Up With The Sun

I absolutely love that the sun is rising earlier and earlier every day. I don't know what it is about it but it harmonizes my devo times and settles my heart while I am anticipating the new day ahead.

As I write this the sun is peeking over the rooftops in my neighborhood and brings warmth to this place. I find January and February so long and dark. So much goes on in the darkness here. I love morning and the newness the rising sun brings to my soul. Thank you Lord.
Hosea 6:3
"Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
Malachi 4:2
"But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall."

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Apostle Paul

Does Christianity Make A Difference?

We live in a society in which Christianity and the church have become irrelevant. And, if the Christian is just as likely as the non-believer to collapse under sorrow, if his life (the Christian’s life) is just as frustrated and unsatisfied as the life of the non-Christian, if he is just as worried and anxious, just as nervous and restless, just as guilty of petty dishonesty, of self-seeking, of measuring everything by material values as the man who makes no profession of Christianity [in other words, if we’re just like everybody else], then quite clearly no one will want Christianity because the obvious conclusion is that it makes no difference anyway.

William Barclay. The Lord’s Prayer, pp. 49-50.

Nietzsche, who was a famous German pagan philosopher said, “Show me that you are redeemed and then I will believe in your redeemer.”

Heaven Rules...As Revealed in Daniel 4

The sooner we realize it, the happier our lives will be. Heaven rules. He rules. He is bigger. He is higher. He is greater than every problem and every impossibility that you may be facing in your life today.

So the fact that our Father is in heaven reminds us where we are, that we are on earth, He is in heaven. As we pray, I think it’s important to pause, to do what the old-time mystics and diviners used to do. They would talk about recollecting when you go into the presence of God. You stop. You don’t just dash in and start spewing out your prayers. You stop and you think about who you’re talking to and who He is and where He is.
That will encourage faith and boldness as you go into the presence of God, knowing that these problems that have wrapped themselves around your life are so huge, they’re so inexplicable, so impossible to deal with. We look at the dead ends in our lives and the mazes and the confusion and the frustration. We can’t figure it out.

Ecclesiastes 5 verses 1 and 2:
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

The Scripture says, “God is in heaven, and you are on earth.” Recognize the difference.

These excerpts were taken from Nancy Leigh DeMoss at Revive Our Hearts found at reviveourhearts.com - Radio broadcast for Friday, Feb 15th.

Knowledge about Jesus is essential but having it alone does not equal salvation.

It seems the acceptance today is to equate knowing about Jesus as really knowing Him and having a true relationship with Him. We seem to be satisfied that if someone claims to know who Jesus is and what He is all about then they are a believer and we readily make the claim that surely this evidence of knowledge qualifies a person to be a true follower of Christ and a child of the King; a born again Christian. We think if they have this knowledge about Jesus and the person declares what they know about Jesus then surely they are a follower etc....etc....
Of course only Jesus knows who are true believers and followers and He will reveal this at the appointed time. It isn't up to us and actually we are forbidden to make this kind of judgment on someone. What has got my mind processing this is just how quick a person can be classified as a follower of Jesus by their knowledge of Him. Is this knowledge a true sign of a relationship? Check out the knowledge that demons had of who Jesus was in Matthew 8:28-34. They knew who He was, what He was capable of and they even made an inquiry of His intent and they made a request of Him. I think we can all agree that this didn't classify them as true followers of Christ, believers yes, obviously the demons believed that Jesus was who He said He was and capable of what He said He was but they weren't followers sharing in the Kingdom of heaven. This passage puts things in perspective for me; knowledge is esential but having it alone does not equal salvation.

EXPECTATION

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

True & False Belief Systems

Similar to a prior post of mine that I found was helpful regarding true and false beliefs about forgiveness, I have come across another set of true and false beliefs but it is focused on the core belief system we live by day to day. I thought I'd share it:

Differences Between True And False Beliefs:

True Beliefs: are based on the Word of God: Truth and Reality.
False Beliefs: are based on fear or arise out of loss or pain.

True Beliefs: increase the value and growth of an individual.
False Beliefs: demean and diminish the value and growth of an individual.

True Beliefs: are proven true through life experiences that edify both self and others.
False Beliefs: are proven false by destructive, defensive behaviors and painful relationships.

True Beliefs: result in safe, healthy relationships.
False Beliefs: result in separation and isolation from others.

True Beliefs: create peace and confidence.
False Beliefs: create anxiety and exhaustion.

True Beliefs: result in true emotions.
False Beliefs: result in false emotions.

Quote taken from "The Genesis Process" by Michael Dye & Patricia Fancher

Disillusionment About Full-Time Ministry

I thought I'd share an article I came across that shed some light on disillusionment about full-time ministry. If you are interested go to this site to read "What Is Full-Time Ministry?" by Dan Beaty.

http://www.livingtruth.com/Newcovenant/Fulltime.htm

February, Oh February...

Oh, February you are finally here!!!

I don't know what it is about the start of a new month, week, or day but new beginnings and fresh starts bring hope. The Lord brought to my mind a verse that has brought me much comfort and hope.

2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.

I don't know what February holds or even today for that matter but I do know that I must live today not by my sight but by the faith God has given me. The "sight" is quite depressing at times and I'm not just talking about our geographical location. I think of my "sight" as also meaning my "understanding" of situations and people. I'm greatly encouraged by this Scripture as well,

2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown himself.

So there it is...cling to God, focus on Him, trust Him and wait. Then wait some more.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.