In the Valley of Oppression

"You should be a light for other people.  Live so that they will see the good things that you do and will praise your Father in heaven".  (Matthew 5:16)

Tread lightly when walking through the valley of the oppressed.  For the one who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.  Do you feel anything in your heart for the ones who need your help: who need your love?  It is the desire of God, that you bring good news to the poor, to bind up the broken hearted, and to comfort all who mourn.  By doing so, God says you bestow on them a crown of beauty; a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  And you will be called oaks of righteousness.

You should live in harmony with the poor and be sympathetic.  Love as brothers being compassionate and humble.  It is God's desire that we seek justice for the oppressed, showing them the mercy of our hearts.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior may be ashamed of their slander.

Are you keeping a blind eye to all the oppression going on around you, disregarding their pain and suffering?  Are you hiding in your safe places thinking that is not my concern?  If so, your reward from God will be of this world, not from the heart of the Father.

In every heart there is a candle; some shining bright and some dark as coal.  How does your candle measure up?  Do you feel convicted to change and be what God desires you to become?  Pray to your God to send His Spirit to ignite the fire in your heart.  Become a light in the darkness of the oppressed and the poor.  Seek out the ones wandering in hopelessness and confusion.  Take out your candle and "light up your world".

It is my prayer that as Christians, we ask to be lead by the Spirit of God to walk:

"In the Valley of Oppression"

That they may see the light of Jesus in the darkness of their world...

Max Lucado   Proverbs 14   Isaiah 61  1Peter 3   Cory Nelson   Phil Fletcher

Kathy Troccoli Michael Orndorf

Don't just stand there--Do something!

My Jesus, My Savior

The One, who with a towel and basin washed my feet, is King of the universe.  Fingers which created the mountains, now cleans my feet.  The One, whom all nations will kneel, now kneels before me--Only hours before His own death.

Separated from a holy God, bearing guilt and shame--until the veil was torn; I was captivated; no longer bound with shame which was left at an empty grave.

Though I sometimes stumble and fall short of your ways--I find You, by grace embracing me, just as I am.

When I get down and feel like I'm just going through the motions--there You are breaking through the dark making my life so beautiful again.  You never give up on me.

There are days when I feel the best of me is not enough--That is when He comes, takes me by my hand, and tells me,  "By grace, I can make you what you ought to be".

I ask myself, "Am I giving enough; am I doing enough?"  He says, "I gave My life my all for you; everything I do is for you".

He knew by grace I would need a Savior.  So He left the splendor of the heavenlies and became flesh.  Who would have thought that a man could rescue my soul from hell?  Because of my sins, He wept in the garden, and by grace, gave Himself up to crucifixion on an old rugged cross.

To the cross will I forever cling because there He was bruised and crushed for me.  O, how great is Your wondrous love.

I will glorify the King of Kings; I will glorify the lamb, the Lord of Lords, who is the great I am.  By his saving grace, I will bow before His throne.

My Jesus, my Savior there is no one like you.  For all the days that I have left I want to praise You for your wondrous love.  May by Your grace I never cease to worship Your holy name.

Thank you Jesus for pouring out God's grace like rain upon my heat.

Ray Boltz   Twila Paris   Darlene Zscheceh   MercyMe   Jeremy Riddle  Aaron Shust

DC Talk   tobyMac   David Crowder   Big Daddy Weave   Selah   Rich Mullins

Max Lucado   Francesca Battistelli   Among the Thirsty   Todd Agnew

Before God's Throne

When you recite the "Lord's Prayer," and you say, "Thy Kingdom come," you have just asked the Messiah to come into your world; A world meaning your heart, marriage, your fears, and doubts.  This is a bold request for God to occupy every corner of your life.  Who are you to ask such a thing?  You are a child of the King, so go boldly.

Lift up your eyes to the maker of mountains you can't climb.  And there in the midst of it all, He will hear your voice speak, while you rest in His holiness.  Then you will see those mountains are not that high.

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on you.  Your prayers please Him, and He loves you when you pursue righteousness.  When you approach His throne, you become a crown of splendor in his hand, and your God rejoices over you.  Pretty awesome you might say.  He makes something beautiful, beautiful out of your presence.

Just think, you are in the presence of Jesus, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.

Clothe yourself with humility which comes before honor because;

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".

Cast your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  Stand firm in the faith, and the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will make you strong and bold.

Welcome to the glory of your king, The God of creation is ready to meet with you.  As you reach out to Jesus with trembling hands, rejoice and praise His holy name.  It is because of His great name, you can boldly take your place:

"Before God's Throne"

I thank You Jesus for the priceless gift you gave me.  In this life, to the cross I will cling, and in Your arms seek rest.  For You are my Savior and because of Your outrageous love for me, saved me from an eternity in hell.  Worthy is the Lamb.

"Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace".  

                                                                   (Hebrews 4:16)

Mercy Me   Max Lucado   Isaiah 62, 63   Proverbs 15   Hillsong   Big Daddy Weave

Natalie Grant   Jeremy Riddle   1 Peter 4, 5   Francesca Battistelli   Bebo Norman

You Never Know

"No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him". (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Imagine the day of Christ comes and you are there with the redeemed, although you may feel it's just you and Jesus.  He comes up to you and with a loving smile says, "I am so proud that you let me use you.  Because of you others are here today.  Let me introduce them to you".

The first was a neighbor who you didn't think even liked you.  "I was watching you", he says, "and because of you I am here".  It's not long before you are surrounded by a circle of souls: some you know, most you don't.  You will probably feel like Paul felt, "I am so proud of your faith".  (1Thessalonians 2:19).

Last night a friend came over for a Bible study with my wife and me.  One thing he said stuck with me.  "I live my life so that people who used to know me can now see that I am different and want what I have".  This tough looking Vietnam Vet bearing scars of this world loves others, and by his life testifies of the love he has for his Savior Jesus.  You never know.

When I was young in my life as a Christian, I was asked to teach a group of boys from across the tracks ages 10-11 that our outreach bus brought in.  They were poor and rough brought up basically like me.  I would find knives in their pocket and they would threaten me at first.  But in time I won them over and we had a good study time, I soon became a role model.

I was being taught Evangelism Explosion, a witnessing program that was to enable me to present the gospel to people.  So, I felt a good place to start was with the parents of my boys.  I asked Joey if it would be okay with his dad, Joe, a rough truck driver and single parent, if I came and talked with him.  Eventually we set up a time for me to meet his dad.  After introductions, I began to present the gospel to him.  He was very nice, but his eyes were glued to the television.  I decided he was going to hear the gospel one way or another, so I would move my chair between him and the television.

I got through and asked him to pray the sinner's prayer with me.  He wouldn't say a word but I prayed anyway.  The next Sunday Joey ran up to me so excited.  I thought this is great, I got through to his dad after all.  Joey looked at me with tears in his eyes and told me that he had listened to everything I had said to his dad, and believed and prayed the sinner's prayer.  With me.  He had talked to the pastor and was going to be baptized that morning. He wasn't the only one with tears in their eyes.  He smiled and said, "Teacher, I am a Christian saved by Jesus".

I don't know whatever happened to Joey, I just hope Jesus let's me see him in heaven and says to  me," I'm so glad you let me use you".  Joey and I will meet with smiles not tears.  And Joey will say, "Because of you I'm here," as we rejoice with our Savior:

"You Never Know"

Bill Clay   Phil Davis   Max Lucado

Counterfeit Heart

Since the hedonist has never seen the hand that made the universe, he assumes there is no life beyond the here and now.  He has no concern for the eternal for he is more concerned about satisfying his passions than knowing God.  In Romans 1:21-22 Paul says, "Their thinking became useless and their foolish minds were filled with darkness.  They said they were wise, but they became fools".  Something was wrong with their hearts.

The incomplete joys of this world will never satisfy the heart.  When you loose your ultimate source of meaning and hope, it breaks your spirit.  You end up living in "spiritual adultery", which is loving and desiring something more than God".

The problem with living that way is when you die, your hope perishes; all you expected from your life comes to nothing.  However taking the right path leads to immortality.  But, since your sin has separated you from God, He has hidden his face from you and will not hear.  Justice is far from you and righteousness does not reach you, you look for light but all is darkness and you walk in deep shadows.

One day the music will end and you will realize that the music of the world is not enough.  You go looking for much more to fulfill your life.  Know that God is searching your heart and knows if it is counterfeit.

God, in His great mercy can give you a new hope; a living hope. What He has for you will never perish.  It's a new life in Jesus Christ.  Though you have not seen Him, you will learn to love Him for what He did by shedding His blood on the cross out of His outrageous love for you.  What a priceless gift, you are save by God's grace through faith and trust in Jesus, who gave up everything for you.  Even angels long to look into these things.

You need to prepare your heart for action and set your hope fully on the grace to be given to you.  Do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  Run to Jesus asking Him to forgive you and to give this new life to you because you love him and believe He died for you.  By Jesus' blood you are reconciled if you mean this with all your heart.

"All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field, the grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever".  (1Peter 1:24-25).  Do you really believe in Jesus and love Him?  Or do you seek Him with a

"Counterfeit Heart"

Max Lucado   Proverbs 11   Isaiah 59   Matt Redman   Jeremy Riddle   1Peter 1

Tocqueville 1870   Timothy Keller   Chris Rice

God's Expectations

God's word tells us plainly what He requires of you; seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)  When you break that down it means to have a true walk with God, you must seek to help the poor and oppressed out of the mercy of your heart.

Proverbs 22:2 says that God made the rich and poor; they are alike in His eyes.  Is there a Biblical precedent that would say we are to help the poor who don't want to become Christians?  Yes, in one word, "God".  God's goodness is spurred by His nature, not by our worthiness.  God doesn't give you only what you remember to thank Him for.

God's thoughts are not like ours, neither are His ways our ways.  By doing good to all people, you will go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you.  O, Your love is a symphony my Lord.

If you are trying to please men, then you are not a servant of Christ, for God does not judge by external appearance.  You should serve your brothers in love for the Bible says, "Love your neighbors as yourselves".  You can make your life beautiful by serving God as you serve the poor and oppressed.  Doing anything else is just going through the motions of self righteousness.

Jesus does not show favoritism; He wants you to seek justice for all men.  If a man comes into your meeting wearing gold and fine clothes and another comes in wearing shabby clothes, do you discriminate against the latter?  Do you give the rich man the best seat and sit by him, while telling the other to just stand there?  If so you indeed have discriminated among yourself and become a judge with evil thoughts.  God has chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised them.

Let's suppose a brother is without clothes and food.  If you say I wish you well but do nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  Like when faith by itself is not accompanied by action, is dead.  A man is justified by what he does, not by faith alone.  As the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

So what does my Lord require of me; but to serve my brother justly out of my love of mercy, and by doing so, walk humbly with my God.  God is love, but God is also just.  These are:

"God's Expectations".

James 2   Galatians 5  Jeremy Riddle   Max Lucado   Proverbs 8   Isaiah 56

Francesca Batistelli   Matthew West

Braveheart

"Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ". (1Corinthians 2:16).  How could we ever have the hope of having the heart of Jesus?  If you are in Christ, you already have the heart of Christ.  If you have given your life to Jesus, He has given His life to you.  As Paul says in Galatians 2:20, "Christ lives within me".

All Christians know how courageous Jesus was on His way to death on the cross.  And He says to us, "Pick up your cross daily, and come follow me".  We were made to be like Jesus.  So, where are you men of courage; hiding out by a television, a hobby, a job, or just plain laziness and non-caring.  Does your heart need to reignite its passion and your fighting spirit need an overhaul? Shout out, "Lord give us brave hearts" so we can serve You.  Give us hearts that beat to praise You.  That's what God wants to hear from us.

God holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those who are blameless, and protects the way of His faithful ones.  Let love and faithfulness never leave you and write them on the tablet of your hearts.  And you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

If you will just wake up and clothe yourselves with strength, He will put His words in your mouth and cover you with the shadow of His hand.  And all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.  For by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ He will transform your lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.  Now that's exciting!

Oh Lord we thank you for the cross:  Now we are ready to bear ours daily.

We thank you for the pain you endured:  We will suffer ours for You.

What a priceless gift You gave by your grace.  We, by your grace, will follow You.

You called us out of death, and into life we will live for You.

You broke the chains that held us in our shame.  We are free to do Your will.

Jesus to You my heart I do give, and this I ask of You--Make it by Your grace:

A Braveheart.

Oh, my soul.

Proverbs 3   Jeremy Riddle   Isaiah 52   Hillsong   Big Daddy Weave   Max Lucado

Casting Crowns   Luke 9:23