The Day of our King

For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 1:11

Rejoice people who love God and all who praise the name of the great King. He will surely come and reveal His mighty power and glory. There will be a day when all our waiting will pay off. What you do not see now with your physical eyes, you will fully see when the God of the nations is revealed to every tribe and tongue. In every place His name will be great!

I can't wait for the day when God will rule and reign forever. Darkness and evil will be put to death forever and no longer will the god of this world, Lucifer have any power to deceive, manipulate, torture, and kill. He will be silenced forever and his power stripped from him. Holiness and righteousness will be our portion and food. Light will shine always, there will not be a dark day on the horizon. Praise him forever and ever. Shout aloud that this King is coming and will reign.

Can you tell I am excited about this reality? I cannot loose focus even though it is easy to do sometimes. His promises are true so what have I to fear or question. God is true and every man a liar. I put my hope in God, not any man. He will surely come and open the door and welcome all who love Him to be with him forever. Open the door. We are waiting.

Psalm 18

31 For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?-
32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. Psalm 18:31-36

This is food for today. I feast on the goodness of God in the land of the living. David was a man who understood Gods heart and was after Gods heart. I desire nothing more than to be a man who is after the heart of God. That is all I want to be known for, because everything else comes under that umbrella. You too press on to know God, be diligent to seek Him and He will be found by you. Do not give up looking, seeking, knocking, waiting, longing, anticipating, surrendering, and loving this incredible unseen God who holds the keys to life! He is worthy and worthy to be praised.

Love One Another

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:7-12

These are some of the most loaded verses in all of scripture. I love this passage. It really sums up everything really well. God is love, whoever has been born again also loves, therefore let us love one another.

It is through loving one another that the love of God is perfected in us. This is the evidence if one is really saved or not. God abides in love, and therefore abides in us when we love. It is very simple yet one of the most difficult areas for a lot of the church to grasp for some reason. Why is there so much slander, gossip, back stabbing, and hypocrisy? Why do Christians not just simply love one another as they are commanded? God initiated love period. We did not. God sent His Son as a propitiation for our sins. Only through true repentance and reconciliation can we love God and our brother. Love does not just happen, at least the kind of love that is lasting, enduring, sincere, and eternal. We need a revolution of this Kind of Love in the church today. The kind of love that heals broken relationships, that forgives past hurts, that restores marriages, that considers another better than self. By this kind of love will the world see that God is real and that God is love. The stakes are high friends, we are responsible for bearing fruit through loving God and loving one another.

Injustice in the Land

He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him.  Is 59:16

Injustice has always been around ever since Adam and Eve fell short of perfection and destroyed the human race forever.  We are living in a time where injustice in my opinion has skyrocketed.  The issues of modern day slavery, human trafficking, abortion, oppression, genocide, and innocent killings to name a few...are on the forefront of this battle.  We indeed are in a spiritual battle, Satan knows his time is short.  The bible says that he is a roaring lion seeking to devour as many as he can.  As Jesus return nears we can expect injustice to increase and abound in every way.  What should our response be?

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. Is 1:17

Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.  Psalm 82:3

These are just a few scripture verses that should help us in our response to injustice.  There are many more, but for the sake of time I will just name a few.  We as believers must have no excuse, we are called to correct oppression, and bring justice to the fatherless, the widow, the orphan and the oppressed.  It is up to us to become well aware of who the fatherless, orphan, widow, and oppressed are that we might help.  I urge you to become aware of human trafficking in your city or nation, find out how you can be a voice to stop this injustice.  Let us love mercy, and do justly!

Prayer:  Lord Jesus give me the strength and ability today to fight for justice.  Let me be a voice for those that have no voice.  Bring forth your word and your power in Jesus name. 

The "entitlement" factor

You know the last time I read the gospels it seems like Jesus said that he came to serve and give his life
as a ransom for many. Jesus also said that unless you become like one of these little children then you have no place in my kingdom. Its an upside down kingdom, not the kingdom of this world.  Jesus who is our Supreme High Priest (there is none greater who we are called to follow) set a perfect example of what it means to be a disciple.

Why is it that in so many "Christian" institutions, or churches people who have certain credentials or degrees feel they are entitled to be treated differently or better than their "lowly" brothers?  Oh they would never say it flat out, with their shiny smile and 3 piece suit...but inwardly and their actions outwardly would deem obvious they are bluffing.  Why is it that people are treated lesser than another in the church.  James clearly stated that GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM, in any way!  Most of the church would treat the "rich man" who walks in with fine clothing and an expensive car, with a fat checkbook much differently than the "poor man" who clearly has nothing to offer.  This is NOT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, but clearly an attitude of the world.  I am saddened than many in Christian seminaries and institutions are treating their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ this way.

I do not want to point the finger or slander with my tongue or thoughts, but there are many "Pharisees" in today's church that seriously need to be humiliated and disgraced in the same way that Jesus the "Righteous Rebel" called them out for.  I will be the first to admit in my lowly position that I need to be humiliated at times in order to repent and return wholeheartedly to the true gospel, not a "man made tickling of the ears whatever you want to hear" gospel, but we need to REPENT and RETURN to truth.

It is an upside down Kingdom, and the only way to be FIRST is to be LAST.  I think we are in need of some serious change of hearts and humility.  Rusty, broken pipes with holes in them...a refection of our heart and attitudes.

Living Water

In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. Water will fill the stream beds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the Lords temple...Joel 3:18

These pictures were taken from my trip to visit a dear friend in Israel back in 2004. It was spring time when I went and I was amazed with how much water was flowing. Water speaks of life and Jesus is the living water that never runs dry. His promises are true and they will come to pass. There will be streams and raging rivers in the desert and dry places.

For the rain he sends demonstrates His faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the Spring rains. Joel 2:23

Father of Lights

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no shadow or variation due to change."
James 1:17

This is another one of my all time favorite verses. I believe it sums up the nature of God so perfectly and precisely. What is your idea of God, really? If you are nakedly honest before God how do you see him? Do you see him as a good and perfect gift giver, or more of a negative and mad ruler?

Trials and difficult circumstances can often reveal things in our heart about what we think about God. "Where was God when my wife died?", or "why did He allow my son to suffer so much?" why does God feel so distant sometimes when we go through difficulty? Wasn't it Jesus Himself that said, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" In His most difficult and trying moments of His earthly life He felt abandoned and betrayed by His father. Was He abandoned and betrayed by Abba Father? Certainly not. The circumstances could lead one to think that, but the truth always outweighs the circumstances in the moment, no matter how difficult or trying. It was exactly the opposite, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Jesus would not die but have everlasting life. Amazing indeed. It was because of love for all humanity that Christ went to the cross and died, the Father knew exactly what He was doing.

The God we worship is indeed the Father of lights in whom there is no variation or changing. He is not like us, we are fickle in every way. Up and down emotionally. God is constant in love and truth and power. He is a giver of good gifts, He loves you dearly today. Do not forget or neglect this truth. Whatever trial you are facing remember that God is there with you to face whatever darkness you are facing. He does not promise to rescue us from every trial and tribulation, but does promise to be with us and strengthen us to get through them.

Free People

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
(1 John 4:18 NIV)

Thomas Jefferson is credited with saying, “Free people are the most difficult to lead.” It is extremely pertinent for church leaders, because free people are precisely the group they are called to lead.

Those that are not bound by religion and rules, control and manipulation, are indeed free. The one that realizes that it was for freedom that he or she was created will accomplish great things in life. Too often there is control and a heavy burden put on those who are in the church, usually by leaders who think they have to maintain the 'rules' rather than release people in freedom. When I speak of freedom I am not talking about freedom to sin or indulge in the flesh, for that is no freedom at all, only bondage. I am talking about freedom that the blood of Jesus paid for. Freedom to love with all our hearts, freedom to give, freedom to be who we are created to be. Freedom from the religion of rules and regulations. God has standards and free people know that true freedom comes with being trusted and released to walk out there destiny in God.

Empowering men and women to greatness in God is really what it's all about right? No longer must we carry a heavy yoke set by others with how we are to live and move and have our being. The Holy Spirit himself is the author of freedom and the giver of Life. There is power and responsibility in knowing what freedom represents and means in our lives. We must grab hold of it and not let go, be like a child and run into the arms of a loving Father who calls us His own.

Be free, be yourself, be extravagant.

Worthy is the Lamb

"Then I looked again and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.". Revelation 5:11-12

Can you imagine this scene described in the verse above? Imagination and wonder is a gift we have to tap into when we think and dream about heaven. Thousands and millions of angels and living creatures around the throne of God declaring how Awesome and Holy He is. No movie could ever capture this scene in all it's glory. There is no technology to recreate what is happening for all eternity before the presence of the Living God.

One day we will see this reality with eternal eyes, for those who believe in the Lamb who was slain for the sins of the world. The bible says that if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth then you will be saved. Nothing else is worth living for compared to the riches of knowing Christ Jesus. I must stay focused on this every day. Time is passing very quickly and soon we will become eternal beings. I will be a part of the multitudes singing out,'worthy is the Lamb who was slain'.

Angels All Around

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone". Psalm 91:11-12

Yesterday afternoon I got home from work and the kids were playing as they usually do. My wife and I were spending a few minutes reading individually in different rooms. It was a normal late afternoon at our house. Dinner was on the stove cooking and everyone was occupied with something to do. I was out in the living room when I heard my wife scream in our back recreation room by the kitchen. I then heard an awful sound of my little two year old daughter tumbling down the steps to our basement. My heart jumped and I ran towards the stairs. My wife had seen her half way down and hit the floor. I didn't know what to expect when i got to her. Somehow the latch to the door was not closed properly and when she leaned against it, it gave and opened up sending her down a long flight of wooden stairs.

She was crying and obviously in a bit of shock. To our amazement after a few minutes of tears and being held by mom, and us carefully checking her over...she got up and began to play again. I just started praising Jesus and thanking him for protecting her, and keeping her from what could have been a very bad situation.

He will command his angels concerning my daughter. This really struck home. I knew that she had an angel protecting her and helping her safely land from those long and hard wooden stairs. God is in the business of watching over His children. He loves my daughter so much more than even I do, and in an instance when neither my wife or I could protect her, He sent an Angel to guard over her. I am amazed at the goodness of God.

Remember today that He watches over those he loves.