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.  

Just Like He Said

John 16:4
But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Has someone ever told you something that you really didn't understand or maybe didn't know how to apply it? It could have been directions to a destination that you didn't really understand. Someone may have explained a landmark or a road sign and you gave the face of confusion to them. The whole time that someone is explaining it to you, you really don't understand it.

You set out on your journey and the closer you get to your destination you begin to see all of these signs that were told to you. That old oak tree you were told would be there, you see it in the distance and say to yourself, "There it is." The road sign and its highway numbers that someone told you about, there it is. The turn that was described to you by the color or shutters on the house, there it is. Suddenly it seem as if you have been here before because you have found that everything these people had told you were just as they said.

Jesus told the disciples what would take place when He would suffer on the cross. He told them in detail the things that would unfold after His death and ascension. They didn't understand it all while He was with them. I wonder what they thought when they began to see it all unfold and found it out to be exactly as Jesus said?

Someday, and it could be soon, we will see it just as Jesus said. "Let not your heart be troubled, I go to prepare a place for you... I will come and receive you unto myself... That where I am, there you may be also." Can you imagine what it is going to be like when we find Heaven to be exactly as He said? Maybe you are going through something now that you just don't understand. Hold on and listen.  You will find out that he knows exactly where you are going.

Lips of Wisdom

Proverbs 15:7
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

This morning, as I read our scripture. I am very thankful for those who have spoken wisdom to my life. As I go through a list of them it makes me smile. Some have spoken very deep truths to my life. Their truth has shaped and molded me in my walk with Jesus Christ. One preacher once told me, "Never let your heart become bitter." Now that may seem simple and maybe not even profound as a philosopher would have said it but to me, it was spot-on wisdom. My dad once said, "If they could have gotten Humpty Dumpty to Jesus, he could have been fixed." Again, that is some of the most truthful and defining wisdom I've ever heard. What is funny to me and makes me smile is that some of those very people on this list, myself included, have said some of the most foolish things I've ever heard also. Which shows me that we are all guilty of speaking wisdom and sometimes foolish words.

Our scripture says that the wise person disperses knowledge. Disperse meaning to distribute or scatter the knowledge of God. It makes me think of the sower who sowed the Word of God. He distributed or scattered it everywhere. The seed that he sowed was not his own seed or his own wisdom, but it was given to him from God. The wisdom that we need to disperse is the Word of God. We can disperse this through writings, actions and etc... But the scripture says our lips need to distribute it.

How often do we end up being like the latter part of this verse? We so often speak foolishly. When we find ourselves speaking foolish stop and ask yourself this question... Am I speaking MY words or are they the words of the Lord? You will find that when you tend to speak from your own wisdom it primarily comes out foolish. But when you speak the wisdom of God, wisdom and knowledge is heard.

Lord, please help me today, not tomorrow or even yesterday, to speak wisdom from these lips you've created. Please put your hand of guidance upon my heart and lips. And as for my foolishness, please continue to allow me to decrease and you increase in my life. Thank you and I love you with all my heart. In Jesus' name... Amen.

The Perfect Plan

1 Peter 5:10

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Although we don't enjoy it, suffering is a part of the Christian life. Trials and storms come our way without any notice sometimes. In just moments things could change.  On January 30, 2014 we woke up to ice still on the roads from the snow. The temperature in our southern town was zero degrees on this morning.  The next two days are forecasted to be in the upper 50's and lower 60's. (Hahaha only in Alabama). This is a constant reminder of how things can change in a moment in either direction. We always say, "If you don't like the weather in Alabama, just stick around it will change quick". 

God tells us that "after we have suffered a while"... We could be high on the mountaintop one moment and then in the lowest valley the next. He knows that we will suffer. He knows that it must take place at times. He knows that it is good for us. God loves to work in us, and through us, during these moments.

Look at what God loves to do in our suffering...

  - Make us perfect (more like Him)

  - Stablish us! (set our feet firmly in Jesus)

  - Strengthen us! (hold us up during these trials)

  - Settle us! (calm our hearts)

What a Perfect Savior!  What a Perfect Provider!  What a Perfect Plan!

Obstacles and Opportunities

Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

An obstacle is defined as a thing that blocks one's way, prevents or hinders progress. I know what you are thinking, this could be anything and everything right? Sure it can. Obstacles are things or people who try to get us off the mark and to hinder the work of God in our lives.

An opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. Could these circumstances be viewed as obstacles? I believe that they can at times. So how do we understand if they are just obstacles that have been placed on the course to trip us up and hinder us or opportunities to grow and honor God?

Is it in how we view them? Obstacles can look very, very big sometimes. So big that we could even stop running or look for a way around them. But what if we looked past the obstacle? What if we set our eyes upon the goal? Then maybe these obstacles could turn into an opportunity. But what if you flipped that around? Can opportunities turn into obstacles? Oh, yes. This is a very difficult subject to discuss because so many think that this is a glass half full or half empty talk. The truth is that in our lives there will be both!

We will have obstacles on the course. We will have opportunities also. Both of these can make, will make, you stronger in the Lord. How? Obstacles will make you depend and draw all of your strength from God. Opportunities will do the same. You see, without Christ you will trip at every obstacle and opportunity. With Christ... nothing, and I mean nothing, will keep you from the finish line.

Thank you Lord for my obstacles and my opportunities. Help me to see you in them both.