Why date? Is it our choose?

When God saw that man was alone He said it is not good, and made a helper suitable for him. (Genesis 2:18) This is our first picture of what God's plan is for relationships between a man and a woman. Before you were known to the world God had a plan for you, and even shaped and formed you for that purpose. (Jeremiah 1:5) We have choices, but "We are His workmanship created in Him to do good works, which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) Good works. God said after His creation, that it was good, so the fact that He created Eve, not just any woman, but Eve as the suitable helper, I believe this is a pattern that God wants to continue, by making those "suitable helpers" for us all. I believe we can't choose wisely enough to supersede God's wisdom, in any matter. Some believe it's their choice in life to do whatever they want. Even Christians have been tricked by the deceiver, for he is the father of lies, (John 8:44) to think we have any rights at all to make any choices. Galatians 2:20 states, " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." So it's not me at work in me, but, Philippians 2 " 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." So that takes the pressure off of us to pick and choose a mate, it's Him at work, not us. Also, Christ wants to, "equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."(Hebrews 13:21) Notice it says doing His will, not our own, "for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:20) Then one of His promises, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) I love it that God prepares His work in us, that He prepares it beforehand that we should walk in it, again, it takes all the pressure off us to perform, or to choose rightly. It's His choice, let's let Him choose our mates for life.

Shine like the stars in heaven

There were two disciples of Jesus, who in Mark 10 asked to be seated by Jesus in Heaven, one on His right, one on His left. In Mark 16 Jesus is taken up and is seated at the right hand of God. The disciples had asked for God's seat...In our pride and arrogance we assume God's seat of authority, taking what we deem as our rightful place. This morning as I walked while it was dark, the stars were very bright. One of my favorite things to see is a "moving star," a satellite zooming across the sky, at over 18,000 miles per hour! You can actually se them, and they very much appear like stars. If we take the place of God, and do not humbly receive our rightful place, at His feet in worship, we are in trouble of assuming the very wrong place of receiving worship ourselves. We were never meant to be worshiped. "Forgive us Lord for assuming the place of worship, instead of assuming a place to worship, to worship You. Let us bow even now in adoration of who You are, wonderful, counselor, mighty God....let our praise go on, and on, forever in worship." God placed us in place, to receive His light, and shine like the stars. Not hurtle through space at 18,000 miles per hour. But that's how this life can feel, like we're a projectile, who only has so long to live, then we burn up in the atmosphere. NO, we are made to be like the stars in heaven to shine for His glory, not our own! Philippians 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky

Protective Father - The Spirit Gives Life

This picture from a friend of mine, Peter Hammond, was titled "Protective Father. I tend to be like this with my kids. I want to hold onto them, keep them as close as I can, so they don't get hurt. We should not do this out of fear. Fear, as a gauge of love, is never right. Perfect love, in fact, casts our fear. (1 John 4:18) I just pray that we'd love our kids, love people enough, to really love them, without fear.There's a way that seems right to a man, but its end is in death. (Proverbs 14:12) Our flesh is not a good gauge of living in any way. The works of the flesh bring death, where the works of the Spirit bring life. (Galatians 6) If I walk in the Spirit all things are possible, but if I walk in hte flesh, I may on;y produce death. "Lord, let us give life, let us give only You. In Jesus Name, amen.

Into the fire

Yesterday on facebook, I posted about being in a small fire. Today when I woke up two scriptures came to me. The first was putting on the full armor of God, (Ephesians 6) which was in the study I read this morning which I will post today! The 2nd was the biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was an evil king that wanted everyone to worship him. He built a giant statue and upon hearing this certain music, all would bow to worship him. He called all the people together and told them what to do. All but three people in his kingdom bowed when the music was played. These three that didn't bow were brought before the king and told to bow, they wouldn't, so he through them into a firey furnace. The king looked into the fire and saw 4 men. The fourth looked like "the son of the gods." I believe that was Jesus, the son of God. (Daniel 3) God wants to be with us in this blazing inferno we call life. So He sent Jesus to die for us, to take away all our sins, so God, who is holy, can be with us forever. He even gave us armor to put on for this life. The helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, our loins girded with truth and our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel. (Ephesians 6) The three men came out not even smelling of fire. Yesterday I was within inches of a small fire, and I wreaked of smoke! We have to not only walk with Jesus in these crazy times, we have to "be empowered to" put on the full armor of God. We have to be ready. Are you ready? God bless you.

The tool God uses.

Two observations today. I was walking by someones new barn, and saw how perfect the cement was, how smooth it was. I saw what looked like a trowel, the tool they use to smooth the cement out, and thought how funny it would be if they buried it in the cement, left it sticking up to pay homage to the trowel?! How silly would it look for us to pay homage to the tool, instead of the master craftsmen who did the work. We want thanks and praise for our good words and works, though we are just the tools that God uses to accomplish the work. We should just be happy to be used by Him at all. So instead of wanting the glory, let us give Him all the glory. I mean, how good would it look on your favorite car, to see mounted on the side panel the hammer used to pound the metal into place... Let us be humble Lord, the tools that You would use to build "Your kingdom come, Your will be done"... let us be content with You receiving all glory and all honor. After a short rain storm passed I was able to go on my walk. I was thinking how cool it would be if I saw lighting and a sun rise, I've never seen the two together. To the East where the sun was coming up, rain storm, no sunrise. To the west, pink, dramatic cloud formations. So in the direction of the sun, I could not see, but away from the sun I could. The storms of our lives want to block out the Son of God like that. When disaster comes, tragedy, it wants to block all the goodness of God. Job lost everything, all within minutes. "The greatest of all people in the east." Oxen & donkeys taken, (500 of each) servants killed. Fire of God fell from heaven fell from heaven burned up the sheep (7,000 sheep) Camel raided (3,000) and servants killed. All of his seven sons and three daughters killed. Upon hearing all this, he fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord. "Blessed be the Name of The Lord" he said. What will the storms of life cause you and I to say? I pray we'd do the same, humble ourselves and pray, and worship The Lord God Almighty. Let the storms not keep you from worshiping God.

Walk worthy of this life

I was wearing my FCA shirt yesterday. (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) This morning I was thinking about how I need to walk worthy to wear this shirt, but then I thought, wow, as a Christian I need to walk worthy of this life. As a Christian I am more than a public servant, who is suppose to live to honor the people. If I am to be in Christ, then I should have no partnership with the world, not matter how big or small. James 3-5 is then what I read this morning. Here is one example: James 3: 13 "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom." But there are so many. 4: 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. 5: 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. I am a Christian, as so, I must walk in Christ, obey Him, follow Him and not this world. He has been so faithful to die for me, now I want to live for Him! Ephesians 4:4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you[a] all.7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Maturity of our leaders in Christ

I found a heart shaped rock by the side of the road. It appears to have a hole in it. Is your heart hurt? Because you are His sons,(and daughters) God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying out "Abba, Father." Call out to Jesus, He will save you, He will heal your heart. To show you the miracle of this little heart shaped rock. Not only does it look a lot like a "heart" (Cartoony of course) but I found it on a gravel road (All the rocks shaped in different colors & sizes, all very similar) while riding my bike. The rock is less than an inch, and it was right in the perfect place for me to find it, a miracle. Galatians 4:6 " And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." The corn in our area is 18-26 inches higher than "kneed high by the 4th of July." (Just above waist high) Maturity in Christ can't be reached too soon. Adam, a friend of mine, reached maturity in Christ very quickly. Within a year he was one of the most mature Christians I had ever known. The fruit of his life was evident to everyone around him, truly an example of someone who was transformed from darkness to light, in an instant. Then he grew in Christ exponentially! It seems we have so many "babes" in Christ, who have never grown in maturity. I believe in part it is because of our church leadership. I go into so many churches whose leaders are not leading in full maturity. How can a new Christian grow in maturity if the leaders themselves are not spiritually mature? (1 Corinthians 3) Still babes in Christ, desiring only the milk of God's word, not able to handle the meat of it. Fleshly, not spiritual. And we have many of these people in leadership in the Church! Forgive us Lord, heal us Lord. Forgive us that we have left our first love, You, for this world, the things of this world, and our fleshly kingdoms of stone! Heal our hearts, bring us out of infancy, and bring us into maturity in Christ, in Jesus Name, amen! A few scriptures for us: 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Colossians 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil ° you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever ° therefore will be ° a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.