Tuesday's Thoughts

Anyone who has heard me preach in the past months know that I believe that we are certainly living in a time of "spiritual warfare." I have already received two (2) requests this morning concerning the attacks of satan on the lives of individuals. These requests do not include the requests that I am already praying about. How will we handle these attempts to overthrow and defeat our faith? Our hope will be revealed as well as be released as we stand on the promises of God that are declared in the Word of God. But let me also interject one more step of response that we can take. We can and we must chose to follow the directions/guidance that we discover in the Word of God.

Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV) I truly believe that we are seeing the reality of this scripture happening in our nation at this very moment. It seems very evident that Christianity is under attack. We see the freedom to believe sound Biblical Truths being challenged in the business world. The Government continues to press its way into the education system as well as the “church” world. Even our Vice President and his wife have been under attack because of their beliefs over the past few days. Is it possible that these attacks upon Christianity could end up knocking on the door of our lives? This question leads me to the next passage of scripture.

1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.” (NLT) The Apostle Paul also confirms the reality that we will have to “fight” for the true faith. Those individuals who choose the “wide way” to live will not face this fight. They will choose to meander their way through life with the crowd of people who have also chosen to travel the wide way. But those who have chosen the true faith will see the need to “hold tightly to the eternal life” that they have received through their trust in Christ as their Savior. We “hold tightly” to those possessions that we cherish. How “tightly” are we holding our relationship with Christ? Do we truly love and cherish our Savior in such a manner that we will listen for the Voice for our Chief Shepherd?

John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (NKJV) I believe that it is VERY NECESSARY for all believers to follow The Way, The Truth and The Life. Each of us needs to examine our lives and make sure that we are heading in the direction that the Chief Shepherd is leading. Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (NKJV) It is time for the people of God to make sure that we are running to our Savior and not away from our Savior. It is a wonderful blessing to realize that the Heavenly Father loves us enough that He has a plan for our redemption. Praise God for His Graciousness and His Goodness!!

Focusing on the Word of God

Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” (NIV)

I am afraid that many believers shun the term meditation because modern culture has taken that word and applied it to various religions which practice “meditation.” But true Biblical Meditation is simply seriously thinking about the Word of God. You meditate on God’s Word when you read a verse; think about what it means, and ask yourself “How can I apply this Word to my life?” The times in which we are living is requiring more than just listening to the Word or reading the Word of God. Each of us must be prepared to take the proper actions and make application of the Word God to our individual lives.

David declares that taking time to meditate on the Word of God and then following up with the “action of application” will produce some wonderful results in our lives. Psalm 1:1-3 compares these actions as planting a tree by streams of water which grows deep roots. These deep roots give the trees the ability to resist the storms that will come against them. Deep roots in the Word of God will allow the individual believer the strength and courage to overcome EACH AND EVERY ATTEMPT of satan to destroy their faith walk with Christ..

Satan will fill our minds with many reasons to keep us away from the reading and studying of the Word of God. But these “lies” of satan are just another form of deception and deceit, But I believe that it is time that we resisted these lies and took hold of the Truth. It is time that we start digging in and studying the Bible as a means of hope, strength, boldness, confidence, compassion, concern, etc.

Thoughts on Thursday

Good morning on a cool, cloudy day in Kentucky! It is a pleasure to be able to make contact with you using this means of correspondence. I am thankful for all that God is doing in the lives of people who are willing to surrender their journey of life to Him. I am also thankful that God loves us enough to keep calling us closer to Him EVEN WHEN WE resist that call!! I truly believe that many of us are seeing the need to seek God for more of His presence in our lives. I am joining with you in daily times of prayer. God hears as well as sees His people who are seeking His face.

The past few weeks has found me looking at the passage of scripture found in Philippians 4. The Spirit continues to draw me to the importance of the Word of God becoming more than just a book that we read. The Word of God contains the Truth of God which will reveal to each of us the promises of God. Our faith is based in the revelation of Jesus Christ as our Savior BUT our faith is stabilized as well as strengthened through the promises of God.

Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” (NIV) The Bible is more than just a book that we pick up and look through when we face a challenge. It’s the revelation of Truth from God that will lead us into a deeper relationship with Him which will produce a journey with God that is beneficial to our lives spiritually, physically, emotionally as well as financially. But I believe each of these “blessings” begin with our desire to know God and to know His Word. Over and over in God’s Word, we’re told that studying and applying the Bible leads to blessing.

Friday's Reminder

I would like to share a portion of a letter that I wrote to our local congregation a few days ago. I have said it often but I will say it once again; "God is speaking to His people, BUT will we (I) take time to listen?" I also believe that the challenges of this day are requiring the people of God to reconnect themselves with the life changing power of the Word of God. The Spirit reminds us in the Book of Hebrews that the Word of God is "alive and powerful." I openly declare that I believe the Word of God is alive as well as powerful.

Good morning on this “Spring” day in January!! The only problem is that Winter is waiting in the wings to return tomorrow. Do we fully realize that “Jesus is waiting in the wings to return at some point in the future? This knowledge should be encouraging us to be prepared for that moment through living close to God in this present moment. Monday during prayer time the Holy Spirit placed several scriptures in my heart and today those same scriptures were placed in my heart. I feel led to share some of them with you this morning.

Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV) I truly believe that we are seeing the reality of this scripture happening in our nation at this very moment. It seems very evident that Christianity is under attack. We see the freedom to believe sound Biblical Truths being challenged in the business world. The Government continues to press its way into the education system as well as the “church” world. Even our Vice President and his wife have been under attack because of their beliefs over the past few days. Is it possible that these attacks upon Christianity could end up knocking on the door of our lives?

Thoughts on Thursday

I am very concerned about the attempts of satan to overthrow or overwhelm the faith of believers in this day and time. It seems to me that the enemy has been emboldened and is taking advantage of the "spirit or attitude" of our present day culture. It appears that Christians as well as Christianity is under attack as I read various stories from our country as well as around the world. How will we choose to respond to these attacks of satan? That is possibly the most important question that we need to answer. The question is not "if the attacks of satan will come against us" BUT "when will the attacks of satan come against us."

Last evening our Adult Bible Study focused on the first part of Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle (struggle) against flesh and blood, but against...” I would like to share the insights of one of the ladies who participated in the time of study and discussion.

Enjoyed our Wednesday night Bible study. We talked about struggles in our lives. We all face them but how we react to these struggles in our lives is the challenge. Do you react with fear, doubt and unbelief or do you Stand on God’s word? God’s word equips us for the challenges we face on a daily basis. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds in our life.So ask yourself if you are going to stand on God’s word and promises when the devil attacks or are you going to allow the enemy to continue to defeat you with his lies of deceit and cause your struggle to continue? Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Speak life, the word of God, to your trial you are facing and God will deliver you and set you free..Cast all your cares on Jesus, because he cares for you. Just a few of my personal thoughts for today.

Friday's Challenge

The time of prayer in the first days of January have taken me down a familiar road. But the "familiar" road has also been a "refreshing" road. I have encountered Christ in an unique manner in which He has REMINDED ME of His presence in my life on a moment by moment basis. I believe that many believers are always waiting on the NEXT BLESSING from God and they end up missing what God is doing at the present moment in their lives. God has used the first few weeks of 2019 to remind me of "living in this day" rather than waiting on some future encounter with God. This does not mean that I am ignoring my future; it simply means that I do not want to miss God TODAY!!!

Our Discipleship/Adult Bible Study on Wednesday night consisted of a group of individuals who are on a journey with Christ. Some of us have been on the journey longer than others but there was one consistent pattern in the conversation. EACH OF US recognized the TRUTH that WE NEEDED MORE OF GOD in our lives. We also recognized the fact that Satan was fighting against us but our hope and faith is in Jesus Christ.

I read these words of C.S. Lewis this morning and they spoke powerfully to me.

“When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.”

Question: “Which direction am I running today? Am I running to God or am I running away from Him? The decision we make concerning this question will have eternal repercussions!!

Monday's Challenge

“The one who does not EXPECT God to speak will discount every single time He does speak.” (A. W. Tozer)

A friend of mine from FL shared this quote. I sense a tremendous amount of Truth in what is being said. Do I (we) truly believe that God speaks? If we believe that He speaks why are we so slow to respond to what He says?

Is it possible that we miss what God is saying because we are too busy to pay attention to Him? Is it possible that I don't hear what God says because I am hearing something that may require a change in my life and I am content with the way my life is at the present moment? Is it possible that I don't hear God because I am stubborn and I have been influenced by the spirit of rebellion that is so visible in our present world? 

I must be ready to cast aside all of the excuses and rational reasons that I have created and decide to listen to the Voice of God. John 10:4-5, “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (NKJV)

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