Who Says?

Do you remember playing "Simon Says" or "Follow the Leader" as a child? What happened when you were following a clown or someone who tried to make you stumble? Does this still happen sometimes? You find yourself following a leader who isn't exactly honest or doesn't have your best interest at heart? You begin to question their sincerety and knowledge. What about false prophets? Even attend a church filled with them? Run like the devil himself is after you. He probably is. When we know scripture and follow those who know it, we will not be fooled. So how do we know?

"But as for the wicked and the imposters, they will keep leading and following each other further and further away from the truth. So surely you ought to stick to what you know is certain. All you have learned comes from people you know and trust  because since childhood you have known the holy Scriptures, which enable you to be wise and lead to salvation through faith in Jesus the Anointed. All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right  so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead and have all they need to accomplish every good work." 2 Timothy 3: 13-17 The Voice

So then, how do we know? Read scripture. Go to His Word for answers. Talk with fellow Christians who also read and depend on Scripture. Go to your pastor or spiritual adviser. Pray for Divine Guidance.

God's Job

Someties it seems the Message is twisting God's Word, but the author uses language today's world understands. Have you even experienced a situation where you feel abandoned by God and on our own to solve the problem? There are those who forget about Christ's suffereing on the cross and what it means for us today. As we review the passion of the cross and recall the suffering he went through from the time of his betrayal by his own disciple, Judas, and the treatment he received by the Jewish and Roman leaders, we get a taste of how deep his love is for us. When we concentrate on his last words on the cross, we feel his momentary sense of abanconment by God, then his intense love as he asks the Father to forgive those who took part in the actions. Thankfully God does not make us endure this for our refinement. Christ did it for us, once and for all. Keep the faith. Through Christ, glory is just around the corner.

" Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner." 1 Peter 4:12-13

California Dreaming

"California Dreaming" was the theme of movies and hit songs. What was that California dream that motivated so many to fill up their cars and head west? Was it for fame or fortune or both. For some it was to get a job when eastern companies were moving west and jobs were fading. Even some went for welfare benefits because California's welfare system was so generous. California seemed to have something for everyone.

A lot of folks found their California Dream and prospered. Some found an active drug scene and succumbed to all sorts of evil as a result. Some decided the grass just looked greener and headed back east. A lot gave up affordable housing and lower tax bases to join a mass of folks struggling to make ends meet even though their salaries were excellent.
Times change. Others prospered and built a star studded life for themselves. What was desireable 30 years ago, may not be so desirable today.

So if you know someone who is seeking fame and happiness through financial resources, you may want to have this discussion with them:
"Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life." 1 Tim 6:17-19 MSG

The Right Door

Have you ever felt that you have one hand on one door pulling you into a conflict and the other hand on another door pulling you to peace? Both doors hold a reward, depending on what your idea of reward is. How do you make the decision when you want some of what each holds for you?
Sometimes you just throw your hands up in hopelessness.

"You may think that the situation is hopeless, but God gives us more grace when we turn away from our own interests. That’s why Scripture says,

God opposes the proud,
    but He pours out grace on the humble.
 So submit yourselves to the one true God and fight against the devil and his schemes. If you do, he will run away in failure.  Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands; you have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart, because your mind is split down the middle, your love for God on one side and selfish pursuits on the other.

Since the beginning, our loving Creator has been pursuing us, drawing us closer to Him. He invites us to move closer to Him so we can be fully His." James 4:6-9 Message

There is your answer and your way to peace. Humble yourself before God and follow his ways, not your own. Step through his door completely and leave the other (worldly) door completely, finally and forever.

Read Me the Story

I remember how much my boys loved to be read to. They would climb up next to me or their father with a favorite book in hand. After a hard and frustrating day, reading a child's book was the last thing I wanted to do, but because of their persistence, I would relent and soon I had my second wind and began enjoying the task. It was a time of bonding and learninging as well as expressing that unconditional love.

Remember the story about Jesus trying to leave the crowd so he could get rest? When he saw their hunger for his message, he relented and welomed them to him. Like a child, do you hunger for him and his message. Do you run in search for him? When you pursue him, does he tell you he's too tired or does he welcome you with open arms, gentleness and patience? Do you treat the lost and those hungry to hear his Word the same way?

"The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.
So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them." Mark 6:31-43

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No Guilt Trip

My budget is just not working this month. Here it is, the first of March, tax time is upon me, and there are more blls to be paid than money to pay them. I'm already behind in my pledge and I know my pledge to the Lord should be of my first fruits, but does he want me to sit in the dark the rest of the month. How did I get myself into this mess?

One of my New  Year's resolutions was to keep a balanced budget. I hadn't figured on being slid into on the ice from an underinsued driver or the roof leaking from all the snow after I'd increased the deductible on my home owners. Which check do  I write first, to the church or the electric company? Do I think about the work of the missionaries this month so others are fed and clothed or what to put on my table? Such a dilemna.

"And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give, but to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the giving is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. Our desire is not that others may be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be  equality." 2 Corinthians 8:10-13 NIV.

God does not put a guilt trip on us, but understands our needs and will help us through our every ill.

He Will Not Fail nor Forsake You.

I slammed the notebook shut and said a few choice words. I'd worked half the night trying to complete the talk I was to give the next day at a retreat I was speaking at. I was frustrated. I was discouraged. I was exhausted. I was angry. Why didn't my thoughts come together? I had followed the scripture that was to be my guide. I had researced the material from several resources, but just couldn't get it down on paper. I wanted my talk to be perfect. Secretly, I wanted to be the best speaker there. Have you ever been in that situation?

What I had forgotten was to trust God instead of focusing so much on my own desire,, reserch and understanding. After all he was behind the program and would bring it all together. I had to get myself out of the picture and just focus on his word and what he wanted me to say. I prayed the rest of the night and when I got up to speak, the words rolled off my tongue. I was speaking for the Lord's glory not for my own. When we are doing work for his service, he will be our guide. Trust him.

" David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished." 1 Chronicles 28:20 NIV