On My End or Your End?

I called my internet provider to see if my lack of service was on my end or on his end. At times, the fault lies on my end. Yet, this time the lack of internet service was because his towers were down. There are many things that we can not accomplish when our internet communications goes down. When we lose communication with God, it is never on His end. And when we lose that communication, we also lose power to accomplish great and mighty things. Stay connected to God with prayer and devotions.

Deuteronomy 31:5-6 (NIV)

5 The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Difference

This past week with the weather change, I was reminded why the hot water heater is located in the attic and not the refrigerator in the attic. The cooler weather means that it takes longer for me to get hot water in the shower. The company we keep as well as where we walk, will make a difference in our Spiritual walk.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (NIV)

21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.

22 Avoid every kind of evil.

Power Cord

Have you noticed the similarities between a power cord and the Trinity? Think of this, God is the power that feeds our needs while Christ intercedes on our behalf. The Holy Spirit is what keeps us grounded.

Black Wire = Power coming in

White Wire = Return to source

Copper Wire = Ground

2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Interests

You can be so preoccupied with your own interests or problems that you are oblivious to other people’s needs. Think about if Jesus only thought about His feelings. Would Jesus have gone to the cross? (Father let this cup pass from me) We are to be Christ like, denying self requires us to care about others. When you see someone you know, can you tell us about their interests?

Philippians 2:4 (ESV)

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Another Day at Work

Are you full of Joy when you go to work? We as believers are to rejoice always. It’s our Lord who provides the joy for us. As we take a day off from our jobs, remember our purpose. We are to glorify God in all that we do! Our final destination should be enough motivation to do all things with the joy of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

A Light Comes On

In today’s automobiles there are so many wonderful safety features. When the tire pressure drops, a light comes on. When a door is ajar, a light comes on. Many times, in our relationship’s others can see little lights coming on when there is a drop or ajar in our attitude to another. Most of us are good at giving advice. We need also to be good at receiving advice.

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in the abundance of counselors there is safety. - Proverbs 11:14

Talk is Cheap

Have you heard the expression: “Here’s is my two cents”? What is the value of a penny or two cents? When I was a child, there were gumball and candy machines that would take a penny. For a penny you could get two or three pieces of gum. Now pennies are used almost solely for making change. What can you purchase for a penny? The words we say have value, but what are those words worth? I want to encourage you to weigh the value of your words before you spend them.

Wise speech is rarer and more valuable than gold and rubies. Proverbs 20:15

Appreciation

When and who have you told lately that you appreciated? It does my heart good when someone loves on me with kind words of appreciation. I want to encourage you right now to take a minute or two to sent a text or e-mail to someone the Lord lays on your heart to encourage.

Psalm 72:18 (NIV)

18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

Search

Have you searched for something only to find it in plain sight? My neighbor called me over to help him locate his TV remote. We spend almost an hour looking under tables, chairs, and other furniture for it. Almost ready to give up, I sat down on his couch only to find the remote lying there on the cushion right beside me.

There are sins in our lives that we want to hide, but they are in plain sight to God.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24

Be Careful

I received the following note from a friend.  “I'm doing well, still driving Uber.  I give 10% of what I make driving Uber to KHCB 105.7, have been for a few years.  1 month ago, I gave them $80.  Looked @ my bank acct. & discovered that I had given them $8000.  I put a comma after 80 instead of a period.  Went to the station & they gave me a refund on the spot.  They were very nice & gave me a tour of the station.  Be careful of the commas.”

As believers we need to be very careful in our walk.  A comma or other punctuation mark at the wrong time might give a very costly message. We need to be careful not to lead someone down the wrong path.

Punctuation saves lives!

        Let’s eat Grandma

        Let’s eat, Grandma

Ephesians 5:15 (NIV)
15  Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,

Scale

My dad had an old scale that had been used in an old general store. As a child, I enjoyed playing with that scale. We played: what weighs the most? In our lives, what do we give great weigh to? Maybe we need to reassess the weight of things in light of eternal value.

The end of the world is coming soon; therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Mostly important, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

Light

When I was driving in to unlock the church last Sunday morning, I noticed that I was out running my headlights. When I switched on the bright lights, I could see so much better. When we drive beyond the range of our lights, we are in danger of running up on something before we can properly react. The same is true with our spiritual life. We need to wait upon the Lord and go at the pace He desires for us. Let His light guide your steps.

Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Reminders

With the advancement of technology, we have many resources to help us remember all sorts of things. I have Alexa who wakes me up at the time I need to get up. I have a google calendar that keeps track of birthdays and my anniversary. My watch reminds me it is time to check my blood pressure. But, what do we have to remind us of the goodness and greatness of our God? I want to encourage you to put reminders around your house (my wife has done this in our house). Put scripture in your office, on your mirror, even on a t-shirt. I urge you to make it a priority to remember your Lord and Savior.

Joshua 4:1-7 (NIV)

1 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,

2 "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe,

3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight."

4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe,

5 and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites,

6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?'

7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."

Desiring Jesus’ Pace

When Jesus lived on earth, His seemingly slow pace sometimes disappointed His friends. Sometimes, I long for Jesus to move more quickly to answer a prayer. Jesus’ schedule is different from ours many times. He accomplishes His work on His timetable, not ours. And the ultimate outcome displays His glory and goodness in ways that are so much greater than our plans. Remember Lazarus resurrection?

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21

A Well That Never Runs Dry

We were created with an insatiable thirst for relationship with God. We were made to experience true rest and satisfaction in one place and from one relationship: intimacy with the Father. In Job 28 we find that a wise man seeks God above all else. In Matt 6 we are told to seek God first. What do you really run after?

If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. JOHN 4:10

Anxiety

Anxiety is that roiling inner whirlwind, the blinding, gut-wrenching, confusion-making state of being that takes over our minds and hearts at times. When anxieties have you in its grip, it’s hard to avoid worrying about tomorrow. In fact, I find that what ever causes the anxiety is what I can not shake. Yet, that is not how we are to live. I want to urge you to shove those thoughts towards God and let Him take them away. Meditate on His Word! Breath in His thoughts. It may not be easy as we are in spiritual warfare.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Lure

Commercials are meant to entice us into something that the producer wants us to believe that we need. I have a friend who has a garage full of unopened boxes of new purchases. He took the bait and then realized that he did not need what was being sold to him. You would think that after a few purchases of unopened boxes, he would not be lured into another worthless purchase. When I pause to think of him, I have to question how many times the evil one has lured me into things I don’t need.

James 1:13-18 (NIV)

13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

How well Do You Know?

Number of years ago Karen and I purchased a new SUV. After owning the vehicle for a couple of years and a couple of trips snow skiing, our son-in-law showed us that the vehicle was equipped with a seat warming feature. Yes, I was embarrassed that I did not know about this feature. We had missed out on what was available to us when we were going through some cold times. God has a wealth of blessings for us if we would know Him better.

Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land. Hosea 6:3

Heat and Pressure

Back in the day, we had a Vac-U-Form by Mattel. We would take a small square plastic sheet and place it in the Vac-U-Form. After it was heated, we would press it on a desired mold. When the plastic sheet dried, it took on the form of the mold. When we face fires of and pressures in life, we begin to take on the form of our mold. We need to thank the Lord for the heat and pressures we face as they mold us into the image of Christ.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12

Free Pass

A friend of mine carries a badge. He told me that he is not concerned about being pulled over for his driving now. He just makes sure that his badge is in plain view of the officer pulling him over. If you did not know that he is now carrying a badge, you might be concerned about his driving record. Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. By His grace, we have forgiveness of our sins. However, we are to strive not to sin. We are to be an example of Christ to others.

Romans 6:15 (ESV)

15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!