Every Corner Of My Life

1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Wow, what a scripture! If I were reading this with a good friend of mine he would say, "Love it!" Don't you see it? It's right there in this scripture. We now are the temple of God. The Spirit of God dwells inside of us. That is enough to make even the most dignified Christian shout.

In the Old Testament the Bible tells us of the Tabernacle and the children of Israel. The Tabernacle and Temple of the Old Testament spoke of the place of God on earth. A place for His presence. He told them to build this in order for Him to be with His people. In those days the smoke of the incense filled the Holy of Holies to shield the presence of God. The Glory of God would fill the house in such a way that the ministers couldn't even stand in His presence. Can you imagine the presence of God that strong? So strong that it fills up every corner and area of the room?

Well that's what the scripture this morning is telling us. It says that we are now the temple and tabernacle of God. God has chosen to place the Holy Spirit inside of us. Inside to fill every corner and area of our lives. We should pray that God's presence be so overwhelming in us this morning. So graciously that He would remove all sin. So powerful that He would guide our every step. Don't you know that God lives in you? He dwells inside of the believer! The glory of God is shielded by this flesh, but as the song says, "This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise, to seize the everlasting prize."

Thank you God for dwelling in me. Not only have you saved me from Hell but you have chosen to live inside of me. Thank you for the fellowship that we have every day and every hour. I don't know how I could be nearer my God than we are right now. Wow!

Read the Script

Romans 7:18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Deuteronomy 30:14
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

Have you ever felt like you were in a play and didn't know the lines? Kinda like you were on stage in life and didn't know what to say or how to perform? Well Paul says he didn't know how to perform that which is good. He says that his flesh often got the best of him. I imagine Paul often felt like he didn't know what to do or what to say. Now he knew how to do it all according to the Spirit, but in his flesh he didn't.

So many times I find myself without the words and without the actions of what to do as well. But I have found that God's word is what I need to help me. Years ago I heard a preacher man say that we need to read the script. The script is the word of God. The script is where we find our lines we need to speak and the actions for our time on stage.

Look at what God says in Deuteronomy. The word of God is very nigh (near). It's in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can perform it. God has given you the script and labeled your part. All you need to do is read the script and follow the lines. You know what is funny?  When an actor or television host gets lost on stage the directors are telling them, "Read the script, just read the lines."

What Are You Murmuring About?

Philippians 2:14-16
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

What is murmuring? Most would define it as just complaining about something but it really goes much deeper. Murmuring in the scriptures deals with a greater problem. Murmuring in its simple form is sin. There is no beating around the bush about this. God tells us that murmuring is from the destroyer. The children of Israel were noted for murmuring. God dealt with Israel about their murmurings, just like He will deal with us also.

Why is murmuring such a big deal? We seem to do it everyday don't we? It's because murmuring is the spoken action of our heart. When we complain and murmur we are saying to the Lord that we don't trust His way. We are saying that we don't believe He knows what He is doing. It's unbelief! It's doubt! It's sin!

Notice what the word tells us this morning. Do ALL things without murmurings and disputings. Don't complain and be negative. Why?  So you will be a great witness of Jesus Christ without blame and harmless. The lost people in this world see enough of negative murmuring everyday. They don't need to see the ones who supposedly has the only hope and peace always complaining and murmuring. We should be rejoicing today of Christ. We should be lights in this crooked and perverse nation.

Help us all this morning Lord to not complain. Help us not to murmur. Help us to be a light in all that we do. I love you Jesus. Thank you.

Learning By Osmosis

Psalms 119:11 

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Years ago, I can remember going to our elementary school library.  Book fair time was here!  I loved book fair, even though I didn't love reading books.  I can remember getting those small magazines to take home and look through so we could decide which book we wanted to order.  But one thing I remember is that you didn't have to order just books.  No they had posters!  Posters of cars and football fields.  I remember this one poster of Garfield standing there with a stack of books on his head and body.  The caption read, "I'm learning by osmosis".  

Funny what we can remember sometimes.  You see I learned that day what the word osmosis meant.  It was explained to me by my teacher.  She said that osmosis is Garfield's way of getting the knowledge he needed. She said instead of reading his books, like he should, that he was trying to absorb the information he needed. She then told me that this process will never work.  She told me the only way we can learn is to read the information inside of the books.

Now I know that my teacher was right.  I know that we can't strap our Bibles to our heads and it just slowly sink in.  But we can absorb the information that the Word of God gives us.  See to me, in a crazy way, Garfield was right also.  In order to walk with Jesus we must absorb His Word.  We must take what we have received through the gates of our eyes and place it on and in ourselves.  Sometimes we read books but never absorb what they are telling us.  Although Garfield was being lazy as usual, there is a great lesson in absorbing God's Word into our hearts.  

What about you today?  Are you observing God's Word or ABSORBING it?  I believe absorbing would mean that you are applying it.  Kinda like strapping it on your head, but really strapping it to your heart so that you can withstand the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Ol' Crazy Mary

Mark 16:9-11
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

Scriptures in the other Gospels tell us that the women got up early on the resurrection morning and took off for the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus with spices. As they came to the tomb their biggest obstacle was figuring out how to move the stone from the entrance. As they approached that morning the Bible tells us that the stone was already rolled away.  Inside they heard an angel telling them that they should return and tell the disciples, and Peter, that Jesus will meet them in Galilee. So they left and told all that was spoken unto them. Mary Magdalene stayed at the tomb weeping. Revealing to us that she was the first to see Jesus in His resurrected body. She excitedly runs back and begins to tell the disciples that she had seen Jesus. Their response was disbelief.

I wonder if it were possible that those disciples are guilty of the same things we are today? I'm sure the answer would be yes. See we will listen and judge whether or not to believe people by things we know of their past. (Yes, you do). I wonder if these people listening to Mary, who once had seven demons in her, couldn't get past who she used to be? I wonder if they called her names before like, Crazy Mary? I wonder if they said, "Yeah, she still might have one of those old demons hanging around in her!"?

I see this kind of reaction all the time. When a person accepts Jesus and stumbles a bit trying to learn and walk. People come and say, "Yep, there's ol' Crazy Mary showing back up." Christians think they are actually talking about the person but in all truth you are talking about the saving, healing, forgiving and miraculous power of our almighty God. If Jesus has saved, healed and forgiven a person please know this... He didn't do it halfway! If there were seven demons in Mary when Christ found her and saved her, then seven demons scattered from His presence.

I sure am thankful of the saving and forgiving power of Jesus. If it were not for Him I would still be Crazy Taco till this day!

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

When I was young I used to love watching a television show called "The A-Team". These guys were always faced with problems and obstacles but somehow always made it through. A situation would arise, and they'd get their heads together with a plan. Every team member had a specific talent. Mr. T would create some of the most wildest and heavily armed vehicles for battle. Murdock would do his crazy thing. Faceman played his part but Hannibal, he was the one at the end of every show who had the greatest line. I can remember waiting for him to say it... "I love it when a plan comes together". 

Well do you know that God has a plan for you?  He has a plan for everyone!  His desire is that ALL would be saved. Once you're saved, He will lead you into following his plan. Just like these men in this crazy television show each had a role and purpose, you too in the plan and will of God have a specific role and purpose. Some preach, some teach, some cook, some clean,... Some are involved with youth, some with senior adults, but all serve a purpose of edifying the body. 

Do you know where I get my greatest joy from?  When I see people come to Jesus and surrender their lives to His plan. When they turn everything over to him and figure out what part they play in spreading the Gospel. I've often thought that if I love it, how much more does our Father in Heaven love it?  

Sometimes I look at these people and see how God has put every broken piece back together. How He has placed a purpose in their hearts and how they are following the path that our God has for them. And I say to myself, "I love it when a plan comes together". 

Which Way Are You Walking?

Micah 4:5

For all people will walk every one in the name of his god,

and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

Why do we always keep up with what others are doing or who they are serving rather than just walking in Christ? All people, Christians included, have such a hard time keeping their eyes forward while walking with God. Our concern for other's walk so many times distracts us with our very own walk. 

The world, those without Christ, will observe the walk of others and that is expected. Since they have no true purpose in their walk with their god, they will scrutinize the walk of all others. You can see that it is taught to them since their beginning. When a child gets caught in something wrong, they are very quick to examine the walk of others around them. "Steve did it... Patti was doing the same thing I was... At least I didn't do as old so-in-so..." So many times we compare our walk with others. 

The disciples themselves did this. They would ask Jesus questions concerning non-believers and even believers and their walk. Our nature is to look at others. It seems to be born into us and our fallen nature. 

We can become so consumed with the walk of others that our walk could be hindered. Don't take this wrong or non-compassionate, but people will walk away from the true Lord and walk after their own god. This will happen. Jesus told us it would happen. But what will you do?  I know what I will do... We, I, will walk in the name of the Lord our, my, God forever and ever.