What guides you today? 3-24-16

All things are possible

Short and simple today. The last few days we been looking at prayer. I want to remind you today that with prayer to our God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I have seen God do amazing things with prayer. Go dis in control always. If God choses not to answer our prayers the way we want we must also trust Him. He ALWAYS knows best. 

Father we trust you and your decisions to our prayers. What ever you decide in all situations we know is best for us because you are all knowing and all loving! We also realize nothing is impossible for you and we thank you for your many miracles! We love you God. In Jesus name we pray! Amen.

Tom

Over all the earth. 3-23-16

Where do we get power?

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

We have no power in our own flesh. We are WEAK! I have good news though. We have three sources for great power. It takes all three to get the power needed to defeat the devils tactics! So let’s take a look at them.

1. Holy Spirt/God-If we are not saved and have the Holy Spirit inside us to guide us and give us strength we are as weak as a baby! Fortunately, we can have the Holy Spirit living inside of us by following Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life. Get the power of God!

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

2. Bible/sword- The Word of God is powerful! It not only convicts us but convicts others of sin. It also encourages us and gives us strength from day to day to follow Jesus in obedience. Daily get in the Word of God and draw from it’s power!

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

3. Prayer-One on one communication with God. Oh how many times have we drawn from this key component of our faith. Praise God for the power of prayer and His love for us in that He allows us the privilege to talk to Him!

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees. ~ Corrie Ten Boom

Use all the power we have in Christ Jesus for the glory of God!

Tom

Is this your desire?

Jesus and prayer.

When thinking about prayer we must go to our greatest example....Jesus. Jesus would often slip away for prayer alone:

Luke 5:16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

So get alone and sen time with God in prayer.

Jesus taught us the fundamentals of how to pray here:

Matthew 6:5-13 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Study His prayer and learn the basics, it will help your prayer life!

Jesus warned us to be in prayer and alert for attacks from our own flesh and the devil!

Mark 14:38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus was serious about His prayers to God and so should we. As the cross was approaching Jesus prayed so hard that his sweat was drops of blood:

Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit back to help us to be more effective in prayer among other things:

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Jesus now is at the right hand of the Father making intercession for His followers:

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus had a whole lot more to say about prayer. Get in the bible and search it out. Prayer is our communication line with God and is of utmost importance! Don’t neglect the blessing of talking to and listening to God!

Tom

*Some of these thoughts were gathered from “The battle plan for Prayer” by Stephen and Alex Kendrick

Grow in maturity 3-21-16

Talk to God all day long.

God is your friend. He loves you more than you can imagine. He wants constant communication with you. How often do you talk with God? He wants to be in on every decision you make and help you with every thought you have so you will glorify His name in everything you do! We have examples from the bible of the importance of praying constantly:

David prayed all day: Psalm 55:17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.

The only thing folks could charge the godly man Daniel with was his faithfulness to prayer to God, three times a day: Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Anna the widow woman who found Jesus and family after his birth at the temple prayed day and night: Luke 2:36-38 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Of course then we have Jesus who prayed constantly to the Father: John 17:1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

The bible is filled with example from faithful servants who spend much time in prayer and then we can go outside the bible to faithful servants. I have never came across a servants of God who was doing great works for Him who did not have a great prayer life. God blesses those who seek Him and His guidance often and then obey! Very simple!

So this day follow the examples of the faithful and the Word of God and: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing,

God desires to hear from His people!

Tom

God always has been! 3-18-16

Do you ALWAYS do the right thing?

Check this verse out:

James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Now sit back and just think about that for a little while. How many times a day do we have an opportunity to do the right thing and pass it up? Knowing the whole time we need to do it but chose not to. 

Here is what came to my mind, little things, like letting someone pull out into traffic who has waited to pull out but can’t. Doing the dishes for your spouse. Getting out of the recliner and shooting baskets with the kids even though you are tired. Helping the elderly neighbor rake leaves. You get the idea. The thought, I think placed there by the Holy Spirit, goes through your head to do a good task but you quickly past off. According to what I just read from the bible, you just sinned!!!!! Wow that hits me hard.

Now the spiritual side, the gospel. Good news right! How many times do we not share it when we know we are supposed too????? When we decline we sin! Ouch! Let alone the eternal consequences for the other person. 

So chew on this today. May we pray for one another to do the right thing.....always!

Tom

Elect of God! 3-16-16

Worst thing about hell

We can pick many things about hell that will be terrible but the number one thing will be eternal separation from God!

2 Thessalonians 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

We may not recognize it all the time but God is around all the time right now. For followers of Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives inside you. God is till in control and can stop Satan any time He choses. That is a blessing in itself. That will come to an end one day. You see when judgement day come and those who have chosen not to follow Jesus and are sent to hell, they will eternally separated from God without hope. All alone in torment forever. I don’t even like to think about that but truth is truth. Stop and think about that for a few moments.....separated from God, alone, in torment, forever.

The good news is we can follow Jesus. If we are following Jesus, we know many people who are not and we need to help them and love them to Jesus before it is to late. I don’t care who it is, we don’t want anybody to go to hell. Nobody! We all have been lost in sin and only Jesus could save us! Let’s help others be saved by Jesus! 

The worst thing about hell....separation from God for eternity!

Tom

Don't act foolishly! 3-15-16

Big job-moms and dads!

Proverbs 1:8-9
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.

Sports, grades, music, and the list goes on are not the most important things in a childs life although in our society you might not know it. As parents, our number one job is training our children about the the Lord and the things of the Lord. How are you doing in this?

As a youth pastor I am devastated at the lack of knowledge of the basic things of the bible in my youth. Where should this training of the word of God come from? HOME! MOM AND DAD! I am to supplement your teachings. The church is to supplement your teachings. 

So let’s take ball for example. Here spring ball is cranking up. How much time does your child get training for ball and then how much time is spent on games? Ok now on the other hand how much time do you spend training your child in the Word and then how much time is spent on the Father’s business? OUCH! What does God thing about this? I think we already know. 

So what are we gonna do about it? The decision is yours. As for me and my house we will train in the Lord first, and then fit other stuff around that! Mom and dad, God is first priority! Make sure He is!

Tom

Be secure! 3-14-16

Are you a tree of life to others?

God sure does have much to say about what comes out of out mouths in scripture. We had better listen closely!

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

So what about your tongue? Does it bring life or does it break people down? Each day we have a choice on how to use our mouths. Stop for a moment and think about this. The first thing we tend to do if we are using our tongues in a negative way is look for excuses why. So who do we look to for our example? Jesus. Look at the ways he talked to people. Even those who were going to kill him. He told them truth in love. He remained calm in most situations. Do we do the same and love others no matter what is said. I always go back to the cross when Jesus was hanging there and He prayed for those who put Him there. That is the tree of life attitude we need to have!

So how about it? Do you give life with your tongue or do you take life with your tongue?

Tom

Nothing can separate us from Gods love. 3-11-16

God’s Word is on point for Today!

It blows my mind how God’s Word is alive and on point for us today even though it was written so long ago. Read through this passage from Isaiah and see how it describes the condition of our country today.

Isaiah 59

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,

or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;

2 but your iniquities have made a separation

between you and your God,

and your sins have hidden his face from you

so that he does not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood

and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies;

your tongue mutters wickedness.

4 No one enters suit justly;

no one goes to law honestly;

they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies,

they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

5 They hatch adders' eggs;

they weave the spider's web;

he who eats their eggs dies,

and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched.

6 Their webs will not serve as clothing;

men will not cover themselves with what they make.

Their works are works of iniquity,

and deeds of violence are in their hands.

7 Their feet run to evil,

and they are swift to shed innocent blood;

their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;

desolation and destruction are in their highways.

8 The way of peace they do not know,

and there is no justice in their paths;

they have made their roads crooked;

no one who treads on them knows peace.

9 Therefore justice is far from us,

and righteousness does not overtake us;

we hope for light, and behold, darkness,

and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

10 We grope for the wall like the blind;

we grope like those who have no eyes;

we stumble at noon as in the twilight,

among those in full vigor we are like dead men.

11 We all growl like bears;

we moan and moan like doves;

we hope for justice, but there is none;

for salvation, but it is far from us.

12 For our transgressions are multiplied before you,

and our sins testify against us;

for our transgressions are with us,

and we know our iniquities:

13 transgressing, and denying the Lord,

and turning back from following our God,

speaking oppression and revolt,

conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.

Judgment and Redemption

14 Justice is turned back,

and righteousness stands far away;

for truth has stumbled in the public squares,

and uprightness cannot enter.

15 Truth is lacking,

and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him

that there was no justice.

16 He saw that there was no man,

and wondered that there was no one to intercede;

then his own arm brought him salvation,

and his righteousness upheld him.

17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

and a helmet of salvation on his head;

he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,

and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

18 According to their deeds, so will he repay,

wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;

to the coastlands he will render repayment.

19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,

and his glory from the rising of the sun;

for he will come like a rushing stream,

which the wind of the Lord drives.

20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion,

to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.

21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Brothers and sisters this describes the USA so perfectly. There is hope as we see though. Turn to the Redeemer. We all must be about the Father’s business. Sharing the gospel and loving others.

Tom

What is truth?

When Jesus was arrested and taken to Pilate for questioning, Pilate asked this:

John 18:38a Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

The world needs to know the answer to this question. It is quite simple. Jesus himself tells us the answer:

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is the TRUTH. Until a man or women figures this out they can not the way God intended us to live. Why is that? Because understanding Jesus is truth means we understand that He is also the Word.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Knowing the Word is Jesus we now can say that everything in the bible is truth. So the Word of God trumps everything man says if it disagrees with the ultimate truth. Think on that for a bit. For example, if a man says there are many ways to heaven, but the Word of God says only by faith in Jesus can one go to heaven, God’s Word is correct not the man’s opinion. See John 14:6 above, No one goes to God except through Jesus. Case closed!

It really isn’t that hard, God is absolute truth, although man tries to make it that way. So how you define truth is very important. Does man define your truth or does God? Your answer has eternal consequences.

Tom

Nothing to hard for God. 3-10-16

Good to be afflicted? 3-8-16

Here I am, Send Me.

I got in my office this morning and set down to write the morning devotion and had no idea what God would lay on my heart today. I looked through some things waiting on the Lord to provide when I laid my eyes on the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering information. If you are unfamiliar with that, we take an offering at Easter every year to support missionaries in North America. The bible verse used this year is this:

Isaiah 6:8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

God desires us to support our missionaries but what God desires most is your obedience and submission to Him. To serve Him. Are you willing?

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.

It is one thing to show up to church once a week and toss a $20 bill in the offering plate and think you did your duty for the week. It is called being a follower when yo say to God “here I am Lord, send me” and be willing to go where ever God leads no matter the cost. This is what God is seeking in those who follow Him and why Jesus said following Him is costly!

So are you willing? Think long and hard before you answer.

Tom

Listen closely! 3-4-16

Be humble like Jesus.

In today’s day we are taught by society to put yourself before all others. Thats is completely opposite of what God’s word says and what Jesus demonstrated for us.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Psalm 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Matthew 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Here is what Jesus did:

Philippians 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

We also know Jesus humbled himself by leaving heaven to come here to earth. He gave us the example of humbling himself by washing the feet of the disciples, having compassion on the less fortunate. Think about the many way Jesus humbled himself as our example of how to live life as His followers. 

So to be like Jesus is to be humble which shows love to others by putting them first. Are you humble? Pride has no place in the life of the follower of Jesus.

Tom

Honor God with what He has given you. 3-3-16

Love your enemies

As a follower of Jesus this may be the hardest scripture in all of the bible:

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

As the bible tells us it is easy to love those who love us but what about those who don’t? Do we care about them at all? The bible says yes we should and we should go out of our way to try and help them. You see when we help an enemy that may be the time when a change may take place in their heart or our heart and reconciliation can take place. If neither side tries then we know for sure it will not happen. For the enemy who does not follow Jesus, it may be our opportunity to bring them to Jesus and that should be our main focus in life!

God says when we do good don’t expect anything in return, do it just for the sake of the Lord and out of love for mankind. God also says when we take this step of obedience, our reward will be great, I tend to think God is talking about in heaven here not on earth. Although He can bless you on earth too! 

Remember God is kind to all, for we were once evil and ungrateful before Jesus came into our lives. So may we be the same to others, even our enemies!

Tom

Who you are in Christ.#25

Today we will wrap up this series of who you are in Christ. There are more I am sure we could point out but I hope you got a picture of what we become as followers of Jesus.

I want to close our with this awesome reminder of what we have in Christ.

Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

We have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit! Remember this event happening when Jesus gave up His life on the cross?

Matthew 27:50-51 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

The temple curtain tearing from top to bottom reveals to us we now have no need of a priest or anyone else to go to God on our behalf, we have a direct line right to God! Now that is awesome! Do you take advantage of this blessing by spending much time in communication with God. This is one of the ways to build a strong relationship with Him!

So today know that in Christ you have direct access to the heavenly Father! The heavenly Father wants to talk to His children and we as His children want to talk to Him!

Tom

Look to others interests! 3-2-15

Get godliness! 3-1-16

Who you are in Christ.#24

This is a beautiful picture for the follower of Jesus:

Colossians 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Why is beautiful? Well when we are in our sin we are on a one way path to hell. When we become followers of Jesus we are covered by his shed blood and thus God no longer sees our sin. So we are hidden in Christ! Praise our Lord Jesus.

We can also look at this verse another way. Since we have died to our old way of life and now live a life pleasing to God it means our life is so much in Christ that God won’t be able to tell the difference! WHOA! Think about that! We won’t reach that to perfection on this side of heaven but we are striving every second of every day to do so!

So this day we see we are hidden with Christ in God! That is who we are in Jesus!

Tom