“Are you with me?” GOD asks!

Luke 11: 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

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My GODLY behavior seems to ebb and flow during various times in my life. Funny, when I consider things to be going well is when I sin the most and ignore GOD the most.

• When I am in the “in” crowd at work I forget about family, friends and GOD to get ahead.
• When I have lots of money then decadence of food, fashion and folly tempts me.
• When I feel secure with my house, cars and stuff, I forget about the poor and less fortunate.

It seems like when I can see my retirement funds growing and I have just come from that lavish vacation that I forget to serve GOD with all my mind with all my body with all my soul. Instead I worry about how much I spent and who is buying which trinket all in hopes to keep my piles of money.

My arrogance seems to grow and my demands get justified, and then I can’t figure out why GOD’s people seem to scatter and run away.

• In times of need I tend to cry out to GOD for help.
• In times of need I worship GOD without ceasing.
• In times of need I straighten up and do what GOD says and hopefully I can manipulate HIM into getting my way.

GOD wants me to be consistent. Give when I have plenty, serve when I am busy, care when I need someone to care for me. When I feel deserving and selfish, I am not “for” GOD. When I am serving and humble I am gathering for GOD.

• Are you for or against GOD?
• Are your words and actions pleasing to GOD or are they scattering HIS people?
• Are you focused on helping the poor or are you saving up for that next large purchase?

Can I have a good relationship with you?

Luke 11: ⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

   ¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

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My parents didn’t know what they were doing at all or so I thought. They didn’t dance my dance, drink my drink, know about my technology or get my friends. How clueless could they be? I wanted out and I figured at seventeen I knew everything I needed to know about life so I didn’t ask many questions.

• I will never have a good relationship with GOD unless I seek HIS heart.
• I will never have a good relationship with my wife and kids unless I seek their needs and desires.
• I will never have a good relationship with my parents, siblings, friends and neighbors unless I seek their problems and try to be there for them.

I never thought about asking for more of the HOLY SPIRIT. I mean didn’t GOD give HIM to me when I believed JESUS is GOD who died for my sins? Isn’t my relationship solid with that action? Yes, but I still have the rest of my life to live and I want to live it fully.

“Asking” according to GOD doesn’t seem to come from a selfish angle. “Asking” seems to be something HE wants me to do to be more like HIM.  Yes I could ask for money and more junk, BUT GOD is pleased when I simply ask HIM for more of HIM to serve others and let HIM do the rest.

HE wants me to ask for better relationships so that HE can be fully glorified and draw many people to HIM.

• Do you have good relationships?
• Have you asked for a better relationship with “that” person?
• Will you seek GOD more in order to have better relationships?
• Is the relationship the other person’s responsibility or is it yours?

Don’t worry be stress free!

Luke 10: ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

   ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

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Crying seemed like the thing to do when I didn’t get the gift I wanted at Christmas. I also cried when someone stole my bike. But as I got older I traded my tears for stress when things went wrong.

Job stability, “that” promotion, bills and family health became the things I felt like crying over. I became so stressed out that I couldn’t even sleep. Which worry should I focus on?

• I can spend my life chasing money, fame and power but it will cost me my peace.
• I can spend my life chasing notoriety, trinkets and worldly pleasure but it will cost me my rest.
• I can spend my life chasing pipe dreams, money making schemes and lavish vacations but it will cost me my humility.

Everything else that I look at is a distraction away from GOD. Yeah, I know this sounds extreme, but really how much time do I really waste not focusing on HIM? The answer is quite a bit! Most of my plans, pleasures and purpose are focused on “me” and getting ahead.

• GOD wants me to focus some of my life worshipping HIM.
• GOD wants me to focus some of my life praising how great HE is.
• GOD wants me to focus some of my life choosing “what is better.”

Bills, work and stress are always going to be there, but spending time with GOD is precious. Martha chose to focus on work when she should have focused on GOD.

• Are you trying to climb the corporate ladder and have lost sight of GOD?
• Are you stressed out about something?
• Can you focus your attention on GOD for just a moment to feel HIS peace?

JESUS laughed!

Luke 10: ²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

   ²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

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Sometimes I think JESUS is this stiff serious person who walks around with this airy voice saying impossible statements that only HE could keep. I mean HE is GOD, of course HE wouldn’t sin! But I seldom look at the human side of JESUS.

• JESUS got excited when HE saw Satan defeated and HIS humans were saved from eternal separation.
• JESUS got excited when HE made humans with free will to choose.
• JESUS got excited when HE made me.

I can see it now, JESUS screaming “Yeah!” and praising the FATHER for saving the people who chose to follow HIM with free will. HE gets excited when I faithfully follow HIM with perseverance and excitement.

I believe JESUS has a wonderful sense of humor. If you don’t believe that, just look at me. ALL things, ALL matters, ALL situations have been committed to JESUS. That’s something to get excited about.

• Do you begin your day with “purpose” in mind?
• Are you focused on being excited for GOD?
• Do you realize Satan has already been defeated and cannot eternally harm anyone who believes in the SON?

Grace is so much stronger than power!

Luke 9: ⁵² And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

 ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” ⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

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Bullies seem to be a way of life these days. Whether it is a terrorist, politician, gang member, corporate boss or simply the captain of the cheerleading squad those who chose to abuse power will exist to the end.

My ambition to climb the corporate ladder was fueled by fairness and equality yet admittedly at times it did feel good flex my muscles on those “I” perceived to be obnoxious and irresponsible. They would feel my wrath immediately with no apologies.

• GOD’s grace is given to me in spite of me not because of me.
• GOD’s grace means I have sided with the one who has all the power to condemn me because HE forgives me.
• GOD’s grace is what I am supposed to show those who despise me, mock me, bully me and want to control me for their evil purposes.

James and John, nicknamed the sons of thunder, truly believed that fire would come from heaven to kill those who opposed JESUS and it probably would have if they asked. What faith however misguided. JESUS showed me that just because I am right, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t show grace to those who oppose me.

• Is someone really annoying you?
• Are you showing GOD’s grace to “that” person?
• Do you realize the grace GOD has given you?

Am I ashamed of GOD?

Luke 9: ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

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“Born again people are so annoying” a person said to me. They went on to say “they stopped me and tried to force their religion down my throat.” “This is awkward” I thought to myself. “What should I say? Should I tell them I am a follower of CHRIST? No way, that would be too embarrassing! I know… I’ll just keep it to myself and avoid the conflict.”

• I get ashamed of GOD when I am in the middle of sin.
• I get ashamed of GOD when I want to fit in.
• I get ashamed of GOD when my position in life is more important than telling people about GOD’s one and only SON.

I never use the words “I’m ashamed of GOD” but my actions speak volumes. GOD wants me to never be ashamed of HIM or HIS ways. I have to admit, some of GOD’s ways are weird. That’s because I am looking at them through tainted lenses.

• It’s weird to give when I don’t have much BUT GOD loves when I do.
• It’s weird to pray for my enemies to prosper BUT GOD loves when I do.
• It’s weird to be humble especially when passive aggressive arrogance is the way to a fortune BUT GOD loves when I am humble.

GOD loves when I take my will and submit it to HIS structures. One such structure is telling people about my sin and the forgiveness JESUS gives me all while not being ashamed. This boldness will bring persecution from humans and I won’t have my lustful way. BUT GOD will be pleased and will not be ashamed of me when HE returns.

• Are you ashamed of GOD?
• Do people know you are a child of GOD?
• Does “that” person know you are a child of GOD?
• Do people know the sinful you or the GODLY you?

Do I really believe GOD will fix it?

Luke 8: ²⁴ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

   He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ²⁵ “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

   In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

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Amazing accounts of miracles peaked my curiosity about the concept of “GOD.” Were these accounts true or were they made up? I questioned GOD and demanded that HE show me one of these “miracles.”

“If you are GOD then show me YOUR power!” I would exclaim. Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be standing next to me either.

• JESUS’s miracles were meant to show the world HE cares, not as a parlor trick.
• JESUS’s miracles were meant to establish that GOD became a human yet remained connected to the ultimate power of the FATHER.
• JESUS’s miracles were meant to get everyone’s attention so they would not reject HIM rather embrace HIS gift of love.

GOD left my question unanswered. I read the Bible and got a sense of peace that GOD wants me to understand HIS unending love for me so HE gave just the right account of HIS love so I can manage through life’s difficult circumstances.

Whether I believe these miracles happened or not, JESUS is still GOD and is capable of doing anything and HE doesn’t need my permission to be GOD even if HE doesn’t perform a miracle for me.

The Bible helps me understand how to navigate “this” or “that” circumstance while remaining faithful to the one and only GOD. Now I am connected to GOD who has all the power to lead and protect me.

• Do you believe in the miracles listed in the Bible?
• Do you agree these miracles are listed to bring all humans back to HIM in a loving way?
• Will you drop your doubt that GOD cannot handle your circumstances, even your repeated sin?