeed thankful, cause our May wasn't very good at all, and our 3 day festival enabled us to pay our rent for June! We also were able to sell alot of our 3 for $1.00 books, which all those proceeds go to the 'Helping Hands Food Pantry' here in Mentone Indiana....Once again, Lord, You are the faithful one...."Thank You, thank you, thank you!"

"Who do I say...HE is?"

I remember growing up (I know I've told this story before...so bear with me)...and my Dad would say, "Don't do as I do...do as I tell you too"...that was confusing to me! Now, all these years later, having my own kids, I realized, I can't say that....the Bible is very clear..."talk is cheap", my actions need to match-up with my words!Jesus confronted his disciples, in Luke 9:18 "Who do people say I am?" vs. 20 "Who do you say I am?" Why did Jesus ask them that question? Do you think He still asks this question today? In my 'alone-times', when He gently 'nudges' me...and asks me, "who do you say I am?"...I'm forced to reflect, and to seriously ask myself..."do my actions match-up with my words?"

"O Lord, You above everyone, know my heart, know the "real me"...and in spite of that, YOU still love me....Thank You Lord, Thank You Jesus!"

It makes me want to dance
You make me want to dance
When I think about how
You love me, You love me
You love me just the way I am
You love me, You love me
You love me just the way,
Just the way I am

No Longer a Slave

Because of what Jesus has done for the 'likes-of-me'...I no longer have to be a slave, to my flesh! I can enjoy seeking to live my life, being led by the spirit of God instead....that's what being a 'son-of-God' is all about. "He wants to be your Daddy" Romans 8:15 "So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." What a privilege we have, "in Christ"...As a child of God we have a relationship with God so close that we can 'cry out', Abba, Father! (Daddy!) Again, what Jesus has done in my life, has got to motivate me to want to be a better man for God...."Thank You Jesus!"

Overcome the World?...I just wanna get thru this rut

"How is it I can become a world-overcomer?" You know somethin'?...half the time, I'm not really sure I wanna be a world overcomer, as much as I simply wanna get thru this "rut-in-my-life!" But perhaps, I'm just really a "needy" guy, who is always going thru some "rut"?...and just perhaps God knows that...So he tells me in 1 John 5:5 " Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" It's hard to believe or trust someone you don't know...and how do you get to know someone? You spend time with 'em, watch 'em, even study 'em...Jesus said, "Let me teach you, and you will find rest for your souls" Matt 11:29 More you know Him, easier to trust Him. Job said after going thru his ordeals...."before I thought I'd heard of God, now I know Him"...."Help me Lord, I know YOU are trying to teach me who YOU are...and at the same time, to put my trust in only YOU!"