right with God.....

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.   

For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 

Matthew 7:13-14

Today is a gift, what are you going to do with it?

Do we look at each new day as a gift from God? Are we reveling in this gift each day or are we stuck in our daily routine rut and not truly appreciating the gift of life that we have been blessed with? And this gift is not meant to be held onto, it is meant to be shared with those around us. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Open it up, be excited about it, be filled with anticipation and expectation, share it's wonders with others……The Lord has blessed you with this day (and each day that you wake up and are still upon this earth) - so what are you going to do with it?

quote to ponder upon...

Our Father in heaven knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. 

He knew our inborn treachery, and for His own sake engaged to save us. 

His only begotten Son, when He walked among us, felt our pains in their naked intensity of anguish. 

His knowledge of our afflictions and adversities is more than theoretic; it is personal, warm, and compassionate. 

Whatever may befall us, God knows and cares as no one else can. 

A.W. Tozer

Conversation with the Lord regarding the struggles of this life:

Me: Lord, I just don't understand what is going on. What am I supposed to do as I struggle with all of these issues of life that impact me every single day?

The Lord: Be still and know that I am God

Me: But Lord, how can I be still when there is so much to worry about and consider each day?

The Lord: Wait on Me

Me: Wait! What does that look like in real life, Lord? How can I 'wait' on You when I have so much to get accomplished, so many problems to solve, so many frustrations each way that I turn?

The Lord: Cease striving

Me: It's just not in me to cease, I have to do something! Even if it's just worry more and have a bad attitude about everything and everyone.

The Lord: My peace I will give to you, My grace is sufficient, My Spirit will lead you…but you must be still, wait on Me and cease striving My child. Come boldly with confidence to My throne of grace that you may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. (Psalm 37:7-8)

Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.  (Psalm 27:13-14)

Cease striving and know that I am God… (Psalm 46:10)

Today and every day...

Today and every day that I live upon this earth, as one of His children, may my steadfast desire be to walk the path that seeks to offer up to Him -

Thanksgiving for His awesome mercy

Blessing for His amazing grace

Honor for He is Lord of all

Praise for His loving-kindness and goodness

Worship for He is holy and He alone is worthy to be exalted

Glory to God in the highest

My life for He is truly my loving Father

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God    (1 John 3:1)

We are warriors…

We, as believers, are at war…whether we want to believe it or not! And we are called to the battle front to stand firm against the enemy. The Lord has provided us with the armament to defeat the enemy but we must put it on and stand firm in it. And the battle rages onward - we must not ignore it nor back down - it is ever present around us.

In pondering upon this the situation of Sgt Bergdahl came to mind. It seems that within the body of Christ (the church) we have 'walked away' from the battle front and wandered into the enemy's camp. We live a life in captivity to the enemy not realizing that the Lord has provided us with the weapons of warfare to overcome the enemy. The Lord has already made the prisoner exchange for us - His crucifixion. Yet, we stay bound up in the enemy's captivity when the prison gates have been opened to those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

The time has come church - For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might you warriors of the Living God. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes (captivity) of the devil.

New creations

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is  a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

If we are indeed a new creature (creation) why do we spend so much time dwelling upon and dealing with the old one? I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me! Let us live in the new (and amazingly improved) version that Christ has created us to be…as we are conformed into His image. We no longer have to walk in the darkness - we are able to walk in the True Light (for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord). And the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth. That is where I desire to walk!

John 8:12-13 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

Ephesians 5:6-10 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.