The Revelation Song by Kari Jobe

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
to You the only wise King

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Another prayer for you

Philippians 1:  ⁹And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

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Dear HEAVENLY FATHER,

Right now it is difficult to see how great YOUR love is because I am focused on the world’s negativity. Political, economic and racial tension creates an atmosphere that breeds self medication through drugs, alcohol or sexual impurity. I feel so small when fighting the world.

LORD, I am not perfect so please help me help at least one person understand that YOU still care for them no matter how dark things may look.

• Help me discern what is best so that I can take my mind off of life’s negativity.
• Help me discern what is best so that I can see YOUR power instead of the world’s calamities.
• Help me discern what is best so that I can hear YOUR still quiet voice that gives me peace.
• Help me focus on YOU and not on me so that I can take one more step towards YOU.

Thank you JESUS for making me blameless. Please bless those who read and repeat these words.

Faith is available if I reach out and get it!

Ephesians 6:  ¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

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Question: How do I fight the spirit world that I cannot see, hear or touch?

¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

So I guess I need to be honest with GOD and tell HIM my true struggles instead of trying to manipulate him into getting my way. I need to confess my dissatisfaction with HIS methods and ask HIM to help me accept HIS ways. I can then be righteous by confessing my sins to GOD.

Question: What am I supposed to be doing right now? What’s my purpose?

¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

My feet provide motion so I must take the first step in sharing the great news about JESUS without shame. I will also remember that sharing isn’t force feeding rather loving others.

Question: Why are things going wrong in my life?

¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Sometimes I overlook the fact that someone or something is messin’ with me. Satan wants me to fail so of course roadblocks to GODLY success will be put in my way. I have to reach out to GOD to get the faith that is ALREADY there and use it against Satan’s attacks.

Question: What about me? Can things get better for me?

¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

It’s up to me to accept JESUS as GOD who died in my place then after belief I must understand GOD and how HE behaves so that through mimicking HIM I can reap earthly and eternal benefits. This requires reading HIS Bible.

Question: What should I pray for? How should I pray?

 ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

There is no right way to pray. Liturgical is prayer passed down by the ages, spontaneous is prayer thought up on the spot, intercessory is prayer for others, introspective is prayer for me. Kneeling, sitting, standing, singing, crying, dying are all acceptable for prayer to GOD!

The best gift to give a child

Ephesians 6: ⁴Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

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Sunday morning was here and the house was in disarray so of course I woke up barking orders at the family. The house had to be cleaned up right then. Everyone was aligned to the tasks but an eerie silence filled the house.

We ate our meal and headed to church. I have no idea if the family heard what was said about GOD that day. The battle was won but the war was lost.

• My children will pick up my bad habits before they learn the good ones.
• My children will learn prejudice, hatred, lust and greed from me.
• My children will treat people poorly if they see me doing the same.

My lessons as a father are important to my children. They watch me very carefully to see if I am consistent in my beliefs, reliable in my convictions and persistent in my faith. At one time I thought this was too much pressure. “How am I going to walk perfect?” I thought to myself.

• I have to teach my kids that while I am not perfect GOD accepts me as perfection.
• I have to teach my kids that JESUS died for my sins and theirs.
• I have to teach my kids that the most important skill to have in life is a strong relationship with GOD.
• I have to teach my kids that parents are not perfect but GOD is always there and HE is perfect.
• I have to teach my kids faith not fear.

GOD expects me to have deliberate moments where I am teaching my kids about HIM. Whether it is a lesson straight from the Bible or through actually helping someone my lessons are being absorbed daily. Unfortunately my lessons are “always” being taught so when I am not teaching, I “am” teaching.

• When I slander someone, my kids see it.
• When I am negative, my kids see it.
• When I am fearful and doubtful, my kids see it.

Now I know the most important gift I can ever give my children and that is the gift of a relationship with the almighty savior, JESUS who is the CHRIST.

• Are you helping a child grow in knowledge of CHRIST?
• Do you realize that you are an example even if you are not a parent?
• What lessons is your “life” teaching?

Submit to me! No “you” submit to “me!”

Ephesians 5: ²¹Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

 ²²Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

 ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

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Guests were arriving within the hour and the floor still needed to be vacuumed, food needed to be set out but I noticed the dimmer switch that I purchased two weeks prior had not been installed. “This will only take five minutes” I said to myself.

DINK “Uh oh” I thought to myself. Yes I had broken the wire that supplied electricity to that part of the house. The door bell rang as I tore into the wall trying desperately to repair my faux pas. Finally a half hour into the party I got the switch repaired!

• Submitting my will to GOD enables me to hear HIM when HE speaks.
• Submitting to GOD’s ways keeps me out of worry, doubt and fear.
• Submitting my sinful life to GOD actually excites me to do more for HIM.

What a controversial topic. Submitting our wills to each other can sometimes be very difficult, especially when I want to be selfish. When I want to argue with my wife, you can bet I will stir the pot. BUT GOD wants me to seek peace.

• Washing my wife with the word means living my life as an “example” of mercy and grace.
• Presenting my wife as “blameless” means forgiving her shortcomings before GOD in prayer.
• Heading up my wife means worshipping GOD the way HE wants to be worshipped, constantly submitting my will to HIM.

CHRIST gave HIS “life” for me therefore I should give my “wife” to HIM. Since I am the king of making mistakes, I have an obligation to be the first to forgive just as GOD stepped out and did the same for me. Through this example, my wife can see that GOD means what HE says.

It’s quite amazing that I used to think this passage was about my wife submitting to me, when in reality it is saying “submission” is an act of worship and everyone should participate. The more I submit to GOD the easier it will be to submit to “my efforts” of submitting to GOD.

The purpose of submission is not to get “my way” rather it enables me to accept GOD’s ways.

• Are you trying to “get your way” in the marriage?
• Is “submission” to GOD hard for you?
• What part of your life are you trying to hold onto?
• Are you fighting GOD trying to control other people?

What does GOD want from me?

Ephesians 5:  ⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

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“Everything smells like chlorine” I said to myself as I headed back to the lockers. “It’s freezing and I only have a few minutes to get dressed and go to class.” But a few people weren’t getting dressed rather they were huddled by the door separating the girls lockers from the boys. “I wonder what they are doing.”

When they finally cleared the way, I looked through the crude notch in the door. For the remainder of the semester, I had to make a choice, remain pure or not.

• GOD makes it clear no immoral person shall inherit HIS kingdom.
• GOD makes it clear no greedy person shall inherit HIS kingdom.
• GOD makes it clear no sexually impure person shall inherit HIS kingdom.

Wow that seems harsh! I mean didn’t GOD save me and I am saved forever? YES, CHRIST died for “all” of my sins but I still have a need to find out what is pleasing to HIM.

• Goodness means understanding GOD’s ways and mimicking them, knowing HE alone has the power.
• Righteousness means understanding GOD is the only way I am clean through belief in HIS death, burial and resurrection.
• Truth means understanding GOD’s word which is the Bible and discovering how HE wants me to live.

Many times in my life I have wanted “freedom” to do what I felt like doing and usually it wasn’t what GOD wanted me to do. When the winds of life came, I went running back to GOD begging HIM for forgiveness and asking HIM to do something else for me especially when I was in trouble.

My life is not “my life” rather it is GOD’s life and HE wants me to act like it. Free will allows me to act a fool, but the HOLY SPIRIT enables me to constantly come back to the course GOD wants me to be on. I now know what GOD wants from me, my life trusting in HIM.

• Do you have even a “hint of sexual impurity?”
• Are you greedy in any kind of way?
• Do you make coarse jokes?
• Are your words about GOD “empty?”
• Can you expose your darkness for the purpose of bringing someone else to the “light?”

True Transformation

Ephesians 4: ³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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Anticipation filled the air as the winners of the most coveted award in the company was about to be announced. Only the top one percent received this award so the recognition along with the monetary value made it so special.

I wasn’t announced this time, my lipped sagged and the memories of working hard countless nights came to mind. “How dare they!” I said to myself.

• When I am bitter, it is “impossible” to show love of any kind.
• When I show rage, the root usually stems from my fight with GOD not with the other person.
• When I am angry, it sometimes is introduced through disappointment of not getting my way.
• When I brawl, I am standing too firm to thinking I am right.
• When I slander, I want my way so bad that I will take someone down to get it.
• When I look to harm someone, I have pretty much thrown GOD away and I am working on my own plan.

My pouting spread like a disease. Bitterness turned into discontent which led to many arguments. All of my relationships were affected and I couldn’t see it. Bitter people are blind and I was no exception.

• GOD wants me to be compassionate especially when I don’t get my way.
• HE wants me to forgive people who don’t deserve to be forgiven.
• GOD wants me to recognize that HE became a human and was murdered to save me so I should act differently towards other humans.

After I was told that my attitude was bad I had a choice, stay in my funk or do something about it. Fortunately I did something about it and chose the GODLY road. By the way, two years later I won the award.

• Are you bitter or angry?
• Are you stuck on being angry about your situation?
• Have you noticed your relationships are degrading?
• Can you forgive the people who wronged you?
• Can you move on and follow GOD?

Unity sounds so nice right now.

Ephesians 4: ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

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My heart was heavy as I reviewed what seems to be going on in the world today. Many selfish couples are mad at each other because they are not getting “their way.” Politics are in the toilet because of the extreme hatred shown around the world. People laugh and joke about their sin as if GOD doesn’t mind or care.

This can make anyone want to throw up their hands and say “what’s the use!” BUT GOD speaks differently to me through these words. In order for the world to be better, I need show people who GOD is.

• Instead of being arrogant, I can be confident yet humble.
• Instead of being hostile, I can be stern yet gentle.
• Instead of being impatient, I can be focused yet patient.
• Instead of being judgmental, I can be realistic yet peace seeking.

GOD tells me to “make every effort to keep the unity of the SPIRIT through the bond of peace.” When the wheels are flying off my plans, I need to follow what HE tells me to do and remain calm.  HE will make the adjustments in the lives of others in order for me to assist them in HIS great unifying effort.

In other words, the first step to unity always has to be taken by me. Sound unfair? Sometimes, BUT GOD rewards me each time I make a step towards the unity HE wants me to show.  GOD made humans to get along with each other, I need to do this as much as I can, no matter how someone else is acting.

• There is only ONE GOD.
• There is only ONE hope.
• There is only ONE SPIRIT.
• There is only ONE body.

GOD is in everything and is everywhere. HE created people who live and think differently than I do. As much as I like to get my way, GOD wants unity.

• How are your relationships?
• Do you like to be “heard” or to “win” the argument?
• Why is “your way” better than “their way?”

My prayer for you!

Ephesians 3: ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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Dear LORD,

YOU are the only one who is truly rich. YOUR power is what I need to focus on, not my circumstance. Please strengthen my weaknesses and dwell in my heart. Become the root of my love and remove the things I put in place as a substitute.

Give me the strength and YOUR power to spread YOUR kingdom the way YOU want me to.

• Help me teach people how WIDE YOUR LOVE is.
• Help me teach people how LONG YOUR LOVE is.
• Help me teach people how HIGH YOUR LOVE is.
• Help me teach people how DEEP YOUR LOVE is.
• Help me teach people that YOUR LOVE is beyond human knowledge and surpasses understanding.

I don’t know how to get out of the messes I get myself into, but I rely on YOU for salvation on earth and in heaven. I know YOU love me, but help me “know” YOU love me.

Bless all those who read and repeat these words to YOU.

What’s in it for me?

Ephesians 3:  ⁷I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

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Warm comfortable pews and frigid temperatures outside made the atmosphere just right for falling asleep during the pastor’s sermon, that and his insistent rants about “being good” and “serving.” “I wonder if the sermon will be good today” I would question before I got to church.

When the pastor said something I didn’t feel like hearing, I would give the sermon a low rating and decide whether I was going to stay at that church or move on. I wanted to hear what I wanted to hear to make “me” feel better. Can’t this guy get it right?

• JESUS became a servant to me because of me.
• GOD allowed HIS SON to volunteer to save mankind through servant hood.
• Though GOD created everything, HE made HIMSELF the lowest to become the highest.

Paul says he became a servant of the gospel because of GOD’s tremendous grace and he was right. If it weren’t for GOD’s intervention, Paul would have ended up in Hell, instead GOD made him one of the greatest servants in history.

• When I realize what GOD has done for me, I get excited about serving others.
• When I look beyond my circumstances GOD speaks to me “clearly.”
• When I become a servant my circumstances don’t seem as bad.

After going to church seeking “what’s in it for me” I became depressed and very self centered. BUT GOD intervened and made me see something different. In order to make the most out of church, I must serve others in fact in order to make the most out of life, I must serve others! Wow what an epiphany!

• The more I realize GOD has blessed me, the more I serve.
• The more I serve, the more I realize GOD has blessed me.

It took a while because I guess I’m a little slow, but serving GOD has nothing to do with how my pastor preaches or what someone else is wearing or if the building is too big or too small. Serving GOD means my relationship has to be right with HIM and I have to be moved to action instead of sitting back and complaining.

• Are you worn down because of life?
• When is the last time you served someone without expecting anything from them or GOD?
• Do you get tired of serving?
• Are you serving for the right motive?

I’m a work in progress!

Ephesians 2: ¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, ²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²²And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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Morning was finally here and it was time to go search for some scrap wood. The kids in my neighborhood were extremely enterprising and we were no different. On our makeshift wagon we would tote wood and bent rusty nails back to our “jobsite” next to the garage.

Our building was a clubhouse and our foundation was the garage. Yes, we nailed our two story clubhouse to the garage to make sure it wouldn’t fall down. “Daddy, mommy, look what we did” we said in excitement! They looked frightened and excited at the same time. “It’s something” they said.

• GOD understands I will make mistakes.
• GOD understands I am not finished yet.
• GOD understands I stray off the road constantly.
• GOD understands I need HIM.

Human sin caused me to be separated from GOD eternally. Just being born was grounds to go to Hell because the flaw of sin is passed through birth. Something had to be done or all humans would be lost. GOD stepped up, became a human, accepted to be murdered by HIS humans and was raised to give me eternal life.

GOD saw every sin I would ever commit and said “I will die to save you anyway.” From birth to death, HE erased my sins, but HE had to tear me down in order to build a new structure. From the time I “accepted” JESUS and stopped rejecting HIM, HE started rebuilding me to focus on HIS kingdom instead of me.

• GOD is rebuilding me each time I love a person I don’t want to love.
• GOD is rebuilding me when I seek to know HIM more instead of constantly seeking human knowledge.
• GOD is rebuilding me when I trade judgment for compassion.
• GOD is rebuilding me each time I give up depression for praise.
• GOD is rebuilding me when my loneliness is traded for service to many.
• GOD is rebuilding me each time I say no to fulfilling my lusts.

It’s funny, humans expect me to be perfect, yet GOD doesn’t. HE knows my imperfections and says “perfect, you are just the right person to reach many.” This motivates me to please HIM more.

• Are you a mess?
• Do you understand GOD doesn’t expect you to be perfect?
• Can you talk openly about your imperfections to someone, letting them know GOD loves you anyway?

"The Lord Is A Busy Man"

The Lord is a busy man

The Lord is a busy man

A mighty busy man is He

But rain or shine

He still has time

To look out for you and me

Oh, the Lord is a busy man

The Lord is a busy man

A mighty busy man, it's true

But we are blessed

With a day or rest

His labors are never through

He has to hang up the stars

Shine up the moon

See that the birds keep singing in tune

Oh, the Lord is a busy man

The Lord is a busy man

A mighty busy man is He

Oh, but rain or shine

He still has time

To look out for you and me

Oh, the Lord is a busy man

The Lord is a busy man

A mighty busy man is He

Oh, but rain or shine

He still has time

To look out for you and me

Oh, the Lord is a busy man

The Lord is a busy man

A mighty busy man, it's true

Oh, but we are blessed

With a day of rest

His labors are never through

He has to wake up the sun

Bring down the rain

See that the fields are covered with grain

Oh, the Lord is a busy man

The Lord is a busy man

A mighty busy man is He

Oh, but rain or shine

He still has time

To look out for you and me

I didn’t find grace it found me!

Ephesians 2: ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Laughter filled the room and the pillows were strewn about the living room. It stopped when we heard a crash. We didn’t have much but the little we had was precious to my parents so the broken vase sent terror through each of us.

We crafted a plan that would surely work and got some “black electrical” tape to carefully put the pieces together.

• In the middle of my sin JESUS died for me.
• Since salvation is a gift, I can’t take credit for it.
• There is nothing that I have or do that makes GOD love me more or less.

My mother came in, quickly observed the situation and caught us in our normal lie of “I don’t know.” Disappointment fell on her face, not because of the vase, because we had lied. Her grace was mixed with anger as she taught us about truth.

GOD can’t love me more than giving me HIS SON and I know HE loves me “even though I sin” because HE died for me “in the middle of my sins.” HE gave me true grace and pardoned me from HIS eternal punishment.

I love the fact that HE created me for HIS purpose. I can choose to follow HIM or not, but I was created to “do good works” HE prepared before the foundations of the world. Imagine GOD knowing humans would sin creating a plan of redemption that I am a part of.

Yes, JESUS’ blood can cover every sin except one, the sin of rejecting JESUS as the one and only savior. GOD has a plan that includes me loving other humans so through love they abstain from rejecting HIS grace.

• GOD went out and looked for me.
• GOD found me committing sin and loved me anyway.
• GOD took the punishment for my sin.
• GOD wants me to love others so HE can do the same for them

I don’t always do GOD’s work very well. I get impatient with others especially when I’m stuck in my selfish ways. But when I do focus on the kingdom, then HE is pleased with my work and says “well done my good and faithful servant.”

• Do you think you had anything to do with GOD’s grace?
• Are you still blaming GOD for not giving you what you want?
• Can you praise HIM for forgiving you of “all” your sins?
• Can you show someone grace today?

Want power? Open the “eyes” to your heart!

Ephesians 1: ¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

 ²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

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Lying on the bench I grasped the bar, lifted it up and lowered the weight to my chest. “Wow this is heavy” I thought to myself. Seven, eight, nine, TEN! Whew! Then a guy who had muscles asked “Are you done with that?” “Yes” I said and he grabbed the bar with one hand snatched it up, threw his other hand on it and proceeded to do “curls” with the “light” weight.

• GOD’s power is inconceivable!
• GOD’s power is indefinable!
• GOD’s power is incomparable!
• GOD’s power is true power!

Sometimes I ponder what kind of being GOD really is. I mean HE has always been, HE is everywhere, all knowing, all seeing and truly in control of everything, I mean everything! HE sat on the throne as HIS SON JESUS was murdered and with all power HE raised HIM from the dead giving HIM all power.

If GOD has all this power, why doesn’t HE just show HIMSELF? Why doesn’t HE just snap HIS finger and give me my demands?

• I can’t see GOD’s power when the “eyes” of my heart are closed.
• I can’t hear GOD’s peace when the “ears” to my mind are listening to worry and doubt.
• I can’t touch GOD’s kingdom when my “heart” rejects JESUS as my savior who now has all power.
• I can’t smell GOD’s earthly fragrances when my “nose” is distracted by the stench of greed or lust.
• I can’t taste GOD’s victory when my “legs” take me out of the race of life.

It’s funny I can read about GOD’s power, yet I don’t believe HE is in control of my situation. I start believing scientists more than the most powerful being. BUT GOD says “open your eyes and see MY power!” Each time I do this HE shows me without disappointment.

• Are you seeking a title thinking you will have power?
• Have you gotten so caught up in your situation that you doubt GOD and HIS ability?
• Can you recognize GOD’s power at work around you right now?
• Can you be still for a moment to use HIS power instead of your own?

I can’t manipulate GOD so I follow HIM.

Galatians 6: ⁷Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

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Dark hallways filled with silence were disturbed by my sweeping and dusting during my daily route as a janitor. My supervisor was a trusting soul who gave me the easiest buildings to clean. I was finished with the assignment and still had half my shift left.

“I know” I thought to myself… “I’ll go home, eat, watch TV and return, no one will know!” Bad move!

• I can fool people but I can’t fool GOD.
• My deception only hurts me because GOD can hold it against me.
• Every sin that I do drives me further and further away from having an “abundant” life.

After deceiving my supervisor I soon found out how disappointed he was that he trusted me and I took advantage of him. Now answer this… could I spread the great news about JESUS CHRIST to him? NO! What a waste. I could no longer be effective or used by GOD with him.

• GOD sees everything I do and knows every hidden thought.
• Every relationship, no matter how antagonistic, needs to be handled with GOD’s love in mind.
• GOD brings people in my life for HIS purpose and it’s up to me to show my faith in HIM.

After that ordeal, I tried to swing the pendulum in the other direction. Whenever I did something wrong, I would try to get out of trouble by doing “good.” I figured that if I did something wrong, then I could balance it by doing some good stuff. I could essentially have my cake and eat it too.

• GOD sees through my plot to manipulate HIM with my “good” acts.
• HE wants me to do “good” in order for people to be drawn to HIM.
• When I try to do “good” in efforts to manipulate GOD, I get tired of doing “good” quickly.

The purpose for doing “good” is to help a hurting world. If life is “all about me” then I will quickly get tired of helping others. GOD gives me the strength to perform HIS acts of love and I benefit from HIS blessings!

• Are you tired of doing “good?”
• Why are you being good?
• Are you secretly trying to manipulate GOD into giving you the thing you want?
• Can you do good to be an example of GOD today?

This message is for me!

Galatians 6:  ¹Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. ²Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, ⁵for each one should carry his own load.

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“Wow what a great sermon the pastor preached” I thought to myself years ago. He had just finished a series on stewardship and I knew just the people this applied to. I made sure I had enough tapes (yes tapes) to pass out to the people who needed to hear this message.

“Maybe this will correct them. Maybe now THEY can get out of debt.” Aren’t they fortunate to have me in their lives? NO!

• When I think someone else needs the message then GOD may have a problem with me.
• When I talk about “them” I am not examining myself.
• When I assume GOD needs me to deliver a message to someone, my arrogance may get in the way of the message.

Comparing myself to others comes in many forms. I attempt to clean myself up and set my own standard of what "clean" is then I stop. I then say to myself, “I’ve made it so let me go out and help others reach what I have reached.” Unfortunately for me, I haven’t “made it.”

• GOD enjoys when I listen to HIS messages and apply them to my life.
• HE celebrates when I test my own actions and act according to HIS SPIRIT.
• GOD loves when I carry another person’s burdens rather than comparing how much better I am to others.
• HE desires I seek restoration of an offensive person rather than patting myself on the back for being “good.”

There have been many times where I have seen someone do some crazy sinful things and I talk about “them” BUT GOD wants me to stop looking at “them” and start looking at me. GOD wants me to pick up my cross, in other words “carry my load.”

• Do you compare yourself to others?
• Are you trying hard to correct another person’s actions?
• Have you tried letting go of steering them and cleaning yourself up?
• Do you think GOD is pleased with your complaints about “that” person?
• If you truly believe GOD is in control, can’t HE grow “that” person and you without your complaint?

I want to be good but…

Galatians 5:  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

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Saturday Night Live was very edgy at one time. It was the first place where “dirty” words were used on television. While shocking, it seemed to have an opposite effect, at least on me. Since I craved to fit in, I thought I would give these words a whirl.

After a while I could lace together a tapestry of filth so vile it would make your pigs throw up. I was “in” and people wanted more, BUT GOD wanted less.

• Even the smallest of sins is still sin in GOD’s eyes.
• Small sins give me permission to do more and more sins and a sinful lifestyle.
• Wild lifestyles don’t produce the “fruit” of GOD, no matter what my beliefs are.

When I woke up from fulfilling my voracious appetite for peer acceptance, I looked around and had no GODLY fruit in my life. Time had passed and I had nothing I could point to with GOD’s mark on it. On the contrary, I had plenty of sin and an empty heart.

• GOD’s love in me is shown through actions towards people who don’t deserve it.
• GOD’s joy in me is shown when things go wrong and I’m praising GOD.
• GOD’s peace in me is shown when I should be nervous but a strange calmness overcomes my emotions.
• GOD’s patience in me is shown by hanging on when I should “cut” someone loose.
• GOD’s kindness in me is shown through serving.
• GOD’s goodness in me is shown through following what HE tells me to do.
• GOD’s faithfulness in me is shown by believing things will be fine no matter the circumstance.
• GOD’s gentleness in me is shown when I give mercy to the “guilty” party.
• GOD’s self control in me is shown when I say “NO” to sin that time.

My life is actually not “my life.” GOD made me for HIMSELF and HE desires I follow HIS ways. Since HE gave me freewill, I have a choice to follow HIM or fulfill my sin. When I follow HIM, I produce “fruit.”

• Are you producing GODLY fruit in your life?
• Do other people see your actions and know you are doing them for CHRIST?
• Can you do your actions in front of everyone without having shame?
• Honestly, would GOD be pleased with your actions?

I can go to GOD in prayer by Albertina Walker / Calvin Bridges

Verse 1
Makes no diference what the problem,
(I can go to God in prayer).
Yes, I have this blessed assurance,
(I can go to God in prayer).
He will take my gloom and sorrow,
(turn my night into day).
He will comfort, strenghten and keep me,
(I can go to God in prayer)

Chorus
I can call Him when I need Him,
Abba, Father, up in heaven;
I can go to God in prayer,
I can go to God in prayer.

Verse 2
Sometimes my burdens get so heavy,
(I can go to God in prayer).
I have found one who is so faithful,
(I can go to God in prayer).
He will take my gloom and sadness,
(turn my night into day).
He will comfort, strenghten, and keep me,
(I can go to God in prayer).

Chorus

Bridge
He can work it out, He can work it out;
(yes, He can),
(yes, He can),
(yes, He can),
(oh yes, He can).

I don't have no doubt, I don't have no doubt;
(yes, He can),
(yes, He can),
(yes, He can),
(oh yes, He can).


I know what God can do, He'll bring you safely through
(yes, He can),
(yes, He can),
(yes, He can),
(oh yes, He can)

Can’t we all just get along!

Galatians 5:  ¹³You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. ¹⁴The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁵If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

 

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Saturday night had come around again and this time I decided to go to church on Sunday. No clubbing for me. “Which church will I go to” I thought to myself.  That church screams and yells too much while this church is too boring. Hmm, I wonder about this church, my friends say they have some nice women and good music. When I returned home I said “church is useless!”

• “Church” is misunderstood by many.
• “Church” is any person who believes they deserve to go to Hell, but will not because of JESUS.
• “Church” is GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

My attitude towards “church” was quite wrong back then. I went thinking it was a place where I would “get” something from people when in reality it is a place of “giving.” Church is like a marketplace where the broken get together and serve one another.

 

• When I get caught up in my sinful freedom, I need to gather with people and talk about CHRIST.
• When I feel strong and full of the SPIRIT, I need to gather with people and talk about CHRIST.
• When I feel like arguing, or down or kicked around, I need to gather with people and talk about CHRIST.
• When I am happy and life is good, I need to gather with people and talk about CHRIST.

 

Serving one another in love is the single most important act I can do as a person who follows CHRIST. I certainly can’t die to redeem the sins of mankind, that act was already done by JESUS. But I can serve the people HE loves especially in a place where broken people gather.

 

• My ideal church is very different now that I have matured.
• My ideal church contains people who are open and honest with their sins like me.
• My ideal church contains hypocrites like me.
• My ideal church contains people who are scared, confused, argumentative and dishonest like me.
• My ideal church contains people who look at CHRIST as the only savior from sin like me.

 

GOD never wants me to categorize the way someone worships HIM as “wrong” just because I don’t understand it, that’s HIS job. BUT HE does call me to believe in HIS SON and serve people in love. That’s just what I am going to do.

 

• Is JESUS your church or is it the place you go?
• Can you go to “church” looking for opportunities to serve in the way GOD tells you to serve?
• Can you determine if you are in “give” or “receive” mode when going to church?
• If you have been in “receive” mode for years, isn’t it time to ‘give?”