Keep On

Keep On

Jude 1: ¹⁷ But remember, my friends, what you were told in the past by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ They said to you, “When the last days come, people will appear who will make fun of you, people who follow their own godless desires.” ¹⁹ These are the people who cause divisions, who are controlled by their natural desires, who do not have the Spirit. ²⁰ But you, my friends, keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, ²¹ and keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life.

 

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“What good is it?” was my question. I was running out of gas because it seemed like my efforts were not amounting to anything. In fact, more problems arose than solutions. At every turn, there seemed to be another barrier.

 

• I got tired of hearing the scoffers.
• I got tired of hearing questions that clearly showed a lack of belief.
• I got tired of the problems, barriers and holes I could fall in, but mostly I got tired of those who questioned with their heart “Where is your GOD now?”

 

Jude gives a pep talk after blasting those who infiltrated believers of JESUS. He warns believers that in the last days, people will make fun of those who keep the faith. He mentions their tactics of divisiveness  and their lack of control. He then focuses on what believers should continue doing, namely praying and staying in GOD’s love.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to continue to ask HIM for HIS power to be used in every one of my situations.
• GOD wants me to not get tired of repetition rather to keep on building the way HE told me.
• GOD loves when I use encouragement, prayer and patience as I wait on eternal life through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

Waiting on GOD could make me look like a nut to those who have fallen in love with the world. I mean, where is the political takeover or stacks of cash from heaven or super-human powers, scoffs the unbeliever? BUT GOD has another focus for me.

 

GOD wants me to see HIS gentleness, grace and mercy HE has for me and those who laugh at me praying instead of taking matters in my own hands. HE has all the power and wants me to keep on surrendering my plans in exchange for HIS. I gladly keep on building the way HE guides me.

 

Challenge

• What last days is the writer referring to?
• Have you ever been laughed at or questioned by those who clearly do not believe?
• Will you stay with GOD and continue in the work HE has for you until your eternal life is shown?

Instead

Instead

Ephesians 4: ²⁹ Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. ³⁰ And do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. ³² Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

 

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Nervous to use “bad words”, I kept my conversation to a minimum. Unfortunately this particular day was my turn to be picked on by thugs and by some, who I thought were my friends. I blurted out some curse words I had heard over the years. Laughter came from all over. “You don’t even know how to curse!” someone said.

 

• I was embarrassed so I practiced harmful words to keep them available, just in case.
• I wanted to fit in and rationalized that no words were really “bad” words, they were just words.
• I wanted to “vent” and to tell these people off so they would leave me alone!

 

Paul had a huge task in front of him. He was addressing verbal fights and numerous arguments. This divisiveness led to passive and overt attacks on one another that was used to tear people down. GOD gave another path through Paul’s writing.

 

My Observations

• Instead of my first reaction to combative situations, I have to quiet down and listen to GOD.
• Instead of festering over what is making me angry, I need to seek GOD’s peace.
• Instead of becoming bitter, lustful or enraged, I must first find another way, namely ask the HOLY SPIRIT for help.

 

“Do not make GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT sad” are strange words that stick out to me. I mean, all powerful GOD can be hurt by my words and choices? Apparently HE can. My guess is HE knows how harmful my words and actions can really be to others and to myself. HE also knows the consequences of my choices and how detrimental they will be later in life or eternity.

 

GOD wants me to “be” forgiven and “feel” forgiven. HE forgives me forever, but when I sin or want to hurt people because of a bitter heart, I do not “feel” forgiven which causes me to spiral into harmful ways. GOD wants me to be built up so HE gives me to opportunity to use “helpful words” to build others up to serve HIM. I am glad HE forgives me and you.

 

Challenge.

• What is the overall plea of the writer?
• How would you like to be treated by others?
• Will you take GOD’s advice and please the HOLY SPIRIT by being “kind”, “tender hearted” and “forgiving” to one another today?

Being Built Together

Being Built Together

Ephesians 2: ¹⁹ So then, you Gentiles are not foreigners or strangers any longer; you are now citizens together with God's people and members of the family of God. ²⁰ You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself. ²¹ He is the one who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. ²² In union with him you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through his Spirit.

 

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As I read the instructions, I noticed I was missing some crucial parts. I was putting together some furniture and did not check to see if all the parts were there. I assumed they would send everything. I had to stop working, go to the store and get a bag of crucial parts that would be used to hold everything together.

 

• I could not finish building without these parts.
• The parts I was missing were easily overlooked.
• The parts, by themselves, seemed unimportant but were truly necessary.

 

“You are members of GOD’s family” is what Paul tries to implore on everyone he is writing to. He gives an analogy of something important for life, namely shelter. The stronger the building, the more desirable the shelter became. People marvel over tall buildings so Paul also explains that JESUS is the most important part of the strong foundation.

 

My Observations

• GOD seems me as important, even though I, alone, do not feel I am very much.
• GOD sees the big picture of which I have a small, yet important role.
• GOD wants me and others to be in union with JESUS so HE can build HIS kingdom and dwell with all of HIS children.

 

Somehow GOD wants to reclaim all HIS lost children to build a supernatural place where HE will live. A building humans built cannot contain HIM, so HE needs the hearts of those who believe to be emptied out so HE can fit inside. HE chose one group of people to spread the message of HIS SON, but unfortunately, they turned against HIM and murdered JESUS, thinking they were doing the right thing.

 

BUT GOD had this in HIS plan and JESUS was raised from the dead. HE now holds the building together and needs each person to believe so HE can put him or her in a special place HE needs. I am glad I am in the family and will do my part to hold it together.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer uses an analogy of a building?
• Do you ever feel insignificant or overwhelmed, thinking you have to do GOD’s job but are failing?
• Can you accept that you are being built to do something special?
• Will you know you are important to GOD and are needed to do only your part so HE can hold the “whole building together” with your help today?

Done for You

Done for You

2 Corinthians 13: ⁵ Put yourselves to the test and judge yourselves, to find out whether you are living in faith. Surely you know that Christ Jesus is in you?—unless you have completely failed. ⁶ I trust you will know that we are not failures. ⁷ We pray to God that you will do no wrong—not in order to show that we are a success, but so that you may do what is right, even though we may seem to be failures. ⁸ For we cannot do a thing against the truth, but only for it. ⁹ We are glad when we are weak but you are strong. And so we also pray that you will become perfect. ¹⁰ That is why I write this while I am away from you; it is so that when I arrive I will not have to deal harshly with you in using the authority that the Lord has given me—authority to build you up, not to tear you down.

 

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“Here, take a pair of shoes” a friend said to me once. “Do you want a ride?” another friend said to me on another occasion. “You can do anything you put your mind to” were the words of inspiration from a mentor. All were blessings to me.

 

• I had nothing to give back to those who gave to me.
• I was in need and was not looking for a blessing, yet I received one.
• I was built up on a rare occasion while others tried to tear me down.

 

Paul is about to conclude his letter. He had addressed some difficult behaviors that were not of CHRIST. He let everyone know that each person must have their own relationship with CHRIST. The actions Paul did were not to get credit, but that each recipient would walk in CHRIST’s perfection.

 

My Observations

• JESUS is inside me and I am inside of HIM.
• I am prayed for by many and GOD sees all of those prayers.
• GOD has given me the authority to build you  up, not to tear you down.

 

Frustration yields words that tear people down. I mean, name calling, sarcastic words, murmurs and negative conversations all find their way on our tongues. BUT GOD despises every negative word spoken. What is the remedy? Build people up.

 

But what if “that” person has done me wrong? Build “that” person up. Placing “that” person up higher so GOD will see him or her places HIS vengeance or blessing on them. I strongly believe that what I wish would happen to “that” person will happen to me, so I better wish “that” person will receive huge blessings in spite of their sin. I am glad GOD gives me HIS authority.

 

Challenge

• What “success” is the writer speaking of?
• What does upholding the “truth” mean?
• Will you accept the authority to build people up, not to tear people down so GOD may do with him or her has HE pleases?

Authority

Authority

2 Corinthians 10: ⁷ You are looking at the outward appearance of things. Are there some there who reckon themselves to belong to Christ? Well, let them think again about themselves, because we belong to Christ just as much as they do. ⁸ For I am not ashamed, even if I have boasted somewhat too much about the authority that the Lord has given us—authority to build you up, not to tear you down. ⁹ I do not want it to appear that I am trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰ Someone will say, “Paul's letters are severe and strong, but when he is with us in person, he is weak, and his words are nothing!” ¹¹ Such a person must understand that there is no difference between what we write in our letters when we are away and what we will do when we are there with you.

 

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Telling people what they did wrong was part of my job. It worked well for the company, but not so well at home. Spotting quality issues and inconsistencies lacked the “grace” needed that companies would scoff at.

 

• I lacked the ability to overlook, what I thought were, glaring issues.
• I lacked the ability to see beyond the “outward appearance of things.”
• I lacked soothing words when confronted.

 

Paul spoke about a strange authority given to everyone. The authority is to “build you up.” This authority was taken for granted. People who belonged to CHRIST were speaking negatively about what each other was doing, or not doing or believed in.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to see beyond the “outward appearance of things.”
• GOD has given me the authority to build people up, not tear them down.
• GOD wants me to grow up and use this authority as often as I can.

 

Seeing the “outward appearance of things” is the easy route. I mean, on the surface people make mistakes that seem easily correctable. But what is really going on? Why are the same mistakes made over and over? Maybe its because it is easier to dig a hole and throw someone in versus building people up.

 

It's easy for me to point out mistakes versus taking the opportunity to “build you up.” Frightening people or manipulating them to follow GOD is not the answer. All of us are on the same plane. We have all sinned and fall short of GOD’s glory. But what if I were to put a person on my shoulders to get noticed by GOD? The only being that is “up” is GOD. I will take the authority HE has given me to “build you up.”

 

Challenge

• What dangers does the writer imply by looking at “the outward appearance of things?”
• How does it feel to be “built up?”
• Will you take a different tactic and “build people up” so they may see GOD as the answer versus the problem today?

Getting Stronger

1 Corinthians 14: ⁷ Take such lifeless musical instruments as the flute or the harp—how will anyone know the tune that is being played unless the notes are sounded distinctly? ⁸ And if the one who plays the bugle does not sound a clear call, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ In the same way, how will anyone understand what you are talking about if your message given in strange tongues is not clear? Your words will vanish in the air! ¹⁰ There are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ But if I do not know the language being spoken, those who use it will be foreigners to me and I will be a foreigner to them. ¹² Since you are eager to have the gifts of the Spirit, you must try above everything else to make greater use of those which help to build up the church.

 

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“Come help us” was the request. “But I don’t know how” was my response. “We’ll show you” was the response that made me feel comfortable enough to say “Yes I will help.” I was now part of the group.

 

• I wondered if I would add value.
• I wondered if I could handle the burden.
• I wondered if I should just back off and not help.

 

Paul continues his explanation of spiritual gifts. One gift in question was that of speaking in tongues. An earlier explanation states that tongue speech that no one understands only edifies the person speaking. But if the words are interpreted, many people will be blessed. He then implores that people be part of something bigger, namely building up the church.

 

My Observation

• GOD wants me to be part of helping build HIS church.
• GOD wants me to use my gifts to build as often as I can.
• GOD wants me to seek gifts that help be part of HIS solution.

 

Seeking to build GOD’s church is a privilege that is sometimes foreign. I mean, what good is building the church when I have problems of my own. GOD does something strange when I focus my attention on HIM.

 

In the middle of pain and weakness, GOD uses broken people to build one another up. HE loves when we come together to bring people to back to HIM. He provides me with a group that honors HIM and in turn, I become stronger even though my circumstance may remain. I gladly make myself available to seek any talent to help build GOD’s kingdom.

 

Challenge

• How do you feel when someone speaks to you in a language you do not understand?
• How do you think other people feel when you speak in a way they cannot understand?
• Will you seek gifts that help build the church, helping people understand the love of CHRIST today?

Puffed or Built

Puffed or Built

1 Corinthians 8: Now, concerning what you wrote about food offered to idols.

It is true, of course, that “all of us have knowledge,” as they say. Such knowledge, however, puffs a person up with pride; but love builds up. ² Those who think they know something really don't know as they ought to know. ³ But the person who loves God is known by him.

 

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“Why are you carrying all those files?” a leader questioned me. “I want to be prepared with the answer” I replied. I had been caught off guard by someone who was trying to trip me up and this was not going to happen again. He said, “Having the answers sometimes does not show leadership.”

 

• There have been times when I felt insecure.
• There have been times when I thought having the answers would make me look intelligent.
• There have been times when I believed the smarter I looked the more accepted I would be.

 

Paul was about to address a concern regarding food offered to idols, but he starts with a strange beginning. He begins with self-pride. The root of the pride is the dependence on human knowledge. He then offers the solution to the self-pride, simply to relax and be known by GOD.

 

• GOD wants me to rejoice that HE saved me.
• GOD wants me to be excited about my relationship with HIM.
• GOD wants me to be alright with not having the answers because HE is the answer.

 

Being puffed up or built up is a choice. I mean, when I seek validation from humans, I may look to be intelligent in front of groups of people and ask the crowd to “like” what I said. I guess that is why social media is so popular. This causes me to be “puffed up.” BUT GOD wants my validation to come from HIM. HE builds me up with HIS love.

 

Just knowing that I am known by HIM should make me excited. HE did everything to have a solid relationship with me, even when I was not seeking HIM. HE saw my sins before I was born, yet created me anyway. HE died for my sins and was raised from the dead. HE gave me the COMFORTER when I believed in HIM. And HE guides me daily with love. I am grateful HE knows me.

 

• Are you seeking approval from humans?
• Do you feel insecure so you think knowledge is your route to being affirmed?
• Will you rejoice in the fact that the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful GOD, knows and loves you and is willing to guide you if you surrender your life to HIM today?

To Build Them Up

 

To Build Them Up

Romans 15: We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. ² Instead, we should all please other believers for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith. ³ For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, “The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me.”

 

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Hurling insults at the other team seemed like the right thing to do. I joined in on the “fun” and called the other team names through clever cheers and chants. Our team won! But when it was time to go home, the other school did not appreciate the previous insults. Fights broke out and escape was my only thought.

 

There have been many times when I used insults to feel better about myself.

There have been many times when I used insults to feel part of the “winning” crowd.

There have been many times when I used insults to feel superior to “those” people.

 

Paul tries to shift everyone’s thinking to follow the example of CHRIST. JESUS took the insults that were meant for other people and died in our place when HE committed no wrong. Paul gives some great advice. “Build them up.”

 

GOD wants me to build people up so they will continue in the faith.

GOD wants me to speak encouraging words to everyone so their faith will increase.

GOD wants me to carry the burdens of others so they can get up and help someone else.

 

Being caught up in my own situation usually leaves no room to help others. BUT GOD helps me up from the ground to see there is more to life than “that” circumstance. HE dusts me off and fills my heart with encouragement for others in the middle of the battle. GOD also desires that I remember HIS deliverance so I can carry it forward daily.

 

Instead of using the sneaky, tear down slanderous manipulation tactics, GOD wants me to replace insulting words with gratitude. If I cannot appreciate “that” person, then maybe I should not be in the conversation. I am grateful GOD helps me carry the burdens of others to “build them up” for HIM.

 

Are your words full of insults and slander?

Do your jokes speak life or death?

Will you reduce your insults and increase your encouragement so those who believe may have their burdens lifted and their faith increased for JESUS today?

Seeking by Lurking

Seeking by Lurking

John 7: ⁵And everyone went to his own house.

John 8: But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

² Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. ³ Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, ⁴ they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

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Listening intently to every word, I wanted to catch this person in a lie, “I know they are guilty” I said to myself as I replayed events in my mind over and over. Something seemed strange this particular day when I saw the person. “This is the day I catch them in their lie” I thought. The person confessed their strange behavior on a very serious illness.

• There were times when I looked for something to be wrong with people.
• There were times when I watched people intently to see if they would fail.
• There were times when I sentenced people as guilty, then I watched them prove their guilt to me.

After the crowd left, JESUS went to the Mount of Olives, usually to pray. When HE returned HE was met by the church leaders who caught a woman in the act of adultery. They must have lurked behind her as she met with her lover or was the male someone they knew? Whatever the case, they did not accuse him.

Bringing her to JESUS, they demanded a biblical answer to trip HIM up. They sought failure for her and JESUS, hoping guilt would show their superiority.

• GOD wants me to seek people with grace, not guilt.
• GOD wants me to desire restoration for people, not reasons to leave them.
• GOD wants me to follow people to serve them, not harm them.

Motive for proving someone’s guilt is usually a problem with GOD. As I have said many times, “We are all in the mud, throwing mud at each other, saying ‘you have mud on your face’.” Pronouncing someone guilty, then watching them prove their guilt may be the very thing that makes me “guilty” before GOD.

HE wants me to admit my guilt to restore guilty people. Instead of lurking for superiority, HE wants me seeking people to bring back to HIM, gently. I am glad people were sent to bring me to HIM.

• Are you accusing others?
• Do you want to feel good about yourself by making someone else look guilty?
• Will you start seeking guilty people to gently bring them back to JESUS to save them and you today?

Tumbling Down

Mark 13: Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”

² And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

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Proud of my accomplishment I reminisced over how hard I worked to build the department to where it was. When I returned I asked if they were still doing things the way I had set them up. “No” was the answer. A new person had come in and changed everything.

• There were times when I was proud of my accomplishments.
• There were times when I felt what I built should have lasted forever.
• There were times when I tried to build a miniature kingdom.

Marveling at human accomplishments, the disciples pointed out how wondrous the temple was. JESUS replied with a harsh statement. “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

• JESUS says to me “No matter what you build on earth, it will be torn down.”
• JESUS says to me “MY kingdom will never be torn down.”
• JESUS says to me “Build MY kingdom and you will store up treasure in heaven.”

Building something is not the problem. JESUS wants my mind focused on heaven as well when I build something on earth. My tendency is to stop only at earth and get pats on the back from humans. GOD wants me to ask HIM if HE I pleased with my plans and accomplishments. HE wants to be asked first and included all the way.

• Are you trying to accomplish something?
• Do you have something large in mind but do not know how to accomplish it?
• Can you stop trying to be in the spotlight and ask GOD how does HE want things to go?

Just like Me

Matthew 22: ³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

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One guy would break into our garage regularly. A group would let their dogs loose to poop on our lawn. The kid across the street would laugh at me and try to pick fights. I saw him throw bologna at me. I did not like those neighbors very much!

• There are some people who seem to grate on my last nerve.
• There are some people who tend to make me want to complain about them.
• There are some people who seem to get their way while I take a back seat!

JESUS says “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The problem is I like myself and I didn’t like them. HE was speaking about something higher than bologna being thrown at me. GOD wants something else from me.

• GOD wants me to love HIM with all my heart and with my soul and with all my mind so I can understand what HE has done for me.
• GOD wants me to love my neighbors as I love myself so I can stop being selfish.
• GOD wants me to know that everything said and done in the Bible was because of GOD’s tremendous love!

GOD so loved me that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that if I believe in HIM I will not perish but have everlasting life. For GOD did not send his SON to me to condemn me, but to save my soul through HIM.

My neighbors should receive my best even when they give their worst. This is sometimes hard but not as hard when I focus on loving GOD as HE loved me.

• Do you have difficult people around you?
• Can you stop looking at their difficulties and see a creation of GOD?
• Will you take the poison out of your heart and ask GOD to fill it with love for those who are hard to love?

Negative or Positive

Ezekiel 13: ²² Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, ²³ therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

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It was a small still voice that told me to encourage this particular person so I did. That person desperately needed to hear the words of encouragement. The next day there was a preacher who said some words in a way that I did not agree. “I wonder if I need to tell that person what they did wrong?” was the first thought that came to mind.

• Sometimes I want to discourage the righteous people with “my” opinion.
• Sometimes I want to dishearten the righteous people with “my” thinking.
• Sometimes I want to disagree with the righteous people because I want “my” voice heard.

When I want the spotlight so badly I may try to argue “my” point or fight to be heard rather than being led by GOD. This quarrelsome behavior causes discouragement rather than building people up for the LORD, meanwhile I have not gone to the people who “do” need to hear encouragement to change their ways. GOD wants me to make a choice.

• GOD wants me to choose my words carefully and not twist HIS words into mine.
• GOD wants me to stay away from discouraging words by seeking the best for people.
• GOD wants me to encourage people to change their ways and focus on GOD rather than looking at me.

Negativity is all around, from television to work to neighbors, it is hard pressed to hear an encouraging word. BUT GOD says “encourage people to follow ME.” GOD is truly amazing, I feel encouraged by HIS word.

• Are you speaking negativity?
• Do your words tear people down or build people up?
• Can you stop using your poisonous negative words and build “that” person up?
• Will you go out and encourage a person to follow GOD today?

True Fasting

Isaiah 58: ⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.
⁵ Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?
⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

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“Do you want to join us in a fast?” someone asked me. “I’ll see” was my way of saying “No!” I mean what’s the purpose? I don’t eat or drink and what does that do? I went on my merry way. Weren’t these people just being religious fanatics?

• I used to think fasting was useless.
• I one time thought fasting was ridiculous.
• I used to think fasting was only for the religious freaks who were hypocrites by “my” standard.

When I read about the powerless disciples who came back beat up after fighting a demonic battle, I was curious. JESUS said, “This kind of demon can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.” These seemingly powerless weapons were the most powerful to GOD. I mean prayer does not involve any on my part to solve or resolve the problem, nor does fasting.

When I tried fasting once, it seemed like an eternity. I never realized how much I ate during one day. I got used to it but my fasting eventually ended up pointing to “me” fasting. GOD wanted more.

• GOD wants me to fast with a purpose. 
• HE wants me to miss a meal so someone else can have one. 
• GOD wants me to help the poor and guide my family to GOD. 

HIS fast calls me to point to HIM.

• Are you afraid to fast?
• Is your fast selfish?
• Are you unchanged in your ways after a fast?
• Will you give up your will versus giving up a meal?

Building People

2 Chronicles 36: ²³ “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’”

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Find their flaw, document it and express it to the network of people was the method used in this particular company to get promoted or more budget or more responsibility. It really seemed sad, but there was one person who I admired who said to me “Be a king maker.” As I pondered these words I wondered “How?” I mean I’m not on the top, how will I put someone where I’m not?

• When everyone is tearing people down I have a choice to be like them or not.
• When people are focused on slander, lies and misconceptions I have a choice to be like them or not.
• When the crowd is full of malice, poison and spite, I have a choice to be like them or not.

In the middle of a chaotic workplace, he was telling me to “build people up” rather than tearing them down. Those who will be in my corner will remain there and those who aren’t will not. I remembered these words as I worked in a very difficult neighborhood who did not focus on GOD rather they turned to gang violence.

We went out and invited people to the church and they said things like “I have no clothes to wear” or “I haven’t been in a while” but they came when we said to them “You have a lot to offer and only you can help others.” I prayed with people and by building them up, they actually came to the church. GOD drew them back to HIM.

• GOD wants me to build people up because that person is a new temple.
• GOD wants me to build people up because HE wants to draw them to HIM.
• GOD wants me to build people up because my words will mimic HIS and be full of grace.

Building people up can only be done when I can appreciate how GOD has made me. If I don’t like how GOD made me then I will speak poorly about others. If I can understand that GOD was very pleased when HE made me, that HE understands my flaws and loves me anyway, then I can be excited about HIS people.

• Are you in the process of tearing people down or building them up?
• Do you see people as a threat or GOD’s workmanship?
• Can you stop spreading your poison about “those people” and begin building up the flock GOD has sent to you?