I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 In a recent post, I mentioned transitioning our children from homeschooling to public school. Our boys have attended public school before, but the experience will be totally new for […]
Category Archives: Uncategorized
God’s Attracted to You
Matt 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
I heard a lyric during praise and worship today and it just resonated with me for the rest of the service. It spoke of being attractive to God. Can I just tell that you are so very attractive to God. Whether you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your savior or you’ve been serving Christ for years, God is attracted to you.
You are attractive to God and He will do anything to be with you. Guess what it is that is so attractive to God…your Sin!!! What!!! Sin does not attract God but it disgust Him. God absolutely hates sin and that is why He will do anything to free you from it. For the person that could care less about Christ, God sent his Son and then gave His most prized possession so that they can be with Him forever. The Sin in your life attracts the Grace of God to you. Matthew shows us here what Jesus said “For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” You are His mission, He wants to love you out of Sin. This is great news…But there is even better news
Once you’ve acknowledged Christ as your Savior, you are His forever and God goes as far as to say “Heb 13:5 For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God always wants to be with you and the only thing that is as attractive to Him as you; is when you get together with another believer. Matthew goes a little further to tell us how Jesus feels about this “Matt 18:20 where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” You’re attractive to the Lord, He really desires you and when you get with other believers He can’t stay away!!!!
God loves us so much, He’s willing to go above and beyond to win our heart and be with us forever. So the next time the Devil tells you that God will never accept you or that He is angry with because of your sin; you tell him and whichever person, preacher or family member that “I’m even more attractive to now!”
Jesus Makes All Things New
Rev 21:5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
In just a few hours we will say goodbye to 2014 and welcome 2015. The Lord wants to remind us today that He makes all things new…… Regardless of what happened in 2014, the highs and/or lows, they are no more. Jesus said “Behold” or Pay Attention; Look and See what I have to say; I will make 2015 completely new. All that you’ve been believing God for, healing, blessing, opportunity, direction all will be new in 2015. Now prepare to receive and walk in it.
If you cannot wait for 2014 to end; “Behold” 2015 is NEW!!!!
I’m looking forward to great things in 2015 because Jesus has made it new!
Merry Christmas!!! Especially Those Dealing With Loss
Ps 68:5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
Merry Christmas everyone, what a joyous day this is as we spend time with family and enjoying the few times a year when everybody slows down and take a little time off. Today I want to send a little extra love to those who’ve lost a loved one and no longer get to spend this special time with them. Today, with as much fun as I’m having with my wonderful family, I cannot help but miss the HUGE Smile of my Daddy. This is the 5th year without him and while many say time heals all wounds….it’s not accurate; only Jesus does.
My Dad loved this time of year, because he was a great gift giver. He enjoyed seeing faces light up because of how much they appreciated the perfect gift. He gave to as many people as he could think of, family, friend or stranger. Not to mention, when family got together he was always the life of the party. So Pops, I miss you and wish you were here….but I’m glad you’re able to hang out with your Father.
I’m drawn to this verse in Psalm, because it reminds us that God will never allow us to be without a safe place. I attended a funeral this week of a beautiful wife and mother gone at such an early age, then found out another wife and mother went home to be with the Lord. Both leaving husbands close to my age and children to fend life without them. To them I pray this verse and believe that Jesus will meet their needs and fill their voids while allowing them to properly grieve and appreciate their wife/mother.
The Hebrew meaning for Holy Habitation is a set apart, sacred dwelling place. Habitation also means refuge, which is a place to go to hide, recover and refresh. And sometimes when you lose someone, you just want to go and hide… you want to get away. You sometime need a little extra loving. God says I am your refuge Fatherless, Motherless, Husbandless, Wifeless, Brotherless and Duaghterless. Be encouraged today that Jesus came to die for us that we would be in right standing with God. And part of that right standing includes His refuge for those times like today…when your loss hurts and you need a little extra of His attention. When you need it, go into His refuge, it has been created just for you. Merry Christmas and Happy Habitation….God Loves You and sent you a gift that will help you deal with your loss.
Divine Protection
Please Enjoy This Message
Never Doubt Your Father’s Love
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
This parenting thing is not all that easy, sometimes it’s really tough. It becomes even more difficult when you have multiple little ones. We’ve got three kids that are growing up so very fast. One thing I often think about is how it is impossible to treat them the same, after all they are little individuals who will grow to be their own anointed man/woman after God’s own heart. I write this because the other day we were prepping for dinner, it was chili, a family favorite. My wife dished out the meal and I was helping for a change and putting dinner out on the table. It was then that God showed me once again how much He loves us.
My boys are growing fast and eating even faster. Whether it’s breakfast or dinner they can always be found when during meal time, they get it from me I’m pretty sure. J This day was one of those times when I watched their eyes and attempted to jump into their minds to see what they are thinking. While putting the food before my youngest son (the middle child), I saw him looking closely at the bowls. You see my wife put just a little more chili in one of the boy’s bowls. The boys are about 17 months apart in age and pretty close in everything else, including serving sizes. I know that there are times when they need a little extra love, so that day I gave him the bowl with a little extra, however he didn’t notice. What he did notice was when I dished out the chips, I watched him as I shorted him on the chips and gave his older brother a few extra ones, compensating for the chili. I watched his eyes dim and look sharply at his brother then at his chips, finally his head dropped. I was now in his mind and I knew exactly what he was feeling.
You know this scripture, you’ve heard it a million times…..But it remains so powerful and true. God so loves you and me. But let’s face it sometimes our faith tends not to agree. It is often hard to believe it’s possible for God to love us all the same. Sometime others have more chili in their bowls. There are times when we feel that God loves others more than he loves us. I want you to know it’s not just you, it’s Satan. What??
Satan wants us to feel like he felt before God expelled him from Heaven (Isaiah 14:12; Rev 12). He was kicked out because he wanted to take over, but remember, he was the worship leader for God’s congregation. A devout follower of God and then one day he wasn’t. Now there is a “brother” that he feels God loves more. God seated us in very High Places (Ps 8:5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.) and now Satan is under our feet…. and it pisses him off. So he spends a majority of his time trying to make sure that “brother (us)” believe that we could never be fully loved by God, never fully forgiven. But that is a lie strait from his pit!!!
Back to the chili… Later that evening when my son and I were alone, I asked him about the situation and how it made him feel. Eventually he admitted that it made him feel like I loved his brother more than him. For the next few minutes I explained to him that I only gave his brother extra chips because he got extra chili. I told him, how special he was and how much I loved him, that I loved all of my children the same, but each very differently and why. I hugged him so tightly (he’s a hugger) and assured him that I loved him sooooooooooooooooooooo much.
Doesn’t God do that for us all of the time, constantly reassuring us of His love? Which is why I will never get tired of hearing “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Don’t you let Satan make you think God is like us! He can love us more than we could ever imagine, and He loves us all the same, but very differently. Jesus came and sacrificed so we would never have to question the awesome love of our Father. Enjoy it, it’s all yours.
5 Keys To Success
The Lord is so special!! He always knows how to give you what you need when you need it. Today was one of those days. Without going into detail, I was very frustrated with my son today and God responded by blessing my wife and I beyond our wildest dreams. My 10 year old son wrote this today and I had to share, I hope you enjoy and are encouraged.
5 Keys To Success, by Joshua K. Harris
The Lord showed me some real important things in his word. He showed me 5 keys to success and 5 verses to share. The first key he showed me is to move forward. Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.” My past, present, and future sin are forgiven. This means I can move forward knowing that my past, present, and future sins are forgiven. I keep looking back at the bad things, but those times are over now. It’s a new year; new things are going to happen. Moving forward is an important key to success. The second key to success is to let go, and let God. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I abide in him, will produce much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” I cannot do anything without the Lord. I will only succeed if I trust God. In Proverbs 3:5-6 Solomon tells us to trust the Lord with all of your heart, and not to depend on our own understanding. If we trust God, He will direct our paths. To me that means, if I trust God he will help me succeed. Trusting the Lord and letting God help me succeed is the second key. The third key is the power of prayer. Matthew 21:22 says, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, that you will receive.” The power of prayer is really helpful. When we pray, we know that God will answer. Also, when we pray we should believe that what we asked for will happen. It is having faith what you asked for will happen. To me this means that, when I talk to the Lord in any situation can help me succeed in life. The power of prayer is the third key to success. The fourth key is to know that you have everything that you need. Psalm 23:1says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Knowing that the Lord gives me every good thing, I can trust the Lord. I don’t need to beg. I don’t need to be stressed out to have everything I need; I already have it, for it is Jesus who is everything I need. Knowing that the Lord gives me everything I need is the fourth key of success. The final key is to receive God’s love, grace, and mercy for you. He showed all of this on the cross. Took every beating, was spit upon, crown of thorns put on his head, carrying a heavy cross to Mount Calvary to save our lives, nails stuck into his hands and feet, all for our sinful bodies. God showed us his Love, Grace, and Mercy through all the pain. The only thing left to do is receive. Receive his love, grace, and mercy. Receiving is the final key to success. I thank the Lord for putting this on my heart. This is amazing what the Lord has showed me. I’m glad I got to write it on paper. I’m also glad that the Lord is pleased with me. Out of every single sin I have committed has been forgiven. These are the Lord’s 5 Keys to Success!
It’s Time to Rest
Matt 11:28 NKJV
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
I’ve read, memorized and studied this verse for many years since accepting Jesus. Just like Jesus, every time I look at it this verse the Lord shows me something new. Jesus had just done miraculous acts in the cities Chorazin and Bethsaida then rebuked them because they did not change their mind (repent). He openly thanked His Father for hiding His truths from the wise and sharing with His babes. This text I believe is one of those.
Jesus says come to me and I will give you rest…… Our loving Savior invites us to Himself. It reminds me of the times when I just open my arms wide to my kids and they just come and dive into my chest for a big hug. It is those moments that help me show them how much I care about them and reminds them of how safe, warm and loved they feel in Daddy’s arms. It is a special time and I believe that this what Jesus is inviting us to do. Then He goes even further by offering to give us rest, His rest. He’s saying to us….You’re tired and burdened but when you come to Me I will give you the ultimate fix for your weariness and pain.
Rest, what a great word and gift Jesus offers us. The Greek word “Anapauo” literally means to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength. I know that you can connect with this word, have you ever worked, tried, strived, toiled, slogged and given everything that you could possibly give; only to have to keep going on to the next task, problem or chore. You need to cease from any movement, to recover and collect your strength, and this is exactly what Jesus has given us. Just know that we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses (Heb 4:15). Jesus knows exactly how that feels, in Luke He told His disciples “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” The Greek for “lay” is Klino which is the same word used when Jesus finished His marvelous work on the Cross. “He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit (John 19:30).” He worked, worked and worked but had no place to lay His head; no place to rest. He did however rest once His work was finished. We can rest and have a place to lay our heads because Jesus finished all of the work that needed to be done. All of the requirements and payment for sin was paid on the Cross and there is nothing left for us to do….it has already been done!!!!
Our job now…..Rest in Jesus’ loving, warm and protective arms; after all He did all of the work for you!!
God Bless You
These Three Words
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Yesterday I heard an old Stevie Wonder song that I’m sure everyone will remember, especially if you’ve seen the movie Jungle Fever. In the song, Stevie reminds us of the desire we all have which is to be loved. The song begins with a question: When was the last time that they heard you say….I Love You? Have we told those the closest to us, that we love them?? Or do we spend more time telling them about their failures and shortcoming? Jesus wants to give us a very important message from His Father.
God never wants us to ask the question “When was the last time that you’ve heard Him say that He loves you?” So much so that over 2000 years ago, God sent His only Son Jesus to die on Calvary’s Cross and the ultimate display of Love for each one of us. So today should never be a doubt about how much God loves us, and every time we hear a message or read the scripture we should be reminded of His love for us. Remember the Cross, the ultimate sacrifice, the shed blood, the remission of sin, the restoration of the saints, the love, and the acceptance of His beloved.
These Three Words bring peace in chaos, healing in pain and shelter from every storm. These Three Words have made our crooked ways strait and the lost become found. These Three Words have made the unrighteous righteous and the sinner saved. It was These Three Words that made you and me. These Three Words….Father, Son, Spirit…want to tell us “I LOVE YOU.” There is no greater love…
Feeding His Sheep 