Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Think you can run from God?

Ps 139
:1 O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and know me.
:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.
:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Sitting, standing, laying down, doesn't matter the position we are in, He knows what we are doing, thinking, saying.

:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether.
:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.
:6 Such knowledge is to wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
:7 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

There is no place to run to that He will not find you.

:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost arts of the sea;
:10 Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.
:11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

He will not let you hide from Him.

:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.

God has night vision. He can see through anything.

:13 For Thou hast possessed my reins; Thou has covered me in my mother's womb.
:14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

If we want to be honest, we know the right thing to do, but we chose to do the wrong thing sometimes. That doesn't mean He isn't watching.

Even if you don't believe in God, doesn't mean He isn't real. I would rather live like He is and be wrong then face Him if I am wrong. It is a fearful thing to think we could lead innocent people into hell. People follow us whether we realize it or not. And if I am right, and there is a God, He will not look kindly on anyone leading others astray.

:15 My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
:16 Thine eyes did se my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
:17 How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
:18 If I should count them, they are more in number then the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee.
:19 Surely Thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
:20 For they speak against Thee wickedly, and Thine enemies take Thy name in vain.

Wow powerful words aren't they? So in answer to my question at the beginning, I don't believe that you can run from God. He will still be there when you stop to rest and along side you while you are running. Just because you don't acknowledge His existence doesn't make Him go away. Just something to think about today.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Are you stuck on stupid?

That was a question raised at church today. Interesting isn't it?

Pr 27:12 says A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Simple = lack of good judgement, wavering, easily led astray.

This post may ramble, and I apologize ahead of time if it does. These are thoughts I had while listening to the message today.

How do you learn? There are many ways, some easier then others.

You can learn from obedience, or from experience. Sometimes we experience evil instead of obeying God. Do we learn from that? Do we next time obey instead of experiencing the evil, or do we stay stuck on stupid?

When you learn from experience the test is first and then the lesson. Wouldn't it be easier to have the lesson first?

Your direction and not your intention, determines your destination. Remember the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but it still leads to hell.

A prudent person realizes that all life is connected. Cause = effect

That whatever I do today will affect my tomorrow.

Simple person thinks life is not connected. I can do anything I want to do today and it will not affect my tomorrow. They think there will always be a tomorrow. Stuck on stupid.

Simple person thinks that if they hurt someone by their actions or words and ask for that person's forgiveness, that there is nothing else to make up for. Just because you ask for forgiveness doesn't mean you are of not responsible for the consequences of your previous actions. God forgives sin, not consequences. To do so would go against God's very character. You must reap what you sow. If you have sow sin, you will reap the consequences of that sin even after you are forgiven. You can't sow rice and get a harvest of beans.

Pr 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool retuneth to his folly.

People stuck in destructive cycles of behavior are just as a dog returning to their vomit. The worst part of vomiting is the aftertaste. sin = consequences

The wise take action. They move in the right direction, which brings relief.

Remember life is hard with God, and impossible without Him.

Are you choosing today to be stuck on stupid?

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Pressures

2 Cor 1:8-9 We would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

There is pressure that God uses to bring you beyond your ability to His ability.

When God puts the squeeze on your life the first things that rise to the top are usually not pretty. Sometimes God uses the pressure to teach us to trust Him and not ourselves, and sometimes He uses it to reveal the ugliness still in us.

Mt 26:36 Then cometh Jeus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

There is always a Gethsemane before our break through.

Don't overestimate your own strength.

Lk 22:44-45 And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
:45 And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow.

They slept while Jesus prayed so hard He sweat blood. Have you ever prayed that hard?

Lk 9:28-31 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
:29 And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.
:30 And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of His decrease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.

Jesus had right before this warned Peter about not being ready. Peter missed His moment of preparation by sleeping. So did John and James. They were sleeping and missed His conversation with Moses and Elias. How sad for them.

Now I am not saying sleep is not important. Trust me if you go a few nights in a row as I do without a good nights sleep you will know just how important it is, but spending time in prayer when that is what the Lord has asked you to do is more important. He can redeem the time and the sleep.

Jesus took people with Him when He went to Gethsemane. We need to reach out to people when we are in need for them to pray for and with us. Don't let pride, shame keep you from getting help. The hardest step you ever take is either the step toward someone for help, or the step away from people to God alone. Sometimes we must spend time alone with God. The fine line is staying close enough to people that they can still pray for you and cover you in love, but far enough away that you can have intimacy with God. Both are important for victory. You need to watch and pray.

Prayer is staying in contact with God. Without prayer you only have human strength and you will fall apart. People can pray for (with) you but they can't do your praying for you.

Jesus prayed until He found the prayer He needed.

Lk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthing Him.

In pressure situation you are looking for a way out, but God is looking for a way in to help you. Prayer opens that door.

1 Cor 10:13 There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

That doesn't say He will take you out of situation, but that He will help you through it. Some mountains weren't made for us to move but to learn to climb over with God's help.

Ever heard the saying the devil made me do it? That says you are following the devil and not God. Why would you willingly do that?

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Transformation

Many books are written for inspiration, only the bible is written for transformation.

Want to be transformed? Read the Word of God. You will never be the same.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Some things to think about today

When Adam and Eve sinned they began living according to their mind, will and body instead of by the Spirit.

Jn 4:24 says God is Spirit.

Satan's goal is to always separate you from God. How is he doing that in your life right now? Satan is eternally separated from God and he wants company. Are you willing to be his company? Satan knew the love of God, he knows what he is missing. Are you willing to live outside of God's love? What choices are you making daily to be sure that doesn't happen?

1Jh 1:9 says If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We must freely admit we have sinned. We must own up to our sin. that is how we receive forgiveness.

Lk 22:40 And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

We must daily seek Him moment by moment to not sin. The devil doesn't need but a moment to tempt us. And you know that he won't advertise who he sent to you to tempt you.

1 Pet 5:7 Castin all your care upon Him for He careth for you.

Who cares for you? the devil or God? Who are you seeking? Who are you going to in times of need? Are you obeying what God tells you to do when you seek Him? If you sin against someone or do something you know is wrong, you aren't done with that thing or situation until you truly repent and make that thing right, with God and the person you have sinned against. God won't let you move on till you do. Stuck in a situation you don't like? What have you missed in making it right? Have you TRULY repented or just paid lip service? You may fool people with lip service but you WON'T fool God.

Is 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.

Have you exchanged your problem for God's peace through prayer? Then why did you pick the problem back up?

Lk 22:42 Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will , but Thine, be done.

This scripture tells me I can do nothing of myself. I only should do what God tells me to do.

Jesus changed the world everywhere He went. Do you?

Jesus didn't die for you to live a good life. He died so you could live and do God's will.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you and expected end.

Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

You were saved for God's purpose not your own. We need to live our life accordingly.