Keep Your Eyes On Him

Monday as Darren and I were leaving the Dash game, we looked up and saw this beautiful rainbow. My first thought was thank you Lord, that You displayed a portion of Your glory and majesty for us to see. The Lord said,"I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind." Genesis 9:13-14 What an awesome promise for you and for me. A covenant is a formal binding agreement...this covenant is forever. All we have to do is look around us at the beauty of nature and see all that our Creator has done. God said "let the land produce vegetation; seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it according to their various kinds. And it was so....He created everything for us to enjoy. I know that what we can see is only a small portion of all th...

What does it mean to truly forgive someone? People may have different opinions. I have often heard many say "I can forgive but I cannot forget." I have a different take on that answer. If we truly forgive someone, we no longer hold it against them. If we continue to remember the offense, there will also be feelings of resentment and bitterness attached to remembering. To forgive is defined as, "to excuse for a fault or offense; pardon. To stop feeling anger or resentment against. To absolve from payment of." Now humanly speaking, you will remember and you will hold on to the wrong that was done to you. Jesus did not pay the ultimate sacrifice for us to continue to walk as we once did. When He places His Spirit in you, He gave you His power and His strength to walk as He did. Only by His Spirit living in us, can we truly forgive others who have mistreated us. You may be thinking, well, I just cannot forgive that person or if I forgive-they have gotten away with what ...

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it, for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." Psalm 24:1-2 This verse makes it clear that everything, not some things, belong to the Lord. He is our source, our provider. God is the One who causes wealth or takes it away. The God of the universe that created it all, holds everything together. What does this mean for you and me as a believer? First of all, we need to hold in our hearts the fact that everything good comes from above. Your job or your spouse is not where the provision comes from, it is the Lord. He is the One who gives you the job that you have. He is your supplier. With that being said, how do you handle the money God has entrusted to you? Do you hoard it selfishly? or do you give to the church and to others as God blesses you? Are you putting your faith in your money or in the God who supplies? Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your he...

In Job, we read the words, "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him...Job goes on to say, "indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance." 13:15-16 You may be facing a very difficult situation and you wonder how will I ever make it through? The answer is to place your hope in God, not in the circumstances. Hope is defined "as to wish for something with expectation. A desire accompanied by a confident expectation." This hope is found in God and God alone. He holds the universe in His hands. He is sovereign or has supreme power. He has foreknowledge, or knowing something before it occurs. If He is in complete control, which He indeed is, He controls every circumstance. In these times where we do not understand, or are suffering or in pain, we must hope in God and know that as His child, He will work it all out for our good in His time. This hope must be unwavering and based on the character of God, not on people or circumstances. This hope is an anchor for your...

Are you living the life you were called to live? I am not talking about a particular career or hobby, I am talking about the life God prepared beforehand for you to walk in. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 You and I have a purpose in this life. This purpose does not include gratifying our selfish desires. God has a unique purpose and a plan for you and me. We have a certain sphere of influence that only we can reach. It may be at your workplace, the gym, your group of friends, your family or your social club. There are people in your life that I cannot reach, but you can. We are called to be set apart-to be holy as Jesus is holy. This means doing the right thing when no one else around you is. It means standing up for your faith in Jesus when people are mocking you. It means walking in integrity-even when no one is looking. It means being bold for the cause of Christ. It m...

As a follower of Christ, we are kings and queens of the Most High God. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9 My friend, you are a child of the King-the One who made the heavens and the earth. You are royalty. This is  not based on your circumstances or the things you do, but it is based on what Jesus already did for you! When He died on the cross and rose again, He defeated the power of sin and satan. You were bought with a price. 1 Corinthians 7:23 You are a "crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God." Isaiah 62:3 A diadem is "a crown or headband-royal power or dignity." That is what you are! There may be people in your life that tear you down with their words and make you "feel" like you are not important. These people may even be in your ow...

The Lord was speaking to my heart this morning about faith. Faith requires action on our part. It is not sitting passively and wishing something would happen. It is placing your faith in God and presenting your requests to Him and waiting until He gives you the answer. If our requests line up with His word and we do not doubt in our hearts, He will answer us. Jesus tells us in Matthew, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." 17:20-21 What is your "mountain?" Is it needing money to pay your bills? Is it restoration of a broken relationship? Is it being set free from an addiction? Whatever it is, Jesus will come to your rescue. The answer may not come as quickly as you would like, but God will answer you. You must wait patiently on Him and remember it is in His time. While you are waiting, God will strengthen you, He will ...

"The joy of the Lord is my strength." Nehemiah 8:10 We live in a fallen world and this life can be really hard at times. The Lord can and will give you His joy unspeakable. Joy is defined as "intense or elated happiness; a source of great pleasure; to rejoice." God is the source of your joy. He is the reason you can smile in the midst of your difficulties. He is the One-the only One-who can give you a joy that moves beyond your circumstances. "Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now. you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8-9 This joy that Jesus gives is not based on your circumstances, it is based on Him and Him alone. This joy allows you to endure trials and tribulations knowing all the while that your God is working all things together for your good for you who love the Lord. Romans 8:28 ...

God does not change, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The same God who has performed so many miracles we read about in His word, still performs miracles today! I want to share what He has done in my life in the past two years...In July of 2010, my husband and I separated. This was one of the most difficult times in my life. Many nights after the boys went to bed, I cried myself to sleep. I did not know how we were going to make it and I never dreamed I would be in this situation. But God, so rich in mercy and grace had a plan! I continued to seek Him, to cry out to Him and lay everything at His feet. This was too big for me to carry on my own. God comforted me, He continued showing me that I was not alone. During this time, Jesus became my everything-my husband, my provider, my healer...the lover of my soul. Without Him, I don't know how I would have made it through. I prayed that God would heal my heart, my boys' hearts, and Darren's heart. I continued to pray ...

If you ask people the question "Are you a Christian?" The majority of them will probably say yes. Reasons given vary like..."I go to church," "I am a good person," "I try to follow the ten commandments," "I believe in God," or "I was baptized when I was...you fill in the blank. All of these answers are wrong, so wrong! It really makes my heart heavy to know that so many people really think they are a "Christian," and then you look at the life they live and have to scratch your head and wonder. People that say they are a Christian, yet live like the rest of the world--and are not any different. They are dishonoring the name of Christ. He died once for all and set you free from the life you used to live. In Christ, you are set apart...separate from the ways of the world even though you live in the world."What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; HOW CAN WE L...

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 We live in an instant world with fast food restaurants, microwaves and the internet. We don't like waiting...our flesh wants "it" right now. When we don't see an answer right away, we tend to become discouraged or think maybe that God does not hear our prayers. When we become discouraged, we have taken our eyes off of the Lord and turned them to our circumstances. Gabriel told Daniel "as soon as you began to pray, an answer was given." 9:23 When we confess our sins before the Lord, we have nothing that will hinder our prayers to Him. He hears every prayer we lift up to Him. There is a spiritual battle taking place....Michael told Daniel that he was battling with the prince of Persia (satan) for twenty-one days after Daniel prayed. Daniel 10:13 satan will do all he can to ke...

"Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, 'who sees us? who will know?' You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, 'He did not make me?' Can the pot say of the potter, 'He knows nothing?' Isaiah 29:15-16 Many people go about their lives and think God does not notice or maybe that He does not care what they are doing. They may continue in hiding their sin because they think they are getting away with it because they have not gotten caught. This is deception! Eventually, God will indeed expose the motives of our hearts Proverbs 16:2 and "man's ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths." Proverbs 5:21 God sees all...He sees every step you take and He knows every thought you think. I believe deception is one of satan's biggest tools. To deceive is to "cause to beli...

We have a God who is all-powerful, all-knowing and sovereign. He sees the beginning from the end. Do you trust Him with your time, your children, your family and your life? "As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him....it is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." 2 Samuel 22:31-33 We most often times think we know what's best and then find out later that was not the case. But we have a God who will direct our paths-His ways are perfect and He knows what is best for you and me. "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. ALL of the ways of the Lord are LOVING and FAITHFUL for those who keep the demands of His covenant." Psalm 25:10 You and I can choose God's way or we can choose our way. If we choose our way, we will never be satisfied. We will keep searching and striving and al...

"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. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in Your name  and drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from Me you evildoers." Matthew 7:21-23 This is a hard scripture to read and it should send chills up your spine. Notice Jesus said "many" will say to Him on that day...There are many who think that they are saved because they believe Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead. But James tells us that even the demons believe and they actually tremble. 2:19 Now I am not trying to scare you into salvation, I am just asking you to take an honest look at your relationship with God. Does He know you intimately? When we ask Jesus to come in and be Lord and Savior of our life, He immediately places His Spirit in us and begins ...

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew or chose you." Jeremiah 1:4 You are no accident! God formed you while you were in your mother's womb and He has a plan and a purpose for you. This plan is for good and not for evil, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 God doesn't care where you have been or what you have done-He loves you and will restore your life once again! In the Psalms, we read "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." 27:13-14 It is so easy for us to look at our circumstances; only what our eyes see at the present time and not focus on the Lord and what He has in store for us. This is one of the reasons it is so important to read and know God's word. We need to hide it in our hearts so that when evil comes, or circumstances beyond our control happen, we can stand firm, knowing and trusting that the Lord wi...

Broken, what does this word mean to you? The word is defined as "shattered or fractured; subdued totally, tamed or humbled." What God desires from us is a broken and contrite spirit. It is coming to the end of yourself. It is getting to the point in your life that you recognize, you cannot do it on your own. It is an awakening of your soul that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. It is looking at yourself honestly before the Lord. When we compare ourselves to the beauty and majesty of God and His holiness and righteousness, we realize we are nothing. We are nothing without Him. He is the One who gives us breath each morning. He knows each of us by name. The Creator of the universe desired to create a people that He loves so dearly and wants each of us to know Him intimately-personally. God is not just "up there somewhere," or a "big man in the sky" He is LORD, He is Father God. He is your maker. He is right here in your midst! It is not just enough to kn...