NO PLACE TO HIDE

Jeremiah 23:24 “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”

            Folks do things that are wrong all the time. They think they are so cunning, that they have actually gotten away with something. All the while they are acting out in full view of God, whether they happen to believe that or not. Christians can take comfort in the fact that there are no places that He does not see us; non-Christians cannot. There is no place on this planet that is hidden from Him. Like a home designer who knows every nook and cranny of a house his drew up, so God knows even the most remote place in His creation. If a Christian has a misstep, there is a need to own up to it, seek forgiveness and move on. God knows all about it, so denying it, acting as if it never happened, is fruitless. Take solace in the fact that God is patient. This isn’t a single elimination reality show; God wants us to succeed, to thrive and be at peace.

            Since God is omnipresent, there is literally no place that He is not. His spirit can be found everywhere. The self-absorbed man sees nothing but themselves and what they are doing; the spiritual man can see God’s presence all around him. Take the time to marvel at the creation of God.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

            God always has our best interests at heart. Seek His will for your life and not your own.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

RANDOM RAMBLINGS 32

poser 1.one who pretends to be someone they’re not; 2. someone who tries to fit in but with exaggeration *
            Have you ever people watched before. I used to do it in college at the mall because I didn’t have two nickels to rub together and it was something to do. You can see some interesting looking people doing that. Some look normal by your own definition of normal and some look different. Some are what I would refer to as posers. They are trying so hard to present themselves as something they probably are not by the way that they dress, speak, act and walk. You see it in malls, on boardwalks at the shore, just about anywhere. I wonder what their situations are. I wonder what they do for a living. I wonder why they feel they have to be a poser. I wonder if they know God.

            Speaking of God, the other day I had someone ask me if I considered myself religious or spiritual? I said I wasn’t religious; that my belief was relational, that I had a relationship with God. She didn’t pursue it any further, but I shall. Having a relationship with someone is so much more intimate than just believing in them. I have spent the last 33 years of my life attempting to cultivate a relationship with Almighty God. I have good days and bad days, productive days and days that are not productive at all. All the while God has decided to love me. It was a decision He put into play before I was ever born. Being a God who doesn’t play favorites, He feels the same way about you. Did you know that? Perhaps all those folks who are trying so hard to fit in might like to slide into a comfortable relationship with the One who made them. Perhaps someday I will have the opportunity to tell them.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

* definition thanks to www.urbandictionary.com



NOTHING TO FEAR

Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

            No matter where we are, as true believers we can count on our Heavenly Father being right there with us. We have absolutely nothing to fear if we put our trust in Him and Him alone. Notice that that is a conditional statement; if we put our trust in Him and Him alone. On our own we have plenty to fear; the fear of making a misstep is daunting and can make us anxious. But if we place our complete faith and trust in our Heavenly Father, we can relax and know that things will work out. They may not always work out just as we would like, but they will work out for our best because that is the way God works. He takes care of us if we let Him. If we go off on our own, He still watches over us as a father watches over his child who is learning to ride a bike without training wheels for the first time. He is there if they fall and so is God if we take a tumble.

            There are lessons to be learned in our daily lives as we walk with Christ. It is my belief that God either causes or allows all things for His specific purposes. His children are taught many times in this manner with the understanding that whatever happens is for our best and His glory. The Lord is our redeemer, however, He is also our friend. He guides us and picks us up when we fall. He seeks to instruct us; teaching us how to better live this life we have been given.

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

A PROMISE FROM GOD

Psalm 91:14-16 “Because they love me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name. They will call on me, and I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will deliver them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation. ”

            When the Creator of the universe says something of this nature, we can count on it. When we love someone we seek to please them. So it stands to reason that if we love our Heavenly Father, we are going to strive to live for Him to the best of our God given abilities. As a result, He is going to move heaven and earth to make sure we are safe and secure. We should take great comfort in that and in what is said in the verses above. It doesn’t mean calamity won’t come our way, it means that if we are living for God He will protect us. God uses very specific action words to describe how he will take care of us. Words like rescue, protect, call on, deliver, honor, satisfy. No matter what situation should befall us, God is there and will do as He has promised. That’s how we should view these verses, as a promise.

            ac•knowl•edge verb 1: to recognize the rights, authority, or status of

            If we acknowledge God for all that He truly is, than we will have the appropriate awe and reverence towards Him and His statutes. We will learn all we can about Him through His word and we will live according to the instructions He has laid out for us therein. God loves us with an everlasting love that is unconditional and shall never change or diminish over time. Love of this kind  cannot be found anywhere else this side of heaven and it is free for the asking. No matter what we’ve ever done in our lives, know this, we are not defined by our mistakes. God loves us for who we are, not who we should be.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACES

Mark 8:36 “What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?”

            The world tantalizes with wealth, glitz, glamour and fame. People become slaves to fashion and live paycheck to paycheck chasing that next big event or technological advancement. Their attention is kept focused on anything and everything that promises satisfaction, fun and popularity. The devil is an expert at deceit. Those trifles* dangled in front of them are nothing more than a mirage that shall disappear when you need them the most. Christ asks a very poignant** question to those following him: what good is it to gain everything and yet have nothing and what good is it to lose your very soul in the process. The time spent chasing after temporal things would have been better spent seeking eternity, for it is in the things that shall not pass away that true satisfaction is found.

            The world scoffs at Christians. ‘Look at all you are missing’, they say. ‘Only the weak minded need Jesus’, they say, ‘he’s nothing more than a crutch.’ They don’t understand. Perhaps they never will. Christians find hope and peace and true freedom in their relationship with God. It has nothing to do with religion; it is a personal relationship. So while the world chases after the unattainable, we shall continue to seek God and gain far more in the process than those in the world shall ever possess.

Philippians 4:23 “ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!

* something of little value, substance, or importance

** designed to make an impression; to the point

DIVINE MERCY

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.”

grace noun 1a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification; b: a virtue coming from God; c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace; 2a: approval, favor, mercy, pardon.

            There is nothing we could ever do to save ourselves. We can’t work our way into heaven with good deeds. We can’t buy our way into heaven. We can’t beg or plead. There is one way to get into God’s heaven and it is by His grace. We simply ask for it by recognizing our lowly state and seeking forgiveness for our deeds which have flown in the face of His precepts. Just as an alcoholic must confess that he has a problem and needs help, so must we confess that we are sinners in need of redemption. It requires faith; specifically, the faith of a child. Children have such innocence. Just as they trust their earthly fathers and mothers, so are we to trust our heavenly Father, who loves us without hesitation or reservation. His unmerited favor, His mercy, come in the form of the bloody, beaten, broken body of His only Son, Jesus Christ.

            To truly grasp the significance of our redemption, we must look to the cross. It is a bloody, gruesome sight. There is nothing appealing about it, yet our gaze must fall upon that horrifying scene to truly begin to understand what God’s grace entails. He paid our sin debt with His own blood. Someone had to do it. He required a blood sacrifice to wipe out sin. He knew no one else was able to pay the debt in full except His own Son. He set it up that way. It was preordained from the beginning of time. It had to take place that way. So understand that the greatest gift ever given came to us by way of blood, pain and separation; for Christ had to be separated from His Father for a brief time. He didn’t have to be coerced into going all the way to the cross on Golgotha’s hill, He did it willingly for us all. Embrace the cross and you will find grace. I doubt we will ever fully comprehend how great the Father’s love truly is for us. There is nothing this side of heaven to compare it to. Rest in His grace and mercy and find peace.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!

FRIENDS

Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

friend noun 1a: one attached to another by affection or esteem; 2a: one that is not hostile

            Although the Apostle Paul is saying this to the church at Philippi, I would like to generalize this scripture to make a point about our own brothers and sisters in the faith; those throughout our lives with whom we have been our friends and a wonderful blessing to us through thick and thin. There are those individuals, perhaps family members, perhaps friends or church members, who have meant a lot to our spiritual growth in this life. Some are in our lives for only a short while, a single chapter in our lives, then are gone. They are a true friend to us and we thank God every time they come to mind. They are encouraging, empathetic, kind, helpful … they are living examples of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. There is a mutual love and respect for one another. No judgment or condemnation comes from their lips. They are understanding and supportive, no matter what we have gotten ourselves into. That is a true brother or sister in Christ; that is a true friend. They don’t condone misdeeds in any way, however, seek to be instructive rather than combative, so as not to drive us away. A relationship has been forged which cannot be severed by age or distance.

            We all have someone, perhaps more than one, who falls into that category. God has blessed us with a true friend and someone we need to thank God for regularly. They are stabilizers; they help add structure to our lives. God knows what we need and provides these people in our lives to help lighten our burdens as we walk through this valley of tears called life. May God be praised for His wisdom and compassion, for without it, our struggles this side of heaven would be much greater. Hopefully we are that type of friend to someone.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!