Too much is simply too much!

What can we not live without? 

For the CHRISTian, anything besides God is an idol! In reality, we own nothing, so nothing should own us! Yard sales and garage sales are great in helping get rid of things we do not need but just keep around. Sell it. Give it away. Get rid of the junk! Garages, basements, and even storage containers for which we pay rent, are full of things we do not need. Why is that? 

Too much is simply too much!

Getting rid of the things that tie us down is important in life and especially in our relationship with our Lord. Idols tie us down  . . . hold us back . . . and cost us dearly in the long run. They take up space. They collect dust. They cost us time, money and even relationships at times. Idols pull us away from God!

Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’ 8 But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. (Ezekiel 20:7-8)

Idols cost the Jewish people much in their relationship with God. What are they costing us today? Let's clean out our houses of things we are holding on to today . . . both physically and spiritually.  (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012%3A1-2&version=NKJV) 

Too much is simply too much! Let's run this race unhindered!

Who(se) are we anyway?

 After serving just a few days in New Orleans with Urban Impact Ministries, I was once again reminded of these crucial verses form the prophet: 

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly,
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

We hear it often, but have trouble living this out . . . Love God/Love people. Jesus repeated the message when asked about the greatest commandments: 

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Love God/Love people. Can we focus on these words today and ask the Lord to help us live them out, so the world will know who sent us and that we can be one? (John 17)

Who(se) are we anyway?

 

 

Where is God?

 Many say, "God is first in my life." A good way to tell is through a person's bank account and also his/her calendar. Take a look at how we spend our money and time. Where is God? How we spend our time and money shows a lot about our priorities.

If we want God to really bless us, we must bless Him as well. He must be the priority in our relationships and in our spending! The sooner we learn that in life the better. Godly choices turn in to Godly blessings . . . even if it just the peace of knowing we are pleasing God and putting Him first!

The car we drive, the size of our home, the amount of money we make is secondary in life. If we would simply love God and love people . . . less me and more Him  . . .things would be so much simpler!

You have all probably read this before, but let it sink in this morning: 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

In the middle of it

 What do you do when you are in the middle of it . . . when trouble hits you smack in the face and there is no avoiding it? You feel like you are fighting things all by yourself and no one could ever understand. 

Yet God does and He is right here!

Yes we may be fearful. God gives us courage to face it. This is when we get out of the boat and walk by faith . . . right on top of the water! The key is to stay focused upon Jesus and His plans and not the depth of the water (the trouble). Faith in God is all we need . . . not faith in our own abilities or resources. Oh, do not forget to praise God throughout. Thank Him for the little things . . . simply that He is present and He cares!

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:29-30)

As with the disciples in the boat, Jesus wants us to know He is all we need . . . in the middle of it!

I Am said to "go"!

 When God says "go" , you GO! I think back to when He called us to the mission field some twenty four years ago as we were married: I will bless you if you serve Me. We agreed and He has been caring for us since. 

A few weeks back, after returning from serving in Puerto Rico, New Orleans was hit with Hurricane Ida. We felt a stab in our hearts and our response was: We have to go help somehow. Again, He made a way with donations, flights, and support from work. 

The only real plan we ever needed was God to say "Go"! Whenever He calls, He always provides! The Creator of the entire world always creates a way to serve Him when one is committed to do so. 

What about you? Have you tried Him for yourself? After all, I AM always is!

Just as He provided all the apostles need in the middle of their storm He provides all we ever need . . . whether sunshine or rain . . . hungry or full . . . tired or energetic . . . stressed or relaxed. The I Am is all I need!

He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. (Mark 6:48-51)

Jesus talks to Himself?

 Have you ever found yourself talking to yourself  . . . . and answering? Weird huh? Well, God does it too. Yes, Jesus talks to Himself . . . prays to Himself . . . about you and me! That is awesome!!!!

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:34)

Jesus prayed for Peter even before Peter denied Him,  so that he would be restored back to Him and even to help the fellow believers be stronger! He even prayed for you and me before going to the cross:

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)

The next time you feel alone, and find yourself talking to yourself, know that Jesus is talking to Himself too . . . about you! 

Suddenly . . . .

 We go through life day after day, routine after routine, one plan after another. We pretty much have life down to Monday through Friday, then the weekend. We get up, go to work, come home and "do family stuff", then plan for the weekends. If we are really blessed, we have that special event now and then to break the routine and celebrate something! 

Then suddenly . . . . SUDDENLY happens!

A storm occurs. It may be the weather. It may be health. It may be a pandemic. It may even be a shockingly good thing . . . but SUDDENLY happens and we panic! Our routine has been broken. We are thrown off course. 

At this point of desperation, Jesus steps up and steps in . . .

He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:16-18)

Let this sink in today . . . Jesus will come to you! 

When suddenly comes into your life . . . there is Jesus!!!!!

God knows . . . and He really cares!

“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman? For what is the allotment of God from above, and the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is it not destruction for the wicked, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps? (Job 31:1-4)

From the earliest book in the bible, we see the struggles of man . . . our eyes! As we are honest with ourselves, we men (and even women today) have a struggle with our eyes! We allow them to stray far too often and far too long, looking at things we have no business observing!

I don't think I have to go into detail here . . .we all know! Yet God also knows and He really cares about us and wants us to change. We must depend upon Him, His Spirit within us, and partner with Him to change. 

    For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses     . . . (Hebrews 4:15).

Job knew the love of God and His care for him. He chose to honor God and the women in his life. Job made a covenant with God! He realized the destruction that can come from lust. We too must realize this and take steps to restrain our eyes! 👀

What about you and me?

My way or His way?

Most of my failures come when "I did it my way" . . .  sounds like the old Frank Sinatra song! Why do I even struggle with my way or His way? You think I would know better by now!

Read the account of some professional fisherman who took the advice of a local preacher:

  

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”(Luke 5:4-5)

Peter was able to humble himself and listen to Jesus' advice. We all could do that more often. He knows better . . . . 

Jesus at my job?

 For Jesus to be alive in every aspect of our life, we must invite Him in to it! He is not here for us when we want, but He wants to involved in every part of our life . . .yes, even at our jobs! 

Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. (Luke 5:3)

Jesus got into the boat of the fishermen! He showed up at their work. They also had a much better day at the job, catching more fish! 

What if we allowed Jesus to go with us daily . . . to school, to work, to the store, to the games. You think our life would be a bit more tolerable? Maybe, just maybe we would experience a bit less stress and accomplish more . . . for Him!

Make this take Jesus to work day!

Deal with issues right away.

But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” (Mark 6:37)

God wants us to deal with issues right away. He does not want us putting things off until they get to a point where they are major problems. We do that a lot. Things we might easily handle today grow into major issues when we ignore them. . . . medical issues, family struggles, even car repairs! God will not simply step i and fix things . . . He wants us to recognize our need for Him early on and wants us to ask!

Delaying a problem leads to more worry and anxiety. Dealing with the issue and allowing God to partner with us shows Him we are being responsible and that we also need Him to intervene. When we deal with things His way . . . sooner rather than later . . . we receive results . . . the results God desires for us!

In the scriptures above, there are thousands of hungry people present. The disciples desire to send the away for food. It wasn't their problem. Yet Jesus tells them to feed them! The disciples wanted to delay the problem and pass it on to someone else, but Jesus put it on them! They were forced to ask Jesus for help. The result was a miracle . . . thousands fed from a small bit of food!

What issues do we face today? Are we putting them off or can we deal with the issues right away? Seek His help . . .