Rules Not Always About Restrictions
Psalm 119:18 Mkjv Open my eyes, so that I may behold wonderful things out of Your law.

We often think of "law" in terms of restricting rules. But if we think in terms of principles, we may be able to see beyond our natural tendency to rebel.

God's Word lays out His principles, not to restrict, but to free us to be all He created us to be. For example, sexual restraint and God's guidance can keep us from diseases that cripple and kill, and provide protection from toxic relationships.

But we need to be open to what God has for us, willing to be open to following His way to inner peace and security rather than the way of the world to destruction.

Open my eyes and my heart, Jesus, that I may see beyond my rebellious heart to Your love shown within Your principles. Amen.

Faith or Fear?
II Corinthians 10:5b GW ...We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ. .

Ezra 3:3 GW So they rebuilt the altar on its original site, though they were afraid of the people in the neighboring regions. They sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD every morning and evening.

When the Jews returned to Israel, they knew their neighbors did not welcome them or their worship. Fear hovered. But they did not allow that very real concern about what other tribes living the land might do to them to keep them from publicly worshipping God, honoring Him and doing whatever was right.

We don't usually have neighbors ready to murder us for worshipping Jesus. But we might suffer discrimination, ridicule, or character assassination. Do we love Jesus enough to know Him, honor Him, study and follow His principles and guidance in public as well as in private--no matter what?

In today's anti-Christian climate, it can be scary to live for You and to share my faith with others. Help me, Jesus, have the courage to let my little light shine for You. Amen.

Psalm 119:15 GW I want to reflect on your guiding principles and study your ways.

True Wealth
II Corinthians 9:10-11 GW God gives seed to the farmer and food to those who need to eat. God will also give you seed and multiply it. In your lives he will increase the things you do that have his approval. God will make you rich enough so that you can always be generous. ...

If we follow Jesus, if we live His principles, He will bless. A little will be more than we expect as He, not we, multiplies what we willingly offer Him in heart, time, money and things.

Help me realize, Lord, that true wealth is knowing You and allowing Your love to overflow my heart toward others. Amen.

Psalm 119:2 GW Blessed are those who obey his written instructions. They wholeheartedly search for him.

Losing Our Rights--A Pem Stroke Away
Psalm 118:8-9 GW It is better to depend on the LORD than to trust mortals. It is better to depend on the LORD than to trust influential people.

A reporter asked a woman applying for government money where the money was coming from. She honestly believed Obama, himself, was handing out cash. She had no clue fellow citizens were being severely taxed for her to get FREE "Obama" money. And no one sets people like her straight.

What liberal leaders want is an ineducated populace who will believe whatever they say and who will follow them like sheep to be fleeced.

Our country is being fleeced by leaders who claim to care, but whose real goal is total power. Christians conservatives stand in their way. Like the Nazi playbook, people of faith must be discounted, forced into a second-class status, revealed as demented and dangerous. How long before we are denied jobs, business opportunity-- like Rush buying a sports team and the misinformation campaign that went on to stop his acquisition, even denied basic health or other rights as citizens?

All this is a pen stroke away.

But, as Christ-followers, we should not center our hope on our political leaders for they will fail us. Whatever happens, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus.

V. 14 The LORD is my strength and my song. He is my savior.

Holocaust of Christians
II Chronicles 36:15-!17 GW The LORD God of their ancestors repeatedly sent messages through his messengers because he wanted to spare his people and his dwelling place.
But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until the LORD became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them.
So he had the Babylonian king attack them and execute their best young men in their holy temple. He didn't spare the best men or the unmarried women, the old people or the sick people. God handed all of them over to him.

We cannot either personally or nationally continue to mock God's dominion or principles and expect He'll hear or listen to the mantra "God bless America."

He has sent many to call us back to Him--Billy Graham and others. But the change, for most, appears little more than emotional rather than lasting change.

Liberal leaders while giving protection to perverts are strangling God's people with restrictions not unlike what the Nazis did in the early days of their reign of terror. We really have learned nothing and the seeds have been planted for a holocaust much more devastating than during WW II.

Do national affairs send us to prayer and living even more openly for Christ? Are we letting our light shine in the knowledge of His truth?

The Secret

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.

There is no big SECRET to a life of purpose and fulfillment. There is no hidden SECRET kept from you and me. There is one SECRET and it isn't a secret at all. Jesus died and rose again to offer forgiveness, salvation, hope and purpose for each of us.

How do we appropriate this SECRET? Not by visualization or desire, and not by putting me in the center of my universe. Purpose and fulfillment comes from "fearing"--honoring, worshiping, and accepting Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Guide of our lives.

It isn't a SECRET. God has commanded each of His children to spread the good news. Am I doing my part to sharing this open SECRET of Jesus' love with those around me?

Jesus, may I have the courage to live and speak my faith no matter what. Amen.

Excuses
II Corinthians 6:2 GW God says, "At the right time I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you." Listen, now is God's acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!

EXCUSES
© 2009

Wrong Goals:
I'm busy today
Want to have "fun"..just a bit longer

Lack of knowledge:
God is love; He'll understand
God forgives; He'll wink at my sin

Excuses:
Have so much to do
Not ready yet

Truth:
God hates sin, because it is hurtful to us and others
God is love, but there are consequences
God doesn't promise tomorrow
Without Him, we die both now and for all eternity.
The future is a choice--life or death.

Now is the day of salvation! Will choose Him--or sin?

Do Others Know I'm A Christian By My Love
II Corinthians 5:18-19 GW God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships.
In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn't hold people's faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others.

What is our ultimate purpose then? To love Jesus, to love others and to draw others to Him though our words, actions, and example--all bathed in knowledge, truth and love.

V. 20a Therefore, we are Christ's representatives, ...

Do I act like it?

Hard Questions
II Corinthians 4:5,18 Mkjv For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. ...we not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are not lasting, but the things which are not seen are everlasting.

Who do I lift up, myself or Jesus? Do I promote His way or mine with my attitudes and actions? Am I forgiving and caring or selfish and rude? Am I arrogant, acting as though I know it all or willing to listen to others? Am I more likely to respond with hate and anger or love and truth in love?

Hard questions. Even harder to answer honestly.

Help me, Jesus, not bring shame to You because of the way I act and speak. Help me reflect You. Amen.

Without God America has No Defense
II Chronicles 32:7-8, 22 Mkjv Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of the king of Assyria, or for all the multitude with him. For there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
... And the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others , and guided them on every side.

The king wasn't afraid to use military might and he did what he could to plan for defense. But he knew the true strength and protection for the country came from God. Because he set his heart to worship God and led his people to God, God worked a defensive miracle on Judah's behalf.

The king knew the country, their freedom and security as a nation was not ultimately in his hands. True freedom comes from an inner resource--the One who not only offers freedom, but IS freedom.

The more we honor Him, the more we will know freedom...and joy. The opposite is also true. Am I truly free?

II Corinthians 3:17 Kjv And the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is , there is liberty.

Exactly What I Need
Psalm 112:1, 3, 5, 7 Mkjv Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments. ... Wealth and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness stands forever. ... A good man shows favor, and lends; he will guide his business with fairness. ... He shall not be afraid of bad news; his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.


What are the rewards for those who honor and serve God?
God's favor and blessings.
Wealth and riches.

What are the marks of a Godly person?
Loves & follows God's principles.
Gracious & generous.
Honest & fair.
Isn't afraid when there is bad news.
Trusts in the Lord no matter what.

What about those riches? Wealth can be counted in many ways--finances, family, health. Wealth is knowing that when we honor God, He provides exactly what we need.

Right Choices
II Chronicles 30:6 GW Messengers took letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah. The king's order said, "Israelites, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then he will return to the few of you who escaped from the power of the kings of Assyria.

Psalm 111:4,10 Kjv He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion. ...The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever.

Repentence is the key to reconciliation with God and often, with others as well.

Repentence is the key to once more knowing God's blessings personally and as a nation.

But...am I too proud or stubborn to admit when I'm wrong, when I make bad choices, when I hurt others?

Help me realize, Jesus, forgiveness and peace comes not from arrogance or bull-headed stubbornness, but in a willingness to acknowledge I goof up--sometimes big time--to ask forgiveness and choose instead to follow right choices in You. Amen.

Stepping Forward--Alone
II Chronicles 29:1- 5, 15 GW Hezekiah began to rule as king when he was 25 years old. He ruled for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah. He did what the LORD considered right, as his ancestor David had done.
In the first month of his first year as king, he opened the doors of the LORD'S temple and repaired them. He brought the priests and Levites together in the square on the east side of the temple. He said to them, "Listen to me, Levites. Perform the ceremonies to make the temple of the LORD God of your ancestors holy. Remove anything that has been corrupted from the holy place.
...15 These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. Then they obeyed the king's order from the LORD'S word and entered the temple to make it clean.

Even good people are often too frightened or timid to stand up against prevailing attitudes or actions, even wrong ones. But they will step forward if one person takes a stand.

In this case the king himself led the way. Priests and Levites cleaned a temple that had been used to dump trash instead of as a Godly worship center.

All that changed with a Godly king. But the principle applies to humans in general. Good people will stand up when someone leads the way.

Do I allow evil because of my fear or am I willing to step forward, even, alone, to stand for God and good? Am I willing to lead and make a difference?

Help me, Jesus, stand up for what is faithful, right and true. Amen.

His Strength
I am tired and sore today after yesterday's full day. Yet, I was able to help comfort a friend in her loss, spend time with my sil since we were both involved at the funeral of our friend, and back at church in the evening for another friend. Made for a long day for me and I'm seriously crashing today. Yet it was worth it all

Glad that God can work thru this imperfect person and give me strength when mine is gone.

Ephesians 6:10 GW Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength .

The Truth of The Resurrection
I Corinthians 15:4-6 GW He was placed in a tomb. He was brought back to life on the third day as the Scriptures predicted. He appeared to Cephas. Next he appeared to the twelve apostles.
Then he appeared to more than 500 believers at one time. (Most of these people are still living, but some have died.)

Many who dispute the resurrection have never read these verses. The resurrected Jesus wasn't just seen by women, not just by close associates . Jesus was seen and interacted with hundreds of people. People lived and died for the truth of Jesus' real death and real resurrection.

Both were witnessed and tested, not just by His associates, but also by the government authorities of the day.

We can rely on the Biblical account. We can trust in and know this Jesus who loved us so much He was tortured and murdered for you and me, the Jesus who offers life if we believe and follow.