Same heart

It seems odd to me, that we, with all the best intentions will defend people despite their actions one moment, and the next judge somebody else for theirs. We tear people down for saying the painful truth, but we welcome sweet lies. But, my pint tonight is really this, can we ask followers of Christ in good conscience judge people on a grounds that is not level? Do we count some actions as worse than others just because they are a different type? I for one can not. We can not condemn one person, and then dismiss another. For the word says, that hatred is the same as murder, that to look lustfully is the same as adultery. Yet so often, even in those that I look highly upon, I watch those standards fail on one, yet succeed on another! I am speaking to myself as well as most everybody out there tonight, we MUST stop this double standard, we MUST move forward in the kingdom in a way that is honorable to the Lord in EVERYTHING that we do, not just where we choose, and not just for people we have a history with. Especially for those that we don't! Especially for those with the orphaned soul, especially for those who have been hurt! 

Father, tonight I pray that you give us each the wisdom that we need, and the compassion to treat those who you have called with the kind of love that you first showed us! Lord, give us the eyes of Christ, to look past our own assumptions, to look past people's failings, and to see the abundant life, and the incredible purpose that you have for people's lives! And I ask that you destroy what our hearts once stood for, and you create it anew, to be a heart that is completely after you, and a heart that love like you first Loved us! In Jesus Christ Heavenly name I pray, Amen!

Perfect timing

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLT)

You know, so often we get caught up in our own timing don't we? We are frustrated when something happens too soon or too late for us to have control over the situation, and we forget who's timing really matters! But it says right here in scripture that there is in fact a time for everything! I urge you this morning, press into the timing of God! He formed your heart, surely He knows how to care for it, how to nurture it, and how to make it stronger! We get so buried in our own timing that we stop believing that God even has a timing, and we get discouraged, but take heart! The time for joy is coming! The time to dance has returned! And if you follow Gods perfect timing, just imagine what He has in store for you when the time comes!

At a loss for words

Sometimes it seems that we are simply at a loss for words to say, words of wisdom, of encouragement, of passion, there are times where they simply don't come to mind. I face this often, I look for words of encouragement to speak into your lives, and I am at a loss. That's alright. Sometimes, we need to take a break, press into the word, and study before we actually speak. What kind of devotion would we need if everything we said took absolutely no work on our part? I come to you saying this, never be satisfied with where you are, and never be afraid that you have reached the limit of  your potential! Press deeply into the word, into prayer, and into worship, the words will come, just be patient!

The joys of facing persecution

There is something wrong, when I see a believer, walking around living a perfect life with no struggles! This sounds harsh, I know, but it's true isn't it? We are blatantly told in scripture that those who follow the living God WILL face trials and persecution! So what am I saying? I'm saying, it is time to stop living in your little cave of "me and God" and start going out into this world and making a change in peoples lives! It is when we really start making a difference that the devil begins to attack us, because he is scared and knows we are a threat! 

Today, my fellow warriors, I am making a call to war! Come out of your shell that you have been hiding in, make the devil hate you! For it is by loving Gods people that this happens! I am calling you to make a difference in this world, to speak into peoples lives, even when it seems futile! Even if it means losing something dear to you! When The apostle Paul made a choice to fully and radically follow Christ, he had to face trials, he spoke to his students and he said, "I have been warm and I have been cold, I have been starving, and I have been fed, I have had everything I could ever want, and I have had nothing, and I have learned to be content in these things, for I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!"

Let's have that radical faith that puts us in want! That radical faith that causes us to have enemies and to face trials! And that radical faith that says, "I don't care about these things, for God is my strength!" Amen!

Fix my eyes

So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6 NLT)

You know, we have this idea that all the trials, all the pain, all the stress that we face in our lives have an actual lasting effect on us...but it doesn't. The only truly lasting thing in my life is Jesus Christ, for what can mere people do to keep me from Him? 

I urge everyone this morning please, fix your eyes on Him, and the more you look upon His glorious majesty, the less this world can hold you down! God bless you guys!

Godly peers

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT)

Good fellowship, with God loving peers is so important! Who better to encourage you to walk forward in The Lord than the one who is walking on the same path? It is our God given responsibility to speak encouragement into each-others hearts, and to motivate each-other to Love like the Father Himself first Loved you! I pray that these words touch your hearts tonight the way they have touched mine, and that I can encourage each of you reading this, and that you will do the same for others on this road! Praise God, for He has put a call on your lives. God bless each of you. Amen.

Knowing what to say

In 1 Peter 3:15 it says to be ready to answer questions about your faith, to answer why you have hope! And I put forth this, do not be content with simply saying my hope is in Jesus Christ who died for me, but instead to say, I have hope in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! I have hope in the God who calls upon the broken and the weak and turns them into greatness, in the God who has so much love for His children, that even when they deliberately turn away, He calls then back with open arms and says, "My child was dead, but now he has returned and is alive again!" I have faith in the God who took 300 men with torches and pots to defeat an army of 150,000 trained warriors! And I have faith in the God, who sent His one and only begotten son Jesus Christ, to be beaten, whipped, and crucified, for me; if it were just me, He still would have made that sacrifice! Amen.