Today is the Day

“Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.” Exodus 34:20

My soul, there is a lesson here for you. You are that unclean animal; you are deservedly the property of the Lord, who made you and keeps you, but you are so sinful that God will not, and cannot, accept you. So it comes down to this: the Lamb of God must stand in your place, or you must die forever. C.H. Spurgeon  Morning and Evening. 

MercyMe "Dear Younger Me"

If I knew then what I know now

Condemnation would've had no power

My joy my pain would've never been my worth

If I knew then what I know now

Would've not been hard to figure out

What I would've changed if I had heard

Dear younger me

It's not your fault

You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 NASB

Oh that today might be the day!  We all have a tiredness that's pretty much unexplainable.  A weariness that defies sleep at times.  What is it?  It's born of a sin problem.  A war we have been fighting since we began knowing good from evil. 

A Spiritual war that's as deep as our soul. 

We face so much each day.  It's interesting that the passage before in Thessalonians, Paul was talking about leading a quiet life. 

Pretty much minding your own business.  Living your life in such a way that people will ask you what you are doing that they aren't.  That's your opportunity to share your heart.  To share Christ. 

Soil cannot accept a seed unless it opens up to receive it.  Soil must be tenderized. Worked with. Made ready. 

But what of the other things that I shared at the beginning of this post?  One...everyone is in a position to kneel down before Christ. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Everyone is that donkey that must be redeemed. 

The song...think about the words.  Our enemy, Satan, would have you believe that all that's heaped upon you is for you to deal with alone. Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Christ said for all to come to Him who are weak and heavy burdened and He will give you rest. 

We need to leave our burdens at the cross. That same God who raised Jesus from the dead has more than enough power to handle your problems as well as run a Universe. 

That last part is more hope. 

There's a Plan. THE Plan.  The Father's Plan. 

Jesus is coming back.  He himself said that no man knows the day or the hour, but He did say we would see the signs.  

You watch the wind, you know that things will be moving.  You watch the clouds, you can know that some show signs of imminent rain...that soon things are going to get wet. 

He gave signs of His return.  Things we would see and understand.  Our world is run amok with heavily congested busyness.  People running here and there. Distractions are at every turn.  You need to know my dear reader that is intentional on the part of God's enemy. 

He's intentionally trying to keep chaos in this world to keep people from seeing what Jesus said to look for. 

To lead a quiet life means you have more time to pause and consider what God is talking to you about. 

To reduce the demands on your time will give you more time to be with your Master. 

To simplify your life means you can actually do more meaningful things,  not less.

There's an old saying. 'Too many irons in the fire.'.  In the old days of iron smith's, they stoked a fire pit by hand.  It had to be kept constant and consistent.  You worked on a piece at a time to get the best results. If you placed too many in the fire then you weakened the fire pit and your efforts would be substandard.  You couldn't get it hot enough to do the work you needed to do. 

Simply your life.  Let go of what you can and lay ahold of what Jesus is wanting of you.  One iron one fire. 

Sit quietly at Jesus's feet and breathe.  Know where you are and realize who you are with.  Life will be better for you than you think it can be now. 

Being Encouraged

Let’s pray together so we can also rejoice together in God’s goodness. Our loving Father is waiting for us to come to Him so He can work through us in ways that reach far beyond anything we could ever imagine. - Our Daily Bread October 15

And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 1 Kings 19:14

Again, God came to Elijah. This time, He came not in fire or in a loud, spectacular way, but in a still, small voice. God's servant was tired, and God brought him comfort. Elijah's focus had shifted from God to God's enemies. He had allowed his circumstances to overwhelm him, leaving him disoriented to God and feeling alone. So God encouraged him. God provided Elisha for him as a helper, friend, and companion. God removed Elijah from the activity for a time, so that he could rest and spend time with God. When the nation next saw Elijah, he was rejuvenated and refocused on God and His assignment. If you are overwhelmed by kingdom work so that your focus is no longer on God but on all that there is to do, let Him comfort you. Listen to His gentle voice. He will encourage you and provide exactly what you need to prepare you for what comes next. If He needs to remove you from your work for a time, He will. He may place a friend or colaborer beside you to help carry the load. God knows exactly how to encourage you. Let Him do so. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Seems like God put a few people onto the same page in different devotionals again.  

It's sometimes not easy to stay encouraged in this world.  You could have everything to meet your needs and yet still find a lack of peace. 

Discouragement comes easy.  We expect things, either see them or don't see them. Our minds wonder and wander. They lose focus quickly.  Sometimes we even obsess on why we have lost focus rather than on just letting go and grabbing ahold of the robe of our Master again.  

I have been there more times than I can count.  Depression used to be a very familiar feeling.  There's many unique circumstances to our lives that sometimes it takes a special direction from God to align us to someone else who is just as special as we.

It's not that He doesn't hear our pleas or see our sorrows.  Scripture says He is well acquainted with it.  You feel alone? He was here as God, yet, would not trust Himself to any man. Because He knew the heart of man. His strength came from obedience to His Father. 

Elijah was one of the most powerful Prophets of the world.  Yet even he got discouraged.  His work isn't finished yet. 

God's promises are what we have to go on. It's the core of our being.  It's the center of what gets us moving every day.  It's also the very thing that God's enemy attacks with both subtleties and outright hatred. 

Heard it once said that we are the sum of our experiences.  Sometimes our memories shape our present means of dealing with things.  Sometimes it's a good thing sometimes its not.  

A lot is said in Scripture about our tongues.  Of how they are a two edge sword.  They can help or hurt us. A slip of the tongue can be worse than a paper cut.

A word spoken is extremely difficult to take back.  There's probably a Proverb on that somewhere. 

The key thought that I think that God's making today is to lift your eyes.  Look back to Jesus.  Don't be so focused on your circumstances.  You honestly think that God forgot about you?  That He was shocked and amazed by what has befallen you? That a set of circumstances had occurred that could cause Him to abandon you?

Dear reader, please, don't listen to those lies. Don't.  Those are the very things that Satan wants you to believe. 

Eagerly anticipate what God will do.  His promises have never failed in thousands of years.  

Faith is acting like something is so even when it is not so in order that it might be so simply because God said so. - Tony Evans. 

Our Salvation is always at hand.  Our Savior is always at our right arm. He's always listening.  Always working. 

He is the lover of our souls.  He is our provider.  He is our rescuer. 

Circumstances can blind you to the truth. 

Don't let them. 

Faith is acting like something is so even when it is not so in order that it might be so simply because God said so.

Peter could do the extraordinary because his eyes were on Christ.  Peter floundered when he took his eyes off Jesus.  Elijah could do the extraordinary because his eyes were on Christ. Elijah floundered when he took his eyes off Jesus.  See the pattern?  It's the same throughout the Bible.

Are we so different? No we are not. 

Pray. Pour out your heart.  Be real with yourself and your Savior.  Watch and anticipate His coming to you. It will happen. 

Jesus the Name above Every other Name

Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Jesus the name above every other name
Jesus the only one who could save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Oh we live for you

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
Show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Oh, we live for you
Jesus the name above every other name
Jesus the only one who could save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Oh we live for you

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

Holy there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

And I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

- Build My Life - Elevation Worship

God gives us the same choice He gave the Israelites. If we walk with Him, in obedience to His Word, He will stand with us and ensure victory over our challenges. We must face the battle, but God promises us victory if we remain in His will. However, if we choose to disassociate from God, we surely will be overtaken by difficulties. As with the Israelites, our decision will be evident by the outcome. If you are continually being defeated by everything you face, your heart has departed from God. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day

“The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.” Deuteronomy 28:7

Does that song remotely tie in to that devotional?  Evidently so, since I believe God brought the two of them together this morning for me to write about.

Scripture tells us to sing songs, hymns and Spiritual songs unto the Lord.  Doesn't say only when we are in the mood.

Doesn't say only on Sundays or when we are at Church.  

Doesn't even say when we are happy.

Just says to do it.  Regardless of how we feel.  Regardless of if there is sorrow or despair, joy or happiness.  Says to just do it.  Jesus the name above every other name.  We live for Jesus.  We aren't Christians to be living lives for ourselves.

The world lives their lives for themselves.

We are Ambassadors of Our God. 

Our life is hidden in Christ Jesus.

Will we see sorrow, grief, joy, happiness, anger etc. In our lives? Surely as we are breathing.  I am sure that I am not done with low points in my life, just as I am sure that God's not done with lifting my Spirit above the clouds.  I have had some great depressions in my life that nobody else but Jesus has known about.  Only on a few occasions has it been that I couldn't contain it to where people could see it.

Music has been a Godsend to me in those times.  I have heard of a scattered resurgence of a younger generation who wants to hear the old hymns.  The old hymns never skipped around the truth.  There wasn't a sprinkling of truth.  It was heavy.  Many, if not all, of those hymns were born out of sorrow or an escape to joy brought about by obedience to God.

There's no other name under Heaven by which you must be saved.  It's the name of Jesus that means everything to the believer.  It's the name that terrifies demons.  It's the name that makes them plead for their existence.  They all acknowledge His rightful rule and authority.  More than human beings do.

In the name of Jesus is found hope beyond all measure. In it is found forgiveness of sins.  The removal of guilt.  The life of a believer is safe in His hands.
Yes we are brought low by our sin, but  through repentance, He lifts us up. Sets us firmly on our feet, and helps us get back on our journey with Him.

He is more than the sum of our experiences in this life. He is the Creator God.  He knew you before you were born.
He loves you to the point where He counted it as nothing to lay down His life for you.  His Father's will was to say "If you love them as much as I do, then you must lay down your life for them. Every sin must be heaped upon you.  Every sorry they will ever experience, you will experience.  Every joy, every pain. You must become as one of them in order to save them. Do this and I grant you the right to take up your life again." 

Jesus accepted His Father's will. 

Satan thought he had won on the day he got Jesus nailed to a cross.  Thought he had mocked, ridiculed, and shamed Him. Thought that he had finally put an end to the one who stood in his way to get the Throne of God.  Thought his efforts were enough.  But then...

Jesus's body began breathing again. 

Victory over sin, death and the grave had happened.  The Father had kept His promise. 

There's Power in the Blood.
Victory in Jesus.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Standing on the Promises.
Trust and Obey

The heart of hymns that bring you back to Christ and lift you back up are all because of the name of Jesus.

Life is always going to be a great challenge.  Until we die, it will be that way.  But if the faith of a mustard seed can remove mountains -challenges- then we can do no less than lift it up in song.

There's victory in no other name.

In the Good, in the Bad

I sit here and ponder just what God's grace has granted me and my Wife, it brought me back to this song.   It's an old hymn but a powerful one.  Not too unlike Scripture, it tends to have a deeper meaning when you really slow it down to think about the words.  Really consider what it means.  Peace as the world wants it means that regardless of what others will or want you got your own way.  Peace as God offers it is you getting His Will His way and it's revealed to you for what it is...it's beyond imagination, beyond understanding. It's a joy so rich and beautiful we can't describe it.

It Is Well

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

What You See God has Seen

“For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.” Luke 8:17

One of Satan's subtle deceptions is that you can do things in secret that will never be revealed. This is simply not so. The Bible stresses that everything done in darkness will one day be brought to light. So before you commit yourself to do anything questionable, seriously ask yourself, “Am I willing for those around me to know what I am about to do? Am I willing for God to watch me participate in this activity?” - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day

It's so easy to forget.
It's so easy to cast the facts aside when opportunity strikes.
It's so easy to not take notice of or account of.

Realizing that God, the Holy, perfect, omniscient, omnipotent God of all has seen every single thought generated within the mind of every single creature since before time began.

Realizing that that same God knows every single intention behind every single thought and action should awaken something within us to be more careful, but it doesn't.  We just don't think about it.

Do you realize that everything you have thought, said and done will be revealed one day?  Your every intention, every thought laid bare before Him whom will judge?

When a child realizes that a parent is watching they tend to do one of two things.  Either submit to obedience or try to push the envelope in disobedience.

Many believers today try to push the envelope of disobedience. 

Read that again. 

Many believers today try to push the envelope of disobedience.

Many millions.  Not thousands.  Millions.

The intricate lies of Satan have swayed millions of Christians to the point of obedience being optional not required.

That idolatry is acceptable, that things that the Bible expressly speaks out against are acceptable.  All because of the lie that we as believers shouldn't offend unbelievers.  Really?  You DO realize that's the same as saying that sin isn't so bad, stinks to that Christ died on a cross for nothing.

The clay has no right to tell the potter how it should be like.

The creature has no right to shake a fist at its Creator.

Satan is a liar and the father of lies.

Deception is his MO. Method of Operation.

It's not that bad...
It's ok...
You deserve...
You aren't wrong...
You earned...
You need...
You really do want...
Go and do it...everyone else is...

Life in Christ is meant to be lived for Christ.  A Disciple lives as the Master teaches and directs. The Disciple gives up his or her rights when he or she commits to learning from their Master.

So who is your Master?

If it's Christ, do what He's doing, live in obedience.
If you find you are not obeying, then my dear reader, you have a significant problem.  As this post began every single thing you are doing will be revealed.

It's not too late to turn around and repent.
God is the God of second chances.

Do you realize He is waiting on you? His eyes scan the horizon every single moment of every single day looking for you to return to Him?  He cares not what you did. He is ready to forgive. He wants you to come back.

We also don't really need Satan's help.
Our sin nature is equally deceitful and deceptive.  Turn away from it.  Ask for forgiveness from Jesus who can heal, strengthen and protect.

Live your life without a need for shame later on. Because all will feel it when our lives are revealed in the last day. 

Live your life in obedience and see just how much living God has in store for you.
You think you're enjoying life because of your choices.  You haven't lived until you let God make the choices.

Think about that today.

You...yes You

"Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”" Colossians 4:17 NASB

I will meditate on Your precepts. Psalm 119:15 NKJV There are times when solitude is better than company, and silence is wiser than speech. We would be better Christians if we were alone more, waiting on God, meditating on His Word and gathering spiritual strength for His service. We ought to carefully consider the things of God, because that is how we get the real nourishment from them.- C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening

Why is it that some Christians, though they hear many sermons, make only a slow advance in the divine life? It is because they neglect their quiet time, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God’s Word. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day

There's much to be said in shutting up. 
Harsh way to put it?  Not really.  A Disciple learned by being still and quiet in the presence of their Master. 

A Sheep would only recognize the voice of its Shepherd if it wasn't bleating all the time.

What got me first was Colossians 4 today.  Do you realize there are no couch quarterbacks in Christianity?  You do not come to Christ only to go do your own thing.

A Disciple does nothing that he or she wants, he or she does what the Master says is important.

Do we have a right to enjoy this world that Jesus created? Yes. He did. Both when He created it and when He was here 2,000 years ago. 

But notice what He keeps saying. My Father is working and I must work.

There's a job for you to be doing, are you doing it?

Don't go on about what you can or can't do. Read your Bible.  Every excuse ever said had been heard. There's nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes.

But I can't...
But I don't know how...
But I don't have the time...
But I earned my time off...

We all have excuses.  Adam and Eve began their life of sin with them.

Read that passage in Colossians again.

Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

Insert your name.  Make it personal.

Every single believer has a ministry.
None of us are exempt from fulfilling it.

Read a little earlier in Colossians 4.  One person's ministry was prayer. That's what they did!  Pray. Their genuine concern for those they couldn't see was turned towards prayer.

But you don't understand my time constraints.  If I do this then I won't enjoy this other thing...

Does it really matter in light of the fact that at any moment Christ is coming back?

What does the Scriptures say about those who were anticipating His return versus those who didn't?  Didn't fare well for those who were not found to be obeying when He returned.

But you don't understand, the rules at work don't let me talk about Jesus.  No...you're more concerned that you will need to mount a defense in living out your Salvation.  God said not to be concerned about what you will say. That the Holy Spirit would give you the words to say.
There's always a way to live your life in such a way that people will wonder what you have that they don't.

You seriously mistake the idea.  Your life is the testimony of it. If you absolutely have to, open your mouth.  People will see Christ in you or they will see you. They will either see the saint or the sinner.  Even at their trial after Christ had risen, Peter and the others were SEEN as being uneducated yet they were also SEEN and heard in their testimony. 

Nobody becomes a Christian to go do what they want.  There's work to be done.  Look at how even Jesus spoke of the Father's Plan.  To have Him die and rise again. To give hope to 11 at first.  To empower those 11 with the Holy Spirit in a way that Satan could not touch...and in turn impact the entire world for generations to come.  Jesus loved the marvelous plan of His Father!

So have you found your calling? Are you fulfilling your ministry? 

There's only one retirement plan in God's kingdom.  It has nothing to do with doing our own thing.  We serve until He calls us home or He returns. 

We live a life that reflects Christ, not us.

Be in the Word of God.  Be taking time to be alone with Him. Be an obedient Disciple.  Listen for the voice of your Master.  We chose to come to Christ...it comes with a need to trust and obey.  More than a need it's a requirement.

The Tools and the Tasks

Christians lose many opportunities to experience God's activity because they have not devoted enough time to their relationship with God. If you have not yet developed the habit of daily prayer and Bible study, why not begin now, so that you will be equipped for whatever life brings?  - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day

We don’t know what prayer can’t do! - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening.

I read these today and Our Daily Bread...which had an example in it of a man who was in Seminary school, giving his assignment.  A sermon.  The professor had really good things to say about his delivery.  But pointed out that God was missing from the sermon.

Which seems to build upon a thought that came to me last night.  Christians who lead two lives.  A popular phrase used to be : In the zone.   Many Christians, when they DO think on God or Godly things more or less are in the zone, so they focus on that.  Then they leave that area or situation in life and are just as worldly as everyone else around them. 

Scripture asks the question, can a fountain bring forth both bitter water and sweet?

We have the greatest God in the Universe.
We have, through Christ, the greatest access to the power of God.

Yet we choose to live as though we are in tatters rather than the garments provided by the King of Kings.

We wrongly divide our life between what is God's and what is ours.

Yes, we do.  No sense arguing that point.

You will think on God for a moment then run off to do other things and don't realize He never left.  Yet our behavior says otherwise.  We grumble, we complain to others as if Jesus wasn't right there.  When He was.  We dispair in situations and sometimes cry out to God and other times mourn because we think God didn't do anything. The 'why bother?' lies start creeping into our thinking.

We go out into the world as if we could leave God at home while we go tackle what today has in it.  Only crying out to God when it's beyond us.  Jesus isn't in a toolbox or tool belt.  He is in you and at your side.  Believer get your thoughts straight!

We have all desensitized ourselves to our way of life and thinking.  Praising God in one breath, stubbing our toes only to rage with expletives we know better than to use.  Odds are that we don't even stop in that moment to ask forgiveness.  We keep right on moving. 

As Spurgeon said that caught me this morning, we pray but aren't aware of just what prayer can do.  Many use the copout of saying they don't know how to pray.  Really?  It's not complicated.  In no part of the Christian experience did Jesus complicate things.  The least of which is prayer.   He gave samples and examples.

You can go to a friend's house and sit and talk.  It is natural and without trouble.  Guess what, that's the same methodology to pray.  

Look at the prayers before Christianity in the Old Testament.  Look at what was said, the fervor in what was said.  The heart was expressing itself to God.

Getting up and going out into the world without time with Jesus is like forgetting to get dressed before going to work.

Forgetting that He is there when you speak is the same. 

Forgetting that He is there when you do what you do is the same.

Paul wrote of putting off the old self and putting on Christ.  If you are going out into the world without Christ, you forgot your clothes!

Be mindful of your tongue.  When unbelievers hear you, do they hear Christ or do they hear you?  Speak without requiring that you apologize for it.

There's no slip of the tongue.  Scripture says that what's in the heart comes out the mouth. Whomever is in control of your heart will come out your mouth.

Believing.

Prayer without belief is worry.  It's words with no altitude.  Jesus told us to pray...believing. 

Do you realize that when you speak God's many names, you immediately get His attention?  So if you, in exasperation mutter, "Oh God" or say "Jesus!" You have His undivided attention.   Now consider your thoughts and actions immediately after saying such things.

These are but a few things to consider today in doing what you do today.  The greatest tool you have is your walk and talk with Jesus.  Your tasks today are meaningless if you don't have Jesus with you every single step of the way.

We are to dwell on things above.  To have praise ready on our lips for God.   I don't know about you, but I don't intend to go out into life without my clothes on. 

Make Jesus the most important relationship in your life and watch what He does to handle whatever you face.