Mark 4:9
And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Many times this scripture can be found from the mouth of Jesus. Over and over He is trying to speak to us and wants our undivided attention. I don't know about you but many of those times He is speaking to me I find myself not paying close attention. So this morning let's pray together. As I confess my inattention to the Lord maybe you would join in and agree. You can pray with me or just agree that I am the one who needs to listen better.
Lord, I see in your Word that you love to speak to us. I know that many occasions you have spoken to me, if it was through your Word or through your Spirit, you have tried to get my undivided attention. I could try and blame it on my stress or my attention span but that would come up short. I can find no excuse other than my laziness of hearing. Even when I try and tell you how busy that I am you already know and show me immediately when I had that time to listen during the day. It is me Lord and I am sorry.
In my study time I always listen for you. In my preaching time I definitely listen for you also. In my prayers, my goal is to hear from you. Lord my laziness and sinfulness is not listening throughout the day. I allow myself to be so filled with family, ministry and work that I miss you at times when you are desiring to talk to me.
I suppose what I am trying to say is that I am sorry for only wanting to listen when I study, preach or need something. My sin is only talking or listening to you when I initiate the conversation. God, my ears are open unto you today and from now on. Let me hear what you have to say. In Jesus' Name... Amen
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Monday, December 11, 2017
God Has Been So Good To Me
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
I love an old song that says...
I've always had a place to sleep, clothes to wear and food to eat,
God has been so good to me.
I thank you Lord for what I have, you've met every need I had,
God has been so good to me.
God has been so good to me, I thank Him for a fine family.
The little church that I attend and for all my Christian friends.
God has been so good to me.
Take the time this morning to count your blessings. Seriously, stop and think of how our God has blessed you. Make sure you don't leave anything out. One by one, maybe even write them down and then don't forget the most important thing, thank Him for it all!
It is He, Jesus Christ, who has blessed you. It is the Lord who has given you these blessings. It is also the Lord who has been with you through every valley and on every mountain. My shoes or my clothes may not have always been name brand, but they were a blessing to have. God truly has been so good to me!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
I love an old song that says...
I've always had a place to sleep, clothes to wear and food to eat,
God has been so good to me.
I thank you Lord for what I have, you've met every need I had,
God has been so good to me.
God has been so good to me, I thank Him for a fine family.
The little church that I attend and for all my Christian friends.
God has been so good to me.
Take the time this morning to count your blessings. Seriously, stop and think of how our God has blessed you. Make sure you don't leave anything out. One by one, maybe even write them down and then don't forget the most important thing, thank Him for it all!
It is He, Jesus Christ, who has blessed you. It is the Lord who has given you these blessings. It is also the Lord who has been with you through every valley and on every mountain. My shoes or my clothes may not have always been name brand, but they were a blessing to have. God truly has been so good to me!
Friday, December 8, 2017
Talk is Cheap
Proverbs 14:23
In all labour there is profit:
but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
There are many jokes thrown around on payday. I remember working at a place that would call out the names and distribute the paychecks. It never failed, there was always something said. Things like... "He will have to back up and get his check!" Or "That's the most work we've seen him do in two weeks picking up that paycheck."
Isn't there something to be said about earning that check? I don't know about you, but for myself, I love knowing that I made something with my hands. I love seeing a project come to and end and know that I labored hard for those results. To be honest, I loved drawing my check knowing I worked hard to receive it.
Our scripture teaches us that there is profit in labor. There is a benefit and reward for work and labor. Then it says what we all know has always been the truth. "Talk is cheap". Let me say something today that many want to say. Some brag on who they are and what they've done but talk is always cheap. Our lip service is poor and empty. Penury means extreme poverty or destitute. Empty, talk is just empty. It's in our labor of love for the Lord that people see Christ. Our love and actions are much stronger than our poor words from the lips.
Stop telling everyone who you are and show them who you are. Let them see the labor of love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
In all labour there is profit:
but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
There are many jokes thrown around on payday. I remember working at a place that would call out the names and distribute the paychecks. It never failed, there was always something said. Things like... "He will have to back up and get his check!" Or "That's the most work we've seen him do in two weeks picking up that paycheck."
Isn't there something to be said about earning that check? I don't know about you, but for myself, I love knowing that I made something with my hands. I love seeing a project come to and end and know that I labored hard for those results. To be honest, I loved drawing my check knowing I worked hard to receive it.
Our scripture teaches us that there is profit in labor. There is a benefit and reward for work and labor. Then it says what we all know has always been the truth. "Talk is cheap". Let me say something today that many want to say. Some brag on who they are and what they've done but talk is always cheap. Our lip service is poor and empty. Penury means extreme poverty or destitute. Empty, talk is just empty. It's in our labor of love for the Lord that people see Christ. Our love and actions are much stronger than our poor words from the lips.
Stop telling everyone who you are and show them who you are. Let them see the labor of love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
I’ve Never Felt So Alive
Ephesians 2:1
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Amen! God has quickened us. This means He has made us alive. Some of you may say, "How could God make me alive when I was never dead?" The scriptures explain to us that we were dead in our sins. In other words we were alive in body, but headed to death in our sins. The Bible teaches us that the payment or wages of our sins is death. It also teaches that we, our sins, are dead works. Works that will profit or lead to nothing.
What fruit do we have in sin? What is the result of drunkeness? Death is one result. What is the result of meth, heroine? Death is the end result. Maybe not immediately, but eventually. What is the result of promiscuity and sexual fornication? A life filled with death and possible disease.
The good news is that God has offered us salvation from such sins and such sinful living. He has saved us to a life of life! We were dead and our way was filled with death. We thought we were going the right way until He came and saved us.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Oh, I feel so alive, do you?
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Amen! God has quickened us. This means He has made us alive. Some of you may say, "How could God make me alive when I was never dead?" The scriptures explain to us that we were dead in our sins. In other words we were alive in body, but headed to death in our sins. The Bible teaches us that the payment or wages of our sins is death. It also teaches that we, our sins, are dead works. Works that will profit or lead to nothing.
What fruit do we have in sin? What is the result of drunkeness? Death is one result. What is the result of meth, heroine? Death is the end result. Maybe not immediately, but eventually. What is the result of promiscuity and sexual fornication? A life filled with death and possible disease.
The good news is that God has offered us salvation from such sins and such sinful living. He has saved us to a life of life! We were dead and our way was filled with death. We thought we were going the right way until He came and saved us.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Oh, I feel so alive, do you?
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
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.
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.
Monday, December 4, 2017
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!
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