God cannot be eliminated from any blog. He is everywhere. He is ruler of all things.

Ephesians 1:19-20 ( NLT )
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.



God is greater than even we can imagine. When I come home at night and look up at the stars, realizing that our incredible God made them, it’s mind boggling. When I look back at my life and see how He took things that I thought were tragedies and turned them into miracles, it is almost beyond comprehension.



Take the time to remember Who He is and what He has done in your life. Look around at this incredible creation He has placed us in and linger in the awe of that moment. Contemplate the power it took to create a world, the love that it took to give His only Son, and the power it took to raise Jesus from the dead! He is a Mighty God! Nothing we bring to Him in prayer is too hard for Him to deal with. Thank Him, love Him, follow Him, the Almighty God who is above all things.

WORD

Empathy…understanding and entering into another's feelings (Princeton dictionary online)

This is something that we all need to keep in mind as we meet people every day that do not know the Lord or may be very young Christians. We need to remember that we were once just like them…without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in our lives. Grace fits into that concept, doesn’t it? It was by grace we were saved. Remembering where we came from helps us have patience to lead others to where we are.

Colossians 1:21-22 ( NASB )
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Pray for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Seek God to find out how you can be instrumental in introducing someone to Jesus.

A friend shared with me yesterday that the theme for the Rex Allen Days parade is “Cowboy Thru it all.” As I thought about that, my mind went to the phrase “Cowboy up.” Maybe you’ve heard it before. The most common meaning that I have heard applied to this phrase is also found at urbandictionary.com:

“When things are getting tough you have to get back up, dust yourself off and keep trying.“

In Biblical terms that’s persevere. Hebrews 10:23 says,

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. ²⁴Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. “

Then down in verses 35 and 36 he says,

“³⁵So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ³⁶Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

There is so much information today: news, people vying for our time and attention, things which would distract us and sometimes discourage us from sharing Jesus with others.

Someone might say,

“Well I talked to that person already about Jesus and they just don’t want anything to do with Him.” …..Cowboy up. Try again.

“I’ve asked God about what I should do for Him and He hasn’t really made it very clear to me.” …. Cowboy up. Ask again.

“I know God wants me to quit smoking (plug in your habit He wants to gain control of) and I just can’t do it” ….Cowboy up! Trust Him for the strength.

Do you want people to know who Jesus is? Maybe it’s time for you to “Cowboy up!” Let them see Jesus in you…

Philippians 3:14 ( NASB )
…press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

God is working in our community. He is at work in The SPRING Student Center, in the lives of the teens and the staff that work with them. The "seeds" that are planted will grow and will produce fruit, which in turn will produce more "seeds".

Ignore the things that Satan would put in your path to deter you from doing God’s will.

Ignore the fact that there are thirty churches in our town.
There is only One Body of Christ and we each are members of that Body.

• I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)
• But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16b (ESV)
• So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:19 (ESV)

BELIEF

Earlier, I mentioned that the Lord had convicted me of the sin of gluttony. After I confessed that and turned it over to Him, I decided that I shouldn’t eat anything that day. Not because I owed Him anything, but because I knew I needed to exhibit control.

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. ²⁷No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NIV

I also knew that only God could help me do that. I trusted Him, had faith in Him that He would do that. Twenty-four hours later, I can tell you that I never once thought about eating or experienced any hunger at all. Now that’s a God –thing!

Belief, faith, trust, conviction, principle, confidence, certainty…

Take your pick; they’re all very close in meaning. However, in reality it is what you put your faith, belief or trust in that matters. How dependable is your source of trust?

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 NASB

A verse jumped out at me in my reading this morning…

¹³And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. ¹⁴For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14 NKJV

Mordecai trusted that God would deliver His people. Esther had a choice, as do you and I. We can choose to be an instrument of God, submissive and obedient to Him, or we can choose our own way.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

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CHOICE

Here we are…another day…and more choices to be made. Will we choose God’s way or our own?

When Gideon went to battle against Midian, he took 32,000 men to fight. God wanted to receive the glory, so he had Gideon cut the forces down to 300 men to make it obvious Who had won the battle. (Judges 7)

When Joshua led the people against the city of Jericho, he chose God’s plan which sounded rather bizarre (a bunch of people marching around the walls of the city for several days and then shouting!) but God was glorified through their obedience and the victory over the fortified city. (Joshua 6)

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, he led them right up to the edge of the Red Sea. How were they going to get out of that one! God said, “Watch” and he parted the waters to allow the millions of people to cross safely. Even if you want to believe it was the “Reed” Sea, God still caused the entire army of Pharaoh that was chasing the Israelites to perish. (Exodus 14)

Which way will you choose today, God’s way or your own? God will be glorified. Make sure you’re part of the bunch giving Him the glory and diligently seek to do His will. He has promised:

• That if we diligently seek Him, we will find Him. (Proverbs 8:17)
• We are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37)
• He will never leave us (Matthew 28:20)

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SEEK

I may visit Second Chronicles chapter twenty more than a few times this month. The day that I figured out that was the passage I was supposed to preach on last week, I had read it two times in different versions. Later that day, I was told that some friends had discussed the passage on their way back to Willcox and another friend brought up the fact that they had read it.

I believe there may be special significance and relevance to the time we live in AND the town we live in. Last night, two women came into the SPRING wanting to know how they could volunteer to help. During our conversation it came up how they had never lived in a town (or a time) that spiritual warfare was so elevated. At the same time, we discovered that we all felt God was working among His people and that revival was just around the corner.

When King Jehoshaphat and his people faced a problem with an attacking army they came from all over the country…they united to find out what God wanted them to do…

⁴So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help. 2 Chronicles 20:4 NLT

In our day, in our town, I believe the Lord is calling His people from all the different churches to come together to seek Him, to seek His will and to seek His help. He tells us of a similar situation earlier in Second Chronicles and confirms that He will respond positively when certain conditions are met…

¹⁴Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

WHO

My people – The people who belong to God…the people that God created.

Called by my name – Those who are called, or call themselves, Christians (John 14:6)

WHAT

Humble – to be out of the limelight so that God may shine…to give Him all the glory, honor and praise.

Pray – talk to God…acknowledging His greatness and our weakness

Seek my face – when you are so close that you look into each other’s eyes…nothing withheld…complete honesty.

Turn from wicked ways – anything that is displeasing to God…anything that takes a priority over the things of God…anything that gets between you and God

THEN

God will hear our cries for help

God will forgive our sin

God will restore our land (to peace, to God’s control rather than being dominated by evil)

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FRUSTRATING

Yesterday I brought the message at a local church and spoke from Second Chronicles, chapter 20. King Jehoshaphat had a big army coming toward him and he asked God what to do, rather than taking matters into his own hands. God brought victory because the King and his people sought his help.

Immediately after service, someone who liked the worship music that we used came up and said they wanted to reach the twenty-something crowd and would like to have that kind of music on a Sunday night to “draw” them.

Jesus said, I will draw all men unto myself (John 12:32). He has power. We do not. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

What then is our responsibility? As we see the need, we MUST seek God’s way to fulfill the need. Reaching younger folks is probably going to take involving younger folks in the PLANNING phase, not just hoping they are mysteriously “drawn” by sounds of drums and guitars.

As with anything, if we don’t feel a part of something, we feel outside of it and consequently do not participate. Young people must be involved in important roles in the church during their twenties and thirties if the church is to survive after the older generations are gone.

Oh yeah, so why did I call this Word “Frustrating”? Because it was brought out in God’s Word yesterday that King Jehoshaphat turned to God for deliverance. He had the people fast and then he led them in prayer. We all need to understand that the bible isn’t just a collection of cute little stories for encouragement, but that they are living words that are just as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago.

How are we going to reach the twenty-something’s?

1. Seek God.
2. Pray for His answer
3. WAIT for His reply.

Once it is clear what God wants and how He wants to accomplish something, then and only then should we move forward.

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CHANGED

Have you ever watched a movie or heard someone say something that really moved you? You may even vow that you will be a “changed” person because of what you heard or saw.

Perhaps it was a documentary on hunger throughout the world with pictures of starving, dying children. You decide that you will eat less and send money to help them. The truth of the matter is that the feeling will fade and you will gradually go back to the way things were before. It’s not that you don’t care but simply that change is difficult. Real change for the better is just about impossible!

I’ll give you a personal example. I had let myself get overweight. At first, it was just a few pounds but it gradually became more and more until I found myself over 80 pounds heavier than I should have been.

I tried diets, exercise and nothing seemed to work. Stay with me because here is the real deal, the secret to the whole thing…

The Lord convicted me that if I was to be a witness for Him, an example of Christianity, then I should be displaying the Fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians…

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, ²³gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB

Naturally I said, “Well Lord, maybe it’s genetic!” I figured He knew better than I did and besides, what difference would it make to give it a whirl. Why would it be different this time? Because it was part of the fruit of HIS SPIRIT, not mine. He was the power. All I needed to do was yield and let Him do His thing. Now, nine months later I weigh eighty-three pounds less than I did.

Change comes only as a result of allowing God to work in us. If we surrender every area in our life to Him (one at a time perhaps J ) then He will shape us and mold us into the people that we ought to be. We can’t do anything without Jesus (John 15:5).

At the Worship Conference we were at in Glorieta, NM last week, Pastor Wayne Barber, the preacher, put it like this (I’m condensing the story)…

We are a coat. You know, like a coat you’d buy at a store to wear. Without us inside the coat just hangs there and looks good. It can’t wave, it can’t talk, it can’t move. However, when we purchase the coat and put it on, it moves with us. We cause it to wave at people. We give life to the coat.

Similarly, Jesus purchased us with His blood (1 Corinthians 6:20). His Spirit lives in us (1 Corinthians 6:19). For in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Through Christ, we can do anything (Philippians 4:13).

Clothe yourself in the righteousness of Christ…

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MORNING

Here at the Glorieta conference center nestled in the New Mexico mountains, we have worship every morning at 7:30 a.m. It’s called “5.3 Worship.” The text for the name comes from Psalms five and verse three…

Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD.

Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. (NLT)

The main point is, to start your day off by speaking with the Lord. He is the source of strength, peace, love and life itself.

When you look to the Lord as being the authority over you and each day freshly commit yourself or more appropriately, yield yourself to Him, you have an entirely different perspective on life.

• No longer are you in charge of all the problems that come your way because you have turned them over to God.

• No longer are you working hard to please everyone around you…you are allowing God to love them through you.

The last part of the verse speaks of taking our requests or our needs before God. The key is the last part of that sentence. We are to

WAIT EXPECTANTLY

Waiting for God’s timing can sometimes be frustrating because we always want things done NOW. We simply have to keep in mind that He knows everything that was, is and is to come. He sees the big picture whereas we see now and can only speculate about the future. But he does not say simply “wait.” He says “wait expectantly.” In other words, wait for God’s timing, but expect Him to answer you in a way that will benefit your life.

Start your day off right by becoming a 5.3 worshipper. That doesn’t mean you have to set aside an hour every morning. You can accomplish that by speaking to Him in the moment before you get out of bed. You can accomplish that by singing a song of praise to Him in the car on the way to work. There are many ways to become a 5.3 worshipper. Be creative. Try different ways to make Him your first thought in the morning. I know you’ll be pleased.

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BISCUITS

Ok, it’s an odd title for a devotion, I know. However, it comes from the message this morning by our Conference Pastor, Rev. Wayne Barber. He was speaking about the Christian life being intertwined with Christ.

The text for his message came from Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NKJV

He gave an illustration about how Christ lives in us really works. He took us to Paul’s letter to the church in Rome first…

⁵For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, Romans 6:5 NASB

There are a couple of words in the Greek for united. He used a baking illustration to illustrate the difference. If one is making biscuits, all the ingredients are put into a bowl. If you want to add more of a certain ingredient to the mixing bowl, you can. If you are skillful, you can remove some of the ingredients as well. That illustrates one meaning of united in the Greek…you can add or subtract to the whole, but it is still the whole. That is one of the Greek words but not the one in Romans 6:5.

The word used in Romans 6:5 has the meaning of inseparable. In other words, after you take those ingredients and put them in the oven to bake them, the product that comes out is it. You can’t take salt out. You can’t add flour. They are united.

We are biscuits for Christ. We are united, inseparably with Him when we invite Him into our lives. Pretty cool, huh?

How does that apply to our every day life? He is ALWAYS with us. He alone has the power, wisdom, righteousness and holiness to name a few things, to make our lives work. Being yielded to Him is our task. Think about it!

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FOLLOW

I read a great article this morning in Worship Leader magazine by a young man named Glenn Packiam. The article was called “Follow the Leader.” He pointed out that the most incredible leader that ever lived on this earth, Jesus Christ, didn’t have marketing strategies, news conferences or a “look-at-what-I-can-do” attitude when he built his team of workers. He simply said, “Follow me.”

¹⁸Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And He said^* to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-20 NASB

Their response was immediate and complete. They left what they had considered important and followed the One who was all-important. They didn’t ask Jesus, “How shall we eat” or “Where will we live,” they simply followed the Son of God.

As I sit here writing this, a family rode by on bicycles. The Dad looked toward me and said, “Mornin’.” His son who was riding next to him thought he was talking to him and said, “More?” In that moment, it was as if all he lived for was to please his dad as he clung to every word he said. He didn’t want to miss one word, one opportunity to please his father.

Isn’t that the way it should be with our heavenly Father and us? We too, need not ask “How shall we eat” or “Where will we live” but instead, listen to every word He says to us through His Holy scripture, the Bible, and then spend our lives trying to please Him.

To you and to me, the Son of God says, “Follow me.” To His Church He says, “Follow me.” Don’t worry about each other and who has more power or the more glamorous positions…just FOLLOW ME. Don’t worry about who you think is doing it “right.” You simply do what you believe God is telling you to do.

Remember when Peter inquired of Jesus as to what was going to happen to His disciple John…

Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” John 21:22 NLT

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HOPELESS

The other day I was talking with a teen who had given up all hope. By that, I mean he believed that life as he envisioned it was just not going to happen. He wasn’t going to be happy at home. He wasn’t going to have a normal job, make money and live a productive life. He had given up those hopes. His hope now was to be arrested and thrown into prison so that he would have some “normalcy” in his life. In his mind, he would have three meals a day, people to talk with and somebody to care about him, even though they were correctional officers!

All of us, even the Apostle Paul, give up hope at one time or another. When Paul was on a ship sailing for Rome, a storm came up that endangered the ship and all those aboard…

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. Acts 27:20 NIV

Notice it says “we.” Paul had given up hope as well just as the teen I was talking to the other day had. None of us is immune to that type of thinking. However, when you know Jesus as your Savior He will make some provision for your hope to be restored.

We only need to look to the Word of God for those reminders, those promises:

• It tells us in Deuteronomy 31:6 (also Hebrews 13:5) that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
• In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord tells us that he has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. He has plans for your life that will give you hope and a future.

We simply need to listen to Him, to God, as He attempts to communicate with us. The main way He communicates with us is His Word (the Bible), but He has other methods too! Through our coming to Him in prayer, He may speak in a voice that only we can hear. He may send the answer through a friend. Paul’s answer came in the form of a message from an angel and he shared the message of that angel with the men on his ship…

²²But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Acts 27:22-25 NIV

Giving up may be the easy thing to do. It doesn’t require faith in God to lose all hope. I guarantee, no GOD guarantees, that if you look to Him for your hope, to save you from your circumstance, He WILL save you.

The first step is a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Admit you need help, that you have fallen short of God’s perfection for your life (sinned – Romans 3:23, 6:23) and ask Jesus to help you turn that around. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Things are not hopeless. Life is not hopeless. Place your hope in the God of all Creation, the LORD who made heaven and earth and all that is contained therein.

He is worthy of your trust…

⁹Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 NIV

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