Jesus on that dark day. How remarkably alone He was.

"It was 20 years ago that I enjoyed the privilege of portraying Jesus in the film The Gospel of Matthew. The experience was life-changing as I came to understand the Lord in ways I’d never imagined. I discovered His joy, His heartbreak, and the fire of His passion. I also discovered how remarkably alone Jesus was when He walked the earth.

"After all, who could possibly understand a man whose thoughts and ways were so astoundingly removed from those of any other person? Even His closest companions never "got it" until after He’d ascended to His Father. How alone does that leave a man—especially that Golgotha day?

"When we filmed the crucifixion scenes of Matthew, I arrived on the set after a three-hour make-up job that was so authentic none of the film crew could bear to look at me. I recall thinking of that scripture, "He was … like one from whom men hide their face" (Isa. 53:3), and realizing it was very real.

"Then the filming began and the brutality was remarkable. We were just "faking it," and the awfulness was indescribable. I remember hanging there and seeing the faces all around me, just staring. A little girl from the local village where we were filming just cried and cried. They all would have loved to help me somehow. But it was something I had to go through alone.

"I thought of Jesus looking out and seeing His mother, John, and others. As much as they loved Him, there was no way they could understand His motivations that day. As much as they’d have loved to somehow help Him, it was something He had to do—alone.

"Then came the moment of alone beyond alone. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46). And you and I could be born again.

"Today is a day to shed all our wanting and live as the Lord desires: thankful. We have the privilege of understanding Him as those who walked by His side never could, and our response can be nothing other than to fall on our faces in profound gratitude. Glory to Jesus!"

–Bruce Marchiano

[Reposted from intouch.org]

A Cup of Cold Water

"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is [my] disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." ~ Matthew 10:42

I heard this Scripture quoted recently and it really got my attention. A cup of cold water is a pretty small thing for most of us. We don't have to go to draw from a well as Rachel and the Samaritan woman did. We would simply have to open the refrigerator and pour a cup from a nicely chilled pitcher, or hand someone a bottle of water  - with minimal effort in all but special cases.

When I think about the simplicity of genuine service that He accepts, I know I've passed up way too many opportunities to do good. In fact, I can clearly recall a sense of irritation at times when asked to do simple tasks, or to stop what I'm engaged in to help someone else out.

The Lord will remember the smallest, seemingly insignificant things we do, out of honor and love for fellow believers. Not only will He remember, but He will also reward us for doing them. God watches us and records our doings. Every. Little. Thing.

I hope you will join me in making a commitment to be more conscientious about these little things, so that we can please Him more fully. Let's find ways, and grasp opportunities, to convert our strength, resources, and time into heavenly treasures.

Take Time To Actually Pray

"The great people of the earth today are the people who pray!  I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor those who explain prayer; but I mean those who actually take the time to pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. That something else is important, very important and pressing, but still, less important and pressing than prayer. There are people who put prayer first, and group the other items in life's schedule around and after prayer. These are the people today who are doing the most for God in winning souls, in solving problems, in awakening churches, in supplying both men and money for mission posts, in keeping fresh and strong their lives far off in sacrificial service on the foreign field, where the thickest fighting is going on, and in keeping the old earth sweet a little while longer."  S.D. Gordon

A few years ago I discovered the place where persistent prayer took place and yielded results. I learned to pray Scriptures and to pray based on the word of God. I learned to pray specifically, and to pray about everything. I also learned that my prayer could be as effective on the days I didn't 'feel' like praying or when I was more easily distracted. The deciding factor was my choice to separate myself from the other things I could be doing and go pray anyway. Sometimes it was very difficult to get started but I would ask the Holy Spirit to help me, and He would. In those days I found myself spending as much as three to four hours at a time in prayer and intercession. And that time became precious.

Tremendous changes began taking place in me, and by explicit answers to my prayers. I remember thinking that if I had known it could be like this, I would have spent so many hours (which had been previously wasted) in prayer instead. I was truly filled with regret over all the time I could not get back to pray, and all the times I had worried myself into a frenzy instead of putting that energy towards praying about things. If there is a secret to the overcoming Christian life, my experience taught me that it must be spending time getting to know God by studying His word, and then praying according to it.


Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. 
Colossians 4: 2 (AMP)


A few years ago I did a blog series on praying effectively. You can find it here (this link is based on the label applied; be sure to start from the bottom when reading because it does follow an order to be most useful to you).

New Growth Will Lead To New Things

Happy New Year!

May this year be for each of you a year of growth; going from glory to glory, and faith to faith!

There is a fresh stirring in my heart to delve more deeply into studying the Word of God this year. This didn't occur to me just this morning because it's New Year's Day. I've felt like a new wind of grace has blown over me during the past week in particular. I know this is a work of God in me, and I am determined to cooperate with Him to work it out practically. So, although I did not make New Year Resolutions, I did have to make some New Year Decisions. (I make a distinction because 'resolution' seems to refer to something more whimsical, based on feeling or a burst of positivity; whereas, a 'decision' reminds me that choice and responsibility sit squarely on my shoulders).

I realize that I am going to have to make trade-offs and changes in my daily schedule to spend more time in study that's deeper than daily Bible reading. It's not going to be easy amidst a busy schedule (nothing worth it ever is) but the rewards are the kind that profit a person now, and for eternity. I also know my personal gains will equip me to better serve all those God has put in my sphere, both offline and online.

How about you? I know that God is also at work in you. Will you take this journey with me this year?

I believe it's best to pray about what I should blog here (especially when I'm discussing something that turns out to be more of a mini Bible study), so there's no telling what will come up. Needless to say, the unchanging focus will be on a closer relationship with God, and with others. This always calls for discussing how to live in the light of God's word, in practical ways.


I would love to hear what's on your heart and mind. Join me at Facebook, Google Plus or Twitter. If you have a testimony of praise, or a prayer request, feel free to send it to me at fotshepherd[at]gmail[dot][com]

Blessings of love, strength, and peace to you in Jesus.

Resolve to Love

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Resolve to Love 
By Kerry and Chris Shook

Right now, there are three relationships in your life that trouble you. Perhaps a good friend said something to you yesterday. It felt critical, but you’re not sure what she meant. The two of you used to be so close, but lately you’ve been drifting apart. Something’s not right. Oh, and your mother called. There’s that. You know you should return her call, but you haven’t. Why? You know there are things you should have said before, you avoided them, and now you feel it’s too late. It’s always so hard with her. Always messy. And then...your son has been missing. Not missing physically, but he’s been distant, quiet, silent. Missing emotionally. What’s that about? What’s going on in his life? You want to reach out, but he pushes you away. It worries you.

Maybe the relationships in your life aren’t exactly like these, but I’m guessing these remind you of someone close to you, a problem relationship in your life right now. Maybe it’s not your mother but your father, perhaps not your son but a daughter-in-law. It could be your best friend. Whoever it is, he or she is someone who matters to you—or else the relationship wouldn’t trouble you, gnaw at you on the inside, make you question and grumble, or even bring you to tears.

So take a moment and think, who are these three key people in your life? Which meaningful relationships are troubling you? Relationships you wish were closer. Relationships you’d like to be deeper and richer. Relationships that trouble you, bother you, even make you a little crazy right now.

Seriously, think about it. Who are they? And now take a moment to name these three key relationships out loud.

Trust me, this is important for you. In fact, this may be the most significant thing you do in your life right now. Why?

Because life is way too short. At the end of the day—at the end of The Day—in this all-too-short life we share, all that really matters is relationships. Our relationships with the God who created us and with the people we love. Compared to these relationships, the job or career goals we set now aren’t really so important, the ladders we try to climb don’t matter so much, and the objects we long to own and possess seem utterly trivial.

What really counts in the end is that special knowing look you share with your spouse, the arms of your child reaching up to you, or the quiet comfort of a friend who stands by your side in a difficult time.

The award-winning animated movie Up contains some profound truths about relationships. In a breathtaking sequence early in the film, we see the entire arc of the life of Carl, a balloon salesman, as he meets Ellie, falls in love, and gets married. They share a dream to travel to South America and save every penny for their big trip. But there’s something familiar about the way their savings are constantly being used for the urgencies and emergencies of daily life. Before Carl and Ellie know it, they’re in their seventies, and although they have a beautiful marriage, they never realized their dream adventure.

Ellie dies, and Carl is overwhelmed with regret about the trip they never took. In a desperate attempt to escape loneliness and recapture memories of Ellie, Carl attaches a bunch of balloons to his house and sets out for South America! You begin to realize as the movie progresses that this dream trip they were saving for, this object of their future plan together, wasn’t really that important after all. The real adventure was the life they shared along the way.

The same is true for us: the adventure of a lifetime is right in front of us. It’s just cleverly disguised as a familiar face.

Think about the possible loss of the relationship with one of those three people you named. You can’t do anything about death and the physical departure of one of them from this earth. That’s in God’s hands.

But you can do something about your relationship with them in life.

Much of what you’ve been told about relationships is upside down and wrong.

Researchers tell us that a baby sees everything upside down for the first few days of life until the brain can adjust the visual picture to right side up. Most relationships today are stuck in this same infant stage; we tend to see relationships upside down, and our culture only reinforces this view. The concept of love at first sight permeates our music, movies, television, and books. What we learn as children and continue to believe as adults is that a fairy-tale relationship somehow just happens. Now, I’m not bashing romance, but meaningful relationships depend on seeing other people as they are and looking at them right side up. Real love—whether romantic love, a close friendship, or a family relationship—happens long after first sight. It shows up as people get to know each other more deeply and often after they work through tough things together. Real love in relationships isn’t a magic act; it’s a journey. When people say, “It was love at first sight,” what they really mean is “I was attracted to that person the first time I saw them.” There is nothing wrong with being infatuated with someone at the start of a relationship. The real question, however, is, do you have a love that is growing stronger and deeper every day?

I don’t believe in love at first sight; I believe in love at last sight. Each of my relationships has the potential to be better the next time we’re together than it was the previous time so that the last time we see each other on this earth we’re closer than ever before.

Adapted from One Month to Love by Kerry and Chris Shook with permission of Multnomah Books, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

35 Reasons Not to Sin

A list of sobering truths by Jim Elliff

1. Because a little sin leads to more sin
2. Because my sin invites the discipline of God.
3. Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.
4. Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.
5. Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.
6. Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.
7. Because I am doing what I do not have to do.
8. Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.
9. Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.
10. Because my sin saddens the godly.
11. Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.
12. Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.
13. Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.
14. Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.
15. Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.
16. Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.
17. Because my sin may influence others to sin.
18. Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.
19. Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.
20. Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.
21. Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.
22. Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.
23. Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.
24. Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.
25. Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.
26. Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.
27. Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.
28. Because my sin is adultery with the world.
29. Because I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.
30. Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.
31. Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.
32. Because to sin is not to love Christ.
33. Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to  believe.
34. Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it, never because it is worth anything on its own.
35. Because I promised God He would be Lord of my life.

Cool Stats On Topical Teachings of Jesus

View at Amazon.com

Teachings of Jesus in the Gospels
Did you know? There are...

- 323 verses on the topic of last days and judgment
- 198 verses on sin and forgiveness
- 123 verses on the kingdom of God
- 52 verses on money and treasure
- 44 verses on marriage and family
- 34 verses on Jesus' death and resurrection
- 25 verses on the deity of Jesus
- 717 verses on spiritual life

— Infographic from the NIV Quick View Bible
http://thequickviewbible.com/

I found the above infographic snippet and stats at the NIV Bible’s Facebook Page. This type of additional information interests me and I know a lot of others would think it worth knowing as well. It makes me wonder what kind of other cool stuff is in that Bible. I may have to get one!

A Man Who Lacked Moral Courage

I have been perusing Christian Classics at ccel.org. I came across a wonderful volume called, ‘Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer’ compiled and published by S.B. Shaw in 1893. In it, Shaw included the following true story as told by D. L. Moody (1837-1899). I thought this account was remarkable and scary all at once, and I believe there’s an important lesson here that you really need to read yourself.

(For those of you who follow both of my blogs, please bear with the post duplication in this instance. There are a few things I’ll post that I may consider important enough to have both categories of subscribers read, although I do intend this particular blog to be the main home for shared thoughts of this type.)

A Man Who Lacked Moral Courage

A few years ago I went to close a meeting, and said: “Are there any here who would like to have me remember them in prayer? I would like to have them rise!“ And there was a man rose, and when I saw him stand up, my heart leaped in me with joy. I had been anxious for him a long time. I went to him as soon as the meeting was over, and took him by the hand, and said: “You are coming out for God, are you not?” He said: “ I want to, and have made up my mind to be a Christian; only there is one thing standing in my way.” “What is that?” I asked. “Well,” he replied, “I lack moral courage.” Naming a friend of his, he added: “ If he had been here tonight I should not have risen; I am afraid when he hears I have risen for prayer he will begin to laugh at me, and I won’t have moral courage to stand up for Christ.” I said: “If Christ is what he is rep-resented in the Bible, he is worth standing up for; and if heaven is what we are told it is in the Bible, it is worth living for.” “I lack moral courage,” he answered; and the man was trembling from head to foot. I thought he was just at the very threshold of heaven, and that one step more was going to take him in, and that he world take the step that night. I talked and prayed with him, and the Spirit seemed to be striving mightily with him; but he did not get the light. Night after night he came, and the Spirit strove with him; but just one thing kept him back - he lacked moral courage. At last the Spirit of God—which had striven so mightily with him, seemed to leave him, and there were no more strivings, he left off coming to church, was off among his old companions, and would not meet me in the street; he was ashamed to do so. About six months afterward I got a message from him, and found him on what he thought was his dying bed, he wanted to know if there was hope for him at the eleventh hour. I tried to tell that there was hope for any man that would accept Christ. I prayed for him, and day after day I visited him.

Contrary to all expectations, he began to recover; and when he was convalescent, finding him one day sitting in front of his house, I sat by his side, and said: “You will soon be well enough to come up to the church, and when you are, you will come up; and you are just going to confess Christ boldly, are you not?” “Well,” says he, “I promised God when I was on what I thought to be my dying bed I would serve Him, and I made up my mind to be a Christian; but I am not going to be one just now. Next spring I am going over to Lake Michigan, and I am going to buy a farm and settle down, and then I am going to be a Christian.” I said, “How dare you talk that way! How do you know that you are going to live till next spring? Have you a lease of your life?“ “I was never better than I am now; I am a little weak, but I will soon have my strength. I have a fresh lease of my life, and will be well for a good many years yet,” he answered. I said: “It seems to me you are tempting God;” and I pleaded with him to come out boldly. “No,” he said; “the fact is I have not the courage to face my old companions, and I cannot serve God in Chicago.” I said “If God has not grace enough to keep you in Chicago, He has not in Michigan.” I urged him then and there to surrender his soul and body to the Lord Jesus; but the more I urged him the more irritated he got, till at last he said “Well, you need not trouble yourself any more about my soul; I will attend to that. If I am lost it will be my own fault. I will take the risk.”

I left him, and in about a week I got a message from his wife. Going to the house, I met her at the door weeping. I said: “What is the trouble?” “Oh, sir! I have just had a council of physicians here, and they have all given my husband up to die; they say he cannot live.” I said: “Does he want to see me?” She replied: “No.” “Why did you send?“ “Why,” she said, “I cannot bear to see him die in this terrible state of mind.” “What is his state of mind?” “Why, he says that his damnation is sealed, and he will be in hell in a little while.”

I went into the room, but he turned his head away. I said: “How is it with you?” Not a word; he was as silent as death. I spoke the second time, hut he made no response. I looked him in the face, and called him by name, and said “Will you not tell me how it is with you?” he turned, and fixed that awful, deathly look upon me, and, pointing to the stove, he said: “My heart is as hard as the iron in that stove; it is too late, my damnation is sealed, and I shall be in hell in a little while.” I said: “Don’t talk so; you can be saved now if you will.” He replied: “Don’t mock me I know better.” I talked with him, and quoted promise after promise, but he said not one was for him. “Christ has come knocking at time door of my heart many a time, and the last time he came I promised to let Him in; and when I got well I turned away again, and now I have to perish without Him. ”I talked, but I saw I was doing no good, and so I threw myself on my knees. He said: “You can pray for my wife and children, you need not pray for me; it is a waste of your time, it is too late. ”I tried to pray, but it seemed as if what he said was true - it seemed as if the heavens were brass over me. I rose and took his hand, amid it seemed to me as if I were bidding farewell to a friend that I never was to see again in time or eternity. He lingered till the sun went down. His wife told me that his end was terrible. All that he was heard to say were these fearful words: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved. ”There he lay, and every little while he would take up the awful lamentation: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved.” And just as the sun was sinking behind those western prairies he was going into the arms of death. As he was expiring, his wife noticed that his lips were quivering, he was trying to say something, and she reached over her ear, and all she could hear was “ The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved;“ and the angels bore him to the judgment. He lived a Christless life, he died a Christless death, we wrapped him in a Christless shroud, nailed him in a Christless coffin, and bore him to a Christless grave. Oh, how dark! Oh, how sad! I may be speaking to some one today, and the harvest may be passing with you, the summer may be ending. Oh, be wise now, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ l May God’s blessing rest upon us all, and may we meet in glory, is the prayer of my heart!

- D.L. Moody.

The Whole World Lies Under The Sway Of The Wicked One

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ~ 1 John 1:7

I am not surprised in the least bit that the Fifty Shades of Grey erotic (read: pornographic) series for women started out as fan fiction by the author, who was a fan of Twilight series (and would even appropriate Twilight characters) for her blog stories. Some of you reading this will just not understand what I am getting at; some of you will.

The Fifty Shades of Grey series by E.L. James has beat the sales of Harry Potter (which was the modern example of a literary revolution appearing in textbooks just a few years ago). According to Business Insider, the demand for these books have boosted sales for all adult/erotic fiction 25% across the board. And some commentators say that the book is now sparking a sexual “revolution” among women which has various implications.

Folks, all satan needs is an entrance. Then one thing will come into your life, then another, then a next…Watch these shifts in the culture, they mean something. Watch the sudden rise to fame of certain people and products, they mean something. Satan is "the god of this world", the “spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience (unbelievers),” and "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" says Scripture (2 Cor. 4;4; 1 Jn 5:19; Eph 2:2).

Christian, you need to be discerning. Unbelievers do not have the Spirit of God; they have no choices, only preferences.

Let him who has ears to hear, hear. And walk in the light as He is in the light.

I imagine that some are going to read this and wonder what rock I crawled out from under. A lot are going to ask ‘what's the problem with porn anyway?’ A lot are going to justify this all and say that those books are actually improving their relationships and sex life. What they don't know is how satan operates. How all he needs is an entrance, then their lives are going to malfunction in ways they may never ‘see’ but which will affect them and those connected to them for eternity. I blog this out of great concern having seen firsthand the destructive effects of such influences in the lives of others. I know they cannot see it, but what they are buying into is not 'entertainment' or a 'sexual revolution', but the first steps to spiritual bondages they never dreamed of.

Are You All In?

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John 12:42-43

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?...You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
James 2:14, 19

We can get really comfortable with our mental beliefs about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible. We can say 'Amen' to the next Scripture tweeted into the world wide web, or 'like and share' the next cute faith-based post we see on Facebook. We can agree with the preachers and teachers of our Sunday morning services, or our favorite webcasts and podcasts. But we may not always be walking in a faith that satisfies God's demands about belief in Himself. Every now and then we need to take a deep look at these verses and then examine ourselves to see if we are (still) really "in the faith" (see 2 Corinthians 13:5). Do we really believe what we think we believe? Does our faith in God lead to a significant change in the way we live our life? Does our belief in God ever cost us any actual change? Because true faith would.

True faith would set us on a path of internal transformation, external action, and require us to surrender our will for God's will at every point of the journey. God requires us to have a faith that follows Him. It's not always easy, but it's both the doorway and the highway to knowing God more and more, and to entering into His promises. There's believing...and then there's believing. Are you all in?

Because You Say So

He [Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken
Luke 5:4-9

Has God told you to do something that seems to go against obvious indicators for success, or maybe you just don't see how it could ever work?

When God challenges us to trust His word to undertake something, even when it fails a feasibility assessment from a human perspective, He is allowing us to discover more and more of His personality and power. Peter had only recently met Jesus when He had the experience described above. This show of Christ's wisdom and power to pull off the most successful fishing expedition ever, without hardly trying, brought a holy fear upon Peter. He realized he was in the presence of no ordinary man, and saw himself in stark contrast, as he really was. In the same way, God wants us to know Him. In continually acting upon His word we will become increasingly confident that His plan always works. Peter had the opportunity to see an immediate reward in taking Jesus at His word despite the 'facts' that surrounded his situation. In our own lives we may have to wait a little while depending on the situation, but whatever God asks us to do is always for our own good ultimately. As Christians we soon realize that the Lord will continually require us to trust and obey Him; and that our peace, joy, and success depends upon it.

Just like Peter dared to be in the Bible snippet above, let's make a decision to become people who always say to God "because You say so, I will."

“Whatever He says to you, do it.”

~ John 2:5

How Will Deliverance Come?

"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." ~ Psalm 50:15
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." ~ Psalm 34:19

We have numerous promises from our God that whenever we call upon Him for help, for rescue, for deliverance in the time of trouble, He will answer. That's an astounding promise if we think about it. The God who always prevails, who is the terror of His enemies, who is mightier than all, guaranteeing us with the bond of His word to show up and deliver us.

I haven't discovered any incident in the entire Bible where someone walking with the LORD ever called upon Him and was not answered. There is the case of the rebellious king Saul seeking God for help near the end of his life, and God was silent to him. But Saul was not walking with God and not at all repentant - just very afraid of the enemy that was coming against him and his armies. On the contrary, even the most vile and evil kings of Israel, such as Manasseh, obtained mercy from the LORD and help against enemies when they called upon Him in true repentance. God's word certainly stands, and how much more for His own children who call upon Him in the day of trouble!

But how does deliverance come? What is our part in a battle that we are facing?
In Scripture there are two main patterns we see: God fights for us and we sit back and watch His work OR God fights for us and we fight. In either case victory is assured.

We have examples of God protecting and defending Daniel in the lion's den - Daniel just waited there (Daniel 6); God leading Israel out of Egypt by terrifying signs and wonders and destroying Pharaoh's armies in the middle of the sea - Israel just kept walking forward (Exodus 14); God defeating Jehoshaphat's enemy by causing the enemy alliance to become so confused that they slaughtered one another till no one was left - Judah just marched out singing praises to the LORD (2 Chronicles 20).

On the other hand, we have numerous examples of God 'giving an enemy into the hand of' the armies of Israel and Judah but they were required to send their men out to battle. In cases where they fully obeyed God, not even a single man of their armies was killed. King David habitually took every battle to God in prayer, whether he should go to war or not, and this is also when he would get strategy from God. There is no biblical record or David ever losing a battle in decades of fighting! Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon and many of the judges and kings of Israel and Judah were given great deliverances from enemies in this way. They conquered entire nations in battle - nations far mightier and greater in number - because God had given them His help, but they were required to face the enemy with their weapons.

Perhaps most of us want our deliverance to come while we watch and wait, not having to make any move of our own, not having to commit to any strategy, not even having to seek God desperately in prayer and fasting. It seems far easier. But I would point out that the biblical instances of deliverance coming in the supernatural-no-humans-involved way are far less than the number of battles that had to actually be fought.

We do not determine which way deliverance will come. But we have many, many promises from God that it will come. He will come. Until we're safely out of harm's way and trouble's surge we have in God Himself a hiding place, a rock of refuge, comfort and a shield. We stay close to Him in prayer, in praise and worship, and by filling ourselves with the wisdom of His word. Our part in the day of trouble is to call upon the Lord, trust Him implicitly, and obey whatever He says to do.

Too Little, Too Late - The Danger of Unbelief

God will always forgive the repentant sinner. But there are consequences to sin that we sometimes cannot wheedle ourselves out of, or make up for. Similarly, at times our disobedience and lack of faith will cause us to miss a God-thing and no amount of crying, pleading, begging God will move Him to give us a 'second chance'. We've essentially missed the time of our visitation, or missed an appointed time. A Bible example of this is evident in the account of the Israelite nation after they were led out of Egypt and being prepared to enter their Promised Land.

In Numbers 13 we are told how a representative group of twelve chief men were sent to spy out the land they were to enter and possess, and were charged with bringing back a report of the territory, including details of the agricultural produce and the people occupying the land. Ten of the men returned and because they lacked faith in God, shared a discouraging report with the thousands of Israelites - from their skewed perspective. Their unbelieving report struck terror into their hearts of the people who then denounced Moses and the God who had led them out of Egypt with unprecedented signs and wonders. They refused to enter Canaan and to do battle with the people living there although God promised to give it to them. They set their hearts to choose another leader and make their way back to Egypt where they had been slaves. But God interrupted their uprising.

After Moses interceded for them, God quickly decided to pardon them. Nevertheless, there would be severe consequences. Pronouncing judgment upon them based on the words of their own mouth, God informed Moses that none of those people twenty years and older, who had rebelled against God would ever see the Promised Land. They would wander for forty years, each year representative of each day that the unbelieving Israelite spies had been viewing Canaan. The whole group would occupy the wilderness till the time of the death of the rebels, and finally, those who were then children would be allowed to enter the Land promised.

After Moses shared the judgment determined for Israel the group was terrified and remorseful. They finally decided they would believe and obey God. By that time, it was too little and too late.

Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned! And Moses said, Now why do you transgress the command of the Lord? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the Lord, the Lord will not be with you. But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed from the camp.Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah (Numbers 14:39-45).

Notice the line that says 'they presumed...' - even after being warned by Moses that they would not be successful. In the same way, we can't presume to continually, deliberately, do our own thing and then just pick up where we left off in obeying God when we feel like it, or when we see the avalanche of consequences coming our way. There may be a high price to our waywardness. Sometimes, we are forgiven and able to continue without life-altering repercussions; sometimes (though forgiven) we are not. And we can really never tell which it is going to be.

The sin of the rebellious Israelites was clearly diagnosed in Hebrews 3:12 as an "evil heart of unbelief" that led to their departure from God. God is merciful, but let's be reminded from this account that both disbelief, and subsequently disobedience, are sins against God. Mercy keeps us standing in grace, but mercy does not necessarily trump the negative consequences, delays, and detours caused by unbelief along the narrow path we are traveling. Instead, let's make use of the grace of God which will enable us to lead obedient lives, and conduct us safely into His promises to us.

I Knew What I Was Getting Into - All Men Are Broken

I feel strongly that somebody needs to hear this.
Please listen this to the end. Ponder it. Take it to prayer. Let the Holy Spirit minister to you.
Believe.
Let God love you.

Pour On the Oil and the Wine

In Luke 10:30-36 Jesus tells the story of a man who showed practical love and kindness to a stranger.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’"

Just like this man that we now know as the Good Samaritan, you and I are to going to come upon wounded people along our path. Their wounds are not bloody and gaping on the outside. Instead, their hearts are broken. They have forgotten how to smile, for real, from the inside. They are insecure, lonely, and they wish they could trust again. They carry unseen loads of guilt, shame, self-loathing. They never feel comfortable in their own skin. They feel different although they don't quite know what 'normal' is. Broken hearts, oppressed spirits, mangled emotions, and tormented thoughts. Lying along the path you just happen to be traveling.

If you've met Christ, then you've met the Healer. You've been touched by the One who makes all things new, a perfect Redeemer. You are sealed with His Spirit. Spirit-filled believer you are a reservoir of living water which these people need to be saved, healed, revived. The Spirit of God is often prefigured in the Old Testament Scriptures as holy anointing oil, and compared in the New Testament Scriptures to heart-gladdening new wine. Draw out and pour on the oil and wine to the hurting and broken. Your tongue is the ladle, and the spout. Speak kind words. Speak healing words. Proclaim truth. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray and intercede with faith. You are meant to be more than an occasional Good Samaritan. You are always on duty, an ambassador of Jesus Christ and a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-20). You are drawing on a never-ending supply, so go on, pour on the oil and the wine.

Put God's Name On Yourself

This morning while spending some time with God I found myself overcome with emotion, with awe, and gratitude as I thought of one of my very favorite readings in the Old Testament:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’ “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:22-27 (emphasis mine)

Amazing. Utterly amazing. That God who made the heavens and the earth and all that fill them would teach us to ask for His blessing. There could be no way to measure the value of a blessing from an Everlasting God, an Almighty Creator, a Holy God. There is nothing greater that can be bestowed on us apart from His name. For His name embodies all He is. For some time now I've loved this prayer that Moses was taught by the LORD, and commanded to teach to those charged with the priestly ministry of that day. I especially love to hear it prayed in the original Hebrew language. It's a prayer for leaders before the LORD in their God-given sphere...congregations and families...to put the name of the LORD on His people. But make no mistake about it. You, Christian, are now a member of a holy priesthood and royal nation unto God through Christ. You can pray this blessing over yourself. You can ask God to bless you, keep you, shine on you, be gracious to you, favor you, and grant you His peace. You have this privilege to put His name on yourself. And He has already promised His blessing.

Only Believe

Here we are in 2012! Standing at the beginning of a new calendar year, I am personally more excited about this year than I can recall being excited about any other for a long time.

Did you know that God has appointed times and seasons for His global purposes, as well as His purposes in your individual life? When these times arrive He will do whatever is necessary (in accordance with His righteousness and power) to perform the word that He has already spoken (see Matt 1:18-22). We don't have to try to make anything happen in our own life. All we have to do is ensure that we are filling ourselves with His word, deepening our relationship with Him by giving ourselves to prayer, and being diligent to trust and obey. What I'm saying is that cultivating a real, personal, relationship with God takes care of everything else.

As the year unfolds tragedies and difficulties will continue. Darkness is growing darker and sin and deception is ripening in the earth. We are in the last days. Jesus is returning soon. And since He's coming for a Bride without spot or wrinkle, you better believe that the Saints are going to continuing being in a wash, rinse, spin and press cycle. Take heart. He will be with us and can strengthen us to overcome! And what's wonderful about this time that we live in is that the true, overcoming Church will shine like never before. I believe that if you spend any amount of time observing different congregations you can begin to spot the ones with hearts hungry to know God more, to speak His word and do His will, and to be holy as He is holy. It has already begun.

Christ's kingdom is going to be shared with overcomers. Those who by faith and patience, endure to possess the promises. They are those who bear up under tests because they hide the word of God in their heart and treasure it. They seek to know Him above all else.

In 2012, as in any other year, situations are going to arise that will shake those who don't have a solid faith in God and His word. But this does not mean that the year is going to be a bad one for you. Starting today you have an opportunity to choose to give God and His word first place in your life. Determine to chase Him down, to know Him more. Let your soul follow close behind Him (Psalm 63:8). As you do this, what He has planned for and through your life this year will come to pass, despite anything else that could happen in politics, the economy, or religious, social and moral debates. Take Jesus' words to heart: "Do not be afraid; only believe" (Mark 5:36).

This year, may God's kingdom come in and through your own life in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!

Finishing Well

I remember my latter high school years. Night after night of hearing the muffled sounds of the TV as all my family watched sitcoms and movies, while I sat at my desk pouring over text books, and resisting the temptation to join everyone else. Over a couple years I lost track of what was new at the cinema, or the latest at the top of the adult contemporary charts on radio. I had to forego the novels that caught my attention at the library. I made an actual list of movies and books I decided I would have to go find after I graduated, when studies were out of the way. Yes, I determined I would catch up with it all later on, but that my studies were my priority at that moment in time. I disciplined myself in practical ways, using schedules, methods, rest periods and intermittent rewards to achieve my goal. It was hard, but every round of examination met in this way, did not find me with regrets when results came out.

I believe that this willingness to weigh present perks against future rewards, and to choose with the long term in mind, is one of our greatest daily struggles in keeping first things first. Yes, it is a daily uphill climb. It's known as discipline. And its rewards come in no other way. In a Christian's life enduring to the end and finishing well requires a lifestyle of temperance.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Hebrews 12:1-3

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

How important is discipline in the Christian life? Even Paul who lived a set-apart life to God, knew that the consequences of losing vigilance, diligence, and discipline could be deadly to his chances in the race of faith.

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27

The thing about disqualification, as everyone knows, is that nothing achieved before that point is rewarded. Neither is there an 'honorable mention' given to a disqualified participant. What do you need to lay aside and get out of the way to keep growing in God? What good thing do you need to delay to make time for what's better? What temporary pleasure do you need to forego for what will last forever? It costs something to finish well. If your heart is determined, God's grace will enable you to pay what it costs ... The truth is I never got around to catching up with that list of movies and books I made all those years ago. I still don't know who's singing what out on most of the secular radio stations. But I no longer have that gnawing sense of 'missing out', and the temptations to let myself indulge complacency are tempered by greater understanding and experience. I keep before me the truth that at my last breath in this age, before seeing the face of my Redeemer, I won't be thinking of a movie, book, or popular song. No, I won't even care if I had never known what those were. With fear and awe I know I'll wish I'd spent more time getting to know Him and being transformed into the image of Christ, so that I lived this life fully pleasing to Him. I believe you would too.

The God of Wonders At Work: Functional and Beautiful

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Psalm 138:8

I watched a documentary video called God of Wonders several months ago that examined various facets of creation, with commentary from intellectuals relating everything directly to the God who made it all, and what it tells us about Himself - His love for us, and His care for all He has made. I was at a place of trial in my life and started to watch this video as mere distraction when I found myself being ministered to by the Holy Spirit. As I watched the vastness and intelligent design of the cosmos being expounded; the detailed mechanics of the skeleton, wing and lungs of birds; the care of God in giving us an innumerable species of plants and herbs for food, medicine, and sheer enjoyment; and the incredible and unmatched design of the human body and DNA, one of the biggest realizations I came away with was that God is not merely about functionality, but He is a God of beauty. He didn't just give us an Earth to live on with the things necessary for our physical sustenance, no, He also added color, fragrance, things for our enjoyment. Functionality and beauty. I serve a God of wonders. I trust a God of wonders. I came away being refreshed and having my faith stoked to continue waiting and trusting God to work out the details of my life.

Our God is a God who defines beauty, who creates beauty, who enjoys beauty. He really does all things well. As my mind turned to the awesome works of the Creator, a truth sank down into my heart: How God works in the things that are seen is not more awesome than how he works in the abstract, unseen, or intangible issues of life. He will take a bleak situation and not only work it out your survival, but give you joy and gladness. Functionality and beauty. I see this principle in the lives of the Old Testament saints that we get glimpses of such as Ruth and Joseph. Functionality and beauty are interwoven in the outcome God worked for their lives.

Ruth turned her back on the grief of the death of a spouse. She was childless and penniless and in a strange land.  She trusted the God of Israel as her refuge and at the appointed time didn't just get a place to live, or a husband for practical purposes. Instead, she got a God-planned outcome, an honorable, kind husband, a child in the lineage of the Messiah, a good reputation among an entire town, and no doubt, much gladness that her history could not predict.

Similarly, Joseph's dark years of betrayal, false accusation, and imprisonment ended with not just a deliverance for Israel from famine by his gifts of wisdom and interpreting dreams; but God also granted him personal wealth and honor; a family of his own and a dramatic reunion with his beloved father followed by gladness and peace.

These two lives display what we may say are storybook endings but this is just how our God works. He loves us and He does all things well! Trials will come, great storms will assail, but the life that is built on the Rock - the life that turns to be obedient to God's word and to believe Him in every season of life - will always be triumphant. I have no doubt that, in Eternity, if those who have so trusted God should review the lives they lived on the earth in this age, they will see not just functional deliverances and provisions accomplished by the LORD on their behalf, but also the God-kind of beauty in the way He worked things out because they steadfastly clung to Him.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11

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Bubble Forth!

Psalm 145 is all about the splendor, greatness, power, and majesty of God. It shows how that knowledge turns into the only reasonable response of praise to God. I love this Psalm. The last time I read it recently, I read it three times back to back, just trying to soak it in better, and more and more. One little verse especially thrills me when I think of the part I get to play in making His greatness known:

Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
Psalm 145:7-8

In verse 8 above, the phrase translated 'utter' (some translations include 'abundantly utter' or 'eagerly utter') literally means to "bubble forth" the memory of God's great goodness. I just love that. I see that. It fits perfectly.

It's the picture of an excited kid coming home from school and practically gushing all the exciting tale of the day's events to a parent. It's a girl talking to her best friend on the phone after a particularly thrilling experience and leaving none of the details out. It's an intimate and detailed heart to heart with your special someone when things are finally falling into place and plans you've made are shaping up.

Walking with God through the thick and thin, we have opportunity after opportunity to experience His greatness and His power to deliver, to heal, to save, to comfort, to guide, to provide and more. We are to keep the memories of these events fresh in our mind and be ready to bubble forth all that He has done. It brings glory to God, it refreshes your intimacy with Him, and it adds grace to the hearer!

Bubble forth!

Psalm 145

1 I will extol You, my God, O King;

And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless You,

And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

And His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,

And shall declare Your mighty acts.

5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,

And on Your wondrous works.

6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,

And I will declare Your greatness.

7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,

And shall sing of Your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,

Slow to anger and great in mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all,

And His tender mercies are over all His works.

10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,

And Your saints shall bless You.

11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,

And talk of Your power,

12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,

And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholds all who fall,

And raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

And You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways,

Gracious in all His works.

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and save them.

20 The LORD preserves all who love Him,

But all the wicked He will destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,

And all flesh shall bless His holy name

Forever and ever.

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House Rules

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
1 Peter 1:22

Below are a few of the "one-another" commands in the Bible that are the 'rules' for our conduct as members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
[From the webpage, place your cursor over the Scripture references to read the Scripture verses. It's important!]

* Accept one another - Romans 15:7

* Be hospitable to one another - 1 Peter 4:9

* Be of the same mind with one another - Romans 15:5-6

* Be patient with one another - Ephesians 4:2

* Build up one another - Romans 14:19

* Be devoted to one another - Romans 12:10a

* Be kind and forgiving of one another - Ephesians 4:32

* Be honest with one another - Colossians 3:9

* Care for one another - 1 Corinthians 12:25

* Carry one another's burdens - Galatians 6:2

* Comfort one another - 1 Thessalonians 4:18

* Confess your sins to one another - James 5:16

* Embrace one another - Romans 16:16

* Encourage one another - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

* Fellowship with one another - 1 John 1:7

* Honor one another - Romans 12:10b

* Live in harmony with one another - Romans 12:16

* Love one another - Romans 13:8

* Pray for one another - James 5:16

* Serve one another - Galatians 5:13

* Show mercy and compassion to one another - Zechariah 7:9

* Spur one another on to love and good works - Hebrews 10:24

* Submit to one another - Ephesians 5:21

* Teach and admonish one another - Colossians 3:16

* Worship with one another - Ephesians 5:19  Facebook
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Waiting It Out

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV

This is a popular scripture, particularly verse 11, but many of us are missing the big picture that God wants us to grasp from His comparison in verse 10. Believing God's word, doing God's word, praying God's word, confessing/declaring God's word, waiting on God's word are all critical. Yet these do not change the fact that, sometimes, seeing God's word come to pass in a particular situation entails a season of seeing nothing visibly happening, or of seeing what seems to be stops and starts, and really slow growth.

I recall viewing an interview with Germaine Copeland, the author of the popular Prayers That Avail Much series of books (they are good aids to effectual prayer because the prayers are paraphrased from Scripture and therefore based upon God's will). When asked how the books began to be written, Germaine Copeland shared how she started to write these prayers when her son began the downward slide into drugs and crime at the age of 15. She started to write these prayers out as a mother desperately seeking God's deliverance for him. She spoke of times of emotional distress but testified that her faith grew increasingly stronger as the years passed. It was 28 years before her son finally got off drugs, and this year marks 12 years that he has been sober, saved, and growing in Christ. During those 'praying years' she learned to let go and let God - by continuing to pray and wait for Him. Many of her prayer books were written within that time which also transformed her life, and produced a ministry of global prayer and intercession.

Verse 10, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater," shows a process that God's word undergoes. The process over an extended period of time means that:

•     something is being watered
•     something is being brought forth
•     something is budding
•     something is being brought to fullness so that it goes on to provide 'bread' for the NOW
•     something is growing to the point of maturity to enable it to produce 'seed' for the FUTURE

We thank God for the instant and quick manifestations of promises, help, and deliverance - but not all will come in that way. We can be encouraged though. Don't give up. Don't stop. Don't let what has already been accomplished in the earth, under the cover of soil and moonlight be aborted now. Keep on watering it with the word of God. Mix the seed with faith. To faith, add patient endurance. Faith and patient endurance will inherit what God has promised. Continue to trust and obey Him. Cultivate a heart of praise and thanksgiving.

When we are in agreement with God's will on a matter about which He has spoken, God says to us that His word will never return to Him without accomplishing His purpose. That settles it.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth

2 Chronicles 6:4

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