Keep Your Eyes On Him

     "So He said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty. What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of, 'God bless it! God bless it! (Zechariah 4: 6-7)."      What mountain are you facing today? The mountain of fear? The mountain of poverty? The mountain of a broken relationship? The mountain of discouragement? The mountain of unbelief? The mountain of an addiction? The mountain of a lost loved one? Whatever mountain it may be, God is bigger than anything. He is bigger than any problem you will ever go through. He made the heavens and the earth by His power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32: 17).The question is, will you take Him at His word and believe that He will do the impossible for you? Walking by faith is trusting God no matter what your circumstances look l...

     "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9)."      There are things that happen in each of our lives that may either bring fear or discouragement. Whatever the circumstance, as a follower of the Lord Jesus, we do not need to fear or be overcome with discouragement. He goes before us. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him. In fact, He fights our battles. "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still (Exodus 14:14)." Read those words again my friend. Our Lord fights our battles. It is up to each of us to stand firm in Him and wait for the deliverance He will bring.       When you are in a dark trial, it is very tempting to want to give up. In the trials, as you press through them and keep your eyes on Jesus, God will grow your perseverance; something that can only be done in the trials. God sees. God k...

     "They saw the works of the Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep. For He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men (Psalm 107: 24-31)."      If you are in a storm right now my friend, you are not alone. If you are not currently in a storm, be prepared because one will come.  The definition of a storm is 'a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain.' This same description can be used in relation to storms w...

     At some point in each of our lives, we will probably ask the question why am I here? What is my purpose in life? We may try to find our purpose in a career, in our family, in a hobby or an organization. All of these are in themselves good things, but they can easily become idols if we give them priority over the Lord. Jesus said, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes even his own life-he cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:26)." Now, we must be clear, Jesus is not speaking of hating in the literal sense here. He is clearly telling us that our relationship with Him must have presidence over every relationship, over our desires and over anything in our life. Nothing should even come close to the deep intimacy we share with the Father through Christ. With that being said, Jesus should be the motivation behind everything we do. It is not about making a lot of money, having a great career, find...

     Today I felt led to share my testimony. I must admit I was hesitant at first because in sharing my story, I would be so exposed. But then the verse came to mind, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)." We are all sinners. If you are a follower of Christ, there was a moment in time being compelled by the Holy Spirit, you turned from your sin and you turned to Jesus. Each one of us has a past and thank God, He doesn't give up on us and let us die in our sin. He is so merciful and patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish.      I am not sure exactly when the eating disorder started. It was in my early college years. I started out skipping meals here and there. I would also exercise obsessively, most often when things around me seemed out of control. Not long after that I became bulimic and this would sometimes turn into anorexia. It became a vicious cycle...

     "We live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)." What is faith? By definition, faith is "complete trust or confidence in something or someone; strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof." If you are a follower of Christ, it took faith to believe that He is who He says He is. It took faith to believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and then rose again three days later. Faith is simple and complex at the same time. It goes against our human reasoning. It stirs our hearts as God draws us to Himself. Some people may say you just have to have faith in faith itself or faith in something. However, if you put your faith in anything but God you will always be disappointed. You will always be searching to fill the void that only He can fill.       Some put their faith in their job. Others may put their faith in a person. Still others may put their faith in their own ability. T...

     "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for Him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3: 21-26)."      As a follower of Christ, you always have hope. This hope is not based on your circumstances, but based on the God who filled you with His presence the day you were saved. In life, you and I will experience drought. There will be days when we are down. There will be times when we feel as though we cannot take another step. You look around and see all the wickedness in the world. You see evil men prospering and death happening all around us. However, it is in these times, you and I need to remind ourselves of the goodness of God....

     "He said, Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. (2 Chronicles 20:15)."      In this passage of scripture, Jahaziel was speaking to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. They were fearful because of the great army of men coming to drive them out of their land. They knew in their own strength they could not defeat all these men who were coming against them. Jahaziel spoke life into them and they had a choice to make. Were they going to believe God is who He says He is? Were they going to take Him at His word? This was definitely a test of their faith. They did not know what was going to happen, but they chose to trust in God to come through for them and let Him fight the battle.      It is the same for you and me today. The battle that you are in belongs to the Lord. And just like...

     "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You (Psalm 63:1-5)."      If you have lived long enough, you have gone through many trials and tribulations. You may have wondered at times how you would even make it through. Life can be so hard. People can be so cruel. But God! He is the one constant in this life. He is the Rock you can always lean on. He is faithful. He is merciful. He is full of compassion and His mercies never fail. He will pick you up and carry you through all the storms of life. He will never, no never leave you. He loves you with an...

     "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:26)." These are the words Jesus spoke to the crowds that were traveling with Him. At first glance, this sounds rather disturbing. I mean, God is love right? So why would He say if we do not hate our own family we could not be His disciple?       Jesus is giving an illustration to make a point. He is not saying we are not to love our family, He is clearly telling us that we should not love anyone or anything more than Him. We are to be obedient to Jesus even if it is against what our family may think. We are to be loyal to Him no matter what, even if it means losing someone we care deeply about. Life with Jesus is the most beautiful relationship anyone can or ever will have, but there will be suffering involved. He is preparing us for what is to come. No one likes to suffer and...

     Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:1-5)."      Read those words again, and let them sink deep into your heart. Friend, as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are kept by God until the day He comes back for us. This is the hope that we have, this hope is an anchor for our souls-Jesus Christ. Life is hard and there are days when you may feel  you cannot take another step. But as you turn your eyes to Jesus and rest in who He is, He will give you the strength you need to face any challenge this life has to offer. It is in knowing that this life is not all there is. It is trusting Jesus w...

     "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17      The "world" here in these passages does not refer to people, but everything that our sinful natures crave. None of which comes from God, but from our own selfish desires. As followers of Christ, we are called to be different. We are in the world, but not of the world. Yes, we live here, however, we are not to be influenced by the world, but rather influenced by the Holy Spirit living inside of us.  What sets the believer apart from the rest of the world? It is Christ living inside of you. What do people see when they see you? Do you act any different from those wh...

     "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands (Deuteronomy 8:2)."      Times of testing will come into every person's life. It will come in many different forms. A tragedy may strike within your family, a health concern may come upon you, something you have been praying earnestly for has not yet happened and years have passed, you may suffer persecution, you may lose everything you have worked for or God may simply be silent. Whatever the case may be, it is not an easy road. Know that whatever your circumstances are, God has not forgotten you. He has not left your side. In fact, He has allowed it to happen. You must keep in mind that God is in complete control. You may be asking God, 'Why?' Understand that it is okay to ask why, but God does not have to give an answer.       He wa...

     "Then he continued, do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia (Daniel 10: 12-13)."      Do you understand what is happening here? As Daniel made the choice to follow God and gain wisdom from Him, he prayed. The answer did not come immediately even though his words were heard right away. Twenty-one days later, his answer came. But before he received his answer, there was a battle going on which delayed the answer. It is the same for you and me today. The last thing satan wants is for our prayers to be answered. Fortunately for you and me, as children of the Most High God, the victory has already been won fo...

     "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You have planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare (Psalm 40:5)."      Too often, I find myself praying for God's will to be done in my life, then I take matters into my own hands instead of waiting on God. Too many times I act out in my flesh instead of walking in the Spirit. Does this mean I am a failure or that I will never be a vessel God can use? Absolutely not! Praise God that He specializes in helping, healing and restoring us. He knows everything....He knows what we are going to do before we do it. He knows what we are going to speak before it is even a thought. And, God takes everything (all of our choices, good and bad) and works them together for our good and His glory. He just wants us to continually trust Him and continually seek His face. When a righteous man falls, seven times he rises again (Pro...

     "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! Then He said, write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true (Revelation 21: 3-5)."      Here on earth as you go through life, you will go through trials, times of testing and all types of suffering. Jesus promised that in this world, we will have trouble, but to take heart (hold on) because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). We as believers, can hold on and have the peace that only Jesus gives because we know that this life is not all there is. Praise God! One day, there will be an end to all the pain, all the suffering, hurt an...

     "O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption." Psalm 130:7      God reminds us in His word over and over just how much He loves us. Not only does He love us, but He in fact, is love. "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16)." You may have been rejected by a loved one, friend or co-worker, but God will never reject you. His love for you is not based on anything that you do, but solely based on who God is! You cannot earn His love. You cannot work for His love. He doesn't love you any less when you sin and He doesn't love you more when you are obedient to Him. Now, let me say that since God is holy and perfect, when we do sin, He hates it, however, we have One who stands in our defense, ready to forgive as soon as we confess our sin, and that is Jesus Christ. " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and puri...

     "Now listen you who say, 'today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow,  what is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'if it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. (James 4:13-14)."      We all have a tendency to think that we have much time left here on earth....much time to get things done, much time to live life, much time to follow Christ, but the truth is-none of us know when we will take our last breath. We live for the moment, often times selfishly, without giving a thought to others around us or to the One who created us. We stay so busy with work, family, sports, school and recreational activities that we neglect to listen to the Spirit, the voice of Truth, to guide us in all that we do. There are so many opportunities for us to advance the kingd...

     "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:13-17)."      The world has all sorts of "self-help" books and different ways for you to gain wisdom. True wisdom, however, is only found in God and in His word. "My son, if you accept My words and store up My commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if ...