A Breath of Fresh Air

2 Timothy 1:16

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

Have you ever had the breath knocked out of you?  That's probably one of the scariest things that could happen to you. Not being able to breathe is so painful and scary all at the same time. How many times have you thanked God for that breath you just took?  The old phrase that goes, "You don't miss your water till your well has run dry" comes to my mind. We aren't very thankful for the air we breath until we find ourselves gasping for it. 

Brother Paul tells us that one man effected him in ministry so much that he says he was like a refresher to his heart. Paul was thankful for a man named Onesiphorus. He said that he had "oft" refreshed him. This means that Onesiphorus impacted Paul's life!  He was someone that when Paul needed help, he was there. When Paul needed encouragement, he was there. When Paul needed prayer, he was there. When Paul needed a shoulder or ear, he was there. Paul was saying that this man was like a breath of fresh air to him. When Paul was gasping for air and there was a man named Onesiphorus to come into his life. 

My grandad, who is with Jesus now, couldn't walk across the room without gasping for air. He had COPD and emphysema. A hard working and tough man, would find himself bowed over struggling to find air. I hated to see this happen!  It would bother me so much that I would begin to cry and pray for his breath to be restored. He would puff the inhaler, and somehow calm down enough to find his breath. 

I see people on a daily basis that are struggling to find air. They're struggling to stay above water. It bothers me so much. I pray everyday that I would be able to be an Onesiphorus. Lord, let me often refresh others when they can't seem to find their breath and thank you Lord for always refreshing me.  

How many times have you thanked those for being there to often refresh you? First of all Jesus, who always refreshes!  Try and thank them today. 

He is Here!

Genesis 28:16
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.

So many times we miss out on the presence and fellowship with God because we weren't really looking for Him. Churches are filled service after service with those who sometimes just aren't really seeking Him. I'm not saying that this happens all the time with everyone, but all of us are guilty at times of not experiencing God simply because we weren't really looking for Him.

What would happen if you woke today and really looked for the Lord in every thing and every situation? What if right now you made a decision to look for Him today?  Surely the Lord would reveal Himself.

I've heard great Christians say things like, "Miracles don't happen much anymore, those were mostly Bible day signs." Think about it...when is the last time you've seen someone raised from the dead? Did you know that it is still happening everyday? Seriously! You're just not looking for it. Every time someone places their life in Jesus they are raised from the dead. The Bible tells us that we were dead in our tresspass of sins, but Christ has made us alive.

Wouldn't it be great to say this morning, "Surely God was here in his place, and I knew it! I felt Him and saw Him working!" Wake up and start looking for Him today.

I Thought You Should Know

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.

In our scripture, Paul says that he knows. There is no confusion on this matter for him. He understands very clearly the issue within himself. When he examined his life he could see that in himself, there is no good thing. Can you see what interrupted this thought? He said, "that is, in my flesh". Paul was testifying of the wretchedness of his carnal, fleshly man. This portion of him was despised and he struggled daily with it.

Look at what he says next. Paul's will was present and he desired to honor God by following His commands. He had a zeal or passion toward the will of God but how to perform the will of God was a different story.

The struggle that Paul had is the same that I have and even maybe you have. One of the things that has helped me is knowing that "my flesh" is carnal and weak. There is nothing good about it or me. My righteousness is as filthy as rags used by a mechanic. I want to honor God. I want to please Him and follow His will. So how can I do this if I find no good thing in me? Jesus! We need to know that we can't do it. It can only be done through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit that has saved us. He has redeemed us. He has set us free. He has made us, who were dead in our sins, to become alive through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Anyway, I just thought you should know also.

Say What You Want...

Matthew 21:28-31
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father?

Men and women are judged by what they say. With the election season upon us, we have many candidates that are talking. With every breath they promise something new. According to some of them the whole United States will get whatever they want. Slogan after slogan they promise change and a better system. A better government with better leadership. A chicken in every pot and a dollar in every wallet. Word after word they tell of the great things that they will accomplish once they are elected.

How often have we found them to be faithful to their words? Even on a smaller scale, promises like this are made everyday and broken the next day. Husbands promise their wives that they will always love and honor them. Wives promise their husbands that they will love and respect them. Parents promise children that they will take care of and protect them. Employees promise their bosses that they will get the job done. Pastors promise the easy road of Christ. Altars are filled every service with people promising God that they will repent, they will serve, they will work in the field.

Then on the flip-side you have the ones who say, No, I will not go. They made no such promises. Rejecting the words of the father, they went their way only to find conviction tugging at their hearts. Maybe this young man was passing the field that his father asked him to work in and his heart began to beat faster as he realized that he was wrong. Repenting, this young man went to the field. He initially didn't obey his father, but in the end he did.

So, say what you want about this boys first response... He is the one who went away justified and surrendered to the will of his father, not the one with all the talk. So I leave you this morning with a question like Jesus asked... Which one are you?

So True!

John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

One of the hardest things to see, recognize or even hear now days is truth. Truth is so distorted among everyone and everything. From pictures that are photoshopped to people who are physician shopped. From movies with explosions and dramatic scenes to real-life war videos of people actually giving their lives. It is so difficult to determine what the truth actually is. 

Something that is far more dangerous is spoken or written truth. It seems that we have been duped for so long that we can't trust anyone's word. We have been told that certain things are truth and have found them out to be lies and deception. It's kind of like the magician and their tricks. It looks so real and it can be so fake. 

I'm so glad that Jesus tells me today I can know the truth. I love how He says that this same truth can also set me free. Deception and lies will bring you into bondage, but truth will free you. 

God's word is truth. Truth is God's word! Thank you Lord for the truth of your word that will stand forever. Thank you for setting me free with your Holy Word! Thank you for truth in a world with so much deception. 

I’m Tired

Psalms 37:7
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Have you ever had one of those days where you are just slap worn out? You know what I mean? It's one of those days where you come home from work and all you want to do is sit down and relax. Or maybe it's that day where, over and over, people are coming against you and you just can't take it anymore! I know that I have had my share of those days. I still have many of them often.

Believe it or not, there are times in my life where I want to crawl into a hole and hide just for a while. I'm not talking about giving up, but I'm talking about taking a timeout. Kinda like the football team who is playing on the defensive side of the field. The other team is just ramming their helmets into their sides. Driving the ball down their throats play after play. The linemen have their hands on their sides trying their best to get some air. Then all of the sudden a loud whistle is blown! The home team has just called a timeout. The waterboy is on his way with some refreshing water. Maybe you can take the helmet off just for a moment and get readjusted. Then go back for that next play better prepared.

Well, that is my prayer life. I have to call a timeout often throughout my day. Just to take some rest in the Lord. At times it's to remind me that He is there right by my side. Sometimes it's to ask for help but many times it's to ask for forgiveness. I have to find my rest in the Lord and I do so in prayer. So when you find yourself about to give in, or wanting to hide in a hole, rest in the Lord. Talk to Him about it all. We all know that's what He did when He was weary and tired. He talked to the Father.

Precious Lord, take my hand. Lead me on, help me stand
I am tired, I am weary, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light
Take my hand, Precious Lord and lead me on

Learning From Above, Teaching Below

Titus 2:1-4

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

The calling of a parent is one that comes with difficulties. There will be times of heartache as well as times of great joy. One of the things we as parents desire more than others is that our children behave and do the right things. As Christian parents we desire righteous and holiness in their lives and actions. 

So how do we teach them these things?  We first must learn from above. If we are not willing to learn from God above we will never learn the true way to act.  In Vietnam, a man said this statement. "You learn your job from the men above you, and teach your job to the men below you". - Hal Moore. 

So if we are to be great teachers, we must be great students. Lord help us to follow, who art above us, and teach others about you, who are below with us.