Monday, August 14, 2017

Obstinance

Our Obstinance and God's Grace

God told Moses that because of the people's obstinance He was not going to go with them to the promised land.  Notice Moses response in the following verse.  I wonder how many times in our obstinance and self sufficiency we leave God behind and just blend in with everyone else.  We are supposed to be a peculiar people, distinctly different from the world.

For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"
Exodus 33:16

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Cut To The Heart

Has anything ever "cut you to the heart?"  Seeing a starving child; watching an act.of injustice; the hurt of emotional, physical or mental anguish?  No doubt we all have had one or all of those experiences, but has the gospel cut you to heart so much that your only response is "What shall I do?"    If not, consider the gospel message and I would plead with you repent and come to Christ today. 

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:37‭-‬41

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Watch This

Stand Still...He Is Fighting For You

Make no mistake there are times God expects us to take action, but there are also times that He says..."watch this"
What ever your going through, stand still and watch God do what only He can do.  He is fighting for you! 
....Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord , which he will shew to you to day...... The Lord shall fight for you....
Exodus 14:13‭a-14a

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

What Does This Mean?

The Greatest Compliment

Without a question the greatest compliment would be for one of our children or anyone we influence to ask us...What does this mean?  The reason they ask is because we have lived out Godliness and scripture so much that their  curiosity takes over.
And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What does this mean?....
EXODUS 13:14a

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Cry Out To God

We are his covenant people, by the covenant of the cross and the glorious gospel.  Just as the children of Israel were remembered by God, we too have the promise that he will never leave us not forsake us (Heb. 13:5). 
When the children of Israel were in a hard place, they groaned and cried out and God heard them (Gen.2:23-25). 
If your in a difficult place today....Cry Out To God!

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Give Credit Where It Is Due


So often we talk as if we have all power and wisdom ignoring the reality of the glory of our Great God.  Listen to what Joseph said when he could have easily taken the credit.
Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when Joseph shaved himself and changed his clothes [making himself presentable], he came to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you that you can understand a dream and interpret it.” Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me [to interpret the dream]; God [not I] will give Pharaoh a favorable answer [through me].”  Genesis 41:14-16

Friday, April 7, 2017

Joseph

Sold into slavery by his own brothers, wrongfully slandered and put in prison....What would my reaction have been?  (Gen.37,40)  Probably something like this would have been my "patient Godly" answer:
"I'll show them who's wrong"
"When I'm finished with you..."
"Where is my attorney"
"One day it will come back on your head you idiots"
"I hope you fall over dead, and buzzards eat your eyeballs"

Wow I am so spiritual.  Oh my I have a lot to learn, how about you?

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Wrestling with God


You can't get much closer than when your wrestling.  I did a little wrestling many years ago when I was young and flexible.  Wrestling is hard, painful and exhausting, but rewarding.  We often look at Jacob's experience in Genesis 32 in the negative sense yet in reality he was a close to God in that moment as one could possible be.  Are you wrestling with God today?  If so, realize God is so intently interested in your life that He wants to get close to you and show you His great power and speak to you face to face.  He is strengthening you, teaching you and if you walk away with a limp, praise God, He touched you! 
So Jacob named the place Peniel (the face of God), saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life has not been snatched away.” GENESIS 32:30

Friday, February 24, 2017

Awesome

How Awesome Is This Place!

Note Jacob's response when he realized he had been in the presence of the Lord.  Have we become desensitized to the glory of the presence of God?
And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord , the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."
Genesis 28:12‭-‬13‭, ‬16‭-‬17

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Rebellion

Rebellions Downward Spiral

The old saying sin will take you further than you want to go keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay is timeless. 
Remember Esau had already rebelled against his parents and been a huge disappointment to them (Gen. 26:34-35; 27:46) 
His rebellion consumed him and the downward spiral continued.
And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;  Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.  Genesis 28:8‭-‬9

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Pick A Godly Mate

Choice Affect Others

Choose your mate wisely or it can be a family hardship.

When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.
Genesis 26:34‭-‬35

Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”
Genesis 27:46

Pick a good, Godly mate!

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

God's Hand

Can Others See The Hand Of God On US?

Even the ungodly saw God at work in Issacs life.
They said, "We see plainly that the Lord has been with you.
Genesis 26:28a

Oh that others would see God's hand on us in spite of our circumstances. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

For A Bowl Of Soup

FOR A BOWL OF SOUP
What would you give up for 5 minutes of pleasure? Or maybe what have you already given up for that 5 minutes of pleasure.  The cost can be staggering! I am sure a question that Esau would have loved to have thought through a little more extensively.  For a bowl of soup, he gave up his priestly duties over the family, a double portion of the inheritance and all the honor that went along with being the family leader in the future.
And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!" (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 25:30‭, ‬32‭-‬34

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Persecution or Peace

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/02/02/christian-persecution-seen-in-more-locations-across-globe-new-report-shows.html

Persecution or Peace

Which should we strive for?  In the wake of not only ramped up Christian persecution but ramped up coverage of Christian persecution in our day something I have observed.  1.  There seems to be a false badge of honor attached to being persecuted by many in American Christianity.  Like somehow if we could just endure persecution then our Christianity would somehow be validated or more effective.           2.  There are those on the other side that want to blow everybody up who is not a Christian and that somehow we will be able to mandate and protect Christianity everywhere, but especially here in America.  As if the Constantine experiment didn't already prove that foolish.
Wait, stop the presses.  Scripture says to pray for those in authority so that we can live out our lives in peace.  But then Jesus said don't be shocked by persecution and being hated.  So before you jump off the deep end on either side.  Keep a balance, live out biblical Christianity in the context of the culture you live in.  Hallelujah if we can live in peace until Jesus returns, but not everyone will or has.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 Timothy 2:1-2

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
John 15:18‭-‬20

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

The Bottom Line


In the business world the bottom line is increasing profits, sales, customer satisfaction, stockholders dividends...
Jesus has an entirely different set of economic values when it comes to increasing
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."  Luke 2:52
How is our spiritual economic outlook?

Friday, January 27, 2017

Integrity Matters!

Integrity Matters To God

In a familiar account in Scripture, Abraham "lies" about his half sister wife.  (Gen 20)  Abimelech is on the receiving end of Abraham's lie but is protected by God because of his integrity. 
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife." Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent people? Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this." Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Genesis 20:2‭-‬6
INTEGRITY MATTERS!

Saturday, January 21, 2017

No Excuses

"Yeah right, that will never happen!"  To old, not enough education, can't speak well, don't have enough strength...and the list goes on.  However, there is one enormous part of the equation we are leaving out....GOD!
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord ? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."  Genesis 18:11-14

Friday, January 20, 2017

Blameless


Don't give anyone a reason to point their finger at you in blame.  Oh that we would live our lives with such impeccable character so as to be called blameless. 
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Philippians 2:14‭-‬15
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,
Genesis 17:1

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

He Will Never Forsake You!

God has promised He would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), yet He forsook His own Son on your behalf!  Would you turn your back on your own child allowing him to be beaten beyond recognition for the benefit of someone else who hates you?  That is exactly what God did for us through Christ.
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34

Friday, January 13, 2017

Watch!

Be Watchful!

If you have lived in Ohio long you know to watch the sides of the roads where the deer are waiting for you to drive by so they can jump out in front of you.  If your not watchful and on alert you will miss the opportunity to slam on the  breaks or swerve over into oncoming traffic. 

Christ tells us to be watchful for his return.  What I say to you I say to everyone, watch ‘Be on the alert [stay awake and be continually cautious]!’”  MARK 13:37.   Don't miss it, He's coming!

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Ready?

Are You Ready?

For the third time in 7 days I will be presiding over a funeral and standing graveside as a family grieves and mourns thier loss.  As a pastor unfortunately, not an uncommon occurrence.  In the midst of it all, we cannot escape questions about eternity.  What about life after death?  What's next?  I will leave you with a simple question...Are You Ready?
You can't ready yourself, only Christ has the power to deliver you from death to eternal life.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

God of the Living

Who Is Our God?

Many have ask is there a  difference between gods?  To which I would respond with a resounding yes!  The one true God, creator and sustainer of the universe is the God of the living not of the dead!   He is my God, and He has redeemed me by His Son Jesus Christ!
In response to the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection Jesus said...
He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
Mark 12:27

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Out Heavenly Bodies

What Will We Be Like In Heaven?

An age old question with a lot of speculation.  But scripture gives us an answer.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.  Matthew 22:30
It doesn't say we are angels, there is a difference between humanity and angels.  Christ came to redeem humanity not angels.  We will have some angel characteristics or qualities and there will be no marriage in heaven as a result. 

Saturday, January 7, 2017

No More Confusion

No More Confusion

Wouldn't that be great, we all just speak the same language.  No barriers, open communication between countries and people's.  Just think how much better off we would be.  Well think again.  "And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech."
Genesis 11:1

Read the rest of the story in Genesis 11.  One language and guess what they wanted to do...disobey God and build a tower to heaven.  So language barriers are so bad after all, else we would try to build another tower and tell God  what to do.  Of coarse we tend to do that anyway, dont we? Only when sin is once and for all eradicated will we be able to communicate without barriers.  Looking forward to that day.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Not Noah!

Noah...From Righteousness to Drunkenness
It doesnt take long to go from the moutain top to the valley spiritually.  One foolish decision. Noah, yep that's Noah from the Bible.  He knew better, remember what it was like before the flood?  He just survived the historic flood and had honored God with an altar and sacrifices. And Noah began to farm and cultivate the ground and he planted a vineyard. He drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he was uncovered and lay exposed inside his tent.GENESIS 9:20‭-‬21. We are so often just like Noah, spiritual success than we fall to temptation. 

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Always on my Mind

Have you ever made the statement, "I forgot about him or her"?  I am so glad that God doesn't forget us. A simple yet profound statement after the flood...."And God remembered Noah..." Genesis. 9:1.  Thank you Lord for having me constantly on your mind as your word says..."You will never leave us nor forsake us"!