Where is God NOW?!?!

 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”  So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (John 4:39-42)

Many times, as we go through struggles and doubts in life, we often ask or asked, "Where is God now?"

We have experienced Him before. We have heard His voice on many occassions. We have seen Him at work many times. But what about now . . . .?

Like the woman at the well, He is present before us! We simply have to gaze into His eyes; slow down enough to see Him. He is indeed still the CHRIST . . . He is indeed still the SAVIOR . . . Our GOD and our COMFORTER!

Lord, help me today to make time to SEE You so others may see You in me!

A Family Affair

The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.  Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:19-26)

The best church? The best preacher? Most CHRISTian nation? Nonsense!

As we heard from Jesus Himself in the passages above, God is not locked into a place or a person! Each of us have sinned and fall way short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). We all have our many faults!

This is why we should worship as a BODY and not body-parts! God is a Spirit Who is everywhere and in every believer. There should be a sense of family in every House of God for every member, whether a visiting relative or a long time "local".

Lord, open me up to Your Spirit so I may truly live a life of worship. Challenge Your local Bodies to be welcoming to all family members as well . . . even strangers who just may stop by to say "hello!"

Keep Me Lord!

The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” (John 4:11-12)

Super Bowl....World Series....Stanley Cup....FIFA Champ....all the teams and all the athletes compete, but there is only ONE better than everyone else in the end. In track, NASCAR, and even Olympic speed skating, all compete but there is still only ONE champion (1 Corinthians 9:24).  Many participants . . . many teams . . . many athletes . . . only ONE greater than everyone else.

So it is with God. This Samaritan woman, while a bit different than the Jews, had a faith background. Many of us like to talk about our family's accomplishments within a church Body. My grandfather was the first Pastor, or my grandmother's name is on the church pew, or our family built this church...  I have heard folks say, "I come from a long line of pastors!" Ok . . . great . . . fine . . . celebrate that and cherish that heritage! However, though we may stand upon some proud, broad, and strong shoulders, only God is capable of sustaining us and keeping us upright!

No one is better that the other. While one may have accomplished great things, it is still God Who allowed it and provided for it. Jesus reminded the woman that although Jacob's well still provided water after years and years, He alone could quench our eternal thirst.

Lord, keep me humble, but YOU KEEP ME!

Getting Out of His Way

You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:28-30)

Many today are all caught up in "my" church, "my" ministry, "my" pastor . . . MY . . . .MY . . . MY indeed! While many people and many churches and many other CHRISTian groups are doing many great and wonderful things, it is never about "us" but rather Him Who has saved us to do the good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Like John the Baptist, we need to realize why we were sent (to make disciples) and by Whom. When our task is completed, we are to step out of the way and move on. The attention is on the One Who died for us, the One Who saves us, and  the One Who will redeem us at the Judgement!

Lord, like John, help me to decrease and You increase!

How Do We Measure His LOVE?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Ok. . . "So what's so new about this verse?", you may be asking yourself.

It is a simple yet so complicated verse. It can never really be understood until we experience the presence of Christ and the magnitude of His LOVE ❤️! His LOVE is so personal. It requires so much FAITH on our part. A faith that requires us to give Him our total TRUST to Him and to TRUST Him to carry out His part.

Yet because of our limited human capabilities, we cannot ever fathom this amount of LOVE and comittment. We want proof we can measure . . . . yet how can one measure what God has done. . . . . is doing . . . . will do?

Lord, that I may learn and understand more of Your LOVE and be able to LOVE more like You LOVE!

Lack of Evidence? I Don't Think So!

 "Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:7-12)

The more science discovers new things, the more God seems to make sense. Someone discovers bones or rocks and they cannot explain why they are where they are. Weather continues to confuse even the most scholarly of meteorologists. Natural disasters are occurring where they never have before. More galaxies, different artifacts, unexplainable discoveries . . .

Like Paul told of the unknown God (Acts 17:23), these unexplainable  things can easily be understood if folks would only believe the Word of God! It makes all things fit!

Jews needed a sign. People today need proof. All I need is JESUS!

Fair Weather Fan?

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.(John 2:23-25)

How much do we rely upon people for our worth.? Kids all seek their parents approval. I know at 57 years old, I still do at times.  Students want the acknowledgement of their teachers. Friends seek the attention of peers. It is human nature. While Jesus loved people and no doubt had His physical needs for communion and friendship, He was wary of those who followed Him simply because of what He did for them. I call them "fans"!

In life, like Jesus, we do not need any fans. Fans come and go with wins and losses, as we see in sports. People change hats and jerseys with seasons. Jesus sees the heart and genuinesss of souls. What about you and me? Are we a FAN of Jesus or a true FOLLOWER?

Lord, help me to truly follow your teachings and seek a deeper relationship with You, not falling for the fakeness of this world. Give me the discernment of Your Spirit to know others' hearts as well, so I may not lose focus upon You and Your will for me and those around me.

Don't Cross the Line

And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, (Psalm 69:9) “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” (John 2:14-17)

Just a short while before, Jesus had just celebrated with friends and family at a wedding feast. He had visited with family in Capernaum. These were no doubt times of joy, laughter, celebration, and family memories. Jesus loved people. He offered friendship, grace, understanding, forgiveness . . . yet He knew where to "draw the line"! The activity in His Father's House was over the line . . .

As Christ-followers today,  we are exposed to many activities. We must be discerned enough to know what is worship and what is worldly. While we are free to do all things, not all things are beneficial to our relationship with Christ nor our witness to the world. The choices we make reflect our "zeal" for our Lord. Our love and passion for our Savior should move us to "draw the line" at some point!

Lord, help me to know when and where to draw that line between what pleases you and what does not.

Just an Instrument in His Hands

 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”(John 1:15)

John the Baptist had one task in life and he did it well: Tell of the coming Savior. He prepared the people. He taught the people. He pointed them in the direction of the soon to come Savior, the Lamb of God, who would take away the sin of the world!

John knew he was not important than Jesus. His "ministry" was not about him, but the Lamb. Many times today, we get so caught up in what we are doing and what we have planned to do that we forget for Whom we are doing it and why we are doing it! Whom we are serving is more important than who is serving!

Even Jesus replied to the rich, young ruler that, "No one is good but One, that is, God."(Mark 10:18) So if our job, or commission, is to "go and make disciples", why is our focus on so many other things? We don't do the saving. We do not do the reconciling. We are simply God's instruments. The hammer doesn't get credit for the carpenter's work. The potter's wheel does receive pay for the potter's created piece. The pen does not receive honor for the book the author penned.

Lord help me to stay focused upon the One Who crafted me . . . the Author Who began and will end my story and this world's tale. Keep my focus upon You!

Living in His Image

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Why would God want to a part of this world? Well, He did create it. He does love His creation. He wants us to experience Him as He first intended. So besides the fact that He had to do so to become our perfect and eternal sacrifice, I believe that He also did it (and remained for over thirty years) in order for us to experience His "image" in action!

Think of it . . . as Jesus lived His life as an obedient child, a respectful teen, and a young adult male, He resisted the temptations of life and lived a selfless, sacrificial and God-honoring life. Not just to the cross, but I am sure His close friends saw His interactions with His mother, father, friends and yes, even the females! They saw how it took prayer, faith, and hard decisions to please God the Father. They saw the physical image of God in Christ and could imitate that for themselves. What a privilege! All leading up to the ultimate obedience and sacrifice . . . THE CROSS!

Lord, help me to live a life that reflects the image of God living within me. Help me to commit to sacrifice my desires for those of others and You!

Be A light; Show The LIGHT!

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. (John 1:9)

True light....not artificial, enhanced or "other".

In a world where ther is so much "enlightenment" offered, we need to not only know for ourselves but tell others of this TRUTH. How can we allow friends, family and associates go ignorant? In a society in which we throw around "I love you" like a typical "Hi", we need to care just a bit more.

Additionally, as followers of Christ, we have been given one commission and it is a GREAT one: go and make disciples! We need to not only tell about the Light but "be a light" for others to see The Light!

***As a side note . . . to my students: work hard and learn this week . . . Stay in touch with God!***

Honor THE KING

And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28)

On this holiday of celebrating Rev. (Dr.) King's life and remembering he was killed almost 50 years ago (I vividly remember even though I was only 8), I am so encouraged by the words from Genesis 32 above. Dr. King struggled with God for sure in doing what was Godly over what was popular. He struggled against the injustices of man. He was not only hurt several times as Jacob was, but eventually he gave his life not just for the "cause" but I believe for the Gospel!

This modern-day martyr is to be honored for sure. He is to be remembered. He is also to be imitated in our society today. I and my family are eternally indebted to him and the many who sacrificially gave during the Civil Rights struggles and still give even to this day. However, we must be careful whom we side with and where our allegiance lies today. Not all movements are Godly. Not all causes are lining up with Scripture.

We as a Body of believers must not judge by the color of one's skin but by the content of character . . . are we united under the blood of Christ? Are our hearts set upon God's will or getting even. Vengeance still belongs to the Lord. Love still overcomes hate. Prayer, with Godly action, still changes things!

Honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. King today. Honor THE KING always!

Mountain Top Messages

And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”  Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Gensis 22:12-14)

On the mountain, we think of "highs". Yet God can humble us at the peak of our lives.

He can challenge us, correct us, even change us! Whatever He does, it will be for our best and for His glory, if we choose to obey as Abraham did here with Isaac.

Happy Hiking!

Many Bad Choices Can Lead to The Best Choice

But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. 13 Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.”     (Genesis21:12-13) 

God, like any good parent, will often allow us to fail. He sees the consequences, both immediate and long term, yet allows us to make those horrible mistakes and experience hardship. In this case, He allows Abraham and Sarah to make alternative plans to give Abraham a son and the results we still feel today with the battles of Muslim vs. Jew!

Yet, through His grace, He made a way for Hagar and Ishmael to be blessed as well as Abraham, Sarah and Isaac . . . and you and me! With all the turmoil between nations, countries, and families, God's grace, namely Jesus Christ, has made a way for anyone and everyone to find Peace!

I thank God for His grace in my life. Choices have had consequences, but through it all He rescued my lost soul and offered me eternal salvation through His shed blood. What about you? Do not allow bad choices to keep you from choosing Christ!

Do Not DOUBT the Truth!

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”  

And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.  (Genesis 17:15-22)

As I read this I see the answer to the issues between Muslims and Jews (CHRISTians). It is plain. If both faiths believe the Old Testament to be God's Word, then it is clear. God's promise is through ISAAC!

If there is any doubt, we have this relief. In the TRUTH we can rest and trust God. No need to laugh as Abraham and Sarah did. No need to doubt. No need to fight. Just believe God at His Word and rest in that.

There is Joy and real Peace when we trust in God's Word!

Any doubts?

Don't Miss God . . . He WILL Come Through!

And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror andgreat darkness fell upon him. Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.......And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying:“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates........” (Genesis 15:11-21)

We must be careful or we will miss God!  God makes us promises in His Word and we begin to trust Him. We just know He will do this or that and we wait anxiously....even excitedly. But when it doesn't come when we want it . . . well, we begin to doubt. We become unsure. We feel the pressures of friends, family, job, finances, etc. We begin to look at our past failures rather than God's successes in our lives. "Birds of prey" begin to swoop down to steal our faith and confidence in God.

Like Abraham, we must remain alert and drive then away! Wait confidently upon God. As He has done before, He will do it again! Wait, I say, upon the Lord!

God has the Details

Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

Leaving in NEVER easy. We leave behind roots, memories, friendships, securities and comforts. We have to plan the move and be sure all things are in order. But imagine leaving with no detailed plan! It could be utter chaos!

Yet the Lord told Abram to "leave"! Leave the land he loved and the people he knew. Leave the comfort and go to the unknown. God would provide the details along the way.

If I only had such faith. May we all move when and where God says and have the faith to allow Him to fill in the details.

A Joy to "Go to Work"

. . . . therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. (Genesis 3:23)

Our work is an opportunity to give back to God and others. We have the opportunity to make things just a bit better physically and spiritually. 

Labor is not a curse as some would have it. It is the grace of God and an opportunity to give back. Man toyed with creation through sin. God has allowed us to now "till the ground" in an opportunity to make things right.

Though we will never make it perfect again, our labor to make things better is our worship unto the Lord. My labor, our labor, is a privilege and a joy!

Holy 2018 Y'all!

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Happy 2018! Have you made any "resolutions"? Maybe a better questions is, "Have you broken any resolutions yet? 🤗

May I suggest to us all that much more gratifying than a HAPPY 2018 would be a HOLY 2018! Many things can bring temporary happiness; money, new car, new job, new relationship, new home, etc. However, HOLINESS can only come through Christ and doing the things He requires.

A genuine relationship with Christ brings an inner peace, a lasting joy, and an eternal promise of life in and with Him!

Do you know Him? Don't we all not need to get to know Him better . . . more intimately . . . in a more consistent lifestyle of worship and praise and commitment to the things He requires of us?

Rather than hope in the world let's REALLY place our hope in Him and waits on Him this year of our Lord 2018. . . . .HOLY 2018!!!!