Our Love for God

*this is from morning devotions with Tozer* ~editor

Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  1 John 3:18

The taking over of the romantic love ideal into our relation to God has been extremely injurious to our Christian lives. The idea that we should “fall in love” with God is ignoble, unscriptural, unworthy of us and does no honor to the Most High God!

We do not come to love God by a sudden emotional visitation. Love for God results from repentance, amendment of life and a fixed determination to love Him. Then as God moves more perfectly into the focus of our hearts, our love for Him may indeed rise and swell within us till like a flood it sweeps everything before it.

But we should not wait for this intensity of feeling. We are not responsible to feel but we are responsible to love, and true spiritual love begins in the will.

We should set our hearts to love God supremely, however cold or hard they may seem to be and go on to confirm our love by happy and careful obedience to His Word.

Enjoyable emotion are sure to follow!

Tired…Find Rest

I have a lot on my mind and heart today. I’m trying to get this out the best way I can and hope this doesn’t all sound so confusing. During my time spent with the Lord, I keep hearing “find rest”. Find rest in Him that can take care of all problems. Find rest in Him that can soothe the soul. Find rest in Him who carries all burdens. That’s my Savior and He truly is beautiful.

Are you tired?

It’s interesting to me how many Christians I find that are “burnt out”. They’re either burnt out on church or religion–sometimes both.

My wife and I had an interesting convo about her work day. She was telling me about her co-workers and how they’re burnt out on church. One guy she works with was a youth pastor and now doesn’t consider himself a Christian anymore. Others just got tired and headed a different direction as well.

This feels like a common problem now a days. My heart hurts for people that are hurting or burnt by church/religon. Christianity was never meant to become a religion. It was meant to be walked out like Christ walked it out–to love on people and spread the gospel.

Jesus said it plainly, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (ESV Matt. 11:28)

So many times we carry hurts, heartaches, and hang-ups that we weren’t meant to carry.

I’m not sure where I am trying to go with this or really have a point.I hope to get some clearer thoughts and can expound on them in another post.

but for now………………

My prayer is that you find healing in Christ.

Why settle down?

*morning devotion by A.W.Tozer* ~editor

Ephesians 3:19- That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Why should a Christian “settle down” as he has come to know the Lord?

I blame faulty exposition of the New Testament for stopping many Christians dead in their tracks, causing them to shrug off any suggestion that there is still spiritual advance and progress beckoning them on.

It is the position of some would be teachers that everyone who comes into the kingdom of God by faith immediately obtains all there is of God’s spiritual provision.

I believe that such a teaching is as deadly as cyanide to the individual Christian life. It kills all hope of spiritual advance and causes many believers to adopt what I call “the creed of contentment.”

I am sure you agree with me that there is always real joy in the heart of the person who has become a child of God. Sound teaching of the Word will then hold out the goal of moving forward, emulating the Apostle Paul’s desire to become a special kind of Christian!

Confess your Sins….

Something that is pressing on me lately is the book of James.

I love the book of James!

It’s so meaty and delicious, that it calls you back for more and more.

There is something interesting that really sticks out to me in James. Confess your sins one to another that you may be healed. ESV James 5:16

Isn’t that a little ridiculous? Why would i have to confess my sins to someone? Why would I want to be that transparent? Won’t someone judge me if i do that?

It’s a little scary opening up to someone. It’s a little scary making yourself that vulnerable.

This isn’t a type of thing where you go to a priest and he tells you say 500 hail mary’s and your good. No this is a little different type of thing here. See if you notice, when we repent something happens. God looks down on our filth and wipes it all clean. In His eyes, we are made clean.

What i notice though, is we still focus on the sin. We still walk in it’s bondage. We don’t receive the forgiveness. We think we still have to do something to gain His love.

Have you ever noticed someone carrying a lot of weight, burdens, or  hurt on their shoulders. I know i have. See, I was the guy who was angry all the time. Walking around in unforgiveness and  bitterness. Every time I repented, it still felt like something wasn’t changing. I didn’t have anyone I could turn too or count on. The truth is, it was my fault. I didn’t trust people and didn’t want to get close to anyone.

Despite all that…..

My God did something great! He sent someone my way that didn’t give up on me. Basically I threw up that cesspool in their lap. I felt freedom for once! I felt the Father’s love and what it means to be a son. I was able to expose things and get it in the light, so the enemy couldn’t play those cards.

Men I encourage you too find someone you trust. I know we act like we are macho, prideful, and have an attitude that I can take care of this myself.

Let me give you two words that helped me, “Quit It”!

Please hear me out. Find someone you can be open with about your struggles. It’s ok if your falling. The reason why we have so many problems is we feel like we can’t be transparent and care about what other people think. When was the best time to start being accountable–Twenty years ago. When’s the next best time–today, right now, this instant.

Guys and gals, because of Christ we are guaranteed Freedom. We aren’t meant to walk this life by ourselves ESV Prov 27:17

Listen, I know this may sound a little crazy but this helps out so much. I have some guys I walk with where I can say, “Guys, I’m struggling with___________.”

I pray you see my heart with this matter. I’m not perfect. I love y’all!

Christ is All

Spurgeon’s Thoughts on Prayer

*devotion is from a Spurgeon morning devotional*

~editor

Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer.

ESV Psalms 66:20

In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance-as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his praters, and if he could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly.

Remember, Christian, how cold thy prayers have been. When in thy closet thou shouldst have wrestled as Jacob did; but instead thereof, thy petitions have been faint and few-far removed from that humble, persevering faith, which cries, I will not let thee go except thou bless me.

Yet, wonderful to say, God has heard these cold prayers of thine, and not only heard, but answered them. Reflect also, how infrequent have been thy prayers, unless thou hast been in trouble, and then thou hast gone often to the mercy-seat: but when deliverance has come, where has been thy constant supplication? Yet, not withstanding thou hast ceased to pray as once thou didst, God has ceased to bless. When thou hast neglected the mercyseat, God has not deserted it, but the bright light of the Shekinah has always been visible between the wings of the cherubim. Oh! it is marvellous that the Lord should regard those intermittent spasms of importunity which come and go with our necessities.

What a God is he thus to hear the praters of those who come to him when they have pressing wants, but neglect him when they have received a mercy; who approach him when they are forced to come, but who almost forget to address him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few.

Let his gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our hearts, so that we may henceforth be found. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.

blessings,

~Michael

2010..the last 10 years

I can’t believe how fast time flies! I started to ponder on the last 10 years of my life. It’s crazy how a sovereign God can redeem someone like me. I thought back the past 10 years of who i was and how much has changed since 2000. I am almost 31 years old and thankful for the work God has done in my heart.

Who was I?

• I was a man who was full of anger and hatred. (ESV Mark 7:21-23)
  
• I was a man who was caught up in drugs and violence.
• I was a man who didn’t care. (ESV Psalm 10:4)
  
• I was a man who was prideful.( ESV Psalm 10:4)
  
• I was a man who didn’t mind causing pain in someone’s life.
• I was a man who was good at making people feel fear.
• I was a man who had a lot of hurts from the past and held unforgiveness tightly in my heart. (ESV John 20:23)
• I was a man given over to my desires and flesh. (ESV Eph. 2:3, ESV Rom 1:24)
  
• I am totally depraved and couldn’t save myself.

Then something happened and God showed His glory to me. For some reason God wanted to save me from myself. I still wondered why. Why God, would you want to save me? Why would you want to redeem a person like me, that deserves nothing? Why would you choose me and pick me out of the crowd to be redeemed?

The only response I got was “I love you!”

Why God would you love me?? I felt everyone else walked out on me-why would you stay? Again I heard, “I love you!”

It was that point, on July 13, 2007, that my heart changed. It was that point that I wanted to live differently. It was that point I wanted to be different from the world!!

Who I am!

• I am a son! Adopted into the family of God. (ESV Gal. 4, ESV Rom. 1:1-4)
• I am redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! (ESV Gal. 3:13, Gal. 3:26-28)
  
• I am a saint! (ESV Col. 1:12, ESV 1 Cor. 1:2)
• I am made righteous and holy because of Him (ESV Eph. 4:24)
• I am sanctified by Him (ESV Heb. 10:10,14)

In other words…..

I couldn’t save myself! I couldn’t do anything to free myself from the bondages of sin! I didn’t do anything of my own will!

It’s all about Him.

My life does not belong to me.

My life belongs to Him.

My life is about Him.

My God is first in all things.

He is the Redeemer, Restorer, Sanctifier, only One, that can fix all things.

I love my God with all my heart! Lord search my heart out! (ESV Psalm 139:23-24)

May 2010 be devoted to you Lord!

Christ is All,

~Michael

Who am I in Christ?

How many of us walk in the past? What do I mean by that? I mean how many of us still hold on to things that happened in the past? I struggled with this alot and really just got alot of freedom in this area. How did I do it? I simply found out what it means to be in Christ. See God already did all the work with us. He forgave us, reconciled us, and redeemed us. We just need to take a step and strip off the clothes of the past and put on the clothes of Jesus! ESV Gal. 3:26-27

List below is all about who we are in Christ.  Hope this will bring some freedom!

I am a/the…………….

• salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13)
• light of the world (Matt 5:14)
• child of God (John 1:12)
• part of the vine (John 15:1,5)
• slave of righteousness (Rom. 6:18)
• a saint (Eph. 1:1, 1 Cor. 1:2, Phil. 1:1, Col. 1:2)
• God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
• a fellow citizen with all of the Lord’s family (Eph. 2:19)
• prisoner to Christ, slave to Him (Eph 3:1, 4:1)
• made righteous and holy because of Him (Eph. 4:24)
• hidden with Lord ( Col. 3:3)
• chosen by the Lord ( Col. 3:12, 1 Thess. 1:4)
• son of light (1 Thess. 5:5)
• partaker of His calling (Heb. 3:1)
• a marked man and enemy of Satan (1 Pet. 2:11)
• child of the Most High (1 John 3:1-2)
• joint heir w/Christ (Rom. 8:17)
• temple of the Lord’s (1 Cor. 6:17)
• one with Him (1 Cor. 6:17)
• a new creation in Him (2 Cor. 5:17)
• son of God (Gal. 3:26,28)
• reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-19)
• member of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 12:27, Eph. 5:30)

We are a pretty big deal to God. He call us friend and sons. ESV Gal. 4:1-10 speaks of sonship. I believe the Lord really wants us to get how much we mean to Him. We listen to the world and the enemy too much. I’m tired of walking down that road—aren’t you???

How i feel!

This video sums up my belief in Jesus Christ! I will always stand for you, no matter the cost!

I Don’t Follow Up

This is a conversation between me and my girlfriend about Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers:

Me: Did you like the book?

Her: Oh I love the book.  The main character, Michael, sounds exactly like you.

Me: That would make sense since the Book of Hosea is one of my favorite books in the Bible.

Her: Yep except you have a hard time following up on the things you say you are going to do.

The wicked side of me says that was an unfair swift kick to the tenders.

The sanctified side of me says that was a much needed swift kick to the tenders.

I stopped to let the Holy Spirit examine my heart and my life.

Right then, He  started to work on me.

The more I evaluated, the more I knew she was right on.

Tuesday night I got a message from a friend. She asked a small group of us to pray over her friend who has a rare incurable form of cancer.

The doctors want to examine her just so  they would have research for any future cases.

I considered it an honour to pray for a sister in Christ.

I told the group to give me a day to pray over what to pray about.

The Holy Spirit hits me with 1 Peter 3:8-22 to 1 Peter 4:1-19–The major theme was on how to suffer well.

Next day, I am faced with writing the prayer.  I am tempted to think, “it won’t be a big deal… they are not going to miss my prayers… I can skip it.”

But the Spirit of God quickened me.

Two words: follow up.

I poured my heart into that prayer.  I wanted to lift her up to the only God who knows us, who heals our broken bodies and and the only One who gives us joy and comfort.

In that one moment, I followed up.

Following up is an area at which I suck at.  More to come.

There Is No Equal

Exodus 8:10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.

Exodus 15:11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Deuteronomy 4:35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.

Deuteronomy 4:39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.

2 Samuel 7:22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Psalm 86:8-10 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.

Jeremiah 10:6-7 There is none like you, O Lord;
you are great, and your name is great in might.
Who would not fear you, O King of the nations?
For this is your due;
for among all the wise ones of the nations
and in all their kingdoms
there is none like you.

Isaiah 40:18 To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?

Isaiah 40:25 To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Isaiah 43:10-11 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior.

Isaiah 44:6-8 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.”

Isaiah 45:5-7 I am the Lord, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Isaiah 45:18-19 For thus says the Lord,
who created the heavens
(he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
(he established it;
he did not create it empty,
he formed it to be inhabited!):
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I did not speak in secret,
in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
‘Seek me in vain.’
I the Lord speak the truth;
I declare what is right.

Isaiah 45:21-22 Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none besides me.

“Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.

Isaiah 46:5 “To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and compare me, that we may be alike?

Isaiah 46:9-10 remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

ht: desiringGod