Actions are Stronger than Words

John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

From hats to pins, we see these words... "I Love Jesus". We sing it in our songs from the time we are able to talk until the time we are taking our last breath. Over and over we tell the world that we love Jesus. "I Love God... I Love Jesus..." While many, many people truly mean this phrase, their actions show a different truth.

Jesus tells us in the scriptures that if we loved him like we say we do that we would keep his commandments. This doesn't mean keeping the ten commandments, but rather keeping the whole Word of God and its commands. A person who says that they love Jesus but lives contrary to the Word of God is speaking their love, but not showing it.

Let me ask you a question... What would you say of someone that says they love you everyday but then once they are away from you talks about you and your wife in a negative and derogatory way? You would believe that they love you right? Maybe if they did it once, but if it was their lifestyle you would say that their love was fake.

Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." If we love Him then our actions will follow our words. Can you truly say that you love Jesus this morning? Yes we fail, yes we stumble but it's not our lifestyle. It's sin and we realize it and repent from it. So that when we say, "I Love Jesus" there is confidence in the statement.

Reflectors

Psalms 51:15
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

Every morning and every afternoon, I have to do an inspection on my school bus that I drive. Checking engine fluids, wipers, belts, hoses, etc... Making sure that the brakes work and all of my loading and unloading lights are working properly. During the time of year that it is still a little dark outside it is amazing at all the lights on that bus. I mean there are lights flashing everywhere along the sides and top of my bus. Don't forget all the reflectors that shine because of the lights flashing on them. How anyone can't see a school bus coming down the road is beyond me.

This morning David mentions this same thought. He says, "O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise." He is asking for God to open his mouth. See, without God, who is the light Himself, shining upon us or opening our mouth, we are no good. A reflector cannot shine on its own. It must have light shining upon it in order for it to give light in return.

God, I ask you today to open my mouth. Shine upon me, O Lord! What praise and honor that is in my heart for you, will you please open my mouth and receive my praise. God, I will reflect today what glory and praise you have put into my heart! I love you! I will shine for you as you shine in me.

Sipping from the Saucer

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Can you remember the old days when you were a child? Some of you just go ahead and take as much time as you need, I know that it's been a while. (haha) Isn't it funny when you stop and think back of what actually comes to your mind? I remember Sunday's being much, much slower and peaceful. I remember church being the priority of that day, even the weekend. Sitting on granny's porch or playing football in the yard while the parents rested for another worship service. 

One thing that I remember was dessert time. All those silver-haired relatives would always have cake. It was like some of the women would just all of the sudden bring it out of their purse or something. Boom! "Cake anyone?" There weren't many times, if any, that they had cake alone. They always had coffee. Back then they would make it so steaming hot that they served it on a saucer. I always wondered why. Then I saw it. They would pour some of that steaming coffee onto the saucer so they could sip on it. Some of you would be tempted to say, "Put a piece of ice in it" or "Wait till it cools down” but they wanted to enjoy it then and there while it was fresh. 

Our scripture makes me think of this today. God has poured out some fresh blessings this morning for you children of God. He has told us that if we give, it will be given in return. You would be tempted to think that He is saying give a hundred dollars and you will receive a thousand back, but you would be wrong. He tells us to give mercy and it will run over into our saucer. Give love and it will run over into our saucer. Forgive and forgiveness will run over into our saucer. If you judge or condemn, it to will run over into your saucer. So be careful of what you are pouring out. 

God, please fill my cup this morning and let it run over into my saucer! Ssssssssssup! Ssssssssup!

Throw It Down and Come

Mark 10:50
And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

Have you ever heard the story of blind Bartimaeus? This man heard that Jesus was passing by his way and began to cry out loud. He said, "Jesus! Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me!"  Those that were around him told him to be quiet and keep his peace. But Bartimaeus didn't listen to them. He cried out more and more, louder and louder! The cries of Bartimaeus cause Jesus to stop and stand still. He then called Bartimaeus to come to Him. Then we see our scripture above... He coasted away his garment, rose and came to Jesus.

Bartimaeus cast aside those old garments and came to Jesus. What if he would have said, "Lord can't you just do this for me! I mean do I have to come to you? I would have to get my blanket off of me. God wants to help you today but you can't stay in your comfort of the world and expect God to move, heal and save.

Two things today... He is calling for you. You are blind to sin as Bartimaeus was blind. The second thing is that you have to put those worldly things aside. Cast away the garments of the old man and come to Jesus.

Therefore

Psalms 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,

and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,

though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

I love reading the word, "Therefore" in God's word! The words that always follow are a huge comfort to me. Read it again and see what I'm talking about. "God is our refuge and strength, He is our very present help in time of trouble." How awesome is that? God is our everything that we need. This scripture teaches us that He is our refuge and strength. He is our protector! He is our provider! He is our help!

Then here it comes...the word that I love! "Therefore." Now follow the rest of the scripture. It says we will not fear even if the earth is removed. Therefore we will not fear even if the mountains are thrown into the sea. Even if the waters roar and rage and the mountains shake. Why? Therefore is why!

Why should we fear these things if we know that God is our refuge, strength and help in time of trouble? I just love the "therefore" in the Bible. They always teach me that since God is my God, therefore I know He has me in His hands. 

All Of It?

Mark 10:28
Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

A difficult thing for followers of Christ is to leave all, and follow Jesus. It's very difficult to give everything to Him. Now some of you may be tempted to say that this is not you. You may say that you have given Him everything from day one, right? Peter says that they had left all and followed Jesus, but later on we see that Peter had hung on to some things.

Peter left the boat, the nets and the fishing. He had left family and his very way of life, but he did keep some things. One was his self-will and self-sufficient power. Peter trusted many times in his own wisdom or strength. He couldn't give everything to Him. One time, when Jesus needed him, he denied that he even knew Jesus.

May I ask you a question? Have you given Him everything? All of it? We won't God to move fully on our situation but only give God half of the truth. Everything will always be everything! Christ doesn't want half or three-fourths of you. He wants all of you. He doesn't want half of your confession. He desires to hear your whole story.


Listen to these lyrics...
Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows
Are you tired of spinning round and round
Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life
At the feet of Jesus lay them down

Give them all
Give them all
Give them all to Jesus
Shattered dreams broken hearts and broke toys
Give them all give them all to Jesus
And he can tuen your sorrow into joy

Right Out of the Clear Blue Sky

Psalms 34:8

O taste and see that the Lord is good:

blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Sometimes things just seem to hit you out of the clear blue sky...

We were driving down the road on Sunday and it hit me. In my truck, Patti was across from me with Andrew and Jacob in the back seat. As we were entering the on ramp of the interstate I turned to the back seat and saw Jacob with his mouth hanging open wide catching flies. I asked Patti, "Is Andrew asleep?" She answered, "Nope, but he looks tired". She also added that she was tired. We had one of those weeks where you work and work. After working hard this week we were also preparing for Sunday services as well as a singing at a different church between our own church services. Needless to say everyone was tired from the laboring. 

But as I looked up again into the rear view mirror, it hit me out of the blue... I am one blessed man!  What has God seen in me that would bring these blessings? Then it hit me again...absolutely nothing!  God loves me and has blessed me. All I had to do was taste and see. Wow!  How many years had gone by without the blessings of God in my life all because I wouldn't taste and see. 

I saw a beautiful woman of God sitting beside me, that sings better than anyone I know. I saw a young man of God sitting behind me that picks up an instrument and just plays them because of the anointing of God on his life. And I saw my baby boy with his mouth wide open, who has such a huge heart for Jesus and is blessed with musical talent also. And it hit me..."Right out of the clear blue sky"... 

I am blessed, I am blessed, everyday that I live, I am blessed

When I wake up in the morning 'til I lay my head to rest

I am blessed, I am blessed?

I pray right now that it hits you out of the clear blue sky!