“God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” Genesis 3:3
Lord reveal to each of us any sins that are lurking in our hearts. Cleanse us from these hidden faults. Keep us from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control us. Then we will be free from guilt and innocent of great sin.
Lord set our eyes to Your vision so that we might see all things as You see. Lord help those today who are lost and in need of Your Son. I pray that through each of Your children who have called on You by name that we Lord will have the opportunity to be a light within the life of one of those who are lost. Lord give us the courage the desire to set out and look for those who are in such need of You. Help us to go beyond our comfort zones today with a boldness that can only come from You and speak in Your name. May we sit back no longer and allow those living in sin to continue.
Lord I praise You for those all over the world who are standing up for You and sharing the Good News. Ignite a fire within each of us to not wait any longer, O Lord You are coming, may we all be in a foot race with You to save as many as we can.
Lord clothe us in Your armor as we set out today, may we stick within our boundaries, and use every piece of armor to combat the enemy. Lord today we come a blazin’ ready for battle.
Satan be prepared because today we will no longer let you win, we come clothed in the armor of Jesus Christ covered in His blood, and you, Satan are our prey!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Knowing your boundaries
“God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” Genesis 3:3
A dog on a leash knows his boundaries, a basketball player knows the boundaries, a football player knows his boundaries. Do Christians know their boundaries?
In the book of Exodus the Lord calls Moses to prepare his people for the Lord’s arrival and instructs him on all He wants ready for when He comes.
“Be sure they are ready on the third day, for I will come down upon Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Set boundary lines that the people may not pass. Warn them. Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Those who do will certainly die!” Exodus 19:11-12
The Israelites had real visual set boundaries and so do we. We have the whole word of God that lays out, defines, and teaches us our boundaries.
We can either dance around and over our God given boundaries or we can stay within in them where there is life, love, comfort, peace, unity, and God’s amazing holiness right in the center.
Even Satan has boundaries, there is nothing that monster can do that doesn’t go through the Lord first! Halleluiah!
I truly believe that if we will study our boundary, which means reading God’s word, and if we know that outside of our boundary Satan awaits we will be able to live and experience freedom in Christ. Let me explain;
Imagine a football field; it has a white line that goes all the way around it, that is the boundary line. If the athletes pass that line they are considered out of bounds.
As Christians (true Christians filled with the Holy fire) we have a spiritual field that has been set up for us and is marked in red, Christ’s blood. As long as we live within the read lines, live in Christ we will live in the place where the milk and honey of God’s love flows. If we step outside of that red line than we are walking on Satan’s turf (out of bounds) and if we have never stepped inside of the red lines, meaning have never received Christ, than we are living prey to Satan.
It is important to know your boundaries. Open God’s word and let Him draw your boundaries out for you. Yes His boundaries require giving up of the flesh and the things of this world but believe me it is worth it.
Prayer: Lord thank You for giving us boundaries, boundaries that only make us better, boundaries that keep us close to You and away from the death trap of Satan. Amen
A dog on a leash knows his boundaries, a basketball player knows the boundaries, a football player knows his boundaries. Do Christians know their boundaries?
In the book of Exodus the Lord calls Moses to prepare his people for the Lord’s arrival and instructs him on all He wants ready for when He comes.
“Be sure they are ready on the third day, for I will come down upon Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Set boundary lines that the people may not pass. Warn them. Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Those who do will certainly die!” Exodus 19:11-12
The Israelites had real visual set boundaries and so do we. We have the whole word of God that lays out, defines, and teaches us our boundaries.
We can either dance around and over our God given boundaries or we can stay within in them where there is life, love, comfort, peace, unity, and God’s amazing holiness right in the center.
Even Satan has boundaries, there is nothing that monster can do that doesn’t go through the Lord first! Halleluiah!
I truly believe that if we will study our boundary, which means reading God’s word, and if we know that outside of our boundary Satan awaits we will be able to live and experience freedom in Christ. Let me explain;
Imagine a football field; it has a white line that goes all the way around it, that is the boundary line. If the athletes pass that line they are considered out of bounds.
As Christians (true Christians filled with the Holy fire) we have a spiritual field that has been set up for us and is marked in red, Christ’s blood. As long as we live within the read lines, live in Christ we will live in the place where the milk and honey of God’s love flows. If we step outside of that red line than we are walking on Satan’s turf (out of bounds) and if we have never stepped inside of the red lines, meaning have never received Christ, than we are living prey to Satan.
It is important to know your boundaries. Open God’s word and let Him draw your boundaries out for you. Yes His boundaries require giving up of the flesh and the things of this world but believe me it is worth it.
Prayer: Lord thank You for giving us boundaries, boundaries that only make us better, boundaries that keep us close to You and away from the death trap of Satan. Amen
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
…so why do we?
“God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” Genesis 3:3
Did a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for the last five years do it by staying surrounded in the same environment and with the same people he use to drink with?
Did the drug addict become drug free by keeping his drugs close at hand?
Did the family who survived a horrible affair last because they kept in contact with the other person?
How does a liar regain the trust of his friends and family, by only partially telling the truth?
Did the overweight man or woman overcome their addiction to food by keeping their old thought life?
We can never overcome sin or expect to change if we are not willing to remove the sin from our lives. For these people their addictions are big, but so are our addictions to sin. They start out small; the alcoholic never thought there was a problem with having a few drinks until his few became a dozen. The drug addict was only trying to heal from a major surgery, she never wanted to become addicted to the pain medicine but when the bottle was empty she went back for more. He/She never thought they would cheat on their spouse, they thought there was nothing wrong with a few conversations here and there. That is until they found themselves wanting more than a conversation with someone beside their spouse. The liar didn’t realize you could even be addicted to lying until he started receiving attention that made him feel good. The man and women who are now overweight because eating made them feel good, comfortable never thought they would be to the point where they lost control.
It goes on and on and not just with what we think is “big” all sin is big to God. Whether it is anger, disrespect to a spouse, jealousy, greed, etc if we entertain the thought of sin we are only opening the door for Satan to attack.
He wants to remind of us how fun this or that is, or how good that drink tastes, or the feeling we get from this or that. Satan loves to get in our heads and convince us that it’s okay to do what our flesh wants.
But the Lord just as He did with Adam and Eve says don’t eat it and don’t even touch it! We should not only refrain from eating and touching sin, but we should not look at it, or even surround ourselves with it.
Don’t you get it, Satan wants nothing more than to convince you that it is okay to please your flesh. He wants you to think those few drinks won’t hurt nothing, ya until your son or daughter start doing it and become addicted or die from it. He wants you to become angry and harbor bitterness towards people, for then there is less unity and more division. The Lord hates sin, He cannot even look at sin, and the more we try and get away with pleasing our flesh one night or daily and then thinking we can just make up for it on Sunday is a bunch of bologna. All UN repented sin does is drive a wedge between us and God. It hinders our relationship with God and others. All of which Satan loves nothing more.
Who really is the most important to you? If we say God than we need to start living like He is and stop thinking it is okay to do what our flesh wants. God sees through us and straight to the heart.
Prayer: Lord today we need Your sword to go in and remove all the sin that lurks within us. We want to overcome any and all addictions to sin that we have. As You lay them out in front of us may we fall to our face confessing them leaving them at Your feet. I pray that as we confess them to You that we will leave them, not returning to them ever again. Amen
Did a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for the last five years do it by staying surrounded in the same environment and with the same people he use to drink with?
Did the drug addict become drug free by keeping his drugs close at hand?
Did the family who survived a horrible affair last because they kept in contact with the other person?
How does a liar regain the trust of his friends and family, by only partially telling the truth?
Did the overweight man or woman overcome their addiction to food by keeping their old thought life?
We can never overcome sin or expect to change if we are not willing to remove the sin from our lives. For these people their addictions are big, but so are our addictions to sin. They start out small; the alcoholic never thought there was a problem with having a few drinks until his few became a dozen. The drug addict was only trying to heal from a major surgery, she never wanted to become addicted to the pain medicine but when the bottle was empty she went back for more. He/She never thought they would cheat on their spouse, they thought there was nothing wrong with a few conversations here and there. That is until they found themselves wanting more than a conversation with someone beside their spouse. The liar didn’t realize you could even be addicted to lying until he started receiving attention that made him feel good. The man and women who are now overweight because eating made them feel good, comfortable never thought they would be to the point where they lost control.
It goes on and on and not just with what we think is “big” all sin is big to God. Whether it is anger, disrespect to a spouse, jealousy, greed, etc if we entertain the thought of sin we are only opening the door for Satan to attack.
He wants to remind of us how fun this or that is, or how good that drink tastes, or the feeling we get from this or that. Satan loves to get in our heads and convince us that it’s okay to do what our flesh wants.
But the Lord just as He did with Adam and Eve says don’t eat it and don’t even touch it! We should not only refrain from eating and touching sin, but we should not look at it, or even surround ourselves with it.
Don’t you get it, Satan wants nothing more than to convince you that it is okay to please your flesh. He wants you to think those few drinks won’t hurt nothing, ya until your son or daughter start doing it and become addicted or die from it. He wants you to become angry and harbor bitterness towards people, for then there is less unity and more division. The Lord hates sin, He cannot even look at sin, and the more we try and get away with pleasing our flesh one night or daily and then thinking we can just make up for it on Sunday is a bunch of bologna. All UN repented sin does is drive a wedge between us and God. It hinders our relationship with God and others. All of which Satan loves nothing more.
Who really is the most important to you? If we say God than we need to start living like He is and stop thinking it is okay to do what our flesh wants. God sees through us and straight to the heart.
Prayer: Lord today we need Your sword to go in and remove all the sin that lurks within us. We want to overcome any and all addictions to sin that we have. As You lay them out in front of us may we fall to our face confessing them leaving them at Your feet. I pray that as we confess them to You that we will leave them, not returning to them ever again. Amen
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Hook...line...sinker
“God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” Genesis 3:3
As she took her daily stroll through the garden, gathering fruit, walking in perfection, beauty, and love, she was approached by a serpent lurking from a tree. And not just any tree, the forbidden tree. Being her lovely, kind self she began to speak with the serpent, for she knew no stranger or even had a clue of his intentions, she had no fear, knew no sin, and felt no shame. All she knew was love, joy, peace, and one important commandment, TO NOT EAT THE FRUIT from the tree in the center of the garden. The very tree he was lurking on.
Oh, this snake (no pun intended) was sneaky and creepy. He knew he could lure her in with his persuasive and twisted words. And he did it by starting off with a question that made him look naive, gullible, and curious. “Really? he asked the woman. Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden? Of course we may eat it, the woman told him. It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” Genesis 3:2-3
So it began...hook, line, and sinker.
His hook- his slimy self and the forbidden tree.
His line- “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?” Do you notice how he worded his question? He pointed out restriction-must not eat, and he emphasized-any fruit.
And now for the sinker…”You won’t die! the serpent hissed. God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5
“The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise!” Genesis 3:6 (That’s all it took, really Eve, you could have at least put up a fight) I am speaking for myself when I say this, it is so easy to be convinced, especially when the person speaking puts on an outward appearance like Satan did. He can make things sound so good, look so good, and become so stinkin’ twisted that you begin to believe it and even start convincing yourself it is okay. That is until the amazing Holy Spirit jumps in and quickly reminds you that it is wrong. It is truly a battle between the spirit and the flesh.
Unfortunately for Eve, and for us, we choose to override the tugging of the Holy Spirit and follow the flesh. Just as she did! She was so intrigued at the thought of becoming like God and knowing everything, and if we women are at all wired alike, it burned within her to the point of having to have it. You know like when you find or see something you think you just have to have and it nags and nags at you until you give in. That is what she went through with the beauty of the fruit and the wisdom it would give her. Something new…yet something so deadly that would fall upon all humankind- Sin and the first of many who would fall prey to the tricks, lies, and deception of Satan.
But there is only one who did not fall into his trap, Jesus Christ. When we live as Christ did, know the word of God as Christ did, we too will be able to cut Satan at the core as Christ did, by using Scripture in the correct context as Christ did.
Prayer: Lord thank You for taking me back to the very beginning of where it all began. I am excited to walk with You as You teach me Your word, show me Your unending mercy and grace, prepare me for battle, and clothe me with the armor to be victorious against Satan. Amen
As she took her daily stroll through the garden, gathering fruit, walking in perfection, beauty, and love, she was approached by a serpent lurking from a tree. And not just any tree, the forbidden tree. Being her lovely, kind self she began to speak with the serpent, for she knew no stranger or even had a clue of his intentions, she had no fear, knew no sin, and felt no shame. All she knew was love, joy, peace, and one important commandment, TO NOT EAT THE FRUIT from the tree in the center of the garden. The very tree he was lurking on.
Oh, this snake (no pun intended) was sneaky and creepy. He knew he could lure her in with his persuasive and twisted words. And he did it by starting off with a question that made him look naive, gullible, and curious. “Really? he asked the woman. Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden? Of course we may eat it, the woman told him. It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” Genesis 3:2-3
So it began...hook, line, and sinker.
His hook- his slimy self and the forbidden tree.
His line- “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?” Do you notice how he worded his question? He pointed out restriction-must not eat, and he emphasized-any fruit.
And now for the sinker…”You won’t die! the serpent hissed. God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5
“The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise!” Genesis 3:6 (That’s all it took, really Eve, you could have at least put up a fight) I am speaking for myself when I say this, it is so easy to be convinced, especially when the person speaking puts on an outward appearance like Satan did. He can make things sound so good, look so good, and become so stinkin’ twisted that you begin to believe it and even start convincing yourself it is okay. That is until the amazing Holy Spirit jumps in and quickly reminds you that it is wrong. It is truly a battle between the spirit and the flesh.
Unfortunately for Eve, and for us, we choose to override the tugging of the Holy Spirit and follow the flesh. Just as she did! She was so intrigued at the thought of becoming like God and knowing everything, and if we women are at all wired alike, it burned within her to the point of having to have it. You know like when you find or see something you think you just have to have and it nags and nags at you until you give in. That is what she went through with the beauty of the fruit and the wisdom it would give her. Something new…yet something so deadly that would fall upon all humankind- Sin and the first of many who would fall prey to the tricks, lies, and deception of Satan.
But there is only one who did not fall into his trap, Jesus Christ. When we live as Christ did, know the word of God as Christ did, we too will be able to cut Satan at the core as Christ did, by using Scripture in the correct context as Christ did.
Prayer: Lord thank You for taking me back to the very beginning of where it all began. I am excited to walk with You as You teach me Your word, show me Your unending mercy and grace, prepare me for battle, and clothe me with the armor to be victorious against Satan. Amen
Monday, June 28, 2010
Let all God’s people say…
“Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.” Leviticus 6:13
Prayer: Lord my prayer today is that You will fuel into flame revival, restoration, healing, love, forgiveness, mercy and grace. Lord I pray this fire becomes so big within the lives of every brother in sister in Christ around the world that it cannot be contained until You return.
I pray Lord God that we will daily feed our fires the nutrients and oxygen it needs to become so big so bright and so hot that it will burn the impurities out of us and others. Lord I am asking for the Holy Spirit to take complete control, and I am believing with all my heart that with His help lives will begin to be impacted, marked with Your blood, and will become such a rave that the fire will begin to spread.
I am praying for true repentance to take place, for eyes to be opened, veils to be removed, and hearts to be opened. I am praying for this supernatural fire to burn the hearts of those living in sin, to burn those who are lost, to burn all of us to the point that we become purified, cleansed, beautiful and acceptable to You.
Lord I pray that today the aroma of Your son’s blood being covered on the hearts of new believers along with the mixture of true genuine love, worship, and praise will be the sweetest most acceptable, pleasurable smell You have ever breathed in.
Thank You Father God for reminding me, and hopefully others, just how important it is to keep our fires burning. Not just to keep them burning but the significance the fire has in and on our lives. Amen
Prayer: Lord my prayer today is that You will fuel into flame revival, restoration, healing, love, forgiveness, mercy and grace. Lord I pray this fire becomes so big within the lives of every brother in sister in Christ around the world that it cannot be contained until You return.
I pray Lord God that we will daily feed our fires the nutrients and oxygen it needs to become so big so bright and so hot that it will burn the impurities out of us and others. Lord I am asking for the Holy Spirit to take complete control, and I am believing with all my heart that with His help lives will begin to be impacted, marked with Your blood, and will become such a rave that the fire will begin to spread.
I am praying for true repentance to take place, for eyes to be opened, veils to be removed, and hearts to be opened. I am praying for this supernatural fire to burn the hearts of those living in sin, to burn those who are lost, to burn all of us to the point that we become purified, cleansed, beautiful and acceptable to You.
Lord I pray that today the aroma of Your son’s blood being covered on the hearts of new believers along with the mixture of true genuine love, worship, and praise will be the sweetest most acceptable, pleasurable smell You have ever breathed in.
Thank You Father God for reminding me, and hopefully others, just how important it is to keep our fires burning. Not just to keep them burning but the significance the fire has in and on our lives. Amen
Sunday, June 27, 2010
True fire can’t be contained
“Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.” Leviticus 6:13
“And I can’t stop! If I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in!” Jeremiah 20:9
This verse has never come more to life within me than several years ago when I was called into my principles office and was reprimanded for mentioning the Lord to a group of my basketball players.
I remember walking away shocked, devastated, and questioning how our world has gotten to this point. I was so upset and for the first time in my life I felt that exact same burning inside my bones that Jeremiah felt.
Then just a year ago the same feeling of devastation rushed over me as two people approached me telling me that not everyone wants to hear about God and talk about His word all the time. I once more began to wonder how we have lost sight of what should be on our tongues and in our hearts all the time. It is an amazing opportunity and pleasure to be able to speak with such freedom of our Savior Jesus Christ. Don’t you realize just how lucky we are that He allows us to speak of Him?
It was not until this week that the Lord revealed to me that true "Holy fire" cannot be contained. In other words, when that "Holy fire" is set within us we will not be able to hold in the word of God, we will want to share it, speak of it, and it will be on the forefronts of our minds daily.
I hope to go to my grave with a burning fire within my bones that is only relieved when God’s word is shared and when His name is spoken daily to any and everyone.
I never want to look back and wish I would have spoken up for the Lord when He set the burning in motion.
When is the last time that God’s word burned within you so much you became weary of holding it in?
Prayer: Lord thank You for the privilege of sharing Your word. Thank You for the fire that burns within me to mention Your name to all who are willing to hear. I pray that all of my brothers and sisters in Christ will also have a fire that burns within them to go out and speak in Your name. Amen
“And I can’t stop! If I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in!” Jeremiah 20:9
This verse has never come more to life within me than several years ago when I was called into my principles office and was reprimanded for mentioning the Lord to a group of my basketball players.
I remember walking away shocked, devastated, and questioning how our world has gotten to this point. I was so upset and for the first time in my life I felt that exact same burning inside my bones that Jeremiah felt.
Then just a year ago the same feeling of devastation rushed over me as two people approached me telling me that not everyone wants to hear about God and talk about His word all the time. I once more began to wonder how we have lost sight of what should be on our tongues and in our hearts all the time. It is an amazing opportunity and pleasure to be able to speak with such freedom of our Savior Jesus Christ. Don’t you realize just how lucky we are that He allows us to speak of Him?
It was not until this week that the Lord revealed to me that true "Holy fire" cannot be contained. In other words, when that "Holy fire" is set within us we will not be able to hold in the word of God, we will want to share it, speak of it, and it will be on the forefronts of our minds daily.
I hope to go to my grave with a burning fire within my bones that is only relieved when God’s word is shared and when His name is spoken daily to any and everyone.
I never want to look back and wish I would have spoken up for the Lord when He set the burning in motion.
When is the last time that God’s word burned within you so much you became weary of holding it in?
Prayer: Lord thank You for the privilege of sharing Your word. Thank You for the fire that burns within me to mention Your name to all who are willing to hear. I pray that all of my brothers and sisters in Christ will also have a fire that burns within them to go out and speak in Your name. Amen
Saturday, June 26, 2010
What is your aroma?
"Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out." Leviticus 6:13
Other than the smell of my mama's laundry I love the aroma that fills the air when my husband light’s up the grill and throws on the meat. It has always brought a sense of love and closeness over me. It reminds me of how fun summertime is and how blessed I am. Some of my favorite moments are when our friends and families are together laughing and talking and enjoying one another’s company, and of course eating the amazing food that comes off the grill.
As I study and think about the importance of keeping our fire lit. I had an amazing revelation come over me. The aroma that came off the altar and was lifted up to God was a sweet aroma to Him. It was an aroma of perfection, of cleansing, of pure satisfaction and pleasure. Just as the aroma that comes from our hearts when we accept Christ and He covers us in His blood.
It is the blood first and foremost that is the most pleasing aroma, but it is also the mixture of our sacrifices of praise, love, obedience, and devotion that fills Him with pure satisfaction and pleasure.
We each have an aroma that is lifted up to the Lord and it is either a wonderful satisfying smell to Him, or it is a sick disgusting smell.
What aroma is your fire putting off?
Prayer: Lord each day may I put off an aroma that pleases You. Reveal to me any unwanted scent that fills You with disgust so that I may confess, repent and never place them on the altar again. Amen
Other than the smell of my mama's laundry I love the aroma that fills the air when my husband light’s up the grill and throws on the meat. It has always brought a sense of love and closeness over me. It reminds me of how fun summertime is and how blessed I am. Some of my favorite moments are when our friends and families are together laughing and talking and enjoying one another’s company, and of course eating the amazing food that comes off the grill.
As I study and think about the importance of keeping our fire lit. I had an amazing revelation come over me. The aroma that came off the altar and was lifted up to God was a sweet aroma to Him. It was an aroma of perfection, of cleansing, of pure satisfaction and pleasure. Just as the aroma that comes from our hearts when we accept Christ and He covers us in His blood.
It is the blood first and foremost that is the most pleasing aroma, but it is also the mixture of our sacrifices of praise, love, obedience, and devotion that fills Him with pure satisfaction and pleasure.
We each have an aroma that is lifted up to the Lord and it is either a wonderful satisfying smell to Him, or it is a sick disgusting smell.
What aroma is your fire putting off?
Prayer: Lord each day may I put off an aroma that pleases You. Reveal to me any unwanted scent that fills You with disgust so that I may confess, repent and never place them on the altar again. Amen
Friday, June 25, 2010
Are you being smothered?
"Remember the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out." Leviticus 6:13
He will do whatever it takes to keep your fire from burning. There is a reason the Lord says he prowls around like a roaring lion waiting for someone he can devour. Not only does he prowl but he is like a thick suffocating blanket just waiting to be spread out and placed over your heart. Making your fire become almost non existent, lacking oxygen.
He will use any method possible, your past, present, and future. He will fill you with doubt, resentment, disappointment, and he will twist and turn your thoughts and others words even God's words around. Making you believe things that are so far from the truth.
He will continue to cover up your heart and the "Holy fire" as long as you let him. Until eventually you are so confused and vulnerable.
As for me he has filled my thoughts with doubt as though I am useless and giftless. He has led me to believe that I have no useful gifts that will benefit the Lord.
But today I can rest assured that I am of great value and full of some gift that does bring glory to my Heavenly Father. Though I am and will never be a Beth Moore I am a Kristi Morgan that only I will be. My Father has made me unique and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I might not ever truly know my gift but there is one thing I know for sure and that is that I am a true child of God who is passionately in love with her Savior and filled with the "Holy fire" that can never be put out no matter how much Satan tries to smother me.
Prayer: Jesus thank you for reminding me of how valuable I am to You. Thank You for allowing me to be able to see how deceiving and sneaky Satan is. I know with the help of the Holy Spirit we can fuel Your fire to burn Satan so bad he will not just flee but he will flee screaming from the hurt of Your fire. Amen
He will do whatever it takes to keep your fire from burning. There is a reason the Lord says he prowls around like a roaring lion waiting for someone he can devour. Not only does he prowl but he is like a thick suffocating blanket just waiting to be spread out and placed over your heart. Making your fire become almost non existent, lacking oxygen.
He will use any method possible, your past, present, and future. He will fill you with doubt, resentment, disappointment, and he will twist and turn your thoughts and others words even God's words around. Making you believe things that are so far from the truth.
He will continue to cover up your heart and the "Holy fire" as long as you let him. Until eventually you are so confused and vulnerable.
As for me he has filled my thoughts with doubt as though I am useless and giftless. He has led me to believe that I have no useful gifts that will benefit the Lord.
But today I can rest assured that I am of great value and full of some gift that does bring glory to my Heavenly Father. Though I am and will never be a Beth Moore I am a Kristi Morgan that only I will be. My Father has made me unique and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I might not ever truly know my gift but there is one thing I know for sure and that is that I am a true child of God who is passionately in love with her Savior and filled with the "Holy fire" that can never be put out no matter how much Satan tries to smother me.
Prayer: Jesus thank you for reminding me of how valuable I am to You. Thank You for allowing me to be able to see how deceiving and sneaky Satan is. I know with the help of the Holy Spirit we can fuel Your fire to burn Satan so bad he will not just flee but he will flee screaming from the hurt of Your fire. Amen
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Candle or Forest fire?
“Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.” Leviticus 6:13
There are two levels to this fire, low and high,
When we keep our fire on low we are only keeping our faith and relationship with Christ warm. We do only what is required, nothing more nothing less, we basically never add fuel to the fire we just leave it where it is. The problem with just keeping our fire on low is that we miss out on all the wonderful blessings God wants to give us; we miss opportunities to really be a light for Christ and we miss out on building a deeper, stronger, more intimate relationship with Christ. We are just a dull fire with no motivation to make a difference for His name or kingdom.
When we set our fire to high, we are fueling it with the word of God, prayer, obedience and love daily, it is constantly being tended to. The more we fuel our fire the bigger and bigger it becomes leading to a spiritual forest fire. This forest fire becomes so wide spread that it impacts anyone near it and becomes so bright people can see it for miles and miles. When we work together with the Holy Spirit it is a guarantee that not only will the fire within change and transform us, but it will change and transform the lives of others, which all in all will bring glory to the Lord and save the lives of those who are lost.
Is your fire as big as a candle or a forest fire?
Prayer: Lord may I never let my fire become dull. I want to have the Holy fire within me that burns so bright and so big that it cannot be contained. Amen
There are two levels to this fire, low and high,
When we keep our fire on low we are only keeping our faith and relationship with Christ warm. We do only what is required, nothing more nothing less, we basically never add fuel to the fire we just leave it where it is. The problem with just keeping our fire on low is that we miss out on all the wonderful blessings God wants to give us; we miss opportunities to really be a light for Christ and we miss out on building a deeper, stronger, more intimate relationship with Christ. We are just a dull fire with no motivation to make a difference for His name or kingdom.
When we set our fire to high, we are fueling it with the word of God, prayer, obedience and love daily, it is constantly being tended to. The more we fuel our fire the bigger and bigger it becomes leading to a spiritual forest fire. This forest fire becomes so wide spread that it impacts anyone near it and becomes so bright people can see it for miles and miles. When we work together with the Holy Spirit it is a guarantee that not only will the fire within change and transform us, but it will change and transform the lives of others, which all in all will bring glory to the Lord and save the lives of those who are lost.
Is your fire as big as a candle or a forest fire?
Prayer: Lord may I never let my fire become dull. I want to have the Holy fire within me that burns so bright and so big that it cannot be contained. Amen
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Admit, Repent, Accept
Our featured writer today is Ryan Burchett
"Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out." Leviticus 6:13
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) says, 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Those are some very powerful words spoken by our Savior, but they are far too often overlooked, I’m afraid. This passage is speaking of false converts, which upon further thought, makes the ‘80% of church-goers’ statistic not as outrageous as it seemed from first glance. This explains why the ‘holy fire’ seems absent in our churches these days.
Our churches have settled for a false teaching of the gospel, which teaches that ‘Jesus is ONLY your Savior and that Jesus’ sole purpose of dying on the cross for your sin was to bring you PEACE, JOY, and COMFORT in a stressful and chaotic world.’ This is not to say that having Jesus as your Savior will not bring you these things, but they are brought about on a spiritual scale, not a physical one.
In the TRUE gospel message, there are 3 things that must happen for true conversion: 1. Admittance of sin,
2. REPENTANCE from sin, and 3. Accepting Jesus as your LORD and Savior. Why are the words REPENTANCE and LORD emphasized there? Because to have the one, true holy fire within you, you must truly be saved. And, to truly be saved, you must admit your sin, TURN AWAY FROM that sin, and then accept Jesus as LORD and Savior. The gospel message today has left out these 2 main ingredients, which explains the high number of false converts and the lack of ‘holy fire’ within our churches. There is an admittance of being a sinner and there is an admittance for needing a Savior but there is no repentance…there is NO TURNING AWAY FROM the old sinful life and if there is no turning away from the old sinful life, then Jesus CANNOT be the LORD of your life.
To obtain the true ‘holy fire’…..to truly be saved…..you must admit that you’re a sinner, REPENT from that sin (turn away from that old life), and ask Jesus to be the LORD of your life (everything in your life is His from this day forward). This is the true gospel message and this is how the true ‘holy fire’ is obtained
"Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out." Leviticus 6:13
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) says, 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Those are some very powerful words spoken by our Savior, but they are far too often overlooked, I’m afraid. This passage is speaking of false converts, which upon further thought, makes the ‘80% of church-goers’ statistic not as outrageous as it seemed from first glance. This explains why the ‘holy fire’ seems absent in our churches these days.
Our churches have settled for a false teaching of the gospel, which teaches that ‘Jesus is ONLY your Savior and that Jesus’ sole purpose of dying on the cross for your sin was to bring you PEACE, JOY, and COMFORT in a stressful and chaotic world.’ This is not to say that having Jesus as your Savior will not bring you these things, but they are brought about on a spiritual scale, not a physical one.
In the TRUE gospel message, there are 3 things that must happen for true conversion: 1. Admittance of sin,
2. REPENTANCE from sin, and 3. Accepting Jesus as your LORD and Savior. Why are the words REPENTANCE and LORD emphasized there? Because to have the one, true holy fire within you, you must truly be saved. And, to truly be saved, you must admit your sin, TURN AWAY FROM that sin, and then accept Jesus as LORD and Savior. The gospel message today has left out these 2 main ingredients, which explains the high number of false converts and the lack of ‘holy fire’ within our churches. There is an admittance of being a sinner and there is an admittance for needing a Savior but there is no repentance…there is NO TURNING AWAY FROM the old sinful life and if there is no turning away from the old sinful life, then Jesus CANNOT be the LORD of your life.
To obtain the true ‘holy fire’…..to truly be saved…..you must admit that you’re a sinner, REPENT from that sin (turn away from that old life), and ask Jesus to be the LORD of your life (everything in your life is His from this day forward). This is the true gospel message and this is how the true ‘holy fire’ is obtained
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Man-made fire?
“Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.” Leviticus 6:13
The Lord has started a Holy fire within all those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. It is a Holy fire that will always be lit but will only be as big as we allow it to be.
Has the fire been lit within you?
Last night Garrett and I had dinner with an amazing young couple of whom the Lord has called into the ministry. During our conversation Ryan Burchett made a comment about the statistics of those who attend church. He said 80% of people who go to church are not Christians.
Wow, 80% of the people who attend church don’t have a real relationship with Christ, how can that be? How can we get up on Sunday’s and go to church, go into our Father’s house and yet have no relationship with Him?
And then it hit me, because there no Holy fire within, it is man-made fire. When the Holy fire is lit within us, there is no way we can walk through this life without being convicted, tested, pruned, and 100% completely changed. The Holy fire that is lit by Christ is not like any other fire, it is a fire that is constantly purifying us and is always revealing and removing the impurities. Man-made fire burns out, fuels off of self, and has little to no impact for the Lord.
Prayer: Lord I pray that the fire within me will be so big that all who are around can feel Your heat coming off of me. Amen
The Lord has started a Holy fire within all those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. It is a Holy fire that will always be lit but will only be as big as we allow it to be.
Has the fire been lit within you?
Last night Garrett and I had dinner with an amazing young couple of whom the Lord has called into the ministry. During our conversation Ryan Burchett made a comment about the statistics of those who attend church. He said 80% of people who go to church are not Christians.
Wow, 80% of the people who attend church don’t have a real relationship with Christ, how can that be? How can we get up on Sunday’s and go to church, go into our Father’s house and yet have no relationship with Him?
And then it hit me, because there no Holy fire within, it is man-made fire. When the Holy fire is lit within us, there is no way we can walk through this life without being convicted, tested, pruned, and 100% completely changed. The Holy fire that is lit by Christ is not like any other fire, it is a fire that is constantly purifying us and is always revealing and removing the impurities. Man-made fire burns out, fuels off of self, and has little to no impact for the Lord.
Prayer: Lord I pray that the fire within me will be so big that all who are around can feel Your heat coming off of me. Amen
Monday, June 21, 2010
It's all in the obedience
"Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10
Over this last week I have noticed the more I think on love, the more I focus on showing love the more I realize just how incapable I am of loving without the help of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has revealed so many areas in my life where love has been overshadowed by “me”.
I have been opened up to see how little I have really obeyed the Lord in the area of love. I have also learned that to love is to become completely dependent on Christ and independent of self.
John 15:9 says, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love.”
When we love little it is because we are obeying little.
Prayer: Lord instill within me the desire to obey you fully. May Your love grow more perfect within me as I fully obey all of Your word. Amen
Over this last week I have noticed the more I think on love, the more I focus on showing love the more I realize just how incapable I am of loving without the help of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has revealed so many areas in my life where love has been overshadowed by “me”.
I have been opened up to see how little I have really obeyed the Lord in the area of love. I have also learned that to love is to become completely dependent on Christ and independent of self.
John 15:9 says, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love.”
When we love little it is because we are obeying little.
Prayer: Lord instill within me the desire to obey you fully. May Your love grow more perfect within me as I fully obey all of Your word. Amen
Sunday, June 20, 2010
What motivates you?
“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10
What motivates you? Does Christ motivate you? Does His love motivate you?
When we are not motivated by love we can easily become negative in our attitudes, in the way we look at others and in our speech. We become self-absorbed, irritable, in patient, and a lot less merciful.
Paul says in Galatians 5:6 “What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” We can evaluate our faith by how much we love Christ and others.
Paul also says in Galatians 5:13-15 “For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command. Love your neighbor as yourself. But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”
Love finds the positive in all things, love is considerate, love does not speak negatively of others, and it does not point out the flaws and faults of others. Christ does sit on His throne and point out all the negative in us, instead He looks and finds the goodness, the beauty, the positive in each of us. God and Jesus do not sit up in Heaven and talk badly about us, they do not hold grudges, they do not laugh and joke at our imperfections. Why do we? As children of the Most High God we must see all people including ourselves the same way our Heavenly Father sees us. We must think positively with loving thoughts towards all of God’s people just as our Father in Heaven thinks about us.
Next time you are quick to act out in anger, or speak ugly of others, stop and think how it makes you feel when you hear others speaking that way about you. Then stop and pray asking the Father to open your heart and eyes to see others as He does.
So again what motivates you? Fitting in, money, your job, blending in because you don’t want to stand out for Christ, or maybe it is the pleasures of the world which is all of Satan.
You can find out real quick what your motivation is by your lifestyle, speech, and the decisions you make.
Prayer: Lord forgive me for taking this amazing gift of freedom in You for granted. Forgive me for the times I have been motivated by “self.” I ask that You reveal to me any and all areas that are not pleasing to You. Lord I ask for the Holy Spirit to have and take complete control of my heart. Lord I am letting go, stepping aside, giving You full control of my heart, thoughts, and speech. May my motivation be to daily serve You, love You with ALL that I am and love others just as You have loved me. Amen
What motivates you? Does Christ motivate you? Does His love motivate you?
When we are not motivated by love we can easily become negative in our attitudes, in the way we look at others and in our speech. We become self-absorbed, irritable, in patient, and a lot less merciful.
Paul says in Galatians 5:6 “What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” We can evaluate our faith by how much we love Christ and others.
Paul also says in Galatians 5:13-15 “For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command. Love your neighbor as yourself. But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”
Love finds the positive in all things, love is considerate, love does not speak negatively of others, and it does not point out the flaws and faults of others. Christ does sit on His throne and point out all the negative in us, instead He looks and finds the goodness, the beauty, the positive in each of us. God and Jesus do not sit up in Heaven and talk badly about us, they do not hold grudges, they do not laugh and joke at our imperfections. Why do we? As children of the Most High God we must see all people including ourselves the same way our Heavenly Father sees us. We must think positively with loving thoughts towards all of God’s people just as our Father in Heaven thinks about us.
Next time you are quick to act out in anger, or speak ugly of others, stop and think how it makes you feel when you hear others speaking that way about you. Then stop and pray asking the Father to open your heart and eyes to see others as He does.
So again what motivates you? Fitting in, money, your job, blending in because you don’t want to stand out for Christ, or maybe it is the pleasures of the world which is all of Satan.
You can find out real quick what your motivation is by your lifestyle, speech, and the decisions you make.
Prayer: Lord forgive me for taking this amazing gift of freedom in You for granted. Forgive me for the times I have been motivated by “self.” I ask that You reveal to me any and all areas that are not pleasing to You. Lord I ask for the Holy Spirit to have and take complete control of my heart. Lord I am letting go, stepping aside, giving You full control of my heart, thoughts, and speech. May my motivation be to daily serve You, love You with ALL that I am and love others just as You have loved me. Amen
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Who is your neighbor?
“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10
I love the story found in Luke 10:25-37 when an expert in religious law stands up to test Jesus. He asks him the question, “Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus replies, what does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?
The religious leader replies, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “Right do it and you will live.” The man goes on to say so who is my neighbor?
Jesus replies with the story of a Jewish man who was traveling to Jerusalem and got attacked. He was stripped of his clothes, robbed, beat up and left for dead. As this man was lying there a Jewish priest comes by sees him and moves to the other side and goes on. Then came a Temple assistant comes by looks at the man and also goes on by.
Then comes a despised Samaritan man, he saw the Jewish man lying there and felt pity for him. He bent down beside him and began to treat his wounds. He then picked him up put him on his donkey and carried him to an inn. Not only did he tend to him at the inn, but he paid for him to stay there until he was better.
Jesus finishes the story by asking, “Now which of these would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus replied, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
How often have I passed by those who were suffering because I didn’t want to take the time to extend mercy, love, and comfort, be a listening ear, or a shoulder for them to cry on? How often have I passed by those who I have been hurt by and have not shown mercy or love to them?
My heavenly Father has shown and given me more love and mercy than my feeble, mortal mind can comprehend. If I desire to posses the character quality of love, than I must show the same mercy that has been shown to me. And I will say it is so much easier said than done, especially when the “me” is in the way.
Our neighbors are not just those who are ill-ridden, battered, and beat and left for dead. They are not just close friends, or our brothers and sisters. Our neighbors include the lost, our enemies, those less fortunate, and any other human being that walks on the face of the earth. Because each of us have been created in the image of God and we each have been given the opportunity to receive the free gift of mercy and love from the Lord.
Prayer: Lord forgive me for getting so caught up in my own day to day living that I fail to extend mercy and love to those who are in need. Thank You for the mercy and love I receive daily from You. Amen
I love the story found in Luke 10:25-37 when an expert in religious law stands up to test Jesus. He asks him the question, “Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus replies, what does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?
The religious leader replies, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “Right do it and you will live.” The man goes on to say so who is my neighbor?
Jesus replies with the story of a Jewish man who was traveling to Jerusalem and got attacked. He was stripped of his clothes, robbed, beat up and left for dead. As this man was lying there a Jewish priest comes by sees him and moves to the other side and goes on. Then came a Temple assistant comes by looks at the man and also goes on by.
Then comes a despised Samaritan man, he saw the Jewish man lying there and felt pity for him. He bent down beside him and began to treat his wounds. He then picked him up put him on his donkey and carried him to an inn. Not only did he tend to him at the inn, but he paid for him to stay there until he was better.
Jesus finishes the story by asking, “Now which of these would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus replied, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
How often have I passed by those who were suffering because I didn’t want to take the time to extend mercy, love, and comfort, be a listening ear, or a shoulder for them to cry on? How often have I passed by those who I have been hurt by and have not shown mercy or love to them?
My heavenly Father has shown and given me more love and mercy than my feeble, mortal mind can comprehend. If I desire to posses the character quality of love, than I must show the same mercy that has been shown to me. And I will say it is so much easier said than done, especially when the “me” is in the way.
Our neighbors are not just those who are ill-ridden, battered, and beat and left for dead. They are not just close friends, or our brothers and sisters. Our neighbors include the lost, our enemies, those less fortunate, and any other human being that walks on the face of the earth. Because each of us have been created in the image of God and we each have been given the opportunity to receive the free gift of mercy and love from the Lord.
Prayer: Lord forgive me for getting so caught up in my own day to day living that I fail to extend mercy and love to those who are in need. Thank You for the mercy and love I receive daily from You. Amen
Friday, June 18, 2010
You determine the outcome
“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10
Love does no wrong to anyone, including your husband. Yesterday started off great, ended great but the middle…not so great. Somewhere throughout the day I resorted back to the ugly part of me, filled up with selfishness, and demanded my own way. As a result of that I lashed out on my husband over a conversation I overheard. Satan being the ugly thing that he is, jumped all over that opportunity to cause some dissension between Garrett and I, and the worst part is, yes I am admitting, I let him.
I let him convince me of the stupidest things and he does it quite often, whether with my insecurities, Garrett, those who have hurt me, or my past.
So last night out of nowhere the Lord grabbed a hold of me and told me something that has never made more since in my life until last night.
Kristi it is you that makes your home become a place where love, kindness, joy, and peace resides. If you have chaos within you and you let it out it fills your home with chaos. Your kids feel it and so does Garrett. It starts with you! You determine the outcome of your home, your boys, your marriage, and your friendships.
When your life is filled with love and you set out to show that in spite of how bad things are, how others behave, God’s love will overpower it all. Everyone around you will feel that love, not only that but they will feel and see your joy, kindness and peace, because love does no wrong to anyone.
It is so amazing how the Lord always brings everything full circle. Last night it was not by my strength but it was by the strength of the Holy Spirit and the renewing of my heart, mind and thoughts that I put love into action. Remember I said the night ended great, well it did, it ended with peace, love, kindness, and joy all because I changed my attitude, my actions and my speech. I didn’t wait for Garrett to fix it or say what I felt he should say (which he did not even need to say anything) I fixed it, I put on my armor, looked straight in the face of Satan and hit him with the thing he hates the most, God’s word and love. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
The moment I did that there was calmness that came over our home, my boys (all three) and me.
I am and have always been a visual learner and my amazing Father, my Creator knows that and last night He opened my eyes and gave me the best visual of how true love works and how it overcomes all things.
Prayer: Lord You are the most precious Father! I praise You for showing me firsthand just how powerful love is. Thank You Lord for loving me, thank You for spending countless hours with me teaching me, being patient with me, and showing me Your word in ways that I can understand it. Amen
Love does no wrong to anyone, including your husband. Yesterday started off great, ended great but the middle…not so great. Somewhere throughout the day I resorted back to the ugly part of me, filled up with selfishness, and demanded my own way. As a result of that I lashed out on my husband over a conversation I overheard. Satan being the ugly thing that he is, jumped all over that opportunity to cause some dissension between Garrett and I, and the worst part is, yes I am admitting, I let him.
I let him convince me of the stupidest things and he does it quite often, whether with my insecurities, Garrett, those who have hurt me, or my past.
So last night out of nowhere the Lord grabbed a hold of me and told me something that has never made more since in my life until last night.
Kristi it is you that makes your home become a place where love, kindness, joy, and peace resides. If you have chaos within you and you let it out it fills your home with chaos. Your kids feel it and so does Garrett. It starts with you! You determine the outcome of your home, your boys, your marriage, and your friendships.
When your life is filled with love and you set out to show that in spite of how bad things are, how others behave, God’s love will overpower it all. Everyone around you will feel that love, not only that but they will feel and see your joy, kindness and peace, because love does no wrong to anyone.
It is so amazing how the Lord always brings everything full circle. Last night it was not by my strength but it was by the strength of the Holy Spirit and the renewing of my heart, mind and thoughts that I put love into action. Remember I said the night ended great, well it did, it ended with peace, love, kindness, and joy all because I changed my attitude, my actions and my speech. I didn’t wait for Garrett to fix it or say what I felt he should say (which he did not even need to say anything) I fixed it, I put on my armor, looked straight in the face of Satan and hit him with the thing he hates the most, God’s word and love. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
The moment I did that there was calmness that came over our home, my boys (all three) and me.
I am and have always been a visual learner and my amazing Father, my Creator knows that and last night He opened my eyes and gave me the best visual of how true love works and how it overcomes all things.
Prayer: Lord You are the most precious Father! I praise You for showing me firsthand just how powerful love is. Thank You Lord for loving me, thank You for spending countless hours with me teaching me, being patient with me, and showing me Your word in ways that I can understand it. Amen
Thursday, June 17, 2010
To see, to smell, to taste, to feel, and to touch!
“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10
In order to ever be able to live out this passage I have to be able to understand, be filled with, and choose daily to show love. I want others to see love, smell love, taste love, feel love, and touch love. So what is love and how is love shown?
Love is
1. God
2. Jesus, the sacrifice, the blood, and the resurrection
3. A choice and an action
4. Holy, perfect, just, and pure
5. Patient
6. Kind
7. Not jealous
8. Not boastful
9. Not proud
10. Not rude
11. Does not demand its own way
12. Never loses faith
13. Always hopeful
14. Endures through ever circumstance
15. Not irritable
16. keeps no record of when it has been wronged
17. never glad about injustice
18. rejoices whenever the truth wins out
19. always and forever
To love means to possess all of these qualities not just a few, love means to be born of God who is love. Just as our passage says, “love does no wrong to anyone.” When the Holy Spirit lives within us it gives us the ability to love, it directs us, controls us, and teaches us. It is the Holy Spirit that fills us with love. Remember we have the stitching of Christ that was sown by the Holy Spirit, it is now up to us to do our part and show it, live it, breathe it, and obey it.
Do you understand God’s love for you?
Do you accept God’s love?
Are you returning that love to God and others?
Do you have the stitching of love sown within you?
Prayer: Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit may the love I have for You overflow onto the lives of others. Lord I believe in Your mighty name that I am able to obtain all these qualities of love through the Holy Spirit that lives within me. Lord place your eyes on top of mine so that I might see through Your vision, the vision of love for all things and all people. Amen
In order to ever be able to live out this passage I have to be able to understand, be filled with, and choose daily to show love. I want others to see love, smell love, taste love, feel love, and touch love. So what is love and how is love shown?
Love is
1. God
2. Jesus, the sacrifice, the blood, and the resurrection
3. A choice and an action
4. Holy, perfect, just, and pure
5. Patient
6. Kind
7. Not jealous
8. Not boastful
9. Not proud
10. Not rude
11. Does not demand its own way
12. Never loses faith
13. Always hopeful
14. Endures through ever circumstance
15. Not irritable
16. keeps no record of when it has been wronged
17. never glad about injustice
18. rejoices whenever the truth wins out
19. always and forever
To love means to possess all of these qualities not just a few, love means to be born of God who is love. Just as our passage says, “love does no wrong to anyone.” When the Holy Spirit lives within us it gives us the ability to love, it directs us, controls us, and teaches us. It is the Holy Spirit that fills us with love. Remember we have the stitching of Christ that was sown by the Holy Spirit, it is now up to us to do our part and show it, live it, breathe it, and obey it.
Do you understand God’s love for you?
Do you accept God’s love?
Are you returning that love to God and others?
Do you have the stitching of love sown within you?
Prayer: Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit may the love I have for You overflow onto the lives of others. Lord I believe in Your mighty name that I am able to obtain all these qualities of love through the Holy Spirit that lives within me. Lord place your eyes on top of mine so that I might see through Your vision, the vision of love for all things and all people. Amen
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sowing’ it in!
“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10
Every day I wake up I have the opportunity to love the Lord and others more than I did the day before. I have the opportunity to express love the same way Jesus did because of the power of the Holy Spirit within me. And it is done by making the choice to do so.
When God sent Jesus He sent the needle and thread. When we make the choice to have Christ stitched within us (accepting Him as our personal Lord and Savior) the Holy Spirit who already has His needle threaded jumps in and begins stitching love inside our hearts.
With each stitch comes more love, a few pricks, areas of tugging together to make the layers fit, a little brokenness, lots of piecing together, discipline, and most of all a heart that is covered in the blood of Christ, filled with love.
It is through daily stitching that I; we can even come close to loving as Christ tells us to love. It is choosing daily to look at our own hearts and let the Lord remind us of the love He bestows upon each of us. We must always remember that we ourselves had to be stitched, have to be stitched and that we must help stitch the love of Christ into others by sharing and showing You and what You have sown within us.
Are you daily letting the Holy Spirit stitch the love of Christ within you?
Prayer: Lord remind me daily of the stitches that You have made within me. May I not only share the stitches of love with others but may I show them You the one who sows. Lord I want nothing more than to be stitched inside and out with Your love. Amen
Every day I wake up I have the opportunity to love the Lord and others more than I did the day before. I have the opportunity to express love the same way Jesus did because of the power of the Holy Spirit within me. And it is done by making the choice to do so.
When God sent Jesus He sent the needle and thread. When we make the choice to have Christ stitched within us (accepting Him as our personal Lord and Savior) the Holy Spirit who already has His needle threaded jumps in and begins stitching love inside our hearts.
With each stitch comes more love, a few pricks, areas of tugging together to make the layers fit, a little brokenness, lots of piecing together, discipline, and most of all a heart that is covered in the blood of Christ, filled with love.
It is through daily stitching that I; we can even come close to loving as Christ tells us to love. It is choosing daily to look at our own hearts and let the Lord remind us of the love He bestows upon each of us. We must always remember that we ourselves had to be stitched, have to be stitched and that we must help stitch the love of Christ into others by sharing and showing You and what You have sown within us.
Are you daily letting the Holy Spirit stitch the love of Christ within you?
Prayer: Lord remind me daily of the stitches that You have made within me. May I not only share the stitches of love with others but may I show them You the one who sows. Lord I want nothing more than to be stitched inside and out with Your love. Amen
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Selfish love or Selfless love
“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10
Love, love, love one of the hardest most unnatural things to do. There is no way I could ever truly love others let alone myself without Christ. Love is His very character and to me there is no better word to describe God and Jesus than love. The whole Bible revolves around love, everything God did He did because He loved and loves. Everything we do we are to do out of love and with love for Christ.
God does not make us love Him, His Son, or anyone else. He gives us the choice, the choice between living for Him or living for ourselves. But He tells us if you choose me than you must first love me with all that you are and second you must love your neighbor as yourself.
I have often wondered why God said we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, but the closer I grow to the Lord, the more time I spend in His word, the more I understand the meaning of this passage. I am not in love with myself, but I love myself enough to take care of me, when I am sick I do what I need to help my body recover, when I am tired I sleep, when I am hungry I eat. I work to have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, etc.
We all love ourselves and God knew that. Therefore He says you love yourselves enough to take care of your needs and wants then you must go beyond that and love your neighbors the same way. Make sure they are able to be tended to when sick, if they need rest provide a place for them, if they are hungry feed them, if they have no clothes, clothe them. If they need a place to stay open your home. Do for others what you would do for yourself. That is huge!
We would never neglect ourselves so why do we neglect showing love to our neighbors?
Prayer: Lord as I begin this new week I ask that You will continue to open my eyes not only to love but to ways that I can extend and express Your love towards others. Amen
Love, love, love one of the hardest most unnatural things to do. There is no way I could ever truly love others let alone myself without Christ. Love is His very character and to me there is no better word to describe God and Jesus than love. The whole Bible revolves around love, everything God did He did because He loved and loves. Everything we do we are to do out of love and with love for Christ.
God does not make us love Him, His Son, or anyone else. He gives us the choice, the choice between living for Him or living for ourselves. But He tells us if you choose me than you must first love me with all that you are and second you must love your neighbor as yourself.
I have often wondered why God said we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, but the closer I grow to the Lord, the more time I spend in His word, the more I understand the meaning of this passage. I am not in love with myself, but I love myself enough to take care of me, when I am sick I do what I need to help my body recover, when I am tired I sleep, when I am hungry I eat. I work to have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, etc.
We all love ourselves and God knew that. Therefore He says you love yourselves enough to take care of your needs and wants then you must go beyond that and love your neighbors the same way. Make sure they are able to be tended to when sick, if they need rest provide a place for them, if they are hungry feed them, if they have no clothes, clothe them. If they need a place to stay open your home. Do for others what you would do for yourself. That is huge!
We would never neglect ourselves so why do we neglect showing love to our neighbors?
Prayer: Lord as I begin this new week I ask that You will continue to open my eyes not only to love but to ways that I can extend and express Your love towards others. Amen
Monday, June 14, 2010
Lessons learned-lessons learning!
“I said to myself, I will watch what I do and not in sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1
The Lord has truly taught me so many amazing lessons over this last week. And the biggest one that I want to share with you is one that He has been pounding on my heart for quite some time. I know this will sound familiar to some of you but there is a point the Lord is trying to make.
“And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.” Matthew 12:36
I don’t know about you, but to know that one day I will be held accountable for EVERY word I have spoken and will speak leaves me full of emotions. I just cannot imagine standing before the Lord and hearing those words being repeated back to me. The ugliness, the sadness, the hurt, the devastation overwhelms me. More so, the thought of what those words did to Jesus when I spoke them…
I have to start taking into account that all things said and done will one day be judged. That they all affect, reflect, and impact Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Lord I love You! Forgive me for often failing to remember that You are the one most affected by what I say and do. Amen
The Lord has truly taught me so many amazing lessons over this last week. And the biggest one that I want to share with you is one that He has been pounding on my heart for quite some time. I know this will sound familiar to some of you but there is a point the Lord is trying to make.
“And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.” Matthew 12:36
I don’t know about you, but to know that one day I will be held accountable for EVERY word I have spoken and will speak leaves me full of emotions. I just cannot imagine standing before the Lord and hearing those words being repeated back to me. The ugliness, the sadness, the hurt, the devastation overwhelms me. More so, the thought of what those words did to Jesus when I spoke them…
I have to start taking into account that all things said and done will one day be judged. That they all affect, reflect, and impact Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Lord I love You! Forgive me for often failing to remember that You are the one most affected by what I say and do. Amen
Sunday, June 13, 2010
In EVERYTHING we do!
“I said to myself, I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1
Have you yourself or anyone you know ever went a whole day without complaining?
“In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.” Philippians 2:14-15
The Lord tells us in everything we do that we are to stay away from complaining and arguing. And yet for me it is sometimes as though I can find something to complain about in everything I do. As I let those words fill my thoughts I am reminded by the Lord that I have absolutely nothing to even complain about so why do I do it? SELF the very thing I can’t stand to be around.
Noah could have complained building the ark, Moses could have begun complaining along with the Israelites who were very good at complaining. David could have complained to anyone who would listen about his enemies, but instead he chose to go to the Lord. Paul could have complained about all the persecution he faced, the beatings he endured, starving, being tired, etc, and instead he praised God and encouraged all the more. Jesus could have complained about our ignorance, our lack of obedience, the beatings He endured, the mocking He had to listen to, the nails that were driven in His hands and feet, the spit that hit His face, the cross He had to carry, the cross He hung on, the pain and suffering He felt, and He could have complained about putting on the world’s sin, of which includes mine, but He DIDN’T, instead He did the very opposite, He loved, forgave, and covered us in His blood.
No matter what comes in this life, sickness, death, real persecution, beating, mocking, standing alone, and so on, I should still never complain because I have Christ Jesus in me who has promised to be with me always, give me life, rescue me, protect me, and deliver me. He has promised to love me, forgive me, and He shows me mercy and grace every second of my life.
He has left me His word, He has left and filled me with the greatest counselor-the Holy Spirit and for that I should spend every day rejoicing and praising God.
Prayer: Lord may I constantly be reminded of just how amazing my life is, because my life is with You and in You. I want to possess the same qualities and self-control that You possessed during Your time here on earth. Forgive me for complaining and arguing about unnecessary things. Amen
Have you yourself or anyone you know ever went a whole day without complaining?
“In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.” Philippians 2:14-15
The Lord tells us in everything we do that we are to stay away from complaining and arguing. And yet for me it is sometimes as though I can find something to complain about in everything I do. As I let those words fill my thoughts I am reminded by the Lord that I have absolutely nothing to even complain about so why do I do it? SELF the very thing I can’t stand to be around.
Noah could have complained building the ark, Moses could have begun complaining along with the Israelites who were very good at complaining. David could have complained to anyone who would listen about his enemies, but instead he chose to go to the Lord. Paul could have complained about all the persecution he faced, the beatings he endured, starving, being tired, etc, and instead he praised God and encouraged all the more. Jesus could have complained about our ignorance, our lack of obedience, the beatings He endured, the mocking He had to listen to, the nails that were driven in His hands and feet, the spit that hit His face, the cross He had to carry, the cross He hung on, the pain and suffering He felt, and He could have complained about putting on the world’s sin, of which includes mine, but He DIDN’T, instead He did the very opposite, He loved, forgave, and covered us in His blood.
No matter what comes in this life, sickness, death, real persecution, beating, mocking, standing alone, and so on, I should still never complain because I have Christ Jesus in me who has promised to be with me always, give me life, rescue me, protect me, and deliver me. He has promised to love me, forgive me, and He shows me mercy and grace every second of my life.
He has left me His word, He has left and filled me with the greatest counselor-the Holy Spirit and for that I should spend every day rejoicing and praising God.
Prayer: Lord may I constantly be reminded of just how amazing my life is, because my life is with You and in You. I want to possess the same qualities and self-control that You possessed during Your time here on earth. Forgive me for complaining and arguing about unnecessary things. Amen
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