Saved by Presence

Saved by Presence

Genesis 19: ¹⁸ Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! ¹⁹ Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. ²⁰ See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”

 

²¹ And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. ²² Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”

 

Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

 

============

 

After being told to “Escape to the mountains”, realized what the angels were saying. He understood that Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding suburbs would be destroyed. He thought quickly and asked to go to a nearby little city. The angel granted his passage to this city and would not destroy it.

 

My Observations:

• Lot’s presence in the little city saved everyone there from destruction.
• Lot knew the area well, possibly because of skills he learned from the Chaldeans, or Abraham or Terah.
• Lot was afraid of the people who captured him years prior and did not want to take a chance of running into them again.

 

Lot and his family were allowed to go to the small city that did not have a name. Lot named it Zoar, meaning small or insignificant. GOD would protect this small group of people because of Lot. GOD still does this. By this example, HE does not destroy places where HE has a believer, unless HE urges them out.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about this conversation between Lot and the angel?
• Have you ever wondered why you are in a certain place?
• Can you realize that your presence in a place blesses it because of GOD’s favor on you?

First of Many

First of Many

Revelation 14: Then I looked, and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; with him were 144,000 people who have his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven that sounded like a roaring waterfall, like a loud peal of thunder. It sounded like the music made by musicians playing their harps. ³ The 144,000 people stood before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders; they were singing a new song, which only they could learn. Of the whole human race they are the only ones who have been redeemed. ⁴ They are the men who have kept themselves pure by not having sexual relations with women; they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from the rest of the human race and are the first ones to be offered to God and to the Lamb. ⁵ They have never been known to tell lies; they are faultless.

 

============

 

Standing on the playground, I waited to be picked. I expected to be picked last because the jocks would win and I was not very coordinated. To my surprise, I was picked early. I had the best game of my kickball career! I not only kicked the ball and got on base, but I caught one during the game!

 

• I was one of the first chosen.
• There was nothing special about me, but I was chosen.
• Out of the whole playground, I was chosen early, but many followed.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw JESUS somewhere else, standing on Mount Zion. He also saw those who had received a special seal when the sixth seal was opened. They were not the only ones saved, rather the first in a point in time, who kept themselves pure and followed CHRIST without following the world.

 

My Observations:

• The special woman gave birth to a special child through a chosen people.
• The chosen people are called the bride of JESUS.
• Being the first of many required 12,000 from each tribe, chosen by GOD.

 

Numbers and gender can trip people up after reading this passage. I mean, only 144,000 men being redeemed, can seem like everyone else in the world is useless. BUT GOD is revealing something different.

 

HE is the one who gave the words to a writer “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Our cursed mind and eyes can question GOD’s sequence of events, missing out on the purity and not lying. I am glad JESUS redeemed all who believe in HIM.

 

Challenge

• How does the writer try to show how the group was “with” JESUS?
• Does any part of this passage trip you up?
• Will you look at GOD’s salvation of all humans differently and seek a great relationship with HIM today by believing in JESUS as the Savior?

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.”

 

============

 

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?

Someone Special

Someone Special

Acts 7: Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

² And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, ³ and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’ ⁴ Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. ⁵ And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. ⁶ But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. ⁷ ‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’ ⁸ Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

============

Finally invited to a party and allowed to go, I went with excitement. I played, ate and really enjoyed myself. But suddenly I felt I had to go to the bathroom. I did not know what to do.

I mean I was at someone else’s house and did not know who to ask. I decided I could make it back to my house a couple of blocks away. I shuffle ran but I did not make it without the dreaded accident. When I got home, I removed the wet pants and hid them at the bottom of the dirty clothes.

• Many times I have felt embarrassed.
• Many times I have felt incompetent.
• Many times I have felt less than everyone.

Stephen was singled out because of his love for the LORD. Instead of addressing the lies told about him, he talked about history. He spoke of ordinary people who seemed to do extraordinary things. But they did daily things and GOD was the one who made the daily special.

• GOD wants me to have simple faith.
• GOD wants me to just be who I am, knowing HE made me.
• GOD wants me to simply speak about HIM and HE will make the words special.

Being special is easy because GOD sees everyone HE created as special. HE cares on an individual level that no one else can do. HE knows my downfalls and the things that makes HIM swell up with joy. I am grateful JESUS died specifically for me and is alive saving all who believe in HIS power.

• Do you think you are not special?
• Are you trying to be special on social media or in crowds because you are, in reality, insecure?
• Will you accept GOD’s love by believing in JESUS who cares deeply specifically for you?
• Will you also know you are special and only you can reach “that” person for JESUS?

Filled Up

Luke 13: ²⁰ And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

============

In a hurry, I placed the gas container in the back seat of my car. Unfortunately the rubber gasket was missing which left the top loose and a little spilled out as I turned the corner sharply. Those few drops made the entire car smell.

• Sometimes a little can be a lot.
• Sometimes it only takes a little of something to take over everything.
• Sometimes just a tiny amount matters.

JESUS says a rather confusing analogy about the kingdom of GOD. HE compares it to leaven or yeast, that a woman baking bread, places in the mixture. Only three measures were used to permeate the entire batch. What does HIS analogy have to do with me and my problems?

• GOD says to me “The kingdom of heaven grows because of ME.”
• GOD says to me “Once MY presence enters you, I will fill you up.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the great I AM who is made of the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT, three in one.”

Such few words describe so much. GOD’s kingdom is growing exponentially in spite of any force trying to stop it. HIS kingdom cannot be yielded in any way. HIS presence inside of me saves me eternally. That cannot be changed. When I ask for more of HIS kingdom, HE give it to me generously.

• Are you seeking the world’s kingdom or GOD’s kingdom?
• What is permeating your thoughts and actions?
• Are you bearing fruit for GOD or does your mind get torn apart with the today’s problems?
• Can you allow a little of GOD to permeate your entire life by letting go of your worries today?

Made Whole

Luke 8: ⁴³ Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, ⁴⁴ came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.

⁴⁵ And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” ⁴⁷ Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

⁴⁸ And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

============

Not liking who I was, I walked around complaining constantly. I mean I felt I was broken. I did not like my body size, hair, clothes, skin color, social status and financial capability. Everything was wrong and I wanted people to know this.

• There were times when I felt everything was broken.
• There were times when even my physical body was broken.
• There were times when I thought nothing was right in my life.

For over 4,300 days, day after day a woman was reminded that something was wrong. Her constant bleeding probably left her anemic with no solution in sight. She saw her opportunity to be healed and simply touched the hem of JESUS’s garment and was immediately made whole.

• When I accepted JESUS as my Savior I was made whole.
• When I believed that JESUS, who is GOD, became a human to die for me, I was made whole.
• When I confessed my sins to JESUS, HE cleansed me of all unrighteousness and made me whole.

Sometimes I want more than I have. I mean I an sometimes not satisfied with my current situation. BUT GOD has made me whole. HE has healed me from the wounds of eternal death and cares for me daily. No matter what the situation is, HE loves me without a doubt.

• Are you facing a prolonged issue?
• Are you reminded about your problems day after day?
• Will you reach out to JESUS’ power and allow HIM to make you whole?
• Will you accept where HE has you and praise HIM today?

Window Pane

Mark 10: ¹⁷ Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”

²⁰ And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

²¹ Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

²² But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

============

 “Why did you do that?” a person inquired of me as they were trying to get to the bottom of my untruth. My lie was falling apart and I said something else that could not support the lie I had just told. They could see through my lies.

• People have seen right through my lies.
• People have looked at my face and knew I was not telling the truth.
• People have listened to a story I have said and quickly deciphered I was not telling the truth.

JESUS spoke to the rich man who seemed to be an achiever. The rich man’s words “Do” and “Inherit” shows he thought he could earn GOD’s approval. BUT JESUS saw right through HIM and told the rich man of only one fatal flaw, namely he was greedy.

• JESUS sees my heart and forgives my sin.
• JESUS sees my plans and alters them to bless me and others.
• JESUS sees my deepest desires and saves me anyway.

At one point I thought this story was only about greed, but it is much deeper than that. Pride, bitterness, hatred, lust, and envy are just some sins JESUS could have substituted in this message. If a murderer approached HIM, JESUS would have changed the action.

HE sees me desperately trying to achieve what HE has already done. JESUS has already forgiven me, already healed me and has already restored my soul back to HIM. HIS desire is that I open my eyes to HIS blessings daily because HE did it while seeing right through me.

• Are you trying to achieve GOD’s free gift of grace?
• Do you think you are in control of GOD’s love by your actions?
• Will you stop thinking your “level of good” merits you special favors from GOD?
• Can you start opening up your eyes to grace and spit out your bitterness?

I Can and I Will

Matthew 16: ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

============

“What will they think of me?” was my question when asked to go to church. I was the life of the party for a change. I had been “Goody-goody” for a long time. It seemed like I should be able to do some sinning for a while.

“What will they think of me?” was my question when asked to send a simple faith filled voicemail throughout the company. I mean I was the leader of a very large and influential portion of the company. I had to protect my perception right? Wrong!

• I have been embarrassed to speak about JESUS.
• I have been too filled with sin to speak about JESUS.
• I have been so proud of my accomplishments that I did not want to risk losing “my” position to speak about JESUS.

GOD says to me “If you are ashamed of ME then I will be ashamed of you” and I was truly ashamed of HIM. Human standards got in the way of my living for CHRIST. I bowed to the thought of “You can’t pray here” or “We don’t want you to even speak about JESUS here” even though no one said those words to me.

• JESUS wants me to shine my light before men on a daily basis.
• JESUS wants me to be salt in a world where salt is rejected.
• JESUS wants me to take up my cross by denying myself.

Losing my life means a lot. It means I can pray for all who pass me in the hallways. It means I do not have to be angry at “those” people, instead I can ask GOD for “our” forgiveness. It means I can open my home to my neighbors for JESUS’ purpose instead of hiding my affiliation with HIM.

GOD wants my family, my business, my job, my school, my house, my car, my clothes, my wealth, my desires and lastly my health. HE can do with them as HE pleases and I should learn to praise HIM when I try to hold onto any of them. HE can pry them from my hands in a hurtful way or I can freely give them to HIM, praising HIM along the way.

• What are you holding onto?
• Can you give GOD your home or your office or your school by inviting others into it to learn from HIM?
• Will you take GOD to work with you today and pray for all who pass you?

The ONE WHO IS

Amos 4: ¹³ He who forms the mountains,
    who creates the wind,
    and who reveals his thoughts to mankind,
who turns dawn to darkness,
    and treads on the heights of the earth—
    the Lord God Almighty is his name.

============

Perplexed and nervous, I felt I had nowhere to turn. It seemed like my wits were at their end and I could not see how to get out of the snare I was in. I was sick of being of where I was but too tired to climb out or the hole I was in. “Will I ever graduate” was the thought.

• Sometimes I am sick of where I am in life.
• Sometimes I am tired of where I am in life.
• Sometimes I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!

One reason for my exhaustion is I had nothing to guide me at the time. I mean people gave me a good reason for going to college but never filled in the blanks specifically for me. I struggled wondering if this trial would ever be done. Since then there have been other trials that went even longer. No matter how much intellect I would throw at my problem, I could not get out. Who can help during these times?

• GOD says to me “I formed the mountains and created the winds.”
• GOD says to me “I reveal my thoughts to you.”
• GOD says to me I turn dawn to darkness and tread on the heights of the earth.”

What GOD is saying to me is HE IS in total control of my life. There nothing too hard or too big for HIM. HE sends difficulties in my life to get my attention. HE wants me to turn totally to HIM, seeking HIM daily. GOD wants total acceptance of where HE has me. HE deserves praise daily with a song on my lips. Instead of bringing HIM down, I raise HIM up to be GOD in my life!

• Are you going through something?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Can you stop looking at your success and start looking at GOD’s mighty power!
• Will you turn your face to GOD today?

Saved from the Slide

Ezekiel 37: ²³ They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

============

Going down the slide wasn’t enough for our playground; you had to be brave enough to run up its steep incline. As I tried over and over I found myself on my back as I tumbled down the slippery slope. The same goes for life. Many times I have told GOD, “I will NEVER do or say that again” and moments later I am doing or saying what I just said I wouldn’t.

• There have been times when I have slid back into the same old sins.
• There have been times when I left my promises to reach for my own protection.
• There have been times when I was on the wrong trail because I got off the correct one.

It seems like I go through periods when I am walking very close to GOD and other times it feels like I have slid so far away from HIM that even HE can’t find me. How can I be sure that HE will even look for me?

• GOD said to me “I WILL save you from your backsliding.”
• GOD said to me “I WILL cleanse you.”
• GOD said to me “I WILL be your GOD and you will be MY people.”

GOD does not need me to clean myself up or be perfect. In fact HE knows the more I try to be perfect the more highly I think of myself. HE simply wants me to “be” and let HIM do the rest. Yes, sin is awful, but that should not be my focus. GOD wants me to focus on what HE is doing daily.

HE is delivering me on a daily basis. Protection flows from HIS sinews as I crouch behind HIS strength. HE saves me in the middle of my sin and does not wait. HE picks me up and teaches me how not to slide back. HE and HE alone placed me in HIS family, never to leave me again!

• Are you sliding backwards to your old ways?
• Do you think you are far away from GOD?
• Can you understand that HE is right there with you?
• Will you allow HIM to rescue you from your idols and vile images and other offenses?
• Will you allow GOD to be your GOD and you HIS people? 

No More Ruin

Isaiah 60: ¹⁸ No longer will violence be heard in your land,
    nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation
    and your gates Praise.
¹⁹ The sun will no more be your light by day,
    nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your God will be your glory.

============

“I AM going to ruin you” were the words I heard as I prayed about my situation.  “Ruin” I thought to myself. Why ruin me? I mean haven’t I done X, Y and Z? This was not the best choice of words during an already stressful time. I expected GOD to say to me “Everything will be fine or don’t worry” instead HE told me to “Pray for my enemies.” Wait a minute, what about me?

• As a young follower of GOD I thought nothing should go wrong?
• As an immature follower of GOD I thought everything should go my way and I could act any old way towards anyone and still be forgiven and blessed.
• As an infantile flower of GOD I never thought I would hear the words “I AM going to ruin you.”

I don’t think I uttered these words to people around me. I mean I was used to being on top and having many people praise “me” for my stature. I was on the very top and I loved the respect it brought. Who wants to be “low” again?

• Looking back I can see GOD wanted me to see HIM no matter where HE took me.
• Looking back I can see GOD wanted to remove distractions to doing HIS will.
• Looking back I can see GOD wanted me to have a real relationship with HIM, not one that only depended on HIM giving me everything I wanted, like a spoiled brat.

GOD only “ruins” HIS children for a short time, otherwise who would stand. HE wants me to depend upon HIS salvation and have true praise within my walls. HE wants me to look on HIS everlasting light and know I am protected only by HIM.

• Is GOD ruining you?
• Are you squirming because it seems hard and difficult?
• Will you stop squirming and know HE is making you stronger?
• Will you allow HIM to grow you up for HIS purposes?

Narrow Escapes are the Norm

Psalm 124: ¹ If the Lord had not been on our side—
    let Israel say—
² if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us,
³ they would have swallowed us alive
    when their anger flared against us;
⁴ the flood would have engulfed us,
    the torrent would have swept over us,
⁵ the raging waters
    would have swept us away.

⁶ Praise be to the Lord,
    who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird
    from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
    and we have escaped.
⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

============

Like Hollywood I “woke up” just in the nick of time as I drove my car off the expressway and onto an exit ramp! Another time my friend and I made it onto the bus just in the nick of time, as a fight broke out amongst the thugs the driver closed the door behind us. A speeding car almost crashed into mine once.  I was told not to travel the week prior to every plane being grounded due to terrorist attacks. The list goes on and on.

• People have said to me “You are lucky.”
• People have said to me “You have skill.”
• People have said to me “You must be living right.”

Life-threatening narrow escapes have happened to me many times throughout the years. Looking back, I don’t know that I have always been thankful.

• GOD wants me to acknowledge that HE was the one who brought me through all of my troubles.
• GOD wants me to recognize that only HE can protect me even in the direst situation.
• GOD wants me to open my mouth and praise HIM for the way HE is handling things during my trials, not after.

I love what the writer says “Our hope is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Only HE can pull off safety and security. Nothing on this earth provides protection like GOD. HE breaks chains made by humans and enables freedom from traps.

• Are you waiting on your escape?
• Has it been prolonged?
• Will you praise GOD for taking HIS time?
• Can you recognize that GOD has given you your daily bread?
• Will you look back on your life to remember the narrow escapes HE provided you?

Reset Expectations

Psalm 75: ⁷ It is God who judges:
    He brings one down, he exalts another.
⁸ In the hand of the Lord is a cup
    full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
    drink it down to its very dregs.

⁹ As for me, I will declare this forever;
    I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
¹⁰ who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
    but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

============

“Look at ‘those’ people” is what I thought to myself. I mean “they” are blatantly sinning by doing , not admitting any of my own. Maybe if “they” would just stop sinning then “their” problems would go away was my thought.

• When I think other people are sinning I don’t look at my own sins.
• When I look at what someone else is doing I ignore my own sins.
• When I talk about someone else I overlook my own sins.

Comparing myself to a class of sinner is real easy and quite honestly it feels good. I mean “they” are doing so much wrong and “I” am over here doing right! GOD should be patting me on the back and raising me up to be… well, the highest HE has raised me! Wrong!

• It is GOD who judges and what I sometimes overlook is I am in the mud.
• It is GOD who brings one down and exalts another and what I sometimes overlook is I do not deserve to be raised up.
• It is GOD who chooses and what I sometimes overlook is HE chose me in the middle of my sins.

GOD is the ultimate forgiver! HIS grace and mercy are unmatched. But my sinful mind sometimes expects HIM to raise me up to a certain level. Faith “is” the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen and I must put my faith in GOD. HE chooses how high I should be at a certain time to reach HIS people.

My expectations should not be on “how high” HE raises me, but “who” should I be talking to now that I am where I am. I will declare GOD’s righteousness forever, I will sing praises to the GOD of Jacob.

• Are you comparing yourself to others?
• Do you think you should be “higher” than you are?
• Can you stop trying to get raised up and seek the purpose of why GOD has you where you are?
• Will you become content and accept GOD’s calling on your life to reach the people HE is bringing to you at this level?
• Will you praise HIM for where HE has you and that HE has a special purpose for you?

Where to Cry Out

Psalm 54: ¹ Save me, O God, by your name;
    vindicate me by your might.
² Hear my prayer, O God;
    listen to the words of my mouth.

³ Arrogant foes are attacking me;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    people without regard for God

⁴ Surely God is my help;
    the Lord is the one who sustains me.

⁵ Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
    in your faithfulness destroy them.

⁶ I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
    I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.
⁷ You have delivered me from all my troubles,
    and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.

============

As I presented my idea, it was shot down quickly. “No big deal” I thought. At the next meeting I did the same with the same result. I went to another meeting with another group and got the same result. I wonder if it is my presentation style. I went to a mentor and asked “What was my problem?” He said, “This group has banned together, you cannot win.”

• There have been times when I’m on the other side of the crowd.
• There have been times when I’m on the outside rather than being on the inside of the crowd.
• There have been times when I cannot seem to win over a certain crowd.

The funny thing is as soon as I declared I would follow CHRIST a little deeper, I started having troubles. I mean I took a stance and would no longer participate in the “harmless” conversations that joked about body parts. I would no longer use the slander tactic to remove the leader above me, instead I would only speak positively, no matter how they behaved. I would no longer look the other way while someone’s drink tab was a bit high. How did I get there in the first place?

• Only GOD can help me follow HIS path because other paths are celebrated by the masses.
• Only GOD can help me follow HIS path because other paths, while destructive, are crowded.
• Only GOD can help me follow HIS path because other paths seem so glitzy and glamorous but are full of destruction.

Blind ambition is the correct term that put me in a place where I could no longer be “me.” I had to be someone else in order to get ahead. Whatever lusts the leader had, I had, or at least pretended to have. BUT GOD wanted me to act differently. HE said to me “What is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul?” This was a very harsh statement at a pivotal point in my career.  I chose GOD.  HE hears my cries and delivers me from my troubles.

• Where are you?
• Are you trying to fit in the crowd?
• Can you take a stance and follow GOD no matter what?
• Will you ask GOD to help you follow HIS path?

My Heart Leaps With Joy!

Psalm 28: ⁶ Praise be to the Lord,

    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

⁸ The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
⁹ Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.

============

My heart is filled with joy as we approach the weekend where we celebrate the most significant murder on the planet. I can only imagine how HE felt as HE reached out to us and we misinterpreted HIS kindness because of our false view of who and what GOD “should” be.

• JESUS extended a hand to me and I misinterpreted it for punishment.
• JESUS tried to wipe away a tear from my face and I misinterpreted it for a slap.
• JESUS attempted to tell me “Have Courage” and “Do not be afraid” and I went away cowering even more!

It seems like this JESUS fellow messed up quite a bit. HE was misunderstood, lied on and beaten until the crowd got worked up into a frenzy to have HIM murdered. Then I looked at my blunders throughout life and nothing compares to HIS. HE said HE was GOD and the staunch church goers, who had specific ways GOD should act in their minds, killed HIM. Wow! JESUS must have been crazy to call HIMSELF GOD!

• But on Sunday JESUS rose from the dead just for me.
• But on Sunday JESUS got up from the grave and had all power and saved me.
• But on Sunday JESUS showed everyone HE is GOD and HE is alive!

Just because I look crazy sometimes or am embarrassed sometimes or fail sometimes doesn’t mean JESUS is out to get me or take me down! Quite the opposite, HE became a human to shoe me HE loves me and that even HE would be misunderstood. “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” was and is HE plea to the FATHER for me.

• Are you ready to praise GOD for being there for you?
• Can you stop misinterpreting what GOD is taking you through and praise HIM!
• Will you begin filling your heart with joy by praising HIM today!

GOD has pinpoint precision

Exodus 9: ³ the hand of the Lord will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats. ⁴ But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”

⁵ The Lord set a time and said, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” ⁶ And the next day the Lord did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.

============

Fascinated, I stood outside as the bright sky quickly turned dark. This was not a normal darkness rather the clouds had an eerie color to them. Olive green mixed with grey is the best description I can give the squall. Some of the clouds began to move faster then they started to spiral. It was time to take cover!

As I ran into the basement, the lights went off! Hard rain, wind and loud thunder rocked the house but eventually it passed. Our house was spared but the tornado did touch down with a wake of damage.

• I cannot explain the times where things happen all around me and I am spared.
• I do not understand the moments when problems are going on all around me and I am spared.
• I cannot fathom why a trial happens to some and I am spared.

Many other situations have happened that I cannot explain. From my car spinning out of control and touching nothing to lightning striking feet away and not harming me I have seen many situations where it could have been me but wasn’t. I wonder why GOD has spared me. What does HE want?

 GOD spares me because HE wants me to tell people about HIS SON.

• GOD spares me because HE wants me to show compassion to others just as HE has for me.
• GOD spares me because HE wants me to help those who hurt and show them a way to peace.

I can’t just say thanks for saving me and go about my business.  GOD wants me to interact with others to make sure they are alright.  HE protects me and makes me whole so I can help others focus on what HIS SON did for me.

• Have you been spared from the storm?
• Did something happen to the person right next to you and you were spared?
• Can you realize GOD has a purpose for you?
• Won’t you ask GOD what HE wants you to do today?

Where was I when HE found me?

1 Timothy 1: ¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

============

As I sat at the bar on another Saturday night with “friends” I thought to myself “what am I doing here?” I mean this is definitely not fulfilling! After being popular it seemed like I was living out a sentence of reclusion in a “Podunk” town. I was in the middle of a crowd feeling lonely but this time not lonely for people.

What was missing? People invited me out so that wasn’t it. We had laughter so that wasn’t it. We had shallow meaningless conversations so that wasn’t it. What could fill my emptiness?

• When I try to fill my life with sensuous pleasure I may be running away from something.
• When I try to surround myself with frolicking I may need to face something.
• When I go to the extreme to make myself happy I may need to deal with something.

What was I missing?  I was “the man” on campus then I wasn’t “the man” in this small town. Was it the town that was the problem? Nah! GOD had a different path that HE wanted me on.

• No matter what my past was GOD wants to pour out HIS love on me.
• No matter what I’ve done GOD wants to show HIS faithfulness to me.
• No matter where I’ve wandered to GOD wants to give me grace in abundance.

Somehow GOD saw right through my sinful façade. HE dug to the core and considered me trustworthy to carry HIS message. HE appointed me to HIS service in the middle of my ignorance and unbelief. HE found me when I wasn’t looking for HIM.

• Is your heart empty?
• Are you unfulfilled?
• Is your life out of control?
• Can you look to CHRIST to fill the hole in your heart?
• Won’t you give up that lifestyle for one that is fulfilling and full of GOD?