Hear and receive instruction

Isaiah 58:13 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;

Nehemiah 13:15-22 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

Jeremiah 17:21-27 Thus says the LORD: Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction.

Psalms 27:4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

Just as joy is more than the absence of sorrow, the Sabbath is more than cessation of labor. Resting in bed all day does not amount to a keeping of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is to be a delight and joy ( Isa 58:13 ). Freedom and liberty seem to have a way to blind our eyes to what it means to walk with God, to hear His whispers of guidance, and to follow Him above all else. In our culture each person must decide whether they will exploit freedom and liberty or curtail them for intelligent and moral ends. In freedom and liberty we choose to do as we will and it can be for the pleasure of ourselves, humbly serving God, or the harm to others. It is in this freedom and liberty that we have opportunity to honor God.

We don’t have to look far into our social culture and how it says; you are good enough and doing enough to please God by your lack of doing bad, that by attending church once per week you have fulfilled your requirement to hear God’s word for the week, setting in place laws where it is your legal right to kill an unborn child, and where pornography is redefined as adult entertainment. The lack of God’s word in our heart and mind leave us wide open to using our cultural freedom and liberty as it pleases us rather than honoring God. We have no knowledge and understanding of what it truly means to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey. We soon find the very freedom and liberty we cherish has slowly dimmed the light of God’s word in our heart to the point of darkness.

Let the light of God’s word feed your heart, mind and soul. Let not a day go by without it being first on your mind in the morning and last thing in your heart at night. Use your freedom and liberty to honor, serve, follow and obey God. We have free will to choose and will be held accountable to Him alone.

Perfect in weakness

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Psalms 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Zechariah 3:9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.

Psalms 84:10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Psalms 28:7-8 The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Isaiah 12:1-3 You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

2 Corinthians 8:2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

Finding joy, peace and rest can be like chasing the wind if we look for it apart from Jesus Christ. Yet it is hard yielding to laying it at His feet and solely trusting it to Him. It shouldn’t be but many times it is. We try to handle it in our own strength, ways, and quick fix solutions.

Yielding to His awesome love, power, might, wisdom, purpose, and plan all starts with trusting fully, without doubt, and faithfully waiting. Joy, peace, and rest cannot be found in self-reliance or looking to others. It is only found in a heart, mind, and soul yielded to and trusting in Jesus Christ.

God providing wisdom, strength, and encouragement through brothers in Christ

Your word is a lamp until my feet, food for my mind, and peace for my soul.

It’s in those overwhelming moments when all I can do is pray what David prayed in Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” I’m praying that as you run toward God and not away (via doubts, fears, questions, and uncertainty) that you find His will to still be good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2) even in the midst of this storm.

Last week I read this and marked it to forward on to you. I’m finally getting that done: “One of the most potentially frightening aspects of being a Christian is knowing that when you put your trust in Jesus, all of Hell takes arms against you intending evil upon your life. And, yet what trumps that fear and evil is knowing that, no matter what comes, God is the Master Weaver. He takes what was intended for evil and reweaves it for good. In God’s hands intended evil becomes eventual good.” It seems you are currently in the “reweaving” process. I’m excited to see all the good that comes out of this for you! In the meantime it will be painful.

My personal theme for 2018 has been the word, breakthrough. I’m asking God to give you and Dawn breakthrough in every area where it’s needed.

Here’s a “Word bath” for your mind, heart, and soul.

Colossians 1:29 (NLT) Paul clearly identifies that his work is not in his own strength when he wrote, “That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.”

In 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) Paul clearly speaks wisdom when he wrote, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

In 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT) Paul clearly speaks about the power at work within us being God and not our own when he wrote, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”

I know you are relying on God’s power at work within you. I also trust you find and maintain joy in this part of your journey and that His joy will truly be your strength!

Love you Brother

I will look to the LORD

Psalms 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

Psalms 40:4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

Psalms 62:8-9 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.

Jeremiah 17:5-7 Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

Micah 7:5-7 Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms; for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

In times of trouble, uncertainty, confusion we have a tendency to first rely on self (self reliance) rather than God and will always lead us down a path away from God. When we place God in the right place in our heart, mind, and soul – seeing Him as sovereign, mighty, powerful, all knowing and loving – our problems have a away of turning to deeper faith and peace that passes all worldly understanding. I recently had two dear friends speak this into my life last week about an hour apart. It is amazing to see how God speaks into our lives through His word and our friends. He knows the struggle we are running through our head a 1,000 times a day and in a single hour puts them to rest. This is what was sent to me.

Okay. I don’t mean to be preaching to the choir but……

This is from “Jesus Calling” devotional for today and I thought of you.

Do not resist or run from the difficulties in your life. These problems are not random mistakes they are blessings designed for your benefit and growth. Embrace all the circumstances I allow in your life, trusting Me to bring good out of them. View problems as opportunities to rely more fully on Me. 😇

AMEN!

LORD will be a light to me

“This I know, that God is for me.”

Psalms 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Psalms 27:1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?LORD will be a light to me; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalms 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalms 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Psalms 146:5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Micah 7:8-10 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Hebrews 13:6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Darkness to light. When we experience darkness and there is no light for us to see, we are concerned about what we might walk into and what might be in front of us. Are we going to walk into a wall or off of a cliff? Life’s trials can give us the same concern, fear, and worry as being in darkness. We don’t see what is around us or ahead of us.

I thank God for His word of encouragement. “When I sit in darkness, He will be a light to me.” “He is my helper.” “He will bring me out to the light.” “God is our fortress.” “God is very present help in trouble.” “LORD will be a light to me.” “God is for me.”

I believed, and so I spoke

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Psalms 116:10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”

2 Corinthians 4:13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,

Numbers 14:6-9 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.”

Proverbs 21:28 A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

“I believed, so I spoke” – David was greatly afflicted yet he said “I believed, so I spoke“. He spoke what he believed about God. He believed in the power, might, strength, sovereignty, mercy and love of God.

Joshua and Caleb spoke what they believed when the people were grumbling and wanting to pick a new leader, replace Moses and go back to Egypt. If you remember the other 8 who went to scout out the land gave negative reports – they too spoke what they believed.

“Out of the abundance of the heart we speak.” What was in the heart of the other 8 who scouted out the land compared to Joshua and Caleb. Why did they not see and believe what the hand of God can do like Joshua and Caleb? Doubt and fear are two volcanos that can erupt when life’s uncertainty, through trials and troubles arise. These are not uncommon responses to mankind. However, they are to be recognized and taken captive. Fear and doubt will not honor God. Belief, trust, faith, and hope honor God. They also give us a firm foundation to speak of our circumstances in light of His promises. Fill your heart with His word, your mind with His promises, and speak what you believe.

And not lose heart

“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Psalms 116:1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

Psalms 18:1-6 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalms 31:22-23 I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.

Psalms 34:3-4 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Genesis 35:2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments.

Psalms 55:16-17 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

Psalms 145:18-19 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Satan is very crafty and uses any means possible to place doubts, fears, and anxious thoughts into our mind. He never tells the truth and will try to convince us that we are without hope, worthless, that God does not care, that God does not hear our prayer, and that waiting for God is a waste of time. He tries to make us doubt God’s love, promises, sovereignty, power, and faithfulness.

Life has a way of not going according to OUR plan(s). We have disappointments, heartaches, sadness, loss, and feeling like we have been forgotten. We are not immune to these thoughts and feelings. However we can face them with truth. God is all powerful, steadfast in His love for us, promised to be our rock, refuge, fortress, strength, courage, hope, comfort and heavenly Father. Not one single trial, trouble, or moment of loss changes these. Satan’s lies do not change the love God has for those who are called by His name.

When the Israelites had left the Egyptians and were at the shore of the Red Sea. They turned around and were looking at the full force of the Egyptian army coming toward them with intent of killing them. God told them to face the sea and not look back. He showed them looking back turns to fear and doubt (fertile ground for Satan’s attacks)- looking ahead with hope and trust they will see the hand of God, His mighty power, and His faith sustaining and unfailing steadfast love.

Look ahead clinging to, relying on and trusting in God who is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

“You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.”

“I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalms 115:12 The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us;

Psa 115:13 he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.

Psalms 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalms 18:30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. His grace, mercy, and love are the same as ours. His awesome power and might can not be compared to anything or anyone. His truth and justice are absolute. There is none like Him.

Have you heard people talk about a famous person the had opportunity to meet by chance. They tell the story over and over again when they have opportunity. Most, if not all of us, at some point have had opportunity and do talk about it.

When I think about God, creator, author of all there is, who spoke things into being, who has no equal in heaven or earth, I wonder what is man that He is mindful of them, cares for them, loves them, provides for them, protects them, encourages them, speaks to them, gives them place of refuge, gives them strength, gives them hope, peace, and love, gives them wisdom, and forgives them.

No matter what we are facing “GOD does not change”. No matter how big the challenge “God is more powerful”. No matter how dark it seems “the Light of His word” get’s through. No matter how uncertain things seem “He is in control”. There is not limit to God and His love for those who fear, trust, and hope in Him.

“Where is their God?”

Psalms 115:2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

Psalms 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

Exodus 32:12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people.

Numbers 14:15-16 Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, ‘It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’

2 Kings 19:10-19 “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?’” Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.”

People on the sidelines mock and challenge God. They look for reasons to prove He does not exist or able or capable to intercede in the affairs of man. Those who’s hear, mind, and soul desire to know, honor, serve, follow and obey, continually see the hand of God at work in their lives. He speaks into their life. He guides their thoughts and leads them through a journey of faith filled action. Our strength is in the LORD. He is my Hope and my salvation. He alone is God and is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. Through His word we find peace and encouragement for each day.

To your name give glory

“the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Psalms 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Psalms 74:22 Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!

Isaiah 48:11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

Ezekiel 20:14 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

Ezekiel 36:32 It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.

Daniel 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Today I am reminded of how self-centered I am at times. I ask God for help and seek His intervention but it is for my own sake I seek. Notice how, in scripture, writers record calling out God’s help, not so much for the seeker but for others to see and give honor and glory and power to God. God’s word gives us wisdom, instruction, and knowledge in how to live in such a way that in all we do, all we think, and all we say brings honor and glory to God. Stay in His word, learn of His holiness, power, might, grace, mercy, truth, justice and love. Live each minute of each day bringing glory and honor to Him alone.