Could Be Having a Bad Day

 Could Be Having a Bad Day

Romans 14: Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions. ² Some people's faith allows them to eat anything, but the person who is weak in the faith eats only vegetables. ³ The person who will eat anything is not to despise the one who doesn't; while the one who eats only vegetables is not to pass judgment on the one who will eat anything; for God has accepted that person. ⁴ Who are you to judge the servants of someone else? It is their own Master who will decide whether they succeed or fail. And they will succeed, because the Lord is able to make them succeed.

 

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Excited to get a good meal, I sat at the table and thought of how tasty it would be. This was a restaurant recommended by the hotel, so it must be good. I sat and sat. No one came to the table. I flagged a waitress over and she said “I will get your waitress.” When she arrived, her face was sad with a slight bit of anger. She gave me “bad” service.

 

• There have been times when I wanted to complain to the manager about someone.
• There have been times when I wanted to tell the boss about what someone was doing wrong.
• There have been times when I wanted to make sure the person who was giving me “bad” service would fail and hopefully be fired.

 

Paul continues with his strange message. At the core, he is speaking about respecting other people. The three people he mentions, remind me of a restaurant. One patron orders the everything platter while another table orders the salad bowl.

 

Both could ask the question “Why did that table order that kind of food?” in a judgmental way. Meanwhile both patrons judge the wait staff, not knowing the full story.

 

• GOD wants me to welcome those who are weak in faith.
• GOD wants me to hold back any arguments I may have, trying to convince someone to grow and simply accept the person, just like HE does.
• GOD wants me to become part of HIS success by removing judgment of the workers of churches, businesses or households I encounter.

 

Finding something wrong with the way someone does things is easier and easier these days. I mean, I can watch a video of how things are supposed to go, but when I try the experience it may not go as I have expected. I then have a choice, complain or give grace. GOD wants me to understand grace more than I want to at times. I mean “that” person is clearly wrong and should be told about it, right? Maybe. BUT GOD wants me to understand grace first.

 

Remember the sad, scowling waitress I encountered. Turns out she had a serious situation at home. I said I would pray for her and she shed a tear and gave me great service from then on. I tipped heavily. I am grateful GOD gives me a second chance, especially from those who judge me. HE makes me succeed.

 

• Are you judging someone?
• Are you saying to yourself “I wouldn’t do it that way?”
• Will you stop judging others and join the LORD who is willing and able to make them succeed?

Put People Right

 

Put People Right

Romans 1: ¹⁶ I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles. ¹⁷ For the gospel reveals how God puts people right with himself: it is through faith from beginning to end. As the scripture says, “The person who is put right with God through faith shall live.”

 

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Listening intently for mistakes, I waited for a slip up. This was a negotiation that I had to “win.” Immediately I found the opportunity when the goof came out of his mouth. I leveraged the mistake to get “my” way.

 

• Sometimes “winning” is losing.
• Sometimes being right means being “dead” right.
• Sometimes getting “my” way doesn’t get what I need.

 

Paul placed his complete confidence in GOD’s power to save all humans who believe in JESUS as the Savior. The gospel reveals how GOD puts people right with HIMSELF. It wasn’t the amounts given, or church attendance or by being nice that saved humans, Paul’s words imply. It is about being put right with GOD through JESUS dying for the sins humans commit.

 

• GOD wants me to be put right with HIM by believing I need JESUS to save me from eternal death.
• GOD wants me to see other people as HE sees their need to be put right with HIM.
• GOD wants me to put people right so I can overlook their sin as HE forgives those who believe in HIS SON.

 

Let’s face it, some people are difficult, namely you and me. I mean, GOD knew humans would not want to be bothered by HIM nor would we want a relationship with HIM. BUT GOD loved me anyway. HE saw every sin I would do and put me right with HIM so I could have a relationship with HIM.

 

On occasion I blame HIM and doubt HIM and pout when HE does not give me “my” way. BUT I praise HIM and love HIM and cherish the things HE has done for me. I am grateful GOD loved me enough to put me right with HIM through HIS SON JESUS, who is now alive.

 

• Are you at odds with someone?
• Do you want someone to change leave or die?
• Will you put the person right with you and desire salvation for you and “that” person so GOD can “win” HIS people back?

Subject Matter Expert

Subject Matter Expert

John 9: ²⁶ Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

²⁷ He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

²⁸ Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

³⁰ The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! ³¹ Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. ³² Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. ³³ If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

³⁴ They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.

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Being deemed the subject matter expert was a hidden honor to me. I mean whenever someone had questions, they would come to me for the answers. I felt needed and wanted. One day, someone came up to me with a question that I could not answer. How dare they! “Why were they trying to trip me up?” I thought.

• There were times when I thought I could “know it all.”
• There were times when I believed I could be the one who had all the answers.
• There were times when I felt so great about being the subject matter expert that I would defend my title.

The church leaders kept interrogating the man healed of his blindness by JESUS. They repeated their questions, not seeking the truth but to see if they could catch the man in a lie. The man had enough and asked them, “How could HE heal me, the way HE healed me, if HE were not from GOD? This question stumped them so they threw him out of the community.

• GOD wants me to know he raises other people for HIS purpose.
• GOD wants me to accept that I am not the only one who follows HIM.
• GOD wants me to place HIM as the only one who is superior.

Superiority is a fatal flaw that GOD wants to get rid of. Bragging and boasting about being an “expert” in knowing GOD or HIS word can be a weakness. The Pharisees could not see GOD when HE arrived because of their blindness to their lust for power. They were supposed to be the experts.

JESUS wants me to be able to hear HIM speak even through the youngest child. HIS truth is true from the rich and learned as well as the poor and unlearned. HE can and will use unlikely people to spread HIS word. I am glad HE gives me grace to hear HIM.

• Do you consider yourself a subject matter expert?
• Do you give GOD any credit for what you know?
• Will you allow GOD to open your ears to hear from people who may not be an expert?

Before Accusing

Before Accusing

John 8: ⁴ they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. ⁵ Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” ⁶ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

⁷ So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” ⁸ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. ⁹ Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. ¹⁰ When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

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“Ooo, I’m telling” was my threat to my adversary. Getting this person in trouble and seeing them punished was my goal so I added a few items just to make sure the sentence was harsh.

Unfortunately the person I spoke to used discernment and made me settle the issue I had with the person I was telling on. They also gave me a warning. “Be careful of accusing someone or you may get in trouble yourself.”

• Many times I wanted to accuse someone.
• Many times I wanted to see “that” person get in trouble.
• Many times I wanted to see justice served because of my accusation.

JESUS discerned the motives of the church leaders. HE wrote something on the ground that may have scared them. Did HE write the names of those who also committed adultery? Or did JESUS write specific hidden sins of the church leaders? We do not know. BUT JESUS did something else.

• JESUS forgives me in the middle of my sin.
• JESUS has compassion for me, knowing I need HIM.
• JESUS ignores my accuser, the devil, by giving me the HOLY SPIRIT who pleads for me on my behalf.

Before accusing anyone, GOD wants me to check my motive for accusing them. Do I want to restore this person or tear them down? If it is the latter of the two, then I may be accused of hatred by GOD HIMSELF. I am grateful GOD forgives me.

• Are you slandering someone?
• Do you speak harshly about other people?
• Will you stop trying to get others in trouble and seek GOD’s restoration so they can bring others to HIM today?

Mindset

Luke 15: ¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

²⁰ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants,  ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. ²³ And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; ²⁴ for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

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“Aw man, am I going to get punished this time!” I thought to myself. I mean I had promised GOD I would not do this particular sin anymore, yet there I was. My mind started racing as I tried to come up with things to say to GOD. “Maybe I’ll start out with, ‘Remember that time I served those people’?” was the practice in my mind.

• There were many times when I thought about GOD as this ‘graceless’ being.
• There were many times when I looked at GOD as being the ‘ultimate punisher.’
• There were many times when I viewed GOD as an ‘unforgiving tyrant.’

JESUS continues with the illustration of the son who left his father to squander everything. The son was now homeless and worse off than before. When he reasoned that even the father’s servants had it better than him, he decided to practice begging, still having a very wrong view of who his father was.

• GOD wants to have a real relationship with me so I can truly see who HE is.
• GOD wants me to change my sinful view of HIM and stop blaming HIM for not doing enough for me.
• GOD wants me to humbly seek HIM, not demand or command HIM to do stuff for me.

Compassion and love are GOD’s strongest qualities to those who love HIS SON. Yes, HE does allow consequence to happen as part of HIS love, but HE forgives me in spite of my actions. HE has already seen all of my sins, so my temporary goodness is always mired with gunk.

JESUS tries to explain the love of the FATHER who sees my heart a long way off. HE can tell when I have truly given my life to HIM rather than doing life “my” way. HIS compassion is great to me.

• What is your view of GOD?
• Do you think HE has left you?
• Will you stop thinking of GOD negatively and ask GOD for compassion and love today?
• Will you allow GOD to be GOD in your life by confessing how much you are trying to control HIM?

Not Guilty Work Day

Luke 6: Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grain fields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. ² And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

³ But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: ⁴ how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” ⁵ And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

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Working until 3 in the morning was definitely a great excuse for missing church. I was a teen working at a bowling alley. By the time I got home, it was 3:20 AM. I slept until late afternoon.

• There were times when I did not think much of the Sabbath because I worked.
• There were times when my schedule did not include going to church.
• There were times when I slept through going to church because it was a lower priority to making money.

The Pharisees tried to blame JESUS and HIS disciples for breaking GOD’s law, not believing JESUS was and is GOD. They walked around observing the disciples, trying to catch them doing something wrong instead of teaching the Bible from a loving perspective. JESUS surprised them with HIS reply.

• JESUS wants me to take a day to rest and worship HIM.
• JESUS wants me to seek learning from HIM on a regular basis.
• JESUS wants me to know there are some harsh leaders who do not observe the Sabbath, so I may need to be flexible and worship HIM on purpose during other times.

Following JESUS will be met with worldly opposition. Schedules, problems and ailments can sometimes get in the way of my dedication to follow the law to the letter. JESUS says HE is the GOD of the Sabbath and understands my dilemma. HE still wants me to rest, follow and serve HIM, but is flexible because HE is the reason for the Sabbath.

• Are you feeling guilty because you have to work instead of worshipping?
• Do you blame people for working on the Sabbath like the Pharisees?
• Can you follow the heart of JESUS and rest and worship while being flexible to HIS plan for you which may include barriers to your desired worship day?

Late Regrets

Matthew 27: Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. ² So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

³ When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

⁵ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

⁶ The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” ⁷ So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.⁸ That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, ¹⁰ and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

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Sneaking away from work had become the norm. When I returned, reeking of food smells, my boss had enough. “You lost my trust” he said to me. I did not think my slipping away would have any effect on him. I mean I got my job done quickly so I had time. He should understand, right? Wrong.

• There were times I regret.
• There were times I wish I could go back and do things differently.
• There were times I see that I was the problem and it’s too late to do anything about it.

Judas saw what they were about to do with JESUS because of his betrayal. He also saw that the dirty people around him would not stand with him and comfort him. On the contrary, they would blame him too. He regretted it to his own demise.

• GOD says to me, “Let me take on your regrets.”
• GOD says to me, “Let me have your past failures.”
• GOD says to me, “Let me remove your mistakes, mishaps and maleficent acts.

I can’t go back and fix that situation, BUT GOD did. JESUS was blamed for when I slipped off of work and HE innocently paid the penalty of death. When HE rose from the dead, HE decided to pardon me for this blatant sin. Only JESUS provides comfort for my past mistakes.

• Did you make a huge mistake that hurt someone else?
• Do you have past regrets?
• Can you stop replaying your mistake and let the HOLY SPIRIT give you comfort by forgiving you through JESUS resurrection?

It is not easy

Hosea 9: ⁸ The prophet, along with my God,
    is the watchman over Ephraim,
yet snares await him on all his paths,
    and hostility in the house of his God.

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“I’ll teach Sunday School” was my noble decision. Read a little and guide people through a few Bible verses was my concept, but I had no idea what I signed up for. The more I taught, the more I had to study. Then I hit a verse that made me want to jump out of this “teacher” job. GOD said “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.” I noticed GOD was treating me differently than others.

• While others could get away with things GOD held me to a higher standard.
• When other people could do what they wanted to do, GOD held me to a more strict code.
• While others could say what they wanted to say GOD treated me with less tolerance.

Teaching and prophesying for GOD can be a tough road. Humans and even GOD looks at me differently. The desire to have people change their lives over to following GOD can be met with ridicule and at times, persecution. Temptation to simply say what people want to hear pops up regularly. BUT GOD wants me to say what HE says.

• GOD says to me “I did not spare my one and only SON to save all who believe.”
• GOD says to me “Do not speak MY name in vain or make light of MY power.”
• GOD says to me “Do not be proud that you are in MY family rather be thankful enough to teach others.”

Nervousness mixed with confidence is the best way to describe being a teacher of CHRIST. I may “know” something, yet my sinful doubt keeps me from executing GOD’s word flawlessly. Fortunately for me, even though I am held at a higher standard, GOD said “No man will pluck you out of MY hand.” This is comforting and the snares mixed with hostility become bearable.

• Are you in a ministry and still facing persecution?
• Do you find following GOD to be difficult at times?
• Can you rest assured that HE loves what you are doing and asks that you press on?
• Will you allow HIM to protect you in HIS way and keep going anyway?

An Extreme Example

Ezekiel 4: ¹² Eat the food as you would a loaf of barley bread; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel.” ¹³ The Lord said, “In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them.”

¹⁴ Then I said, “Not so, Sovereign Lord! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth.”

¹⁵ “Very well,” he said, “I will let you bake your bread over cow dung instead of human excrement.”

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Hearing bad news is never fun. I mean it seems like I kept hearing things that were so draining, one after another. I had gotten to the point where I only wanted to hear good news so I stopped going to churches that told me I was doing “bad” stuff and only went to places that would motivate me. I mean who needs to hear about all that “sin” stuff anyway?

• Sometimes I do not want to hear the whole story of GOD.
• Sometimes I do not want to hear about the wrath filled GOD.
• Sometimes I do not want to hear about the consequences of “my” sins.

Can’t they just say “GOD forgives” and leave the sin part out? No! GOD spoke through Ezekiel the prophet to show just how far gone HIS people were. HE had them exiled and allowed seven generations to die off. GOD wants sin eradicated, but how can I do this with a built in sin nature?

• GOD says to me “I AM the way the truth and the life” meaning I have to turn to HIM for the answer to sin.
• GOD says to me “I stand at the door and knock if anyone opens it I will come in and sup” meaning HE pursues me, all I need to do is answer.
• GOD says to me “If anyone hears MY voice” meaning I have to listen for HIS voice.

Sin is definitely hated by GOD. HE cannot stand to be around it and HE is not to be ignored. HE DOES mind when I sin, but HE does forgive me for all my sins. HE wants me to know the extent of my need so I will go out and make disciples of HIS everlasting love.

• Are you pointing your fingers at other people?
• Do you think your sin is less than theirs?
• Will you look at your sin as extremely harmful to your relationship with GOD?
• Will you ask GOD for help since you do not have what it takes to stop sinning?
• Can you accept HIS grace today and allow HIM to raise you up to the height HE wants you?

Getting Away with It

Ecclesiastes 8: ¹² Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. ¹³ Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

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Scared to even cuss, I tiptoed around doing “bad” stuff. I went to another school and met more people. They had some great ideas about doing stuff that seemed like “fun.”  Leaving the house without permission was my first test. I had never done that before and it felt great until I got home, late, to worried parents.

I then started trying other stuff. Lying felt pretty good and so did cursing. After a while I asked myself, why was I worried about being “bad?” This stuff did not feel “bad” and besides, I hadn’t killed anyone!

• There were times when I tried sin and it never felt “bad.”
• There were times when I dabbled in sin and the crowd was pleased with my actions.
• There were times when I tested my “sin boundaries” to see what I could get away with.

Little did I know that I was headed in the wrong direction. I was chipping away at my character a little at a time. I did not know I would be out on my own someday with fractures in my character here and there. When I went to my next place in life I faced some difficult times that sin could not fix. What was I to do?

• GOD said to me “Come unto ME all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
• GOD said to me “Return back to me and I will wipe away your tears.”
• GOD said to me “I sent you the COMFORTER who will be with you always.”

Forgiven was the feeling I missed when I was engulfed in sin. I could not do things right and it seemed like my road was getting harder and harder. BUT GOD rescued me and put me back on HIS path. HE said to me “I have a plan for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I believed and HE blessed me thoroughly!

• Do you feel you “got away with it?”
• Are you on the wrong path?
• Can you stop with your plans and start following GOD?
• Will you start looking at GOD as the solution instead of thinking HE is the problem?

HIS Love Endures Forever

Psalm 136: ¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
² Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

⁴ to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
⁷ who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
⁸ the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

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Pondering this passage made me realize that I question GOD's love from time to time. 

When I argued, arrogantly,

HIS love endures forever.

When I battled beliefs,

HIS love endures forever.

When I conjured up corruptness,

HIS love endures forever.

When I doubted HIS domain,

HIS love endures forever.

GOD’s love for me endures forever! This is mindboggling. It is truly impossible to understand just how high or wide or deep GOD’s love is for me. HE is concerned about the sun, moon and stars; while at the same time HE sees a scratch on my arm and immediately begins to heal it.

GOD loves me but sin wants me to make HIM love me “my” way.  GOD’s greatness deserves for me to want GOD the way HE is, not the way I want HIM. HIS love for me endures forever and I choose to follow HIM.

• Do you think GOD has stopped loving you?
• Do you “feel” GOD loves others more than HE loves you?
• Can you stop listening to the sin inside of you and believe GOD’s love for you is forever?
• Will you acknowledge that it is your sin nature that makes you doubt HIM so you can start seeing HIS greatness?
• Will you tell someone today that GOD loves you forever?

You Can Do It!

Psalm:110 ¹ The Lord says to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”

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As I said my first “bad word” I looked around to see if anyone heard me. Some people giggled others still did not notice me. I could curse! As I looked at the opposite sex as objects, people welcomed me in their conversations. I could lust! As I reached in someone else’s bank and removed a few coins to get ice cream I made my escape and came into the house with a brand new Popsicle. My parents noticed and I got torn apart for that. Okay, I couldn’t steal.

• Sometimes I think I can get away with sin and sometimes I think I will feel consequences.
• Sometimes I think GOD is mad at me because I have sinned.
• Sometimes I think I am being punished by GOD because I was born with a sin nature.

Name the sin and I have probably done it or thought about it. Sometimes it seems like sin is winning and I am losing. I mean can’t I just walk the earth sinless the rest of my life? Why won’t GOD just give me the ability to become a superhero, fighting sin and remaining pure? GOD had another thought.

• GOD said to me “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
• GOD said to me “Sin is your enemy and it has condemned you to death, so I will die in your place.”
• GOD said to me “It is finished, I have forgiven you of all your sin, no human can pluck you out of MY hand.”

When I looked around, all of my enemies were defeated. Sometimes they don’t seem that way, but they really are. GOD said “MY grace is sufficient for you, for MY power is made perfect in weakness.” Sin weakens me and every human except one, namely JESUS. HIS death, burial and resurrection gives me power over my enemies that are already defeated!

• Do you feel discouraged?
• Do you feel defeated?
• Can you get back up and see that the LORD is good?
• Will you stop focusing on yourself for a minute and know that GOD has defeated your enemies?

Time Machines Do Not Exist

Psalm 76: ⁷ It is you alone who are to be feared.
    Who can stand before you when you are angry?
⁸ From heaven you pronounced judgment,
    and the land feared and was quiet—
⁹ when you, God, rose up to judge,
    to save all the afflicted of the land.
¹⁰ Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,
    and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.

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“You know what’s really disappointing, I trusted you” were the words that turned me around. After losing the trust of my supervisor I felt miserable. Now I was being watched carefully on a job that I hated anyway. What hurt the most is I had trust placed in me, lost it and could never gain it back.

• Sometimes I blow it with people and I cannot gain their trust back.
• Sometimes I make permanent mistakes with people and I cannot win them over.
• Sometimes I burn bridges with people and they cannot be rebuilt.

It seemed like GOD was angry at my slothful ways. I was definitely on the wrong path and this incident with my supervisor proved it. I had to wake up and place my fear back in GOD rather than fearing a shrinking bank account. I had to get restraint.

• GOD allows me to be as wild as I want to be, but HE would rather have me fear HIS ways.
• GOD allows me to not follow HIM, but HE would rather that I fear HIS wrath.
• GOD allows me to get angry at HIM, shake my fist at HIM and threaten to move away from HIM, but HE would rather have a peaceful loving relationship with me that has power.

I do not have a time machine to go back and fix all the ills I have created in life. GOD allowed me to feel HIS wrath in a very small way many times. BUT GOD is the ultimate forgiver. HE chastens me rather than destroying me. HE adds restraint to my ways that tend to run away from HIM and HE holds on tight. I can now praise HIM for holding onto me instead of letting me run further away from HIM.

• Are you looking back at past mistakes?
• Do you think reviewing the past will help you right now?
• Can you let go of the past and hold onto GOD?
• Will you stop looking into the future and look at the here and now?
• Will you fear and praise GOD today?

You are Special

Psalm 72: ¹² For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
    the afflicted who have no one to help.
¹³ He will take pity on the weak and the needy
    and save the needy from death.
¹⁴ He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
    for precious is their blood in his sight.

^-------

¹⁸ Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
    who alone does marvelous deeds.
¹⁹ Praise be to his glorious name forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

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Exhilaration was the feeling as I pedaled faster and faster. I would zoom out of the alley faster than I have ever had before then turn into the street. My bike riding skills were not as good at the time and as I turned into the street at full speed I hit the curb on the opposite side, flipped over the handle bars and landed on hard dirt. Scraped up and bruised I cried out but no one was around. Why did this “happen” to me?

• There are times when stuff happens.
• There are times when I make decisions and they don’t work out as planned.
• There are times when I get bumped and bruised.

Why does the question “Why” come to mind when something goes wrong? I mean when I look back on all the times I asked “Why” there has been a good reason. But sometimes I get stuck in asking “Why” then that leads me to other questions which make me question “Does GOD even care” or “Am I special to HIM?” These are childish times where I am looking for answers and quick fixes. BUT GOD wants me to know HE is there.

• GOD says to me “I deeply care for you.”
• GOD says to me “Your blood is precious to ME.”
• GOD says to me “I made you for a special purpose; do not let the world take you away from MY purpose for you.”

What does a childishly bad biking decision have to do with life… everything! In life stuff will happen and as a child I would question or blame or doubt GOD’s love. BUT GOD stays with me through all the pain and helps me back on the bicycle of life. With torn pants and bloody knee, I got back on the bike, dried my eyes and rode around the block again and again, this time with more experience. GOD not only saves me, HE grows me.

• Are you being bumped around by life?
• Have you fallen off your bicycle of life and lost your exhilaration?
• Can you ask GOD to put the wind back in your sails and get back on your bicycle with joy?
• Will you accept the situation and allow GOD to heal your wounds?