A New Beginning

I have given some thought to when I would begin posting my devos again. I have decided that I would wait until Monday, September 5th (Labor Day). A new month, a brief time of refreshing experienced and a loving, forgiving God to speak of once again. Look for my return then. Until that time, may the Lord God richly bless each and every one of you, not just so you are blessed, but so you can then bless someone else.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

BEING DOUBLE-MINDED

Matthew 6:24 (NIV) “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

DOUBLE-MINDED: Undecided; vacillating.

Our God is a jealous God. He will share devotion with no one. He will share glory with no one. When we allow ourselves to be sucked into temptation, we become double-minded; uncertain in all we do. We are no longer totally focused on our Lord, but rather on our Lord AND something or someone else. This is not only unacceptable in the sight of God, but, unless you are on an island all by yourself where your thoughts, words and deeds can affect you alone, others are touched by your sin as well.

It is with much pain and shame that I confess that I have fallen into the sin of double-mindedness. I have for the last 3-4 months been living with one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom. It is a very stressful way to live as you strive to keep alive that which you have talked yourself into believing you need and must have in spite of the consequences. I have been selfish, besmirched the name of Christ and cheapened His grace by my thoughts, words and deeds and as a result have deeply wounded more than once the one person in my life that did not deserve such treatment … my lovely wife whom God has given to me. I have lied to her, many times right to her face. For that I am ashamed. I know better and acted inappropriately and sinfully with God watching. My precious wife has exhibited the grace (the undeserved favor of God) to me in such a beautiful way that I realize I am unworthy of her, yet just as I am unworthy of the forgiveness of God, I have been made worthy by His blood. I have sought forgiveness from my God and from my wife and have received it in all its fullness. I will be availing myself of an accountability partner, a trusted friend of mine, to help keep me from ever becoming unstable in this area again. This long distance “affair of the heart” that I engaged in, was one of the most egregious acts against a loved one I have ever committed. I am here to tell you that after the events from last night, I stand before you a changed man. This change is not by my own hand, for alone I could have never changed. The change came from the unconditional love both my wife and God showed me. If it were not for them both only God knows where I would be right now.

Don’t think too harshly of me I beg, for while there is absolutely NO justification or excuse for my actions, it is very easy to be dragged down by the wiles of Satan. He truly is out to destroy the family and is making inroads to a greater degree each day. Through the grace of God and His power alone, I am trusting that I will rise from the ashes of the fire I started and become once again the man of God and husband that I have been and desire to be. Please decide ever so wisely which way you should go in your life and strive to protect, rather than deceive, that which is most dear to you. I forgot that very thing and shall pay the consequences for my actions. I accept responsibility for my actions and will be making myself accountable to our church family Sunday morning which I think, while it isn’t required, is more than appropriate for MY sake more than anyone else. Public confession is good for the soul and is a proper first step towards redemption.

Finally, I would like to say that I will be taking a hiatus from my devotional writing to allow the Spirit of God to refresh and rebuild me. Today I am no longer a broken man, but rather a man who sees the hope that confession can bring. I will rise up from this and be back to write my devos again. Keep watching out for my reappearance, for I will have much to tell about the love, grace and mercy of my wife and my God.

As always,WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

FAITH MAKES IT POSSIBLE

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) “… without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Take a hard look at the three words in bold italics. They are strong words.

IMPOSSIBLE is defined as being “incapable of occurring” or “not capable of being accomplished”.
BELIEVE is defined as “to accept as true or real” or “to have faith, confidence or trust”.
EARNESTLY is defined as “showing deep sincerity or seriousness” or to be “determined”.

According to the writer of Hebrews, you cannot please God without faith. Now scripture says that it you have faith the size of a mustard seed (which was the tiniest seed in the known world at that time) you could move mountains. That means we are not speaking of a huge amount of faith when it comes to pleasing Almighty God. Having faith is defined in this verse as accepting as true the existence of the unseen God. We must also understand that we will be rewarded by this unseen God if we seriously seek Him with deep abiding determination.

The whole idea about serving God is wrapped up in the modicum of faith that we may have. A tiny amount is all that is needed. It is just like the fact that only one drop of blood from Christ is needed to save a sin sick soul. The result is that we serve God. There are many ways to be of service to our Lord. That is for you to find out. He wants to use us all and finding out how is only a prayer away. Obedience comes next when you realize what gifts He has given you and where He may want to use those gifts. Being compliant is critical to being used. A submissive spirit breeds healthy results.

Knowing that nothing is impossible in the economy of God should encourage us that pleasing Him is truly NOT impossible if we will simply yield to His Holy Spirit and submit to His will for us. “Simply”; as if it were that easy, right? The enemy of our soul wants us to fail miserably. He lurks around every corner (figuratively speaking) waiting for an opportunity to trip you up in your quest to serve God. Understand this, unless you give the devil a foothold, he can do nothing to you that God doesn’t allow. Why would God allow the devil to have his way with you? There are a variety of reasons why, but know this, any reason would involve your growing in faith and ultimately being blessed at the end of it. God is your Heavenly Father; He loves you without conditions. Accept that truth and be free to please Him.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

SURRENDER TO GRACE

2 Corinthians 9:15 (Amplified Bible) “Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!”

When Christians speak of the Gift of God, they are referring to either the salvation offered through the sacrificial death of God’s Son on a criminals cross on Golgotha’s hill or the associated grace with which He doles out His favor. Here I believe Paul is describing God’s grace, only the best he can do is to say that it is “indescribable”. How many times in life have you encountered experiences that you couldn’t find words to describe? They were “indescribable” … they defied description. It was as if no words had been created to best describe what you were experiencing at that moment.

This is what Paul is conveying to his readers in 2 Corinthians. That the grace of God is so wonderful, it defies description. Human words could never define it fully. The words “unmerited favor” don’t seem to do it justice. “Receiving something that you don’t deserve” helps at bit, but still doesn’t express the true grandeur of its’ meaning.

So we find ourselves in a quandary. We have experienced something that cannot be fully explained or described. We embrace it. We try to understand it, yet our futility only leads us to frustration. Acceptance is what is necessary. Simply accept that it is yours, a gift freely given, at no cost to you. We really don’t have to figure everything out and we will certainly NEVER understand everything we encounter in this life, so take the gift and tuck it in your heart. Guard it by the way you live and do not take it for granted, thus cheapening it.

The grace of God is given liberally to all those who confess and accept Him as their Savior and Lord. Disregard it and you will seek that which is within your grasp through confession, yet never find it. Surrender. Give yourself over to the will of God. God is no respecter of persons. He loves each of us the same. His grace is for you.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

LISTEN & WAIT

James 1:19-20 (NIV) “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

I have found from my own experience that you learn far more by listening than you do by speaking. Oh, I went through a period of time when I thought what I had to say would enlighten those within earshot, but I found that what I thought to be so enlightening most folks already knew. I have also “flown off the handle” with regards to my temper on far more occasions then I care to remember. I am here to tell you that nothing was gained by my display of anger except my looking foolish. More times than not I pounced when I should have waited and overreacted to something that only appeared to be an issue. Then apologies are necessary and wounds are tended to. My ego has been bruised enough through the years that I have finally learned to “look before I leap”, so to speak.

There are times when righteous anger is justified; however, it would be in defense of a breech in Biblical teachings and not to satisfy ones own personal indignation. This is why James teaches the “12 tribes scattered among the nations” to be “quick to LISTEN, slow to SPEAK and slow to ANGER”. Take the time to process the things that are being said. There are many times when an immediate response or reaction is not needed or even required. Think on these things. Ponder them in your heart. Seek the face of God.

Even if an immediate response IS required or a situation needs to be dealt with, a quick personal prayer for wisdom and guidance brings results as long as you are sensitive to the Holy Spirit of God. Your sensitivity comes from time spent listening and not speaking to God. Waiting in His presence. I must confess I have never been very good at that. My mind is always whirling and no matter how hard I have tried to be still I can’t seem to solve the “case of the racing mind”. Fortunately, God knows us better than we know ourselves and compensates for our lack. I have sensed the presence and/or leading of the Lord on many occasions while on the move. For that I am grateful.

We serve a creative God. He cannot be put in a box. His powers are limitless. So if you struggle with speaking out before you listen or with becoming angry frequently, God is willing and able to assist you in changing that pattern. He loves you and wants you to succeed in this life as you strive to serve Him even more than you do.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

GOD'S INSPIRED WORD

1 Peter 1:12 (NIV) “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.”

Who wrote the Bible? Was it written by mere mortals or were they simply transcribers; precursors to 20th Century stenographers. According to the scriptures themselves, the writers of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God with what God Himself wanted put down for all time as a manual or guidebook for His followers. But it isn’t just a manual like you would get when you buy a new vehicle, it is life instructions. It is also a history book and a book of answers for pretty much any question you may have regarding decisions that must be made.

The Word of God is not to be taken lightly. It is a Holy Book, written by a Holy God, who knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our propensities; He knows our weaknesses; He knows our desires; He knows our wants; most importantly, He knows our needs and never fails to meet them. His word tells us that He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8) He word tells us that we receive not because we ask incorrectly or with wrong motives (James 4:3). His words tell us how many times we are to forgive others (Matt 18:21-23) .

Whenever you have a question, go to the Book. Spend some time in it. Do word studies. Do topical studies. Depending on your mindset going in, you should find it interesting and informative. I have always found that when I asked the Lord to expand my mind and speak to my heart by His Spirit, I am led more times than not to a scripture or cluster of scriptures that minister to my spirit. I say “more times than not” because my mind perhaps was not prepared to hear what the Lord was trying to say to me and not because of any lack on His part.

Don’t just take my word for it. Delve into God’s word yourself. Start small and work your way up. A mistake I have tended to make in years past was that I bit off more than I could chew regarding a topical or work study and it took me too deep into realms of understanding that I couldn’t comprehend. Keep it basic and seek the guidance of God. He wants you to know His word, for to know His Word is to know Him.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

Let Go

if there is only one God, why do we serve so many
if there is only one law, why do we live like there aren't any
i'm not trying to get you down. I just want you to know
that if you're gonna live for God, you've got to let go

[Chorus]
gotta let go of the little things, before they get you down
gotta let go or they'll drag you to the bottom and hold you down
it's a war we all fight, and compromise is the battleground
but if you're ever gonna grow, you've got to let go

if there is only one truth, one original way
why do we search like blind men
can't see the sunshine in the light of day
we've got to turn around and run the other way
cause if were gonna live for God,
we've got to turn away

[Chorus B]
turn away from the little things
before they get you down
turn away or they'll drag us to the bottom
and hold us down
it's a war we all fight
and compromise is the battleground
but is we're ever gonna change
we've got to turn away

< Pray For Rain (PFR); 1992; Vireo Records >

OUR PROVIDER

Psalm 147:7-8 (NIV) “Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.”

In the face of drought conditions and severe heat in our world today, we read these verses from the Psalmist. My main point today is this: in spite of our circumstances, no matter how hopeless they may appear, God supplies. Think back on your life. Have your needs ever NOT been met? Not your wants; not your desires; your NEEDS. Those things you must have for survival. Clothes, food, transportation, housing, finances. They may not have been the latest style clothes, but you weren’t walking around naked. It may not have been expensive cuts of meat or high priced beverages, but you never went hungry. You may not have a new vehicle to drive, but you have reliable transportation and if all else fails, you have your feet or possibly public transportation of some sort. A roof to cover your head and money enough to sustain yourself and your loved ones. God never promised opulence; He promised to meet your needs. Just as He supplies rain that makes the grass grow, so shall He supply what you need as well.

So what do we say when it doesn’t rain for over 30 days and temps are consistently in the triple digits? It is hot, sticky, uncomfortable, even unbearable at times. Plants, trees and grass turn brown and die. If we know anything about God we know not to question Him for He never fails and there is always some reason unknown to us as to why things happen the way they do. That may sound like a copout or lame answer, but what else can be said? Is God God or is He not? Will you serve Him only when things go your way or will you serve Him regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in?

Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV) “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Regardless of any trial or tribulation you may encounter or even be in at this very moment, serve the Lord, who is your Jehovah Jireh (“the Lord will provide”). He provides what He KNOWS you need exactly WHEN He knows you need it and just the right amount. He HAS never and WILL never fail you. He promises that in scripture. So in the face of any and all problems, stand as a flint and trust in the Lord. Your need SHALL be met.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

Sea Of Forgetfulness by Seven Day Jesus

Close my eyes, not to remember
Every crime or time I fell
Into the open arms of temptation
Driving the nails
How does Your love remain so faithful?
To one unfaithful

[Chorus]
Where do You hide the tears
You should be crying when
I’ve fallen again and
Where do You hide the tears
That fell in the day when I turned You away
You throw them away – the sea of forgetfulness

Draw my heart out of the darkness
Where I was hiding from Your face
Into the open arms of forgiveness
Offering grace
Into the place where there’s no memory
Left to press against me

[Chorus]
Where do You hide the tears
You should be crying when
I’ve fallen again and
Where do You hide the tears
That fell in the day when I turned You away
You throw them away – the sea of forgetfulness

[Bridge]Stumble or fall, You cover them all
Nothing to hold, You let them go
Your love takes me in and covers within
To welcome the child You know I am

< 1997; Forefront Records >

TRUTH VS. LYING

Psalm 25:5 (NIV) “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long.”

Truth can be defined as: 1. the quality of being true, genuine, actual, or factual; 2. something that is true as opposed to false; 3. a proven or verified principle or statement; fact.

Why is it that we find it so hard to be truthful? Without question it can be a whole lot easier to lie then to tell the truth. It is easiest to lie when you are on the move. When you are transient you can lie your way clear across the width and breadth of this great land of ours and never get caught because your associations are temporal. The “truth” of the matter is that when you get caught, as most people do, it is a very uncomfortable place to be … and it should be. Nothing positive and lasting has ever been gained by lying. It only brings pain, sorry and regret. Most importantly, the integrity that an individual may have had is gone, evaporated into the wind the moment they are found out. Integrity, credibility and trust are three characteristics that are vital in the life of any person, especially the Christian, who is supposed to be like Christ in all his thoughts, words and deeds. When they are lost, it is a very long hill they must climb to reestablish any semblance of trust back again. Many times it is lost forever … and the guilty party has absolutely no one to blame but themselves.

God IS truth. In Him there is no shadow of turning. Of all people that you will ever know, Christ will never, ever fail you or deceive you. He is the standard against which all else is to be measured. If God says it you can rely on it to be completely factual and true. This is why the Psalmist asks his Heavenly Father to “guide (him) into truth” and not just any truth but the perfect and righteous truth of Almighty God.

While there are individuals who see the need to tell what they term as “little white lies”, there are no such things. Now I believe that God understands when someone skirts the truth in an effort to avoid someone finding out something at an inopportune moment, such as telling an already grief stricken person that a loved one has died or been killed. Tenderness and compassion must rule the day in that case. The lying we are speaking of is the type the is done to cover up a misdeed as a means of deceiving another person. I have lied in my life. I regret my lies and have had to live with the consequences caused by them. I am not proud of some of the things I have said and done in my life, but they are done and in the past and all I can do is pray that those around me will be merciful and forgiving, even when they have no reason to be. In the end, there are always consequences to our words and deeds. The Biblical teaching of “reaping what you sow” comes into play every day. As simple as this concept is, it is amazing how quickly that fact escapes us as we are taken over my temptation, greed or some other form of weakness. In spite of all of this there is redemption. If we come to our God with a truly contrite heart, He will restore us spiritually. Forgiveness is one thing, but those nagging consequences are quite another and must be met.

Thank You Lord for Your unconditional forgiveness and mercy. May we all learn from our mistakes so that we never commit them ever again. In Jesus precious and powerful name … amen.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

"Get Down"

Lavishly our lives are wasted
Humbleness is left untasted
You can't live your life to please yourself, yeah
That's a tip from my mistakes
Exactly what it doesn't take
To win you've got to come in last place
To live your life you've got to lose it
And all the losers get a crown

[CHORUS]
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down

All I need's another day
Where I can't seem to get away
From the many things that drag me down, yeah
I'm sure you've had a day like me
Where nothing seems to set you free
From the burdens you can't carry all alone
In your weakness He is stronger
In Your darkness He shines through
When you're crying He's your comfort
When your all alone, He's carrying you

[CHORUS]
This valley is so deep
I can barely see the sun
I cry out for mercy, Lord
You lift me up again

< Audio Adrenaline - 1999 >