Valued Relationship

Valued Relationship

Genesis 5: ²¹ Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. ²² After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. ²³ So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. ²⁴ And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

 

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Six generations lived before Enoch was born. Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, and Jared. Hundreds of years passed. The garden was still there in plain sight with the angel guarding the entrance. Death was the sentence for all humans because Adam disobeyed GD’s instructions by eating from HIS tree instead of the millions of trees GOD had given humans. But humans began to pray by “calling on the name of the LORD.”

 

My Observations:

• Human mistakes can be overcome by calling on the name of the LORD.
• Walking with the LORD is special to HIM.
• GOD got so excited about Enoch, that HE spared him from death.

 

Okay, I am incredibly curious about what Enoch said and did. His conversations with JESUS must have been so exciting that HE took Enoch to heaven. Enoch would no longer have to walk on the cursed earth. He lived the shortest in this lineage so far, but actually lived the longest, because he never died.

 

I believe it was JESUS who walked with Enoch for three hundred years. They probably had exciting conversations that had nothing to do with punishment, good or bad offerings or needs. It was a valued relationship between Enoch and GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention that he took Enoch to Moses?
• Have you ever seen special treatment?
• Do you have a special relationship with GOD that excites HIM?

Wake Up!

Wake Up!

Revelation 3: “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

 

“This is the message from the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know what you are doing; I know that you have the reputation of being alive, even though you are dead! ² So wake up, and strengthen what you still have before it dies completely. For I find that what you have done is not yet perfect in the sight of my God. ³ Remember, then, what you were taught and what you heard; obey it and turn from your sins. If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not even know the time when I will come. ⁴ But a few of you there in Sardis have kept your clothes clean. You will walk with me, clothed in white, because you are worthy to do so. ⁵ Those who win the victory will be clothed like this in white, and I will not remove their names from the book of the living. In the presence of my Father and of his angels I will declare openly that they belong to me.

 

⁶ “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

 

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After working all day, I went to visit someone. It took a while to get there and I spent most of the evening enjoying the time. It was late when I left and I had more than an hour to drive home. About fifty-five minutes into the trip I woke up driving up an exit ramp that was not mine. I slammed on brakes, rolled the window down and drove home locally.

 

• I thought I was awake, but I was sleep driving.
• I was lulled to sleep by the repetitious mileage.
• After waking up, I had to do something different!

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, quotes JESUS giving a warning to Sardis. This church thought they were alive, when they were really acting dead. They may have fallen into a false sense of security because of their reputation of being on fire, but JESUS saw they were not walking with HIM.

 

My Observations:

• JESUS wants me to remember what I was taught and what I heard about HIM.
• “My” reputation does not matter, rather doing GOD’s good and perfect will does.
• Waling with JESUS is important to HIM so I should choose to do this daily.

 

Thinking I am awake and being awake are two different things. I mean, I can be doing things that seem right, but I may, in fact, be going through the motions without my heart being filled with the presence of GOD. I can go to church, sing songs and give money without believing in the power of JESUS.

 

GOD wants me to “Wake up” to what JESUS has done and is doing in my life every day. HE wants me to turn from my sinful pats on my own back to see that I need help daily. HE wants me to return back to the days when I was on fire for the LORD because I had just accepted HIM as my Savior.

 

Challenge

• What reputation do you think the writer is speaking of?
• Have you ever thought you were doing GOD a favor by doing what feels comfortable to you?
• Will you return to the fire you once had for JESUS so you can make HIM known to many today?

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?

Knowing True Love

Knowing True Love

1 John 5: ¹⁸ We know that no children of God keep on sinning, for the Son of God keeps them safe, and the Evil One cannot harm them.

¹⁹ We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One.

²⁰ We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with the true God—in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life.

²¹ My children, keep yourselves safe from false gods!

 

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“I love this suit!” I exclaimed. But when it got too small and frayed, I wanted something else. “I love this car!” I said. But when years passed, the maintenance made me get less and less excited.

 

• Items I said “I loved” tended to wear out and so did my “love” for the item.
• When problems developed with the item, my love changed.
• I worried about losing, tearing or breaking the items and I bragged about them whenever I could.

 

John ends his letter with assurance. He wanted to make sure that believers would be taken care of. He said “We know” so that believers would place the love of GOD in their minds and in their hearts and to turn from seeking “false gods.”

 

My Observations:

• Any person, place or thing that I worship over GOD will become a false god to me.
• JESUS loved us and came to give us understanding so that we may know true love.
• Experiencing true love makes me change my desires for false love.

 

“I don’t want that anymore” is confusing to the world. I mean, when the world presents fame and fortune as a good thing, shouldn’t I join in? Maybe not if those things cause me to stop seeking GOD. Unfortunately, the more fortune I have and the more famous I become, the less “time” I have for GOD. Eventually HE is in none of my decisions until I face problems.

 

GOD wants me to be in union with HIM at all times. This means reducing sin so HE can keep me safe from the Evil One. It also means knowing that I belong to GOD versus HE belonging to me. I am glad HE has given us understanding to live in union with the true GOD.

 

Challenge

• What false gods is the writer speaking of?
• Have you ever worshiped someone or something or a title or an action?
• Will you place loving GOD over all your actions and stuff so you can live in union with the true GOD, who loves you deeply, today?

Gift Back

 

Gift Back

Acts 21: ²⁶ The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.

 

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After watching over me, and clearing my path, I was appreciative of him.  He became the CEO, so I couldn’t buy a gift that he didn’t already have. What should I give him? I called and offered myself as service to him and said thank you.

 

• There have been many people in my life who I cannot repay.
• There have been many people in my life who have done so much for me that I lost count.
• There have been many people in my life who have done more than I could ever imagine for me.

 

Paul and the men performed the ritual of purification and the offering atoning for sin. Paul followed the law, but knew that atonement for sin was through JESUS. Paul sacrificed his freedom of not needing to ever sacrifice an animal so he could show others the law was still important.

 

• GOD wants me to give my life back to HIM.
• GOD wants me to recognize what HE did through JESUS.
• GOD wants me to see, HE is the one who deserves all the gifts.

 

What do I give JESUS who died for me? I mean, HE owns everything and knows everything and is everywhere? GOD says “Simply believe in JESUS as the one and only Savior.” Is belief enough? YES. That’s all that is required. BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT makes me want to do more.

 

HE leads me to want more of JESUS every day. HE let’s me know that all my sins have been taken care of, and that avoiding sin does not make me clean. Any service or sin avoidance is only to say thank YOU to the one who has it all. I am grateful for what JESUS did for me.

 

• Is your heart full of worry that your relationship with JESUS is not what it should be?
• Do you think you should give more or work harder for the gift of salvation?
• Will you stop trying to work hard to manipulate GOD so you can see HE did everything just for you today?

Simple Hard Instructions

Luke 10: ²⁵ And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

²⁷ So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

²⁸ And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

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Blindfolded, I sat in the chair in the middle of the room of a group of people. The first question was “If you wanted to kiss someone in the room, what would you take off first?” trying to bait me into removing my clothes. “The blindfold” was the answer to this ridiculous game.

There are times when I walk around blind.

There are times when my blindness keeps me from “hearing.”

There are times when something obvious is right in front of me yet my blindness keeps me from perceiving it.

A certain lawyer tried to catch JESUS off guard rather than seeking an answer. His blindness is not obvious in this conversation but was still present as he “tested” JESUS with the question of eternal life. JESUS spun the question back to him, specifically focusing in on “the law.” The lawyer could do nothing but answer exactly what was in the law.

• JESUS gave me simple instructions to follow.
• JESUS gave me simple instructions to maintain a strong relationship with HIM.
• JESUS gave me simple instructions for eternal life as well as peace in present days.

When JESUS wrote the law, HE placed love in it as the ultimate answer. HE simply wants me to “Love the Lord my GOD with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength, and with all my mind,’ and ‘my neighbor as myself”. Sounds easy, Right? Not really.

Sometimes I make excuses for not loving GOD with all my heart as I place impure things in it. My thoughts sometimes take over and I fall into traps that I am inadequate or worse yet, GOD is mad at me or constantly punishing me.

One mistake in this line of thinking is that GOD should act a certain way to show HIS love for me. GOD wants me to love how HE made me and accept me for who I am. If I love the gifts and talents HE has given me, as they are, then I can love HIM and others the way HE wants me to. GOD’s love is the right answer. I am no longer blind.

• Are you blind towards loving others?
• Does your world center only on you?
• Can you remove your spiritual blindfold and allow GOD to guide you with HIS love for others today?

Fine Print

Luke 4: ⁵ Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. ⁷ Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

⁸ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

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“Just hang with me and you will be alright” was the promise from one of the higher ups to me. At dinner, he drank until he could hardly speak and flirted with the wait staff.  As I walked him and others to his suite in the convention hotel and he suggested we do this again tomorrow only this time bring more people so we could really party.

• There were times when I had to decide between career and virtues.
• There were times when I had to decide between money and character.
• There were times when I had to decide between the crowd and the lone trail.

As a human JESUS was relegated to decide between supernatural comforts of life versus an uncomfortable low quality human existence. Greed, power, fame and lust were now possibilities presented to JESUS BUT HE knew that the fine print of the contract would cause all humans to be lost.

• JESUS wants me to decide to follow HIM versus the very tempting roads presented to me.
• JESUS wants me to decide to follow HIM versus the blind road the world presents.
• JESUS wants me to decide to follow HIM versus following the fears of money, the lusts for power, and the desires of constant pleasure.

Some of the temptations sound perfectly fine and logical. I mean who wouldn’t want riches and the ability to satisfy any lust one could imagine? GOD says to me “Control yourself and follow MY lead so you may be protected from the world.”

People may laugh at this choice because it doesn’t look “successful.” BUT GOD loves when I follow HIM and ignore the jeers from those who poke fun at my plain life. Being amazed at GOD daily is more important than people temporarily following me for my five minutes of fame.

• Are you seeking fame and power?
• Do you think you would be better off if you were extremely wealthy?
• Can you stop trying to fix your problems with money and give all your issues to the LORD who knows just what to do with them?

Three Step Plan

Mark 12:²⁸ Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

²⁹ Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. ³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

³² So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. ³³ And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

³⁴ Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

But after that no one dared question Him.

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One day I woke up with a lot on my mind. As I adjusted the scattered thoughts into one cohesive list, I felt a slight bit of relief but the day would indeed be busy.

• Sometimes I get really busy.
• Sometimes I have so many thoughts running through my head that I can’t get them all nailed down.
• Sometimes I am so busy that every thought is dedicated to what I am working on.

“What is our purpose?” the church leader may as well have asked. This one church leader was truly seeking GOD and not trying to protect his status or his building. JESUS gave him a great answer that I can apply to my life.

• JESUS says to me “Believe that the HEAVENLY FATHER, JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT are one GOD.”
• JESUS says to me “Love GOD with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your soul and with all your strength.”
• JESUS says to me “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

GOD’s purpose for me is very simple, but sometimes I complicate it with the busy times of the day. I focus on the world and not on HIM or my neighbor. JESUS gives me an easy plan to follow; all I need to do is yield to HIS plan daily.

• Are you confused at what GOD wants from you?
• Do you think GOD wants you to do something extremely complex and elaborate?
• Will you yield to HIS three step plan and believe in HIM, love HIM and love your neighbor today?

Another prayer for you

Ephesians 3: ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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• I pray that we understand GOD has grace that covers any sin, past and present.
• I pray that those who doubt can focus their attention on what GOD is doing rather than the current situation.
• I pray about those who are worried about finances that they may focus on GOD’s riches and believe HE is in control of the situation.
• I pray for fortitude in our beings that we may persevere through life’s difficulties.

I pray that all who read this know just how much GOD really loves them. amen

HE promised to be with me.

2 Corinthians 6: ¹⁶ What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them

    and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

    and they will be my people.”

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“First days” seem to be a bit rough for me. On the first day of school I didn’t know anyone and it seemed everyone was playing as I stood and watched. I felt lonely. On the first day of the convention I walked around and it seemed like everyone knew each other. I was new and in unfamiliar territory. I felt alone.

• Sometimes when I’m in a large crowd, I feel alone.
• Sometimes when I’m in a room full of people, I feel lonely.
• Sometimes when I’m in a place where I don’t know the people around me I feel secluded.

The desire to “fit in” becomes an obstacle to my walk with CHRIST. Even though people may be going against GOD I think to myself “wouldn’t it be great to have ‘fun’ like them?” GOD wants more from me.

• GOD wants me to worship HIM as GOD not a wish maker.
• GOD wants me to follow HIS ways not make ways for HIM to follow.
• GOD wants me to “know” that HE will be with me always even when I think I’m alone.

I am never alone.  HE promised to be right there with me every step of the way. HE is my GOD and I am HIS person. HE protects me, guides me and comforts me in the time of my worries. HE is GOD.

• Do you feel alone even when you are around people?
• Do you think no one cares about you?
• Can you trust GOD’s love for you?
• Will you seek HIM today so HE can show you HIS love?

Loving GOD, HIS way or mine?

John 21: ¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

   Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

   Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

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Waiting has been a weakness of mine since “forever.” I mean what was taking them so long? I interviewed with the top executives and the decision should have been clear “I was the man.” Weeks after they told me I wasn’t the man, I walked around work pouting. I even pouted at GOD.

“LORD, why do YOU do things like this?” “Why do YOU put things in front of my face only to snatch them away?” “I don’t feel like serving YOU anymore.” Uh oh, what was I saying?!

• Just because I have served GOD in the past, I still need to grow.
• Just because I have grown a little, I still have a lot of growing to do.
• Just because I have seen a little fruit to my faith, I still need my faith to be strengthened.

Sometimes I think I have “arrived,” in other words I think I have learned all the lessons “I” need to learn, now it’s everyone else’s turn. This is definitely the wrong attitude. GOD shows me my flaws daily so I won’t get my head too puffed up with confidence in myself.  Don’t get me wrong, my self-esteem is fine, probably a little too fine!

• My confidence needs to be aimed at GOD not in me.
• My worthiness only comes through belief in JESUS as being GOD, not in the things I do.
• My judgment need only be directed at me enabling GOD to work on others without my interference.

Loving GOD HIS way means “feeding HIS sheep.” The only way to do this is to have the right attitude.

• Do you love GOD?
• What are you doing to serve HIM?
• Are you trying to love GOD your way or HIS way?
• What would be the answer if GOD asked you “do you love ME?”
• Are you willing to feed HIS lambs, in other words serve people?

Want to embrace “greatness?”

Mark 12:  ²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

   ²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

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Many times I have wanted that promotion or that highly visible project so I could bask in the spotlight when I achieved the goal. I loved receiving awards and I achieved a lot of them.  There is something about the spotlight that made me feel “great.”

• GOD is not impressed with the awards I achieve rather the people I serve.
• GOD is not concerned if I get earthly pats on the back rather HE looks at how I pat others on the back.
• GOD is not moved when I achieve another award given by humans rather HE dotes on how I worship HIM with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

For some reason I began looking for that great feeling each year. I wanted to receive another award and be recognized as being the greatest. BUT GOD has another definition of what great is. HE simply wants me to love.

• Loving GOD with all my heart means getting rid of the foul thoughts my heart dreams up.
• Loving GOD with all my soul means depending on HIM for eternal salvation.
• Loving GOD with all my mind means guiding my intellect to follow HIM and HIS decisions.
• Loving GOD with all my strength means giving up the fight with HIM and leveraging HIS strength to fight my battles.

To love GOD is to love other people. Any act of kindness I can show others, no matter how small, is “great” in GOD’s eyes.

• Are you trying to achieve greatness in human terms?
• Do you want to be recognized for your efforts?
• Will you try filling that void in your heart by serving others today?