Judging Others - Matt. 7:1-6

http://www.ebible.com/bible?source=NIV&query=matthew+7%3A1-6
Take a look at Matthew 7:1-6 (click link above to see verses).... Not too pleasant a thought is it; as you read the first two verses (well maybe not for you but for some of us)... I like to think "oh I don't judge others", but if you peel back the layer of sin/self and look for it, yep there it is - the truth! Maybe by "worldly" standards I might not judge others but according to the only standard that really matters (God's) I do. Believe me I don't want to be judged by the measure I sometimes impose upon others... So what do I do - I pray and know that God is faithful to help me overcome this "speck" or "plank" in my own eye...

I also took note while studying this scripture passage that it is not teaching that judgements should not be made (see v. 5) but it is pointing out to us not to be a hypocrite... do not be habitually critical and condemning of others when you yourself have a "plank" in your own eye! Do you focus more on others inadequacies than their good qualities and yet expect others to over look your failings and see you in a gleaming way? Humm... maybe that is something to think about if so... however I know that there are those of you that this does not apply to at all - so I ask you to pray for those of us that fall behind in this area. Your prayers are always needed and appreciated. I would love to hear your feed back on this and any thoughts you have on verse 6!

Matthew 5:13-16

Take a look at Matthew 5:13-16. Ponder it for a bit...
http://www.ebible.com/bible?source=NIV&query=matthew+5%3A13-16

What does salt do? Preserve & enhance... We as Christians are the salt of the earth... We should create a thirst - a deep desire for others to want to know our God & what sets us apart. These verses ask us to stop and examine ourselves... what good is "salt" if it doesn't enhance? What good is "salt" if it doesn't preserve? Maybe you ask...enhance what, preserve what?

The "world" is watching let them see that you are different. Make your light shine bright for all the world to see - do NOT hide it! Encourage your brothers & sisters in the Faith; be an active & useful part of The Body of Christ (The Church); seek to bring the light that we hold and cherish to the lost... that they may be saved by the power of the Spirit and the grace of God... we should desire to tell the Good News! But do we? Do we deeply desire to see others saved (to see them come to know God)? Do we care about loving and serving our fellow brothers & sisters in Christ (The Church)? Or do we care more about ourselves and the things of this world?

I ask this because I desire to be God-focused; to live for Him; to obey & follow His Word... And yet, like Paul stated in Romans 7 - many times I find myself doing what I do not want to do instead of what I desire to do. I fall into the trap of self/worldly focus... and oh how miserable that is! However, when I am abiding and living according to the Spirit... what joy, what peace, love, thanksgiving - fruit is born in my life & walk! I am given strength to do and be who I could not in my own fleshly self & fleshly desires be... For the Holy Spirit comes and enables me to be all that God created me to be for His glory! Praise be to God!

It is my prayer for you & for me to be filled & strengthened, to be changed by the Holy Spirit that we may be salt & light to this dark world we live in... all for the LORD's glory, His honor & Name! Amen.

Past, Present & Future...

Let me first start off with this quote from Oswald Chambers:

"Our present enjoyment of God's grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday's sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present."- Oswald Chambers

While you ponder on that... let me elaborate... I have been thinking a lot lately (about way too many things but let us focus on this one for now)... Who is the "god" of your present? Who is the "god" of your future? And who is the "god" of your past? Maybe you like me look back and think "Wow, I wish I could have done things differently... had a different outlook, attitude, etc." The past is the past and there is nothing we can do to change it... What we can do and should do is give our past over to God and let him use it to minister to us now and to others. Do not dwell upon it and make it a "god"... Instead dwell upon your God and the grace He offers you. I am amazed as I reflect upon my life... not so much on me but on what God has done in me and for me and at times even through me... Praise Him!
Why should I be given so much honor and be so blessed as to be a child of God....? Because He loves me, He choose me, He accepted me, He adopted me, He forgave me, He redeemed me and He blessed me in Christ! Amen. (Eph. 1) And because of all of this what should be my response... To give Him all of me! Full access to use my past, my present and my future to His glory! To love Him wholeheartedly and to DESIRE to love and serve Him... But am I? Are you?
Here and now in your present who are you serving? Are you striving to impress others, to glorify yourself...are you focused on the small stuff... worldly things? These things are futile and temporary. Or are you one of the few who has a pure, wholehearted devotion to the LORD and your focus is on Him & Kingdom living? If you are the later... wonderful! Glory be to God! I know you are not perfect (neither am I) but your heart & desires are in the right place. You are giving God your past to use in ministry, your present and your future... And if you are not the later YOU CAN BE!!! And believe me He will come in and do amazing things in you and in your life... Our God is not boring or dull ... oh no, He loves to shake things up... Life with Him is never stagnant or stale... it is fresh & exciting! Sure we have hard times and good times but at ALL times He is with us on this ride and journey...
Giving Him your all, you will never look back and wish you hadn't... you will truly be living! Just hold on tight to the handle bars for this ride... it is one you don't want to get off of and can't wait to tell your friends about... Here is to living IN our present and living FOR the future!

Micah 2

I was chatting with a friend this morning and we got into a discussion about modern day false teachers (in the church)... (And of course then God decides to follow up the discussion with me) As I was reading Micah 2, which then reminded me of Isaiah 30... which then led me to feeling led to write this note... and if I thought I was just thinking it in my head God then went and confirmed it when I logged on and my K-love verse of the day was: ... Obedience is better than sacrifice ...~ 1 Samuel 15:22, NLT

SO GOD! He cracks me up and just makes me smile! Well enough with the intro and down to the point... Check out Micah 2:6-7 and then Isaiah 30:8-15, 18-21 and also see 2 Timothy 4:3.

We are in a sad and sorry state when the Word is not "good" to us... when we reject it and want to hear our own brand of truth. How true it is that if we are seeking the Lord and walking in His ways His Word is good to us...and yet when we are in "rebellion" and are doing wrong we do not want to hear it. We only want to hear what confirms what we believe, want or desire in our sinful state... and there are those out there in the church (false teachers) who will tell us these things, who will mislead us, and give us just enough truth to cover the lie... Some won't even use scripture to propagate their "religion", some will use scripture but take it out of context and misuse it to make their point (not God's)... However we should be very aware of this... if their teachings do not match up with who God says He is and what God's Word teaches then they are making up their own religion, their own god... and this will not save you. They will make it all about works... health, wealth and prosperity will come to you if... IF that was all true then why would Christ have had to come and die for our sins!!! (Buy the way may I point to the life of the Apostle Paul... I do not believe that he would agree with that statement, his life and the life of the other disciples says that is not true. Our true wealth is in knowing God). Christ did the work!!! It is by grace we are saved not by a check list and good behavior... It is because of what Christ did on the cross... He died for us while we were in our sin... it is because of what He did and because of the love and relationship that we have with him that we do good works... it is not to achieve salvation but out of love! And yes, these false teachers will have to stand before God and answer to what they have done... but does all the blame lay at their feet? Do we not have the ability (esp. in this country) to read the Word of God for ourselves, to test and know what is truth.... For it is truth that will set us free (John. 8:32)... When we are captive to sin, we need Truth, we need Christ...He is the one who will lead us out of captivity and guide us to freedom that can alone be found in Christ Jesus, our Lord & Savior! Praise be to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Isaiah 54:10

Ok so I have this really great scripture painted on canvas that a friend gave me (Jenny)... And this morning it just really hit me... and I started meditating on it and digging a little deeper... "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isa. 54:10
I started thinking about how in our lives we have times when our "mountains" are shaken and our "hills" are removed... and what?! I thought about this last year with all the changes (a baby, many moves, leaving friends and the familiar behind to go to the new & unknown)... We all have times like that- they may look different but we still experience times when our world gets shaken up and there are those common comforts (people, places, etc) that are removed from our lives... the big question is - then what? God is so true to His part for those of us who have a relationship with Him... He is faithful and His love does not fail and for those of us who place our trust in Him we experience His peace in the mist of turmoil and/or change... BUT are we experiencing that peace??? Do we just have a head knowledge of God that has not penetrated and permeated our heart? Or do we have such close fellowship that we are experiencing everything He has promised us? As I looked up some of the words in this verse in my concordance I found a few things that stood out to me... the word love in this verse is hesed and it went on to describe that love as unfailing love, loyal love, devotion, kindness (& then it said and this is the part that struck me) often based on a prior relationship, esp. a covenant relationship!!!!! Clue one... if you do not have that prior, grounded relationship with Him how can you then experience all He offers...? You must have Jesus, not in your head but in your heart... a daily on going relationship where you listen to Him, talk to Him... you spend time with Him. The second part was in the word peace which is translated in Hebrew as Salom... peace, safety, prosperity, well-being, intactness, wholeness, (and here is the part that struck me) peace can have a focus of security, safety which can bring feelings of satisfaction, well-being and contentment!!! Ok so what is our FOCUS? Is our focus Christ? Is He our security, our safety that brings us feelings of satisfaction, well-being and contentment in the mist of this life we are living on earth? Just things to ponder, to search our hearts and test... to press on as Paul says... to run the race for the crown that last! Are we living the abundant life? Are we living for the Kingdom of God? Are we living for the Person of Christ or for our own ideals and desires? He did not come to leave us as we are but to change and transform us into who He created us to be... my earnest prayer is "LORD change me"... create in me a new heart, one that is circumcised to you, fully devoted - that when the "mountains" are shaken and the "hills" removed... I stand firm, steadfast because I have placed my all (trust, faith, hope, love) not in myself but in Christ, my Rock! May I experience all that He has promised and longs to give me.... He offers us sooo much - and He does the work, but we must yield to Him, we must come to Him... seek Him with all our heart. Can we do that? It is a choice... To live a life fully lived to the glory of God or to live a fleeting, self purposed life with no eternal crown... What is your choice? The victory is in Christ alone.