Fountain of Life

It wasn't the Romans who nailed Jesus to the cross, and it wasn't spikes that held Him there.  He was convinced that it was necessary to become sin, and the wrath of God be poured down, not on creation, but upon the Creator.  God could have stopped this at any time; but He didn't because He rather give up His Son than give up on us.

No matter what you have done, or how far you have fallen, it's not too late.  You can throw off that sin, let it go---and be free.  What makes a Christian?  A Christian is not perfection, but forgiveness.

Even if you're guilty of the seven things God hates, which are; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness that pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissention among brothers, He will forgive you.

God says, "I love those who love me, and those that seek Me find Me, and blessings crown the head of righteous.  The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life".  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  And those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, and will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

God will not let you down.  You can be assured that He who began a new work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion; express the same unity with your brothers.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  He made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death---even to death of the cross.

Therefore, you can be assured that your citizenship is in heaven, and Jesus will meet you there and make your lowly body be like His glorious body.  You do not have to be anxious for anything, for the Lord is near, and His peace will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.  Now you can rejoice in His great name, for you have drawn water from:

"The Fountain of Life"

Max Lucado  Proverbs 6-8-10  Isaiah 12-40  Natalie Grant  Philippians 1-2-3-4

Going Through the Motions

 "My God, I want to do what You want.  Your teachings are in my heart",(Psalm 40:8).

Is this you?  You want to know God's will for your life, but where is the fire in your heart?  Do you realize that most Christians:

Do not have a prayer life at all, much less pray in the Spirit like the Bible teaches.

Do not witness.  They talk about Jesus to friends, but never reach out to the lost.

Do not desire Christian fellowship with others at church.  So, they rarely attend.

Do not study the Bible.  They may read a few verses, but study?  No.

Do not give to the Lord as He has given to them---Not their time nor money.

Do not care or even think about the poor and oppressed.  What are they to me?

Live like they did before they became Christians---no evidence of a new creation.

Never worship their Lord---do not even know how to and really don't care.

This is a short list that makes me wonder if they are Christians at all.  The Bible says that many are called, but few are chosen.  The natural man has no desire for the things of God and shows it in their lifestyle.

God knows if there is a fire in your heart.  Proverbs 20:27 says, "The light of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being".  You may fool real Christians, but you cannot fool the God who created the Universe.  Do you seek the Lord for what He can do for you, or for what you can do for Him?  Check your heartbeat---what causes it to get excited---worldly pleasures or the desires of God?

If you are still wondering about the will of God for your life, let me ask a simple question.  What ignites the fire in your heart?  What is your passion---Missions, singing, teaching, or whatever?  Pray in the Spirit and God will answer you and put a fire in your heart that will not go out.  Just stop---

"Going Through the Motions"

and get back into the heart of God's will and say, "My God I want what You want!".

Max Lucado  Proverbs 20  Psalm 40  Matthew West

A Future Hope

"We know that when Christ comes, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He really is", (1 John 3:2).

when you arrive in heaven, something glorious will happen---a final transformation will take place.  You will be just like our Savior.  That is an awesome event, because you will be one of the greatest blessings there.  You will be God's work of art---even the angels will look upon you in awe.  At last your future hope will be complete---you will have a heart like Jesus.

You will love with a perfect love.

You will worship with a radiant face.

You will hear each word God speaks.

Your heart will be pure, your words like jewels, and your thoughts like treasures.

You will fulfill your life's future goal---you will be like Him.

The Lord has set apart the godly for Himself, and will hear you when you call to Him.  You are already beautiful to Him, and are His beloved, so, you should walk worthy according to your calling, and He will place on you a crown of beauty---and you will be a jewel of splendor in the Lord's hand.

Praise be to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In His great mercy He has given you new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade---kept in heaven for you.  Even angels long to look into these things.

God judges each man's work impartially, so live your lives as strangers here.  You once led an empty life with no future hope, but have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without a blemish or defect.  You have been chosen by God for,

"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of the Lord stands forever."

All of this assuring you "A Future Hope" is waiting.

MercyMe  Max Lucado  Proverbs 22  Psalm 4  Isaiah 61-62  1 Peter 1-2

Reflections in the Water

Proverbs 27:19, "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man".

As you peer into the waters of your life, what reflections do you see?  Do you see a face that radiates the love of God, or one that is lonely and confused?  Maybe you see a raging ocean of doubt in front of you.  When you consider that He created the heavens; the moon and stars that He set in place---how could He be mindful of you?

Are you thinking---I want to get started and not wait one more day---I don't want to look back and say, "What if I had given Him everything?".  But storms of doubt cloud your mind.  Just call on His great name, and like sunlight shining through---He will rend the heavens and come down and lift you up for He has never forsaken those who seek Him.  Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God but ours, who will act on behalf of you if you wait for Him.

You can know for sure that Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand---with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.  If you speak, you should do it as one speaking the very words of Christ---if you serve, do it with the strength God provides.

You must humble yourself under God's mighty hand, so He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.

Be self-controlled and alert---for your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, so resist in faith.  The Lord your God will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Jesus is the one you should turn to---for He gives us the grace our hearts always hunger for.  Jesus our almighty infinite Savior rescued the souls of men.

So let the waters rise, He will be right next to you---He is always within reach and knows your fears.

Now as you look at your reflection in the water, your face will radiate the love of Jesus---and your heart will reflect the desire to be with Him.

Set your heart on heavenly things, and others will see the same---

"Reflections in the Water"

MIKESCHAIR  Proverbs 27-28  Psalm 8-9  Selah  Isaiah 64  1 Peter 3-4-5

Matthew West  Francesca Battistelli  Natalie Grant

The Eyes of God

You know the eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch over the wicked and the good.  The wicked on just assumes he is immune, and in his thoughts there is no room for God.  He believes nothing will shake him, and he will always be happy and never have trouble.  He says to himself, "God has forgotten: he covers his face and never sees."

The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord is on His heavenly throne.  He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine the righteous, but the wicked his soul hates.  He will rain fiery coal and burning sulfur on them and a scorching wind will be their destiny.  God loves justice and upright men shall see his face.  He esteems the ones who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at His word.

God has given us everything we need for life and godliness.  For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

God's eyes see everything.  But, you might ask, "Isn't that just on man's opinion?".  The bible says that the word of God that men wrote is true, and you would do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.  For the Bible never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

So, you can run, but you can't hide from the eyes of God.  Much more than just seeing your life, He sees and knows the secrets of your heart.  This being factual, you need to turn your eyes and focus on Jesus.  See Him crucified on the cross, doing for you what you can't do for yourself.  Why did Jesus have to do this?  Because the eyes of the Father looked at a world full of sin, and knew His Son must pay the price for our sins.  No one else could do that for you.  So, out of obedience to His Father, and outrageous love for you, He drank deep from the cup which contained our sins and washed us clean as snow and redeemed us by His precious blood.  Can your eyes behold Him there on the cross, crying out, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." God is love; but He is also just.  So, the next step is up to you.  He is waiting for you, but don't wait too long for His grace and mercy will end the day of our lord arrives and He comes to take His children home.  Then they will see Him through---

"The Eyes of God"

and you will be left behind saying, "Now I see, now I understand".  But it will be too late, because you kept looking through the eyes of the World.  There is another pair of eyes that will see you and welcome you into his everlasting torment.

Top Gun  Proverbs 15  Psalm 9-10  Isaiah 66  2 Peter 1  Jeremy Riddle

Guard Your Soul

When was the last time you let God really grab hold of you---Just surrendering all your time just for Him and Him alone listening for His voice?  Our Savior needed time to spend with His Father, and made an effort to do so.

"Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed"  (Luke 5:16)

Jesus spent time regularly; praying and listening to God.  Mark says, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.

If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to make time to listen and pray, wouldn't it be wise for you to do likewise--and therefore, guarding your soul?  I believe we need more time in the early morning lonely places, to be with Jesus--praying in the Spirit and listening.

I believe this is wise because, "In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them", (Proverbs 22:5).  Staying far from the desires of this world, means staying close to Jesus.

Just listen to the Psalmist--"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of simmers or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His word he meditates day and night", (Psalm 1:1-2).  Once again this will "guard your soul".  "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous". (Psalm 1:6).

Paul must have "because he knew Jesus, and was convinced that He is able to guard what he had entrusted to Him in that day".  (2Timothy 1:12) paraphrased.  Paul let Jesus---

"Guard His Soul"

because he put his trust in God alone.  It would be wise to rise up before daylight, find your lonely place, and praise His great name.

Max Lucado   Psalm 1     Proverbs 22    Natalie Grant   Aaron Shust    2 Timothy 1    Isaiah 59  

  

The Heart of Worship

"Come, let's worship Him and bow down.  Let's kneel before the Lord who made us",

(Psalms 95:6).

In over two thousand years we still haven't fully understood what it is to worship our Lord.  During prayer we still struggle to find the right words and fumble over scripture.  When do we kneel; when do we stand?  Worship is a daunting task.

God gave us the Psalms, a praise book for His people, to remedy this... This collection of hymns and praises have one thing in common, a heart hungry for God.  The variety of the book should remind us that worship is personal.  Each of us worship differently, but we all should worship.

When we worship Him with our heart and soul, we reach a higher place where the Spirit of Gad takes over.  "Worship he Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.  Let the heavens rejoice, let the sea resound; let the fields be jubilant, and all the trees of the forest will sing for joy"... Oh, Your love is a song; a symphony.

We should praise His great name and glorify the Lamb of God; as we lift up our hands toward His Most Holy Place.

"He is clothed in splendor and majesty and wraps Himself in light.  He makes the clouds His chariot and rides on the wings of the wind".

We should worship our Lord because He assures us that our citizenship is not of this world.  We are eagerly awaiting a Savior from heaven, who will transform our lowly bodies so they will be like His glorious body and take us home with Him.

We all should have...

"The Heart of Worship".

Because "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus".  Amen...

Chris Tomlin  Philippians 4  Switchfoot  Matt Redman Dallas Holm  Twila Paris

Psalms 28  95  96  104  Max Lucado

I Lift Up My Hands

What do you think of people who claim to be Christians, who sometimes lift up their hand or hands when they sing worship songs or pray?  I come from a fundamental Baptist background, so I never witnessed that until I was an adult.  I remember the first time I saw it happen; I was confused.  Am I supposed to be doing that?  It seemed more spiritual so I lifted my right hand during the next song.  My family looked at me like I was crazy, so I put my arm down rather quickly.

It was explained to me that they were just charismatic and they did that to appear to be more holy than us. I kept my hands down until one morning in prayer, I was so lost in love for my Savior that my hands and eyes were lifted up and I was worshiping Jesus.  Since then, when I feel it, I do it.  But some only do that at times when there are others involved.  That's all right, the Lord knows what's in our hearts, and I am not saying it is required by all.  All have the choice of how they worship their King.

King David exclaimed in Psalms 28,"To You I call, O Lord my Rock.  Hear my cry for mercy as I call to You for help, as I lift up my hands toward Your Most Holy Place.  Praise be to the lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song".  Now that is worship!

How about at night and you are alone?  Psalms 134 says,"Praise the Lord all ye servants who minister by night in the house of the Lord.  Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord".

You might add quickly that I have been quoting only Psalms and it is poetry in the Old Testament.  Oh, you think your Theology has got me now.  Well, who would you say is the Theologian in the Bible who wrote more on worship and church order?  You are right, it is the Apostle Paul.  Read Philippians a time or two to remind your self; especially chapter 4,"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice".

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing".  Sound like Paul? Well, it is him all right; explaining to his beloved Timothy about church order in his first letter to him; chapter 2:8.

No one taught me about lifting up my hands in praise and worship; no one that is except God in His magnificent grace, working through my faith and trust in His Son, allowed the Holy Spirit to minister to me through the Word.  Isn't it amazing?  I did not even know what was going on, but God did.  How beautiful, the body of Christ, and because of His outrageous love for me:

"I Lift Up My Hands",

and worship my Savior.

King David  Jeremy Riddle  Twila Paris  Paul of Tarsus  And Me