Horses and Ships… Can we really control them?
If you’ve ever been close to a horse you’d agree with me when I say that they are powerful and majestic animals. They are an especially awesome sight when they are being exercised in an arena! The nostrils flare up taking in much needed air; the muscles grow intense as they are worked and ran; their main thrusts around; and their skin glistens with sweat. The power exerted by a horse is incredible and can leave one speechless!
If you’ve ever been on a cruise, or even better, had the privilege of taking a tour of the engine and control room of a large ship, then I’m sure you’d also say what miracle it is that ships of great sizes float and move so fast through the seas. Have you ever seen boat races on TV? Have you ever seen a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier? It’s amazing when we begin to think about how these ships can move about the water with such accuracy and speed.
The Bible tells us in James chapter 3 that a horse is driven by placing a bit in its mouth and a ship is directed by a very small rudder. A horse that is so powerful and majestic can be controlled and made to do what we intend it to do by a small piece of metal in its mouth. A ship’s captain can make sure the ship is taken to intended locations so that war planes can depart to fulfill missions and return to refuel safely.
Like the bit and the rudder, two small items controlling and directing, the tongue can move people, societies and nations, it is more powerful than the bit and the rudder put together. James 3 tells us that the tongue can defile the whole body; the tongue can bless and curse; and, the tongue is a fire!
Do you ever find yourself talking about someone else… negatively? Have you said something to someone at the wrong time; condescendingly; or, said something you should not have altogether? Have you yelled, exaggerated, or distorted a message? Then ask the Lord to “bridle” your tongue today, at this very moment, for with it we can curse, but we can also bless others and honor the Lord!
Remember today and tomorrow that what you say can never be removed, so speak blessings because the Bible says that “love covers a multitude of sins”.
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” – James 1:19 NLT
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Whispers: A Devotion from Hebrews 10:24 NKJV
Consider it to the Day…
I’m sure you were told as you were growing up to be considerate of others, especially towards your father, mother, brother and sister…be considerate toward your elders and be considerate of authoritative figures. This was all great advice!
Someone that is considerate towards others is one that is given to careful consideration or is circumspect. This person will carefully consider all circumstances and possible consequences.
With this definition you might think of someone that is older, mature and wise. We may think of someone that sees and warns us of something we cannot see for ourselves. We think of our family, Christian family or our best friend that tells us the truth because they love us.
The Bible tells us that as Christians we are to consider one another, especially in the last days and I’m sure you’d agree with me that we are definitely in the last days… the signs clearly point that out… Christ is coming soon! In addition, God tells us the reason to consider one another is that we may stir up love and good works.
I know it’s the obvious thing, but we need to actually be around people in order to considerate (fellowship); we need to know each other in order that we may consider all circumstances and possible consequences (according to the standard of the Word of God) to guard, to strengthen, to sharpen and build each other up; and, we should do so even more as the days go by.
The end product… well, it’s love and good works, something the world needs to see more of, and even more importantly, the world needs to see more of it in the church.
Until we see our Lord in the sky, consider one another and stir up love in others… the same love that God showed you through His grace and mercy. Move people to desire to do the right thing and make this day a better day for everyone around you.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” – Hebrews 10:24 NKJV
I’m sure you were told as you were growing up to be considerate of others, especially towards your father, mother, brother and sister…be considerate toward your elders and be considerate of authoritative figures. This was all great advice!
Someone that is considerate towards others is one that is given to careful consideration or is circumspect. This person will carefully consider all circumstances and possible consequences.
With this definition you might think of someone that is older, mature and wise. We may think of someone that sees and warns us of something we cannot see for ourselves. We think of our family, Christian family or our best friend that tells us the truth because they love us.
The Bible tells us that as Christians we are to consider one another, especially in the last days and I’m sure you’d agree with me that we are definitely in the last days… the signs clearly point that out… Christ is coming soon! In addition, God tells us the reason to consider one another is that we may stir up love and good works.
I know it’s the obvious thing, but we need to actually be around people in order to considerate (fellowship); we need to know each other in order that we may consider all circumstances and possible consequences (according to the standard of the Word of God) to guard, to strengthen, to sharpen and build each other up; and, we should do so even more as the days go by.
The end product… well, it’s love and good works, something the world needs to see more of, and even more importantly, the world needs to see more of it in the church.
Until we see our Lord in the sky, consider one another and stir up love in others… the same love that God showed you through His grace and mercy. Move people to desire to do the right thing and make this day a better day for everyone around you.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” – Hebrews 10:24 NKJV
Friday, December 15, 2006
Daily Devotion - 12.15.06 - Matthew 22:37 NKJV
Where’s the Passion?
Throughout my life there are a few things that have caught my attention enough to be considered passions; ones that consumed my whole being, including my thoughts, my time and my identity.
Baseball was the one that was my greatest passion. Memories still pour in as I smell the leather of a baseball glove; feel a baseball in my hands; hear the <<< crack >>> of a baseball coming off of a bat; and, I still remember the feeling and silence as I prepared to pitch for the last out with bases loaded in the final inning to win the game! The accomplishments were fun, but the experience was even better… my involvement and my devotion to the game.
Maybe it’s been in the past or it’s in the present, but at some point in your life you’ve been passionate about something. The question is: As a Christian, are you passionate about God, Jesus, the Bible, and the Church? Does God play a central role in your life? If so, how would someone else know? How do you know?
I pray that today you think about what your passion is; what consumes your whole being, including your thoughts, your time and your identity.
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” – Matthew 22:37
Throughout my life there are a few things that have caught my attention enough to be considered passions; ones that consumed my whole being, including my thoughts, my time and my identity.
Baseball was the one that was my greatest passion. Memories still pour in as I smell the leather of a baseball glove; feel a baseball in my hands; hear the <<< crack >>> of a baseball coming off of a bat; and, I still remember the feeling and silence as I prepared to pitch for the last out with bases loaded in the final inning to win the game! The accomplishments were fun, but the experience was even better… my involvement and my devotion to the game.
Maybe it’s been in the past or it’s in the present, but at some point in your life you’ve been passionate about something. The question is: As a Christian, are you passionate about God, Jesus, the Bible, and the Church? Does God play a central role in your life? If so, how would someone else know? How do you know?
I pray that today you think about what your passion is; what consumes your whole being, including your thoughts, your time and your identity.
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” – Matthew 22:37
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Daily Devotions - 1Corinthians 15:52 - 12.13.06
“It’ll never happen to me!”
It was midnight and the children of Israel experienced Passover like we will never experience it! Just a short distance away the Egyptians also experienced this very day like no one had, and no one has again, to this day!
Moses warned Pharaoh that if the children of Israel were not allowed to leave Egypt and travel to the land God had promised them that all of Egypt’s first born would be killed. Pharaoh didn’t heed the warning because of his hardened heart, and God followed through with what He said He would do.
God also told the Israelites to smear the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorposts of their homes so that “the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into [their] houses to strike [them]”. The blood identified them as children of Israel. The children of Israel had a “covering of the blood of an unblemished lamb” but the Egyptians did not.
Midnight for us may come with the twinkling of an eye or by an unexpected death. No one knows the day or time when the Lord has appointed to be our last. Not everyone gets time to say good bye to loved ones. Nonetheless, we have the Bible to give us, not only warnings, but also what it would take for us to have the Lord spare us the day our life ends and the clock strikes 12-midnight; or, if the Messiah comes to meet us in the clouds in the rapture… a twinkling… the clock strikes twelve!
John 14:6, Jesus tells us “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus Christ was THE unblemished Lamb and it is His sacrificed blood that is on the doorposts and lintel of our hearts and identifies us as clothed with the righteous robe of Christ. God the Father passes us over because all He sees is Christ Jesus when He sees us. But you must Confess you’re a sinner in need of a Savior; Repent of your sins—turn from them and do the opposite; Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and now sits at God the Father’s right hand; Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord of your life; and, Follow Jesus from this day forward…
Pharaoh never believed that God could or would take his firstborn, but God’s Word is not dependent on human belief or disregard; God’s Word will remain exactly the same as it always has… the Truth. When God says something, you can know that it’s as good as done. This is why we should never think that we have time to continue living without God; disregarding Him or not believing Him because we may find ourselves like Pharaoh the morning after the Passover… wondering why we didn’t believe God at His Word!
You may say, “It’ll never happen to me!” If I’m wrong then you didn’t lose anything because you lived a morally decent life, BUT if you’re wrong then you’ll spend eternity in hell. Don’t be like Pharaoh and not believe God!
This Christmas… Receive the best gift the world has ever been given and receive Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior… and if you already are a Christian, then don’t forget to tell the good news of Jesus to those around you because “midnight” could come sooner than you think!
“… we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” – 1Corinthians 15:51, 52
It was midnight and the children of Israel experienced Passover like we will never experience it! Just a short distance away the Egyptians also experienced this very day like no one had, and no one has again, to this day!
Moses warned Pharaoh that if the children of Israel were not allowed to leave Egypt and travel to the land God had promised them that all of Egypt’s first born would be killed. Pharaoh didn’t heed the warning because of his hardened heart, and God followed through with what He said He would do.
God also told the Israelites to smear the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorposts of their homes so that “the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into [their] houses to strike [them]”. The blood identified them as children of Israel. The children of Israel had a “covering of the blood of an unblemished lamb” but the Egyptians did not.
Midnight for us may come with the twinkling of an eye or by an unexpected death. No one knows the day or time when the Lord has appointed to be our last. Not everyone gets time to say good bye to loved ones. Nonetheless, we have the Bible to give us, not only warnings, but also what it would take for us to have the Lord spare us the day our life ends and the clock strikes 12-midnight; or, if the Messiah comes to meet us in the clouds in the rapture… a twinkling… the clock strikes twelve!
John 14:6, Jesus tells us “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus Christ was THE unblemished Lamb and it is His sacrificed blood that is on the doorposts and lintel of our hearts and identifies us as clothed with the righteous robe of Christ. God the Father passes us over because all He sees is Christ Jesus when He sees us. But you must Confess you’re a sinner in need of a Savior; Repent of your sins—turn from them and do the opposite; Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and now sits at God the Father’s right hand; Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord of your life; and, Follow Jesus from this day forward…
Pharaoh never believed that God could or would take his firstborn, but God’s Word is not dependent on human belief or disregard; God’s Word will remain exactly the same as it always has… the Truth. When God says something, you can know that it’s as good as done. This is why we should never think that we have time to continue living without God; disregarding Him or not believing Him because we may find ourselves like Pharaoh the morning after the Passover… wondering why we didn’t believe God at His Word!
You may say, “It’ll never happen to me!” If I’m wrong then you didn’t lose anything because you lived a morally decent life, BUT if you’re wrong then you’ll spend eternity in hell. Don’t be like Pharaoh and not believe God!
This Christmas… Receive the best gift the world has ever been given and receive Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior… and if you already are a Christian, then don’t forget to tell the good news of Jesus to those around you because “midnight” could come sooner than you think!
“… we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” – 1Corinthians 15:51, 52
Monday, December 11, 2006
Daily Devotion - 12.11.06, John 16:13 NLV
“Stop and ask for directions honey…”
Hmmm… For us men, these are words that hardly fall on receptive ears. We can’t accept defeat! We know where we are, right? We seem to think that we will receive miraculous revelation on where certain locations are, and we may even think we are less of men to receive directions from somebody else. After all, we know what we’re doing! We read that map once, looked it up on the internet, wrote it down and even printed it out… aahhh yes, but we forgot to bring it with us on the trip! “Was it a right or a left? Is this the correct off ramp?”
I’m sure we’ve all done this at one point, only to finally give in to directions from someone that is familiar with the area we’re in. It’s funny how this person will not only tell us how to get there, but will also describe landmarks that let us know we are on the right path; warn us of areas we want to avoid; and, tell us which street brings us to the best entrance, the one not many people enter through.
For the Christian, the Holy Spirit is this and much more, but like the man driving the car, we many times fail to seek Him for directions because of pride and neglect. We can steer a family wrong for quite a distance. We can steer a thought or a business deal right into danger. We can even be entirely in the wrong “city” because we fail to understand that we need to “stop and ask for directions”.
There are three things that are vital to successfully arriving at our appointed destination: 1) Do not only read the map, but bring it with you and study it well (The Bible), 2) You’ll need to ask for directions and an understanding of the map (you didn’t write it), so don’t be too prideful to stop and ask for directions (Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and understanding), and 3) Listen to others when they say you’re lost… especially your wife!
“The Holy Spirit is coming. He will lead you into all truth. He will not speak His Own words. He will speak what He hears. He will tell you of things to come.” – John 16:13 NLV
Hmmm… For us men, these are words that hardly fall on receptive ears. We can’t accept defeat! We know where we are, right? We seem to think that we will receive miraculous revelation on where certain locations are, and we may even think we are less of men to receive directions from somebody else. After all, we know what we’re doing! We read that map once, looked it up on the internet, wrote it down and even printed it out… aahhh yes, but we forgot to bring it with us on the trip! “Was it a right or a left? Is this the correct off ramp?”
I’m sure we’ve all done this at one point, only to finally give in to directions from someone that is familiar with the area we’re in. It’s funny how this person will not only tell us how to get there, but will also describe landmarks that let us know we are on the right path; warn us of areas we want to avoid; and, tell us which street brings us to the best entrance, the one not many people enter through.
For the Christian, the Holy Spirit is this and much more, but like the man driving the car, we many times fail to seek Him for directions because of pride and neglect. We can steer a family wrong for quite a distance. We can steer a thought or a business deal right into danger. We can even be entirely in the wrong “city” because we fail to understand that we need to “stop and ask for directions”.
There are three things that are vital to successfully arriving at our appointed destination: 1) Do not only read the map, but bring it with you and study it well (The Bible), 2) You’ll need to ask for directions and an understanding of the map (you didn’t write it), so don’t be too prideful to stop and ask for directions (Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and understanding), and 3) Listen to others when they say you’re lost… especially your wife!
“The Holy Spirit is coming. He will lead you into all truth. He will not speak His Own words. He will speak what He hears. He will tell you of things to come.” – John 16:13 NLV
Friday, December 08, 2006
Daily Devotions - 12.7.06, Galatians 6:9 NKJV
Condemned or Convicted?
Many times we make promises and do everything we can to keep them. Sometimes we make promises to ourselves; to our spouses; to our friends; and, many times, if you’re a parent, to our kids.
We make plans to meet with a friend that is going through a tough time and fail to keep our commitment because something else comes up that demands our attention; we say that we’re going to clean out the garage, mow the lawn or change the oil in the car but procrastinate; we set exercise goals but somehow don’t see the treadmill on the way to the refrigerator; we say we’re going to read our Bible every day and pray, but for some reason “things” just keep coming up and we fail to keep that commitment as well.
Many times what results is a feeling of failure and sometimes even depression. Let me tell you that you’re not alone. There are many people that share in what I just described to you.
I encourage you to go back to the “drawing board” and prioritize your time and your “to do” list and tackle one at a time. Whatever you don’t accomplish today move to tomorrow and continue working towards finishing each one on your list. Call your friend, talk to your spouse, or to your children and figure out together how you can keep, or make up that commitment you made. If necessary, ask someone for forgiveness and move forward.
Whatever you do… keep moving forward! Don’t give up or close up… “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2Timothy 1:7 God convicts us in order to “spur” us to continue on His path, but did NOT give us a spirit of defeat and condemnation (that’s the lie of the devil).
Re-treat to the drawing board; Re-think your commitments; Re-member God’s Word and Love; and then move forward with confidence in the Lord… Re-establish what is honoring to God…
Conviction is good because it gives us direction when we use it as “bumper rails” in our walk with God…
Many times we make promises and do everything we can to keep them. Sometimes we make promises to ourselves; to our spouses; to our friends; and, many times, if you’re a parent, to our kids.
We make plans to meet with a friend that is going through a tough time and fail to keep our commitment because something else comes up that demands our attention; we say that we’re going to clean out the garage, mow the lawn or change the oil in the car but procrastinate; we set exercise goals but somehow don’t see the treadmill on the way to the refrigerator; we say we’re going to read our Bible every day and pray, but for some reason “things” just keep coming up and we fail to keep that commitment as well.
Many times what results is a feeling of failure and sometimes even depression. Let me tell you that you’re not alone. There are many people that share in what I just described to you.
I encourage you to go back to the “drawing board” and prioritize your time and your “to do” list and tackle one at a time. Whatever you don’t accomplish today move to tomorrow and continue working towards finishing each one on your list. Call your friend, talk to your spouse, or to your children and figure out together how you can keep, or make up that commitment you made. If necessary, ask someone for forgiveness and move forward.
Whatever you do… keep moving forward! Don’t give up or close up… “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2Timothy 1:7 God convicts us in order to “spur” us to continue on His path, but did NOT give us a spirit of defeat and condemnation (that’s the lie of the devil).
Re-treat to the drawing board; Re-think your commitments; Re-member God’s Word and Love; and then move forward with confidence in the Lord… Re-establish what is honoring to God…
Conviction is good because it gives us direction when we use it as “bumper rails” in our walk with God…
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” – Galatians 6:9 NKJV
Monday, December 04, 2006
Daily Devotion - 12.4.06 Psalm 118:6 NKJV
It is said that one man with God is a majority…
If God is for us, who can be against us. – Rom 8:31
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Phil 4:13
…because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. – 1John 4:4
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – 2Tim 1:7
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. – Rom 8:38
The Lord is my strength and my shield – Psalm 28:7
I can continue if you need more encouragement today as to Who the Lord is and what He can do for you… but this should be enough to meditate on for one day.
Are you tired of being let down… God is faithful!
Are you feeling drained of your strength… Let God be your strength!
Are you fearful of something ahead of you… God gave us a spirit of power!
Psalm 118:6 – “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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