Don't Tell Me What You Are

Psalms 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

This morning as you head out for the day take the time to look around. Look at the trees, sky, birds, cows, chickens and all of God's creation. Take the time to look up into that beautiful blue sky or those rolling clouds filled with rain. Isn't God awesome? I think about being on the lake and seeing the beautiful and glistening water or the mountains seeing the rolling green grass and hills. God's creation is so amazing.  It all brings praise unto Him.

Everything that God touches He made into something beautiful and great. When I see those green trees I can't help but thank God for the shade. When I see the rivers, streams and lakes I can't help but thank God for water that satisfies my thirst (and fish, don't forget fish). When I see the mountains I can't help but thank God for their beauty.

Well what about you? You are a creation of God. Some of you are now a brand new, "born-again" child of God. Do you declare the workmanship of Christ? When people see you what do they thank God for? Some people would probably thank God when we are quiet or away, hahaha.

A tree has never had to speak to me and convince me of what it is. I can tell. I can tell the differences between trees also just by looking at them. Oaks are different. They have different bark and even different grain patterns in the wood. Pines are different from oaks. Each one has some similarities but all are different.

So, so many are trying tell people what they are. "I'm a Christian" they say but then act totally different. Let me ask you this... What if you couldn't talk, would people be able to tell that you are the handywork of God? Would they see the great salvation of our Lord in your life? Don't tell me what you are, show me. Better yet, don't show me, show others.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

Genesis 6:22
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Imagine being on the earth during the days of Noah. Come on now, it's not that hard. It is very similar to our days that we live in. More than the waters that were about to come, sin had flooded the earth like never before. Men and women were evil. So much that their thoughts were continually upon evil.

While God still searched the earth with his eyes of grace, they landed upon Noah. Then it happened, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God told Noah that He was going to put an end to this evil world with a flood. He told Noah to build an ark. God left no detail up for question. He gave specific instructions and dimensions. He even told what type of wood to use and how to finish it with pitch.

What if Noah would have said, "God, this is crazy and way to hard"? If Noah would have rejected the word of God not only would he have died but he would have taken his whole family with him. No, Noah determined in his heart that God was right. He surrendered to God's plan and built the ark exactly how he was told. "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he."

God is speaking to you right now. He gives you specific instructions for your life. It's called His Will. It's His plan for you. Are you listening to God? Many of us would answer yes to that question. We all say we are listening to God. What if Noah only listened? "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I hear you.... Make it so big...make it so long...I'll get to it."

By FAITH Noah built the ark. He did everything God commanded him to do. I love how it emphasized it twice. "Thus did Noah;...so did he." Are you doing everything God has told you? Are you surrendered to His plan for your life? Or do you find yourself saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll get to it"?

Our Faithful God

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

A couple of years back I attended and led a marriage conference. What an amazing time we had!  God moved so greatly and effectively. Walls of division were torn down and a unity seemed to flood every one of our sessions. To get these sessions in a lot of work had to be done. My wife and I studied for hours about what to say. Our couples prayed hard about what God would do with their marriage. Our hosts, Jae and Amy Thomas' family with the Big Oak Ranch, prepared a menu, cooked and served every meal. Much labor had to be done in order for these walls to be torn down. A lot of faithfulness to the work of saving marriages was done for these meetings. 

Although it was a sixty hour weekend conference, counting sessions, sleeping, dinner and activities, much more time and faithfulness was put into it. Taking off work, people keeping children, packing and preparing... So much faithfulness was put into these marriages.

But more than our faithfulness, look at God's faithfulness. I want you to know The Lord God, He is God. The Faithful God!  He will never fail. He will never leave. He supplies all things. When I forget things, He remembers them. He is so faithful to remind me. He keeps His covenant with us through His mercy and love all the way through thousands of generations. Forever!  

At this conference, a reminder that marriage is a covenant and not a contract was mentioned. A contract is a legalistic agreement that has terms and conditions in which it can be broken. But a covenant is a promise of God's love to us. A covenant is a promise that is kept!  We keep His commands not because we have to, but because we are in love with Him and want to. We obey Him and submit to Him because of His love for us. 

But you know something? Even when I fail at following and submitting, HE IS FAITHFUL!  God is so faithful to me and no one can take the place of Him!  Thank you Lord, the Faithful God, for loving me faithful for a thousand generations to eternity. 

Judging God

Hebrews 11:11

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

At ninety years of age, Sara was told she would have a baby boy. Can you imagine the thoughts rushing through her mind?  Most of the time the thoughts of an expecting mother are... What will my baby look like? Will he/she come early or late? I don't care, just as long as they are healthy. Speaking of they, I wonder if it will be twins. The thoughts just keep coming. 

Although I'm sure at sometime or another Sara thought about these same questions, she probably gave more attention upon one of them. How in this world can I conceive a child when I'm so old. Most of us would say there is no way this could happen. Even Sara laughed about what God said while she was inside of her tent. 

But then Sara judged God. She came to a conclusion about her God. She said, "He is faithful!"  If God has promised her a son, then He will preform the miracle to get him here. 

How do you judge God this morning?  What do you say about Him? With the world always telling everyone not to judge, I say how do you judge God?  He can do great miracles. Sara knows!  She judged him faithful who had promised. Thank you Lord for your promises. 

The Devil Made Me Do It

James 1:13-15

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

The devil made me do it!  How many times have you heard someone use this excuse?  How many times have you used it yourself?  Eve used it in the Garden of Eden. Adam blamed the woman, the woman blamed the devil and satan could blame no one. 

Remember David of the Bible?  The young boy who killed the giant? The great king who was blessed by God? You know at times in his life he sinned against God and greatly against his family and people.  David stayed behind once from war and found himself walking on the roof with wondering eyes. Then his heart was filled with lust and according to Jesus, he committed adultery right then because a plan of sin had begun.  See his lust brought sin, and his sin brought death. His sin caused much grief in his family and kingdom. But what separated David from Adam or Eve, or even you and I, is that when he was confronted by the prophet he said, "I have sinned". He knew, although the devil brought temptation, that the devil didn't make him do it. 

What about us? You?  How long have you blamed the devil or even others for your sin?  Why not confess it today unto the one who is ready to forgive?  Stop blaming them on everyone else and start naming them unto Jesus in prayer. He's ready to forgive.

No more excuses!

Quick, Help Me!

Psalms 38:22
Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

I was never the one to look for trouble.  I didn't have to, it always found me.  A few years ago I was thinking about that and wrote a song with these lyrics...

Sometimes it's sickness, sometimes a sorrow,
And sometimes its trouble inside.
Sometimes a burden, sometimes a struggle,
With all of the sin in our lives.
It could be headaches and it could be heartaches,
Or it could be this body we're in
It could be a trial that you've gone through lately
That you thought would never end.

Remember now, I didn't have to find trouble it always found me.  But there were things my dad told me that could help trouble stay away.  He used to say to me, "If you're out past midnight son, you're looking for trouble".  I really didn't pay much attention to that until I got older and looked back.  He was spot on!

There are some times that we can do nothing to prevent these troubles from coming.  Man that is born of woman is a few days and full of trouble. This means that troubles will come. It's not "if" troubles come, but it's "when" troubles come. It's what happens in those times of trouble that make a difference.

David was a man that knew troubles.  Some he couldn't prevent, but some that he caused.  Look at what David knew to do when troubles came upon him.  He would cry out unto the Lord.  He would say, "Help Me! Make Haste to Help Me, O Lord MY Salvation".  He was pleading for the help of the only one who could help.  Notice he was asking God to haste and help.  Run unto me Lord for I need help now.

Maybe before this day has begun you are already in that position.  You need the help of the Lord and you need it now.  Pray unto Him! Ask Him to come speedily and help you.  Thank you Lord for your readily available help to me.  You act quick!  You were so quick to save me and to help me.  I love you Lord! Thank you!

How Long Has It Been?

Psalms 54:2

Hear my prayer, O God;

give ear to the words of my mouth.

When is the last time you devoted just five minutes to God in prayer?  Nothing else going on or distracting you. Just you and the Lord, alone in prayer together.  Before you answer remember that you are all alone in reading this today. No one is asking you to raise your hand in a crowd of people. There is no one to call you out, so please answer honestly. Has it been a while?  Has it been very slim on the time you've given to prayer?  Is it just a "ask everything and tell Him you love Him" prayer?

An old song comes to my mind this morning...

How long has it been since you talked with the Lord

And told him your heart's hid in secrets?

How long since you prayed?

How long since you stayed on your knees till the light shone through?

How long has it been since your mind felt at ease?

How long since your heart knew no burden?

Can you call him your friend?

How long has it been since you knew that he cared for you?

How long has it been since you knelt by your bed

And prayed to the Lord up in heaven?

How long since you knew that he'd answer you

And would keep you the long night through?

How long has it been since you woke with the dawn

And felt this day is worth living?

Can you call him your friend? 

How long has it been since you knew that he cared for you?

No matter if it's been a while, or just yesterday, you can find that time again this morning. Before you get busy with the hustle of the day, talk to Jesus. Oh, and please don't forget to take the time to listen to what He speaks to you. So often that's where we fail in prayer.