Keep Your Eyes On Him

     "When I in righteousness, awake in Heaven I will be fully satisfied for I will see You face to face (Psalm 17:15)."      This world, the people and the things in it, will never truly satisfy the void in each person's heart. God created you and me and put a longing in our heart for eternity that only He can fill. You may try to fill this void with relationships, material things, drugs, alcohol, status or a job. However, all of these will leave you wanting more. Jesus is the only one who satisfies. "Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9)."      The life we live here on earth is only temporary and passes quickly. One thing is certain, we will all face death. The question is, where will you spend eternity? Will it be in heaven with Jesus where there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain (Revelation 2...

     "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord have never forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9:9-10)."      I don't know what you are facing right now. Maybe it's a financial issue, sickness, heartache or broken relationship. Whatever it is, Jesus is your refuge both now and forever. He is a stronghold, in other words, He is a "fortress and a place of survival." He will never, ever leave you.        Life can be hard and at times it can seem unbearable. But if you will trust Jesus and keep your eyes on Him-not your circumstances, He will fill you with His peace. He will give you joy even in the most difficult seasons of your life. When we go through trials, our human tendency is to focus on the pain. We want a quick fix. We may at times even think the pain-this trial-will never end. This is exactly what the enemy wants. He wants you to give up. H...

     "When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. At this they covered their ears and yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, Lord do not hold this sin against them. When he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:54-60)."      There are several key points to takeaway from these verses. Stephen was being persecuted because he was preaching the word of God. He did not waiver even though his life was at stake. He remained obedient to God at whatever the...

     "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul (Mark 8:34-36)?"      Over and over in His word, Jesus tells us to follow Him, but we must first understand what this looks like. To follow  is defined as "to engage in as a calling or a way of life ; to be or act in accordance with; to accept as authority." Following Jesus is a lifestyle. It is so much more than going to church or engaging in a Bible study, or helping the needy, or doing other good things; it is a relationship with the Lord Jesus. One where we abide in Him day after day, allowing Him to have His way in and through us. It is submitting to His lordship~His authority.       Many of the churches today preach a "feel good" message that i...

     "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand (Psalm 16:11)."      My friend, Jesus is the only one who can fulfill the deep longing you have within. He is life; there is joy in His presence. He will come in and fill the void that is in your heart and make you whole. Jesus created you, therefore, He is the only one who can truly satisfy. It is only when you come to Him, your soul is at rest and you have peace with God.       Until you come to Jesus, you will try to fill the void with many things. Some may try to fill it with relationships, some may fill it with drugs or alcohol, some may fill it with material things, some may fill it with work, and some may fill it with religious activities. All of these things will leave you empty and continually wanting more. Jesus is the answer; the living water. When you drink from the water He gives you, you...

     "You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy (James 5:8-11)."      Suffering is something none of us like, however, at some point in our lives, we will experience suffering. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Sometimes the suffering is quick but other times, it seems to never end. The word suffering means "the state of undergoing pain, distress or hardship." We may suffer in this life for several reasons. It could be directly related to a choice w...

     "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)."   I am going to be transparent with you. As I read these verses about love, I was convicted as I realized I have not been showing love as described here. Lately, I have found myself easily offended and at times self-seeking. I was holding on to the wrongs that have been done to me instead of releasing them to the Lord. Because I had been holding on to the offenses, a root of bitterness had begun to spring up within me. I did not like it-not one bit. The Lord used a series of events and wise counsel to open my eyes and help me to see where I have sinned.       While this was not easy, I am so grateful that the Lo...

     "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death~or the darkest valley~I will fear no evil, for You are with me ; Your rod (protection) and Your staff (guidance), they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil (healing), my cup overflows (blessings). Surely goodness and mercy (God's grace) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:4-6)."      My friend, I don't know what you are going through right now. You may be in one of the darkest times of your life. It may seem as though this "valley" you are in will never end. There may be times that you just want to give up.This is exactly what the enemy would like for you to do, but don't listen to the lies He whispers. God has promised that He is with you-at all times-the good and the bad, and because God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19), you can rest in every one...

     "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 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 away 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 21:1-5)."      This my friend, is the hope that everyone who believes-who puts their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ has. The life we now live on earth is really just a moment in comparison with...

I know there are times when it feels like others are truly your enemy, by the things they say or how they treat you, however, they are not your real enemy-satan is. While he does use people as part of his strategy, he is always the one behind the warfare. You must remember this at all times. Don't let satan catch you off guard. He will come at you especially during times you are tired both physically and emotionally. He comes only to kill, steal and destroy-your family, your testimony, your finances, your relationships and your health. satan is the father of lies, he was a murderer from the beginning and there is no truth found in him (John 8:44).      Satan has been deceiving people since the Garden of Eden where he first deceived Eve. He appeared to her and asked "Did God really say, you must not eat from any tree in the garden?" which caused her to question God (Genesis 3:1). Make no mistake, satan knows the word of God and he will distort it for his evil schemes. He...

     "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions, and pleasures. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His great mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-8)."      Several things stand out to me as I was reading these verses. The first one is that at one time, every single one of us (who are now saved), lived a life of rebellion; rebellion towards God-a selfish, sinful, prideful life. We were all once enemies of the cross. We were blind and did not realize we were blind. It is not until God removes the veil over our eyes, that we can see. We were literally the walking dead. Our body was alive, howe...

     "Praise awaits You, O God in Zion; to You our vows will be fulfilled. O You who hear prayer, to You all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, You forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those You choose and bring to live in Your courts. We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple. You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, the roaring of their waves and the turmoil of the nations. Those living far away fear Your wonders, where morning dawns and evening fades, You call forth songs of joy (Psalm 65:1-8)."      God alone is worthy of all praise! He is the only One who can cleanse us and make us new. He forgives all of our sins-past, present and future. He knows all because He is omniscient. He sees all because He is omnipresent. God knows every single detail about you. He knows every sin you have ever committed and ever will co...

     "How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-a place near Your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You (Psalm 84:1-4)."      In the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy. The problems of this world, the sadness, loss and heartache fade in the light of His beauty and grace. You and I will go through many trials and difficulties in our lifetime. None of us are exempt from disappointment and pain. We are either going through a trial, coming out of one, or getting ready to go through one. I am not writing this to discourage you, but rather to encourage your heart. Because you and I have a refuge we can run to; His name is Jesus. He will fill your heart and soul...

     "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2)."      We all have a sin nature. Even if you are saved by the blood of Christ, you still have a sin nature. Yes, you have been redeemed and been filled with His Holy Spirit, but you will have this sin nature until the day Christ comes, and you are made like Him (1 John 3:2).  With that being said, there will be a battle between our flesh and our spirit all the days of our life. That is why Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily  and follow Me (Luke 9:23). To deny ourselves is simply laying aside our desires and our will, then surrendering to God and His will.       If you...

     "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:1-4)."      There is a peace that the Lord Jesus gives. This peace has nothing to do with your circumstances. Rather it is a peace in knowing-beyond any doubt-that you never walk alone. It is a peace that Jesus gives even in the worst of circumstances because you know He has you and will never ever leave you. Being in the valley of the shadow of death or in heartbreaking circumstances is by no means easy, however, if you will look to Jesus and keep your eyes on Him, not your circumstances, you will have peace. Not only that, but you will have joy. Because being in His presence brings fullness o...

    " Fear not , for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine . When you pass through the waters, I will be with you ; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire , you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. for I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you (Isaiah 43:1-4)."       The Lord showed me these verses several years ago when I was deep in the valley. Ever since that time, I have clung to these same verses whenever I face a trial. Read them again and let them sink into your heart. These words are for you right now in whatever impossible situation or heartache you may be facing. God promises that when we walk through the fire, we will NOT be burned and when we go through the rivers, they won't sweep over us. Or in othe...

  "By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding, He set the heavens in place; by His knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drip the dew. My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will no be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet (Proverbs 3:19-24)."      The Lord is the One who gives wisdom. It is from Him that we gain knowledge and understanding. Apart from Him, it would be impossible for any of us to walk a straight path. By His Spirit He gives us direction, truth and conviction of sin. Our hearts are desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and if left to ourselves, we would perish. Because we all have a sin nature, and are bent towards disobedience, rebellion and living a selfish life, we must intentionally seek after God. Und...

  "Early in the morning, as He was on His way back to the city, He was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!' Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. How did the fig tree wither so quickly? they asked. Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:16-22)."       We all have mountains, or rather difficult, seemingly impossible situations in our lives. It could be the lack of a job, a wayward child, a dead relationship or a sickness. When we are at this point in our lives, we have a choice to make. We can either stand on the word of God and believe His promises, or we can l...

     "The Lord said to satan, 'The Lord rebuke you satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?' Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then He said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.' Then I said, Put a clean turban on his head. So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him while the angel of the Lord stood by (Zechariah 3:2-5)."      These verses are a beautiful picture of what the Lord does for us once we are saved. In Christ, our filthiness is removed, and in return, we receive His righteousness. He takes away our sin-all of it-and washes us white as snow. It is not because of anything we have done. We could never do enough good works to earn righteousness. It is only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and ...

     "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness." Romans 8:5-10      As we read the above verses there is one thing that is clear; if you belong to Christ, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. And because He lives inside of you, your body is dead because of sin but your spi...