Keep Your Eyes On Him

     "Teach me Your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. 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 (Psalm 27:11-14)."      As I read those verses, it was a reminder to me that no matter what I am facing today, no matter how big the problem may be, that this situation is only temporary and I will see the goodness of the Lord; not tomorrow-not one day-but right now!       There are battles we all face in life. Some of us are in a storm right now and it may seem like things will never get better. In fact, things may have gotten worse. Now is not the time to back down or give up. God tells us to "keep asking, keep knocking and to keep seeking (Matthew 7:7)." He also tells us to wait on Hi...

     "For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6      It's the time of the year when we celebrate Christmas all over the world. A day set apart to celebrate the birth of the one true King. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of this precious holiday, and lay aside the true meaning of Christmas. I am sure many of you have been shopping and buying gifts for friends and loved ones and while this is good, don't forget the reason for this season~ Jesus .       Before the world was made, God already had a plan to save all humanity. He already knew Adam and Eve would commit the first sin in the Garden of Eden and in love, He already had the answer for all the sin that was brought into this world. You see, God is perfect and all of His ways are righteous and just. In Him, ther...

     "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4      Several years ago as I was going through a really tough time in my life, the words of the above verses literally jumped off the pages as I read them. I am sure I had read them before, but never, did these words speak to me like they did that day I read them. God knows exactly what we need at just the right time. He allows circumstances to come into our lives for a very specific purpose. God is sovereign or in other words, He is in complete control. In the book of Daniel we read, "seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes . (verse 4:25) What does the word sovereign mean? It means...

     "Moses said to the Lord, O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue. The Lord said to him, who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and teach you what to say." (Exodus 4:10-12)      When God first called Moses, he was hesitant  because he was focusing on his natural abilities and his weaknesses instead of focusing on the supernatural, awesome power of God. I think we all do that at times when God asks us to do something that we know we cannot do in our own strength. We have doubts because we are only looking at our human abilities or maybe we think because of what we have done in the past, God could never use us.      Friend, God uses anyone that has a willing heart. All throughout history, God has used people who at one time were living as en...

     "But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace  you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace  you have been saved-through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2: 4-9)      God is so rich in mercy and grace. He did not have to send His one and only Son to die for us, to take the punishment that we deserved, but He chose to do this simply because He loves us so much and wanted to have a relationship with us. Through His Son, God made a way- where there was otherwise no way- for us to come to Him and be forgiven and cleansed from all of our sin.  ...

     "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God-even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)"      I want to tell you about a lady I met this morning. Although she probably would not mind, I am going to keep her name in confidence. She was working at a store I went to. As I was waiting, she and I began talking. I felt such a compassion for her, that I cannot begin to explain it except that it was just Jesus! She is a single mom and struggles day to day. Her ex-husband is not working so she is trying to make it on her own. We continued to talk and then I left. When I got to my car, I could not leave. I felt such a prompting deep within to go back into the store where she was. I knew God was speaking to me. I also "just happened" to have...

     "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. (Romans 7:21-23)."      There is a struggle present within each one of us that begins when we become a follower of Christ. We have this struggle because although we are saved by the blood of Christ, we still have a sin nature. If we are not careful, we will give in to our sin nature.       At times, the battle rages. This battle begins in our minds. If we allow wrong thoughts and negative thinking to take up residence in our minds, we will end up living a defeated life and eventually give way to sin in our lives. That's why God tells us in His word that we are to renew our minds. We are not to be conformed or influenced by the pattern of this ...

           Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me (Revelation 3:20)."      Many people think that in order for them to come to God, they must first do more righteous acts, start acting better, go to church or do more good deeds. The truth is, Jesus wants you to come as you are -with all your baggage, your bondage, pride, your addictions, your selfishness, shame, greed, lusts, anger and bitterness.       Friend, you nor I could never be good enough or do enough good works that would amount to anything. In fact, the Bible clearly tells us that "our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)." Or basically that our righteousness, when compared to the holy, sinless, perfect God does not even compare. When you come to Jesus, He is the One that cleanses you from the inside out. He is the One that transforms you ...

     Jesus said, "If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32)."      Truth is Jesus. Truth is the living Word of God. The question is, do you believe this truth? Does your life show that you believe this truth? Jesus clearly said, if you hold  or cling to His teaching, then you are truly His disciple.  Apart from Jesus, truth would not exist. He is the One who holds all things together.       Many people want to make truth whatever they believe, not basing it on God's word, but on something they have heard, seen or read. This has happened throughout history. In Judges 21:25, we read, "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." Do you see what is wrong here? It is what is happening today. Everyone thinks they are right in their own eyes and does what "they" think is right...Proverbs tells us, "Do you see a man wise in...

     "The thief comes only  to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10      You have an enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy your testimony, ruin your relationships and cause confusion and chaos in your life.       I want you to understand the background of satan. It is important that you know who your enemy is. satan is not what movies and cartoons make him out to be. You need to know what God's word says about him. satan was once "annointed as a guardian cherub and on the holy mount of God (Ezekiel 28:14)." He was the model of perfection~full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. He was adorned with many beautiful precious stones (Ezekiel 28:12-13). Because of his beauty, his heart became proud and filled with violence. He said "I will ascend to heaven , I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights...

         "On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."      So the sun stood still, and the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.      The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man."      Joshua 10:12-14      When I read these verses, I thought, I want to have sun stand still prayers like Joshua! What is it about Joshua, that caused the Lord to listen like He did? Joshua was a man of great faith and He obeyed the Lord. Not too long before, the walls of Jericho had fallen because Joshua did as the Lord commanded him to do. Did it make sense? In human terms, no, not at all. However, like Joshua, we must look ...

“Therefore, anyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24 “Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.” John 14:21      As followers of Christ, we are to be doers of the Word, not merely hearers. James tells us that if we only listen to the Word, we actually deceive ourselves. He compares those who only listen to the word as one who looks at his face in the mirror, but forgets what he looks like after walking away (1:22-23). It is not simply going to church once a week on Sunday. Rather, it is spending every day in God’s presence letting Him transform you making you more like Christ.     Anyone can go to church on Sunday and put on a good front. The question is, how are you living the rest of the week? What do you do when no one else is looki...

     Jesus answered, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6      Jesus did not say I am one of many ways, but I am the  way. Friend, no matter what you have heard, or what you have read, Jesus is the only  way to the Father. Any  religion that preaches a different gospel is a false religion. Unfortunately, there are many that have been deceived by thinking they can get into heaven by good works, by praying, by reading their Bible or by trying to be good. We could never be good enough and could never do enough good works to get into heaven. "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10). Our hearts are desperately wicked. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9). Apart from Jesus, there is nothing in us that is good. Sure, you may do good things at times and love certain people in your life, but without Christ, yo...

     "To You O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame , but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse." Psalm 25:1-3      God is a God of hope! Before the beginning of time to the present, as long as you have the Lord God, you have hope. This hope we have is not found in worldly things. It is not found in others. It is found only in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 6:19 tells us that this hope is an anchor for our souls. An anchor is something that a ship uses to keep stable. As the anchor holds, so does the ship. In Christ, you are the ship and He is the anchor that keeps you.You may be going through some tumultuous times in your life right now. Everything around you may be falling apart, but friend, as long as you have Jesus, He will hold you steady. Because of Him, you can face anything in this world and know that ...

     "Put your finger here; see My hands Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe .      Thomas said to Him, 'My Lord and My God! Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have see Me, you have believed; blessed  are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:27-29      Now as you read those verses, it is clear that Thomas is doubting that he is really seeing Jesus in the flesh after His death. Thomas has to actually touch Jesus to know that it really is Him. However, there is a blessing for all who have not seen Jesus, yet believe. Believing is a matter of faith and trust. As humans, we naturally want to figure something out. Our natural instinct is that when we see, we will then believe. Faith in God is supernatural~God tells us that without faith it is impossible  to please Him, because anyone who comes to Him must believe  that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. ...

    "For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:5      God is always good and always loving. Sometimes when we go through difficult circumstances, we tend to think that God is unfair or that He is not good. We may find ourselves asking the question, 'why would a good God allow this to happen?' While I don't know the answer to that question, I do know that even in the most difficult situation, God is good. We may not always understand the things that happen in this life, but we need to understand that all of God's ways are good and He is full of grace and compassion. We live in a fallen world where sin abounds. Not only that, but our enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He will stop at nothing to get you to take your eyes off of Jesus. He will lie to you and tell you that God doesn't really love you. He will try to create doubt in ...

     "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed  in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise." Ephesians 1:13      In the Greek, the word seal or 'sphragizo' "signifies ownership and the full security carried by the backing (full authority) of the owner." Also, "to seal or affix with a signet ring to stamp~to attest ownership, validating what is sealed." In the book of Haggai, God tells us, "I will make you like My signet ring , for I have chosen you." (2:23)       I don't know about you, but reading this excites me to know that in Christ, I am sealed and nothing can change this awesome truth! As soon as you and I believe, Christ seals us with His Holy Spirit! "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership  on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come....

     "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge." Psalm 19:1-2       Take a good look at this picture. The beauty of the sun behind the clouds. There is even a planet in the background. The marvelous work of God is all around us. We have an awesome and great Creator. God has always been. I know it is hard for us to wrap our minds around this, but God is infinite. Before He formed the earth and everything you see-He was! He is the great I AM!       Isaiah 6:3 tells us that the earth is full of His glory. What is so fascinating to me is the fact that this Great and Powerful God-the God of the universe, created you and me for Him. He loves us so much that He desires to have a relationship with each one of us. He proved this to us by sending His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to die a brutal death on a cross for our sin....

      "Then His disciples said to each other, 'Could someone have brought Him food?' "My food, Jesus said, is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work." (John 4:33-34)      Jesus had one purpose, and this purpose was to die for the sin of the world. "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) Jesus did something that you or I could not do on our own. He was the perfect, spotless Lamb that was sacrificed in order that you and I might have life eternal. Our sin placed a barrier between us and God. No amount of good works, charitable acts or contributions could ever be enough for a Holy and Righteous God. We needed a perfect Savior to take our place. You see, we do not get what we deserve. If that was the case, we would all go to hell. But God, so rich in mercy and grace had a plan. This plan was to send His One and Only Son to earth for the sole purpose of dying...