Are You Prepared?

Have you ever rushed into a public restroom only to find that every stall was missing an essential item? Yep, that's right... toilet paper! I remember being in a small group back some 25 years ago and a silver haired widow shared wisdom as to how to avoid this unfortunate situation. As she opened her purse and began pulling out a small pack of tissue she informed the group, "I always carry around this small package of tissue so I never have to worry if there will be the necessary items in the bathroom stalls."

There is a lot to be said about being prepared. But can we really be prepared for everything? Sometimes life deals us a hand that we just weren't expecting. How do you deal with it when you lose a small child to cancer, or a spouse to a tragic accident? How does one prepare for corporate downsizing, losing your ability to provide for your family, or finding out your son or daughter has an addiction to drugs? There are some things in life that are out of our control and no amount of planning and preparation will keep us from experiencing the pain associated with difficulties.

1Pet 1:6-9 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Peter instructs us that our faith will be tested through various trials we encounter and to rejoice over them. In fact, they should result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And eventually the outcome of our tested faith, being refined like gold in the fire, is the salvation of our souls. Rejoice? How are we supposed to rejoice during our trials? Well, that is another devotional (see trials for more). What I want to talk about here is being prepared...

There are two things in life I know we can be certain of. (No, not death and taxes) We can be certain that life is filled with uncertainties, and we can be certain where we will spend eternity. I know that we can not prepare for every uncertainty that comes our way, but I do know that we can prepare for where we will spend eternity.

Jesus wants to be in a relationship with us for all of eternity. Our relationship doesn't start when we die, it begins right here on earth. Right now. So how do I prepare for eternal living with God?

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Many people understand being right with God and preparing for eternity to be about doing good things. If I do enough good, and God is pleased with my good, then I will go to Heaven and be with Him in all eternity. Unfortunately there is a problem with this type of thinking. Paul tells us in Romans 3 "as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." So we can't prepare for eternity by "doing" good. Keeping His word is important and doing good does display evidence of our faith, but the good we do doesn't save us.

Being prepared for our eternity is about being in relationship with Christ and not about doing good things. Confessing and repenting from our sins, believing in Jesus as the only way to God, and walking daily in the instruction of His word.

Are you prepared for eternity? I have written many articles regarding our eternal salvation with Jesus. I encourage you to read through some of them and ask yourself if you have been called by God to serve Him for all eternity?

What is your plan for eternity... To walk through this life oblivious to the end or to prepare for a magnificent homecoming on the day of your death, running into the arms of a loving savior?

Regardless of your plan, you will spend eternity somewhere...

Till Death Do Us Part... Part Three

As with most married couples, my wife and I have our share of disagreements from time to time. Well, ok... She talks and I disagree. Whatever the case, there are times when the intimacy just isn't there. Not long ago was one of those times. It didn't last very long and as usual the make up process was quite rewarding.

Shortly after we were back in sync she shot me an email that read something like this,

": ) what can we do to get along all the time?"

It really got me thinking. My first thought was that it is impossible to get along all of the time so why try. I quickly dismissed that negativity and prayed over the question and asked the Lord how to faithfully answer her question. My thoughts, prayers, and Bible reading led to this:

Forgive - Love - Trust - Endure Hardship - Submit

I think the first step for a husband and wife to keep their relationship in the best standing is mutual forgiveness of past, current, and future offenses that we commit against God and each other. Forgiveness is critical to our well being and right standing with God and with each other.

Mat 6:14-15 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luk 6:36-38 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

Forgiveness is like surgery that removes the disease that keeps our spiritual organs from working properly. I know when I am willing to forgive my spouse, my heart changes and I am able to relate more fruitfully than when I harbor bitterness and resentment.

Secondly, love one another. Love is essential in times of difficulty. Love covers a multitude of sins (1Pet 4:8)

Joh 15:12-14 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Without the foundation of love, we will not be willing to lay down our lives for each other. Our point, our side, and our pride become more important than the other person's well being.

Third on the list is trust. Trust plays a huge part in any relationship. Not only trusting in the Lord to make our path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6), but in the honesty and integrity of each others motives.

Fourth point would be to expect and endure hardships and difficulties, even if they come from one another. Being from the seed of Adam we are sinful from birth. It isn't something we do, it is who we are by nature. Ephesians tells us that we are born children of wrath, sons of disobedience. Knowing this helps me not get so worked up when I am offended... what should I expect being carnal? Also, when we are at odds I think we forget that the battle is not against each other but against the principalities of darkness (Eph 6). Rather than spending time debating sides, try praying together. We will endure difficulties and prayer will bring back the peace.

James 1:1-4 "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

And last but not least is submission. (Eph 5:21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.) As I submit my desires and will to the Lord (husbands) and display servant leadership then Ephesians 5 & 6 will more easily be established in my family. I submit and love, as Christ does for the church. You submit and respect, as the body does unto Christ.

Forgive - Love - Trust - Endure Hardship - Submit

Lord, I thank you again for the gift of marriage. Please help me to be the spouse you created me to be; forgiving, loving, trusting, enduring, and submitting.

Till Death Do Us Part... Part One

Till Death Do Us Part... Part Two

More Joyous than Wine

Psa 4:7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

It has been said that Christ in your heart is better than corn in the barn or wine in the vat. Oh how we strive to keep our belly's full and our life filled with drink in order to acquire peace and joy. Eat, drink, and be merry they say. As a culture we focus so much of our attention on being comfortable, happy, and filled with many worldly things that we sometimes forget about our time with God and the joy He brings us.

The psalmist declares that there is more joy that comes from having God in our heart than any material thing such as food and drink. Even when we have an abundance, the joy of the Lord is far more fulfilling.

So where is your joy coming from today? Here is a little test... Let's just say for a moment that a man came up to you and told you that one of your distant relatives died today and left you an inheritance of 10 million dollars. The only thing about it is that you are unable to get the check for two weeks. How would this change your life for the next two weeks? Would you act differently, respond to people in a different way, or even be filled with an abundance of joy? Well of course we would. Having an inheritance like that would bring me joy. It would solve many of my struggles, give me the freedom to do things I had never imagined were possible, and I know, that if managed properly, I would no longer have need in my life for material things. During that two week period of time I would probably think and dream about all the things I could do now that I was empowered with this kind of resource.

Ten million dollars is a great amount of money and with it many amazing things could be accomplished. What would life be like for you if you were told not only were you getting this sizable amount of money, but that you were inheriting the entire earth? Would your perspective change? Would you walk differently, talk differently, and do things without reservation? After all, you are gaining the entire world.

Gal 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

That's what happens when we give our life to Christ... we gain the entire inheritance promised to the descendants of Abraham. Abraham was promised by God that he would inherit the world. Is not the same promise assured to his heirs? As follower's of Christ we have an inheritance that is far greater than 10 million dollars and it comes from the Almighty God who has resources that stretch from one side of the universe to the other. So, with that kind of inheritance, how should we walk differently, talk differently, and what shall we do without reservation?

Is your joy in God greater than the joy that comes from earthy things. Knowing that we have all the resources God has promised through His word to get us through each day should bring out the fullness of joy described in psalms 4:7.

Lord, help me find my truest joy in you and not the things you have provided for me.

Faith and Works... Which comes first?

Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Faith and works. What a concept. Many people believe that in order to be right with God they need to be good, do good, and act good. Which in part is true. But our salvation, the foundation on which we build must be based on faith alone. For by grace we have been saved by faith alone.

We are saved through the blood of Jesus Christ through faith. If we tried hard to earn our way to heaven we would either fizzle out and quit, resulting in eternal death, or we would get to the top of our spiritual mountain and boast about how much we have accomplished on our own. And of course, should the latter occur, God would probably just flick us off the mountain with his finger and we would die. Either way, without salvation through faith alone we die.

There is a place for works in our Christian faith. Works are a manifestation of the validity of our faith, not a means to our salvation. James states in the book of James 2:21-24

Jas 2:21-24 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (esv)

If we try to work our way into salvation God will not honor our works. He wants us to turn to him in faith in Jesus as our atonement rather than our own efforts. Our works are the fruit that comes from having a renewed heart within us.

Faith and works... They are both a vital part of our Christian walk. Faith is the foundation and works is the building we build on that foundation.

The Glory of God Proclaimed

Psa 19:1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

The evidence of God is so revealed in creation it is hard for me to fathom that anyone can declare, "There is no God."

His Way Is Perfect - He will Protect Us

Psa 18:30 This God--his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
Psa 18:31 For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?--
Psa 18:32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.
Psa 18:33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.
Psa 18:34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Psa 18:35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.
Psa 18:36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. (esv)

Isn't it nice to know that we serve a Perfect Creator. The Lord God is our rock and our shield. He gives us strength in time of need and His way is perfect.

This has been a year of challenges for me and my family and through all of the difficulties, God has been ever present and guided us through each step of the way. Along with the challenges there have been many blessings sprinkled in to help us keep our faith and our focus on Him. God has a wonderful way of allowing us to suffer pain in our life and still give us hope through it.

Knowing that His way is perfect and the things that happen in our life are to bring glory to Him gives me the ability to be strengthened and endure life's challenges. Even though sometimes it feels like the prince of this world is against us in full force I know that God has prepared me and my family for this battle.

Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, when all of hell seems to be breaking loose in your life and it appears that the enemy has been given free will to over take you and your situation, remember that the Lord is your strength. The Word is the full Power of God to defeat the enemy and protect us from all the schemes he uses to harm us.

Eph 6:13-17 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pick up the Word of God today and use it against the enemy. The Power of God is within our reach, we just need to remember to grab onto it during times of need.

Lord, you are our ever present helper in time of need. Thank you for the struggles as they help us grow closer to you and allow us to see your power working in our life.

Walking Through The Pain In Our Life

Sometimes we wake up and the pain and suffering that is occurring in our lives is almost too difficult to bear. Many times that pain and hurt is caused by those closest to us. Being hurt emotionally is a natural part of life due to the sinfulness of men and women, but Jesus came to help us not only deal with the hurt in our life, but to help us to be more like Him so we won't hurt others.

Psa 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

This message from the book of Psalms give comfort and reassurance that the Lord is near to us. When we are brokenhearted and our spirit is crushed our Savior is there to give us rest and to deliver us from our afflictions. I have heard people say that Jesus doesn't know what I am going through or that He feels so distant that He probably doesn't care. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

All of us will walk through times of hurt and difficulty regardless of how long we have been serving the Lord. Sometimes it is caused by our own sinfulness and other times we are simply the unfortunate victim of the sin of others. Job is a great example to us how the righteous suffer. Job was an upright man who feared the Lord and hated everything that was evil. Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Daily he would come before the Lord and pray for his children and cry out to God. Psalms 34:19 tells us so. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous." But we also have assurance that when we are hurting Jesus will be near, He will save us when our spirit is crushed, He will deliver us from the troubles that pain us.

Psalm 23 is one of the most famous Psalms in all the Bible. In verse 3 it tells us that "He restores my soul." Though we may walk through an incredibly painful valley, He will restore our souls in His time.

If you are experiencing emotional pain from the sin of others or are grieving because of the sin you have committed against someone you love, God is near to you and will restore your soul. Cry out to the Lord and ask for Him to come near to you and heal your spirit. The situation may not change over night, but His peace and comfort will allow you to endure the walk through the valley as he refines your soul.

Psa 25:16-21 Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble, And forgive all my sins. Look upon my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred. Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.