Elijah A Man like Us

Word Of God Speak-Watch & Pray

Put on Love

 Jesus responds to a Pharisee questioning Him about the greatest commandment with the Royal Law;

"And He said to him,"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:37-40

What an amazing world this could be if men and women embraced these commands. When God is at the forefront of our mind He influences our choices, decisions, and moods. You will find yourself being much more humble and kind.

 The world we live in does not desire to follow Jesus or His commands. We find ourselves living in a fallen world influenced by the fallen angel Satan himself. He distorts the truth, brings about greed, jealousy, hate, cruelty and complete selfishness. He has the opposite effect of Jesus love by causing all kinds of trauma, discouragement, and distrust. He blinds the minds of human beings from witnessing the goodness that God desires for them. Fortunately, God sent His Son Jesus to cover this sinful nature with His atoning blood and opens our hearts and minds to God's glorious light.

When we finally come to the end of ourselves and call out to the Lord, He immediately responds by sending His Holy Spirit to lead, guide, heal, restore and provide in a plethora of ways. His marvelous Word helps our limited understanding to grow, change and blossom. He chooses us because of His great love, not because we have earned it or impressed Him in some way. I love the following scripture because it shows us that we are a work in progress, His work;

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." Colossians 3:12-14

God's Holy Spirit produces real and lasting love in our hearts. By reading the Word of God and spending time in conversational prayer with God, He helps us, equips us, encourages us, to become more like Him. Our character changes and wonderful fruit replaces the rotten, decaying parts of our very soul.

Ask yourself, are you gentle and patient with others? Are you holding onto a grudge, a hurt or disappointment, that is causing unforgiveness in your heart? Do you find yourself complaining about others, pointing the finger? Are you harboring jealousy or envy toward someone, which in turn embitters your own heart?

If any of these questions zero in on a situation that is contrary to Jesus character take it to the Lord in prayer. Ask the Lord to help you to forgive, let go, be cleansed and ask for the infilling of His Holy Spirit. He desires to restore you to uninterrupted joy so you may live above the unfair circumstances that have befallen you in this sinful world.

God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, working together as one, desire you to be clothed in His love. He says in the scripture to literally put it on. This is a daily choice. Examine your heart with the Lord' help. Be honest with yourself. Pray to be rid of any bondage that has been holding you as prisoner. Accept the freedom that the Lord holds out to you. 

If you are believing and following the Royal Law you will walk in the perfect bond of unity. You will be unified with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Your desire should develop into a yearning to walk in unity with the Body of Christ which of course includes fellow Christians. True love never disappoints.

Todays takeaways:

* Know the Royal Law

* Recognize Satan brought sin into the world and Jesus came to restore it

* God has chosen you, you in turn need to choose Him

* Examine your heart, be cleansed

* Walk in love that comes from above

💛Dee

Ask Your Heavenly Father

Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11

Jesus was teaching the people here in what is known as the Sermon on the Mount and people were astonished at His teaching because He taught with such authority. It is recommended that you read chapters 5-7 to capture all of His teaching.

He began to teach them the Lord's Prayer and was giving an illustration on being persistent in prayer when He came to the place where we He encourages us to ask, seek and knock. What a wonderful privilege our Father has given to us His children that we can come to Him and ask what we have need of. Many times throughout the Gospels Jesus encourages us to ask. But do we? Oftentimes asking our Father is the last thing we think of. In chapter 6 verse 8 it says, ... your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. He wants to hear us!

I love the illustration that Jesus uses here because when teaching about the aspect of asking God for something that you need, He teaches in the context of a son asking his loving Father and that He is a good Father. He will give us good things!

Nowhere else in the Bible is God referred to many times as Father, your Father or Heavenly Father as in the Sermon on the Mount. Go ahead, count them. It seems as though God wants us to know that He is our Father and He loves to hear from His children. So ask, seek and knock!

💙 Dan

Trust for the Mature Christian

If you consider yourself a mature Christian it is because you have been following the Savior Jesus Christ for some time. You most likely attend church faithfully and have read and reread your Bible. Spending time in prayer alone or with others is important and you are most likely serving in some capacity in ministry. 

Have you finally arrived? Do you have it all together? Is everything around you perfect and running smoothly? Are all your friends and family saved? Asking these questions helps us realize we are not a finished product. We are still needed in Christ's mission and there is much to be done.

It is easy to fall back, not trusting the Lord, because our immediate surroundings may be troubled or unstable. We become fickle when it comes to trusting in the Lord. We have expectations that everything should be perfect and easy. This wasn't true for Jesus' disciples and they were taught directly from Him!

Fortunately for the mature Christian, we are able to look back in our memory banks, remembering the numerous times we witnessed the Lord performing His works and His ways. Drawing from past experience we can minister with compassion to others going through similar trials. Others are strengthened and so are we.

Walking through challenges, circumstances and trials may seem overwhelming, unreasonable or impossible. We are pressed to find the Lord, which enables a deeper relationship, that is more satisfying and fulfilling. Searching the Word for direction, praying, asking and listening we receive bigger and better ideas.

The Lord challenged me and my husband to let go of our family home. In obedience we sold our home not knowing what to expect. We wondered if the Lord wanted us to move from the area. Was He calling us to be missionaries? Surprisingly we were lead to buy a larger home in the area, which didn't make much sense at the time. A few years later the Lord called us to start a home church. We certainly had enough space that included a long driveway with lots of parking space. Months later, our new founded church, moved into a building and we sold the house. We moved three more times before settling in a townhome. The Lord taught us to keep a light touch on the things of this world. He taught us that our home is a temporary dwelling place and correlated this to our bodies. We grew a greater understanding of the eternal soul living as if our bodies were a mere tent, that is easily moved from place to place, with the eternal destination heaven. Experience gave us the necessary maturity to understand trusting the Lord in all our ways. 

I can now better understand the psalmist;

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped, therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him." Psalm 28:7

Our past experiences have taught us to trust and obey. There is nor better way to live. We can truly say that as you follow the Lord Jesus there is never a dull moment. Continue to allow the Lord to lead you. It isn't over until the day the Lord calls us home to His eternal paradise. What an exciting day that will be!

Take aways:

* Evaluate your relationship with Christ

* Do you follow His leading?

* Be a person of prayer, reading His Word

* Use your experience to help others

* Praise Him for His faithfulness

* Trust and obey

💛Dee

Trusting the Lord in Ministry

 How did you start your day? The answer to this question is critical to your ministry involvement. If you started your day on empty, you will most likely run out of gas.

Seeking the Lord in the morning is the best way to refuel your body and spirit for the long day ahead. God's Word is the bread of life which builds your trust in following His specific directions in all the decisions that will be made throughout the day.

The decisions you make will affect you, the direction of your ministry, and all those who are reaching out with you and supporting you. The Lord's still small voice is necessary to direct your steps, bring insight, ideas and vision. The more familiar you are to His voice the more you are able to trust the Lord's leading with the final outcomes.

Often we are afraid of change. We are comfortable with the patterns that have been developed that have formed a tradition in the way we address situations and service. It is not unusual to hear the words, "But, we have always done it this way!" Trusting a new objective or format can be hard. We love to continue cranking the wheel, proceeding to do the same old thing. Somehow we expect that it will miraculously produce a more effective or productive result. 

Making a daily habit of renewing ourselves in the Lord, we will find ourselves more receptive to others visions and perceptions. We gain a clearer mind for better alternatives, the very thing we have been praying for. Ideas spring forth for future growth while fear and doubt are held back. The following scripture confirms these ideals;

"Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it. And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgement as the noon day." Psalm 37:5-6

When you commit your ministry to the Lord, you are able to trust Him with the effectiveness and growth. When the Lord encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, causing change, you have strength to trust and obey. In this you are allowing others to witness the Lord leading, guiding and providing. It is like a bright light shining on His righteousness and giving Him the glory. The scripture reminds us that personal  judgements and decisions are clearer, rebuking darkness, murkiness or confusion that could ultimately bog down your ministry.

Just as we trust our vehicle, that has a full tank of gas, we will trust the Lord with our ministry. We will ultimately reach a better destination. God is always working and is not finished with any of us yet!

Take aways:

* fill your tank with God's Word and presence

* know the Lord's voice

* accept new ideas and plans

* trust the Lord with your ministry

* let the Lord's light shine

💛Dee

 

Beginning a New Year

A new year has begun and there are so many mysteries ahead! It is always refreshing to begin anew, to completely start over. It is a wonderful thing that we have a yearly calendar that tells us to go forward, to plan and to have dreams. We are to live in forward motion.

The Holy Scriptures are always directing our future steps:

"Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written, "You shall be holy as I am Holy."                       1 Peter 1:13-16

This a beautiful challenge that comes straight from our Heavenly Father. We are to be moving forward, not spending our time looking back. We can always learn from our past but we are not to allow it to pull us backward or freeze us in place. This can happen if we allow the enemy room in our minds to torment us. We need to be like the little chickadees that flit about my backyard. They do not worry about their past. They are content right where they are and they are well provided for. 

Just as we can learn from watching the birds as our example, we are further challenged by the Lord to have hope for our future. Our actions should be filled with efforts to glorify our heavenly Father.  Actions speak louder than words.

My hope is that we will see the hand of God moving in our midst this year. We have had extreme life pattern changes as we walked through a year where there was a global pandemic. People lost their jobs, livelihoods, and had to distance themselves from one another. Most of our extracurricular activities were brought to a halt. Thankfully, this is a new year. Let's make it worth living.

A good question to ask ourselves is how can we bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ? Is there something specific that the Lord is calling you or me to do? Are there actions that we can take to be more effective in ministry or in my work world. Can I do something to point my family and friends in a positive direction? 

The Word of God is always the first place to go when we are looking for direction. Through reading the Word our mind is refreshed, restored and renewed. We can see examples of God calling regular people to do mighty exploits for Him. He redirects our paths from unright living to righteous living. We find forgiveness, cleansing and mercy. We are directed forward to higher standards and clearer purposes. 

Allow yourself to dream! What makes you tick? Where are you finding fulfilment? What talents or abilities do you have that need to be brushed off or shined up? We are all unique and have diverse giftings. Meditate on the good things that are in store for you. Make sure that you leave your bad attitudes behind so that you can break out and make a difference in your own life first. Your enthusiasm will be catching to those who surround your life.

Our new year can and will bring honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We need His Holy Spirit more than ever to perform and accomplish the walk that He is calling each of us to walk. This is a mighty challenge to march forward as a soldier in the Lord's army bringing a renewed strength and holiness to our world. Don't be fooled, Jesus Christ is still on the throne.

Desire to be holy as He is Holy! This challenge will bring victory!

Happy New Year!